Chapter 67

Elysia: "The knowledge, resources, technology of the Previous Era... Kevin must have brought these things back with him, not to mention he himself is proof of strength."

Let alone the World Serpent, with the wisdom of Previous Era and Kevin in charge, they could take off from any random organization.

Chapter 108 Otto's Determined Wish

Durandal: "Schicksal fears no enemy, not even the World Serpent or the Honkai!"

Danzhu: "But Durandal, it seems your Schicksal's bishops don't think that way."

Cang Xuan Kevin: "They were even having a pleasant chat together."

Fu Hua: "Cang Xuan, where did you get the idea that they were having a good time?"

Kevin Otto met with Otto, one the leader of the underground organization World Serpent, and the other the Bishop of Schicksal who controlled most of the world's resources.

They should be thankful they didn't start fighting on the spot, and you call that pleasant?

And didn't you see Otto's expression?

The two of them combined must have at least eight hundred schemes in their minds.

[In the scene, the negotiations are still ongoing, and Otto sits there waiting for Kevin's reply.]

He was very confident in his rhetoric and in the bargaining chips he was about to offer.

What are your requirements?

--Here it comes.

Kevin's words brought a rare genuine smile to Otto's face. It wasn't the fake smile he usually wore, but a truly heartfelt one.

The conversation was progressing in the direction he most desired.

"I also have my own plan, a plan that must be completed before the Finality arrives. But the Honkai is intensifying, at a speed far beyond human imagination. As civilization evolves, its nemesis is also evolving."

The current phenomenon of irregular Honkai spreading around the world is a sign of the next Imaginary Invasion.

Every clue points to this conclusion... The Fifth Herrscher is about to descend.

"You have your mission, I have my long-cherished wish. If the Herrscher of Finality descends, all of this will cease to exist."

"Time is passing, both for you and for me. Rather than engaging in a pointless struggle, I believe cooperation is a better option."

Otto laid out his bargaining chips, placing them heavily on the negotiating table.

"I need something, something you already possess, but which is now worthless. Once I have it, my five-hundred-year-old wish will be fulfilled."

"In exchange, Otto Apocalypse will then disappear from your sight, from the World Serpent's."

What do you want?

Otto's patient persuasion was very successful, Kevin finally began to seriously consider his terms.

It must be admitted that the price Otto offered was very tempting.

"The Second Divine Key, the Key of Eternity: Thousand Worlds, I know its beacon is still in your hands. The Divine Key that Schicksal obtained was incomplete; its most important part was sealed into the Sea of Quanta along with you by that forerunner 1,500 years ago."

Otto refers to the time 1,500 years ago when Kevin was sealed in the Sea of Quanta by Su.

Since then, the Thousand Worlds has never been complete.

Since Otto's most important Zero Nominal Power could no longer be activated, the Thousand Worlds in his hands was nothing but an empty shell.

It can only start at its Zero Nominal Power under the guidance of a beacon.

Otto was certain that what he wanted was in Kevin's hands.

"Observation is not the true purpose of the Key of Eternity; it was created to reproduce the power of the Herrscher of the Void —to create a gateway to the Imaginary Tree."

Otto's tone became agitated.

"Beyond that door lies an eternal moment, the origin of the end, the birthplace of all truth and law... the destination I must reach."

"You know the consequences of doing that," Kevin reminded him.

"I know, and you know, and it's precisely because we both understand this that this deal has value. Give me the beacon, and you'll receive everything: peace, resources, and time."

Silence enveloped the world created by the Void Archive, and Otto's thoughts gradually subsided.

He had completed his strategy; all the pieces were already on the table.

Theresa: "Consequences, what would be the consequences of using the Zero Nominal Power of the Thousand Worlds? Does anyone know?"

Danzhu: "I don't know, but do you know Chi Yuan?"

Fu Hua: "Uh, I don't have detailed information in my memory yet, since people who did this kind of thing basically never come back."

The location of Imaginary, the origin of the endpoint... it doesn't sound like a place where you can go and come back alive.

That's not much different from suicide.

Durandal: "So, does that mean Bishop Otto has a deep-seated wish that he'd be willing to risk his life to fulfill? But what kind of wish is it that requires reaching beyond the realm of Imaginary to be accomplished?"

Elysia: "That's hard to say. After all, the Imaginary Tree is mysterious. As long as we can get there, anything is possible."

Danzhu: "But most likely they'll die on the spot."

Do you really think the Imaginary Tree is so easy to approach? If you don't have some skill, you probably won't even be able to see the Imaginary Tree; you'll all be reduced to ashes.

Otherwise, when the Previous Era created the Thousand Worlds, it would have already activated its Zero Nominal Power and been frantically sending people into it.

[In the scene, Otto remained silent until Kevin spoke.]

"Making a demand comes at a price. What are you prepared to offer in exchange?"

"Haha, very good, very good! Equality is the foundation of everything, the pillar of everything. To accomplish such a historic cooperation, I must offer sincerity of equal value."

Otto's voice was powerful and resonant, as if all the pressure that had been building up inside him had been released.

"Power, wealth, knowledge, technology... I know these mundane things are worthless; only this gift truly matches you."

"Obtain it, and you will obtain the perfect puppet, a puppet that can still control Schicksal even after I am gone."

"Now, I return the Void Archive to you."

A golden, square object appeared in Otto's hand, and the scene slowly ended under the golden light of the Void Archive.

Danzhu: "The Void Archive, isn't that ours? Trading what is rightfully ours for the Thousand Worlds Beacon, it seems Otto, that old fox, is really cunning."

Fu Hua: "It's different. Otto said that the Void Archive possesses the ability to manipulate Schicksal. If that's true, then Kevin definitely made a profit in this deal."

It's just a Void Archive, a weapon they created in the first place.

Exchanging the Void Archive Treasury for the Thousand Worlds was already an unequal trade, and now it has even cost the entire Schicksal.

Objectively speaking, we've lost money hand over fist.

But judging from Otto's patient and persuasive manner, it seemed as if he was afraid Kevin would disagree.

The Herrscher of Reason: "Otto actually sold out his Schicksal so readily. I thought he would try some tricks or make an exorbitant demand or something."

Danzhu: "They sold it cleanly and efficiently."

Cang Xuan: "They sold them without a second thought."

Durandal: "... Oh, Your Excellency, I really don't know what to say."

As the strongest of the Schicksal, Durandal had long been prepared for a life of toil and to be used by Otto.

But Schicksal, so inexplicably and casually, sold him to the World Serpent by Otto, Durandal didn't know how to feel.

You might say he went too far, but Otto even sold himself out, turning the Void Archive into a puppet.

The strongest Valkyrie just feels so tired, she really wants to drag out Honkai Beast and punch it.

Chapter 109 Desert Island Adventure

Kiana: "Durandal, even Bishop Otto has sold you out, and you're still going to help him count the money?"

Durandal: "No, Bishop Otto may do very bad things to you, and I understand your complaints about him. But as I said before, I stand with Schicksal, not for Bishop Otto, but to protect the world."

The undeniable fact is that the Mandate of Schicksal remains the central organization that holds the world together, and Otto is the bishop who controls the Mandate of Schicksal.

Theresa: "Give up, Kiana. Durandal is stubborn; you can't reason with her."

Kiana: "Hehe... I'm just worried that she'll tell Otto about the system, and then Otto will cause trouble for us."

Durandal: "If that's the case, you can rest assured that unless Bishop Otto presses me, I certainly won't reveal anything more."

Kiana: "Really?"

Durandal: "Valkyrie are noble beings who fight for all that is good, not tools for infighting. That is how they should be."

Kiana: "Hehe, I feel like Durandal isn't as unreasonable as Auntie said. You're a really good person!"

For the first time, the Himeko felt an unprecedented sense of familiarity with the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal.

Witnessing is like meeting a long-lost relative.

Bronya: "Bronya has a bold idea. Doesn't Bishop Otto want the Beacon of the Thousand Worlds? If we get our hands on it, wouldn't that deter him from making any rash moves?"

Theresa: "That's a great idea, but Bronya, the Beacon of the Thousand Worlds is in Kevin's hands right now."

Bronya: "..."

Well, trying to snatch something from Kevin is like an old man eating poison; they're asking for trouble.

Raiden Mei: "Pardo, I'm giving you a glorious and great mission, and the price is negotiable."

Pardofelis: "?! Sister Mei, you can't expect me to steal Boss Kevin's stuff... Although I've stolen some before, it's impossible, absolutely impossible!"

She was just an innocent and weak kitten; where did she get the courage to accept such a large order?

Kiana: "Kevin doesn't need that thing, so maybe we can trade with Kevin."

Bronya: "But what does Kevin need?"

Kevin?

Kevin doesn't seem to need much, unless you can find a way to kill the Honkai.

[Q&A begins.]

[In The Desert Island Adventure, on the fifth day after Theresa was stranded on the island, what was the first food she found?]

[A: Crab.]

[B: Bitter melon.]

[C: Coconut.]

[D: Supply.]

Kiana: "Desert Island Adventure, Auntie, when did you get stranded on a desert island again?"

Skirt: ①zero⊙⑴⑥⑺yaoling(five)wu

Bronya: "I don't know if it's just Bronya imagination, but I always feel that questions related to the Headmaster aren't very serious."

Theresa: "Uh..."

If you don't believe me, look at Raiden Mei in the Previous Era Elysian Realm. She's always ready to fight Flame-Chasers one-on-one. And look at Otto, who's playing mind games with Kevin. He's definitely cunning, treacherous, and ruthless.

If all else fails, Kiana's Meteoric Salvation, Bronya's Motorcycle...

Even if having her driver's license revoked wasn't a good outcome, it was still Iconic Scenes for her.

However, when it comes to Theresa, things always seem to veer in a toxic direction.

Himeko Murata: "Now that you mention it, it does make some sense, especially about Theresa, I still remember her vividly."

Elysia: "Otto, the former Bishop of Schicksal, abdicated, and since then, the world has been plunged into a devastating catastrophe."

Durandal: "What? Bishop Otto abdicates, and the world is plunged into disaster? Who will be the new bishop? It can't be me, can it?"

Durandal had just joined the group, was a little confused.

The world was destroyed shortly after the former bishop abdicated, Durandal declared she would never take the blame for it.

Kiana: "I don't know. The initial announcement didn't reveal who the new bishop would be, but I'd guess there's an 80% chance it's Aunt Flo..."

Theresa: "Shut up, Kiana, shut up! Don't Theresa again!"

It was intentional; the system definitely did it on purpose.