4. Xia Ling: Nooo! / 5. Otto wants to go big

"Then... once their initial anger subsides, they will definitely realize that something was wrong with your behavior. After all, the way you provoked them was far too deliberate."

"Hehe, Miss Xia Ling, you are very smart, but that doesn't mean everyone is smart."

"If they notice once, what about twice or three times? Even if I lay my intentions bare in front of them, so what?"

"They will eventually be affected subconsciously... I am very clear about the weight of what I did."

"Not everyone can be like you, Miss Xia Ling, who, even knowing what I've done, can still approach me with a calm mind, interact with me, and speculate about my actions..."

That's because I know you inside and out...

Xia Ling sighed. Otto was just that kind of person. When he wanted to scheme against you, you were almost always faced with open schemes... No matter which way you went, it would go his way. The only difference was whether you won big, medium, or small.

"So, you're going to continue to provoke their anger?"

"Yes, in this play, I am a complete villain."

Otto wore a confident smile, "There's still a whole day until the experiment starts tomorrow. In your words, this whole day will be my time to stir up trouble."

"Whatever... It's already like this, just don't drag me into it anymore."

Xia Ling shook her head helplessly, and then she noticed that Otto was watching her with a smile but no words.

"Uh, you probably won't be taking me with you anymore... right?"

"Hehe... Since Grandfather has said so, then I have to go to St. 537 Church."

Theresa took the box with a kind expression and then handed it to Ain.

"Ain, I'll leave you to stay in the Hyperion and be in charge of liaison and communication with Schicksal. You can also do some preliminary analysis on this Herrscher Core."

Theresa gently stroked the core with her fingertips and said, "This is definitely not Xia Ling's own core... but it's also not the kind of mutated independent core that Sirin brought back some time ago. After all, the power inside the core should still belong to Xia Ling."

"Okay, I understand. Leave this to me." Ain nodded and said, "The reverse tracking device used against the Thousand-Man Herrscher is still in the Hyperion's warehouse. Luckily, I didn't move it back to the Salt Lake Base before."

"Bronya, stay and assist me. That instrument needs some repairs to function. Materials are scarce on the Hyperion, and I need your powers to help."

"In that case, I'll stay too."

MewMew thought for a moment, then took a small bottle from her pocket and handed it to Theresa.

"What's this?"

Theresa looked at the chibi version of Mulsus smiling at her on the bottle and asked in confusion.

"This is a bottle of MewMew."

Seeing Theresa's puzzled expression, MewMew blinked. "Theresa should have seen her before, right? After all, it doesn't matter to me whether she's the real person or not."

"I see... I understand now."

Theresa suddenly realized that Mulsus was encountering Schicksal for the first time and did not know Durandal's personality. She probably did this by pretending to be a riddle because she did not want to reveal her strength in front of Durandal.

After all, anyone who has fought in the Theater of Domination knows that Mulsus's ability is irrelevant whether it is the original body or not. Her definition of the original body is quite ambiguous. Specifically, whichever side she controls will exert the same combat power as the original body.

"Now that everyone is ready, let's set off."

Durandal directed the members of the Immortal Blade to quickly complete the docking, and then said to Theresa, "The Bishop should have been waiting for a while. I believe you all are eager to see him as well."

"Well... to be honest, I feel the same way. Bishop Otto's current actions are indeed somewhat... perverse."

Chapter Four Xia Ling: Bu Hao!

"The scenery in Kolosten hasn't changed at all over the years."

Looking at the surrounding scene, Fu Hua couldn't help but sigh, "If we ignore these drifting will-o'-the-wisps and the shadows of the buildings... most of the buildings here are exactly the same as when I left."

"Perhaps it's because this place is also of great significance to the bishop, otherwise he wouldn't have held Lord Theresa's coronation ceremony here."

Durandal pointed in a direction and said, "When I came here, the bishop told me that over there was Fu Hua's former residence. He specially arranged for people to clean it up, and everything is exactly as it was before."

"Wow, Otto actually showed some conscience for once." Sirin said excitedly, "When we have some free time later, we can go and take a look. Although I've seen it in my memory, I've never been to this house in person."

"If Lady Herrscher of Consciousness wishes to go see it, we may set off now."

A voice that resembled Theresa's but was much more mature rang out from in front of the crowd.

"Amber, and... Rita?"

Durandal exclaimed in surprise.

"Good afternoon, Durandal, Lord Theresa."

Rita gave a slight bow.

"Rita, weren't you in charge of the routine intelligence exchange with World Serpent?"

Durandal was completely bewildered. She felt like she was on Otto's side, but somehow she seemed to know nothing and was completely out of the loop.

"I'm sorry, Durandal, Rita is also completely confused." Rita shook her head in distress. "I had already boarded the private jet with Alvit, but the Lord Bishop suddenly sent a message asking me to come back. The World Serpent has been handed over to Alvit to take full charge."

"As for Lady Amber, we just happened to meet and traveled together for a while. After all, although the Lord Bishop called me back, he hasn't assigned me any tasks yet—so far, I've only helped Miss Changguang organize some data."

"I have a message to deliver on behalf of His Lord Bishop."

Amber expressionlessly took out her communicator, pulled up a recording, and selected to play it.

"My dear little Theresa, it is a pleasure to see you attend the bishop's coronation ceremony despite past grievances."

"However, the situation at St. 537 Church is different from the past; there are still some uncertainties here."

"Therefore, just to be on the safe side, let's not bring too many people to this meeting. After all, quite a few of your subordinates have some grudges against me."

"It would be bad if someone lost control of their emotions and destroyed this church, which can be called a cultural relic."

"However, I also know that in little Theresa's heart, I, as her Grandfather, probably have no credibility. So, now Amber and Rita are with you."

"You can let them act as guides and show the others around this place, fulfilling your hospitality. That way, apart from Durandal, I have no other forces that can be used as ambushes."

"As for Durandal, her integrity should put your minds at ease."

"Of course, if you're worried about anything you don't understand, you can have Doctor. Anti-Entropy come with you as an academic advisor. After all, the topic Grandfather wants to discuss with you this time might be a bit obscure and difficult to understand."

The recording ended there, leaving only a series of busy electrical tones echoing in the silent air.

"Looks like I have to take back what I just said." Sirin clicked his tongue unhappily. "Otto is still the same as ever, he always says such high-sounding things."

"What, are you afraid that all of us will just go over there and tear it down?"

"It's hard to say... Theresa, what do you think?" Tesla looked at Theresa: "After all, you are the main character in this operation. Strictly speaking, we are all here to help you. At times like this, it is up to you to make the decisions."

"But if you ask me, I don't believe Otto has any good intentions. He wants to talk to you alone, who knows what he wants to do."

"Let's do as Grandfather says." Theresa was silent for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Kia Liu Ling Er Er Si Shi Qun Liao Na?"

"Okay." Kiana nodded and handed a crystal-like object to Theresa.

Having followed Xia Ling for so long, Kiana has certainly learned something. At the very least, she has completely mastered Xia Ling's strategy of first setting up coordinates and then teleporting to a fixed point to create the Xia Ling effect.

With this location coordinate, they no longer need to worry about Otto actually trying to defeat them one by one.

Moreover, Theresa also carried a bottle of MewMew Juice, which, strictly speaking, makes her a formidable fighting force.

"Then, I will guide you all to visit Fu Hua's former residence. Would Rita like to come along?"

Amber extended her hand and guided the group to another path.

After successfully fulfilling Otto's request to "split the forces," Theresa was finally free from any further obstacles and arrived at the St. 537 Church with Durandal and Tesla.

"Long time no see, my dear Theresa."

When Theresa and the others arrived at the St. 537 Church, they found that Otto was already waiting at the church entrance.

"Grandfather ..." Theresa put the cross behind her back, but did not continue forward.

"Oh, what's wrong? My little Theresa, is there something you're worried about?" Otto looked at Theresa, who hadn't moved, and assumed she was worried that he might have set an ambush, so he smiled and asked.

"Now that things have come to this, I've already announced my impending resignation to the world. By the way, the handover of Schicksal is mostly complete. If you want to run away now, that won't do, you know?"

"Or do you think that even if things come to this, I will still be detrimental to you?"

In fact, Otto had really misunderstood Theresa. Although she was furious with Otto's actions, Theresa never imagined that Otto might actually harm her.

She was simply wondering why there was a faint, familiar aura emanating from inside the church.

A dozen minutes ago.

"Hey, Otto, you just said you wanted me to watch a show..."

Xia Ling sat on a large chair in the church, her two small legs swinging back and forth on the high chair.

"You've finished this job, why do you want me to stay here? If Theresa and the others come later, it won't be easy for me to leave."

"Don't rush off, my friend."

Under Xia Ling's horrified gaze, Otto opened his arms, making a signature move that would make all Honkai 3rd fans collectively develop PTSD.

"Later, there's something else I'd like to ask you for help with."

Xia Ling gasped, "What kind of trouble are you trying to pull now? I'm warning you, you better watch out or I might just control this Soul Steel body to commit suicide! Then I'll just run away and see how you clean up the mess."

"That would be best. If Miss Xia Ling does it herself, the effect should be much better."

A pleased smile appeared on Otto's lips.

"After all, I did say that I would be playing the villain for the rest of the day."

Chapter 5 Otto Wants to Go Big

"No, buddy?"

Xia Ling looked at Otto with the gaze of someone witnessing birth, her eyes filled with accusation.

"You're really just targeting me!"

"Can't you choose a different target? Stop messing with your adorable granddaughter. If you want to attract hatred, why don't you target Welt instead?"

"We need to stir up hatred for Welt, and hatred for Theresa too, only then can we be considered a complete team." Otto looked at Xia Ling with a smile, as if he were looking at a delicious little cake that could endlessly attract Jerry.

"Moreover, it's not easy to find a partner as useful as Miss Xia Ling. She can revive, fight on multiple fronts, and has deep Bonds with most of the people in Anti-Entropy. She's simply the most handy tool."

"Are you really complimenting me...?"

Xia Ling looked at Otto speechlessly. Of course she knew that when she agreed to stand on the same side as Otto, he had already figured out how to maximize his value.

This will be the same. Whether she commits suicide or not, Otto will probably have a corresponding explanation... Considering the attack power she was born with, Xia Ling felt that she could just give up.

They're definitely going to get what's coming to them later.

However, since I've already given up on everything, I might as well stay and watch the fun... Even if I die and go back now, it doesn't seem to solve anything, and I'll miss a chance to live stream.

Silently adjusting her Soul Steel body to a blank expression, Xia Ling couldn't help but sigh, "The Soul Steel body is really useful."

If you watch the show with your own body, you might accidentally give yourself away, but with a Soul Steel body, you don't need to worry about that at all.

Just then, Xia Ling discovered that Otto had transferred a "script" into her body.

And in this script... she only has one line?

Now, at the church entrance, Theresa's expression is somewhat conflicted.

She could indeed sense Xia Ling's presence coming from inside the door... but this presence was strange. It had a hint of Xia Ling's presence, yet she could tell at a glance that it wasn't Xia Ling herself.

This made her wonder if there was something wrong with her perception.

However, now that she's already here, she certainly can't back down... No matter what "gift" Otto has prepared for her, she's definitely going to take a look.

Moreover, Otto hadn't yet explained Xia Ling's situation to her.

Thinking of this, Theresa looked at Otto and said seriously.

"Of course I didn't suspect that... However, I'm not naive enough to think that you, Grandfather, simply want to resign."

"So, Grandfather, did you do what happened to Xia Ling?"

"It's good to be vigilant. My lovely Theresa is finally not as naive as before, which is great."

Otto pushed open the church door and gestured for Otto to enter.