Schicksal Headquarters
"Amber, has Rita replied to you yet?"
In the afternoon, after Otto finished processing the documents at hand, she belatedly asked her secretary, Amber.
"Your Excellency, Miss Rita has not yet responded."
Amber's voice also carried a hint of doubt.
Although she and Rita were not exactly close, since she was Otto's secretary and messenger most of the time, they actually saw each other quite frequently.
Hmm... well, Rita has the added identity of being a black glove.
The two of them met informally quite often.
Therefore, Amber knew Rita's style quite well.
She was not one to drag things out unnecessarily, and this time, her response took almost the entire day, which was clearly unusual.
"Perhaps the search for the fugitive has reached a crucial point, so there is no time left?"
Amber remembered the information Rita had sent her a few days ago and came up with a plausible reason.
"Also, it is possible that the communication equipment was destroyed during combat."
"If that is the case, then it could be truly very unfortunate."
Otto stretched, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"But what if things really escalate to that point... eh... maybe I should go to Sky City myself?"
"Your Excellency the Bishop?"
Amber looked surprised that Otto would say such a thing.
"After all, as bishop, I should be present at the negotiations, shouldn't I?"
Hearing Amber's slightly surprised voice, Otto felt somewhat helpless.
Although her credibility with Anti-Entropy and her granddaughter is currently negative for various reasons, there are some things she simply cannot handle without being present in person.
"Besides... how to put it, the so-called 'World Serpent' organization in Sky City doesn't seem as simple as it looks."
"?"
Amber tilted her head, but trusting Otto, she gave an obedient bow.
"Yes, I will organize your itinerary immediately."
"There is no need to make any special arrangements."
Otto stopped Amber, who was about to turn and leave.
"Just let Kallen know, and then... eh, defrost Li Sushang, equip her with the Jade Knight, and with you, the four of us can go."
"The four of us..."
Amber thought about it and agreed that the suggestion made a lot of sense.
After all, the current Bishop Otto is completely different from the Bishop Otto everyone knows.
If she acted so hastily and ostentatiously, it could cause other kinds of problems...
But, on the other hand, after having experienced the rule of the AI Otto, Amber thinks that many people might welcome this Lord Otto now.
After all, compared to that AI, the current Lord Otto... well, perhaps because of her gender, she feels more comfortable?
In short, she seems more sentimental.
"What? Are you going on a trip?"
"I wonder how far away you were to hear us talking, Kallen."
Otto silently watched as Kallen ran toward her with a big smile on her face.
"Besides, we are going there for official business."
"I get it, I get it, isn't it just a matter of being your bodyguard?"
Kallen scratched her head.
"But why bring Sushang? Compared to Sushang, Ling Shuang is better in combat, isn't she?"
Although Li Sushang called Cheng Ling Shuang "stepmother" every day, she, as an elder, did not actually mistreat Li Sushang, but rather passed on all her knowledge to that girl.
In addition, since Li Sushang's talent was only slightly inferior to Cheng Ling Shuang's, this master and disciple... or rather, mother and daughter, were basically made from the same mold.
Eh... for example, not activating any weapon effects.
Therefore, from a combat perspective, Cheng Ling Shuang is actually more reliable.
Furthermore, since Li Sushang and Cheng Ling Shuang are based on the same template, both can use the Jade Knight's Moon Crest, and they are practically the same.
"Ling Shuang..."
Otto rubbed her temples.
"When she goes out, she tells me with a serious face: 'Go find Sushang', and then she runs off."
Cheng Ling Shuang is known for her indifference and contempt toward everyone.
The only person who could give her orders without reservation would probably be her own God.
As her older sister, Su Mei can only persuade her under certain conditions.
"Ehm... this does seem like something Ling Shuang would say."
Kallen thought about it for a moment and realized that what Otto had said made a lot of sense.
We've been together so long that we know each other perfectly.
"But thinking about it, why not release them all? Ahh, okay, so you're preparing for them to come out later, huh?"
"Although I don't know what God is doing right now, if we're lucky, sooner or later we'll run into him... Well, to be honest, if I had to deduce God's location, I would lean toward the Sea Abyss City, where Anti-Entropy is located."
"Since Anti-Entropy was created by God, will we go back to Anti-Entropy first?"
"Although I am very unhappy with this statement, that is more or less the idea."
Otto suddenly felt a pang of pain in her heart.
"Ah, then that means we have a stepmother now."
"Kallen, if you don't say anything, no one will think you're mute."
"I'm considering whether or not to kidnap you and send you to Anti-Entropy."
Kallen leaned against the wall and said with a smile.
"I don't think I've ever betrayed you, Otto."
"When you developed such a lewd and useless body, it was already a betrayal toward me, your best friend."
Otto put on a serious face and said in a voice as cold as ice.
"There's nothing I can do, that's how I was born... well, well, it's been so many years, why are you still worrying about this?"
Kallen reached out and touched her chest.
"Come on, let's go defrost that girl, Sushang... Speaking of which, since we're in a negotiation, how about we bring Higokumaru with us?"
"She is a valuable object, let's forget about her, just in case something unexpected happens..."
Otto shook her head, stood up, and walked toward the freezer.
…
"Ah... Good morning, Aunt Otto, Aunt Kallen."
A beautiful young woman with a charming face and figure lay naked inside the cabin.
"Get dressed first."
Otto felt even more disgusted with Li Sushang's figure.
Are there developmental problems among these young people lately?
Well, Sushang can't really be considered a "recent young person."
"Good morning, Sushang... ah, although it's already afternoon."
Kallen greeted Sushang with a big smile.
When Li Sushang and Su Mei reached the Schicksal stage, Kallen and Li Sushang got along very well; after all, Kallen was an interesting and open-minded elder who often took Li Sushang out to play.
"It's a minor problem..."
Li Sushang carefully put on the clothes Amber had given her and yawned.
"By the way, did Aunt Otto wake me up for something?"
If Kallen had been alone, Li Sushang might have thought they were just going to have fun, but since the two had come together, it probably meant they were there on serious business.
"I always feel uncomfortable when someone formally calls me 'Aunt'..."
Otto sighed and then explained the formation of this era again.
"Ah, negotiations? And if I'm unlucky, maybe there will be knives involved? I understand, I might not be good at other things, but I have a lot of confidence when it comes to fighting."
Li Sushang nodded as if she understood, but not quite.
Although the summary is correct, it still makes me uneasy...
Otto sighed deeply.
…
"Lady Ragna, what do you think of this outfit?"
Rita held up a black evening dress and asked Ragna.
After a morning of jokes and lively conversation, in the afternoon everyone went about their own business.
Rita is shopping with Bianca and Ragna.
"Ehm... it looks good, but isn't it a bit too revealing?"
Ragna did her best to maintain a calm expression.
"Shoulders and back uncovered, belly also on display..."
This only covers her chest!
Although she had heard it before, Rita has really become a carnivore...
She's only 22 years old this year, right?
At 22 she becomes a carnivore.
If she's 32... well, whatever, I can't curse my own descendants.
Her Valkyrie squad went from being 22... no, strictly speaking, 18 years old to over 30.
Best friends forever, the one who gets a boyfriend first is a bitch...
Yes, I'm talking about you, Himeko!
I'm getting a huge urge to beat someone up...
"I think Mr. Tian would really like this kind of subtle tone."
"Is... is that true?"
Ragna hadn't said anything yet, but Bianca nodded and turned her attention to the other evening dresses.
"Bianca, this kind of thing isn't for you."
Ragna grabbed Bianca.
Ragna was of the opinion that Bianca's mostly expressionless and innocent look might not be appropriate for evening dresses or anything like that.
"Instead of an evening dress or something... how about we try a winning, pure, and innocent outfit?"
"..."
"..."
"Why are you so scared?"
Ragna complained, looking at the two stunned people.
"And Bianca, why did you understand it?"
"Mmm... I've learned a bit about men's preferences these past few days..."
Bianca looked away, her face flushing.
"I never expected you, Lady Ragna, to recommend something like that."
Rita scratched her face.
"However... well, better explain it in more detail, I'm very curious."
Lately, Rita has been quite worried about choosing the final set.
Although she previously said she would buy a pair of sexy black stockings in Raven's style, that was mainly to annoy Raven.
If we're really going to draw any conclusions from all this... Rita has absolutely no experience.
Furthermore, Rita felt that it took quite a bit of courage to walk into those kinds of stores alone; well, that's where the advantage of online shopping comes in.
"Eh?"
Observing Rita's expression, Ragna understood somewhat belatedly.
"Rita, don't you have one?"
I can understand there not being a well-behaved girl like Bianca, but not a seductive maid like you?
Ragna's face practically screamed disbelief.
"Or rather, why do you think I have it?"
Rita's expression was quite subtle.
She's a good person, a truly good person!
Why would such a strange misunderstanding occur?
"Perhaps it's because of the temperament?"
Although Ragna remembered Rita more as a little girl, seeing the young Rita before her, Ragna had to admit that the pure little flower of her memory now gave off the aura of a mistress, completely the kind of servant who would "cheat on the mistress and the master behind the mistress's back."
"You've made me very sad."
Rita sighed.
"But a normal 22-year-old woman wouldn't even consider something like that, would she?"
"Perhaps?"
Ragna's lips twitched even more violently at hearing this.
If she remembered correctly, when the rest of her commando team was eighteen or nineteen, those decisive outfits were everywhere, and even the gifts they gave Himeko were of that kind...
Well, the only thing I can be thankful for is not getting involved.
Before turning 30, I was always a normal woman.
"Why do you seem to have something to hide?"
"N-nothing."
Ragna waved her hand.
"But isn't the Alliance leader still in good health? Isn't it too early to consider the decisive agreement?"
"Is it early?"
Rita retorted.
"As the saying goes, 'better safe than sorry'... If you prepare in advance, you can seize the opportunity and be the first to get a position when you need it."
Anyway, Rita felt that if she kept keeping it to herself, the scientists would undoubtedly be the first to give up, and Tian Shi's health would naturally be in danger.
"Is that how it's said?"
Ragna nodded, understanding.
"In that case, Rita, why don't you try a purely seductive style? Dark purple or rosy red? If you want something more innocent and attractive, try pure white or light gold."
Ragna offered her advice very seriously.
"Rita, the truth is that you are very versatile, but Bianca fits better in a pure and seductive role... like a saint or a knight princess playing herself, I've heard that many people like those kinds of roles."
Naturally, Rita is a seductive young woman who can be both innocent and attractive, giving the impression that she can handle anything.
But Bianca... although she also has a great figure, her serious expression most of the time makes her completely unattractive, so she can only resort to the adorable contrast of her shyness.
Bianca was deep in thought, with a serious face, while Rita, looking at her most respected superior, suddenly said:
"Lady Ragna, what is your decisive outfit like?"
"The defeated pirate dressed in black and red... cough, cough, cough!"
"It really fits perfectly with your name~," Rita said with a mocking smile.
"Ahem... Rita, you're becoming less and less adorable."
Ragna looked embarrassed.
I'm already over thirty, almost thirty-two, so it's no wonder I'm preparing something like this, right?
"I'm just a little curious about the talkative Ragna."
Rita smiled.
"But if that's the case... how about Bianca and me, a black one and a white one... a succubus and a saint?"
Rita took Bianca's arm.
"One in black, another in white; one seductive, another innocent; will they go together...?"
Ragna understood instantly from Rita's expression, and her own expression became even stranger.
"It seems I'm only left to pray that the Alliance leader's health is robust enough in the future..."
"I think you could also try on a knight's suit, Lady Ragna."