"Would you two be interested in joining our World Serpent to save this world together?"
Hearing Gray Serpent's words, Rita had already adjusted her body into a state ready to attack at any moment.
Although she could sense that the ten Herrscher Clones behind him were not at a level of Honkai Energy she couldn't handle, as an S-rank Valkyrie, Rita had of course read the intelligence report that the former World Serpent executive, Natasha Cioara, had handed over to Schicksal after defecting.
Gray Serpent was not only an intelligence analyst within World Serpent but could also be considered its current leader.
A person like Gray Serpent was definitely no brainless fool.
From his tone, Rita could already sense that Gray Serpent had probably guessed she would be here.
So—to dare to show up under these circumstances meant he was fully confident in the combat strength behind him.
If the Honkai Energy intensity wasn't high, then the problem must lie in the authorities of this group of Herrscher Clones.
And the clone that Leo fought last time could use the authority of gravity manipulation...
Just thinking of this authority made Rita feel that the enemy before her was an immense headache.
The authority of gravity manipulation was, in itself, a counter to a speed-type Valkyrie like her.
Moreover, Rita's task now was not to defeat the opponent, but to escape with Wendy, which further restricted her actions.
Was it a misjudgment?
I previously judged that moving around recklessly with Wendy might...
At this moment, seeing Rita's slightly tense body, Gray Serpent continued his invitation with the utmost sincerity.
"Miss Rita, I know you are contemplating your strategy, but please believe me, my words just now were filled with sincerity."
"Oh, sincerity, you say?"
Rita continued to think of a countermeasure while smiling back at Gray Serpent.
"Mr. Gray Serpent, if you want me to switch sides, it'll take more than just words."
"Lord Otto has been very kind to my parents and me, and I have no complaints about my salary and benefits."
"Under these circumstances, how could your so-called sincerity possibly move me?"
"Well, as for sincerity, you seem to have forgotten something..."
At that moment, the crimson prosthetic eye on Gray Serpent's head suddenly burst forth with a blinding light.
"—Your lives, and Miss Wendy's, are now in my hands."
At the instant Gray Serpent said this, Rita's expression changed. She immediately pulled Wendy from her wheelchair and forcefully threw her away.
Then, Rita, clad in her Godsbane Armor, was instantly crushed to the ground by a sudden wave of gravity.
"When did you...?!"
"Just as I was chatting with you, Miss Rita."
Gray Serpent looked at the now-suppressed Rita, walked over, and crouched down in front of her, speaking with a helpless tone.
"While you were contacting the other members of the Oceania Branch, I was also commanding my soldiers to gather their power."
"Their strength is indeed far inferior to that of an ordinary Pseudo-Herrscher, but precisely because of that, the fluctuations from them mobilizing their power are not so easily detected."
"After I distracted you with my words, it was within my calculations that you wouldn't notice their actions."
After saying this, Gray Serpent's sincere and respectful attitude vanished, replaced by a mocking tone.
"After all, in my intelligence network, although Rita Rossweisse is an esteemed S-rank Valkyrie, your win rate against Emperor-class Honkai Beasts isn't particularly high."
"As long as these soldiers of mine follow my command, suppressing a Valkyrie who is only slightly stronger than an Emperor-class is not that difficult."
Seeing Rita completely suppressed by the gravity wave, Gray Serpent suddenly turned his gaze to a problem not far away.
After being thrown by Rita, Wendy didn't say a word. Her first instinct was to try to escape.
As an A-rank Valkyrie, Wendy would never say something foolish like, 'I want to fight alongside Senior Rita.'
Since the enemy's target was her, she, the burden, should make a quick escape in her electric wheelchair the moment the enemy showed an opening.
Unfortunately, just as Wendy crawled near her spare electric wheelchair, she watched helplessly as it was crushed into a lump of scrap metal by a sudden gravitational wave.
"Miss Wendy, it seems you, like Miss Rita, haven't quite grasped the situation."
Looking at the unwilling expression on Wendy's face, Gray Serpent continued speaking to them.
"Did you think I would be like some third-rate villain in a novel, revealing the principles of my plan simply because I have nothing better to do?"
"I've said so much just to make you understand one thing—right now, the power of life and death over you two is in my hands."
"I hope you will both consider this carefully and not do anything foolish at a time like this."
"You...!"
Wendy pulled out the twin pistols from her waist and aimed them at the enemy before her.
"At this distance, you won't be able to dodge!"
"Ah, true, but..."
Gray Serpent, who had long since ordered the Herrscher Clones to deploy a protective barrier, nodded slightly as he watched the bullets actually manage to crack the barrier.
"Unfortunately, while Miss Wendy is indeed a rare talent, you are still too young."
"Give you a few more years, and your power would be enough to break these shields and harm me, thus turning the tide of battle."
"It's just a pity that in reality, there is no 'if'."
"Wendy, don't listen to him—"
"Please rest for a moment, Miss Rita."
After using a gravity wave to suppress Rita to the point where she couldn't speak, Gray Serpent continued to speak slowly to Wendy.
"Right now, I could kill you and Miss Rita, but I haven't done so."
"Cut the crap! You just want the Gem of Desire inside me!"
Wendy pointed her gun at her own head and spoke to Gray Serpent in a trembling voice.
"Don't... don't underestimate me!"
"Even if my legs are crippled, I am still a Valkyrie of Schicksal!"
"Rather than let the Gem fall into the hands of villains like you, I'd rather... die by my own gun!"
"...Heh, admirable courage."
Gray Serpent looked at the ice that had suddenly appeared under everyone's feet and shook his head helplessly.
"A pity. All courage, but no efficiency."
"Miss Wendy, if I were you, I would use myself as a commodity to trade for Miss Rita's life."
"And you, although you would leave the Oceania Branch with me, as long as you are alive, your allies will at least have a chance to take you back from our World Serpent."
Seeing the unconcealable pain on the unconscious Rita's face, Wendy had no intention of lowering her pistol.
"You—you think I'd believe your lies?"
"Actually, you already do. Otherwise, you would have pulled the trigger by now, wouldn't you?"
Gray Serpent walked up to Wendy and spoke to her in a 'gentle' manner.
"You know very well that you have no choice right now."
"Perhaps you have the courage to sacrifice your own life, but unfortunately—you lack the resolve to sacrifice your comrade's life along with your own."
"Without that resolve, you are ultimately just a little girl who hasn't grown up. Am I wrong?"
Seeing Wendy become even more shaken, Gray Serpent directly pulled out a special-made pistol and aimed it at Rita.
"Or perhaps, you want me to be the bad guy who 'kills Rita Rossweisse'?"
"If you're really that hypocritical, I can give you a hand. Well then, I'll count to three. Three..."
"Enough!"
Watching Gray Serpent place his finger on the trigger, Wendy lowered her twin pistols with immense pain and asked him.
"Are you really willing to let Senior Rossweisse go?"
"Of course—you certainly don't believe me, your enemy. However, after you hear my reasons, you probably will."
Realizing he had successfully duped the young girl before him, Gray Serpent spoke helplessly.
"You have the Gem of Desire in your body, and that is indeed our target."
"But if we push you too hard and cause you to transform into a Herrscher, then Miss Rita will die, and our plan will fail."
"Whether a combatant of her level lives or dies doesn't really affect our plans."
"Compared to killing someone unnecessarily and increasing the risk to the plan, I am of course more inclined to leave the battlefield with my target and proceed with my next plan."
"...Then what are you waiting for, let's go."
Wendy gazed at Rita lying on the ground, wanting to properly bid farewell to the senior who had protected her.
But in the end, she discarded such weak and useless thoughts.
Watching the girl take a deep look at Rita, Gray Serpent realized that these little girls from Schicksal were still too easy to fool.
It was true he had no intention of killing Rita, but if Wendy had tried to stall for time, not only would he not dare to kill Rita, he also wouldn't dare to provoke Wendy too much.
Just as Gray Serpent himself said, he was genuinely afraid that Wendy would suddenly 'awaken'.
At that point, facing a genuine Herrscher of Wind with only the combat power Gray Serpent currently commanded...
He felt that even with another four or five hundred Herrscher Clones, facing a real Herrscher would still mean certain death.
Whether Rita died now or not really didn't matter.
Once he retrieved the Gem of Desire and welcomed back Lord Kevin, the paper tigers of Schicksal would be reduced to dust under the Lord's power.
With Wendy completely giving up her resistance, Gray Serpent's plan for this stage was finally, albeit stumblingly, completed.
In the next moment, Gray Serpent managed to leave the Oceania Branch using the unstable Quantum Teleportation System.
And Rita, who had collapsed on the ground, had exhausted too much energy struggling and could no longer even maintain her armor, completely reverting to that incomparably delicate maid.
...
Several hours later. Schicksal HQ.
At Schicksal HQ, Durandal looked at Leo Ash in the hospital bed and let out a helpless sigh.
Leo Ash's injuries had, of course, been completely healed after Durandal used the power of Abyss Flower on him.
But after his injuries were healed, Leo Ash had slept for several hours and still hadn't woken up.
And according to what Kiana, who was beside Durandal, had just told her, Leo Ash had also been so exhausted last night that he fell asleep in the middle of a conversation with Fu Hua.
Leo Ash's body should be perfectly fine now.
To suddenly fall asleep repeatedly when his body was fine meant that his mental state was absolutely terrible.
The thought of Leo Ash rushing from one horrific battlefield to another made the fire in Durandal's heart burn even fiercer.
According to her recent investigation...
Well, to call it an investigation was to say she asked Kiana in detail.
According to what she learned from Kiana, in the incidents Leo Ash had encountered, things were often not so severe when he first set out.
When Leo Ash participated in the Nagazora City mission, Raiden Mei had not yet been pushed into a corner.
When Leo Ash participated in the Jiuyou mission, Chiyou showed no signs of awakening.
When Leo Ash participated in the Singapore mission, Yuno had not yet transformed into a Herrscher.
And the result?
In Nagazora City, Cocolia stirred up trouble, and Leo Ash nearly died there.
In Shenzhou's Jiuyou, World Serpent stirred up trouble, and Leo Ash was nearly killed by Chiyou.
In Singapore, World Serpent continued to stir up trouble, delaying Leo Ash's advance and causing him to fail to stop Yuno, and he nearly died again.
Alright, although Leo Ash seemed unharmed this time, how could one fight a Herrscher and be completely unscathed!
Even though Durandal had used Abyss Flower without checking his body first, she was certain that Leo Ash's body was filled with internal injuries.
In the end, all this trouble was caused either by Cocolia or by World Serpent.
And Cioara's report had explicitly stated that World Serpent and the Anti-Entropy radicals under Cocolia were in a cooperative relationship.
Those sons of bitches were a regular den of vipers.
Coupled with the news from the Oceania Branch an hour ago, Durandal felt her killing intent surge to an unprecedented degree.
"Um, Durandal..."
Seeing Durandal's terrifying expression, Kiana said quietly.
"What are you thinking about that's making you so angry?"
"Me?"
Alerted by Kiana's words, Durandal, realizing she had lost control of her emotions, quickly adjusted her expression and said to Kiana in annoyance.
"Who else could it be but this guy!"
"This guy, he hasn't listened to a single word I said before! It feels like every time I see him, he's even more reckless than the last!"
"Before, it was sneak-attacking a Herrscher and using a Divine Key to merge with Herrscher power, and that was one thing. This time, he encountered a genuine Herrscher and didn't even run. He actually engaged the Herrscher of Death in a head-on confrontation..."
"—This idiot is going to be the death of me!"
Hearing Durandal's furious words, Kiana immediately began to nod her head frantically.
"Yes, yes, this problem of his... Durandal, do you have any solution?"
Looking at Kiana, whose eyes were shining, Durandal for some reason really wanted to meet her gaze and give a positive answer.
But in the end, the completely-incapable-of-lying Durandal could only shake her head bitterly, look up at the ceiling, and let out a long, helpless sigh.
"If there was a way, Rita and I would have used it long ago."
"I was about to ask you guys. Living with him day in and day out, have you come up with any ways to solve this problem?"
Hearing her question, Kiana thought for a moment, then unconsciously looked up at the ceiling and made the same gesture as Durandal.
"No idea. Really, no idea."
"Senior usually seems pretty harmless, even considerate and gentle in some ways, but when it comes to anything Honkai-related, it's like he becomes a different person."
At that moment, the two girls staring at the ceiling simultaneously let out another helpless sigh.
"Sigh."
Then, as they looked at each other because of their synchronized actions, they suddenly burst out laughing.
Ever since she could remember, Kiana had never felt such a degree of tacit understanding with anyone.
It was completely different from her special feelings for Leo Ash.
This indescribable sense of rapport made Kiana feel that the golden-haired girl before her, whom she had only met a few times, was constantly exuding a sense of closeness.
"Alright, that's enough idle chatter."
Durandal, who had also noticed the strange feeling in her heart, had no intention of delving deeper into it.
Although she had just laughed, the thought of Rita, who was also currently hospitalized, filled Durandal with worry for the future.
Rita, who was protecting the A-rank Valkyrie Wendy at the Oceania Branch, had been defeated by World Serpent forces that had suddenly attacked the branch.
Although her injuries weren't particularly severe, Durandal had still treated her with Abyss Flower immediately.
However, for some unknown reason, this time, Rita, who should have woken up right away, had fallen into a deep sleep, just like Leo Ash beside them.
Moreover, Wendy being abducted meant the Wind of Desire had fallen into the hands of World Serpent.
Thinking of World Serpent's desire for Herrscher Cores, Durandal's heart filled with unease.
She did not fear challenges from enemies in the open.
But if someone was scheming in the dark, Durandal couldn't guarantee she could rush to the battlefield in time to defeat the enemy.
Furthermore, just because she was confident in defeating Herrscher-level enemies didn't mean that all Herrscher-level enemies were paper tigers.
Even counting Leo Ash in the roster of 'Herrscher-level' combatants, the only experts in all of humanity who had a chance of defeating a Herrscher alone were Otto, Siegfried, Theresa, Durandal, Leo Ash, and Welt—just six people.
This number might seem large, but in reality, apart from Otto who could switch bodies at will, the others would, barring any surprises, be severely weakened even if they won against a Herrscher.
With World Serpent once again demonstrating the power of their quantum teleportation system, even Durandal could deduce the terrifying threat this system posed to Schicksal and Anti-Entropy.
As long as Gray Serpent wished, he could lead a squad of Herrscher soldiers to attack any base of Schicksal or Anti-Entropy at any time.
By the time Schicksal's forces arrived, even at top speed, the World Serpent personnel would have likely completed their blitzkrieg with the power of the Herrscher Clone soldiers and made their getaway.
As for whether the enemy would actually do this...
Gray Serpent was a tireless biomechanical human.
His soldiers were Herrscher Clones without self-awareness.
Such a force—fearless of death, tireless, capable of instant teleportation, and possessing high combat power—appearing on the battlefield...
This is bad. This is really bad.
I can defend the HQ, but my comrades in other branches could be attacked at any time.
If we don't deal with this system, the tragedy that befell Rita will happen to other comrades!
"So, what are you doing sitting here with such a long face?"
Leo Ash, who had just woken up and was feeling the comfort in his body, said to Durandal in annoyance.
"Why did you use the Abyss Flower again?!"
"You have the nerve to say that?"
Hearing Leo Ash's slightly reproachful tone, Durandal's anger flared up.
"I already told you last time."
"If you don't want me to use Abyss Flower, then stop being so reckless."
"This time, I'm really angry! Leo! Ash! You... brother!"
Watching the two start glaring at each other again, Kiana spoke up helplessly.
"Um, actually..."
However, when the two of them simultaneously shifted their glares to Kiana, she instantly cowered.
"—This young lady didn't say anything!"
"Tch, it's not like I wanted to."
Sensing the concern and annoyance in Durandal's words, Leo Ash took the initiative to speak in a low voice.
"There were reasons. Yuno hadn't become a Herrscher yet, so I wanted to see if I could stop her."
"You, you, you—you'll be the death of me!"
Durandal, who had wanted to say something more, looked at Leo Ash who was now willingly conceding, and truly felt like she was about to explode with anger.
"Is this something you can just 'see if you can do'? Rita worked so hard to save you, not so you could die on the battlefield!"
"You know perfectly well how much she cares about you, and yet now, she's..."
In her anger, the words slipped out, and the moment they did, Durandal mentally cursed her own blunder.
"What happened to Big Sister Rita?!"
Hearing Durandal's abruptly cut-off sentence, Leo Ash saw a flash of panic appear on her face—a panic she wanted to hide but was completely unable to.
"Didn't you tell me before that she went on an investigation mission after she woke up?"
"This... that..."
Seeing the pleading look from Durandal, Kiana immediately put her little brain to work, trying to come up with a good lie.
Then, after just a moment, Kiana gave up thinking.
"Durandal, forget it."
Kiana, directly 'betraying' Durandal, spoke helplessly to them both.
"Senior is a well-rounded talent with a background in special operations. I don't think our clumsy lies could fool him on this matter."
"...Sigh, you're right."
Upon hearing Kiana's words, Durandal didn't blame her for 'defecting'.
After all, Kiana was speaking the truth.
Leo Ash had managed to deceive both her and Rita for nearly two years, making them believe he had given up on revenge.
With her own brain, trying to fool a master deceiver like Leo Ash was just asking for trouble.
"Rita was previously dispatched by Lord Bishop to the Oceania Branch to protect a Valkyrie."
"But just after the Fourth Eruption, World Serpent attacked that branch, took the Valkyrie, and injured Rita in the process."
"Although I healed her body with Abyss Flower... she still hasn't woken up."
World Serpent... those sons of bitches!
Even though he knew that rushing out now would be useless in finding the enemy's trail, upon hearing this terrible news, Leo Ash instantly jumped out of bed and threw on a new jacket that someone had laid out for him on a coat rack.
However, just as he did so, the door to the room was suddenly opened from the outside.
Otto, who walked into the room, saw the furious Leo Ash, the helpless Durandal, and the exasperated Kiana, and instantly guessed the reason.
"Alright, alright, everyone calm down a bit."
"Especially you, Leo Ash. I know you're anxious, but don't be anxious just yet."
"If you want to avenge Rita, you'll have to at least wait until we get the coordinates of World Serpent's base. For now—stay in your room."
After saying this, Otto looked at Durandal and Kiana.
Kiana, who had been about to speak, suddenly felt a chill run down her spine as she perceived a look of 'satisfaction' in Otto's eyes.
Strange. Bishop Otto is concerned about me for his own benefit—he made that clear to me before, and I know it.
So why am I getting this strange feeling?
That look... it's as if he already sees me as a lamb to the slaughter?
No, no, I can't think like this.
The last time at St. Freya High School, the strange thought of 'I have to kill Senior' popped into my head.
I must be tired lately, that's why I'm having these improper thoughts about people who mean me well.
"Kiana, Bianka, would you two please leave for a moment? I have a few things I'd like to discuss with Leo Ash alone."
"I understand."
"Then, Bishop Otto, please don't be too hard on Senior."
Watching the two of them leave the room, Otto turned his gaze to Leo Ash.
And Leo Ash, under Otto's gaze, was already making his brain work at high speed, thinking about how to handle Otto's customary interrogation.
[Sigh, you really don't need to worry too much.]
[After you've left a deep enough impression on Otto's mind, he will constantly adjust his perception of you to fit that impression based on your words.]
[The System has said this countless times. To be hoisted by one's own petard, that's what they call people like him.]
You're right.
But Otto is Otto.
Even if he failed many times in the original story, you can just treat that as plot for entertainment's sake.
Underestimating Otto, the ceiling of Honkai IQ, is something only an idiot would do.
I'm a coward, not an idiot, so it's better to be careful.
"Alright, alright, young man, don't be so tense."
Smiling as he patted Leo Ash's shoulder, Otto, as expected, activated Mimic Fenghuang Down, causing golden feathers to scatter throughout the room.
And he tells me not to be tense. He's already using Fenghuang Down, what the hell.
This old geezer is definitely up to no good, tsk... Let's see how I can bluff my way through this time.
"Come now, Leo Ash, answer a few questions for me."
Looking at Leo Ash, who had activated his (Poker Face) trait, Otto said with a smile.
"When you fought the Fourth Herrscher, how did you defeat her?"
"Defeat?"
Hearing Otto's question, Leo Ash, who was 'hypnotized' in Otto's eyes, frowned slightly.
"But, Yuno regained consciousness on her own. I didn't defeat her at all."
"She even used her authority to help repair my body a bit after regaining consciousness, and only then did she pass out."
"I'm just an A-rank Knight. I don't have the immense power of Mr. Siegfried, Matriarch Theresa, or Bianka. How could I possibly defeat a Herrscher as I am now?"
How strange... no, it's not that strange.
It's actually normal for Leo Ash to be unable to defeat a Herrscher.
But Yuno... how did that little girl manage to wake up on her own?
"What happened between you two before Yuno regained her self-awareness?"
"Did she beat you to within an inch of your life? Or was there some other accident?"
Hearing Otto's question, Leo Ash answered him calmly.
"After I arrived at the battlefield of the Fourth Eruption, I noticed fragments of glass test tubes on the ground, and residual HSN serum."
"So I suspect that the reason Yuno was able to wake up was because Dr. Magi threw out the serum he had in reserve beforehand."
That does make sense.
Sigh, I keep doubting Leo Ash, but this little guy...
Heh, if he really is an actor, he's hidden it far too well.
Besides, what benefit is there to playing the part of an avenger?
It's one thing on normal days, but to charge to the front lines when a major Honkai Eruption might occur, nearly dying outside every time.
To risk one's life to play such a role... Otto really couldn't imagine what benefit could be gained from doing so.
Forget it. A few more questions, then I'll release Fenghuang Down.
This kid is devilishly clever. If I use Fenghuang Down on him too often and he develops a resistance, it'll be inconvenient for me to do certain things in the future.
"By the way, Leo Ash, you must have talked with Siegfried—that kid must have spoken ill of me, right?"
"Yes. He called Bishop Otto a spineless bastard and said that you, Lord Bishop, killed his beloved wife."
"...So, did you believe him?"
After asking this question, Otto saw the hypnotized Leo Ash suddenly show a strange look of confusion.
"How could I possibly believe such nonsense?"
"Although Mr. Siegfried is a good person, that doesn't mean I have to believe his slander against the Bishop."
"The Bishop is certainly not a good person, but he is definitely a capable leader."
"A leader like him would surely command his subordinates well. In my opinion, Mr. Siegfried and Lady Cecilia are Schicksal's two strongest warriors."
"Only an incompetent leader would torment his subordinates who have done no wrong."
"How could Bishop Otto possibly be that kind of person?"
To be honest, hearing Leo Ash's words, Otto for a moment truly thought—this kid must be awake and is being sarcastic with me!
But on second thought, when he first met Leo Ash, Leo Ash had expressed a similar sentiment about him.
Leo Ash never thought Otto was a good person.
But he was still willing to work for Otto.
Unless Leo Ash was capable of resisting the power of Fenghuang Down from the very beginning, then what Leo Ash was saying now matched what he had said in the past, and it was unnecessary for Otto to keep doubting him.
Shaking his head gently, Otto just felt that his suspicious nature was growing more and more severe.
Leo Ash is a lucky charm.
And more importantly, he's an obedient lucky charm.
And yet, I keep questioning the nature of such a lucky charm time and time again.
Heh, this is ridiculous. As the plan gets closer to completion, I'm becoming more and more timid.
In the next second, Otto, having released the power of Fenghuang Down, looked at the suddenly awakened Leo Ash and said with a helpless smile.
"Look at you. I still wanted to ask you a few things, but you fell asleep."
"Don't rush to apologize. For this, I'll have to punish you properly—you're forbidden from going on missions for half a month."
Ah, are you serious?
Mr. Bishop can be a decent person on rare occasions.
"Alright, no objections allowed."
Looking at the stunned Leo Ash, Otto continued to ask.
"Or are you worried I might do something unpleasant to your classmate, Yuno?"
"Not at all. I trust Bishop Otto."
Leo Ash looked at Otto and repeated what he had said before.
"Only an incompetent leader would torment his subordinates who have done no wrong."
"How could Bishop Otto possibly be that kind of person?"
This time, although Leo Ash was not being controlled by Fenghuang Down, Otto was even more convinced that these were Leo Ash's true feelings.
Heh, to think the same way whether hypnotized or not... he really does trust me quite a bit.
Young man, you still don't know how sinister the hearts of people in this world can be.
Watching Leo Ash depart, Otto's gaze turned to Yuno, and a hint of disgust appeared in it.
But soon, Otto concealed that disgust and began to quietly wait for Yuno to awaken.
Hmph, little girl, count yourself lucky to have survived.
Let me see if the true 'Authority of Rebirth' has the power to fulfill my long-held wish.
If you fail to fulfill my ideal, then at that time...
—You, who have harmed Theresa, must still offer up your life to atone for your sins!
.....
After concluding his less-than-cordial and less-than-friendly exchange with Otto, Leo Ash walked out of the hospital room and let out a helpless sigh.
But just as he finished sighing, Leo Ash realized that an aura had silently appeared behind him.
An enemy?!
To get this close before I noticed... damn it, was I too relaxed?
"Hey now, Ash, relax a little. No one in HQ would dare to touch you."
Feeling a gentle pat on his shoulder, Leo Ash slowly turned his head to see a woman with a ponytail whom he didn't seem to recognize.
At the same time, he suddenly saw a character introduction panel automatically pop up before his eyes.
[Name: Wraith]
[Identity: A-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, Head of Schicksal's Intelligence Department, and your teacher in espionage.]
[Current Affection: 25]
[Note: Her stats overlap with Fu Hua's, but she can become big-breasted or flat-chested—choose wisely, don't let your little brother down!]
Hey, you, have your dirty jokes spread to the character introduction panels now?
"What's wrong, Ash? You see your big sister and won't even say hello?"
Looking at Leo Ash, Wraith suddenly and naturally started to cry, taking out a handkerchief to gently dab the tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.
"Sigh, the feelings have faded. It can't be helped. Who can blame you, now that you're the big star of the Apocalypse family?"
"Wraith... Teacher."
After stiffly greeting Wraith, Leo Ash finally understood what a true shadow monarch should look like.
Look at that expression, those tears, those movements, that tone!
Such natural acting is ten times better than a cold, handsome guy who just keeps a straight face all day, isn't it?
A professional is a professional. In terms of professional skills... compared to her, I really am just a rookie.
"Hey, don't be so stiff."
The moment Leo Ash said this, Wraith's tears turned to laughter. She moved closer to him and naturally slung an arm over his shoulders.
"I was just kidding with you. Did you really think I was crying?"
Honestly, it looked pretty convincing.
"Alright, I finally finished my mission, but everyone's been so busy lately with all the commotion World Serpent has caused."
"You're the only one free right now. Let's go, let's go. My treat today."
"Don't refuse. Be a good boy and come with me to Schicksal's bar for a few drinks."
Being dragged along by Wraith, Leo Ash had no idea what to do.
To be honest, Leo Ash really didn't want to face someone like Wraith, a master agent who could infiltrate enemy ranks, send back intelligence, and escape unscathed.
After all, people like her basically have their skill levels in things like reading people, verbal deception, and so on, maxed out.
Leo Ash hadn't forgotten that he was a transmigrator.
In front of a true ace agent like Wraith, the chances of him being exposed were far too high.
Of course, Wraith probably wouldn't have such a wild imagination.
But being seen through was never a comfortable feeling.
Sigh, I used to fool little girls all the time. Now, karma's come for me.
In front of a master of words and Schicksal's queen of the shadows, can my paltry tricks for fooling little girls deceive my dear teacher?