Chapter 324

Although Einstein knew that Otto, in his current state, was no longer the paranoid man twisted by his obsession, he still found it hard to trust this man who would have otherwise committed countless sins.

"Why should I make a promise?" Otto said with a "I knew you'd say that" look. "Because apart from the Herrscher Core of the Herrscher of Void itself, I plan to give all the other Herrscher Core to Anti-Entropy."

"Huh?" Tesla was taken aback for a moment, then instinctively became wary. "What on earth are you up to now?!"

Such a generous act was something Tesla would never have done if she were in Otto's shoes, and that's precisely why she worried that Otto might have a bigger conspiracy.

"I have no ulterior motives. Just as you fear, I know that with my reputation, no matter what guarantees I make, I won't be able to convince others," Otto said frankly. "In that case, why not simply entrust them to someone with sufficient credibility for safekeeping?"

"At least you have some self-awareness," Tesla remarked, then frowned slightly and looked at Einstein, "But..."

Her hesitation stemmed not from anything else, but from the fact that she herself found it difficult to believe in herself.

Even disregarding the Herrscher Core of the Herrscher of Void, if Otto's plan succeeds, Anti-Entropy will obtain eleven Herrscher Core —a full eleven Herrscher Core!

Which scientist could control themselves when faced with such a rare treasure?

Tesla, at least, felt she couldn't do it, and based on her understanding of Einstein, she felt Einstein couldn't do it either.

It's not that she thinks Anti-Entropy will turn bad after obtaining these Herrscher Core; it's just that when scientists are conducting research, it's hard to say whether they can control the entire situation. And Herrscher Core are extremely dangerous; if something goes wrong, it will inevitably cause a huge disaster.

Thinking about this, Tesla suddenly felt he understood Otto's thoughts. "You rascal, you wouldn't be plotting to shift the blame elsewhere, would you?"

First, give up the items to occupy the moral high ground. Then, wait for Anti-Entropy to lose control of the situation and cause problems, and then take everything back in a logical way. In this way, Schicksal can be said to be impeccable from both a moral and other perspectives. Anti-Entropy will no longer have the opportunity to obtain the research qualification for the Herrscher Core, and Welt may even be implicated.

Tesla thought about it more and more and felt that it was very likely, and even his gaze towards Otto became more wary—this kid's mind was so deep and terrifying, he must not be allowed to live!

"See, you've overcomplicated things again," Otto simply smiled in response to Tesla's unfounded accusation. "If I wanted to possess these Herrscher Core, why would I go through such a complicated process? Wouldn't it have been simpler to just keep you outside Siberia and monopolize the entire performance?"

"But this matter is definitely not something that Schicksal can completely resolve on its own, at least not something you can accomplish without suffering any losses," Einstein finally spoke after careful consideration. "I think this is both a script and a trial—a trial from the gods, isn't it?"

Otto's smile vanished instantly, and he looked at Einstein without responding for a moment.

"We all know that the world has been able to develop so peacefully to this point not because humanity is so powerful, but because we have the protection of the gods," Einstein continued. "But such protection is obviously not unlimited; at the very least, the gods would not allow their protection to lead to humanity becoming a bunch of giant babies."

"So I guess you need to prove humanity's worth to the gods through this trial, right?"

Otto was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"You're mistaken. The teacher never cares what humanity becomes under his protection, even if they become giant babies, because he has the ability to protect everyone," Otto explained. "However, it's true that this script cannot rely on his power, but that's my request."

"It seems I underestimated this deity." Einstein's expression changed slightly, a rare occurrence. "Is this divinity that surpasses even the Herrscher of the End?"

It was from Otto's words that Einstein truly realized that Ai Yue seemed to genuinely ask for nothing in return for humanity. He didn't care at all whether his efforts would be reciprocated; he was simply responding to civilization's cry for help.

"However, you said this was your request, why?" Tesla was more concerned with something else, "With the power of the gods, you could easily obtain all the Herrscher Core, right?"

"The teacher may not care whether humanity turns into a bunch of giant babies, but I can't afford to be indifferent. That's the first reason," Otto smiled. "As for the second reason, it's because that's not the outcome the teacher wants to see."

"If I were to become a selfish person under his tutelage, wouldn't I be betraying my teacher's cultivation?"

Tesla frowned. She had a feeling that Otto was holding back something, but the reasons he gave were plausible.

On this earth today, the will of the gods is supreme, because they possess unimaginable power. Even though Otto has the highest power in the world, he still has to bow down before them. Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable to make concessions in order to satisfy their wishes.

But Otto did have one crucial reason he didn't tell the two of them: after witnessing Ai Yue's power, the mere authority of a Herrscher was no longer enough to sway him.

His current wish, besides being able to unload his burdens as soon as possible, is to become someone like his teacher. If that's the case, why not use the Herrscher Core to do someone a favor?

Besides, this isn't a free gift.

"A reasonable explanation." Einstein nodded. "However, are you sure we can solve this problem on our own?"

"Not just us, but all of human civilization." Otto smiled. "Don't forget, there's another country in Asia that can defend its vast territory on its own."

"I see, Shenzhou, huh? That makes sense then." Einstein nodded, and as expected, said what Otto had anticipated, "Unfortunately, we can only reject this proposal."

"I must admit that this temptation is also irresistible for Anti-Entropy, and scientists are even more susceptible to it than ordinary people."

"Therefore, rather than waiting for uncontrollable situations to arise and then regretting it, it's better to choose a safer option from the start."

If the threat of Honkai remained imminent, Einstein would certainly not have let the opportunity slip by. After all, in the face of a potentially fatal threat, even the cost of losing an arm or a leg was a risk worth taking.

But we are no longer in an era where humanity can only passively cope with the Honkai. Without the threat of death, they can naturally choose safer and gentler methods to study this still unsolved power.

Upon hearing Einstein's words, Tesla, though somewhat regretful, nodded, making her stance clear—she even understood that this might be her last chance to back out.

If Tesla were to actually see eleven Herrscher Core right in front of her, it's hard to guarantee she would still maintain the same level of rationality.

"A wise choice. It seems I didn't misjudge him." Otto nodded, not surprised by the outcome. "In that case, why not hear my other idea?"

"You knew we'd refuse, didn't you?" Tesla suddenly realized. "Always keeping things to yourself, so annoying!"

"Without this proposal as a foil, I doubt you two would have taken my second idea seriously," Otto said with a smile. "Or perhaps you've changed your minds and are planning to choose the first option? If so, I have no objection—this is definitely not just a pretext, you can rest assured."

"Now that things have come to this, how can I possibly take it back?" Tesla rolled his eyes. "Go on, Archbishop."

"It's very simple," Otto said bluntly, no longer beating around the bush, "St. Freya Academy."

Einstein paused for a moment, then understood what Otto meant.

No matter who the Herrscher Core is placed with, there will inevitably be some risk. Therefore, it would be better to entrust it to a relatively neutral organization for safekeeping, mutual supervision, and joint research. In this way, the risk can be minimized.

Moreover, St. Freya Academy will inevitably attract all sorts of strange and eccentric characters in the future (in a positive sense), which will make it easier to deal with any problems that may arise.

"I have no objection." Thinking this, Einstein nodded. "Perhaps this could also be an opportunity for cooperation between us."

"Very well, I think Ms. Ritsel's will is sufficient to represent the entire Anti-Entropy," Otto nodded, without beating around the bush. "As for more details, let's sit down and discuss them slowly after the script is finished."

"You agreed just like that, after feeding him chicken coops?" Tesla looked at Einstein with some astonishment. "Although St. Freya Academy is Theresa's territory, it is still a branch of Schicksal in the end. What difference does it make if it's under Schicksal's control?"

"The difference is that St. Freya Academy is also within our reach, and that's enough." Einstein smiled. "Besides, for us, as long as these eleven Herrscher Core aren't used against Anti-Entropy, isn't that sufficient?"

"While I don't think you need to be so wary of the Herrscher Core —after all, with the teacher around, there's no need to worry about any major problems," Otto added, seeing that the plan had been approved, "I do agree with your cautious approach. Humans ultimately have to be responsible for their actions and can't keep causing trouble for the gods, right?"

"Research without a bottom line will head straight for hell; we can only find ways to restrain ourselves," Einstein replied calmly, then changed the subject, "Speaking of which, does Theresa know about this plan?"

"Yeah, I always felt like she wasn't someone who knew the truth," Tesla scrutinized Otto. "You didn't do this without her permission, did you?"

"Theresa will agree," Otto said confidently. "Do you think she'd be comfortable leaving these cores with me?"

"Well, how should I put it," Tesla said with a subtle expression, "The way you said it, for some reason, sounded a bit melancholic."

"Think carefully about what you've done, it's not surprising that your own granddaughter is keeping an eye on you," Einstein added casually. "Oh, I forgot that she came to the remote Far East to start the Valkyrie Academy precisely because she couldn't tolerate your cruelty and tyranny."

"I must admit that I was a failure in every sense of the word," Otto said frankly, "But thankfully my teacher saved my twisted and obsessed life, so this time I will try my best to make up for it."

"It's a bit strange that you're so at ease in a place like this," Tesla shook his head. "Never mind, for Joyce and Leanna's sake, I won't say anything."

"Speaking of Joyce, how is he now?" Otto asked curiously upon hearing the familiar name. "I thought I'd be able to see him this time."

He had assumed that, given Joyce's survival, he would be the one to arrive this time, but Yang had inherited the power of the Herrscher of Reason, leaving him puzzled as to what had happened.

"Isn't it all because of your intercontinental ballistic missile?" Tesla rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Joyce, that stubborn fool, thought he wouldn't be coming back and was afraid that no one would inherit the power of the Herrscher of Reason. So, before intercepting the missile, he materialized it and gave it to Joachim, then used his remaining power to construct a protective shield..."

"As it turned out, your missile had no killing power; instead, it healed his wounds, which made the situation quite awkward," Einstein picked up the conversation, omitting some details. "Looking back now, perhaps it was some kind of inertia in the timeline at work."

"Thankfully, the Herrscher of Herrscher of Reason's core didn't torment Joachim like it did in the original timeline, otherwise I would have given you an Iron Fist first thing this time!" Tesla thought to himself, then glared fiercely at Otto. "Why were you acting so convincingly back then!"

In fact, Einstein had already vaguely sensed something at the time, but the situation was urgent, and she couldn't gamble with the lives of an entire city based on a speculation without any real evidence. Fortunately, the final result was acceptable; otherwise, Anti-Entropy probably wouldn't have agreed to cooperate with Otto so easily.

Faced with Tesla's unfounded accusations, Otto was naturally speechless and could only manage a wry smile.

Just as the atmosphere became somewhat awkward, the voice of the Herrscher of Consciousness suddenly reached their ears. "Hey, I saw a star flying towards the moon. Does that mean the first phase of the plan has ended?"

At the same time, Einstein and Tesla also received a message from Welt Young and exchanged a glance.

"It seems the operation on the other side is progressing smoothly," Otto smiled. "In that case, it's time to move on to the next phase of the plan."

He looked up at the top of the tower and smiled slightly.

Chapter Thirty-Four: Which cadre can withstand this test?

The second phase of the script is actually divided into two parts. On one hand, humans on the ground will face the meteorites thrown from the moon by the Herrscher. On the other hand, Schicksal and Anti-Entropy will also send a team to the moon to obtain Soulium, which serves as a carrier of knowledge.

Of course, this part is only planned according to the original timeline of development; in actual execution, it's a different story.

For example, the vehicle that originally carried only Welt Young and Siegfried in the original timeline is now so crowded that it's almost overloaded.

In addition to the originally planned two, Theresa and Tesla also boarded the train, bringing the number of people from Schicksal and Anti-Entropy back into balance.

"Speaking of which, doesn't your Schicksal have that 'Thousand Worlds One Step' thing?" Tesla frowned, somewhat annoyed, as he felt the space was a bit cramped. "Why not just use that thing to go to the moon? Why bother trying to piggyback on our Arahato?"

"That's not a very appropriate thing to say, Ms. Tesla?" Siegfried said with a smile. "I'm a loyal fan of your ETstudio, after all. I've bought quite a few Arahato. Is this how you treat your fans?"

"Besides, the Thousand Worlds One Step isn't like a bicycle that you can use whenever you want," Theresa explained from the side. "That kind of thing is always in operation, so it's hard to find extra capacity to send us to the moon."

"Operating?" Tesla immediately became alert. "What does a behemoth of this size usually do? Is Otto plotting something again?"

Such magical artifacts capable of spatial teleportation can often accomplish many incredible plans, such as sneak attacks, sneak attacks, and more sneak attacks.

"I don't think you need to worry about that," Theresa smiled. "As far as I know, the Thousand Worlds One Step is currently used to communicate between two different worlds, and it won't be used for Anti-Entropy."

"I see." Tesla breathed a sigh of relief, but then gleaned a key phrase from Theresa's words. "Connecting two worlds, the other side refers to—the world where that deity resides?"

"From our perspective, it should refer to the world where the 'Pre-Civilization' existed," Theresa nodded. "But I don't know the specifics...after all, I've only been 'reborn' for a few days."

"Pre-Civilization ..." Tesla fell silent for a moment, staring at the ceiling before speaking again after a long while, "To be honest, I still lack a... real feeling about all that is happening now."

"I understand," Siegfried nodded seriously. "To be honest, I've been wondering myself a lot these past few days if I'm dreaming."

Since the Second Honkai Outbreak Impact, Siegfried could only relive this kind of happy family life in his dreams.

"This is beyond dreaming. To be honest, I've never had such a perfect dream," Tesla remarked. "I used to be a bit of a believer in God, but now that I'm seeing all this, I can only say it's truly a miracle."

What you have seen is merely the tip of the iceberg of miracles.

The response to Tesla wasn't from anyone present, but from Otto's voice coming through the communication system: "After this play is over, I'll tell you all about the teacher's achievements."

"Explanation is fine, but no proselytizing," Welt Yang said calmly. "Besides, since you have the energy to communicate with us, it seems the problems on the ground are almost resolved?"

In order to deal with the meteorite issue, and also to take this opportunity to truly publicize the concept of "Honkai Disaster," the highest administrators of Schicksal and Anti-Entropy remained on the ground to handle the matter.

Joyce had always been the leader of Anti-Entropy and participated in various public actions, so his intervention quickly resolved the public opinion situation in North America.

However, things are different on the side of Schicksal. After all, Otto has been working behind the scenes for many years, and the apparent Bishop of Schicksal is actually a descendant of his elder brother's family. This obviously leads to sluggish management. In addition, Schicksal structure is huge, so it is even slower to deal with problems.

However, Otto had anticipated this, so he had planned to use this opportunity to reappear before the world, not only to appease the people's anxiety, but also to greatly enhance the reputation of Mandate of Schicksal through this "miracle".

After all, he was a man who had lived for over five hundred years, and such a secret to longevity would be irresistibly attractive to anyone.

"The situation has stabilized initially. What happens next depends on your actions." Otto nodded. "So, are you nervous about facing the true form of the god soon?"

"I'm fine," Siegfried and Theresa exchanged a glance, then shrugged. "Anyway, from what I've seen so far, this deity seems quite...amiable? In that case, there's nothing to worry about."

"More than nervous, I'm excited," Tesla thought for a moment, then said, "After all, this might be the closest I've ever come to the truth, and that wretched spiky-haired guy can't take it from me, haha!"

"That's hard to say."

A slight static suddenly appeared in the communication system, and then Otto's communication was forcibly cut off. "Dr. Tesla, you'd better not be too happy yet."

The voice coming through the receiver was that of Welt Joyce, the leader of Anti-Entropy.

"Joyce, what do you mean?" Tesla glanced at the console. "We're less than half an hour from the moon now. Do you think that messy-haired guy can get ahead of us?"

"Of course," Einstein replied, squeezing into the communication channel. "Joachim, remember to send back the spatial coordinates after you land on the moon."

"Spatial coordinates?" The Second Herrscher of Reason, whose real name was Joachim, paused for a moment, then realized something. "Mr. Joyce, you wouldn't...?"

"Yes, I've obtained the blueprints for the Thousand Worlds One Step." Joyce smiled. "Although it's still difficult to simulate the ability to traverse space, warping within the same space isn't too challenging."

"Isn't Otto being a bit too generous?" Tesla was speechless. "Or was he hiding this Second Divine Key all along just to trick us?"

"Wait, I have a question," Theresa suddenly realized, "Mr. Joyce, you should no longer have Herrscher Core, so how can you still wield the powers of the Herrscher of Reason?"

"At first I couldn't believe it either, but after trying and exploring, I found that it really could be done," Joyce explained with a smile. "As for the principle behind it, I think it's probably due to the blessing of that god."

"In the original timeline, due to factors related to the source of the Stigmata power, the awakening probability of men was far lower than that of women," Einstein added. "However, according to my research, this is not the case with the Power of Light that now flows in all human bodies."

"So, you awakened your own power and combined it with the muscle memory left over from the Herrscher of Reason 'Herrscher authority to do this?" Siegfried might be the dumbest of the group, but when it came to controlling the Power of Light, he was probably the strongest, so he quickly realized, "It sounds like this power is many times stronger than Stigmata."

"Yes, after all, according to Kiana, Mr. Ai Yue is an existence that transcends the Cocoon of Finality," Theresa couldn't help but sigh as she recalled Kiana's words. "If she's right, then the Solar System we live in now is entirely created by him, a completely new 'blank world'."

Compared to this power, nothing else seems to matter.

"I'm suddenly a little worried," Siegfried said, gazing at the moon drawing ever closer, a hint of anxiety on his face. "Can we really overcome the challenges ahead?"

Unbeknownst to Siegfried, at the same time, his daughter asked a similar question.

"Teacher, are you really going to set up the trial like this?"

Looking at the many figures appearing before her, Kiana's expression became subtle. "Isn't this a bit too difficult...? At this rate, I'm afraid it will be hard for everyone to get through?"

It's no wonder Kiana had such an expression, because the figures standing before her were the "Thirteen Flame-Chasers," led by Kevin.

Oh, to be precise, there were only eleven people, after all, Elysia was still playing the Will of Honkai in the Cocoon of Finality, and Hua was standing right next to her.

"Don't worry, everyone knows what's going on and won't go all out." Ai Yue didn't seem to care at all, just waved his hand. "After all, it's a rare opportunity to need a lot of manpower, so it's a good time to organize a team building activity, and it'll save them from complaining behind my back that I haven't been back to visit in a long time."