Mr. Otto Never Loses

As they walked onto a deserted suburban highway, Anqi suddenly spoke.

This kind of safe and carefree life was actually what Anqi had always wanted.

Although she knew very well that the road ahead was long and there were many things to do, it was nice to take a carefree break like this once in a while.

Fu Hua and Cang Xiaoxuan exchanged a smile. One patted Anqi's head with a smile, while the other sat on Anqi's shoulder and hummed an ancient and beautiful ballad that no one else knew.

It seems that Great Void Mountain has now satisfied everyone.

"Speaking of which, Anqi, there's something your master has been wanting to remind you of sometime."

"What?"

"Otto already knows about your misuse of Delta's privileges. Don't let it happen again, otherwise he might not let it go so easily. Otto is a very dangerous person, which is one of the facts I'm most certain of in the last five hundred years."

"So, Master knows about Kiana's situation?"

Anqi turned her head to look at Fu Hua, as if she had sensed something.

Fu Hua was speechless, then shook his head with a wry smile.

"How are you so perceptive? You don't even know if it's a good thing or a bad thing."

"Master, what exactly is Kiana's connection to the Babylon Experiment Tower and the Second Great Honkai?"

"You... don't think too much about it. Kiana's situation is complicated, and I can't tell you right now. If possible, try to get as little involved in her affairs as possible. Consider it a favor from your master, okay?"

Fu Hua sighed with a headache and worry.

Otto took his experiments very seriously.

If she gets too involved, Fu Hua is worried that Anqi will also be targeted by Otto.

Although it was very unfair to Kiana, Fu Hua wanted to face this matter herself and didn't want to see Anqi get involved.

Anqi lowered her head, remained silent for a moment, then shook her head and said:

"But Kiana has already asked me for help, Master. I won't abandon her."

"Anqi, Kiana's situation is really complicated and dangerous!"

"But Kiana is my best friend."

"You..."

Fu Hua felt that the ease and joy of the day had vanished in an instant, replaced by heaviness, worry, and heartache, yet she couldn't help feeling gratified and proud.

Look, this is my apprentice. He cherishes friendship and values loyalty. There's simply no way to criticize him.

She really didn't want Anqi to be in danger.

But that couldn't stop Anqi from caring about her friends.

Being a teacher is indeed a bittersweet experience, leaving one unsure of how to handle it.

As Fu Hua was struggling with her decision, Cang Xiaoxuan floated up to her head and sat down, placing a tablet with its screen lit up on it.

"I don't remember you ever being this fussy before. So, your injuries are too severe and your strength has weakened, so you've started to worry too much? Well, I have good news for you. The doctor I found is ready, and we can take you for treatment right now!"

Fu Hua was taken aback.

Then, looking at Anqi, Ji Lin, and A-Lin beside her with expressions of surprise, Fu Hua pursed her lips and nodded emphatically.

In the past, she didn't care much about her physical condition. Perhaps she was already tired of the endless forgetting and loneliness, and subconsciously, she was actually looking forward to her complete slumber?

But now, Fu Hua finds that her mindset is completely different.

"Alright, let's go heal our wounds. I need to regain my strength as soon as possible."

For everyone around me!

Fu Hua appeared calm and composed, yet her demeanor carried a resolute air that everyone could sense.

Chapter 177 Mr. Otto, Who Never Loses Out

"Ten million is needed."

"I am quite wealthy!"

Cang Xiaoxuan calmly signed a check and handed it to the Jackal without even blinking.

The Jackal stroked the pattern on the check; its vintage texture and faint scent of ink made her squint her eyes with pleasure.

"Ahem! Jackal, mind your manners!"

The Gray Serpent was starting to lose its composure.

It's our duty to do things for Flame-Chasers, why are you taking tips?

Besides, even if there is a reward, it would be something like asking the powerful Ji Lin or even Lord Hua to help out in the future. It would be a respectable way of repaying that cannot be measured in money.

Accepting tips in person? Where is the dignity of our World Serpent?!

Unexpectedly, the Jackal sneered, speaking with an even more self-righteous tone than the Gray Serpent: "What are you coughing about! If you're sick, go change the parts yourself! Do you know how big this project is? What's wrong with me taking a little extra charge? Besides, they might not even trust me if I don't take it. And yet, she still has to thank me!"

Yes, thank you!

Cang Xiaoxuan grasped the Jackal's fingers with both hands and shook them amicably.

Despite trusting the bond between Flame-Chasers and Cang Xiaoxuan, Kevin was not around. At this time, he had traveled a long way to seek medical help, and World Serpent didn't want anything from him. This made Cang Xiaoxuan very uneasy.

Ten million is a small amount, but giving it away is better than not giving it at all. At least it shows that there is still demand for World Serpent, and that people are taking this medical treatment seriously.

Gray Serpent stood there, stuck for a long time. Looking at the suddenly harmonious atmosphere, he had to admit—well, Jackal understands psychology better.

Fu Hua followed the Jackal into the laboratory, her calm expression revealing more bewilderment than anything else.

The World Serpent, a shadow left behind by Dr. Mobius, a follower of Kevin, and a member of the Stigmata Project.

When I learned these things from Cang Xiaoxuan, some fragmented memories became clear.

Fu Hua felt a little nostalgic, but also a little emotional - ah, the obsession that existed fifty thousand years ago has persisted to this day. It turns out that I am not the only one!

"Your name is Jackal, right?"

Lying on the lab table after a long absence, Fu Hua looked at the Jackal with an exceptionally complex expression.

The Jackal, wearing thin film gloves, smiled in a friendly yet undeniably arrogant manner.

"My real Cleo. Call me whatever you like; you have the right to."

"I heard Kevin got lost in the Sea of Quantum, while Su is still carrying out Hengsha Project?"

"Venerable Lord Kevin has indeed not returned yet, and we are working on it. As for Lord Su, your information seems to be outdated. He has come out, although we don't know where he is wandering in the mortal world right now."

"What? Su has already..."

Fu Hua didn't have time to ask any further questions. A strong sense of weakness and drowsiness overwhelmed her, and she quickly lost the strength to speak.

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard the Jackal's chuckled voice say:

"Let's talk about those things later. If you want, you'll definitely have an easier time seeing that person than we do. The potion has taken effect, and what follows will be a long process. I can't guarantee how painful it will be. However, I believe you can pull through. Wish us luck!"

Her long, black eyelashes slowly closed, Fu Hua, unable to give any response, simply fell asleep.

Jackal's smile deepened. He lowered his head, and after a brief flash of lightning, the scalpel removed all of Fu Hua's clothes.

What was exposed before them was a treasure rarely seen in the world.

Her slender and well-proportioned frame supported her flawless, snow-white skin that shimmered with a hint of crystalline translucence. Her seemingly delicate and frail body was devoid of any excess fat, displaying only graceful, subtle muscle lines. Her ethereal beauty, like ice and jade, was beyond description.

'Whoosh! I can take on Crimson Kite caught completely off guard like this!'

'Ahem! Drag Ji Lin out!'

"Sisters, this concerns Master's health, so we can't afford to relax even a little bit!"

With hundreds of auxiliary thought circuits connected to the Theater of Domination in his mind, the smile on Jackal's face gradually disappeared, and the specially made scalpel gleamed coldly as it approached Fu Hua's skin.

"The first step is to conduct a thorough examination. Let's begin!"

"What did you say? Lord Su has already returned to the real world?"

In the base's reception room, Cang Xiaoxuan dropped his teacup, staring blankly at the calm and indifferent Skyfire, and let out a gasp in unison with Fu Hua.

She had no idea about this before.

Gray Serpent stood to the side, watching Cang Xiaoxuan's stunned reaction, feeling a subtle sense of superiority—see, this is the difference between formal and informal. Although we are all companions of Flame-Chasers, while you are still leisurely enjoying yourself outside, we are directly in contact with the deepest secrets of this world!

Of course, he quickly reflected on his vulgarity and erased that emotion from his thought process without letting anyone notice.

I, Gray Serpent, a ruthless and cold-blooded World Serpent cadre, a precise and accurate tool, will not flaunt myself over such a trivial matter!

"Hua has the right to know this news. And, although it can't be 100% certain, Su might be in the operating room today."

This surprised even Gray Serpent.

"Skyfire, you mean..."

"Hua's biggest problem isn't her body, but the effects of 'Divine Sound' over thousands of years. Especially since she created the so-called Taixu Sword Qi on top of that, it's now very difficult to figure out what state her mental realm is in. So, if there's anyone who can help Hua in this regard, the only person I can think of is Su."

"I see. In that case, given the friendship between Flame-Chasers and me, Lord Su might actually lend a helping hand!"

Gray Serpent nodded repeatedly, completely agreeing with Skyfire's assessment.

Then we should hurry up and make preparations to welcome them, right?

I also need to think about what would be appropriate to talk to Lord Su about. Should I report on the plan to welcome back the Venerable Lord, or the detailed progress of the Stigmata Project?

But soon, Gray Serpent's restless thoughts were extinguished upon seeing Skyfire Ancient Well's calm and unwavering gaze.

Yes, why should a mere World Serpent official like him worry about what the Flame-Chasers are doing? Let everything take its natural course. If necessary, the Venerable Lord will speak up. Why bother with all this?

The scarlet electronic eyes dimmed, and the Gray Serpent lowered its head slightly, as cold and silent as ever, like an emotionless machine.

Cang Xiaoxuan then came to his senses and slowly approached the Skyfire:

"Um, Senior Skyfire, do you know if Lord Su is free recently? What's his phone number? Could we invite him to Great Void Mountain for tea or something?"

"It depends on whether he's willing to show himself in front of you. I don't know what he saw in the Hengsha Project, or what he'll do next, but I'm looking forward to him giving a new answer—whatever it may be, because it's better than this worst option."

"Yes, if I have the chance, I will try to ask that person."

Cang Xiaoxuan responded politely, his attempt to jokingly extract information vanishing amidst Skyfire's serious expression and the heavy topic.

'We can't even joke around anymore. Our masters said back then that Lord Kevin was a very serious and dignified person; just looking at him from afar made people nervous. Now it seems they were right! After all, even Senior Skyfire is like this, so what about the real him?'

While complaining, Cang Xiaoxuan suddenly realized that Skyfire, who had experienced the Finality War, was indeed carrying a completely different burden than she had not.

Those unimaginable awareness and responsibilities... well, Cang Xiaoxuan felt a mix of admiration and sympathy.

Healing Fu Hua's body is a long process.

Although Anqi and her team diligently absorbed all the techniques of the Fusion Warrior, there is still an unfathomable gap between theory and practice.

Unlike Otto, who had conducted centuries of research on Fu Hua, many of their previous preparations were scrapped and restarted after the physical examination, and the initial treatment plan also underwent new changes.

One day, two days, three days.

Cang Xiaoxuan already knew it wouldn't be that simple, so he remained calm and even took the time to check on Ji Lin and Anqi, who were getting anxious, to prevent them from getting restless and storming into the World Serpent's gate with their swords.

But on the other side of the planet, a bishop whose name is not required to be described began to be in a bad mood.

"Mr. Otto, Mr. Otto?"

"Huh? I was just spacing out, sorry."

Otto routinely contacted Yae Sakura, who was in St. Freya, to hear about the progress of the patrol and information about Kiana —of course, everyone knew that he was only really concerned about the latter.

However, today, he was more concerned about a message from Shenzhou than about Kiana, whose condition was stable.

"Mr. Otto, I sense that you've been in a bad mood these past few days. Has something happened?"

"Sigh, even you noticed. It seems my wavering has become too obvious!"

"You can tell me if you have any worries, provided it's convenient for me to know."

"As for Sakura, there's really nothing inconvenient about it... Well, I do want to talk to someone. My old friend, who has been seriously injured for a long time, is undergoing treatment, and even if he's not completely out of my control, there will be a lot of variables afterward. I don't know whether to offer my blessings or worry about this first."

Otto rubbed his temples and shook his head with a wry smile.