[Main Quest (Must be completed within 180 days of activation, or it will be considered a failure)]
[Capture one core member of Anti-Entropy or World Serpent. Reward: Schicksal God-Machine Second Generation Design Core. Failure Penalty: Technological breakthrough for Anti-Entropy's Titans.]
[Mission Status: Completed]
The Schicksal God-Machine, meant to rival Anti-Entropy's Titans, would now advance to its next generation.
Otto was smiling, but in the eyes of Cocolia and Einstein, that smile was undoubtedly the grin of a devil baring its fangs.
Otto!
Neither Cocolia nor Einstein was a stranger to him. Einstein shared a tangled history of grievances with Otto, and Cocolia had just recently engaged in an unspeakable shady deal with him.
But his appearance here was completely outside their expectations.
Why is he here!?
Princess Otto, the shut-in who never leaves his castle, actually left Schicksal Headquarters!?
Was his location exposed?
Einstein and Cocolia exchanged a look. Without hesitation, they both stepped back, preparing to use quantum teleportation to escape (as Einstein had done in the Anti-Entropy Invasion manga arc).
But then, the color drained from both their faces.
Their fingers, their entire bodies—they were completely unable to move.
The corner of Otto's mouth curled up. With Jizo Mitama in hand, he had taken control of every Titan on the St. Freya campus the moment the invasion began. However, he hadn't stopped them. Instead, he had them attack the Valkyries, letting Kiana get some practice in so she wouldn't be flustered when she faced Titans for real in the future.
He was, however, deeply disappointed in St. Freya's defenses. A mere clone like Welt-One had invaded with ease, and he knew Cocolia had more than one of those.
So this time, he had deliberately allowed the academy to be damaged, hoping Theresa would learn her lesson and prevent St. Freya from becoming a Valkyrie-fragment factory in the future.
As a grandfather, he had truly done all he could.
But Jizo Mitama was not omnipotent. Although it could corrode both living beings and machinery, its power was ineffective against truly strong individuals—the pyramid-toppers like Durandal, Kevin, and Fu Hua. In fact, Fu Hua, with her Fenghuang Down, could even sever the corrosion's influence.
Cocolia and Einstein, however, were clearly not among them.
Otto had directly corroded them both, seizing control of their bodies. Although Jizo Mitama was a tachi, its corrosive power could be activated without physical contact, which was why Einstein had been taken over without even realizing it.
"Well now, I wonder what it is you wanted to show my adorable granddaughter?"
Otto strolled over to stand behind Theresa, wrapping his arms around his granddaughter. His gaze, however, fell on the golden cross beside her. He had been watching from the shadows the whole time, seeing the Key of Binding he had once coveted so greatly being used as a blunt instrument.
But compared to the past, Otto no longer had much interest in Judah's Vow. Because he now held the Authority of Binding itself.
"Grandpa, don't just hug me whenever you want."
Being held like a child by Otto, especially in front of enemies, made Theresa a little embarrassed. She squirmed out of his arms and straightened her slightly disheveled nun's habit.
Honestly, Grandpa. I'm not a child anymore.
Otto wasn't annoyed by her rejection. Children always think they've grown up, but in the eyes of their parents, they will forever be the child who never grows.
"Oh, right."
Otto put on an expression as if he had just remembered something.
"You can't move your mouths. You can't say what you want to say."
As his words fell, the two from Anti-Entropy found that while their bodies were still immobile, they could now speak.
"Otto, what have you done to us?" Cocolia asked, her heart pounding with terror. This didn't feel like some neurotoxin; it was more like she had been placed under a curse.
It seemed there would be no clean getaway today.
She swallowed hard.
Otto walked slowly forward until he stood before Cocolia, his eyes appraising her.
Her hair was in slight disarray, her eyes long and beautiful, her waist slender enough to be encircled by a single hand. Her rear was soft and perky, her legs full and smooth. The form-fitting military uniform outlined a sexy, curvaceous figure. This beautiful woman with golden curls exuded a seductive charm that only a mature woman could possess.
She had a figure far more developed than Fu Hua's.
With a simple raise of his hand, Otto could pluck this gorgeous flower.
But there wasn't a single lecherous thought in his mind.
He only loves Valkyries.
No matter how beautiful the flowers outside were, they might carry a poison that was hard to swallow. How could they possibly compare to his treasured Fu Hua, his treasured Kiana, and his treasured Mei?
"Cocolia, I don't actually want to kill you."
If he killed Cocolia, Anti-Entropy would unite with a single purpose, and he might earn the hatred of the children she had adopted.
"If I killed you, Bronya and Seele would probably hate me."
Just as Kiana would hate him if he killed Siegfried.
Hearing the names of her two precious daughters, Cocolia's eyes trembled. But she was confused. Why would Seele's name come from Otto's mouth? Seele should have been in the Sea of Quanta for years.
Could it be... Seele fell into Schicksal's hands?
Is that how Otto knows about my orphanage?
"Crocodile tears?" Cocolia said coldly. Her mind was racing, searching for a way out of this predicament.
Can I only wait for Welt-One to fight his way down here?
But if this was truly a trap laid by Otto, then Welt-One's fate was likely already sealed.
The cold blade of Jizo Mitama patted Cocolia's cheek. For a lamb awaiting slaughter, it was an incredibly humiliating gesture.
As expected, a flash of anger crossed Cocolia's eyes, but she was the fish on the chopping block, and he was the knife.
Cocolia, endure!
"Cocolia, tell me, which is more valuable: you, or a Herrscher Gem?" Otto asked with a smile. If he failed to complete the main quest to kill Cocolia, Schicksal would randomly lose a Herrscher Gem.
But a main quest didn't necessarily have to be completed.
After all, the reward was just a method to open the gate to the Sea of Quanta, which wasn't of great use to him. He would be able to do it eventually as his own exploration of the Sea of Quanta progressed.
As for the penalty, Otto had a good idea which gem he would lose. Schicksal currently possessed the Gems of Conquest, Desire, Serenity, and Pestilence, representing the Herrschers of Thunder, Wind, Death, and Flame. Of these four, only the Herrscher of Death was not yet under his control.
Losing any of the other gems would have no effect on him. The moment he designated a Herrscher, a corresponding core would be born within them.
The rewards and penalties were both trivial, so killing Cocolia was optional.
"Cocolia, if you can provide me with value exceeding that of a Herrscher Gem, perhaps this Overseer will spare your life."
With a light flick of the black and red blade, Otto sliced off a few strands of her golden hair.
Only children resort to killing. Adults look at profits.
Hearing Otto's words, Cocolia secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Since Otto was willing to negotiate, it meant her life was safe.
"Otto, I am willing to lead the reformist faction of Anti-Entropy and defect to Schicksal."
Even with Einstein right beside her, Cocolia spoke these treasonous words without hesitation.
How much was loyalty worth? Staying alive was what mattered.
With her faction in Anti-Entropy added to his forces, Schicksal would be like a tiger with wings. Cocolia was confident Otto would agree to this deal.
"Mm, mm." Otto nodded, but then he said with a smile, "However, if you can betray Anti-Entropy to save your own life, won't you betray me in the future as well?"
Otto had no desire to end up like Dong Zhuo.
"How about..."
The black and red blade pressed against Cocolia's face.
"I carve 'Otto's Dog' on you right here? Then I'll believe you."
Cocolia's eyes flickered. She took a breath and said, "Fine. You can carve it wherever you wish."
As expected of the leader of a major Anti-Entropy faction, Cocolia chose to endure the humiliation. If it meant achieving her ambitions, so what if she had to become a dog?
And for today's shame, in the future, I will pay...
No, an eye for an eye... and I will pay him back with interest!
"Impressive courage." Otto withdrew the blade and then looked at Einstein. "Dr. Einstein, you still haven't told me what it is you wanted to show my precious Theresa."
Einstein had been coolly watching the transaction between Cocolia and Otto, trying to figure out a way to break the stalemate, but she hadn't expected Otto to turn his attention to her.
Weren't he and Cocolia still negotiating?
"Hey, Otto, does this mean you agree to our deal?" Cocolia called out, her breathing slightly ragged. Once she escaped, as long as Einstein was still captured, she could return to Anti-Entropy and frame Einstein for colluding with Otto, using it to suppress their faction.
Hearing her, Otto simply flashed a vile smile.
"Of course, I'll make a deal with you."
But he raised a hand and tapped his temple.
"I'll make a nice deal... with the brainwashed version of you."