Thanks for the invitation! I am in Honkai, still connected Chapter 52 52 - Cocolia has fallen

The night was pitch-black, as if boundless, thick ink had been sared across the sky, obscuring even the faintest starlight.

In contrast, the city blazed with lights, its colorful neon signs illuminating the darkness that the gentle breeze couldn't disperse.

A petite, gray-haired girl with exoskeletal armor on her legs stood before an izakaya. She took out her phone and checked the ti.

There were still thirty minutes until the appointed ti.

Confirming she wasn't late, she walked into the gathering place of office workers, much to the sowhat astonished gazes of so uncles who were drinking.

"Two pots of warm vodka, and a plate of smoked sausage and pickles."

The girl, born in Siberia, spoke naturally to the waiter, ordering the alcohol and side dishes she used to have back ho.

The waiter's face instantly changed.

The Far East had enacted the Law Prohibiting Minors from Drinking Alcohol as early as 1925. Shops and restaurants selling alcohol to minors would have their staff or owners fined up to 500,000 yen and their business licenses revoked.

"Esteed guest, minors are prohibited from drinking alcohol."

The waiter, clearly not wanting his workplace to be shut down, put on a professional smile and declined Miss Banya's request.

The Far East is so troubleso. So many rules and regulations just to have a drink.

The girl, having failed to get the vodka she wanted, knitted her delicate brows and sighed inwardly.

"In that case, two glasses of milk, with ice."

Perhaps because there was no alcohol, Miss Banya's enthusiasm waned considerably as she placed a new order.

Since there's no vodka, milk will have to do.

"Guest, I understand. Please, have a seat."

The waiter, his eye twitching slightly, pulled out a chair for Miss Banya and gestured for her to sit.

In the early days, izakayas were generally perceived as places where only male company employees drank sake.

However, as tis changed, won also began to appreciate the wide variety of drinks and food offered at izakayas. The interior décor was also adapted to appeal to the general public, including won and families.

Therefore, modern izakayas also stocked beverages like milk and juice.

Bronya sipped her iced milk, watching the entrance, waiting for her boss to arrive.

"Waiter, a bottle of vodka."

Before long, a new custor walked in.

It was a handso young man with striking, vivid red eyes.

"Waiter, two Seabreezes."

The young man, who clearly hadn't reached drinking age either, snapped his fingers and addressed the sa waiter who had just refused Miss Banya.

The Seabreeze was a popular drink in the Maldives.

The addition of grapefruit juice and cranberry juice to the alcohol made its taste very smooth. The ice would mask the taste of alcohol while retaining its stimulating kick.

However, this fine beverage had quite the notorious reputation.

This was because a Seabreeze consisted of 1.5 ounces of vodka, 0.5 ounces of cranberry juice, four to six ice cubes, and a suitable amount of grapefruit juice.

Won who weren't good drinkers could easily be fooled by its sweet taste, mistaking it for a low-alcohol beverage, and then drink themselves into oblivion.

"Yes, esteed guest."

The waiter, whose eyes had lost their luster, nodded. He then began to take out vodka, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, and ice, mixing the drinks on the spot. He then respectfully delivered the two glasses to Li Zihan's hands.

"A knockout drink. Care for so?"

The young man, holding the two glasses, sat down opposite Miss Banya and asked with interest.

The girl, who had intended to drink vodka from the start, took a Seabreeze, sipped it lightly, her willow-like brows furrowing slightly. Then, she looked at Li Zihan and said very seriously,

"Boss, can I add double the vodka to this?"

...

Li Zihan, suddenly rembering that Miss Banya was, in fact, Russian, fell silent.

For those who drank vodka straight, knockout drinks like the Seabreeze probably didn't pack much of a punch.

He silently picked up the other Seabreeze, brought it to his lips, took a sip, and then frowned.

Perhaps due to his extrely keen senses, he found the alcohol taste a bit strong.

anwhile, in front of him, Miss Banya downed the so-called knockout drink in one go, then stuck out her small, pink tongue and licked her lips.

She rather enjoyed this kind of fruit juice beverage; it was sweet and sour, much tastier than plain vodka.

"By the way, where's Cocolia?"

Feeling he couldn't dwell on the topic of alcohol any longer, Li Zihan glanced around but didn't see the other person who was supposed to be here.

Handing over the X-10 experint data and assessing whether he was truly reliable—she had no reason not to et him.

"Mother Cocolia is currently in Nagazora Prison."

Miss Banya stated her adoptive mother's current situation, a hint of sadness on her small face.

After all, Cocolia had raised her for over two years. Even if a rift had ford between them because of Seele, it would clearly be abnormal to say she felt nothing at all.

"Because of Lord Sovereign's return, Mother Cocolia was stripped of her Executor status due to the Nagazora City plan and sentenced to life imprisonnt."

"If you want to see her, you should probably hurry. It won't be long before she's sent to the North Arican HQ for incarceration. At that point, you, not being a mber of Anti-Entropy, won't be able to see her."

"It seems Chief Wa is moving faster than I imagined."

Li Zihan's voice carried a hint of surprise.

Although he had long known Welt wouldn't let Cocolia off easily, he hadn't expected him to be this fast.

"So, is the X-10 experint data in your hands now?"

Li Zihan asked casually.

He wasn't afraid that Chief Wa would destroy all data related to the X-10 experint in one fell swoop. There were many ways to reach the Sea of Quanta; the X-10 experint wasn't the only path.

"Mm."

Miss Banya, who had likely been spared from implication due to Chief Wa's relative rcy, nodded and said,

"Lord Sovereign's energy was primarily focused on the Nagazora City plan, the Herrscher of Erosion, and taking over Corp. He didn't notice the X-10 experint, which was abolished last year because of Seele."

"In that case, let's go ahead and restart the X-10 project."

Li Zihan smiled and said.

"A month should be enough to adjust the experintal paraters, right?"

The plan to save Seele can be implented in a month?

Miss Banya, having understood the aning behind her boss's words, felt her pale gray eyes light up with a bright and warm glow.

From now on, I'll be able to be with Seele forever.