Chapter 66

Theresa: "Durandal, Schicksal has done a lot of bad things over the years, including some horrific experiments that you're not unaware of. You should know what kind of person my grandfather was."

Durandal: "Of course I know, but the world today is indeed held together by Schicksal, and Bishop Otto's decisions play a significant role. I don't agree with some of Schicksal's practices, but I don't deny its value."

Raiden Mei: "Teacher Himeko, what should we do? I think what she said makes a lot of sense."

Himeko Murata: "I think that makes a lot of sense too."

Theresa: "Hey! We're losing this argument! Anyone who's trespassing, come and save the day!"

Danzhu: "Don't look at me, I have the will but not the strength."

Pardofelis: "Huh? Even Hua couldn't handle this, you can't expect me to reason with you, can you?"

Elysia: "So things are clear now. Durandal acknowledges Otto's great achievements, but that doesn't mean she won't try to stop his harmful plans, right?"

Durandal: "If what you say is true, I will make my own judgment."

The knowledge and values that Otto instilled in Durandal from a young age were not intended to make her a useful tool.

Instead, she is Valkyrie makes the right judgments and truly fights for humanity.

[Q&A begins.]

[To achieve their respective goals, Otto and Kevin had a historic negotiation in the Void Cage. What did Otto demand from Kevin in exchange for the entire Schicksal and his own disappearance?]

[A: The technology tree of the Previous Era.]

[B: The Beacon of the Thousand Worlds.]

[C: All resources for World Serpent.]

[D: Have Kevin stop the Stigmata Project.]

Durandal: "!!!"

Kiana: "Holy crap! Durandal just came in, and he's already revealing something this exciting?!"

Using the entire Schicksal as a bargaining chip to exchange for something sounds like the kind of top secret that would lead to endless pursuit if even a little bit of information about it were obtained!

Are these grave taboos something they can easily peek into?

Bronya: "Bronya can't believe it. The entire Schicksal, Bishop Otto actually used it as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table."

Fu Hua: "Tsk..."

The Immortal Crimson Bird sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Otto and Kevin will definitely meet, because the Stigmata Project cannot bypass Schicksal.

But she never expected that the two of them would not only not fight, but instead calmly make a deal.

It's important to understand that the world today is maintained by Schicksal, and putting Schicksal on the negotiating table is Infinity to putting the world on the negotiating table.

Human resources, material resources, financial resources... all the Valkyrie, having obtained the Schicksal, have practically obtained a large portion of the world's resources.

The most bewildered person among them was undoubtedly Durandal.

She had just joined the group and hadn't even figured out what was going on when a bolt from the blue struck her.

To be honest, Durandal wanted to deny it, but his intuition told him that it was probably true.

Because the Bishop Otto she knew was someone who would use anything as a pawn to achieve his goals.

This time, he just went a little too far.

Elysia: "However, it's worth noting that Otto's conditions included not only Schicksal, but also his own disappearance."

Kiana: "Let me check again... and there really is one."

Bronya: "In other words, for this one thing, Bishop Otto was willing to give up all fame, fortune, status, and even his own life. Suddenly, I'm beginning to understand what he did."

How could someone who would risk their life on the chessboard care about how many people would die when the Herrscher of the Void awakens?

As long as the goal is achieved, then everything is worthwhile.

Raiden Mei: "But what could possibly be worth Bishop Otto exchanging for with such a huge stake? And it's still in Kevin's hands."

Fu Hua: "Theoretically, no, but perhaps Otto is willing to pay any price to achieve his goal, which is why he offered such conditions."

Theresa: "All four answers are amazing, except for that Thousand Worlds beacon, which just seems too ordinary."

The technology tree of the Previous Era, all the resources of the World Serpent, or even getting Kevin to stop the Stigmata Project —these are all formidable bargaining chips.

However, the beacon of Thousand Worlds is truly not worth the price.

With the resources possessed by Schicksal, let alone a mere beacon of the Divine Key, even all the Divine Key owned by World Serpent would pale in comparison.

Pardofelis: "So, what's your answer to this question?"

Himeko Murata: "Theresa, Otto is your grandfather, you know him better, why don't you come?"

Theresa: "No, no, no, I never said I understood my grandfather. On the contrary, I never understood her at all."

Kiana: "How about Durandal, you take over?"

Durandal: "Bishop Otto's deal... I choose C, all the resources of the World Serpent."

To be honest, Durandal wasn't entirely confident either.

But in order to verify the authenticity of the system and confirm her own answer, she still bravely went for it like a warrior.

Durandal knew Otto as someone who wouldn't suffer a loss.

Since he proposed exchanging the entire Mandate of Schicksal for it, the other party must offer the same in return.

Corresponding to the entire Schicksal is all the resources of the World Serpent!

[Incorrect answer.]

[The correct answer is the beacon of Thousand Worlds.]

Durandal: "?!!"

Stunned, the invincible Durandal felt her head buzzing.

The Divine Key, the Thousand Worlds Vehicle, is in the hands of Schicksal. Why would Bishop Otto use Schicksal as a bargaining chip for a so-called beacon?

No matter how hard he tried, Durandal couldn't fathom the bishop's true intentions.

Chapter 107 The Deal Between the Two Leaders

Theresa: "Hey, calm down, Durandal. We're just as bewildered as you are. It doesn't make sense that Grandpa would do such a losing deal."

Bronya: "Could it be that this Thousand Worlds Beacon has something special about it that we don't know about?"

Kiana: "Since it's related to the Divine Key Thousand Worlds, Class President, you must know what it is, right?"

Fu Hua: "I actually know..."

The Herrscher of Reason: "It's roughly like a starting device. With it, the Divine Key, the Thousand Worlds, can activate its Zero Nominal Power and reach the Imaginary Tree."

Theresa: "That's it?"

The Herrscher of Reason: "Hmm... that's it. It's useless except maybe as a table leg warmer."

It was a little disappointing.

Each of the Divine Key possesses its own unique wonders, with the Thousand Worlds being particularly noteworthy for its ability to traverse worlds and even reach the Imaginary Tree.

Even with this limited clue, it's still impossible to understand why Otto would be willing to pay such a price for a single beacon.

[Durandal receives the penalty: Weakness buff.]

[Synopsis: After being afflicted with the Weakness buff, even the strongest Valkyrie, the embodiment of strength and wisdom, will lose 40% of her combat power for five days.]

"This feeling is..."

A weak, limp feeling traveled from her body to her brain, Durandal felt slightly dizzy.

She hadn't felt this weak for many years.

Theresa: "Durandal, are you alright?"

Himeko Murata: "Theresa, I didn't expect you to care about Durandal. Didn't you say she was just a blockhead? Don't you accept her title as the strongest Valkyrie?"

Theresa: "?! Oh, no! We're all core members of Schicksal, I was just concerned about my comrades!"

Teacher Himeko, you're putting her on the hot seat!

Theresa's questioning of Durandal's title as the strongest S-rank Valkyrie was just talk; she wouldn't dare to actually fight that monster.

Not to mention that Judah is currently offline, and the Headmaster is no longer as valiant as he once was.

Even if Durandal lost 40% of her combat power, or even 90%, she still wouldn't be able to win!

Durandal: "I'm fine, but Lady Theresa, you actually have the idea of competing with me? You can just bring it up openly; I'm ready to accept the challenge anytime."

Theresa: "Hehe~ Just kidding, I was just joking."

No way, I'd rather die than go.

The headmaster made up his mind to stay away from Durandal from now on. That freak with maxed-out combat skills—if he can't afford to mess with him, he can at least avoid him, right?

In the scene, Otto and Kevin sit facing each other in the Void Cage, a miniature garden, where golden light flows and changes, reflecting ever-changing scenery.

This realm, created by the Divine Key Void Archive, completely isolated the two from the outside world.

Otto scrutinized the man before him; his eyes were cold and empty, devoid of emotion, warmth, memory... Kevin's eyes held nothing that a human being should possess.

He felt a little nostalgic; since becoming the Bishop of Schicksal, he had rarely felt looked down upon.

Kevin, however, completely disregarded him, Schicksal, and even the world, but Otto still welcomed his arrival.

Long live the World Serpent!

"..."

Otto shouted, but was only met with Kevin's silence and cold gaze.

"... Haha, just kidding. Trying to create a more relaxed atmosphere for our conversation with a friendly opening."

"To get back to the point, leader of the World Serpent, I knew that one day I would meet you."

"I know your name, I know your identity, and I admire your deeds. You are an ancestor of Kaslana, a hero who led the Previous Era humanity in its struggle to the Finality. But at the same time, you are also the sovereign of the World Serpent, and the executor of the Stigmata Project."

Otto's words caught in his throat as he met the man's gaze.

"Kevin Kaslana, have you come here to declare war on me?"

"You're wrong. The World Serpent has no intention of opposing Schicksal." Kevin rarely spoke, but his meaning was concise. "I'm here for only one purpose: I need your assistance with the Stigmata Project."

In today's world, the vast majority of resources are firmly in the hands of Schicksal.

If the Stigmata Project is to be carried out, then it is impossible to avoid Schicksal, and it is equally impossible to avoid Otto.

"You have to pay a price for making a request. What will you offer in exchange for my promise?" Otto asked.

Up until now, he still had the content of the conversation under control, but from now on, he had to be careful, very careful.

In order to achieve his goal, he must control this conversation and there can be no mistakes whatsoever.

"I don't need your promises. Obedience or destruction, you only have these two choices."

"No, no, no, this is not a good decision. You must understand, no matter how powerful you are, this world is still governed by Schicksal."

Otto shook his head and said.

"Imagine the worst-case scenario: Schicksal will pour all its resources and power into fighting the World Serpent to the very last moment. Yes, Schicksal will lose, but you will certainly lose time."

"You'll lose your most precious time, and then you won't be able to complete the Stigmata Project before the end of the world. You don't want that, do you? I think it's time to talk."

Otto also did not want to go to war with the World Serpent, as it would not benefit his goals or his desires in the slightest.

Kiana: "Is World Serpent that powerful? Otto actually said that Schicksal will definitely lose?"

Their strongest impression of the World Serpent was still the Previous Era Elysian Realm where Mei lived; as for the resources and power it possessed, they had no idea.

But it was quite unexpected that Bishop Otto would say something so disheartening, suggesting that Schicksal would ultimately prevail.

Durandal: "I've had contact with the people of the World Serpent. Although they are all very powerful, their overall strength is far inferior to that of Schicksal."

For example, the cat that Durandal keeps was borrowed from the World Serpent.

There's also the battle for the Divine Key. So far, Schicksal hasn't suffered a loss at the hands of World Serpent; most of the time, it's the other side that's at a disadvantage.

Fu Hua: "That's because Kevin is back. World Serpent with Kevin leading it is a completely different organization than World Serpent without Kevin."