Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

"Go ahead, it'll move itself." Zeke gestured towards the examination bed with a pat.

As Bronya reached out to lift Wendy, Zeke stopped her with an extended hand.

Bronya cast him a puzzled look.

Crossing his arms, Zeke mildly addressed the girl in the wheelchair, "Do you want someone to carry you, or would you prefer to use your own strength?"

Wendy raised her head.

She expected to see mockery, perhaps even contempt, in Zeke's eyes—as she often experienced from researchers at the Oceania Branch, who appeared serious and concerned in front of her but sneered behind closed doors.

But there was none.

Instead, Zeke's expression remained indifferent, as though posing a simple question.

Zeke's expression remained cold and indifferent, as if posing a completely ordinary question.

Bronya seemed to grasp something, stepping back two paces without touching the wheelchair again.

Wendy lowered her head. After a moment, she spoke with a slightly hoarse, weary voice:

"I... I can manage on my own."

She began climbing onto the platform.

Her body was already insufficient to bear the Gem of Desire, and evidently, the researchers at the Oceania Branch lacked both the expertise and patience needed. Wendy's paralysis extended beyond her legs; even her once formidable arm strength, capable of grappling directly with machinery barehanded, now fell far short of that of an average person.

Despite being so close, despite the minimal height difference between the wheelchair and the platform, Wendy ascended very slowly.

With gritted teeth, her face pale and breath trembling, she exerted her feeble arms bit by bit, painstakingly moving herself onto the platform.

Everyone fell silent.

Even Raiden and his daughter, eager to communicate, watched quietly without uttering a word.

Raiden Ryoma gently stroked his daughter's hair, observing the young girl before shifting his gaze to Zeke's seemingly detached expression. With a sigh, he said,

"Alliance Leader, I think I now understand why you were so resolute."

He referred to how Welt had immediately recruited Zeke upon their first meeting, ultimately promoting him to become an Enforcer for Anti-Entropy.

Welt responded with a smile, speaking in a very soft voice, as if afraid to disturb Wendy: "Indeed, I never misjudge people."

Wendy continued her effort, displaying unwavering determination and resilience.

Although it took only a few minutes, it felt like an eternity to everyone watching. Finally, she lay down on the platform, panting heavily, eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Contrary to her previous dull gaze, there seemed to be a newfound vibrancy in her eyes now.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Loud applause echoed from nearby.

It was Kiana, standing beside Zeke with her eyes sparkling as she watched Wendy, pure joy and admiration on her face.

"You're amazing! So impressive!"

Then Bronya's lips curved upward, joining in the slow clapping.

Zeke glanced around, pursed his lips, and reluctantly followed suit—though let's just assume it was begrudgingly done out of courtesy.

From a short distance away, others also offered heartfelt applause.

As Schicksal's Valkyrie, Wendy might have looked disheveled, but that did not diminish her brilliance at this moment.

She was a girl aspiring to ascend to the S-rank throne, resolutely participating in dangerous experiments for the hope of saving the world. With her own pride intact, even amidst hardship, what she needed wasn't condescending pity.

Wendy blushed, uncertain whether it was due to her previous exertion or the current applause.

Zeke tossed her a clean towel, saying, "Dry your sweat; we're about to begin... Don't worry, no one here will harm you."

Wiping the sweat from her forehead as instructed, Wendy gave Zeke a deep look before closing her eyes and quietly entering the diagnostic equipment.

A few minutes later, Zeke skimmed through the freshly generated report and casually tossed it to Einstein.

He then approached Wendy's side and decisively lifted one of her legs.

Without stockings, her leg was smooth, fair-skinned, with graceful curves and even proportions. Delicate blue veins were visible beneath the surface, truly making for an impressive sight.

Wendy blushed deeply.

Zeke gently squeezed her leg, noting its excellent texture and firmness. With no expression on his face, he asked:

"Can you feel that?"

Whether she felt anything or not wasn't clear, but Wendy's cheeks turned even redder.

Suddenly, Kiana charged like a cannonball, catching Zeke off guard and pushing him aside. She spread her arms protectively around Wendy, resembling a mother hen guarding chicks against a predator.

"Zeke! I can't believe I misjudged you! Who knew you were this kind of person?! If you want someone to touch legs with, just come to me—I wouldn't refuse! How could you do such a thing to Wendy?! Creep! Pervert!"

Zeke, Wendy, Bronya, Welt, and everyone else present fell silent, momentarily speechless.

Wait, did she just say something bizarre as if it were perfectly normal? Zeke dusted off his clothes where Kiana had bumped him, narrowing his eyes.

As he pondered how to teach this paramecium another memorable lesson, Welt appeared behind Zeke and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Ahem! Young man Zeke, I understand you're trying to assess her condition, but considering she's a girl, perhaps you should be more mindful... You know what I mean."

"...Fine."

To a researcher, that leg was merely flesh and muscle, but from a broader perspective... Well, in any case, Zeke grasped what Welt implied.

Zeke pressed against Kiana's face, pushing her aside once again, and stepped up to Wendy. He said, "Your situation is dire. The Gem of Desire is excessively active, and you lack the ability to suppress it. If left unchecked, its power will soon spread from your legs to your upper body, then your hands, and finally, your brain. After that, looking at the world through these beautiful eyes will no longer be Wendy, but a new Herrscher."

Lying on the platform, Wendy's pupils contracted, her complexion visibly paling.

"But it's not too late yet. I will save you; that is my promise." Zeke added matter-of-factly, his tone unwavering like he was stating an undeniable truth.

Wendy fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking:

"You people, are you from Anti-Entropy?"

"Yes."

"It's different from what I've heard."

"What did you hear?" Zeke raised an eyebrow.

Seemingly pondering for a bit, Wendy slowly replied:

"More trusting in cold, heartless machines than flesh-and-blood humans. Filthy rats lurking in gutters, shamelessly cunning and ruthless, trampling morality and humanity underfoot—a conspiracy between mad scientists and Herrschers, a dirty organization driven by ambition."

"Hmm..." Rubbing his chin, Zeke glanced at Welt, whose expression had frozen.

Then, turning back to Wendy, he asked:

"And now, what do you think?"

"I... don't know." Wendy tilted her head, gazing at the people in the laboratory with a bewildered look.

Both Bronya and Kiana were good individuals. Whether during their journey out of the Oceania Branch or recent interactions, they treated her with great kindness.

Zeke, despite his cold and detached demeanor, treated her with respect—something she hadn't experienced since becoming disabled.

As for the others... they weren't twisted or cruel as the rumors suggested. On the contrary, Wendy felt these people were far more friendly and approachable than many at the Oceania Branch.

It was almost like returning home rather than being within the heart of an enemy organization's base.

Wendy bit her lip before asking, "Do you... want the Core inside me?"

Zeke nodded, giving a straightforward and honest reply: "Yes."

Wendy's eyes dimmed. She closed them, letting out a long sigh.

"I cannot resist, but I will never betray Schicksal."

"Otto and I are old friends. In fact, while you were away, I even served temporarily as the branch director of the Oceania Branch—though the point is, I don't intend for you to betray Schicksal either."

"Lord Archbishop? You must be joking!"

Zeke produced a photograph showing him alongside Otto. In the picture, Zeke looked quite reluctant, whereas Otto beamed radiantly, as if basking in a warm spring breeze.

"...That's photoshopped! I won't fall for it!"

Wendy's expression wavered slightly, but she remained resolute.

Zeke put away the photo, unwilling to explain further. He got straight to the point: "Back on topic, we indeed want to extract the gemstone from your body. However, at the same time, we'll also heal you."

"...What do you stand to gain?"

"Nothing, really. Does 'it bothers me' count?"

"I... I won't believe you," Wendy insisted, sticking to her judgment despite Anti-Entropy defying all her preconceived notions during their interactions. She couldn't easily trust these people just because of that.

"No need to force yourself, then." This response came not from Zeke, but from Welt, who stepped forward with a gentle smile.

Welt tenderly brushed aside strands of hair from Wendy's forehead, completely disregarding her earlier biased remarks. With sincerity, he said, "We don't expect you to trust us blindly; our only intention is to save you, nothing more."

"What do you stand to gain?" Wendy repeated her question.

Welt glanced at Zeke and echoed his words with a warm smile, "It simply bothers me."

Their conversation was fruitless, lacking any convincing rationale or explanation.

Yet, Wendy turned her face away, feeling inexplicably reassured.