Theresa stared at Otto.
She wasn't smiling anymore.
Because she couldn't bring herself to smile.
"Grandpa, what are you talking about?"
After a long moment, Theresa licked her dry lips and managed to speak, her voice strained.
"You already know, don't you?" Otto's gaze was fixed on Theresa's cerulean eyes. "After all, you were the one who helped Siegfried escape from Schicksal back then."
In the past, Siegfried had chosen to defect from Schicksal because of Otto's actions involving his family. Before he left, he took both his daughter, Kiana Kaslana, and the test subject K-423 with him, an act in which Theresa had been complicit.
Unfortunately, the Otto of that time had seen through their plan. Theresa was intercepted, and Siegfried's biological daughter fell back into Otto's hands. Only Siegfried managed to escape, taking the test subject K-423 with him.
To be honest, the current Otto didn't quite understand why Siegfried had taken the highly important test subject K-423 with him back then. The clone had no connection to him, and she wasn't the only one that had been created. It couldn't possibly be just because K-423 and the real Kiana were kept together.
If he had chosen to take only the real Kiana Kaslana, he would have succeeded.
Now, however, Otto believed that Siegfried's reason for taking K-423 might have been related to Anti-Entropy.
After the Second Honkai Eruption, Siegfried had maintained close ties with Anti-Entropy, and it was with their help that he had escaped Schicksal. If taking K-423 was at Anti-Entropy's behest, then that meant...
Siegfried's actions were an act of outright betrayal.
The theft of Schicksal's vital asset, K-423.
Otto let out a breath. He had been the Overseer of Schicksal for some time now, and he was increasingly viewing matters from that perspective. And he had no fondness for a traitor. No leader ever does. Even if that man might one day be his father-in-law.
Still, Otto had no intention of acting against Siegfried. If Siegfried were to die by his hand, he would never be able to face K-423 or the real Kiana in the future. After all, the current Otto possessed a conscience.
"After Siegfried took K-423, the two of them went into hiding in Siberia. During that time, K-423 earned Siegfried's acceptance, and he bestowed the name Kiana Kaslana upon her," Otto continued, noticing Theresa's hands clenching into tight fists.
Otto considered Siegfried a good father. His only mistake was the name: Kiana Kaslana.
"Siegfried... how dare he," Theresa whispered, her head bowed.
"Kiana... she's still alive..."
"That dumb[bleep]... Has he never been to school? Can't he even think of a new name?"
Then, as if remembering something, she looked up at Otto, her eyes pleading. She needed to know if the real Kiana was safe.
"She's fine," Otto stated simply.
Upon becoming the Overseer, he had gained the authority to review all of Schicksal's affairs, and he had found the answer. But he wouldn't tell Theresa everything just yet.
Theresa's gaze softened. As long as she's safe, that's all that matters.
She looked at Otto again. "Grandpa, then why did you bring her... to me?"
The "her" in question was K-423.
Knowing that the girl wasn't the real Kiana left Theresa with a storm of complex emotions. Having to face that familiar face, knowing the truth... the mere thought of it was painful. She wanted to cry, but ever since Cecilia's death, she had no tears left to shed.
"K-423 is a good kid, I can guarantee that," Otto said. "Little Theresa, did you know? When I first met K-423, she pointed a gun right at my head. She didn't hesitate for a second to aim her weapon at a villain like me."
"Resolute, brave, righteous, and indomitable. I saw the golden spirit in her."
"She will not become a second Durandal. She will only ever be the one and only K-423."
Otto tapped his own forehead, then reached out and ruffled Theresa's hair.
"Besides, little Theresa, I'm not just leaving her with you. Once my business here is finished, I will bring her home."
"I won't force you to treat her as your niece. I won't demand that you acknowledge her."
"Whether you are harsh and sarcastic or polite and courteous, it's all up to you."
"But I think... if Cecilia were still here, she would have acknowledged K-423."
It was the truth. During the Second Honkai Eruption, Cecilia had acknowledged Sirin.
She was truly a wonderful woman.
Otto leaned down, his forehead almost touching Theresa's.
"Isn't that right," he whispered, "A-310?"
Otto could feel Theresa flinch at the designation.
Because A-310 was Theresa's serial number.
At her core, Theresa was merely a clone of Kallen Kaslana.
Test Subject No. A-310.
Theresa, just like K-423, was a clone—just a lucky one who had been doted upon by Otto.
"Grandpa, you're so sly..."
Recalling her past, Theresa knew full well that she was a creation of Otto. With their foreheads pressed together, she whispered, "I'm A-310... so if I reject K-423, wouldn't that be the same as rejecting myself?"
"But I think, in this respect, I'm better than Siegfried," Otto continued. "Wouldn't you agree..."
"...little Theresa?"
This time, he used a different name—the one Otto had given to A-310.
Theresa loved her name.
"Yes," she whispered in response.
But her heart was still a tangled mess. She looked at her grandpa, so close to her, and asked hesitantly, "Grandpa, are you planning to do something bad in Nagazora?"
"Nagazora City is part of the Far East Branch. It's my territory. You're not allowed to cause trouble."
Theresa sensed her grandpa was up to something, but Otto simply raised his right hand and gently tapped his finger on her chest.
"But everything you have... was given to you by me."
Theresa fell silent. Once again, she felt like a canary in a cage. No matter where she fled, she could never escape it.
"But don't worry. I am here in Nagazora for one purpose," Otto said. "If I succeed, humanity's war against the Honkai will finally be won."
"And what if you fail?" Theresa asked instinctively.
Otto frowned slightly. What an ill-timed jinx. Still, he dismissed it. Childish words, nothing more.
"If I fail..." Otto looked directly at Theresa. "Then, Theresa, you will be the next Overseer of Schicksal."
And then... let the whole world see what it's like without Otto Apocalypse.
---o---
In the end, Theresa left Nagazora City muttering a stream of curses.
She was deeply disappointed in Siegfried's actions. All he had to do was pick a new name, and he had made an impossible mess of things. Did that idiot truly act as if his own daughter didn't exist? The thought left Theresa fuming, and what was worse, she had no way to refute her grandpa. In a battle of words, a hundred Theresas were no match for one Otto.
Otto watched her leave, letting out a silent sigh of relief. It seemed Theresa hadn't noticed anything unusual about him. She hadn't realized that the person inside her grandpa had been replaced.
It made sense, though. It had always been Otto who cared for Theresa; she had never truly understood the kind of person her grandpa was. Just as many children don't know their own parents' birthdays.
How sad for you, original Otto.
But this was for the best.
Otto brushed some non-existent dust off his clothes and turned to head back toward Raiden Mei.
With Kiana gone and Higokumaru still sealed in the Black Box, two potential powder kegs had been removed, which put him in a good mood.
Mei, however, was a bomb he had deliberately left behind.
Otto's plan was simple: create a controlled environment, allow the Will of the Honkai to descend upon the Herrscher of Thunder, and then confront it directly. If successful, he would have a chance to usurp the authority of a god, just as the System had suggested.
Of course, this method was fraught with danger. The Will of the Honkai was omniscient. Could it have already anticipated his move? When the time came, would he just be a piece of meat served up on a silver platter?
But Otto had no other choice. Even doing nothing would only lead to being eliminated by the Will of the Honkai sooner or later.
He wasn't entirely pessimistic, however. It was either success or failure—a full fifty-percent chance of success.
And if he did fail, according to the last will and testament he had prepared yesterday, Theresa would become the next Overseer. Once in power, she would surely be unable to contain Anti-Entropy and World Serpent. Anti-Entropy might even rejoin Schicksal, only to take it over from within.
And then... he would let Anti-Entropy try to save the world with their so-called creed of "no sacrifices." He would let World Serpent try to overcome the Finality with their Stigmata Project.
Otto was genuinely curious to see what kind of future the world would forge without him in it.
You all think you can save the world? Fine. I'll give you the stage.
And in the end, perhaps half the world would serve as his funeral pyre.
Such was Otto's twisted sense of humor.
He shook his head, banishing the negative thoughts. He shouldn't be thinking about failure. He would not fail.
His gaze fixed forward, Otto walked alone through the streets. It was quiet, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the past few days. This area had been cordoned off by Schicksal, and most of the civilians were being evacuated from the city. Panic was inevitable, and there had even been accidental casualties. But a few hundred lives were insignificant in the face of millions. Otto's abilities were limited; he couldn't save everyone. Even the original Otto couldn't have saved them all.
A leader must learn to make sacrifices. Every decision he made would affect the future of millions.
Even though the road was empty, Otto stuck to the sidewalk. He had this nagging feeling that a few black luxury sedans would screech to a halt, a carload of goons would pile out, and they'd try to riddle him with bullets. His Soul Steel body was immune to firearms, of course.
But then, he suddenly felt a pair of eyes on him.
Otto turned his head. The Cecilia Stigmata enhanced his perception of danger. His sharp gaze swept over the surrounding deserted high-rises, but he found nothing. He wasn't one to distrust his instincts.
He had already dismantled Anti-Entropy's network in the city. How could there be any fish that had slipped through the net...?
Oh? So there is one.
Otto instantly realized who was watching him from the shadows. He scanned the area.
"So it's you who's been spying on me," Otto said slowly into the empty air. "Bronya Zaychik."
No one answered, but he continued.
"A disaster is about to befall Nagazora City. You should stay far away from me when it happens, lest you get caught up in it." Otto said with a smile. "And as you can see, Cocolia's plan is doomed to fail. She can no longer even extend her reach into this city, leaving you all alone."
"You haven't told Cocolia about me, have you? Seems your loyalty to her isn't so absolute after all."
"There's no future with Cocolia. You should consider your options. There's always a place for you by my side."
"Or... must I wash Seele clean and deliver her to you, tied up in ribbons, before you'll be convinced...?"
CRACK!
A hole appeared in the pavement by Otto's foot.
A silent sniper shot from Bronya.
It was a warning.
Seele was Bronya's reverse scale. She would not tolerate any flippant remarks about her.
From the shadows, a smile spread across Otto's face.
So you really are here, Bronya.
"A girl like you shouldn't be playing with guns and knives. I think marshmallows and lollipops would suit such a cute little thing far better."
"But it's fine if you don't welcome me now," Otto said with a grin. "I can give you time to think about my offer."
He continued walking forward, completely exposing his back to Bronya's sniper nest.
The Silver Wolf of the Urals watched Otto's back through her scope, but she didn't fire. No one slashes their spare tire just because the main one is working fine. Her mission was only to reclaim the Gem of Conquest when an opportunity presented itself.
Otto wasn't at all afraid of Bronya's rifle. She wasn't wielding the Seven Thunders of Retribution; she couldn't possibly breach his Soul Steel defenses. And with the Cecilia Stigmata, his reflexes were more than enough to dodge a sniper bullet. He could probably even catch it.
Hmph, Bronya, save those tactics you use on humans. I stopped being one of those a long time ago.
However, the moment he turned a corner and entered Bronya's blind spot, Otto pulled out his terminal.
He was calling for backup.
Otto had no intention of letting Bronya go this time. She was an unstable element in Nagazora. He needed to secure her now to prevent any complications at a critical moment. As for letting her "think about" his job offer? That was fine. Schicksal had plenty of space, and his own quarters were quite large. He was sure Bronya could do her thinking much better there.
After a simple call, Otto leaned against the wall and waited.
Bronya was a seasoned assassin. After that shot, she would certainly change positions. But no matter where she relocated, where could she possibly run?
A few moments later, Otto heard the sound of a body slicing through the air.
It was followed by a fierce volley of gunfire. Bronya, her hiding spot discovered, was fighting back.
However, less than ten seconds later, the sounds of battle ceased abruptly.
Bronya was down.
In just a few exchanges, she was on the ground, unconscious.
Her opponents were Schicksal's genuine, top-tier A-rank Valkyries.
And Otto had called in over thirty of them.