I'm Here in Honkai, Grinding Stats to Level Up

"……"

Receiving Otto's affirmation, Theresa's small face paled slightly, but she still managed to maintain her composure, asking with difficulty, "So... if nothing unexpected happens, our civilization will also face over ten Herrschers in the coming decades, or even just over ten years, ultimately leading to the Finality?"

Recalling the terrible destruction caused by the Herrscher of Void, Sirin, over a decade ago, Theresa's hands tightened slightly, crumpling the A4 paper that contained a brief summary of the previous civilization's final decades into a ball.

"Although I am already trying to delay this process, it can only be an attempt.

Besides that, all I can do is try my best to cultivate combat power for humanity to face the finality."

Facing Theresa's gaze, Otto let out a slow breath and said.

Chapter 79: Theresa: Is Grandpa a Good Person?

"……"

Listening to Otto's seemingly heartfelt confession, Theresa bit her lip tightly, meeting his gaze in silence, a storm raging within her heart.

Did Theresa hate Otto?

Of course, Theresa hated Otto so much that she had defected with Siegfried several years ago.

In fact, Theresa's hatred for Otto even surpassed her hatred for Siegfried—

Before recognizing Otto's true nature, Otto was the person Theresa trusted and was closest to.

One must know that before being "saved" by Cecilia, Otto was Theresa's only family.

However, the many things Otto had done over the years, things Theresa couldn't understand or accept, made her feel an indescribable strangeness and unparalleled anger towards the grandfather she once loved the most.

In 2006, upon learning that Kiana had also become a part of Otto's experiment, Theresa believed she had seen Otto's true nature. Her kind and amiable grandfather was nothing more than a cold tyrant who viewed human lives as mere tools.

As the saying goes, "The deeper the love, the harsher the criticism." The closer Theresa once was to Otto, the more she hated him now.

However, after seeing the information about the previous civilization Otto had shown her and listening to his earnest sighs, Theresa's heart began to race, and she couldn't help but think—

Could it be... that everything Grandpa has done all these years... was for the future of humanity?

In front of Otto, Theresa had the unique privilege of saying whatever she wanted.

This time was no exception. Theresa's eyes widened as she stared intently at Otto, her voice a little dry as she asked:

"So... everything you've done these years, Grandpa, was also for..."

"……"

Upon hearing this, Otto raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling a warmth in his heart—

Although he regretted that little Theresa was still so easily swayed, he was also relieved that she was still willing to believe in him, her grandfather.

However, while he felt relieved, it was not yet time for Otto to reveal the truth to Theresa.

Therefore, facing Theresa's trembling gaze and tear-filled eyes, Otto merely sighed and said softly, "The humans of the previous civilization proved to us through their annihilation the terror of the Honkai. It is the most terrifying enemy humanity has ever had to face.

To defeat the Honkai, humanity must utilize its own strength to the maximum extent, rather than engaging in internal strife fueled by mutual suspicion.

Moreover, in addition to humanity's own strength, we must also try to seize more of the Honkai's power. For example, the current Valkyrie forces and artificial stigmata are using the Honkai's power to fight against the Honkai.

However, this alone is not enough, far from enough. We need to utilize the Honkai at a higher level..."

Otto's words were left unfinished, but it didn't stop Theresa, who was being guided by him, from filling in the blanks—

"So... that's why you tried to revive her using the core left behind by the Herrscher of Void?"

As if the anger she felt when she learned Otto had experimented on Kiana surged back into her mind, and recalling the pain and resentment she felt whenever she thought of Otto over countless days and nights, Theresa's nose stung. The mist in her eyes turned into tears, slowly tracing down her fair little face.

Seeing this, Otto sighed, stood up, and walked behind Theresa, lifting her small body and placing her on the sofa beside him. He sat down and took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tear stains on her face, just as he had done decades ago when the ostracized Theresa had run to him crying...

And feeling Otto's gentle actions, Theresa, who was still trying to suppress her sobs, could no longer hold back. Tears flowed uncontrollably, and her small hands pounded Otto's chest, as if venting her emotions, or perhaps blaming Otto for not telling her his difficulties, making her resent him for so many years in vain...

After a while, Theresa, finally stopping her tears, rubbed her red eyes vigorously and looked up at Otto, who was smiling kindly beside her. She tried to put on a serious face and asked:

"Since Grandpa said we need to avoid internal strife among humans, why did you force the North American branch to defect back then, establishing Anti-Entropy to oppose Destiny until now?"

Although the overwhelming emotions caused Theresa to break down and cry, after venting her feelings, her sharp intellect regained control—

While she desperately wanted to believe her grandfather, Theresa, having already experienced unacceptable deception, was no longer easily convinced by Otto.

"Anti-Entropy?"

Otto looked at Theresa with some surprise, having expected her to ask about people around her. He sighed:

"Because of human hearts..."

"……"

Theresa blinked, remaining silent, and simply stared at Otto, waiting for him to continue.

Otto, not rushing to explain, asked Theresa with a smile:

"Little Theresa, you've been at the Far East Branch all these years. You must have heard some bad things about Grandpa, right?"

"……

"Mmm..."

Hearing Otto's question, Theresa's expression froze, but thinking of the negotiations concerning humanity's future, she suppressed her embarrassment and nodded gently, responding in a low voice.

"If even you can hear people badmouthing your grandfather, then little Theresa, you can imagine how many people in Destiny are secretly dissatisfied with me now, can't you?"

Otto rubbed Theresa's little head and asked with a smile.

Feeling the long-lost head pat, Theresa also felt as if she had returned to the time when Otto was her most respected grandfather. She leaned back on the sofa, activated her brain, which was very calm after venting her emotions, and after a moment of thought, she replied:

"There should be quite a few..."

"Clever..."

Ruffling Theresa's often not-so-bright little head, Otto said with a smile:

"Theresa, you must understand, when you find a cockroach in the sunlight, it means the dark places are already too crowded to fit any more.

And this is even with Anti-Entropy existing, with many who oppose me having already gone there.

You can imagine, decades ago, when the entire world was under the banner of Destiny, how many schemers and conspirators there were.

The Ancient Castle Council, which has already been swept into the dustbin of history, was a prime example.

And people like that are destined not to disappear.

So, rather than exhausting ourselves trying to guard against them, it's better to raise a new banner to attract them, to give them a new choice.

And once they have a fallback option, those guys will start to diverge, even fighting amongst themselves, making it easier for me to catch these rats in the gutter."

Chapter 80: Otto: How can we fight the Honkai with those insects?

"..."

Otto's silver tongue made it very easy for Theresa to accept his explanation.

Although she still retained the innocence that matched her appearance, after being the branch leader at the Far East branch for so long, Theresa had come to recognize more of reality and darkness.

However, while she believed Otto's answer to this question, Theresa still had a doubt—

"But... Grandpa, aren't you worried that a war between Anti-Entropy and Destiny will accelerate humanity's destruction?"

"Of course."

Otto showed a smile with a touch of pity on his face.

"Because the leader of Anti-Entropy, and his most steadfast supporters, are good people by conventional standards.

And people like that will not allow world wars to happen.

Like now, even though those ambitious individuals have established a so-called 'radical faction' within Anti-Entropy, it's still just a lot of thunder and little rain; the main force is still in the hands of the 'conservative faction'.

And... little Theresa, don't think too highly of those people...

If wars were still like they were hundreds of years ago, where only front-line soldiers and serfs died, and those behind the lines were safe regardless of victory or defeat, then of course they would wage war without hesitation.

But now... heh...

Even if they defeat me, as long as I have one loyal subordinate, they will be unable to rest easy, constantly fearing a fatal assassination.

This is unacceptable to those who only think of power and wealth...

Greedy and weak, that's what these disgusting people are."

Otto paused, then, as if thinking of something, added, "Of course, if little Theresa asks me why I don't try to accept them...

Heh... you've studied history, you should know how those once glorious empires of the past met their destruction.

Those people will seize power, find ways to divert funds intended for proper use into their own pockets, and even ensure they remain the elite forever...

At that time, you will see excellent Valkyries being rated only as C-class, or wearing simple equipment, or fighting desperately with superior weapons provided by the 'grown-ups,' while the children of those people hold the finest equipment and weapons, being untalented yet serving as high-and-mighty A-class or even S-class stationed in the rear, occupying the merits earned by others' lives...

In the end, Destiny will be nothing more than a larger Flame-Chasing Moth, still infighting when the Honkai arrives, ultimately dooming human civilization.

Perhaps a few people will survive, but they will not be the seeds of revival, only emperors of a new world."

"..."

Listening to Otto's voice, which was gentle but heavy, Theresa's mind naturally conjured such images. Her small hands clenched unconsciously, and the blue veins on her little fists became faintly visible.

As her emotions were stirred by the scenes in her mind, Theresa quickly accepted Otto's reasoning.

Although she hadn't suffered such hardships in the decades since her birth, as one of the few who retained the innocence of her youth, Theresa absolutely did not want to see such a situation occur.

Seeing that Theresa had been persuaded by his words, Otto didn't push further, merely comforting Theresa silently.

After a long while, Theresa finally shook her head, having cast aside those terrible images from her mind. She looked up at Otto beside her, the initial suspicion in her eyes mostly gone, leaving only a trace of confusion:

"But even so, Grandpa, why do you insist on experimenting on Kiana?

It's only been a few years since Cecilia died in battle. Using her daughter for such experiments, don't you think it's inappropriate?

Like the recent trials in Oceania, where people with excellent Honkai resistance and adaptability were recruited to attempt implantation with Herrscher gems, couldn't that work?

By doing this, how do you expect others, how do you expect me, to see you?"

Theresa admitted that a large part of her immense anger about this matter was because Kiana, Cecilia's only daughter, was the subject.

However, at the same time, Theresa was chilled by the fact that Otto would lay hands on Cecilia's daughter, who had sacrificed herself as a martyr. This confirmed the rumors that Otto was a tyrant, leading to Theresa's decision back then.

"Sigh..."

Facing Theresa's questioning, Otto sighed and looked at her with a helpless expression:

"Little Theresa, think carefully. Before Siegfried took K423, did I do anything to Kiana herself?

Before that, her life was not affected by the experiments at all.

The materials used for the clone subjects were merely extracted within an absolutely safe range during her physical examinations.

And the subjects used to try and control the Second Herrscher's powers were all experimental subjects without even self-awareness, so they wouldn't have any impact on Kiana.

Moreover, according to the data left behind at the time, Kiana didn't dislike those children at all. She was even happy to have sisters..."

After revealing the crisis facing human civilization, Otto found he had much more room to maneuver, and his ability to deceive Theresa became even more proficient—

Although Theresa wanted to retort that even clones shouldn't be treated that way, and that cloning someone without their consent was an infringement of human rights.

But upon thinking that humanity might perish in a few decades if they didn't give their all, Theresa couldn't voice these words—

While some things are more precious than life, in the face of the survival of all humanity, everything else seemed so insignificant