Honkai Impact 3rd, but I have too many mods.

Page 335

Ningguang looked at Keqing's serious expression and calmly asked.

Although he didn't know the significance of the pocket watch to Liu Bai, if it really broke, he should think about compensation measures more than panicking.

"...I shouldn't have broken it?"

After examining it for a while, Keqing's serious expression faded, revealing a relieved look, and then she showed the pocket watch to Ningguang.

"Look, the time on this pocket watch is 0:00, and the current time is 10:30, so this pocket watch must have broken a long time ago."

The object of the condensation stared and nodded.

Indeed, the hour, second, and minute hands were all stopped at the 12 position.

"It seems that Mr. Liu Bai specifically set all the hands to 12 because they were broken?"

Ningguang stroked her chin and analyzed.

This behavior is a bit obsessive-compulsive, but it also shows that this thing has sentimental value.

"How about we get it repaired?" Keqing looked at the pocket watch. "But I feel like the design is a bit strange... Ningguang, were you ever a watchmaker?"

"No, to my shame, I've never done anything that requires technical skills," Ningguang said frankly, shaking her head.

"Hmm... shall I give it a try?"

"You can?"

"know a little."

Keqing closed the lid and shook the pocket watch near her ear.

"Hmm...judging from the sound, some part inside might be rusted."

I didn't hear that shattering sound, although it's possible that a part fell off and got stuck.

However, judging from the overly simple appearance of this pocket watch, Keqing felt that the former possibility was more likely.

After all, the main purpose of these analog pocket watches nowadays is to show off, not to tell time.

Ke Qing didn't think Liu Bai was using this to show off because it was taken out of Liu Bai's inner pocket, clearly something he treasured and kept with him.

(Is there some story behind this...?)

Keqing was somewhat curious (maybe it's related to interstellar travel?).

“In principle, I don’t agree with this kind of unauthorized action, but if you can do it, you can give it a try,” Ningguang replied after thinking it over.

It's not that I'm hoping to repay you with my body after you're completely broken—that's actually not very realistic.

Just like in ancient times, not everyone could gain merit by "killing bandits." If it wasn't on the border, the first question would be: why are there no bandits in other areas, but bandits have appeared in the area you govern? How can you be such a good official?

In most cases, after a problem is resolved, the first step is to investigate the cause.

Ningguang's reason for agreeing to let Keqing work on it is quite simple—pocket watches aren't that technologically advanced.

If you can get the original Keqing, that would be best. If not, the "Ship of Theseus" will do—after all, the exterior is intact, so you might just be looking at the shell.

It's not the kind of thing that "stopped bullets".

Since everything inside is broken anyway, Keqing should be fine as long as she doesn't break the exterior.

Ke Qing clearly understood this principle as well.

He simply sat down again and began to examine the pocket watch in his hand.

"Do you need to buy anything?"

"Let me check out the inside first... but this thing's design is really weird."

"How to say?"

Ningguang raised an eyebrow.

This is the second time Keqing has said that the pocket watch has a strange design.

“Hmm… I can’t find a gap, and it doesn’t seem to be wound up, nor does it seem to be the kind that relies on a oscillating weight.” Keqing continued to shake the pocket watch. “There’s only one button on top.”

Ningguang could understand some of it, and the rich woman occasionally collected some valuable pocket watches.

"Try pressing it?" Ningguang said casually. "Maybe something will happen."

"Hopefully it's not a one-click dismantling."

Keqing made a sarcastic remark, and then, to prevent the sarcastic remark from actually happening, she placed the pocket watch flat on the table and pressed the button.

The entire pocket watch has only one button, almost like telling someone "press here".

Click.

"...Nothing happened, did it?"

After a brief silence, Keqing put down her pocket watch, which had remained untouched, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ningguang, I really don't understand this. Should we ask another master to take a look? Are you listening, Ningguang?"

Chapter 254 Unrepentant in the Face of Lightning

"Ningguang?" Keqing put down her pocket watch and turned her head with some confusion.

Ningguang isn't the type of person who doesn't reply just because she's thinking, is she?

Turning her head, Keqing found that Ningguang was still in a thinking posture.

...Is he really ignoring people?

wrong!

Keqing finally noticed the incongruity about Ningguang.

—Just like the "Statue" game we played as kids.

It presents an incongruous stillness.

However, "one, two, three, freeze!" is just a game, and the children playing the freezers are just putting on a brave face.

And Ningguang now...

Keqing stood up and carefully touched Ningguang.

"..."

no response.

But his body was still warm.

Why is this happening?

Ke Qing then looked at Liu Bai—Liu Bai looked almost exactly like Ning Guang.

"...In the game of 'Statues,' the condition for remaining still is for the child in front to turn their head, so now..."

Ke Qing's gaze shifted to the pocket watch on the table.

Needless to say, all these strange phenomena started after he pressed the pocket watch.

If I press it again, will these people return to normal?

...But why does this pocket watch possess such magic? What is the underlying principle?

Keqing picked up the pocket watch again, opened the cover, and keenly noticed that the pocket watch had actually started moving—albeit backwards.

"...a timer?"

No, even if it's a timer, that's too weird. Whose timer would have its hands going backward?

Ke Qing suddenly looked at the digital clock in the room, as if sensing something.

The second hand of the pocket watch went back a full circle, but... the time on the digital clock remained unchanged.

"Time stops?"

Ke Qing muttered to herself in disbelief.

He then immediately rushed out of the room and went for a walk around other places.

Upon returning, Ke Qing could no longer conceal the shock on her face.

She has reached a conclusion.

Time in this world has been frozen.

Now, Ke Qing looked at the pocket watch in her hand and felt it was burning hot.

It's a rainbow, a shrimp crying {at the moment (sunny $ five came to say), I now I don't have I cried what bell rainbow what feed (discovering the joy of crying artifact is, having a dream is just a burning fear.

This thing is deadly.

It was so terrible that even Keqing didn't know how to deal with this thing.

It's like having a nuclear bomb in the Stone Age that can be used indefinitely, carried around, and has no friendly fire effects.

Excessive power is not the problem, but excessive power without any cost, which is usable by anyone, is problematic.

Keqing estimated from the design of the pocket watch that since it was a timekeeping device, the backward movement must have an end.

It might be one lap, or it might be two laps.

"...Give it back to Mr. Liu Bai." Ke Qing now truly understood why Liu Bai always carried this pocket watch with him.

It's not that there aren't safer places, but that carrying something with you makes you feel safest.

Ke Qing didn't even dare to imagine what the world would become if a powerful villain got his hands on such a divine artifact.

Even if it's just one ring, and a one-time use item, it's enough to easily wipe out the leader of a major power.

...Although she was reluctant to admit it, Ke Qing had to say that after thinking it over carefully, Liu Bai seemed to be the best owner of this thing.

Although things went a bit crazy today, it's not a big deal if you think about it seriously.

Everyone in that group seemed to be completely willing, and Liu Bai himself was probably the least willing. Although the matter seemed morally corrupt, it wasn't actually that bad.

Not to mention that Liu Bai was originally the owner of this thing.

"Let's pretend nothing happened."

Keqing sighed and prepared to press the button again.

However, it suddenly occurred to me that if I pressed the button now, I wouldn't be able to explain the change in my position to Ningguang.

So Keqing went out again, restored some of the things she had touched to their original state, and then sat back down in her chair.

"..."

Then, as she placed her hand on the button, Ke Qing suddenly stared at Liu Bai.

It is currently in a time-stop state.

So that means she's doing something secretly... No, no, no, how could I think that!

Ke Qing shook her head repeatedly.

However, I cannot deny that a tiny bit of a bold idea has arisen in my heart.

The ancestor once said, "The gentleman should be cautious in what he does not see, and fearful of what he does not hear. Nothing is more visible than what is hidden, and nothing is more manifest than what is minute. Therefore, the gentleman is cautious when he is alone."

In other words, one should be careful with one's words and actions and adhere to one's principles even in places where others cannot see or control one.

Our ancestors knew that even a virtuous person would inevitably have some reckless thoughts under such circumstances.

—This is Keqing's current state.

Time stop means absolute safety. No one will know what she does now, and there will be no consequences.

Taking this opportunity...

"...It's nothing serious, it'll be fine, right?"

Keqing seemed to be convincing herself.

After a moment of silence, Keqing seemed to finally muster up her courage and pinched the corner of the blanket with her hand.

Then slowly lift it up...

"...So that's how it is."

Ke Qing observed the things before her.