"There's no room for negotiation. I absolutely won't agree."
Zhao Bai refused with utmost firmness, leaving no room for compromise. "Monogamy... is pretty good too. People with rich inner lives don't have much need for women. I'm sure you understand that."
"..."
Silence. An indescribable silence.
"Then please treat her better. You probably know that her life is like a candle flickering in the wind. Remember to take Yue Xia to do something exciting."
"Please stop saying weird things."
Otto did not refute him. It seemed he had meant everything literally. Zhao Bai pressed the hang-up button several times, but Otto's breathing sounded like a provocation. Only after the other party hung up did Zhao Bai hear the beeping busy tone by his ear. He silently put down the phone.
Was this the authority of the Overseer?
No one could hang up on his calls. Whoever wanted that authority could have it; he certainly did not.
While Yue Xia was sleeping, Zhao Bai hurriedly shut himself in with Bronya to discuss what to do about her. He shared all the information they knew with Bronya. Anyway, if Otto called, he could just dump all the knowledge onto Otto.
"She's a laboratory creation."
"The Overseer said he wanted me to take good care of her and accompany Yue Xia through the final stretch of her life. When the time came, the Party and the country... the Schicksal headquarters would have a place for me. He even wanted me to be his successor... Don't make that money-grubbing face. You can't trust what he says!"
"If you became the Overseer, wouldn't Theresa have to call me Grandma?"
"What are you thinking?"
Zhao Bai complained speechlessly, "Theresa is Otto Apocalypse's granddaughter, not the Overseer's granddaughter."
"What exactly should we do?"
Zhao Bai hurriedly asked.