After that, Theresa and her group had no choice but to return to the Hyperion with the Herrscher of Domination's core, handing it over to the two Anti-Entropy doctors for research and processing.
Although the research itself did not go smoothly, during this period the Valkyries of Schicksal and the crew of the Hyperion grew increasingly close.
Through extended exchanges, Durandal and Kiana also managed to resolve many of the knots in their hearts.
And then—
Otto's communication request suddenly came through again.
He still wore that elegant Overseer's uniform.
"Friends of the Hyperion, and my Valkyries… good afternoon, everyone. How is the research on the Herrscher core going—more or less smoothly?"
"Grandpa… didn't you say you wouldn't be looking for us anymore?"
"Oh my, Theresa, you're quite cold today. Are you still upset about me killing that replica earlier? You all forgave Rita long ago—yet you're still holding a grudge against me?"
Otto feigned hurt as he joked, teasing Theresa and Rita.
Then—
"All right, jokes aside. I don't actually have anything to discuss with the Hyperion crew right now. I simply have a task to assign to Schicksal's S-rank Valkyries."
"Does it have to do with the journey you mentioned before?"
"Haha, sharp as ever—just as expected of you, Durandal. Yes, I've finished all the preparations. You and Rita only need to lend me a small hand."
"Oh, and as for the rest of the Immortal Blades—feel free to stay and continue assisting my granddaughter."
Otto chuckled lightly, turning his gaze toward Theresa.
"After all, she'll soon be taking over as Grand Overseer of Schicksal. Getting familiar with the work ahead of time can only be a good thing."
"In fact, for most of you here, this should be our final conversation. After all, I'll be setting off very soon."
As he spoke, Otto's tone suddenly shifted.
"Is Mr. Welt also connected with everyone right now? My sincerest apologies—I never did let you enjoy a pleasant Thanksgiving in New York back then."
"For many years, I've wanted to express my apology. I even imagined various ways—perhaps kneeling before a monument and putting on a heartfelt display of tears."
"But since so many years have already passed… you don't really need such melodramatic rituals anymore, do you?"
Instantly—
Otto's sudden barrage of sharply provocative words left everyone stunned.
????
That was practically mocking Welt to his face!
What was wrong with Otto—did he take the wrong medicine or something?!
[Tesla: ?!]
[Tesla: This bastard! How dare he bring up that incident?! Joachim, aren't you angry?!]
[Welt Yang (Star Rail): Merely a tasteless provocation.]
[March 7th: But Uncle Yang, your expression doesn't really say that…]
[Welt Yang (Star Rail): Ahem.]
[Theresa: Grandpa…?? Why…??]
[Honkai·Himeko: That damn man… what is he trying to do?]
[Sparkle: Hahaha, even Otto's fake provocations are amusing to watch~]
[Einstein: Otto never does meaningless things. Even unnecessary provocation must have a purpose.]
[Hu Tao: Such a punchable expression…]
On-screen, Welt's expression darkened.
"…Is that really what you wanted to say to me before setting off?"
"Then what should I say? Let me put it another way—do you think K423, at this point, still needs me to apologize for the past?"
Otto spoke as if it were perfectly natural, his topic abruptly shifting—without warning—to Kiana, pointedly ignoring her name and calling her by the experimental designation K423.
The blood pressure of countless viewers instantly spiked.
"You're all perfect heroic figures now. Surely you wouldn't be so petty."
Even Durandal, who usually stood closest to Otto's side, couldn't hold back anymore.
"Overseer—regardless of whether your words are appropriate—the Herrscher of Flamescion—no, Kiana Kaslana—has her own name."
"She is not K423. She is Kiana Kaslana."
[Kiana: QAQ]
[March 7th: Durandal is really… I'm crying…]
[Keqing: She's way too gentle!!]
[Klee: Big sister Durandal is so brave!]
[Tesla: Otto really can't say a single decent thing!!]
[Durandal: ]
However—
to everyone's disbelief, Otto's self-destructive behavior only continued.
"Very well, Kiana Kaslana. That works too—after all, the original owner of that name turned out like that ten years ago."
"…!"
Theresa's brow twitched.
Yet Otto seemed utterly oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere.
"Theresa? You look like you have something to say."
"You—"
Theresa's eyes widened; she was clearly furious.
"It's all right, Theresa. You don't need to force yourself to say anything. Your grandfather has done many unreasonable things—he's well aware of that himself."
"What comes next for you may involve earth-shattering events. When that time comes, you may feel that you shouldn't have wasted even a shred of emotion on your grandfather."
"Positive or negative—it won't matter anymore."
Otto spoke meaningfully to Theresa.
When it came to his granddaughter…
he ultimately couldn't bring himself to provoke her again and again.
Faced with Otto's riddle-like words, Theresa frowned deeply.
"What do you mean by that? What exactly will your journey bring about?"
"You'll know soon enough. There's no need for me to explain it here."
"Don't worry—none of it poses even the slightest danger to you."
Otto smiled gently at Theresa, his tone relaxed.
Then he turned to Durandal and the others.
"Durandal. Rita. Report to me at the Dawn Observation Deck on Kaslana Street. I need you to stand your final watch."
"As for the rest of you—let's part on good terms. Farewell."
With that, the golden-haired Overseer decisively cut the connection, leaving everyone staring at one another.
"That damn old bastard! Was that even human speech?! If it weren't for Chicken-Head covering my mouth, I'd have cracked his skull open myself!"
"Tesla—if all he wanted was to walk away like this…"
Welt frowned slightly.
"…then why would he bother provoking us?"
"So you're saying he might still be plotting something that involves us…"
Fu Hua, hand to her chin, offered her judgment.
"If we look at it that way, it does explain his outrageous performance today. But—what benefit does he gain from provoking us, even provoking those closest to him? How could that possibly help him achieve his goal?"
Once the initial anger subsided, everyone began to sense something deeply off about Otto.
Those taunts had been too theatrical.
If Otto truly intended to walk away for good, there was no reason to deliberately antagonize them—especially when that could lead them to interfere with his plans.
There had to be another motive.
[Tesla: Hmph! The real me wouldn't get angry so easily!]
[Einstein: Dr. Tesla, you just smashed two cups in the base.]
[Tesla: Chicken-Head, you—!!]
[Kiana: Still… Otto really knows how to hit people where it hurts…]
[Honkai·Himeko: Otto definitely has other unspeakable secrets!]
[Raiden Ei: A provocation tactic… but why?]
[Charlotte: Looks like we'll have to take it one step at a time!]
On-screen, after much discussion with no conclusion, the group could only proceed cautiously.
Durandal and Rita followed Otto's orders toward their destination.
On the way, they happened to run into Li Sushang, who clearly had nothing better to do.
"…Miss Li? You're here as well."
"Use my full name. When you're polite like that, it just feels strange."
Li Sushang studied the unusually serious expressions on Durandal and Rita, realizing that the two of them actually knew less about the Rakshasa man's plan than she did.
"So the Overseer really didn't tell you? No wonder he told me not to get too close to you or the Hyperion crew."
"It seems the Overseer wants to keep even us in the dark until the very last moment."
"Hm… things are starting to feel more complicated than I imagined. After all, all the S-rank Valkyries are gathered here now."
Li Sushang mimicked Otto's habit of resting her chin on her hand.
"Just yesterday, he mentioned a bunch of strange terms to me—like the Imaginary Tree, higher-dimensional space…"
"And it all seemed related to time. Those phenomena in the town were probably deliberately triggered by him."
Following Sushang's revelations, Durandal asked,
"Did he ever tell you what his ultimate purpose was?"
"Ah? That, I knew from the very beginning. Or rather—ever since five hundred years ago."
Saying this, Li Sushang's expression grew more serious.
"Schicksal has a Valkyrie known as the Saint, right? Kallen Kaslana. You should know she was the Rakshasa—no, the Overseer's childhood friend."
She paused for a second or two.
"How should I put it… his longing for her is so deep that it makes me feel lonely just watching. A long time ago, in the desert, he once sat alone for an entire night like that…"
"You can understand that feeling, can't you?"
"So you believe he's serious? That all of this is truly an elaborate plan to resurrect Kallen Kaslana?"
Durandal still found it hard to believe.
But Li Sushang looked at Durandal and Rita strangely—
as if this were common knowledge.
"Is it the way he expresses himself that makes you think he's joking? He's always been serious."
"And the reason he awakened me from deep stasis is precisely because his resurrection plan has entered its final stage."
Instantly, Rita realized something.
"Lady Li Sushang… are you saying that the very fact you were recently awakened by the Overseer means that, in his own judgment—he already has considerable confidence in being able to resurrect the Saint from five hundred years ago?!"
"Yes. After all, that was his promise to me."
Li Sushang nodded matter-of-factly.
The Rakshasa man had never lied to her—five hundred years ago, and she believed he wouldn't now.
This was Otto: a man who never broke his promises.
"You should also know that five hundred years ago, I was gravely injured in an accident. Back then, it was nearly impossible to fully heal such wounds."
"So the Rakshasa—no, the Overseer—put me into deep hibernation until he found a way to cure me."
"Regardless of how he's judged in other respects, objectively speaking—he is undeniably my lifesaver."
"And five hundred years ago, when he asked me 'If everything goes well, what kind of future would you like to awaken into?'—"
"Out of curiosity toward him, I didn't choose 'an era where humanity defeats the Honkai'."
"I chose 'the era where you achieve your wish.'"
"At the time, I truly wanted to witness the moment he realized his dream. You could say it was a bit of selfish curiosity."
At this point, Li Sushang's cheeks reddened slightly.
Rita, hearing this, couldn't help but marvel.
"So by that logic… the Overseer now has great confidence that he can achieve his dream."
"That's right. And most likely, some people will suffer innocent misfortune because of it. From what I hear, the Herrscher of the Void incident was exactly like that."
Li Sushang's answer made Durandal, Rita—and even the viewers outside the screen—grow grave.
Li Sushang clearly knew much about Otto's plans.
And coming from her mouth, the warning that others would inevitably be harmed carried tremendous weight.
Which meant—
Otto's current scheme was very likely to cause serious harm to many people.
Durandal immediately looked at the last remaining S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal.
"…Do you intend to stop him?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't break the promise I made to my lifesaver."
Li Sushang shook her head firmly, full of chivalric resolve.
"Besides, that man has already kept one of his promises to me. Think about it—he could have chosen not to treat me, not to awaken me at all. Isn't that right?"
"However, I won't interfere with your actions. Nor should you expect my resolve to waver in any way."
"In short—if you decide to pursue the Overseer's plan to the very end, I won't stop you."
"Correct. Five hundred years ago, I wished to witness the day he achieved his desire—but that's one matter. I have no reason to interfere in your conflict with him."
"Of course, if you truly decide to move against him, you should also prepare yourself with sufficient resolve."
"Because regardless of what his plan ultimately entails—"
"—it represents all of his obsessions across five hundred years."
The heroic young woman before them spoke with solemn seriousness.
Bound by her chivalric code, she would not betray Otto nor break her promise.
Yet she also had no reason to stop Durandal and the others from seeking the truth.
All she could do was remain true to her principles—
and bear witness to the moment Otto realized his wish.
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