The First Herrscher.
The Sovereign of Anti-Entropy.
He was born in Berlin, but he broke free from the shackles of the Will of the Honkai, becoming the first Herrscher to stand on the side of humanity.
His name was Walter Joyce.
However, on the eve of Anti-Entropy's birth, Walter Joyce died.
The Sovereign of Anti-Entropy who appeared thereafter was, in fact, his successor. A young man originally named Joachim inherited Walter's name and the First Herrscher's Core, becoming Walter Yang.
And he performed his role well. The name "Walter" became the spiritual pillar of Anti-Entropy.
In recent years, however, Walter Yang had vanished from public view. With Anti-Entropy lacking a leader, Cocolia rose to power, becoming the organization's Acting Sovereign.
But an Acting Sovereign was still just that: acting.
The ambitious Cocolia was not satisfied. She plotted to usurp the true position of Sovereign.
After Walter Yang's disappearance, she began her schemes. To prevent his potential return from ruining all her work, she began to reach for things she shouldn't have.
She created a clone of Walter Joyce.
As long as she controlled the clone and installed him as the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, then even if Walter Yang returned, it would be of no use.
And at this moment, the one who had appeared before Otto was this very clone of the First Herrscher, Walter Joyce.
He had a handsome face, and his short, light-blue hair was tied in a small ponytail. He wore a blue overcoat with a hood, his hands stuffed in his pockets.
However, his entire being exuded a flippant aura that was rather unpleasant.
The man looked at Otto and Kiana with displeasure. Kiana, as if sensing something, moved to stand in front of Otto, watching the man warily.
So this is the Walter clone.
Otto allowed Kiana to protect him. He wasn't worried about his own safety because, frankly, Joyce's clone was pathetically weak.
Armed with the Seven Thunders of Retribution and Cecilia's Stigmata, he truly had nothing to fear from this opponent.
This guy was probably only slightly stronger than an ordinary A-rank Valkyrie.
The only real threat he posed was the element of surprise in a first encounter, due to his unknown abilities.
But the current Otto knew them all. It was just making black holes, right?
Still, Otto wasn't surprised that the Walter clone had come looking for him. He had taken Raiden Mei, so Cocolia was bound to send someone to find them.
I'll just kill him.
Otto was not one for indecisiveness. He placed his left hand on Kiana's shoulder, intending to pull her behind him for protection, while his right hand rose, preparing to equip the Seven Thunders of Retribution.
However, the simple-minded Walter clone frowned.
Then he spoke in a cold voice.
"You two. Why do you not show me respect upon seeing me?"
"Is this how Tesla taught you?"
Eh?
Otto paused his attack. Why was Tesla being mentioned? Wasn't she that lobster doctor from Anti-Entropy? What did he, the Overseer of Schicksal, have to do with Anti-Entropy's lobster doctor?
To be honest, Otto had little interest in said lobster doctor. Though if she were to shake her rear for him... well, that might not be entirely unacceptable.
But Otto sensed that something was amiss.
The Walter clone looked at Otto, feeling as though he had seen this man somewhere before. He must be a member of Anti-Entropy, he concluded.
Today, Cocolia had requested that he, the great Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, personally find Raiden Mei. Herrschers were naturally drawn to one another, but he hadn't found Raiden Mei. Instead, he had found the two people who had taken her.
Oh well, it amounts to the same thing.
"This Sovereign asks you, why would Tesla interfere with my plans?"
This Sovereign?
Does this guy not know he's just a clone cooked up by that Cocolia woman?
You're nothing but Cocolia's puppet!
Of course, Otto wouldn't say that out loud.
"Lady Tesla has not interfered with your plans," Otto said tentatively. He felt that this moronic Walter clone had misunderstood something.
"Hmph. Then why did Tesla send you to take Raiden Mei? Hand her over at once, and perhaps this Sovereign can forgive your disrespect."
Hearing this, Otto blinked.
I'm one of Tesla's people?
How come I didn't know that?
Otto's eyelid twitched. Kiana looked at him curiously as well. Did these two know each other?
But Otto's mind was racing. He asked with a puzzled expression.
"Your Excellency, the Sovereign, I know you are omnipotent, but how did you know..."
"...that I was sent by Lady Tesla?"
"This matter... does Cocolia know?"
"Hmph. There is nothing in Anti-Entropy that can be hidden from this Sovereign," the Walter clone snorted, though in reality, Cocolia had told him this. "At my prompting, Cocolia has also come to understand everything."
Oh, so Cocolia also thinks I'm with Anti-Entropy. Well then, that settles it.
Interesting.
A smile tugged at the corners of Otto's lips.
"Oh no!" he suddenly exclaimed, his face a mask of regret. "Why did you tell Cocolia! You've caused all of Lady Tesla's painstaking efforts to go to waste!"
"And to think, Lady Tesla is the one most loyal to you!"
A plan was taking shape in Otto's mind.
"Absurd! If Tesla is the most loyal, why would she send someone to interfere with my plans! Are you lying to me!?"
The Walter clone was proud and arrogant; he hated being deceived more than anything. But before he could erupt, Otto quickly cut in.
"Your esteemed Excellency, the Sovereign, please, was making Raiden Mei the Third Herrscher your plan, or that Cocolia woman's!"
The clone frowned. He seemed to recall that it was Cocolia's plan.
"But I approved Cocolia's plan. Why would you obstruct it? Do you hold my words in such little regard?"
"No! Your Excellency, the Sovereign, Lady Tesla wished to stop Cocolia's plan only because Cocolia means to do you harm!"
Hearing Otto's words, the Walter clone's frown deepened. His face became an icy mask, his previously flippant demeanor turning grim.
"Are you trying to slander Cocolia?"
How could Cocolia possibly mean him harm? He had seen the respect she held for him with his own eyes.
Whatever he wanted, she would provide. She even came to have an audience with him often.
In contrast, those like Tesla and Einstein had never once come to see him!
Did they even acknowledge him as their Sovereign?
He, Walter, the Herrscher of Reason, could see clearly who was loyal and who was a traitor!
"Do you know what Cocolia's position within Anti-Entropy is?"
Seeing the clone's reaction, Otto noted how easily excitable he was. He couldn't help but wonder: the original Joyce was a genius, someone even the original Otto was wary of. Why was his clone as dumb as a pig?
"Isn't she just an Executive?" the clone frowned.
"No, esteemed Sovereign, you are mistaken. Cocolia's position within Anti-Entropy is..."
"The Acting Sovereign of Anti-Entropy."
The clone crossed his arms, his brow furrowing. His great intellect was sensing that something was wrong.
Otto pressed on.
"But you are right here!"
"You are standing right before us, yet you do not sit in the Sovereign's seat. Instead, that woman Cocolia is there, issuing commands."
Otto spread his hands wide.
"Please, think about it carefully."
"Isn't it true that in all matters, she acts first and reports later? No, perhaps she acts on matters both large and small without ever seeking your approval."
"Even this time, it is the same. She actually made you, the noble Sovereign, perform the task of finding someone—a job for a subordinate."
"Summoned at her whim, dismissed at her will."
"Cocolia... she does not hold you in any regard at all."