Chapter 378

Durandal made this assurance. Perhaps she couldn't foresee other developments, but Durandal could assure the Hyperion that she and her squad could be completely trusted.

"That would be perfect... But you must be careful. If Otto discovers that you are no longer useful to him, he might do something very cruel to you..."

At this point, not only Welt, who had spoken, but also Einstein and Tesla beside him, had complicated expressions. Don't think that just because she is the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal, he won't do anything to her. There was a previous strongest Valkyrie, and her passing was a tragedy for everyone in Anti-Entropy.

"You mean... Senior Leanna? Don't be surprised, a... well, a friend of mine told me her story. I also know that she was once a user of the Black Abyss White Flower, and I roughly know... her relationship with Anti-Entropy."

Now I roughly understand why the Anti-Entropy group reacted this way. From what I know, Durandal understands what kind of existence that person is to Anti-Entropy. But such a person is because of Otto... No wonder Tesla has always been so hostile to Otto.

"Leanna is a good person. Back then, the division of labor between us was actually a bit like yours and Rita's now. It's just that I didn't like making friends back then... so I wouldn't say we were very close."

Fu Hua began to recount her impressions of Leanna. When she was reporting to headquarters, she was cold and aloof and didn't interact with anyone, so even though she had worked with Leanna, she wasn't very familiar with her. But even so, Fu Hua knew that Leia was a good person, and her passing was a loss for everyone.

"She is a fighter, a true Valkyrie... If you knew her, you would know what kind of slewd scoundrel Otto really is."

Thinking of the person who had once lived, Tesla felt a renewed urge to hate Otto. This Dr. Lobster Head spared no effort in doing whatever he could to smear Otto, not just for the sake of smearing him, but because Otto himself had countless flaws.

Durandal fell silent for a moment. Otto had indeed done some terrible things to you, which was one of the darkest periods in Schicksal's history. However, such things probably wouldn't happen again. After this dark period, Schicksal should move in a new direction.

Chapter 122 Heartwarming Acts

"Alright, in any case, there's not much point in going back to history at this moment. Durandal, and Rita... if you think it's the right choice to go back and contact my grandfather now, then the Hyperion won't stop you. Just be careful."

Sensing the somewhat subdued atmosphere, and after giving Shen Gonglin several meaningful glances without any response, Theresa had no choice but to change the subject herself. This guy's emotional intelligence is seriously lacking.

Everyone would seriously consider his words if he just spoke, but at this moment he kept talking to Bronya. How can someone like that be a bishop? Fortunately, as the vice bishop, I can assist him properly.

Wait, that's not right. I was thinking of training Shen Gonglin properly, so why am I spoiling him like this now?

"Yes, we will handle this very carefully."

"However, that is Lord Otto Apocalypse, who is skilled at planning before acting... So everyone needs to be vigilant and prepare for the worst."

Durandal and Rita said that it was like playing chess. Otto had already anticipated several moves ahead when he made this move, while the Hyperion members could only take it one step at a time and react accordingly. At this time, it was impossible not to be vigilant, or they would fall into Otto's trap if they were not careful.

"We will maintain the highest level of vigilance. Let's hope everything goes well from now on. Durandal, Rita, you must be careful."

After giving the two women another word of advice, everyone on the Hyperion looked at the two Valkyrie. They were now considered their comrades-in-arms, and it was indeed very dangerous for them to go to Otto's side.

"Go for it, the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal."

"Thank you, and good luck to you too, Herrscher of Flamescion."

Kiana clenched her fist and said this to Durandal returned the Kiana. The two of them got along very well now. After saying goodbye, Durandal and Rita prepared to leave, but the two Valkyrie looked to the other side at the same time. Shen Gonglin hadn't said a word yet, and now the two of them were about to leave. Why didn't she even say goodbye?

Is it really because they like it that they can be so incredibly arrogant?

"Are you done talking? Then let's go. I'll take you two there."

Unexpectedly, after they finished speaking, Shen Gonglin stepped forward. It seemed he intended to go with Durandal and the others. After all, they were about to become his Valkyrie, and Shen Gonglin felt he should let them feel the care of a leader.

Are you coming along too?

Durandal was incredibly surprised. She had considered having Shen Gonglin accompany them for a while, but given his personality, he probably wouldn't do so, so Durandal hadn't thought of it. Now that he had taken the initiative, to be honest, both Durandal and Rita were a little flattered.

"Of course, after all, you two might be in danger right now, so I need to prepare something for you. Although my Herrscher of the Void energy hasn't fully recovered yet, it might come in handy when needed. What if Otto tries to harm you two? I don't want to be left with nothing but your presence."

Golden light shimmered between her fingers. These were spatial coordinates that Shen Gonglin had created using her Herrscher of the Void abilities. These coordinates could attach to a person for a period of time, and Shen Gonglin could teleport to them once she sensed them. This was a method that Shen Gonglin came up with to compensate for her lack of spatial orientation. Although the duration was not very long, Shen Gonglin would feel much more at ease using them.

This guy, it turns out, wasn't always so carefree.

Shen Gonglin's behavior drew everyone's attention. After all, she had always been known for her low emotional intelligence and tendency to ruin the atmosphere. Her thoughtfulness was quite unexpected, and the stark contrast was really stimulating. Not to mention others, Durandal and Rita were flattered and somewhat at a loss.

Shen Gonglin has been so good to them; there's probably no way to repay her except by marrying him.

"Why are you all staring at me like that? It's really annoying."

For some reason, Kiana and the others' gazes made Shen Gonglin feel very uncomfortable. Could it be that someone was secretly cursing her? Shen Gonglin's eyes swept around her with a sinister look. Whoever was cursing her, better not be caught by her.

Yes, it's still the same Shen Gonglin. He didn't let anyone possess his body, so I can rest assured now.

"Alright, let Shen Gonglin take you there. Try not to take any shortcuts or side paths. If you can take a straight line, then take a straight line."

In the end, It was Theresa who spoke up to defuse the situation. At the same time, she also told Durandal and Rita not to lead him through winding paths. The reason is obvious to everyone. Theresa wasn't worried about Shen Gonglin encountering any danger, after all, with his strength, there was really no need to worry about such things. Her only concern was that Shen Gonglin might get lost. What if he got lost after taking Durandal and the others there... Don't doubt it, this kind of thing could really happen to Shen Gonglin.

"...Understood."

Durandal clearly understood the meaning behind Theresa's gaze. The Valkyrie nodded, suppressing a laugh; it would be impolite to laugh out loud at a time like this. Then, the three of them left under the gaze of everyone. Theresa breathed a sigh of relief. She had a premonition that this peaceful period probably wouldn't last long.

The girl looked up at the gloomy sky. This must be what the Shenzhou call "the storm is brewing."

On the way to the lookout tower, Shen Gonglin held Durandal's hand and carefully pasted the spatial coordinates she had made onto the tower. With this, he could pinpoint their locations and teleport there; it was a kind of insurance policy for him, and he would feel at ease with this.

"What an amazing application of your abilities, Lady Rin. Thank you very much."

Rita, standing next to her, also looked at the golden mark on her wrist, feeling as if she had been stamped by Shen Gonglin to prove her ownership. This made the maid very happy; no one else had it, only she did... Oh, right, Lady Durandal also had one, but after all, she was Durandal, so it was alright.

"Indeed, the Herrscher of the Void's abilities can be used like this? This is truly beyond my imagination."

Durandal also found it amazing, realizing that her understanding of Herrscher was still insufficient. Could Kiana also do something like this?

Chapter 123 What Otto Really Wants to Do

"This can be considered an extension of my usage. After all, as you know, the roads in the world are really too complicated, and the coordinate space is indeed a bit difficult to remember. So this is the only way I can teleport accurately. Kiana doesn't need to do this, since she knows the way... ah, no, it's more that she's used to remembering things that don't need to be remembered. So, in short, I'm still more proficient in the power of the Herrscher of the Void."

I almost blurted out the truth. Kiana isn't directionally challenged; she's quite adept at spatial positioning, unlike Shen Gonglin needs to set coordinates beforehand to teleport accurately. Given Shen Gonglin's personality, how could she so openly admit that she's very powerful? Even if she's not that proficient with coordinates, she has the real Herrscher of the Void to help her, so she must be more powerful Kiana!

"That's right, Lady Rin is the strongest."

Rita chimed in, as his personal maid, she knew exactly how to praise her master. Shen Gonglin was just like that; modesty and introversion were not his thing. Compared to protagonists in the conventional sense, he was more like a villain.

Why do I feel this sense of déjà vu between the villain and his villainous lackey?

Durandal rubbed her temples helplessly. Her intuition told her that Shen Gonglin was acting wrong, and why was Rita so indulgent towards him? There were always people more powerful than him, and even she herself wouldn't dare to be as arrogant as Shen Gonglin for fear of being humiliated. How could he dare...?

"As expected of Junior Uncle, his strong confidence is truly a model for us sword cultivators. After listening to Junior Uncle's words, I feel that I have learned a lot."

A clear, melodious voice suddenly rang out. Durandal looked up to see a white figure gracefully descending. It was none other than the last S-rank Valkyrie, Li Sushang. Durandal was somewhat surprised to see her here. Although she knew Kolosten, Durandal hadn't seen her since they arrived together. Her appearance here now...

"Miss Li? You're here too."

Shen Gonglin was completely bewildered, not knowing what Li Sushang had learned from his words. Durandal took the initiative to continue the conversation, and Li Sushang quickly shook her hand when she heard Durandal address her so politely. It was really strange to be called by her full name like that. Being so polite made Li Sushang feel a little uncomfortable. She had come to welcome Durandal and Rita, but she didn't expect her junior uncle to come along as well.

Upon seeing Shen Gonglin, Li Sushang couldn't help but recall what happened on the Immortal Blade battleship. Fortunately, after such a long cooling-off period, Li Sushang was able to stop blushing when she saw Shen Gonglin. She was clearly the unconventional type, so why... Never mind, never mind, I don't want to think about it anymore.

"Because I was also called here to be assigned tasks, I thought you would come too, so I waited for you here... Judging from your appearance, the bishop really didn't tell you about this? No wonder he asked me not to approach you and Hyperion's group casually. He was afraid that I would reveal the information to you junior uncles."

The sword fairy girl spoke these words to Shen Gonglin in a carefree manner. Ever since she arrived in Kolosten, she had been asked not to meet with them, which made her very frustrated. However, since she had agreed, no matter how uncomfortable she was, she couldn't tell her junior uncles.

But the situation is different now. The bishop only asked me not to take the initiative to contact my junior uncle and the others, but now my junior uncle has come to me on his own initiative. The things I promised him were not included in this, so it doesn't count as breaking my promise.

"That guy is definitely planning something complicated... I feel like things are more complicated than I thought, especially since all the S-rank Valkyrie are gathered here now. Sushang, has Otto told you anything?"

Seeing Li Sushang here made Shen Gonglin even more uneasy. Otto had concentrated all his high-end combat power here, and had also used the Herrscher Core to bring over the Hyperion people. Was this guy not going to reveal what he wanted to do until the very end? Shen Gonglin couldn't help but ask Li Sushang. This girl had said before that she would help Otto with something, but shouldn't it be okay for her to reveal this level of information to her?

"Um... Junior Uncle, you're really putting me in a difficult position. Please don't look at me like that. It makes me feel like I've done something unforgivable... Alright, I'll reveal a little bit then, although I don't think knowing this will be of any use to you. It's just some incomprehensible sentences."

Under the silent gazes of Durandal and Rita, the sword fairy girl with a clear sword spirit and a pure heart also took a big step towards becoming a traitor. This scene is so familiar. It seems that the two of them also took this step.

"Just yesterday, he told me a lot of strange terms, like... the Imaginary Tree, higher-dimensional space, and... directional fragmentation... and it also seems to be related to time. Those phenomena in the town must have been deliberately caused by him."

She revealed some of the things she knew, partly because her junior uncle's gaze was so intimidating that Li Sushang felt she would be inhuman if she didn't tell him, and partly because Li Sushang didn't think it was anything that couldn't be revealed. She didn't understand it at all, so it didn't matter if she told him.

"Did the bishop tell you his purpose in doing all this?"

Durandal also uttered these words. Not only Shen Gonglin and the others, she was also very Otto's purpose. He had done so many things just to achieve some so-called final journey. What exactly did he want to achieve? Was it really as he said?

"Ah, there's no need to keep this a secret. I've known it from the beginning, or rather, I knew it five hundred years ago. Doesn't Schicksal have a Valkyrie known as the Saintess, Kallen? You should know that she is Kaslana... ah, no, I should say the Bishop's childhood sweetheart. What he's doing now is probably for her."

Li Sushang spoke about this matter frankly and openly. The sword fairy girl's thoughts were racing. She seemed to be thinking about something that happened five hundred years ago. How to put it, the bishop's longing for that Kallen Kaslana even made her, an outsider, feel lonely.

Chapter 124 A Mess Will Definitely Be Left Behind

"A long time ago, in the desert, he sat there all alone for a whole night... Can you imagine that feeling? When I saw him the next day still in that position, I was quite shocked. This kind of longing is so profound that even bystanders can feel it."

Li Sushang explained her feelings at the time to Shen Gonglin and the others. From that moment on, she knew that in this person's eyes, the whole world might not even be as important as that one person.

"So, you think he's serious? He's really orchestrating this whole thing to resurrect Kallen Kaslana?"

Li Sushang could understand Otto's obsession with Kallen, but it was still hard to believe that Durandal would go to such lengths just for this. She felt that Otto's arrangements must have been for more than just this one thing. However, Durandal's reaction made Li Sushang even more curious. Why couldn't he be serious?

"I don't quite understand... Did he make you think he was joking when he expressed himself? I think he's always been very serious. Besides, the reason he woke me from my deep dormancy was because his resurrection plan had entered its final stage."

Li Sushang shrugged. Durandal and Rita remained noncommittal about her reaction. After all, she had been asleep for five hundred years, so she didn't know what Otto had done in those five hundred years. In her opinion, Otto might be doing something very seriously, but for the Valkyrie who served under her, it was hard to believe that the bishop's goal was so clearly laid out in front of everyone...

"Lady Li Sushang... are you saying that the very fact that you were recently awakened by the bishop means that in his view... he is quite confident that he can resurrect the saintess from five hundred years ago?"

Rita took the initiative to speak. Since Shen Gonglin was here, she wanted to find out as much information as possible for him. This sword fairy girl was straightforward... In short, she wasn't very bright, but she should be able to get a lot of information from her.

"Yes, that's right. After all, it was his promise to me. As you all know, I was seriously injured in an accident five hundred years ago. At that time, such injuries were difficult to cure completely, so he put me into a deep hibernation until he figured out a way to completely cure me. Regardless of his personal evaluation in other aspects... objectively speaking, he is undoubtedly my savior."

"A debt of gratitude must be repaid" is Li Sushang's life principle. She knew that Rita was gathering information for Shen Gonglin, but she was happy to tell him these things. After all, she hoped that he would accompany her when she traveled the world after everything was over.

"Five hundred years ago, when he asked me what kind of future I hoped to awaken again if everything went smoothly, out of curiosity, I did not choose the era when humanity defeated the Honkai, but instead chose the era when he could fulfill his wish. At that time, I really wanted to witness him realize his dream, which could be considered a kind of inexplicable selfishness... After all, at that time, I really didn't know what was worth looking forward to."

Li Sushang spread her hands and said this, and from her words, Rita also caught the answer she wanted.

"In other words, following this line of reasoning... the current bishop is quite confident that he can realize his dream?"

The idea that Li Sushang awakened in an era where dreams were being realized, and that he was now being prepared for such a thing in such a high-profile manner, makes it seem quite credible.

"That's probably how it is. And most people will suffer undeservedly because of this. I heard that's what happened with the Herrscher of the Void before. And I don't intend to stop him. I can't break the promise I made to my savior. Besides, that person has already kept his promise to me once. Think about it, he could have chosen not to heal me or wake me up, couldn't he?"

At this point, Li Sushang's face clearly showed her dilemma. She didn't want innocent people to get hurt, which was the principle of chivalry in her martial arts world. However, she couldn't break her promise to Otto. So, after thinking it over, she realized that this was the only way to have the best of both worlds.

"Junior Uncle, Durandal, to be honest, if you really want to stop him, then I won't stop you. That's not a favor between him and me... nor is it about maintaining neutrality. Just like I told you before, Junior Uncle, I will choose to help him fight, just one fight. After that fight, we'll be even, and neither of us will owe the other anything."

Rubbing her fists, Li Sushang explained her plan to Shen Gonglin. Once this was done, her relationship with Otto would be settled, and she would be a free person. This was the best solution Li Sushang could think of, and besides, given her current status...

"Speaking of which, aren't I still the S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal? Junior Uncle, you're about to take over the position of Bishop of Schicksal. When that time comes, as your junior niece and subordinate, if I still have the strength, I'll turn around and help you clean up the mess that man left behind. I think he'll definitely leave a mess, right?"

She smiled ingratiatingly at Shen Gonglin. Even Li Sushang had made such a double-dealing declaration. After helping Otto fight, she and Otto would be even. She couldn't be alone in this world. From any perspective, following her junior uncle was the best solution. The sword fairy was preparing for her future and hoped that her junior uncle would take her in.

A mess... Durandal and Rita exchanged a glance. Li Sushang's prediction was really accurate. No matter what Otto planned to do, leaving behind a mess was a certainty.

"You're right... After the Herrscher of the Void's experiment last year, small-scale Honkai occurred one after another. The Immortal Blade worked around the world for more than three months to gradually clear them out and suppress them. Although we can say that the Herrscher of the Void's resurgence was inevitable and this disaster was unavoidable... we also know without a doubt that all of this originated from our own bishop's plan; it's because we, the Schicksal, need the power of the Herrscher of the Void."

Durandal truthfully explained that only they themselves knew just how difficult it was to clean up the mess from last time.

Chapter 128 Neither Side

In short, what Li Sushang meant by saying this was that, for the time being, until she helped Otto finish that last fight, she would still obey Otto, but she wouldn't stop anyone from trying to stop Otto. This gave Shen Gonglin a headache. What should she do with this disobedient junior disciple? After thinking it over, she figured the only solution was to give her a good beating.

I really don't know how the Class President established the Taixu Sword School. His disciples and their disciples are all so disobedient, not at all like me who respects his teachers. It's true that people are all different. You can't expect everyone to be as excellent as me.

Well, she's so outstanding that even the jockey, who was known for his ancestor-killing skills, managed to seduce an honest man into bed.

"So, you don't want something like what happened to the Herrscher of the Void to happen a second time, right?"

Finally, she understood what she wanted to do. Otto had been kind to her, so she had to repay him. After repaying him, as a free person, Li Sushang also wanted to do her own thing and work with them to clean up the mess Otto left behind. This was exactly what Li Sushang wanted in life. Isn't this what a chivalrous person should be like?

She hadn't read many books, but the stories that depicted heroes and chivalrous figures were the ones Li Sushang had read the most, so she wanted to become one of those characters in the stories.

This longing was eventually interpreted by Shen Gonglin as wanting to become the person in the doujinshi, and one day, after who knows how long, Shen Gonglin actually made her wish come true.

"Of course, the ultimate mission of the Schicksal is to eliminate the Honkai. I believe everyone has not forgotten this. Perhaps in order to eliminate the Honkai, we must thoroughly study the Honkai... But we are Schicksal after all, not Anti-Entropy, much less World Serpent. We cannot be indifferent to the price required for progress."

Durandal stated truthfully that this was the significance of the Schicksal's establishment. It was not a tool for someone to achieve their own goals. In Durandal's belief, Schicksal should be like this. In Otto's hands, it may have become biased in some sense, but Durandal believed that it was ultimately working on the path of maintaining this beautiful yet complex world.

Like Anti-Entropy, doesn't it also have radicals like Cocolia? World Serpent's philosophy is different from Schicksal's. An organization cannot be judged as good or bad based on individuals.

"Yes, I believe you, Durandal. I believe you are seriously considering these things, rather than using them as a high-sounding excuse like some people do. I believe that from your perspective, they are a kind of proof of who you are. However, humans are free, so for others, their proof of who they are is also diverse."

These things might be a bit complicated for Li Sushang, but the young girl saw them with her eyes and felt them with her heart. She may have only known about this era for a few months, but that was enough for her to understand that similarities and differences are very common in the world.

Moreover, it is precisely these similar yet drastically different ideas that have created this complex, cruel, and beautiful world.

"Phew... I've said enough, Junior Uncle, right? If you keep going, you might as well just stick your name tag on me. If you're going to stick it on, you'll have to wait until after I've fought for him. Telling you so much now has already violated the principles of chivalry. In short, I have no right to interfere with your actions, but you shouldn't expect my resolve to waver in any way either."

She had already said enough. She had not only explained what Otto was going to do, but more importantly, she had also made her stance clear to her junior uncle. She hoped that he would still be willing to take her in, considering how much she had said to him. Moreover, even if she were to help in a fight, Li Sushang had her own principles. Although she wasn't very smart, she knew that if they really fought to the death, there would definitely be resentment between them in the future.

"As long as this determination brings competition and the Trial Tower instead of hatred and destruction, then everything will be fine in the end... Is that right, Miss Li Suqiang?"

Rita smiled slightly. She understood what Li Sushang meant, but this interpretation made the sword fairy girl scratch her head. This explanation... wasn't entirely wrong.

"Hmm... I guess so? It's normal for people to be different. It's not like good people are all cut from the same mold, while bad people are all cut from another mold. Besides, for different people, who is considered a good person and who is considered a bad person will be completely different, right?"

Li Sushang touched her bangs. It was indeed difficult to tell who was good and who was bad. For that Saintess Kallen, who had been dead for more than five hundred years, the man still devoted all his energy to her resurrection. Otto should be considered a good person, right? But to most people here, he was a villain who would stop at nothing to achieve his ambitions. Such things varied from person to person.

"Junior Uncle, everyone thinks differently. My master, who is also your senior sister, once said that if everyone thought the same way, what would be the point of martial arts? The world moves forward in such friction and collision, which in turn shapes each of us. So don't hate me just because I might fight with the people around you, Junior Uncle. You can't dislike me just because I can fight, can you?"