Thinking about it carefully, it wasn't particularly strange that Durandal lost to this man.
Although Durandal is already incredibly strong at her age, her current overall strength is still inferior to Lady Cecilia...
Sigh, if Lady Cecilia hadn't died back then, Overseer Otto would probably be much more unbridled now.
If not for the Herrscher of the Void's power being too overwhelming during the Second Honkai Eruption—leaving Theresa and Siegfried critically injured and Lady Cecilia dead in battle—Overseer Otto would have two more powerful Honkai warriors in his hands today.
And if Overseer Otto had more cards to play, the mission he gave us today wouldn't be this relatively mild task of "Persuading this young man named Aaron to lend the Key of the Void to Schicksal."
Phantom was a special A-rank Valkyrie handpicked by Otto after the Second Eruption.
As the ace of the Intelligence Department, she had helped Otto handle quite a few missions unsuitable for upright Valkyries over the years.
Not to mention, she had even led Rita during some of Rita's assassination missions when Rita was still a rookie.
Precisely for these reasons, Phantom felt that Otto's mission this time... was surprisingly polite.
Of course, the politeness was forced. After all, the man held the Key of the Void and the Gem of Serenity, and he possessed strength sufficient to make Schicksal take him seriously.
Although swarming this man to death with Mech squads and Valkyrie squads didn't seem difficult, the problem was—after swarming him to death, Otto might not necessarily get the Divine Key and Herrscher Core he wanted.
Otto wasn't a good person, but he wasn't a total idiot either.
Why would Otto do business that involved spending massive manpower and resources only to end up empty-handed?
Phantom judged that until the locations of the Gem of Serenity and the Key of the Void were confirmed, Otto wouldn't alert the enemy for the time being.
In fact, even if Aaron refused Otto's invitation and proposal this time, Phantom believed Otto wouldn't immediately fly into a rage and attack.
"Anyway, Senior Phantom knows as well that our mission this time isn't combat."
After thinking slightly, Rita revealed a helpless, bitter smile.
"But persuading Mr. Aaron... this one has no confidence in that regard."
"After all, after meeting Mr. Aaron today, this one has already been decisively rejected by him."
"Oh? Decisively rejected?"
Hearing Rita's description, Phantom scanned Rita's body with a very subtle look.
Sigh, Rita's figure is getting better and better. A beauty like her has too many bonus points when communicating with men.
That young man could even decisively reject such a beauty... Ah, this guy is immune to honey traps; he's hard to deal with.
And what makes it even harder is that we have no idea what his needs are.
If we knew Aaron's needs, Schicksal could act entirely according to his demands.
For Schicksal, which currently controls most regions of the world, fulfilling a man's wish is theoretically not difficult.
Whether it's monetary needs or a desire for power, Schicksal can easily satisfy him.
And it's just that this young man isn't swayed by women; otherwise, Schicksal doesn't lack beauties either...
Wait, if beauties don't work, should we consider a handsome guy tactic?
Forget it, better do less of that kind of pranking.
There's a high probability the guy just has his guard up. If we misunderstand him as being gay just because his guard is up and mess around, it would be terrible if we pissed him off.
Sigh, Theresa... I never counted on Theresa playing any positive role in this negotiation mission from the start.
Overseer Otto spoils her too much. Although she isn't an idiot overall, she doesn't understand the art and techniques of verbal communication at all.
Rita has to go with me.
Although she was rejected once, this girl is sharp. If I make a slip of the tongue at a critical moment, she can help me salvage it.
"By the way, Rita, I haven't asked you for details yet. What was his reason for rejecting Schicksal?"
"His evaluation of Schicksal and the Valkyrie squads is actually quite high. The reason he didn't want to continue talking with this one was mainly because..."
After hesitating for a split second, Rita said very helplessly.
"He doesn't like Overseer Otto."
Oho, no wonder.
Logically speaking, since this concerns a Divine Key and the Gem of Serenity, Overseer Otto appearing in person to negotiate would be the most sincere move.
As a result, this man dislikes Overseer Otto, so the negotiation difficulty just shot up in a straight line.
And we can't blame him. The fact that the Overseer doesn't act like a decent human being is becoming known to more and more people in the organization.
After Dr. Magi's defection was exposed some time ago, some people learned about the artificial Herrscher experiments.
Although everyone held their tongues due to realistic reasons, Overseer Otto's reputation... Hah, he doesn't care, but this can't go on forever.
Forget it, these aren't things an A-rank like me should consider.
Just do the job in front of me.
And no matter what Overseer Otto thinks, the Gem of Serenity and the Key of the Void—two Herrscher-related objects—being in the hands of someone with unknown identity and motives is indeed too dangerous.
We can only probe for his needs through conversation. As for his identity, our Intelligence Department has checked hundreds of times and can only see that surface information.
This is enough to prove that the other party has achieved the ultimate in intelligence concealment; continuing to investigate is just a waste of time.
Sigh, in the end, Overseer Otto lost the Gem of Serenity by his own recklessness.
He insisted on creating an opportunity for Dr. Magi to leave Schicksal with the gem, wanting to create a Herrscher while making Anti-Entropy take the blame. The result? Anti-Entropy took the blame, but the gem was stolen.
I can't be bothered to talk about it. Having this kind of boss, I really have bad luck spanning eight lifetimes.
"Let's go, Rita. Before this gentleman leaves the area, let's go meet him."
"Then, shall the bargaining chips be as Lord Otto stated?"
"Naturally. Anyway, Overseer Otto said to get the Divine Key and Gem back at all costs."
"Since he said that, if the other side opens his mouth like a lion... well, we can only agree."
.......................
After proactively hanging up the call from Kiana, Aaron whistled a tune Seele had never heard before and remained calmly in place.
"Um, Mr. Aaron..."
Watching Aaron throw the phone back into his storage space, Seele said timidly.
"Is it okay not to answer the phone?"
"Anyway, anything important can be said when we meet. Right now, I don't have the time to deal with my companions' communications."
"After all... in a sense, we are surrounded right now."
"Tell the guy inside your body to get ready for combat. If a fight really breaks out later, I might not be able to look after your safety."
"Oh my, I thought you would be like when you faced that white-haired man in the Sea of Quanta—domineeringly holding me in your arms and carving out a bloody path."
After forcibly seizing control of the body, Dark Seele chuckled lightly and leaned close to Aaron, trying to capture the expression on this man's face with her eyes.
Unfortunately, after observing Aaron for a few seconds, she found that this man didn't show much panic or anger.
Faced with her provocative words, he didn't have the slightest intention of getting angry.
I really don't know whether to say he has a good temper, or that this guy just doesn't put me in his eyes at all.
"For the people coming this time, if possible, I personally don't really want to fight them."
"After all, everyone's goal is generally the same. Fighting and killing at a time like this will only cause internal attrition of humanity's combat power."
Of course, Otto doesn't count.
That man isn't on humanity's side, nor is he on the Honkai's side.
The Clown Overseer who stands only on his own side forever has a completely different goal from us humans.
"...How strange."
In the Sea of Quanta, I could feel the killing intent and wariness flashing through his eyes when he faced that man.
Because of that reason, I thought he actually had a bad temper. As a result, out here... he's unexpectedly easy to talk to.
Heh, if possible, letting Seele cling to his thigh wouldn't be bad.
I haven't forgotten the fact that Cocolia treated Seele as a test subject.
Although Seele still regards her as important family, who knows what Seele, a girl who successfully returned from the Sea of Quanta to reality, counts as in Cocolia's eyes.
Back then, when she borrowed my power to try and see Onee-sama, Cocolia sent quite a few pieces of scrap metal to stop us.
Perhaps, in her eyes, we are already monsters with out-of-control power.
Hmm, it's definitely better to try and keep Seele from meeting her.
Otherwise... Why do I care so much!
This girl is already turning her elbow outward herself, does she still need me to worry?
Let it be, let it be. I'll just see what she plans to do.
"But speaking of which, you treat them with goodwill, but they don't seem that friendly to you, 'Brother' Aaron."
Dark Seele, who already sensed the surrounding Honkai energy, sneered at this moment.
"Iron lumps similar to Titans, battleships, and some Honkai warriors with powerful Honkai energy—are you sure they will communicate with you properly?"
"They will."
At this moment, Aaron took out a lollipop, tore open the wrapper, and stuffed the candy into his mouth.
"Because, even adding these things together—they still can't beat me."
"Of course, if you get blown up, then I can only say sorry to Bronya. Schicksal killed the person; I already did my best."
"Hey! As the person who brought us out of the Sea of Quanta, take some responsibility!"
Seeing the nonchalant expression on the other party's face, Dark Seele panicked a little.
Eating a lollipop at a time like this... is this childish guy serious???
"I only promised Bronya to help her bring Seele Vollerei out of the Sea of Quanta. I never said I'd be responsible for safety afterward. Now, there's a little brat beside me, full of bad ideas planning to use me..."
After bending down, Aaron's expression suddenly changed, and he grinned at Dark Seele.
"It's already very polite of me not to give you two punches and throw you back into the Sea of Quanta at a time like this, understand, brat?"
This guy... realized my thoughts long ago?!
Clearly, the other party has a smile on his face, yet Dark Seele felt like she had seen a ghost...
No, I am looking at a ghost!
The shadow flashing behind this guy—why does it look like the fanged vampire in storybooks!
I wanted to say it before, but those carapaces on this guy are scary enough in themselves.
With this kind of ability, he really isn't a good person, hey!
"If you don't really want to be thrown back into the Sea of Quanta by me, then behave yourself."
After saying this, Aaron pulled out another lollipop and threw it to Dark Seele.
"Don't interrupt at critical moments later. Use the lollipop to plug your mouth."
"...Yes."
I'm so angry. Threatening a fourteen-year-old girl with this tone—is this guy a devil!
After peeling the wrapper in great annoyance, Dark Seele heard Aaron remind her in a leisurely tone.
"Don't litter the wrapper. Throw it away when we find a trash can later."
"What kind of person do you take me for? You have to remind me of this too!"
"A brat who likes to mess around—is there a problem?"
"It seems Mr. Aaron is in a good mood right now."
Hearing the idle chatter between Aaron and Seele, Rita and Phantom proactively walked into the forest where the two were.
Subsequently, Rita curtsied slightly to Aaron and spoke softly.
"So, does Mr. Aaron have the mood to chat a few more sentences with this one now?"
"If I say no—hey, the Hyperion's main cannon probably won't let me go, right?"
Glancing at the Hyperion not far away, Aaron asked with a mocking smile.
"Parking this big guy here, does Schicksal intend to disclose intelligence on the Honkai to the public?"
"That is naturally impossible. We are filming a sci-fi movie about battleships fighting aliens recently. If Mr. Aaron is interested, you can take your companion to the cinema to watch it later."
After responding with a smile, Rita proactively took a step back, handing the floor to Phantom.
"Mr. Aaron, I am an A-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, codename Phantom."
Phantom, proactively stepping forward, asked Aaron directly.
"Everyone's time is short, so I'll be direct."
"May I ask, what exactly is your purpose in taking these actions?"
"If you have needs, we at Schicksal are willing to make friends with you and assist you in achieving your ideals."