For Kiana, the weirdest part was that this sense of closeness within her heart was continuously intensifying right now.
If it were the past, Kiana might have actually followed her feelings and started communicating amicably with the other party.
But now...
Kiana was no longer the Kiana of the past.
After experiencing so many things, she was obviously much more cautious than before.
Although she hadn't reached Aaron's level of stuffing his storage space full of various daily and non-daily items, after sensing this anomaly, she naturally couldn't just stick to her immediately.
If nothing else, she had seen weird things like Teigu; under these circumstances—who could guarantee this feeling was real?
And during this time, aside from diligently training her own moves and power, she wasn't completely without relaxation.
She wasn't that guy beside her, winding his strings tighter than anyone else.
In the Shenzhou and Far East novels and manga she had read, there were plenty of mind-control abilities.
For someone who knew the truth of this world and had learned about Honkai Energy, for this strange feeling to appear in her heart at a time like this...
Why is this feeling still getting stronger!
At this moment, Kiana immediately glanced at Aaron out of the corner of her eye.
*Hm, no reaction.*
Looking back at Mei, Bronya, and Seele behind her...
Leaving aside Seele, a little girl who didn't look like she could fight, Mei and Bronya had also become tense.
But judging from their expressions, they clearly became tense only because of Kiana.
In other words, except for me, no one else has this feeling?
*This guy... is coming for me?!*
On the other side, Durandal, seeing the girl who shared her original name, also felt complex emotions in her heart.
Knowing her true identity, she naturally also understood that the [Kiana Kaslana] following Aaron couldn't be the original.
But, thinking about it a little, Durandal realized the other party probably didn't know her own true identity.
And with things like clones appearing, to be honest, the organization most likely to have contact with [Kiana Kaslana] was Schicksal.
In other words, the appearance of this clone girl in front of her was obviously caused by her unscrupulous teacher.
If she spoke the truth directly at a time like this, the other party would either treat her as a villain spreading rumors or might fall into self-doubt because of it.
Moreover, when Durandal saw her, she always had a special feeling.
This feeling made her unable to generate a single shred of malice toward the girl in front of her.
*This... is this also the feeling of being connected by blood?*
*But this feeling is completely different from what I felt from Aaron.*
Seeing the two staring at each other without speaking, Rita immediately took a step forward, blocking the space between them.
"Miss Kaslana, there is no need to be so hostile toward us. Just as Lady Durandal said, we and Mr. Aaron will become colleagues in the future."
"Is it strange for colleagues to have a friendly exchange and let everyone forget the unpleasantness of the past?"
"..."
There was no problem with this reason.
But seeing the two in front of her, a thought suddenly popped into Kiana's brain.
*He likes big... Pfft pfft pfft, no, that's not what I should be thinking about!*
Although she didn't know what agreement Aaron and Otto had reached, judging from how Aaron had never said anything good when discussing the person Otto Apocalypse in the past, there was definitely an inside story to this cooperation.
The two sides inevitably couldn't truly bare their hearts. In this situation, Otto's subordinates planning to approach us—could anything good come of this?
"Alright, Kiana, it's fine."
Seeing Kiana watching the two in front of her so vigilantly for some reason, Aaron actively spoke to the two.
"Sorry, if it's to exchange pleasantries, I don't have time today."
"My companion rarely gets to meet her friend. If you really want to communicate in the future, we're all members of Schicksal, so we're not short on this little bit of time, right?"
"...Since that is the case, we won't disturb everyone's gathering today."
Sensing that touch of impatience in Aaron's eyes, Rita immediately said to the somewhat disappointed Durandal behind her:
"Lady Durandal, just as Mr. Aaron said, we will have plenty of opportunities to communicate in the future."
"How about we don't disturb Mr. Aaron's activities today?"
"...I understand."
After saying this, Durandal took a deep look at Aaron and Kiana, then departed from everyone's sight.
"Um, actually..."
After watching the two leave, Seele said timidly.
"Those two big sisters didn't look like bad people. Letting them join the gathering... wouldn't be bad, right?"
*Save it. Bad, very bad.*
*After Durandal met Siegfried, she likely figured out her background.*
*Judging by how she almost stared blankly at Kiana just now, this probability increases further.*
*If she accidentally blurted this out directly, I'd have a headache.*
*This matter definitely can't be kept from Kiana forever, but... what is the appropriate timing?*
*Sigh, my head hurts a bit.*
"They are Valkyries fighting for the world, yes, but ultimately, as Otto's subordinates, they aren't on the same path as us."
Exhaling slightly, Aaron continued:
"Me joining Schicksal doesn't mean I approve of Otto. This action is purely considering that we can't keep hiding forever."
"Although the probability of other organizations provoking us will decrease after displaying enough power, there is strength in numbers."
"Many things are much more convenient to do with an organization and subordinates. Compared to building an organization, it's much faster to directly join a large organization."
"...Even if you say that."
Sensing that Aaron indeed didn't want to deepen ties with those two Valkyries, Kiana relaxed her mind and complained to Aaron.
"After joining Schicksal, ultimately we still have to work for Otto. Thinking about how that guy harmed my stinky dad, I just don't like him."
"If there's a problem with Otto's orders, just ignore them when the time comes—after all, both Otto and I know clearly that my joining Schicksal doesn't mean he can command me."
"Basically, this is a compromise from both sides. My joining Schicksal is a compromise, and him giving me autonomy over a branch is also a compromise. He's a smart man; as long as his Soulium brain doesn't cramp up, he won't actively come to anger us."
*At least until he starts his plan, he won't waste power provoking me.*
.......................
In the following days, Aaron didn't take everyone running around for overly stimulating activities anymore.
In any case, having Schicksal as backing and having displayed enough strength, the Anti-Entropy radicals and World Serpent didn't dare come for him openly for the time being.
Within these few days, everyone played to their heart's content in the city of London, completely relaxing their minds and sweeping away the fatigue from their previous busyness.
However, for the high-level executives of organizations other than Aaron's group, this period wasn't so pleasant.
World Serpent, having lost the Key of the Void, was striving to gather forces to charge at Anti-Entropy HQ and Haiyuan City (The Deep) to retrieve their great Liege Kevin, preparing to simultaneously seize Haiyuan City and kidnap Einstein and Tesla, the two Anti-Entropy Enforcers.
And Cocolia, knowing Seele had returned but didn't come back to her side, was now very certain that Bronya completely didn't regard her as a mother anymore, which was why she abducted Seele, and was currently angry.
In her view, with her support, as long as World Serpent knew Anti-Entropy's coordinates, gathering forces to take down the Anti-Entropy HQ, which lacked the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, would be absolutely simple.
After World Serpent completed this move, World Serpent would inevitably seize a portion of Anti-Entropy's authority.
But no matter what, they also needed an agent for the stability of Anti-Entropy, and Cocolia, who already had a foundation of cooperation with them, was naturally the best candidate.
Then after that, Cocolia would not only regain greater power than before but could even temporarily sweep away all obstacles within the organization.
At that time, getting revenge on Aaron... seemed a bit difficult.
But bringing back Bronya and Seele, and teaming up with World Serpent to kidnap the Herrscher of Thunder, wasn't completely without opportunity.
However, all this had to wait until a week later.
As for Otto, he was considered the one living relatively comfortably among these organization executives.
After Aaron agreed to become the Oceania Branch Head, Otto monitored Aaron and the others through other means.
Don't ask why Aaron didn't notice; ask why he directly accessed London's surveillance cameras to watch what Aaron and the others were doing.
Otto couldn't guarantee other things, but he could guarantee that this group of Aaron's was truly having fun during this time.
Especially Aaron; that relaxed feeling on his face was definitely not feigned.
That made things much easier.
Otto didn't know where this brat popped out from, but Aaron's relaxed expression right now already demonstrated one thing.
After joining Schicksal, Aaron had let down his guard to a certain extent.
Facing such a difficult opponent with sufficient power, if the other party still maintained that previous vigilance even in mentality, Otto would really feel the future was dim.
But now... Heheh.
There were people stronger than Otto, but the problem was, people with sufficient strength who had weaknesses could be exploited.
Now Otto figured it out; Aaron was not only a good person but also valued those around him very much.
In other words, this was a good person with weaknesses.
If there are weaknesses, they can be targeted. If he's a good person, then even when falling out, everyone can negotiate.
*Hm, relying on those [Trump Cards] I've buried over so many years, I believe even if both sides fall out then, Aaron won't act recklessly.*
*Sigh, with this, I'm much more relieved.*
*I was worried this kid would be hard to handle before, but now it seems his openings are simply too many.*
*Among those little girls, the Herrscher of Thunder isn't easy to deal with, but Bronya Zaychik and Seele Vollerei aren't even as good as ordinary A-Rank Valkyries.*
*Even if they have sufficient aptitude, they aren't monsters like K423 who possesses the genius bloodlines of both Kaslana and Schariac.*
*Unable to become strong in a short time, they will ultimately become Aaron's biggest soft spot.*
*The manpower at the Oceania Branch has been deployed; let's see if we can get relevant intelligence on the Key of the Void using less drastic means.*
*If possible, I personally still don't wish to reach that step with this young man.*
*But thinking about it carefully, K423 is obviously among the people he values, so in that situation, conflict between him and me is inevitable.*
*Can't be helped...*
*For Kallen, I cannot stop here.*
*Even if Kallen would definitely not wish for me to do this...*
*I will absolutely not stop!*
...............
Several days later. New Zealand. Queenstown.
After slowly walking down from the plane, Aaron and the others immediately saw several very conspicuous men in black walking quickly toward them.
"Branch Head Aaron, welcome to New Zealand."
The man leading them actively extended his right hand to Aaron and introduced himself with a smile:
"I am Schicksal's Vice-Branch Head of Oceania. I have been welcoming your arrival here for a long time."
*Oh, Vice-Branch Head... this is the unlucky guy who got dragged down because of me.*
Seeing the resentment and dissatisfaction flashing past the other party's eyes, Aaron could only helplessly shake hands with him and signal for him to lead the way.
Along the way, the other party actively chatted with Aaron about trivial matters, not revealing half a bit of dissatisfaction in his words.
But Aaron, who already knew the other party harbored hostility toward him, had figured it out completely.
*Sigh, the 'organization veteran's hazing of the parachuted member' trope found in 18th-rate urban novels is estimated to happen to me immediately.*
Killing naturally didn't happen; after all, Aaron understood the other party having emotions.
Being a Branch Head just fine and then inexplicably getting demoted, this matter would make anyone dissatisfied if it fell on them.
However, to avoid wasting time with this group of people, Aaron's choice was also very simple.
Before the other party prepared to speak sarcastically and cause trouble...
—He immediately used Hypnosis Magecraft right there in the car, temporarily hypnotizing the other party.