Capítulo 90: Chapter 90: Attention from Otto, and a Deal with the Serpent
Floating island at the headquarters of Schicksal, Bishop's office.
Otto, who was handling affairs with a game controller in hand, suddenly paused and lifted his head. Surprise and joy were evident in his emerald green eyes. At the same moment, a text appeared on Otto's computer screen, accompanied by an alert from the monitoring department.
[Abnormal Honkai Energy Reaction Detected within Shenzhou Territory, Instantaneous Honkai Response Intensity Exceeds 1000HW!!!]
[Locating the Honkai Source within Shenzhou Territory, Explosion Area Locked, Honkai Outbreak Location—Arc City.]
Otto raised an eyebrow, and at this moment, the in-game character in "Kallen Fantasy" was combo'ed to death by a boss due to Otto's pause in operation. In the past, Otto might have been upset about being disturbed during gaming, but now, Otto was in a good mood. A slight smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
"Arc City? Has the Herrscher of the Void finally appeared?"
In a good mood, he picked up the tall glass beside him, swirled the red liquid within, took a sip, and then shifted his gaze to the door.
The office door was pushed open the next moment, and a white-haired woman wearing a mask walked out. She was Amber, Otto's secretary, and also a clone of Kallen, akin to Theresa's sister.
[Pics here: ]
"My Lord Bishop, a Honkai disaster has occurred in Arc City, Shenzhou. The instantaneous Honkai energy level is above 1000HW. Should we dispatch Valkyries for support?" Amber looked at the real-time monitoring data in her hand, her serious expression showing a hint of surprise. "Eh, the energy outbreak is decreasing, the energy amplitude is lowering, and the current intensity is below 500HW, still decreasing..."
Otto, who had seen the data as well, felt his previous smile freeze. He frowned slightly, and his expression became slightly more serious.
"Has Rita arrived in Arc City?" Otto asked Amber.
"She has already arrived. Rita is preparing to make contact with the information broker, Grey Serpent," Amber replied, then hesitated for a moment before asking, "My Lord Bishop, Rita's communication is here. Should I connect it?"
"Connect it," Otto nodded.
"My Lord Bishop, I have arrived in Arc City. Please give further instructions."
"Rita, did you sense anything in Arc City?"
"A strong Honkai energy reaction occurred in a certain area of Arc City just now, but it quickly disappeared," Rita nodded, recalling the details she noticed and sharing her speculation, "Could it be that the Herrscher of the Void awakened again, and for unknown reasons, was suppressed back."
"That is one of your tasks this time," Otto said. "Also, not long ago, Arc City detected a Honkai energy leakage incident. After investigating the surveillance records, someone found traces of the test subject. Your other task is to find the whereabouts of the Herrscher of the Void."
"Understood."
After ending the communication with Rita, Otto instructed Amber, "Communicate with Rita every eight hours. If there is no response, send the Valkyrie squad to Arc City for support."
"Yes," Amber nodded. After confirming that Otto had no more instructions, she left the office on her own.
Otto stared at the failed interface of "Kallen Fantasy" on the electronic screen, his face devoid of any expression. He didn't pick up the nearby controller for another round. He raised the tall glass, gesturing towards the window with a meaningful smile.
Looking at the recent reports of Honkai disasters in Arc City sent by the Honkai Monitoring Department, Otto instinctively sensed an unusually taste.
Perhaps, beneath the seemingly tranquil Arc City, there was already a brewing undercurrent.
Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and the World Serpent—three forces meeting on the same battlefield were sure to stir up a bloody storm. The ordinary civilians deceived by the appearance of peace might have unknowingly become sacrifices in the struggle of these three forces.
Sipping his red wine, Otto's emerald green eyes shimmered with a different light.
................
In Arc City, after ending the communication, Rita stood on the rooftop of a tall building, observing the bustling city below, the flickering neon lights, omnipresent internet, and well-connected transportation networks. She couldn't help but admire the prosperity of the city.
However, this prosperity came at a cost. The unrestricted development of Arc City led to the unlimited deterioration of the surrounding areas. While civilians protected by the Arc Patrol in the city enjoyed a relatively safe life, people in other parts of Shenzhou lived amidst the ravages of the Honkai.
Tomorrow and Honkai, one never knew which would arrive first. It was cruel, but it was the reality for most people in Shenzhou.
Undoubtedly, Arc City served as a symbol of Shenzhou, known for its technological advancements and being a sanctuary against the Honkai. Those affected by the Honkai were drawn to this supposed paradise, only to discover that, for those who couldn't enter the core areas, they had merely exchanged one hell for another.
The Honkai in Arc City was even more frequent and fierce than in their previous residences. The rumored celestial patrols, however, often arrived late after disasters had occurred.
What might be someone else's paradise could be your own hell.
Nevertheless, this had nothing to do with Schicksal. Rita was not concerned about the city's development; rather, she worried about the hidden beasts lurking in the city's darkness.
Without further admiring the scenery, Rita jumped down from the rooftop, maneuvering between the buildings.
Arc City in Shenzhou was a bona fide technological hub. As part of the conditions for Otto's assistance, Shenzhou was not under the control of Schicksal. Although there were inevitable interactions, Shenzhou's development mostly relied on local powers.
Therefore, Schicksal's influence in Shenzhou was not particularly strong. Investigations into certain matters still required Rita and her immortal blade-wielding team to take direct action.
Rita's footsteps halted on a rooftop as she felt an unusual presence around her. She furrowed her brows slightly.
Indeed, she sensed a familiar aura here, a remnant of power related to the imaginary space—the presence of the Herrscher of the Void. However, why was there no trace of a battle here?
The autonomous tracking unit of the Huntress Suit - Phantom Iron, known as HD-603 or the Carbon-based Huntsman, circled around the rooftop, but it couldn't find any useful clues. Running back to her side, it shook its head.
[Rita in Phantom Iron: ]
This dog-like mechanical unit, linked to the Phantom Iron suit, could receive commands through neural synchronization. It could execute orders automatically, and the Carbon-based Huntsman could release neurotoxins to incapacitate opponents, making it a skilled combatant.
However, in the current situation where intelligence gathering was needed, the Carbon-based Huntsman couldn't provide much assistance to Rita. She shook her head slightly, feeling a bit disappointed but not annoyed, as she couldn't discern anything either.
Perhaps the Herrscher of the Void had briefly teleported here, staying for a moment, leaving behind its aura? Rita thought as she continued her exploration.
Now, she needed to meet the information broker named Grey Serpent. Since she couldn't find reliable information on her own, she might as well try her luck with him.
As for the possibility of the broker refusing the information exchange? Rita, the elegant maid, never considered that. Even if the broker was stubborn, did he have a scythe of his own?
Moreover, there was an old saying:
"Stubborn mouth? Be African-Warlord: Rambo."
(TN: Originally quote of 魏骏杰 referencing the stars career, but if you want the original, then here "Moreover, there was an old saying in Shenzhou: "The one who attacks first is Wei Junjie." Many of Schicksal's torture instruments could surely pry open the broker's mouth.")
Many of Schicksal's torture instruments could surely pry open the broker's mouth.
Thinking about the Bishop's orders, Rita arrived at the location recorded in Schicksal's intelligence records. She looked at the surrounding mechs that had surrounded her and focused her gaze.
The mechanical hounds, the Carbon-based Reapers, were alert beside Rita. With a command from their master, they could transform into fearless warriors, charging into battle for their master.
Surrounded by a group of mechs, Rita was targeted by the red lights emitted by the mechs. It was a dangerous omen, but Rita didn't panic at all; instead, she smiled slightly.
After all, she was an S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal! Don't underestimate her!
The scythe danced among the mechs, and the girl wielding the scythe seemed like an elegant and precise dancer in the jungle of mechs. Each swing struck precisely at vital points. In this steel waltz, the scythe in the girl's hand seemed to serve as a conductor's baton, with every swing eliciting loud cheers from the guarding mechs. They contributed their light and heat to this dance, illuminating the girl's stage.
Rita retracted her scythe, showing no signs of fatigue. Behind her were the remnants of mechs, and occasional sparks were remnants of the aftermath of this dance. The smooth and even cuts demonstrated the professionalism and perfection of her skills and her weapon.
Rita looked towards a man holding a black umbrella not far away and revealed a sweet smile. "Mr. Grey Serpent, good evening. Are you waiting for someone?"
Of course, although Rita's smile appeared sweet, the danger hidden within was quite evident. Roses are often thorny, beautiful snakes are often venomous, and vibrant mushrooms are often hallucinogenic. Stared at by an S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, Grey Serpent had no thoughts of relaxing his guard. His red prosthetic eye flickered, and he asked:
"My bodyguards... have you dealt with all of them alone?"
Rita's lips carried a sweet smile. "It's just a small habit of mine. It keeps the negotiation environment a bit cleaner. Do you not like it?"
Grey Serpent's silence was deafening.
"Ah... it seems I've done something unnecessary again..." Rita said to herself. "Well, to compensate for your loss, I can offer a trade with generous returns."
"It seems I have no choice but to accept, right?" Grey Serpent's mechanical voice showed no emotions. Only the flickering light in his prosthetic eye suggested some uncertainty.
"A few days ago, you uploaded a photo capturing a girl. You are well aware of who she is and her value. Despite that, you still chose to upload her information to Schicksal's network. Now, tell me her whereabouts."
Rita's words sounded like negotiations, but the threat was much more apparent.
Grey Serpent's voice remained calm, seemingly unaffected. He asked, "So, what can I gain from this trade?"
"Hmm, let me think," Rita frowned slightly, seemingly genuinely contemplating. "A reliable ally and... assurance of your safe departure from here."
"That sounds good, but using someone's identity as a bargaining chip, doesn't that go against your principles?"
"It seems you don't understand the value of life," Rita's smile remained, but the scythe was already in her hand.
"Miss Rita, for a snake, death is just the beginning of the next transaction. What you need to be careful of is not to be targeted by a snake. Otherwise..."
Without allowing Grey Serpent to finish his sentence, the elegant maid, Rita, did not show mercy. The sharp blade tore through his throat.
Grey Serpent fell into a pool of blood, and Rita slowly retracted her scythe.
"Mr. Grey Serpent, you're right. Death is the beginning of the next transaction. So, in this transaction, I'm afraid you have no choice but to accept."
...
On a distant rooftop, watching the live broadcast, Chase's mood was complex.
Regarding the fact that his colleague voluntarily sacrificed himself in front of him... Of course, Chase knew that Grey Serpent, like Otto, had more than one body. But to die so decisively, flawlessly, Chase couldn't help but admire.
The abilities of the Imaginary Space were always convenient. Slightly developed, Chase had devised a technique to broadcast real-time images to the real world through the medium of the imaginary space. Because the fluctuations were minimal, even when performing directly in front of his colleagues, they hadn't detected anything suspicious. So, he could almost covertly spy, oh, conduct intelligence investigations.
With the coordinates provided by Grey Serpent, Chase looked with interest at the graceful maid in the video, muttering to himself:
"The S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, Rita Rossweisse, right?"
He couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Why does he feel that Rita, who is also an S-class Valkyrie, seems to be far behind Cecilia?
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