Chapter 65: Depths of COCOON

"Brother Ein!" Rin waved at him and went near. "How are you doing today?" She smiled sweetly as she exuded positivity.

He patted her head and gave some sakura mochi and dangos that she loves. "Just alright Rin. How about you? Are you doing good at school?" In the days where she would wait for her sister. They would sometimes meet and talk for some time, it was refreshing talking to a nice girl like Rin about day to day life as well.

She puffed up her chest and had a smug look on her face. "Ahem. I'm the very best you know? You've given me tons of material to study! They're nice and simple too." She boasted to him as he laughed at her antics.

"Well, I'm a scientist already at my age. You'll be just like me in no time." He gave her a thumbs up as she pouted at him. "Mou~ you, Dr. Mei, and Dr. Mobius are different! You guys are like clouds in the sky for ordinary people. I can't possibly top that." She huffed.

They relaxed and talked on the sakura tree as Rin waited for Sakura. "Ahhh. Ein-san, thank you so much. You've helped Rin a lot, even with her performance in school. She also boast about tasting your hand made foods. She says that mine pale in comparison." She scratched her cheek in embarrassment.

He smiled and patted his other side for her to sit. "Don't worry about that Sakura. And you cook? Rin hasn't told me you're good in the kitchen."

Sakura sat as her fox ears twitched from his words. "Well, I quite like it. I've been cooking for Rin and our family for as long as I can remember. But she has her favorite it seems." She looked at Rin munching on some japanese desserts that looked exquisite, basically perfect.

He noticed and took out some for her as well. "Here, try some." She was about to refuse, but ultimately tried it. Taking a bite, her ears stood up straight from the taste, texture, smell. It was simply inhumanly good. And with her enhanced senses, she could taste the subtlest differences.

"Oh my. I admit defeat, Rin... Your sister can't possibly make something like this you know? It's like a dish that was perfected by years of experiments and testing, just like an artisan." She smiled wryly as she thought she was quite the cook in the kitchen.

"Right? Brother Ein... You have to tell us the recipes! So we could enjoy this more often. Pleaseeee." She made puppy dog eyes at him as he chuckled.

"Alright." He took out a piece of paper and quickly drew diagrams and steps, making it look like a blueprint. "Sakura, here it is. This is pretty detailed, so I think you could perfect it with some practice." He gave it to her as she took it and read the recipe immediately.

"Umu." She nodded from time to time while reading. "This is certainly... Detailed beyond belief, thank Dr. Ein Rin. He gave us some recipes we could enjoy greatly. It's mainly japanese cuisines as well, with this, you'll certainly have a taste of home." She smiled tenderly at Rin.

"Yatta! Thanks brother Ein! Now, only sister's skills need to be better." She snickered at Sakura as her sister narrowed her eyes at her and pinched her cheek.

"What do you mean by that Rin!? Certainly, Dr. Ein is unmatched, but I'll catch up soon enough." She pouted.

Ein laughed at them and ruffled their hair. "Hmm, is this what it's like to have siblings? You guys sure have a good relationship. I thought siblings were a bit more aggressive than you two." He remembered the siblings he saw back then, talking trash on the other but still has a bond.

Rin smiled. "Thanks, it's just. Nee-san took care of me starting from when we were small. She's sacrificed a lot for me, then I need to be nicer to her right? And to repay it, I'll live a good life just like what she wants." Sakura listened intently as she teared up from her sister's words.

"Rin... You're welcome." She smiled as they relaxed for a bit, enjoying the refreshing breeze.

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Sakura just finished a mission as she wiped blood from her blade. She subjugated some zombies and infected people, too late to be saved from the corruption. As she left blue flowers on the site of their death. Forget me nots.

She sighed heavily. "This can get exhausting. And the people do not deserve this..." She looked at her blade that has reaped lives. Lives that are now with her forever for as long as she lived.

"No matter, if Rin is safe. Then I can continue, even if it takes as long as my whole life." She remembered Rin's now safe and happy life, making her commander Ein appear in her head. "Dr. Ein takes care of her as well. His efforts are not needed, but greatly appreciated." She smiled.

"Sakura! What are you dilly dallying for!? We need to move." Kalpas appeared as he called for Sakura, they worked in pairs in Cocoon. And She was unfortunately stuck with Kalpas, as he sometimes get too heated up and causes accidents with the more normal agents.

"Kalpas, let's go." They left swiftly and covertly, completing the mission. They were the best of Cocoon, boasting a staggering 100% completion rate of missions.

Sakura submitted a report as Kalpas returned to his quarters. Everybody was silent as they saw him, whispering. They didn't want to incur his wrath, as they heard of what happened to people that tried to overextend their bounds.

He sighed as he finally arrived at his room. There, he saw Ein surveying his room. He immediately tried to hide some stuffed toys and wooden dolls that were in plain sight.

"This isn't what it looks like." He panicked internally, as his commander might misunderstand.

He expected a mocking smile or snickers but Ein only smiled sadly as he patted him on the back. "Kalpas... You've been through a lot, it isn't really my business that you like certain things. You miss those times right? A time where things were simple, kids played and frolicked. Everything was fine." (but the fire nation attacked. Ahem)

Kalpas started to get frustrated as he clenched his fists. "You can get hung up on it. But no matter what you do, it happened already. So keep a tight lid on your emotions, release it when it's necessary." Ein then left him to his self.

Kalpas remembered the 2nd herrscher, it appeared suddenly on top of their small town. Razing everything to the ground, putting people in boxes and releasing honkai beasts to the inhabitants. As one by one, they all died a gruesome death. He managed to escape by the skin of his teeth with several survivors. As they wandered, and some of them died from honkai corruption.

"Yes. I will." He gritted his teeth as he internalized his words. "They will be the ones beneath my feet, as they plead for mercy. But I don't have any."

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Sakura finished filing the report and submitted it. She sighed heavily from another mission done, she then found Ein while he was inspecting Cocoon's facilities and status reports.

"Ahh. Dr. Ein, pleased to meet you here." She bowed deeply as he sighed at her actions and flicked her on the forehead. "Sakura, don't be too hung up on formality. You know I hate those types of things. I've seen your performance, it is excellent to say the least. So go and hang out with Rin, you need it as well." He patted her on the back.

As he was about to walk away, she called out to him. "Umm, Ein-san. Can I ask you something?" Her face was serious as she looked him in the eye.

"Would you protect Rin for me? In exchange for my loyalty? I've seen what you can do, and that's not all right? So please, if there's ever a catastrophe that even we can't stop. Can I ask you of this?" Her eyes didn't waver, her will, as steadfast as a boulder.

He looked at her for a moment as he turned his whole body. He then pinned her on a wall as he went uncomfortably close.

"Hooo? What do you think would be the result if you became loyal to me? There's next to nothing in it for me? And the only thing left would be your body." He whispered at her ears. But she didn't even flinch.

"If that is what you want, then so be it." She closed her eyes as she spread her arms wide and waited.

He stroked the base of her fluffy fox ears as she stiffened. Holding her voice with all her might as his actions gave her intense stimulation. Like a sudden jolt of electricity all over her body.

"Hmm, you're no fun." He flicked her on the forehead. As she became confused. "You don't need to tell me that Sakura, your sister gets the protection she is due. Even if Mei was the one who gave you the deal, you're in my command after all in Cocoon."

She then remembered that everyone in Cocoon lived comfortably, except whenever they're in a mission. Getting tons of benefits, even their families live in luxury.

As her face flushed from embarrassment. "You could've told me that in the 1st place..." She puffed her cheeks. As she covered her face, wanting to crawl into a hole.

He laughed as he rubbed her ears again. Surprising her, as she let out a moan. "Ahn~" She covered her mouth immediately and crouched on the ground.

"Well, you were so serious that I just couldn't help it. And besides, Rin would be a good influence on Griseo. Aponia and Kosma can't teach her good social skills after all." He nodded sagely.

"Ugh." She cringed from what happened as she thought that he won't let this go anytime soon. "Can you forget about that Dr.? I promise I'll go on extra mission. Please..." She pleaded and begged.

"Let me think... No. And besides, I can't forget anything Sakura, I have an eidetic memory. I can even recreate your cute little moan from my memory and put it on video." He gave a wide smile as he thought of showing it to Rin.

Her eyes widened from shock as she got depressed from his words, her ears flopped down. "Haha, don't be too down. I have a present for you." He took out a blue sword that had a cold aura, the 5th key.

"Here. This sword suits you no? A katana, and it would fit like a glove with your fighting style too. Well, just don't unleash the 0th power, you'll probably turn into a pink popsicle." He chuckled as he gave it to her.

"But... This is an important weapon! I can't possibly use this." She tried to give it back. "Nonsense, take it. I don't need those anymore, I could break it as well. They're too fragile for me now, if I hit something very hard. It might just fail on me, so you guys can use it."

She looked at it and felt the cold edge of the sword. She was satisfied by the sharpness, it was literally a cold blade. Made to freeze everything like an ice cube.

"Thank you. Ein, I'll never forget this." She sheathed the blade and bowed deeply. "There you go. You finally called me just by my name. Though, it was still a little too formal for my taste." He ruffled her hair.

She gave a wide smile as she thought of Rin. We might be relying on his kindness, but we'll be safe with him, Rin. She tried to pinch his side but his skin was rock solid.

Phyllis then appeared, wearing the uniform of Cocoon with Canned Food that was now a modified honkai beast. "Can! We finally got all the uniforms of Moth. This is a win in our book." She high fived the brown cat as Ein facepalmed at her antics.

"Phyllis, you could've just told me that you were collecting uniforms." She looked at him and shook her head. "Tsk, tsk, Ein. You should understand. That grinding for the achievement is what makes life more interesting!" She then ran off like the wind as an agent appeared and gave Ein a report.

It was about a new agent abandoning her duties. Making Kalpas clean up after her, as he went off to finish the mission. "Hah. She's certainly a handful."

Sakura chuckled. "Your interactions remind me sometimes of Rin. I guess you're like a big brother that shoulders the trouble of their siblings?" She smiled at Phyllis' antics.

"Now I need to make it up to Kalpas. Maybe I should teach him some kamen rider moves. He's got the mask and all." He thought about Kalpas jumping and initiating a drop kick.

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Ein was currently fiddling with his honkai cores. He was practicing on being a xianxia protagonist, absorbing honkai energy and strengthening his body even further. Also nourishing the cores so his control would be at 100%.

"Hmm. I've made a breakthrough." He then cringed as he imagined himself cultivating. And monologuing at his enemies like you're courting death or something.

"I've practiced this specifically for you Kevin. You better be thankful." He stood up and called for him who just returned from a mission.

Kevin immediately went to him. "Ein, what is it? Is there something important? You told me to come immediately." Ein noticed that he was getting depressed. Becoming less cheerful as he once were.

Ein sighed as he gestured for him to sit down. "Just a little surprise from me Kevin. Now, strip." He said with a straight face, confusing the hell out of Kevin as he took off his top. He can trust him with his life after all.

"Tch, you're no fun too. Why is everyone getting so serious." His hands glowed as his horns appeared and he closed his eyes, concentrating.

He touched Kevin's back and chest simultaneously as he started to absorb his honkai energy at an enormous rate, making Kevin flinch.

As he started to weaken, Ein inserted 2 fingers at his spine. As Kevin froze from feeling something foreign inside his hollow insides, but fortunately. It wasn't painful at all, like his flesh made way for his fingers.

Ein then gave specific signals to his nervous system to paralyze his whole body and started the real procedure.

He siphoned Kevin's honkai energy until he was almost empty. Kevin started to lose consciousness and Ein deactivated his ICHOR by making a connection to his 1st core. Entering Kevin into a low honkai energy state comparable to an above average joe. As his body heat started to rise to at least room temperature or he'll die from exhaustion.

Kevin felt weaker than ever, like he was a normal human again. As he patted all over his body. "What did you do?" He was confused, because all he felt was weakness. Not noticing his new temperature.

Ein then handed him a cup of coffee that was hot. "Here, drink this. You're still dazed from the procedure." Kevin took it and drank it quickly. But he noticed the heat, it didn't hurt him as he still has an enhanced body, but after the surgery. He couldn't even feel hot things anymore.

"Wh-what happened?" His voice shaky, as he couldn't believe what happened. Ein then took a thermometer and took his temperature. Showing it to Kevin he patted his back. "Congrats, you can have a lovey dovey date with Mei again." He grinned.

Kevin dropped the cup as he kneeled and bowed. "Thank you... Thank you very much." Ein floated him right back up as he waved his hands. "Go get em tiger." As Kevin nodded and immediately ran like the wind.

"Ahhh, youth. Enjoy your surprise kid." He took out some hot chocolate and leaned onto his chair. I get tons of honkai energy too, I call this a win win.

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Thanks for reading guys. I'll be focusing on the characters for now. Because the 9th onwards is one hellavu ride. Anyways, Ciao.