After settling the spiritual forms of Dr. Magi and Lin, Aaron immediately contacted Mei using his Magnetic Field Rotation powers again, instructing her to guide everyone to the lobby to regroup.
Naturally, as he passed the location where Siegfried and Durandal had been facing off, he saw no sign of the father and daughter pair, who had long since departed.
Siegfried, aware that his presence near Kiana might tempt Sirin's consciousness to resurface, had likely judged that "now is not the time to meet" and chosen to leave.
As for Kiana's furious declaration that she would "punch that damn old man a few times the next time she sees him" upon learning he had slipped away—that is a story for later.
Meanwhile, after confirming that Cocolia's plan had failed, Yuno didn't say much to the group and chose to leave Singapore on her own accord.
Once everything was concluded, Aaron and the others hid within Singapore for a day before immediately using the [Dimensional Formation: Shambhala] to depart the country.
However, although the incident itself had ended, as the aftermath fermented, the high-ranking officials in Singapore who hadn't been hypnotized by Aaron began to realize that something was amiss.
They had originally thought that leaning towards Anti-Entropy would be profitable. But judging by the subsequent events—Cocolia, that bitch, had allied with them purely to find a place to trigger a massive Honkai Eruption.
In other words, if that mysterious faction hadn't stopped the eruption, the entire city-state of Singapore would have become the second Nagazora City.
If that had happened, how many people would have survived a massive Honkai Eruption in Singapore?
Realizing that their actions nearly caused themselves and their country to be blown sky-high, the Singaporean officials instantly discarded their identity as "Allies of Anti-Entropy."
Then, they decisively defected to the Schicksal camp.
Since they could no longer remain neutral, and Anti-Entropy had chosen to betray them, Schicksal was the only one who could protect them now.
What promises these people made to Otto, and what price they paid, only they knew.
But from that point on, Singapore frequently accused Anti-Entropy of causing destruction everywhere at international conferences, labeling them no different from terrorists.
Originally, neutral countries were quite happy to see someone checking the behemoth that was Schicksal.
But now, due to Cocolia's actions in Singapore, they suddenly believed the information Schicksal had previously provided: that "Anti-Entropy caused the Third Honkai Eruption in Nagazora City in the Far East."
At worst, Schicksal would ask them for money or manpower. But Anti-Entropy was different.
They didn't want money or manpower; they chose to take your life directly.
A certain philosopher named Zhou's "Broken Window Theory" never goes out of style.
When an organization appears that wants to kill you after allying with you, the previous organization that only wanted your money and manpower suddenly looks much more lovable.
In short, after this incident, with Singapore appearing as a victim to corroborate Anti-Entropy's misdeeds, Anti-Entropy's reputation among the world's nations successfully plummeted into the negatives.
And as the leader of the Anti-Entropy Radicals, Cocolia had lost spectacularly in this event.
Her daughter didn't return, the Herrscher of Thunder slipped away right under her nose, the Herrscher of Death wasn't created, the three Welt clones she had painstakingly produced were all dead, and a portion of the Titans she had on hand were dismantled by the combined efforts of Rita and Theresa, who were on standby outside Singapore.
Anti-Entropy's international reputation took a nosedive, and even ME Corp, which she controlled, began to face suppression on all fronts.
As for gains...
None. Absolutely none.
In fact, because the appearance of the Herrscher of Thunder interfered with the surrounding electromagnetic field, Cocolia didn't even know what had happened inside the Empress Hotel.
For a time, due to Cocolia's colossal failure, combined with the fact that some of her unwitting subordinates learned she had induced the Honkai outbreak, Cocolia couldn't even fully retain her own staff.
The Radicals of Anti-Entropy might be radicals, but no matter how radical they were, their goal was still to fight the Honkai.
Some of them already thought Cocolia's plan was idiotic. After her failure, they seized the opportunity to revolt, taking some personnel and research data with them as they defected back to the embrace of the Anti-Entropy Conservatives.
"Damn it... Damn it! Every single one of them, they don't understand anything!"
Inside her office, Cocolia roared in painful rage like a wounded beast.
But unfortunately, no matter how impotently furious she was, she couldn't reverse the situation with her power alone.
No, wait. I still have other options.
I still control a portion of the Titans, and new Welt clones can be created sooner or later.
Besides, I still have contact with 'The Serpent'.
I should contact 'The Serpent'.
As for Anti-Entropy... Hmph, since these people don't support or understand my ideals, there's no need for me to hold back against you.
The Sovereign is missing, presumably dead somewhere, so leave him aside for now.
Those two old hags in the Conservative faction... my plan's failure this time surely had them meddling in the shadows.
After contacting 'The Serpent', I'll have their people arrange a little 'accident'.
Those two old hags certainly have good brains, but they are ultimately powerless individuals.
As long as I give 'The Serpent' their coordinates and have them secretly eliminate those two hags, all of Anti-Entropy's authority will eventually be concentrated in my hands...
No, not necessarily.
'The Serpent' is too dangerous an organization. If they agree to my request, they will inevitably want a piece of the pie when Anti-Entropy falls into chaos.
Cocolia, realizing this, faced a dilemma.
Although she had been unhappy with the Conservatives for a long time, this was, after all, an internal matter of Anti-Entropy.
But if she let 'The Serpent' intervene... scheming with a tiger might not end well.
Regrettably, it took her only a second to reach an answer.
Do it.
I have to go big this time.
As long as Einstein and Tesla are alive, the Conservatives won't perish.
And if the Conservatives don't perish, Anti-Entropy will remain in a state of civil war.
Anti-Entropy's overall strength is already inferior to Schicksal's. Divided into 'Conservatives' and 'Radicals', it's even less capable of contending with Schicksal.
In the end, Anti-Entropy needs only one voice.
As for actively submitting to those two executors of the Conservative faction...
Cocolia had never even considered it.
Could those two old immortals save the world with their lukewarm methods?
Hmph, they might be geniuses in scientific research, but in terms of organizational management, those two old geezers only bring disappointment.
To contend with Otto, their lukewarm methods would only lead to a slow death for Anti-Entropy in its confrontation with Schicksal.
What Anti-Entropy needs is a strong dose of medicine, not two old fogies who only know how to act tepidly.
Counting on that Sovereign who has been missing forever... Hmph, if he actually returns, I'll deal with it then.
No, when 'The Serpent' hunts down those two old fogies, they will inevitably try to seize some of Anti-Entropy's power... *Sigh*, that can't be helped.
When that time comes, I'll find a way to slowly push those rootless outsiders out.
No, better yet, I can actively hand over some power to them in exchange for more powerful technology.
Once I've amassed enough Welt clones, won't Anti-Entropy be mine to command?
The plan is set.
Those two old fogies are probably dealing with a headache right now because of Anti-Entropy's reputation.
There's no time to lose. I'll contact the members of 'The Serpent' immediately. While they're distracted with their headache, I'll make sure they never have a headache again.
This is the only thing I, as their junior, can do for them.
.......................
Schicksal HQ
Inside Schicksal HQ, Otto looked at Durandal, who wore a complex expression, and Rita, who accompanied her, and exhaled deeply.
"Some time ago, I was attending various international conferences, so I didn't have time to see you. Now that you're here, ask whatever you want."
"You are my important subordinates, after all. If there is anything you wish to know, I will try my best to give you answers."
Upon hearing Otto's words, Durandal voiced the doubt in her heart without hesitation.
"Lord Overseer. During the mission in Singapore, I disobeyed orders and went to Singapore alone..."
"Don't worry about that. It's not a big issue. If anything, your actions served as the best proof that 'we at Schicksal protect Singapore regardless of past grievances'."
"Go on."
"Yes... In fact, at the mission location, I encountered the Schicksal fugitive, Siegfried Kaslana."
"He told me that... Lady Cecilia Schariac was killed by you. And that my true identity is the daughter of him and Lady Cecilia."
"My real name is Kiana Kaslana—is all of this true?!"
Hah, this day has come after all.
Hearing Durandal's question, Otto shook his head with a bitter smile and spoke with a pained expression.
"It seems paper cannot wrap fire forever. Bianka, your true identity is indeed as Siegfried said. You are his biological daughter, Kiana Kaslana."
...
After a brief silence, Durandal didn't know what expression to make towards the man in front of her.
Although the man before her was her superior, emotionally speaking, Durandal had long regarded Otto—who had taken great care of her and personally trained her—as her mentor.
To verify that her mentor was the one who killed her mother... how could Durandal accept this fact immediately?
Should she punch him?
Or should she...
"However, that is the only thing Siegfried got right."
Huh?
Seeing the conflicted look on Durandal's face, Otto changed the subject, speaking to the two in a cold tone.
"Hehe, I think I know how those people at Anti-Entropy hoodwinked Siegfried and slandered me. Those fellows really said some outrageous things."
"Lord Overseer..."
Hearing Otto speak in such a cold tone, and seeing Durandal's brain seemingly shut down, Rita immediately took the initiative to ask Otto.
"Do you mean... Mr. Siegfried was deceived by the people at Anti-Entropy?"
"Naturally."
Nodding slightly, Otto continued to address them.
"Rita, and Bianka. Since you already know part of what happened back then, I might as well tell you the rest."
"The records in the Schicksal database are indeed partially incorrect. The database doesn't show Anti-Entropy's actions during the Second Honkai Eruption, but objectively speaking, Anti-Entropy did make significant contributions to fighting the Honkai at that time."
"Back then, the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, Welt, fought the Second Herrscher, Sirin, and was defeated, his Core of Reason devoured."
"But in the end, Siegfried tore the Core of Reason from her body and defeated the Second Herrscher, Sirin."
"However, because the Honkai Energy within Sirin went berserk, Siegfried—who was covered in wounds—and Cecilia—who lacked sufficient strength—could not stop Sirin's dying strike after going berserk. As a last resort, Cecilia used her Holy Blood to protect Siegfried and, before she died, implored me to fire the Honkai Fission Bombs to eliminate the threat once and for all."
"And that is the true cause of Cecilia's death."
"But..."
Catching the flash of suspicion on Durandal's face, Otto smiled helplessly.
"I am indeed not a good person. I have done many bad things over these hundreds of years. But think about it, you two: what reason would I have to do the things Siegfried claimed?"
"Both Siegfried and Cecilia were my important subordinates. If I had killed Cecilia, would Siegfried have remained at Schicksal, serving his wife's murderer for so long?"
"Probably... not?"
"Exactly. Doing such a thing would offer me no benefit. Think carefully—I had absolutely no reason to kill Cecilia."
"But given how things turned out, I can roughly guess why Siegfried rebelled."
"He is a man of principle. After reclaiming the Anti-Entropy Sovereign's Herrscher Core, he voluntarily went to Anti-Entropy to return the core to their executors."
"It was only after that that he rebelled. Based on my deductions from the years following Siegfried's rebellion, he was likely..."
"Hypnotized by those people at Anti-Entropy using the Key of Sentience."