Unlike Durandal, Yue Xia believed him. The legendary player Metal Gear Blonja was a friend of Zhao Bai's, and Yue Xia, who was about to die, wanted to meet that legendary player.
Of course he had to grant the wish of someone at death's door.
The seven o'clock bell rang at night. Dusk had already settled in, and the sunlight gradually fell amid burning flames.
Zhao Bai wrapped Moonlit Embrace in a quilt, got on his motorcycle, and set off back to the academy.
In contrast to the solemn atmosphere, Schicksal's satellites kept their eyes on them. Otto, far away in Finland, had been observing them all along. When he saw Zhao Bai's expression, a faint delight rose in his heart.
"I told you, no one can refuse Theresa."
He began changing clothes: a pitch-black priest's robe for funerals, a snow-white collar, and a solemn Roman knot. He put on golden wheat ears, wore a cross, tucked a Bible against his chest, and set off for St. Freya.
His advancing steps paused slightly.
Otto pondered aloud, "Could Zhao Bai be setting a trap for me?"
No.
This was the script he had written. He had even arranged a role for himself, a rare occurrence indeed. It would be such a waste not to appear on stage. Besides, he had another purpose for going to St. Freya—to retrieve the Gem of Stillness. It was hidden inside Zhao Bai's motorcycle, and every extra day it remained there pained him. Its research value had been frozen inside one tiny motorcycle.
He stepped outside, spread his arms, and let the satellite's light shine over his body.
Material transmission.
This was merely one of Otto's clones, forged from liquid-metal Soul Steel. It combined the softness of flesh with the hardness of steel, while also possessing