Fu Lin looked on in confusion, his face full of questions as he watched Sirin's retreating back.
Meanwhile, in the Imaginary Space, a strange scene was playing out.
Piles of scattered junk and snack bags were floating mid-air like space debris gone out of control—bumping, spinning, drifting aimlessly, with no sense of direction, and no telling where they would end up.
--------------------------
After finishing the meal, Fu Lin sat leisurely on the chair, his gaze casually sweeping across Kiana☆ and Fu Hua sitting on the other side of the dining table.
The two of them were wearing deeply worried expressions, as if a heavy burden weighed on their hearts.
A trace of doubt rose in Fu Lin's heart. He furrowed his brow slightly and asked,
"Old antique, and Kiana☆, what's wrong with you two? Why do you suddenly look so troubled and gloomy?"
Kiana☆ nodded slightly, her tone low and full of concern as she said,
"Mm... not long ago, the sky over the entire hemisphere was suddenly split open by a burst of sword energy out of nowhere.
Although that strike wasn't a big deal for me, Aunt Theresa immediately rushed toward the source of the sword energy with a team upon receiving the news.
Sigh, I just don't know if Aunt Theresa will encounter any danger. If only I could still use my powers now."
As she spoke, Kiana☆'s face was full of worry.
Hearing this, Fu Lin was momentarily stunned, then slapped his thigh and raised the corners of his mouth into a faint smile, comforting them,
"Ah, so it's about that. You can rest assured—Theresa definitely won't be in any danger."
Kiana☆ and Fu Hua both raised their heads in unison at those words, looking at Fu Lin in astonishment, their eyes full of doubt and confusion.
Mei☆ and Little Xier looked at each other, then turned their eyes toward Fu Lin.
Seeing this, Fu Lin felt a surge of pride in his heart. He immediately straightened his back and patted his chest hard with both hands, puffing out his chest as he proudly declared,
"Haha, let me tell you, that earth-shattering, soul-shaking sword energy was actually released by me! So, there's absolutely no need to worry about Theresa encountering any danger!"
...
At that moment, on the summit of Mount Taixuan, mist swirled as cold wind howled by.
Otto stood silently, gazing at the collapsed chamber and the cracked mountain peak in front of him. He furrowed his brow slightly, gently stroking his chin with one hand, a particularly serious expression on his face.
Just then, a crisp and familiar sound of footsteps came from behind, accompanied by Theresa's slightly surprised voice,
"Grandpa? Why are you here alone? Didn't Rita and Durandal come with you?"
Otto slowly turned around at the sound. When he saw Theresa walking toward him, a kind and gentle smile immediately appeared on his face as he softly said,
"Little Theresa, I didn't expect you to be the second one to arrive. I thought it would be those old friends from Anti-Entropy.
As for Durandal and Rita, they went on a mission, so naturally they couldn't come. And I believe that as long as you're here, little Theresa, I won't be harmed, right?
However, we were still a bit late. The person has already left, whereabouts unknown."
Theresa quickly walked to Otto's side and looked toward the cracked mountain peak following his gaze. There still seemed to be traces of lightning left on it. Her expression grew serious as she asked,
"But... Grandpa, the impact of that strike was just too immense! We don't even know if the person behind it is friend or foe. What kind of power could do something like this?"
Just as Theresa's voice fell, several figures suddenly appeared out of thin air in the distance behind them. Upon a closer look, it turned out to be people from Anti-Entropy.
Leading them were Dr. Tesla and Dr. Einstein, followed by several Titan robots.
Tesla crossed her arms and stared at Otto with disdain. The moment their eyes met, she instantly opened her mouth in a sarcastic and biting tone,
"Well, well! Isn't it the Archbishop of Schicksal? You really live up to your name—Schicksal Express Co., always delivering on time. What speed!
In the blink of an eye, you've already shipped over this 'dumbass item'!"
Facing Tesla's sharp verbal assault, Otto remained unusually calm and composed. He raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, and replied in a relaxed tone,
"Haha, Dr. Tesla, no need to get so upset the moment we meet.
I merely arrived a step ahead of you. Since we've already run into each other, how about we head to my airship together?
I'd be more than happy to serve you two some afternoon tea."
As he spoke, Otto even made a very gentlemanly gesture of invitation.
At this moment, Dr. Einstein, who had been silent beside Tesla, placed a hand on her impulsive colleague's shoulder and gently reminded her, "Dr. Tesla, please calm down. Don't forget the real reason we came here."
Hearing Einstein's advice, Tesla took a deep breath and tried her best to calm down, though she still shot Otto a fierce glare.
Einstein stepped forward and said, "No need. We have other matters to attend to, so we won't trouble the Archbishop of Schicksal."
Seeing this, Otto slowly withdrew his outstretched hand, narrowed his eyes slightly, and within his deep gaze, light flickered unpredictably, making him unreadable.
Otto gently raised the corners of his mouth, revealing an almost imperceptible smile. He then spoke in a slightly teasing tone,
"Well then, what a pity~ Let me guess—your purpose for coming here must also be that sword energy, right? Hehe..."
Tesla, who had just barely managed to calm herself, had her fury reignited the moment she heard Otto's casual words and that final mocking chuckle.
At that moment, Tesla glared daggers at Otto, her mouth firing off nonstop like a machine gun as she raged,
"No shit! Did you think we came all this way just to admire your disgusting face? You selfish bastard..."
A continuous stream of "colorful" language poured out of Tesla's mouth like a raging flood, impossible to withstand.
Just then, Otto suddenly coughed twice, seemingly trying to interrupt Tesla's tirade.
In order to maintain the dignity and image befitting an elder in front of his beloved granddaughter, Otto had no choice but to suppress his inner displeasure and said,
"Ahem ahem, I just wanted to tactfully let you know—you're too late. The person is already gone."
Einstein heard this and calmly pushed up her glasses, responding with a blank expression, "Is that so?"
Otto furrowed his brow slightly and subtly took a small step back, then positioned himself firmly in front of Theresa and the other Valkyries, shielding them.
However, just as the tension between both sides reached a breaking point—
The previously silent livestream screen suddenly lit up without warning, instantly freezing the tense atmosphere in place.
Immediately after, Otto's slightly playful voice came from behind everyone,
"Hehe... in that case, I think we might as well each take a step back, rest a little, and then watch this livestream together, how about it?"
As soon as those words fell, all the Valkyries couldn't help but widen their eyes and stare back in shock, completely confused as to why their dear Archbishop would say such a thing in such a tense moment.
And how could the other side just agree to a truce like that...
"No thanks, we'll take our leave here. I don't feel safe with a certain someone nearby."
Einstein immediately refused. Everyone knew that being around Otto meant you could never let your guard down—not even for a moment, or you might end up stabbed in the back with no chance to cry foul.
[Fu Lin, Speaking from personal experience, I fully agree with Dr. Einstein!]
And so, under the bewildered gazes of the crowd, Einstein dragged Tesla away, disappearing from sight, with the Titan robots following suit.
The Valkyries, "So....."