Otto: I'll Be at Your Door in a Moment

Perhaps Wendy could have put up a fight when she first became Herrscher, but with the Herrscher Core's erosion of her body nearing its limit, Wendy could only barely maintain her defense by relying on the power it brought.

Meanwhile, Durandal didn't go all out either. Compared to Wendy's passive defense, her attacks seemed more like an attempt to make the battle more realistic. After reuniting with Rita, most of the counterattacks were actually launched by Rita, clearly indicating that the two of them were holding back.

Unfortunately, the warship's radar couldn't display the battle situation in such detail, and Wendy, caught in the middle of the battle, was too weak to care about such things due to her physical collapse.

Then...

As several beams of light struck, Theresa, carrying a huge Golden Cross, stood in front of Wendy, while behind her, Xia Ling slowly took out the Crescent Rose, ready to unleash her power.

Durandal's eyes lit up instantly, and she exchanged a subtle glance with Rita. Their perfect understanding had already allowed them to automatically choose their opponents.

"Durandal, you should be able to see that Wendy is not in good condition, so why are you still pressing her so hard?" Theresa's cross behind her had been fully unfolded, with twelve spears of light dancing around her, clearly indicating that she was ready to go all out.

"I'm sorry, but this is His Lord Bishop's order. So, Principal Theresa, may I interpret this as you disobeying orders?"

"Think what you want! Anyway, Wendy is my student. Even if she becomes Herrscher, as long as she retains her self-awareness, I will protect her!"

"Well... there's nothing I can do about it. It's perfect timing, it's been a long time since I've sparred with the headmaster."

Durandal swept her spear horizontally, deflecting the light spears, and charged directly towards Theresa.

On the other hand, things were much more harmonious between Xia Ling and Rita.

Both men were armed with scythes, one red and one blue, and they even looked quite similar in style.

"Miss Xia Ling, I'm an S-rank Valkyrie, you know? Are you really going to stand in my way?"

Rita smiled broadly, as if victory was assured.

"I can't beat them in a fight, but I have to defend myself, since I have a good relationship with them." Xia Ling slung the sickle over her shoulder. "But, I really didn't plan to fight you."

Xia Ling freed her left hand, and the Stigmata- like markings on the back of her hand began to emit a blood-red glow.

"Help me, Sister Yae Sakura!"

"Miss Xia Ling, what are your instructions?"

A figure with pink hair and fox ears, dressed in a shrine maiden's attire, and wielding a blue longsword exuding a chilling aura, blocked Xia Ling's path.

Rita's smile vanished.

The chill and power emanating from the pink figure before him were far beyond what he could easily handle.

However, this battle, which was not evenly matched, did not last long.

Because Wendy couldn't hold on any longer.

Purple Honkai Energy patterns began to spread across Wendy's body, especially her long, fair legs wrapped in bandages, which were now emanating an ominous purple light.

"A perfect opportunity!" Durandal seized the chance to retreat rapidly. At the same time, a giant golden bow appeared in her hand.

Using the golden javelin in his hand as an arrow, the bowstring was instantly drawn to its full length.

"This strike pierced through the stars!"

"Wow, this is for real!"

Xia Ling was startled by Durandal's sudden outburst. She was about to take something out when she suddenly stopped what she was doing.

No, Durandal shouldn't be that kind of person... So, it's Otto who wants it...

Xia Ling, who instantly understood, quickly shared her thoughts with Highmore, who happened to send her thoughts at almost the same time.

"There's nothing we can do; it's an open conspiracy." Highmore sighed. "The problem is, we can't afford to gamble."

"——————"

As Durandal fired her golden javelin, an indescribable hiss echoed from the depths of the ocean.

Then, a blue mist of equal size met the javelin head-on.

"As expected, it was just a big show..."

Compared to its size, the Honkai Energy inside this javelin was pitifully small. This familiar sense of déjà vu immediately reminded Xia Ling and Highmore of Xi's usual bluffing tactics.

"Oh no, the boomerang hit me."

Highmore was somewhat annoyed. She and Xia Ling both knew that Durandal was unlikely to kill Wendy, but they couldn't gamble on it because Otto did have the motive to kill Wendy, and if Wendy died, Otto would not lose anything.

They would never take on a gamble where one side guarantees a profit while the other involves betting everything.

On the sea surface, a huge creature slowly emerged, with a white and blue chitinous shell, a golden core, floating blue tentacles and a blue-purple tail fin, and a murky blue water ring around its body. Yes, it was the Paranoid Bubble form of the Highmore.

"This is... Honkai Beast?"

Theresa was startled by this sudden turn of events. What she didn't expect was that Wendy, who had been gradually losing consciousness, suddenly opened her lifeless eyes as if she were having a final burst of energy.

"Is that you, Highmore...?"

Although her breathing was very weak, Wendy's voice sounded full of confidence and joy.

As if in response to her call, a giant Honkai Beast resembling a jellyfish rushed towards Theresa at an extremely fast speed.

Before Wendy could recover from Wendy's abrupt and unrelated call, Theresa found Xia Ling standing beside her, gently embracing her.

Then, with a flash of light, Xia Ling and Theresa disappeared simultaneously and reappeared forty meters away.

Like a fledgling returning to its nest, Wendy did not resist the blue tentacles that came toward her. Instead, she relaxed her body and let them lead her into the golden core of the Paranoid Bubble.

Then, the giant Honkai Beast slowly sank to the seabed, its tail fin swaying slightly, as if expressing its gratitude.

"Wait, Wendy, she?"

Seeing that the people who were just fighting on the battlefield had suddenly stopped, Theresa, who was being held by Xia Ling, fell into thought and looked at Xia Ling with a confused expression.

"Uh... I'm not entirely sure, but I have a feeling that it might be Highmore... Of course, the main reason for my confidence is that they also stopped at the same time."

Xia Ling's voice sounded a little unsure, with a hint of just the right amount of suspicion. Xia Ling looked at Rita and Durandal on the other side.

"Yes, this is indeed a misunderstanding." As if to show sincerity, Durandal put away her Star Armor.

"I apologize, Principal Theresa. I was very rude just now."

Looking at Durandal's apologetic face, then at Rita's still-smiling face and Xia Ling's knowing glances, Theresa was completely bewildered.

"Wait a minute, why do I feel like I'm the only one who's out of the loop? What's going on?"

Chapter 49 Otto: I'll be at your doorstep soon

"Ahem, if you don't mind, let me explain, Lord Theresa."

"After all, although Miss Xia Ling seems to have guessed some things, we still have more thorough information, right?"

Although she had just been put in a bit of a mess by Yae Sakura, Rita quickly tidied herself up and put on her makeup.

"Hmm... where should I begin? Right, Durandal, the instructions the Lord Bishop gave you should also include informing Lord Theresa of the situation as soon as the Highmore appears, right?"

"Yes, that's right." Durandal nodded.

"Then I don't need to worry about revealing Durandal's mission details."

"First of all, Lord Theresa, are you aware that Highmore's true identity is not Pseudo-Herrscher, but Wendy's Companion Honkai Beast?"

"Ah?"

Theresa was even more confused.

"It seems you don't know this." Rita smiled. "Before we set off, His Lord Bishop said something like this to me."

As she spoke, Rita recalled the scene before her departure.

"Rita, I still feel that Highmore's death was somewhat hasty."

Otto stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his office, looking towards Oceania, and pondered, "Companion Honkai Beast are different from Herrscher. They are born with great strength, but this strength is not given by their masters. Theoretically speaking, if the master's strength increases, it will not affect the strength of the Companion Honkai Beast."

"But similarly, even if the master is weak or even dead, it will not affect them in the slightest."

"Therefore, I think that Highmore in this Oceania Branch is not necessarily her original body, or rather, she is her original body, but has some kind of means of resurrection."

"So, under this assumption, once Wendy 'Herrscher transformation is successful, she will definitely come back to find Wendy."

"However, this Honkai Beast is exceptionally intelligent. Faced with a complex situation, she may not necessarily come out to find Wendy directly, but will wait for the best opportunity to act."

"I'm not quite sure what she's waiting for, but I know under what circumstances she will show up."

"Therefore, I am going to give you a dangerous mission."

Otto looked at Rita: "Wendy is kind-hearted, she might not necessarily attack an innocent person like you, so you need to find her and subtly provoke her anger so that she will take action against you."

"Then, I will have Durandal time her appearance perfectly, when you are about to be defeated. And with the premise that you are in danger, Durandal will have a reasonable reason to take action."

"Then even if Theresa and the others arrive, you will have ample reason to continue fighting until Wendy's body can no longer hold on."

"No doubt about it. I've seen her medical report. Her compatibility with the Desire Gem is only 23%. Although this number is already very high among humans, it is definitely not enough for her to unleash an energy level of 4000HW. Her body will collapse in a day, just like Welt did."

"In this way, when Wendy is in dire straits, the Companion Honkai Beast will be forced out."

"Yes, Your Lord Bishop, however, I still have two questions."

"You say."

"What should we do if Wendy is about to give up, but Highmore still doesn't show up, or if she is actually dead?"

"Durandal carries the Black Abyss White Flower, and her Honkai Energy enough to sustain me until I reach the Oceania Branch to treat Wendy."

"Then... Your Lord Bishop, why must we force Highmore to show herself?"

"It's very simple. First of all, I don't like this kind of variable in my plan. Whatever her purpose is, the Sirin Project is about to be implemented. If I let her do as she pleases, it will almost certainly affect my plan."

"Furthermore, in either case, I will be traveling to Oceania in a few days to meet with her, so before that, I need to acquire more leverage, intelligence, and initiative."

"Oh, and also, after the plan succeeds, if Theresa asks, you can tell her everything except for information about the Sirin Project and those 'anesthetics' made from the Holy Blood."

"After all... you'll be working under her in the future, so it's best to avoid any misunderstandings or grudges from the start."

After removing the information about the Sirin Project from Otto's instructions, Rita slowly explained the background of Highmore's identity and the tasks assigned by Otto.

"Huh? Grandfather already knew all this?"

"Yes, His Lord Bishop specifically instructed us to tell you the truth, and said that if you still have any questions that we cannot answer, you can stay here for a while, and His Lord Bishop will come to explain to you in a few days."

"Wait, Grandfather is coming in person in a couple of days?" Theresa's eyes widened.

"Of course, if you don't want to wait for His Lord Bishop, that's fine too..."

Just then, Rita's communicator suddenly rang.

Rita took out her communicator, checked the new messages, then looked up and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Lord Theresa, the situation seems to have changed a bit."

"After receiving the video of the battle, His Lord Bishop has decided to arrive tomorrow and has asked Lord Theresa to wait for him."

He also said, "Please make sure that Miss Yae Sakura stays for a chat as well, Miss Xia Ling."

At this moment, beneath the sea.

Deep in the ocean, in a place undetectable by any probe.

A biological membrane separated the seawater, enclosing a small to medium-sized cave.

Wendy's body trembled slightly as the Honkai Energy patterns began to spread and diffuse throughout her body.

Her consciousness was already somewhat blurred, but she still clung tightly to the shell of Highmore, refusing to let go.

"Oh, you silly little thing..."

The giant jellyfish slowly transformed into a human form, embracing Wendy's lithe body in its arms.

Wendy's pained expression eased slightly, seemingly because she was back in a familiar embrace.

He placed Wendy's body on the cave floor, her head resting on his thigh, Highmore began searching for something in the system.

A moment later, she took out two Cipher Plate covered with blue patterns.

The effects of [Shrubs] and [Rest] are to turn an area into a "Safe Corner" and increase maximum health.

Although the effect of this set of Cipher Plate on life restoration is not as strong as that of "recitation", the Safe Corner itself can give the cave chosen by Highmore a concept, making it more suitable for restoration and concealment.

At the same time, the increased maximum health from Xieyu can also greatly alleviate Wendy's current absurdly poor physical condition, which will help Highmore's next treatment.

So...