The Youngster and Otto Cross Wits Again

Not long after, when Durandal reappeared in a formal gown, the eyes beneath the Shi Hen mask couldn't help but light up slightly.

Her long, golden hair was styled in an updo, revealing the girl's slender, swan-like neck. The off-the-shoulder dress, reaching her chest, accentuated her perfectly shaped, delicate shoulders and long, slender collarbones. Coupled with the slight shyness that Durandal showed due to her unfamiliarity with the outfit...

In an instant, Shi Hen understood the significance of kicking out Otto and taking over.

"Your Bishop Sir, please enjoy your meal with Durandal."

Even though her heart was almost twisted into a pretzel, Rita's consistent self-discipline allowed Rita to maintain the most basic elegance of a maid. She insisted on pouring red wine for the two people at the table before taking small steps back.

As a maid, the most important thing is to know when to leave so as not to disturb the atmosphere of the main guests at the banquet.

Silently reciting the rules of being a maid, Rita clutched her chest and hurried away from the observation deck, leaving only two mottled wet marks on the floor where the girl had passed.

"Rita ..."

As if sensing the maid's current mood, Durandal stared blankly in the direction her friend had left.

"Very good, you look much prettier now."

Ignoring Sister Tazi's feelings, Shi Hen looked at the golden-haired girl in front of him, whose style had changed drastically, and nodded slightly, offering a sincere compliment.

Although she is known for her heroic and dashing appearance, when Durandal dresses up, the beauty emanating from this strongest Valkyrie is no less than that of any princess in the world.

Well, Sister Tazi's aesthetic sense is indeed very reliable; it's no wonder he specially gave the other person a role.

Even if you praise me like that, I still won't agree with you!

Looking at the white-haired man in front of her, Durandal blushed slightly and spoke, her blue eyes still filled with stubbornness.

Even if her body is marked with a man's mark, her heart will always resist to the end.

"I'm just stating a simple fact."

Shi Hen said calmly.

"..."

Hearing this, Durandal's cheeks flushed even more, and she looked away, not daring to meet the man's gaze.

Even if one is somewhat aware of their appearance, these words still carry extraordinary significance coming from the person in front of them.

Not to mention, she's now wearing this outfit...

Feeling the coolness of her exposed skin, Durandal couldn't help but squirm slightly, a strange sense of panic creeping into her heart.

She wasn't used to this light, airy dress, and even less used to facing Welt White in this manner.

All of this made her feel extremely insecure, as if she had completely fallen into the man's palm and could only be manipulated at his will.

As she thought about it, Durandal's rosy lips parted slightly, and her breathing became a little more rapid.

"..."

Unable to resist glancing at the girl again, Shi Hen skillfully used his knife and fork to cut the piece of meat in front of him. "Why don't you try this steak?"

Rita's cooking skills are quite good; it would be a shame if it got cold.

As he spoke, Shi Hen slightly raised the mask on his chin, allowing him to enjoy the food in front of him.

"You... you are not allowed to lay a hand on Rita!"

In Setsuna, as if something deep within her heart had been touched, Durandal suddenly shouted.

Shi Hen: "..."

So it's fine to attack you?

For a moment, Shi Hen couldn't help but want to open the girl's skull and see what was going on in the mind of this strongest Valkyrie.

Slowly chewing and swallowing the food in his mouth, Shi Hen said indifferently, "She's just a remnant of a Previous Era destined to perish. I have little interest in her."

As a villainous boss who intends to burn down the entire world, would he care about these things?

"..."

Realizing what she had said, Durandal's face flushed red in an instant, and her gaze toward the man suddenly turned resentful.

That wretched Welt White!

It must be that bastard interfering with her through the mark, trying to make her submit!

Suddenly alert, Durandal took a deep breath to suppress her shame before speaking seriously, "Is there nothing in this world worth cherishing for you?"

Even though she could understand Welt White's inner pain and emptiness, she could never agree with a man's desire to destroy an entire era.

Even though this is also a way to overcome the Honkai, it is ultimately too extreme.

"Heh~ Durandal, if you're trying to persuade me to give up, save your energy."

Looking at the girl in front of him with a complicated expression and deep pity between her brows, Shi Hen simply smiled softly, "For me, the only remaining value of this world is to become the firewood for me to create a new world."

In fact, you should be more grateful for this.

At least compared to Kevin, I can still allow humanity to continue living as humans.

Judging from the wording, when the Stigmata Project succeeds, humanity will have become a completely new kind of being and can no longer be called "human".

"But the price is everything in this world, right?"

"Durandal gritted her teeth and said bitterly."

"I no longer care about this world..."

He sighed softly, his tone as calm as a still, Shi Hen pool.

"..."

Hearing the deathly stillness in the man's voice, Durandal felt a pang of pain in her heart.

When he attacked Raiden Ryoma and the others, did Welt White also harbor such feelings?

But then she thought of Siegfried, who was imprisoned in the World Serpent, Durandal's eyes lit up slightly.

"And what about me?"

Biting her lip, Durandal questioned, a faint glimmer of hope appearing deep within her sorrowful eyes, "For your plan, I'm probably more of a trouble and an obstacle, aren't I?"

Compared to [Welt White], she doesn't have much of an advantage in power.

Even the exploration of the Elysian Realm has Mei's presence, proving that she is not the only irreplaceable one.

"You have your own value and significance, there's no need to belittle yourself, Durandal."

Shi Hen said calmly.

"What does it mean!?"

Durandal did not accept such a perfunctory answer and continued to press for details.

"You'll understand when the time is right."

Shi Hen shook his head slightly.

Durandal: "..."

Although she hadn't really wanted to admit it before, hearing this perfunctory explanation now, combined with Welt White's arrangements and plans for tonight, she couldn't help but start to doubt the man's intentions.

"Don't waste your time on this kind of thing, Durandal."

Noticing the girl's changing gaze, Shi Hen quickly changed the subject, "Compared to this, you should have more important things to ask me, right?"

If he continues to dwell on these kinds of topics, even he might start to doubt his own sincerity.

Ha, how ridiculous!

Even if Durandal indeed exceptionally cute, is he the kind of person who would be swayed by personal feelings?

His gaze shifted from the deep cleavage on the girl's chest, Shi Hen eyes unwavering and resolute.

"..."

Seeing the man's composed movements, Durandal was first taken aback, then suppressed certain thoughts in her heart, and after thinking for a moment, asked, "What do you know about the Herrscher of Domination this era?"

"A Herrscher specifically targeting Herrscher of this era."

Without hesitation, Shi Hen said calmly and composedly, "In a sense, His status is equivalent to the Herrscher of Binding of the Previous Civilization."

"Kiana, she..."

Having learned of the tragic consequences of the restraints in the Elysian Realm, Durandal's expression immediately turned worried.

"If we only consider authority, the Herrscher of Domination is indeed the invincible one among the Herrscher."

But like the Herrscher of Binding, it also has an upper limit.

"If someone can break through this limit, then the Herrscher of Domination is nothing more than that."

Shi Hen continued to explain.

In an instant, she guessed what was going on, Durandal's expression immediately turned serious. "You don't have some kind of plan again, do you!?"

This characteristic of the Herrscher of Domination makes them perfect for being used as pawns.

"Hehe..."

Hearing this, Shi Hen smiled and leaned back slightly, appearing even more composed in his every move. "Will the Void Herrscher continue to break through the limitations and become stronger, or will the Herrscher of Domination suppress everything and ascend to the throne?"

Durandal, aren't you curious?

"You..."

Sensing the malice in the man's words, Durandal instantly became enraged, "Kiana and the others will absolutely not lose!"

Even disregarding personal relationships, she believed in Kiana's brilliance.

"Yes, I believe that too."

With a smile, Shi Hen raised his glass to the girl, "So, let's wait and see, Durandal ~"

"Hmm—"

Seeing the man grit his teeth inwardly, Durandal hesitated for a moment before picking up her wine glass and clinking it against his with a little force.

Bang!

Amidst the crisp clashes, the two globs of red liquid suddenly began to shake violently, just like the never-ending battle between the two.

Chapter 177 The Boy and Otto Battle Again

In western Asia, in a secret base hidden underground in the wilderness.

Otto sat in the base command room, his hands supporting his chin. As he watched the Domination Puppet on the monitor screen, a mocking smile crept onto his lips.

Although he already knew from the Domination Theater that the Herrscher of Domination had a plan to find him, he did not expect that the other party would be so fast, finding his hiding place in less than half a month.

What exactly went wrong?

Was it a pawn left in Schicksal that was infiltrated? Or is someone in World Serpent collaborating with the Herrscher of Domination? Or perhaps there's some other reason...?

Dozens of possibilities flashed through his mind, and Otto's smile widened.

"Your Bishop Sir, should we send out the Valkyrie troops to intercept the enemy?"

As the checkpoints in the base were breached one by one, a Valkyrie stepped forward and asked a question.

After all, he was a legendary figure who had served as a bishop for five hundred years. Even though Otto had relinquished most of the power of the Schicksal, a considerable amount of his forces still remained under his command.

Moreover, neither the Valkyrie unit within the base nor any other resources will appear in the Schicksal database; they are entirely Otto's personal property.

This is the composure of a legendary bishop with a history spanning five hundred years.

No, there's no need for that.

Since the Herrscher of Domination want this base so much, I'll just give it to them.

When asked by the Valkyrie, Otto simply shook his head, a relaxed smile still on his face, as if everything was still under his control.

Having held the reins of Schicksal for five hundred years, he was still somewhat aware of his current strength.

With the existing forces within the base, it's far too difficult to resist the Herrscher of Domination.

As he pondered this, Otto's gaze fell upon several puppets on the screen that were clearly much more valiant than the other Herrscher of Domination, a sharp glint flashing in his green eyes.

Even though the individual strength of the Herrscher of Domination is generally not strong, the diversity is still reflected in these puppets, and occasionally a powerful individual will emerge.

Just like the intelligence of that Individual 404, these Domination Puppet in front of us also possess strength far surpassing that of the other individuals.