Anna left Otto's room, her heart filled with joy.
She was now officially a member of Aegis, the squad under Otto's direct command.
Originally, Otto had considered giving her the position of vice-captain—vice-captains were usually glorified errand runners, after all—but he decided against it. Anna's temperament was still immature, and he worried she might get carried away and stray from the right path.
As for the captain and vice-captain positions of Aegis, Otto was somewhat conflicted.
Fu Hua would definitely have to join. In terms of age, the rest of them combined probably didn't even amount to a fraction of hers.
But Fu Hua was not suited to be a captain.
A captain needed to be a mature, stable individual who could command respect.
Moreover, they needed to be one hundred percent loyal to him.
Although Durandal was Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, besides Anna and Rita, the others might not willingly submit to her authority.
Because Himeko was also on the list of potential candidates.
They were all energetic and capable girls. If they started forming cliques and factions, he, the Overseer, would be the one with the headache.
Unconsciously, a name surfaced in Otto's mind.
If it were her, she would be a good captain, and her loyalty to him would also be guaranteed.
But he shook his head.
That wasn't realistic.
Dismissing the impractical idea that had just flashed through his mind, Otto sat down at the table and began to eat his lunch.
Although his current body was made of flesh and blood, it still had no need for sustenance. But to be deprived of the pleasure of food and drink—what joy would be left in life?
Otto wanted to live, and to live well—better than most people.
Appetite, libido—both had to be satisfied.
He ate his lunch leisurely. The meal was delicious; it seemed the Far East Branch Leader had done a good job.
He made a mental note of this small matter. He wouldn't need to act himself; he'd just have to instruct Amber.
After he finished eating, someone quickly came to clear the plates.
Otto sat in his chair, poured red wine into a glass, and swirled the liquid, his eyes on the system panel.
The three main quests remained unchanged.
The mission to kill Cocolia was not urgent. As for capturing a core member of Anti-Entropy or World Serpent, Otto was a little confused as to why he hadn't completed it.
He should have counted as capturing Raven before.
Could it be because the current Raven hadn't yet entered World Serpent's inner circle and was more like a hired hand?
In that case, he would find an opportunity to snatch Old Yang from St. Freya Academy. The Sovereign of Anti-Entropy had to count as a core member.
However, the penalty for failing that mission was a technological breakthrough for the Anti-Entropy Titans. To be honest, Otto actually wanted them to have that breakthrough.
After all, why distinguish between Anti-Entropy and Schicksal?
With Jizo Mitama in his hands, it would all belong to this Overseer!
But he absolutely had to get the Seed of Sumeru. The data from Project Grains of Sand was extremely valuable.
Although he and Gray Serpent had an agreement—World Serpent wouldn't stop Schicksal from obtaining the Seed of Sumeru, and Schicksal wouldn't stop their plan to retrieve Kevin—there was no telling if World Serpent might secretly try to trip him up.
Therefore, he had to launch a blitzkrieg and secure the Seed of Sumeru in a short amount of time.
But even if he got to it, would SU be willing to hand over control of the Divine Key?
It was currently the end of 2013. The data collection for Project Grains of Sand was probably not finished yet.
Otto felt a headache coming on. The Seed of Sumeru was SU's home turf; fighting an away game would be a great disadvantage.
With a sigh, Otto raised his hand, and a black and red tachi appeared in it.
He would have to rely on Jizo Mitama.
But Otto was unable to bind the Divine Key. He could only temporarily store it in the system inventory by consuming Honkai energy, unlike Seven Thunders of Retribution, which he could summon and dismiss at will.
This thing is my lifeline.
Otto stroked Jizo Mitama. The Seven Thunders had already fallen out of favor.
Therefore, he had to protect Yae Sakura and ensure no harm came to her, otherwise Jizo Mitama would become scrap metal.
So, should I cripple her limbs, bind her with chains, destroy her spirit, and implant a brand that belongs only to me, turning her into a tool that can never leave?
For some reason, this terrifying thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
No, no.
Otto quickly dispelled the horrible idea.
Damn it, it must be the remnants of the original Otto's will influencing me!
Thinking this, Otto looked towards the bed in the room. Yae Sakura lay there, dressed in a nun's habit, her entire body covered by a white blanket.
It looked like a scene from a morgue.
So, how should he handle her?
If he had her fight for him, her power as a pseudo-Herrscher didn't seem quite up to par.
And if something happened to her on the battlefield, wouldn't Jizo Mitama be useless?
Otto was conflicted.
Just then, he noticed the blanket suddenly twitch.
Yae Sakura was waking up.
The sakura-pink-haired girl slowly opened her eyes, but her vision was filled with darkness. She reached out a hand, like a drowning person stretching towards the surface.
The blanket slid off her body.
A piercingly bright light stabbed into her eyes, forcing her to squint.
But this white light reminded the newly awakened girl of a certain figure.
A girl who shone like the pure, bright moonlight.
"Ka... llen..."
Yae Sakura spoke the girl's name.
Her one and only friend.
Her voice was raspy, like the sound of a table leg dragging across the floor.
Her eyes gradually adjusted to the light. Yae Sakura's eyes widened, taking in the unfamiliar ceiling. Her entire body felt stiff.
Where was this place?
Yae Sakura stared at the chandelier glowing on the ceiling.
Such beautiful light.
Could this be the heaven that Kallen spoke of, the place people go after they die?
No, with hands as stained with blood as hers, she would only go to hell.
And if she went to hell, she wouldn't be able to meet Kallen.
Kallen deserved to go to heaven.
"Awake?"
Suddenly, Yae Sakura heard an unfamiliar voice.
She turned her head towards the sound and saw a golden-haired man sitting not far away, watching her with a smile on his face.
Golden hair?
It's as dazzling as the sun.
It was the first time Yae Sakura had ever seen hair of this color. He must be a foreigner, like Kallen.
But the person before her was, without a doubt, human.
Yae Sakura shot up from the bed, bending her knees and half-kneeling on the mattress. Her right hand flew to her left hip, but she did not find her Spirit Blade, Sakura Fubuki.
Her gaze darted around the room. Although the decor was strange, full of things she had never seen before, she recognized it as a room.
And in this room, besides herself, there was only the golden-haired man sitting in the chair.
Glancing down, Yae Sakura noticed she wasn't wearing her usual miko attire, but a familiar black outfit.
It had an extremely bold design, with high slits on both sides that did nothing to hide her fair legs, clad in white stockings.
And Yae Sakura recognized this outfit.
It was Kallen's.
"No need to be so tense. I mean you no harm."
Seeing her reaction, Otto smiled.
"Well, you must be very confused, having just woken up."
Otto stood up. Seeing him move, Yae Sakura shuffled back on the bed, the wariness in her eyes not fading in the slightest.
"First of all, welcome to the year 2013."
"Oh." Otto suddenly clapped his hands, feigning a moment of realization. "Then again, for a mere village girl like yourself, you probably wouldn't understand what I'm talking about."
"Allow me to explain in terms you can understand."
"It has now been over five hundred years since you fell asleep."
---o---