The Astute Durandal

"I'm sure its owner would be delighted to know how much you adore their cat," Lin Wei said, relieved that Stan had escaped. "I apologize if my arrival was untimely, Durandal-Sama. I hope I didn't interrupt anything important."

"Not at all, Mr. He Kun. On the contrary, I should thank you," Durandal replied seriously. "You reminded me that we are still on a mission. I was being… unprofessional."

With Stan gone, the "Cat Lover Durandal" persona vanished, replaced by the focused, mission-oriented Valkyrie.

"I shouldn't have been so distracted during work hours."

As if on cue, a white Chinchilla darted from an alley, chasing a plump rat, completely oblivious to the two humans.

"Ahem..." Lin Wei coughed, noticing Durandal's attention waver again. A flicker of that "cat-obsessed" glint returned to her eyes.

"If it's really that important, we could always get you a cat from a pet store..." he suggested.

His mind instantly conjured up a ridiculous headline:

Durandal, Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie, Caught Chasing Stray Cats in Public.

Schicksal's reputation? Ruined. The other Valkyries? Speechless. How could they possibly maintain their authority while saving humanity?

It's just money. No shame in that.

Lin Wei mentally justified his suggestion, feeling as if he alone was upholding Schicksal's reputation.

I'm just a humble spy, but a dedicated and selfless employee nonetheless!

He mentally patted himself on the back, already resolving to ask Otto for a raise.

If he refuses, there will be consequences.

"That's very kind of you, but I'll have to decline," Durandal suddenly interrupted his increasingly bizarre train of thought. "We're still on a mission. I shouldn't be distracted by such trivial matters."

Lin Wei snapped back to reality. He saw an opportunity and seized it.

"Have you received new orders from the Overseer?" he asked casually. If he wanted to manipulate the situation, he needed to stay informed.

Durandal's brow furrowed. Instead of answering, she turned to him with a serious expression.

"You came looking for me, didn't you, Mr. He Kun?"

Her words carried weight.

"I confirmed your identity with the Overseer," she continued. "You are indeed a fellow operative, working on a secret mission, just like me. However..."

She hesitated, searching for the right words.

"Do you find my frequent appearances… concerning, Durandal-Sama?" Lin Wei asked, flashing a calm smile.

"Precisely. I apologize for my bluntness. Rita would have phrased it more delicately," she admitted.

Despite her directness, she remained composed, professional.

"As you said, you're an intelligence operative appointed by the Overseer. He confirmed this, so I don't doubt your identity. Please don't misunderstand."

So humble.

Lin Wei's respect for Durandal grew. He shook his head, assuring her he wasn't offended.

"However," Durandal continued, "your existence was previously unknown. I've been with Schicksal for a while, and I've never heard of 'He Kun.' I assume you belong to a department known only to the Overseer, answering to no one else. This is the only logical explanation for your… secrecy."

Lin Wei chuckled inwardly, impressed by her perceptiveness. Durandal only seemed oblivious, but she was sharp and observant. Deceiving her wouldn't be easy.

"And given your secrecy," Durandal went on, "your previous appearance was already unusual, perhaps even inappropriate—especially since, as you admitted, it wasn't authorized by the Overseer. Openly revealing your identity seems to contradict your clandestine nature. I don't quite understand…"

Durandal didn't actually doubt his identity, especially after Otto's confirmation. But his reappearance had raised a red flag. His actions didn't align with the persona he had presented.

True to her nature, Durandal addressed her concerns directly, without hesitation or awkwardness.

She recalled his boisterous greeting and the autograph request, a sudden thought striking her.

"Don't tell me..."

As if on cue, Lin Wei pulled out the familiar notebook.

"...You know what, Mr. He Kun? I don't have any more questions," Durandal interrupted, genuinely apologetic. "I apologize. That was my mistake."

Fandom makes people do crazy things. How could I forget? she mentally chided herself. Just like cats made her do crazy things. She'd seen this kind of behavior countless times at Schicksal HQ.

"Oh..." Lin Wei put the notebook away, and Durandal breathed a sigh of relief.

"...Any other questions, Durandal-Sama?" Lin Wei asked, feigning disappointment while secretly amused.

He knew she'd fall for this kind of absurd yet plausible excuse. He recalled Theresa's ridiculous reason for sending Durandal away during the 4th Herrscher incident.

Hey, as long as it works, right?

"Did the Overseer authorize your visit?" Durandal asked, clearly trying to gauge the situation.

"Huh? He didn't?" Lin Wei feigned confusion, then smoothly spun his fabricated story.

"Shortly after our last meeting, the Overseer contacted me. He ordered me back to Manila to help him locate a secret organization…"

"But he didn't mention our meeting, nor did he disapprove. Doesn't that imply he wants us to cooperate?" Lin Wei quickly reestablished his position, making sure there was no room for misunderstanding. Though, in truth, his real motive was personal.

"I was away on another mission, in Coral Island," he continued earnestly. "The Overseer recalled me, prioritizing this mission…"

He paused, looking thoughtful.

"But I was away for a while. I might have missed something important. So, I thought I'd consult with you, Durandal-Sama, to avoid any… oversights."

Everything he said lined up with his actions as "He Kun," just enough to make it believable.

"Well, to be honest, I know even less than you," Durandal confessed, her suspicions easing. "The Overseer only told me to await his orders. I know very little—even about this 'secret organization.' I only learned about it from you and a brief message from the Overseer."

She frowned.

"A secret organization? Is he referring to Anti-Entropy?"

In Durandal's world, there were only two major organizations.

"Certainly not Anti-Entropy. My previous mission was to infiltrate them and gather intel for the Overseer," Lin Wei said with a wry smile. "This 'secret organization' is completely new to me… but I'm sure the Overseer has his reasons." Otto's endorsement was proving incredibly useful.

"He recently informed me that the target can create and control large Honkai beasts," Durandal shared, since it wasn't classified information. "He also mentioned a cat-type Honkai beast, possibly capable of shrinking, likely hiding in the city with its controller. He instructed me to… be gentle… and report back immediately if I encounter it."

She paused, clearly uncomfortable, her brows furrowed in confusion at Otto's unusual request.

"Cat-type Honkai beast?" Lin Wei's heart skipped a beat. His mind raced as he gave her a strange look. "So, about that cat just now…"

The thing you were cuddling? You didn't notice anything unusual? Seriously? Where's your keen observation now?

He hoped she had noticed something. It would make him feel less guilty.

"What are you thinking, Mr. He Kun?" Durandal asked, shattering his hopes. "A Honkai beast is a Honkai beast. Even if it looks like a cat, its energy signature and physiology would be completely different."

Lin Wei considered this. It made sense.

In the original timeline, when the two Gray Serpents merged into Assaka in the Sea of Quanta, neither their appearance nor Schicksal's advanced detection systems had revealed their true nature until they injected themselves with the transformation serum. It had caught both Anti-Entropy and Schicksal completely off guard.

If World Serpent possessed such advanced technology, applying it to a cat wouldn't be surprising.

"So, you believe that cat was just a normal cat?" Lin Wei pressed.

"Perhaps not entirely normal," Durandal chuckled, recalling their encounters. "It seemed quite mischievous, attacking other pets. And it had a temper. But overall, quite charming…"

Lin Wei stared at her, her sincerity undeniable.

"I'll get you a cat after this mission," he offered impulsively.

"After the mission?" Durandal considered this for a moment, then smiled. "Alright, I'll hold you to that."

After a few more pleasantries, they parted ways.

"The invincible Durandal has a soft spot for cats? Who knew…" Lin Wei mused as he walked away.

Yae Sakura, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "What's next?"

"Next? Nothing," he replied with a grin. "But we could pay Ms. Jackal another visit. I hope she enjoys the little gift I left her…"