Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

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Charcoal-making in snowy conditions requires skill.

Factors such as terrain, insulation, moisture control, and types of wood demand expertise from seasoned professionals.

Zeke was indeed one such professional.

Not because he had experience burning charcoal in his previous life, but due to his extraordinary learning and comprehension abilities. With limited information and thoughtful analysis, he developed a comprehensive theoretical approach.

Fortunately, they discovered a shallow cave nestled within the snow-covered landscape.

For gathering wood, with the help of an electric saw, sleds, and Kiana's superhuman strength, it took them only half a day to accomplish the task.

Everything proceeded smoothly, aligning perfectly with Zeke's plan, except for...

"Wow, it's so warm here, Zeke! Let's sleep tonight right at this spot!"

The thick layer of soil covered the smoldering wood beneath, isolating it from air yet unable to contain the seeping heat entirely.

As a result, the fresh earth radiated a continuous warmth.

Kiana pressed her hands against the warm ground, her face expressing delight like a contented kitten.

True to her nature, she didn't want to leave and even planned to spend the night in this cozy haven.

"Sigh!" Zeke let out a deep breath before raising his shovel high.

Kiana recoiled with shock: "Wait! What are you doing?"

Zeke's voice turned ominous. "Didn't you want to sleep here? I'll... help... you... Ah!"

With his chilling tone, icy and terrifying gaze, and the eerie curve at the corner of his mouth, Zeke resembled a scene straight out of a horror movie.

No! This isn't helping! He intends to make poor Miss Kiana take an eternal nap right on the spot!

"I get it, I'm leaving right away!" Kiana exclaimed hastily.

"But didn't you want to sleep here?"

"Not anymore! Not anymore! I feel wide awake now! Besides, my bed at home is much more comfortable!" Kiana vigorously nodded to emphasize her sincerity.

Then, Zeke lowered the shovel.

The atmosphere instantly lightened, as if an eerie black-and-white photograph suddenly burst into vibrant color, transforming into a cheerful social media selfie.

"Fine, no need for such scare tactics," Kiana muttered while patting her racing heart.

Zeke subtly rolled his eyes.

Kiana, with her white hair, boundless energy, impulsiveness, and goofiness... At her core, this young girl embodied a spirit akin to that of a Siberian husky.

Only a formidable presence could tame such spirited souls.

Additionally, seeing the white-haired girl's teary-eyed fright was simply too adorable.

Unable to resist, Zeke reached out and gently ruffled her hair, eliciting a sweet, goofy smile from her.

"Let's head back."

"So soon?"

"We can't dig until four days from now. For the next few days, just burn one pit each day; that should be enough for selling. The market is still small; there's no way to scale up significantly yet."

"Then, what do we do this afternoon?"

Under Kiana's expectant gaze, though he wasn't sure why she looked so hopeful, Zeke pondered briefly before suggesting:

"You go find some news about your old man on your own. As for me, I'll make more preparations and gather additional information along the way."

"Oh right, my stinky dad! Almost forgot about him, heh!"

Don't forget! He's still your father... Oh wait, not entirely true considering certain circumstances. Never mind then.

Recalling Kiana's complicated background, Zeke sighed.

He decided it would be best to treat her kindly; the young girl had many challenging times ahead in her future.

Mondstadt was the name of this small town, located near the border between Europe and Russia. During earlier wars, its sovereignty frequently changed hands among neighboring countries, sometimes shifting allegiance daily. Consequently, although technically part of Russia now, it essentially fell through the cracks—no one cared enough to manage it.

Due to chaotic governance, complex terrain limiting accessibility, and lacking valuable resources, Mondstadt had always been impoverished.

In recent years, capable locals continuously migrated away, taking much-needed production and consumption power with them, exacerbating the economic hardships faced by those remaining.

However, the isolation, backwardness, and disorganized administration inadvertently made it an ideal location for secretive, illicit transactions.

"Where's the money?"

"And the goods?"

"Money first, then the goods!"

"Goods delivered, payment follows!"

"Deal!"

"Smooth!"

In the neighboring house's attic, Zeke rolled his eyes after hearing their conversation crystal clear through a homemade string telephone.

Are you guys filming a movie here?!

Remember the incident yesterday when Zeke and Kiana took down some street thugs, exploiting their own kind?

Zeke was puzzled at how such a destitute area could sustain a group of well-fed, burly thugs. After conducting some investigations, he discovered their main hideout.

Coincidentally, the roof of this adjacent house needed repairs yesterday, so Zeke took on the job, leaving behind a clever precaution.

To his surprise, it yielded unexpected results today.

No ulterior motives; firstly, having encountered them already, Zeke needed to observe their subsequent actions. If there were further complications, it was best to be prepared ahead of time.

Secondly, he wanted to investigate the financial dealings behind these thugs. Should an opportunity arise and circumstances demand, he might strike it big.

Throughout history, those who achieved great things often had questionable origins for their initial wealth. Without a substantial windfall as startup capital, one cannot build towering success from scratch.

Zeke desperately needed such a windfall.

If he were still the ordinary person from his previous life, he would have steered clear of such matters.

But now, armed with a superhuman intellect, he could attempt extraordinary endeavors.

Being a laid-back slacker requires being free from worries about basic needs. Someone struggling to afford food yet spending all day lounging on the couch with their phone isn't a slacker—they're simply a failure.

Zeke aimed to be a slacker, not a failure.

Securing a large sum could significantly shorten the time before he could comfortably embrace that lifestyle.

"US dollars? How thoughtful!"

"Easier to carry and convenient for you too!"

"Satisfied with the goods?"

"We've collaborated numerous times; I trust you guys. By the way, what happened to your subordinates? Don't tell me they got drunk and stumbled like this."

"They did get drunk, but it wasn't a stumble. They went out causing trouble and brought it upon themselves."

"Need any assistance?"

"No need, everything's already arranged. There's a wealthy individual in Siberia who appreciates that type, perfect for another deal."

"Haha, still, be cautious. This town has a small population; more unexplained disappearances will raise suspicions."

"Just two orphans, nobody cares about them. At most, people might assume they ran off to beg elsewhere."

"As long as you're aware of the risks."

"Huh?!"

Zeke recoiled, astounded.

Whoa, I haven't even decided whether to make my move yet, and these guys have already set their sights on us?!

How could he let this slide?

After carefully listening to the entire conversation until they began clearing up after dinner, Zeke recalled the voices he'd heard and reached some conclusions:

Two groups of people, totaling eleven individuals.

At least seven were from the faction Kiana and he had double-crossed—the locals. The remaining newcomers could be called outsiders.

With dusk settling in and the snowy roads treacherous, the outsiders would stay overnight, and the locals had to host them.

Therefore, the locals wouldn't strike at Zeke and Kiana until tomorrow.

Considering the illicit nature of their trade (the keywords censored for decency), it was safe to assume everyone carried firearms.

They likely weren't involved with Honkai-related troublemakers, as Kiana dispatched them effortlessly yesterday.

So, we need to find a way to take them out.

With that thought, Zeke descended the attic using the footholds he left on the wall yesterday, stealthily exiting the house without detection. Not even the homeowners bustling downstairs noticed his presence throughout his visit.