Wendy's question was undoubtedly the dilemma in everyone's minds at that moment.
Although Chen Ran was dealing with the World Serpent, Otto was also involved.
Especially after the previous conversation with Rita, Cecilia felt a chill in her heart.
Schicksal prides itself on being the guardian of humanity, but in Otto's eyes, what is humanity? A resource that can be sacrificed, something dispensable?
Chen Ran actually felt indifferent.
He had long known Otto's character, so he never expected any friendship from Otto.
On the surface, they called each other brothers, but behind the scenes, they plotted against each other; that was Otto's way.
But in Cecilia's eyes, it was different.
She had thought that Otto would only have some dirty dealings in Schicksal, but now she realized that Schicksal was also a threat to humanity.
After struggling with her thoughts for a moment, Cecilia spoke: "We can't oppose Schicksal yet, that would come with greater sacrifices."
"But we can oppose Otto. I will strive to establish our own power and find a way to oust that guy from the bishop position."
Cecilia could still distinguish between Schicksal and Otto.
After she finished speaking, she looked at Chen Ran.
Wendy did the same.
With Cecilia and Wendy's current strength, at most they could only cause a ruckus on Schicksal's floating island, but it would be of no concern to Otto.
Now, Otto already had the Imaginary Tree's beacon and the Cosmic Juggernaut; he just needed to follow the 'god's' instructions, gain the power of a pseudo-god, and step into the imaginary space to achieve his goals.
And the reason Otto dared to deal with Chen Ran now was undoubtedly because he believed he had the conditions to do so.
Thus, even if Schicksal disbanded on the spot, it would mean nothing to Otto.
"To be honest, I don't think just opposing Otto is a good idea."
Chen Ran pondered for a moment and said: "How should I put it, even if you know Otto is plotting against you, you will still follow his arrangements. I think Fu Hua should have experienced this."
Chen Ran was referring to Fu Hua, not Hua.
He was naturally referring to Fu Hua's series of interactions with Otto after being betrayed by the Seven Disciples.
Fu Hua nodded, deeply understanding.
Although Otto claimed Fu Hua was his old friend, the foundation of their cooperation was based on Schicksal's coercion of Shenzhou.
If Cecilia's feelings towards Otto were resentment, Fu Hua's were a deeper numbness and helplessness towards herself.
Chen Ran said: "Moreover, in a future I know, Otto has an irreplaceable contribution."
He absorbed the authority of the imaginary, letting people know that the Herrscher is merely a shadow of the imaginary.
And the shadow of the imaginary can never reach the imaginary itself.
It can be said that Otto's greatest contribution was directly exposing the essence of the imaginary.
He paused and said: "Actually, I think now is an opportunity to negotiate with Otto."
Wendy couldn't help but ask: "Negotiate? You still want to negotiate with him?"
Otto had already turned against them; where was the possibility of negotiation?
Chen Ran said: "Otto needs to resurrect Kallen, which cannot bypass Kiana. And we also need a new Schicksal, don't we?"
If Otto resurrected Kallen, then the best successor of Schicksal would not be Theresa, but Cecilia.
Before Otto overthrew the old Schicksal, the old Schicksal was already controlled by the three major families.
She is now the most qualified and powerful Valkyrie in Schicksal, and Squad Snowwolf is also a team built around Cecilia.
Although the current Squad Snowwolf is not as active on the front lines as before, with several members having retired individually, it does not mean that Squad Snowwolf has lost its influence.
Even now, no Valkyrie squad in Schicksal can compare to Squad Snowwolf.
If Otto is the leader of everyone in Schicksal, then Cecilia's influence among the Valkyrie squads can also rival Otto's.
Thus, there is room for maneuvering.
"Otto needs to resurrect Kallen, and we also need the power of Schicksal. To put it bluntly, Schicksal cannot do without Otto now, but we must think about the future of Schicksal after Otto leaves."
If Schicksal were handed over to Theresa, it would truly be disastrous.
However, this requires Cecilia's cooperation.
Chen Ran is worried that Cecilia might be blindly loyal to Otto, which is why he wants to inquire about her thoughts.
Fortunately, he can rest easy because, due to the Second Honkai Eruption, Cecilia is not as loyal to Otto as other members of the Schariac family.
A Schicksal without Otto is important for both Cecilia and Chen Ran.
Chen Ran also needs the resources that Schicksal can provide.
He has not yet found the reason for his disappearance, but of course, that is not important.
What matters is that only if Schicksal is his Schicksal can the full-domain connection be promoted smoothly.
Chen Ran paused and said, "Moreover, after the full-domain connection is completed, even with a time gap of fifty thousand years, I can still share information with you. There are some things I need to accomplish with the power of Schicksal."
"Wendy, you should join in as well."
Wendy had not yet joined the full-domain connection.
Wendy naturally would not refuse.
In addition, Fu Hua also joined in.
However, when Chen Ran looked at Elysia, Elysia smiled brightly, "Oh, you didn't know? I actually joined the full-domain connection a long time ago."
Chen Ran thought about everything.
…
…
"Lord Bishop, World Serpent has failed."
When Fu Hua and the others went to Taixuan Mountain, Rita also sensed the presence of Chen Ran, Cecilia, and the others.
She has her own means of gathering intelligence, so she naturally knows that not only is Cecilia alive, but Chen Ran has also emerged.
Moreover, the Herrscher of the Void, Sirin, has also come out.
"I received news from World Serpent that Chen Ran can rely on the full-domain connection to transfer people from fifty thousand years ago to fifty thousand years later. According to Jackal, Chen Ran has expanded the dimensions of time with a cosmic isolated system. It is now extremely difficult to deal with him."
Rita conveyed the message to Otto.
She is not worried about Otto; rather, in Rita's mind, the concern lies with Chen Ran and Cecilia.
The Valkyries of Schicksal always have blind faith in Otto.
"I understand."
Otto is not surprised by this outcome.
Fate has its corrective nature, both in the future and in the past.
If Chen Ran cannot return to the past, then the Project Stigma, which relies on Chen Ran as its source, will not begin.
He has understood this long ago.
The reason he agreed to help Kevin deal with Chen Ran was merely to establish another opportunity for dialogue with Chen Ran.
Now, he has gotten his wish.
However, he regrets not being able to eliminate Cecilia in the process.
This is not because Otto dislikes Cecilia; on the contrary, Cecilia is a very reliable subordinate.
However, to resurrect Kallen, he needs the power of the Herrscher of the Void.
To be precise, he needs the hatred of the Herrscher of the Void.
Only by removing Cecilia can he maximize the hatred of Sirin and Kiana, giving him a chance to achieve his desires.
Thus, he would have Rita do this.
But it is now evident that the fate that should have been resolved has once again deviated.
Fortunately, it is directed at Cecilia.
Otto knows that while Cecilia is not entirely without temper, she is at least a rational person.
As long as she is rational enough, he still has means of negotiation.
Two days later, Chen Ran, Cecilia, Wendy, and Sirin left Taixuan Mountain. Elysia and Fu Hua did not participate in this event, so they naturally would not follow to Schicksal.
Cecilia also informed Siegfried of this matter but did not tell Theresa and Kiana.
Since Cecilia is not dead, the relationship between Theresa and Otto will not be so strained.
Thus, Theresa's stance on Cecilia cannot be considered firm.
Moreover, the current situation has nothing to do with Theresa; even if she were dragged into it, it would be more harmful than beneficial.
Chen Ran has analyzed that they are not going to fight with Schicksal but to negotiate with Otto.
Otto wants to resurrect Kallen, which cannot be done without the Herrscher of the Void.
He chooses to guide through hatred to gain the initiative.
But now that Cecilia is alive, the initiative is naturally in Cecilia's hands.
With the initiative, everything becomes much easier.
"Wife!"
When Chen Ran and the others arrived at Schicksal Airport, the first to appear was Siegfried.
This white-haired middle-aged man does not yet know what has happened; he only knows that Otto is plotting against Cecilia.
Cecilia did not hide anything and told Siegfried everything she had experienced.
Only then did Siegfried realize that so much had happened.
This impulsive middle-aged man is about to take Heaven's Fire to confront Otto, while Chen Ran's eyes reveal a glimmer of excitement.
Wendy couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Chen Ran shook his head, "It's nothing."
The weapon in Siegfried's hand is the Judgment of Shamash; Kevin would not allow it to fall into the wrong hands.
This means that Siegfried will encounter an attack; it is just a matter of time.
He loudly said to Siegfried, "Things are already chaotic enough, Mr. Siegfried. We did not come here to fall out with Otto but to negotiate."
Although Chen Ran himself feels a bit constrained, negotiation is indeed the most realistic and beneficial approach.
Cecilia also dissuaded Siegfried.
"We still need to think about Kiana."
No matter when, a daughter is always a father's soft spot.
Siegfried, though impulsive, is no longer the reckless young man who could leave his family without a second thought.
Cecilia's concerns are not unfounded.
Otto is not a good person, but that does not mean they have the confidence to oppose Schicksal. Are they supposed to seek refuge with Anti-Entropy?
Don't be foolish; Otto has not dealt with Anti-Entropy simply because the current Anti-Entropy and Schicksal are not on the same level.
Essentially, even if Anti-Entropy joins Cecilia and the others, it will not change the vast gap between Schicksal and Anti-Entropy.
The disparity between the two organizations cannot be offset by a few S-rank Valkyries.
Chen Ran paused and said, "Otto's core target is me; this is something everyone knows. Even if a conflict occurs next, it will be directed at me."
"Wendy, Sirin, I entrust my safety to both of you."
Only then did Siegfried notice that there are two Herrschers beside Chen Ran.
Especially when Sirin appeared, his pupils involuntarily constricted.
Sirin's name is too profound; he probably cannot forget it.
Chen Ran does not care how Siegfried thinks. After arriving at Schicksal Airport, he walked towards where Otto is.
Siegfried whispered to Cecilia, "Should we go directly to negotiate? Don't we need to prepare more?"
"More preparation will only give Otto more ways to respond to us."
Cecilia said, "The longer we delay, the smaller the benefits we will gain."
Negotiation, by its nature, must involve give and take.
Chen Ran and Cecilia both understand that their leverage over Otto lies only in the Herrscher of the Void; everything else is insignificant.
If they continue to discuss and plan in detail, it will only give Otto more time to prepare.
Time is not on Chen Ran's side.
However, they have indeed arrived a bit late.
Otto has already set up a banquet, and standing beside Otto are Amber and Rita.
"Welcome back, Cecilia, Siegfried, and several friends from afar."
He paused and said, "Regarding the unexpected events in Tianqiong City, I, Otto Apocalypse, feel deeply remorseful. Seeing that you are all safe and sound, it can be considered that a major mistake has been avoided."
"Ha."
Cecilia sneered, "Bishop Otto, it's better not to make such cold jokes."
To her, what Otto has done can indeed be considered a cold joke.
How can there be such a person who, while stabbing a knife in the back, can still act as if nothing happened in front of you?
Is his skin made of Soulium?
Chen Ran said lightly, "Mr. Otto, I know what you plan to do."
"Relying on Cecilia to stimulate the hatred of the Herrscher of the Void, using the Herrscher of the Void to change the properties of the virtual branches. I have seen the future where you intend to do this, and I know you have succeeded."
Chen Ran does not hide it and directly states what Otto intends to do.
"Lord Otto, I must admit that your scheme for Infinite is close to success."
Otto smiled, "Oh, I never thought of it that way; that's just your one-sided view."
"Oh, then Sirin, let's go. By the way, call Kiana, and let's go directly to Anti-Entropy."
"Wait."
As Chen Ran pretended to leave, Otto directly spoke to keep him there.
His face showed a hint of helplessness, whether intentional or feigned.
"Alright, I admit I do have thoughts about the Herrscher of the Void, and my methods are a bit extreme."
Siegfried immediately became restless, but he was held back by Cecilia.
She paused and said, "Bishop Otto, I just want to ask, what do you consider ordinary people?"
Otto's eyes revealed confusion.
"Cecilia, I thought you wouldn't ask this question."
No matter when, Otto has never cared about ordinary civilians.
After the girl named Vera died, his bond with ordinary people was severed.
Since then, even though he has lived among ordinary people, psychologically, he inevitably harbors a superior attitude.
So-called ordinary people are merely another term for tools.
Although Otto did not answer the question directly, Cecilia still felt a genuine anger.
However, Otto's lips curled into a playful smirk: "Moreover, regardless of what I think in my heart, ordinary people do indeed enjoy the protection of Schicksal, don't they?"
Cecilia did not respond.
Chen Ran chuckled: "It's about actions, not intentions; no one is perfect in their heart."
Otto was indeed not wrong, even though many innocent people had died because of him.
But more people were indeed living under the protection of Schicksal.
"However, I believe Schicksal can actually do better, can't it?" Chen Ran initiated the core of the negotiation.
Otto's eyes narrowed slightly: "You want Schicksal?"
"Is that not allowed?"
Chen Ran smiled and said, "Schicksal is just a tool, and a tool should naturally be placed in the hands of someone who can maximize its value."
"Of course, this premise is that we will help you achieve that wish of yours."
…
…
Meanwhile, at Anti-Entropy, Cocolia's orphanage.
"Mm, okay, I understand."
Cocolia, who was in the orphanage, narrowed her eyes slightly.
She had also received intelligence about what happened in Tianqiong City.
But what concerned her was not the conflict between Cecilia and Otto; Cocolia knew that no matter the conflict, the one who ultimately held the initiative was still Otto.
She had no intention of using this to ambush Schicksal; the current Schicksal did not offer the benefits Cocolia desired.
What she was concerned about was Chen Ran's appearance.
"Sin, let's go see Bronya."
Sin nonchalantly replied, "You can go by yourself."
Cocolia frowned; she still did not know that Sin and Bronya were at odds.
However, she understood Sin's character and did not force the issue.
At this moment, Bronya was in a room in the orphanage with Seele, alongside Rozaliya and Liliya.
In the past few months, Bronya's health had improved.
However, she had merged with another core of the Herrscher of Reason, which theoretically put her on the brink of losing control at any moment.
In this situation, the only path left for Bronya was:
To trigger a Major Honkai Eruption, allowing Bronya to become a Herrscher.
But now there was a problem: Anti-Entropy already had a Herrscher of Reason, and the world had never seen two Herrschers of Reason coexist.
So even Cocolia did not know the consequences of doing so.
Now that Schrödinger had returned with Einstein, the radicals and conservatives had eased somewhat because of Schrödinger.
Cocolia did not want to trouble the conservatives for now; she only wanted to find Chen Ran.
Bronya's situation could not be delayed.
When she arrived, Bronya looked at Cocolia.
"Is there something wrong, Mom?"
"Chen Ran has appeared in Tianqiong City; you should have his contact information."
She said, "Your health must be resolved, even if it's for Rozaliya and the others, do you understand?"
Bronya nodded: "I understand."
After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Cocolia Mom, I want to return to Saint Freya; that way, the chances of resolving my health issues are greater."
In fact, she was worried about Raiden Mei.
Cocolia's brow furrowed.
After a while, she said, "Alright."
Seele quickly chimed in, "I want to go with Big Sister Bronya too."
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