This Matter Is a Secret Between Us (cont.)

"But, A'yu, there's something you need to understand."

Looking at Lin Yu in front of her, Rita changed her previous nonchalant attitude, and her eyes and attitude suddenly became extremely serious.

"Perhaps to ordinary people who are unaware of the 'Honkai,' they still maintain a world that can sustain daily life at any time."

"But for those of us who are aware of the Honkai, tomorrow could be the last day of our lives."

"I'm not trying to say anything discouraging, but in this apocalyptic world where death could come at any moment, many things can be compromised and ignored."

"The girls around you are all good girls. Rather than choosing only one and leaving the others heartbroken, I would rather you bear the pressure, be a scumbag condemned by the world, and bring them an unfair but at least some happiness."

Ah, the topic has suddenly become so heavy.

Yes, the topic suddenly became so heavy.

"Alright, I didn't mean to make this a serious topic. Instead of worrying about things like these, let's talk about... A'yu..."

"—Tell your sister, who exactly have you taken a liking to?"

If Lin Yu had any thoughts or emotions right now, the boy being watched by Rita was probably only feeling embarrassed.

Ah, if I were to say right now that I want to hug everyone except Bronya, would my older sister kill me?

That's quite an appetite... isn't it?

"Hey, you don't even want to talk about this?"

Seeing Lin Yu's obvious predicament, Rita sighed softly and asked Lin Yu again.

"Let's change the subject—what are your thoughts on Lady Bianca?"

"So you were lying in wait for me, sister."

Listening to Rita's words, Lin Yu realized what Rita's previous foreshadowing had been all about.

Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. Rita, who regards Durandal as her closest person, would naturally try to subtly probe Lin Yu, the culprit, after realizing some of Durandal's thoughts.

"Otherwise what?"

Rita, who was stirring her coffee with a small spoon, let out a helpless sigh.

"You seem to be in better spirits now, so it's time to put these things on the agenda."

"Furthermore, considering the changes in your actions and attitudes since you left Changkong City, I have a rough idea that you have obtained some information that you shouldn't know from somewhere."

"Now that you know that information and Miss Kiana's true identity, you've probably realized a lot of things."

Lin Yu knew from the past that he couldn't keep Rita's actions a secret forever.

His sworn sister already possessed a remarkable mind. With her exceptional intellect and her understanding of Lin Yu over the past two years, Rita, as Otto's confidante, analyzed the current situation and deduced some intelligence that was actually what should have happened.

That's very troublesome.

I didn't want to involve my sister.

But now, Otto has been hiding for so long without showing his face, which can only mean that he is definitely preparing to make a big splash.

In times like these, it's better to lay everything out on the table than to hide it.

When facing Otto, I wouldn't be overestimating him even if I were a hundred and twenty times more cautious.

For example, right now, he might already be plotting to use Rita's parents as hostages to threaten Rita into doing things for him.

For the rest of the time, the private room became incredibly quiet.

Rita didn't urge her adopted brother, knowing that she needed to give him time to think and make a reasonable judgment.

"Ha, since I can't hide it from my sister, I'll just tell her everything."

After organizing his thoughts, Lin Yu spoke to Rita.

"The reason I went on that mission behind your and Bianca's back was not only because I wanted to take the opportunity to prove my worth and climb higher, but also because I knew some things I shouldn't have known."

"For example, Bishop Otto's execution of the Sirin Project was not actually to study the power of the Herrscher of the Void, but to directly revive the Herrscher of the Void and bring her back to this world."

"For example, Kiana is the original body of the Herrscher of the Void, and Cocolia is preparing to trigger the Third Honkai Outbreak in Changkong City."

"If Cocolia's plan had succeeded back then, the Herrscher of Thunder would have destroyed everything around her, and the Herrscher of the Void might have awakened as well. Once you realize this, I think you can understand why I chose to go to that location."

"You..."

After reaching out her right hand and pinching Lin Yu's cheek hard, Rita said angrily.

"You'd be better off not mentioning it, because it makes me angry just thinking about it!"

"You only survived that time because of good luck, you know! You're just being reckless, do you know how worried Bianca and I were about you!"

"Yes, I did survive by luck, but—what could I do?"

Lin Yu, whose face was being pinched by Rita, continued to speak incoherently.

"The thought of millions dying in Changkong City, and two Herrscher potentially awakening at the same time, makes me wonder if you expect me to just sit here in the agent candidate base at headquarters and watch?"

"Even if you, Rita, knew about these things, you wouldn't be able to carry them out smoothly under the bishop's supervision. At this point, if I don't want the Honkai to continue to rage, I have no choice but to charge forward myself."

Faced with Lin Yu's completely irrefutable words, Rita was at this moment...

—He was clearly even angrier.

"Tch, I can't argue with you, forget it."

"Sister, I know you're worried about me, but as you said, we are warriors who could die at any moment."

"When the Honkai descended, Bishop Otto stood by and did nothing, the Anti-Entropy people were powerless, and the World Serpent people were lying in wait in the shadows, ready to reap the benefits. If I didn't do anything at that time and just watched the Honkai rage, I don't think I would forgive myself even if I survived."

"And speaking of which, I think that you, sister, have clearly realized Bishop Otto's true thoughts by laying these words out in the open today."

"Yes, I guessed it."

When the topic turned to the existence she had once tried to serve but now loathed, Rita's face was filled with nothing but disgust and resentment.

The maid, who should have been incredibly elegant, exuded a chilling killing intent that Lin Yu could sense at this moment.

"All the plans that Bishop Otto told me and Durandal were lies."

"Now I see it clearly. He was just pretending to be ready to deal with the Honkai, but in the dark, some of his actions were obviously helping the Honkai grow."

"Yes, that's right. Sister, think about it now. If I had told you all those things back then—do you think Bishop Otto would still have valued you so much if you had slipped up, given that you were being 'trained' by him?"

"... Perhaps by then, I will be dealt with ahead of time."

Upon hearing Lin Yu's use of the word "value," Rita revealed a mocking smile.

"I know my own strengths and weaknesses."

"Although I am S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, in the eyes of the bishop, I am probably just a convenient pawn."

"Chess pieces should not have their own thoughts, and once a chess piece knows something it shouldn't know, even if that chess piece is very useful, Bishop Otto would probably have to deal with it."

"So, you know all this, sister—when are we going to Kolosten?"

Lin Yu, who had now officially entered work mode, clasped his hands together and calmly spoke to Rita.

"Your uncle and aunt are both in Kolosten. In other words, if Otto has any ideas that are detrimental to your uncle and aunt, you will be at his mercy."

"Otto is hiding now, and he's definitely planning something big. Rather than being controlled by him later, I think you'd better go to Kolosten now and bring your aunt and uncle out."

Just as Rita was about to ask something more, there was a knock on the door.

"Excuse me, gentlemen."

Hearing the knocking at the door, Rita said with great displeasure.

"... Didn't I already tell you not to go near this private room?"

"That's true, but..."

Hearing the waiter's troubled tone, Lin Yu gave Rita a reassuring look and then asked the waiter.

"Alright, waiter, we're all just trying to make a living, it's not easy."

"Just say what you want to say. I guess someone 'higher up' asked you to lead the way to us, right?"

"Just let him in. I trust the comrades from my hometown; they're not some kind of ignorant bastards."

"Mr. Lin Yu is truly a straightforward person."

After receiving Lin Yu's approval, a man in a suit pushed open the door, entered the room, and bowed to Rita and Lin Yu.

"Miss Rita Roseweisse, nice to meet you."

"And Lord Lin Yu, it's been a long time. Seeing that you are all well, I am relieved."

"... Oh, it's you."

After recognizing the other person as a fellow countryman from Shenzhou who had passionately argued with the members of Schicksal in Nine Nether last time, Lin Yu asked him.

"Last time I was in a hurry and didn't have time to ask your name."

"Just call me Li Pu."

While I'm criticizing other people's names, buddy, your name is really...

That's pretty outrageous.

After the man who had spoken his name realized that Lin Yu was not unhappy with his arrival, he naturally found a seat and sat down.

"I know that this sudden visit may have caused you some trouble, but I had no choice but to be impolite."

"After all..."

"—The immortal has decreed that Lord Lin Yu be invited to Tai Xu Mountain for a discussion."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu was not surprised that martial arts figures from the Shenzhou would come to him.

The reason he used the Quantum Teleportation System to bring Rita here was because any coffee shop in Shenzhou wouldn't be full of people from Schicksal.

Over the past five hundred years, it seems that the Schicksal of Heaven has been secretly extending its reach into the interior of Shenzhou.

However, as a major power that can openly maintain a 'non-interference' relationship with the Schicksal, Shenzhou is not so easily infiltrated by the Schicksal to the point of becoming like a branch of the Mandate of Schicksal.

Furthermore, with Fu Hua's return to Shenzhou under the title of "Crimson Heron Immortal," which gave Shenzhou a more assertive stance externally, the dormant Schicksal members within Shenzhou will likely be a little more restrained during this period.

Discussing work here would expose information, and the chances of the people on the other side of Schicksal finding out are extremely low. That's the reason Lin Yu returned to Shenzhou to discuss these things.

As for Fu Hua sending people to come knocking on his door, Lin Yu thought that was perfectly normal.

The Herrscher of Reason from the Previous Era could erode the consciousness of countless people through special means. Although the Herrscher of Reason in this era seems to be slightly different from the Herrscher of Reason from the Previous Era, it is not difficult for her to perceive 'familiar consciousness' by spreading her consciousness.

If there was anything Lin Yu hadn't expected, it was probably that the people from the Tai Xu Sword Sect were so efficient, coming to their door before he and Rita even left the coffee shop.

Seeing Lin Yu remain silent, the martial arts figure who called himself Li Pu naturally dared not utter any more words.

Lin Yu's identity is now known not only within the Tai Xu Sword Sect, but throughout the entire Shenzhou; he is a disciple of the Crimson Heron Immortal.

The young man sitting in front of him was not only the strongest knight of Schicksal, but also one of the disciples of the Crimson Heron Immortal, and a powerful figure with the terrifying feat of easily defeating Herrscher.

Anyone sitting here right now, if they were a normal person, would not say anything that would lead to their own demise after already offending the other party.

Looking at the swordsman sitting upright in front of him, who seemed to want to say something but dared not speak, Lin Yu chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Alright, Brother Li, there's no need to be so nervous. Since Master has given the order, I will naturally go back to talk to Master."

"But right now, I have other things to do. When you go back to report, please tell my master that I will go to Tai Xu Mountain to find him in half a day."

"... ha."

After hearing Lin Yu smile and give him a satisfactory answer, Li Pu breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good, then I can rest assured."

After saying this, Li Pu immediately darted to the door and gently closed it behind him.

"Then I won't disturb you any longer. Please continue."

After their conversation was interrupted, neither Lin Yu nor Rita had the will to continue their exchange.

Rita, who values her family, felt an urge to rush to Kolosten and get her parents to safety the moment she thought about her parents potentially becoming Otto's hostage.

"Alright, sister, I have a near-perfect solution."

After placing his hand on Rita's shoulder, Lin Yu gently snapped his fingers.

As Lin Yu made this move, which was purely for showing off, the scene in front of the two of them suddenly changed.

"Here it is..."

Looking at the architectural style in front of her, Rita looked around with a hint of confusion before exclaiming in surprise.