Stark paused, his eyes flickering with an obscure emotion, then he smiled and placed his large hand on the obedient girl’s head.
This time, she did not resist.
“What a joke.
How could I let you scavenge for trash?”
“If anyone’s going to do it, it should be me!”
The man patted his chest, his righteousness soaring to the heavens.
He really didn’t seem to know how to be a father, but a man couldn’t let his daughter suffer, could he?
Even if the system was useless, he was at least much more mature than Silver Wolf.
They would manage to get by together.
It’s just…
damn it, my dream of making the Wolf Cub work has been shattered.
Stark was in pain yet happy.
Was he ultimately unable to escape the fate of having to strive on his own?
“…”
“Pffft…
what kind of expression is that!”
“My face is stiff, I’m just scrunching it up to loosen it.
What are you laughing at?”
“I…
my teeth are hot, they’re coming out for air…
pffft.”
Silver Wolf laughed out loud for no reason, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
This time, it was even more uninhibited.
What was that?
That reluctant look on his face—was scavenging for trash that embarrassing?
If she hadn’t relied on scavenging for trash, she wouldn’t have survived until now.
She clearly finds it dirty, right?
Why didn’t he find her dirty when he held her…
He really is a strange person.
“Stark, didn’t you find me smelly just now?”
“You smell good.
Little girls don’t smell.
Don’t talk nonsense.
If you find it dirty, I’ll take you to wash up in a bit…”
“…”
Who wants him to wash them?
A pervert really does leave one speechless.
Silver Wolf didn’t get the answer she wanted, and she didn’t want to be brushed off like that; she was stubborn to the bone.
“Why?”
“Ah, if you have to ask, it’s probably because I’m your father.
Besides, I really didn’t think you smelled.”
Before transmigrating, Stark had helped raise his parents’ third child, his little sister.
Compared to human infants who soil their pants, Silver Wolf was indeed soft and smelled good.
To find a stray orphan smelly…
even someone as tasteless as him couldn’t do something like that.
He was just a pervert, not a scumbag.
“Don’t worry.”
“Wolfie, I love you.
Come on, let’s go buy an umbrella first.
By the way, are you familiar with this area?
I don’t know the way.”
“…”
Stark always spoke so casually, so lightly…
If he didn’t know the way, how did he find her?
But Silver Wolf couldn’t even bring herself to retort, because her mind was echoing with those mushy words, “I love you.”
She lowered her head, her face flushed red.
She couldn’t think.
[Silver Wolf Favorability +1.]
[Silver Wolf Favorability +1.]
[Silver Wolf Favorability +1.]
[…]
[Congratulations to the Host for reaching Favorability 30 (Friendly).]
[Mission: The Man Behind the Wolf Lord (Completed).]
[Rewards synchronizing.]
[Bug-tier game cartridge *1, Aether Editing • Entry Level (Automatically mastered).]
[Current: Lv0.]
[Lv99 is considered clearing Punklorde.
Completing the final mission will end this Punklorde journey.]
[Lv999 is the human limit below an Aeon.]
Stark was touched by this reward.
Why didn’t you say so earlier?
Even the game cartridge was synchronized?
Isn’t that devious?
Good thing he didn’t dare choose Mission 1.
[Hint: The two options are of equal value.]
How were they equal?
In any case, Stark couldn’t see it.
System, mark the location of Nihilux’s restaurant?
If you don’t…
he might really have to distract Silver Wolf for a moment and shout to summon Nihilux right there.
After all, he couldn’t just wander around aimlessly with Silver Wolf, right?
New account, don’t mess around.
[Novice mission completed, basic map function unlocked.
Reach the target location to unlock the full map for that area.]
[Punklorde, Lower City (Lit up).]
Stark’s mind was flooded with a complex transportation network, even including secret passages used by gangs and some hidden rooms, all presented clearly.
It also marked the basic spheres of influence.
For example, where they were currently was the place for the lowest-level residents of Punklorde, generally where people below Lv20 stayed.
Black Alley.
No dangerous big shots, and no resources either.
If he had to say something.
There were many orphans here, but in Punklorde, being an orphan wasn’t terrifying; it was perfectly possible to beg for a meal, after all, this was a region where virtual and reality intersected.
Resources weren’t lacking…
Life was just a game.
The truly miserable ones were the children who didn’t even have a game cartridge, who didn’t even have an entrance ticket to the game.
And one of those few was right by Stark’s side.
[Silver Wolf, current intimacy: 30 (Friendly).]
[Next tier: 60 (Trust) can unlock Reward Critical Hit (Quality improvement).]
[Favorability 90 (Intimate): Unlock special CG replay function and the exclusive skill for Silver Wolf • “Dad-ominance” (Also effective on Silver Wolf from other timelines, ensuring a loving father and filial daughter).]
[Favorability 100 (???)]
The rewards were very tempting.
What did special CG replay mean?
[CG Replay: The host can project any memory of spending time with Silver Wolf at will.
“Dad-ominance”: Absolute suppression of Silver Wolf without level restrictions, making her unable to resist.]
Stark smiled.
That’s right…
That’s it.
The strictest father of Silver Wolf in Honkai: Star Rail has arrived!
Silver Wolf shivered inexplicably.
Hmm, she always felt Stark’s gaze on her had become a bit strange.
Was it an illusion?
She clenched her hands uneasily.
She was already on the pirate ship; there was no escaping now!
And at this moment, new text appeared on her game cartridge.
[New Mission]
[Find the long-lost mother.]
[Reward: Lv0 → Lv1, various basic attributes increased…]
“???”
The rain was still falling.
Stark carried an umbrella and bags of food from the store, stuffing a hot sausage into Silver Wolf’s little mouth.
“We might not have much money at home right now, so just make do with this for now.”
The Wolf Cub couldn’t care about the food in her mouth; she was currently staring at the mission, completely bewildered.
Find a dad and then immediately find a mom?
So, Stark really was her dad!?
Her voice trembled slightly; it seemed she was too embarrassed to ask.
“Stark, I…
who is my mom?”
“Yeah…
who is your mom…”
“Wait, let me think who it was.
No, wait, why are you asking this?”
“The mission…”
The two looked at each other in silence.
A bad premonition surged into Stark’s heart.
Assuming he remembered correctly, weren’t Silver Wolf’s upgrade missions all quite normal?
Either playing games, dominating game records…
Or challenging above her level—there was no Wolf Lord here!
Or making it so there were no more scavengers in Scrap Mountain—chuunibyou yet righteous.
But right now, wasn’t this style a bit off?
But he forgot…
Aha wasn’t dead; It was watching.
It liked the comedy of solo leveling and upholding justice, and It also liked the comedy of a happy family bickering.
Stark pondered for a long time.
The only woman he knew here was that one person, but would he really not be beaten to death by Nihilux?
“Your mom…”
“Is a, um, very beautiful woman.
You will like her.”
“Let’s go.”
“You’ll know when you see her.”
“But your hands are sweating, and your head is too.
Are you afraid?”
“What are you talking about?
That’s rain.”
“Oh…”
A smile appeared on the corner of Silver Wolf’s mouth as she held his warm hand and continued to follow him, though she had changed back into her original beggar outfit.
That dress was too flashy and conspicuous…
and it was embarrassing to wear.
She didn’t want to cause trouble for Stark.
This was fine.
“Why did you change back?”
“I’m not used to wearing it, I’ll get it dirty.”
“Is that so…”
“Come on, Dad, Dad will take you home to take a bath.”
The wind blows soughing, the Yi River is cold; the brave man goes, never to return.