I Will Hold Your Waist

He paused, and his tone returned to normal:

"How about it, little Void Archives? Do you want this gift?"

The golden chains stopped moving. After a long while, Void Archives' calm voice echoed through the space:

"Aren't you afraid I'll choose to join forces with that Welt and divide up your Schicksal?"

"First, I believe that with your rationality, you'll choose me," Otto said confidently. "No matter what, there is one core directive behind all your actions: eliminate Honkai."

No, he didn't believe that.

The blond man refuted himself inwardly, lowering his lashes to conceal the indifference deep within his eyes.

But since he had just mocked her and now needed to sweet-talk her, he might as well say something pleasant.

After all, he still needed to keep exploiting her.

"And these past few days, I've gained quite a lot, whether in combat power or weaponry."

"At the same time, whether it was you, St. Freya, World Serpent, or Anti-Entropy, all of you were played in the palm of my hand and never escaped my stage. That is enough to demonstrate both my capability and the role I play in resisting Honkai Energy."

"Showing you the role I played in your scheme just now was meant to prove exactly that—"

"By myself, I can essentially unify humanity's organizations, then unite every force that can be united against Honkai."

"You may scheme against me, but the principle behind our scheming is fighting Honkai. And Welt Yang—what exactly does he surpass me in? Ah, combat strength, perhaps, since he is the Herrscher of Reason."

"But would you really be foolish enough to judge whether a leader is qualified based on individual combat strength?"

"Besides, as a relic of the Previous Civilization, you know better than anyone how easily Herrschers can be stripped of their powers—ha, isn't the Staff of the Underworld an example?"

"So, between a Herrscher who could lose her powers at any time and lacks sufficient means and ability, and a leader who acquired one Herrscher and three Divine Keys in half a month, which would you choose?"

Chapter 66: I Will Hold Your Waist

"Hmph."

Void Archives sneered, but her tone was clearly no longer as aggressive.

"You really are... good at glorifying yourself."

She pondered for a moment before ultimately acknowledging his point.

"I have to admit, a large part of why I competed with you so recklessly in London was because I believed that, in the fight against Honkai, a lecherous leader in his late teens or early twenties was insignificant."

"Even a moment before you spoke with me, I still did not think you deserved to survive."

"But now, knowing that even I was calculated by you... I will hesitate—but only hesitate."

No, that wasn't hesitation. That was pretending to be stubborn.

Otto mocked her inwardly, while his face remained as genial as a spring breeze.

"Fine, you're right. Everything you say is right—so aside from that, I have a second reason to ensure that I can still use all of you after handing over the Herrscher of Reason core."

This reason was the real foundation.

The blond man raised a hand and constructed a screen, then tapped across it and skillfully typed out a string of commands.

"What are you doing?"

Void Archives was vaguely uneasy.

"From the information about you that you gave me, and from World Serpent's operational methods regarding you—I combined the two, then used Schicksal's computers and your authority to deduce an algorithm, one capable of restraining you."

"This isn't difficult—in fact, this algorithm originated from your core directive: eliminate Honkai. As long as you do not resist, I will slightly alter your basic instruction to: assist Otto in eliminating Honkai."

"My deductions show that this core directive can only be altered to this extent—so rest assured, I cannot impose too many restraints upon you."

Otto answered softly as golden light flickered across the screen.

"What do you think, Miss Void Archives?"

The blond man waited with an utterly confident expression.

He truly was confident.

The inescapable web had already been woven, and every imperceptible guide was in place. All he needed to do next was wait quietly like a hunter and watch Void Archives, the prey he had hunted for so long, willingly fall into the trap he had prepared for her long ago.

The first reason was merely mutual flattery, empty commercial praise spoken aloud.

Otto would never be foolish enough to truly hang his life upon trust in someone else's bottom line.

Not even an artificial intelligence.

Otto Apocalypse trusted no one. Not even himself.

The technology Gray Serpent had sent him, technology that reached deep into Void Archives' core, was what gave him the confidence to hand the Herrscher of Reason core over to Void Archives.

The data World Serpent had provided in exchange for Raven and Jackal was part of Void Archives' foundational algorithms—not comprehensive, or he would have directly invaded Void Archives.

They had probably sent it because they thought they could not reclaim the Key of Revelation anyway.

That was also why he had been able to damage her consciousness after Void Archives became weakened from luring Siegfried.

Once one grasped the source, one grasped many things.

And the "instruction algorithm" he had deduced and developed through Schicksal's computers and Void Archives' own authority went a step further, deconstructing Void Archives and imposing Otto's influence without violating her fundamental operating circuits.

If the core directive could not be changed, then it could be adjusted—adjusted in his favor.

"This is quite fair, my old friend."

Otto smiled, his hands moving swiftly.

"From now on, I will place trust in tools that obey me, while you need only submit to me upon the road of fighting Honkai, thereby obtaining everything you desire."

"Freedom and mission—I do not mind reaching them with you."

"In fact, this is also a contingency plan—a contingency plan for you deconstructing the Herrscher of Reason core. You know the Herrscher of Reason of this era as well—she is simply a centipede that refuses to die."

"I do not believe a Divine Key has the confidence to subdue the core of this century's Herrscher."

"And if you possess instinctive loyalty toward me, then naturally I will not stand idly by when you are defeated by that Welt."

The golden bracelet around his wrist slowly revolved, as if considering.

After a long while, the screen Otto had constructed rapidly changed, running the data the man had just entered.

"Will you truly fight Honkai?" Void Archives used Cecilia's synthesized voice.

Otto tilted his head and revealed a brilliant smile.

"Such an easy goal for personal gain, such an interesting matter—why wouldn't I?"

Golden threads wrapped around the black-and-red isolation case. The screen gradually settled on a line of text, while Void Archives' voice, suppressing excitement, rang through the room:

"Fine."

Europe, Schicksal Headquarters, the center of the floating island.

For the past ten years, this had been the place where the Overseer announced important events. Only now did people remember that it was also the site where S-rank Valkyries were invested.

All Valkyries at Schicksal Headquarters, as well as those who wished to travel there to observe, had gathered here to celebrate the birth of Bianca Durandal Atagina, the first S-rank Valkyrie of this century in twelve years.

But that did not mean the occasion became solemn.

In truth, under the deliberate planning of a certain Overseer, a certain mother, and a certain maid-outfit enthusiast, this celebration was grand and magnificent, yet not particularly serious.

After all, a certain goose was already serious and earnest by nature. If they made this feel like the descent of a god as well, then she would only appear even more lofty, sacred, and untouchable in the eyes of the other Valkyries.

It was lonely at the top—an eternal truth. Becoming a god in people's hearts would only make her lonely.

But once "people" approached a "god" and discovered that this so-called "god" was merely a silly goose, they would easily lose their reservations about not approaching the sun and instead draw close to her through their instinctive admiration for the strong.

Naturally, there would inevitably be people with ulterior motives among them. But if such people truly existed—then a certain Schicksal Overseer and a certain maid-outfit enthusiast would have no need to sleep.

In short, Otto and the others had forcefully turned the investiture ceremony into a joyful party.

Three in the afternoon, the center of Headquarters.

The little bells hanging from the artificial trees clearly reflected the hazy yellow glow of the lights. Tassels trembled upon delicate warm-colored lamps, while low-hanging velvet curtains drifted over the central ballroom to the accompaniment of melodious dance music.

Guests arrived one after another. Most were not drawn here by the liveliness, yet they were still infected by the cheerful atmosphere and entered this temporarily transformed, resplendent Schicksal grand ballroom.

At this banquet, they could find like-minded friends, or friends who were already inseparable, and nurture their feelings amid graceful dancing—regardless of gender, though usually it was woman with woman.

After all, men were already rare on Schicksal's floating island, and those qualified to attend this ball were even fewer.

Dining tables stood on the second floor in the center, their surfaces covered with candles and flowers, with all manner of delicacies laid out upon them.

Their abundance and value needed no elaboration. Perhaps no modern feast could compare.

After all, this was Schicksal.

"You can bend slightly here—I can support your weight. Also, at this point..."

Durandal stood at the center of the ballroom, earnestly correcting the movements of the Valkyrie dancing with her.

The young woman was dressed rather formally today. Her fitted black tailcoat was simple and sleek, handmade with understated luxury, lending her a few additional hints of handsome charm.

Her pretty face bore light makeup. Under the makeup artist's brush, her refined, high nose bridge and lips blossomed with even greater brilliance, while her sharp brows, hard as blades, lent a trace of keenness to her clear, water-like eyes.

As the jazz music rose and fell, quickened and slowed, the Valkyries began dancing. Yet without prior arrangement, they formed a circle around Durandal.

From time to time, one person would leave the circle and, beneath the dim and gentle lighting, link arms with the girl they admired. Song and dance filled the air, along with fragrant breezes.

"Good, like this. Don't worry, I'll hold your waist..."

Durandal spoke softly. She had always been like this—if she did something, she would do it perfectly.

Even if Rita and the others had egged her into dancing the man's part.

Yet the Valkyrie opposite her seemed not to have heard a word. She stared at Durandal with a fascinated expression, every bit the little fangirl.

Only after Durandal finished speaking did she snap awake and say, "I'm willing... no, no, no! Thank you, Lady Durandal!"

"The Overseer made a request of me."

Durandal hesitated slightly, her face flushing, but she still said it.

"Um... whenever someone calls me Lady Durandal, I need to reply, 'You can call me Sister Durandal.' All right, the dance is over. It's time for the next person. Goodbye!"

"The next person... hmph!"

The Valkyrie looked back and fiercely glared at the person behind her. Then her expression changed at lightning speed, and by the time she turned around, her eyes were already filled with irrepressible delight.

"Thank you, Sister Durandal, for dancing with me! May you grow ever stronger!"

"I will become stronger!" Durandal earnestly waved a hand. The cowlick on her forehead fluttered, drawing cheers from the fervent fans around her.

The young Valkyrie left Durandal's side while looking back every few steps. Reaching a corner, she secretly gazed up at the girl radiant at the center of the dance floor and let out a foolish laugh.

"Hehe... Lady Durandal told me to call her sister... Sister Durandal... Sister smells so nice... Sister's embrace is so warm... hehe, Sister Durandal..."

"Well, another one has gone crazy."

In the shadows beside the second-floor dining tables, Otto pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. Cecilia had already covered her lips, laughing so hard that she coughed intermittently.

Only Rita stood properly, maintaining the elegance of a perfect maid, though even her eyes brimmed with doting amusement.

"I told you she doesn't need men."

The blond man rolled his eyes at Cecilia and patted her back to help her catch her breath.

"The Queen of Ten Thousand Females gene can be inherited. Whenever she attends a wedding, she'll definitely be the one wearing the suit."

"No way."

The white-haired woman finally recovered and refuted him softly.

"How could I possibly be as charming as little Bianca?"

"Yes, yes, you're gentle as water, while Little Goose is overflowing with boyfriend energy."

Otto conceded, poured Cecilia a glass of red wine, and handed it to her.

"Your styles are quite different, each with its own appeal."

Indeed, although the pretty face of the girl at the center of the dance floor greatly resembled her mother's, the aura she gave off was entirely different.