"This should be our first formal meeting, Mr. Takatsuki, the specially invited teacher of St. Freya Academy."
On the screen, Otto's face appeared before Takatsuki, who was sitting in Theresa's office, on her usual chair where she slacked off and read comics, looking at the leader of Schicksal with a calm expression.
"Indeed, I've had the honor of seeing Archbishop Otto's esteemed face, and I believe Archbishop Otto must have seen my information as well."
Although he was a teacher at St. Freya Academy and had never openly visited Schicksal, as a teacher specially recruited by his granddaughter and having provided two training systems, it was natural for Takatsuki to be noticed.
"Of course, after all, Hamon and Armament Haki have greatly increased the survival rate of Schicksal Valkyrie, and even if they are not Valkyrie, Hamon has improved the physical fitness of other personnel. All of this is thanks to Mr. Takatsuki."
Otto acted like a normal leader visiting his subordinates, conversing with Takatsuki with a gentle smile. If Takatsuki hadn't already known what kind of person he was, and given the current critical juncture, Takatsuki might have truly believed him to be an excellent leader to his subordinates.
After a brief conversation, Otto finally brought the topic back to the main point.
"Mr. Takatsuki is truly young and promising, even I can't help but be amazed."
"In less than a year, you've turned my lovely granddaughter and Schicksal's Strongest Valkyrie against me, and even established a global organization to fight Honkai, and even created unheard-of things like the Holy Grail and Servants."
Did he just lay it all out like that?
Takatsuki naturally didn't think his disguise could hide him from these people, but he didn't expect Otto to just say it out loud.
"Is Archbishop Otto trying to pick a fight?"
Takatsuki chuckled: "I believe Archbishop Otto, as the smartest person in the world, should understand that the so-called defection isn't something I did, but rather the karma you left behind."
"Karma, a Buddhist term, that's a good way to put it."
"You suddenly contacted me today, I imagine it's not to pick a fight."
To be honest, Otto didn't really care if St. Freya Academy betrayed him, because his goal was only one: the biggest thing right now was to make K423, also known as Kiana, have attachments in this world, and use the power of love to make her control the Herrscher of the Void's power.
What he cared about might only be the betrayal of the Strongest Valkyrie, but this was not the reason for his current contact, because it was too late, how long had it been?
"That's right, I want to make a deal with the Sovereign of the Tinder."
The website directly announced that the leader of YoRHa was called the Sovereign. Just as Takatsuki called Otto the Archbishop, Otto also directly addressed Takatsuki by this title.
This also transformed the call from a conversation between a leader and a subordinate into a conversation between the leaders of two organizations.
"What kind of deal? But let me say in advance, if it's about winning the Holy Grail, then don't bother."
"Of course, I wouldn't be so tactless as to make a deal unrelated to the game."
Otto smiled, as if completely indifferent to the Holy Grail War: "Whether it's Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, World Serpent, or the Tinder, they all act to combat Honkai. In a sense, aren't we natural allies?"
"?"
No one in any other organization would believe you if you said that, not even those from Anti-Entropy who would wish to kill you on the spot.
"Hehe, Bishop Otto doesn't need to say such things, does he? After all, we all know what kind of person you are, don't we?"
"It seems, Mr. Dominator, you have many misunderstandings about me."
Misunderstandings? If only they were misunderstandings.
"If Bishop Otto is merely here to promote his persona, then there's no need to continue this communication."
"If you want to discuss a deal, I think it's better to put the chips on the table directly, or perhaps…"
Takatsuki showed a smile to Otto on the screen: "Archbishop Otto, do you misunderstand my strength?"
"If that's the case, I might have to show Bishop Otto some of my skills."
Otto frowned as he watched Takatsuki raise his right hand and seemingly do something, but nothing could be seen on the screen.
"What did you do?"
Otto did not think the other party was merely bluffing.
"Bishop!"
Just as Otto was wondering, Amber's communication suddenly rang. At Takatsuki's signal, he answered Amber's call.
"Bishop, something terrible has happened. The helipad where Heimdall was parked just suffered an unknown attack. The entire platform was completely shattered, and Heimdall was also completely destroyed."
"!"
Otto looked at the smile on the other end of the communication and suddenly felt that the face of this rather handsome young man had become somewhat terrifying.
Although he considered himself the smartest person in the world, he also knew very well that his own power was not strong.
Otto was very sure that Takatsuki was at St. Freya Academy, and the distance between St. Freya Academy and Schicksal was…
With just a casual blow, Heimdall was destroyed. Otto felt that he might need to re-evaluate the young man in front of him.
"…"
Otto was about to say something when he was interrupted by the young man in front of him.
"If it's about negotiation, I can't out-talk you. If it's about a battle of wits, I'm not your opponent either."
Otto's intelligence was not only in inventions; he was also world-class in playing schemes and manipulating people's hearts. Even if several doctors from the Previous Era were brought out and tied together to play schemes, they would not be Otto's match.
"But I am quite confident in the martial power I possess, and the Holy Grail War is not a necessary thing for me, so I hope Archbishop Otto will consider carefully when proposing a deal."
But Takatsuki had martial power.
Just like the deal Otto once made with Kevin, Otto also knew very well that he was not Kevin's opponent, and knew that Kevin could easily destroy Schicksal if he became serious. But he dared to gamble, gambling that Kevin would not be willing to miss the possibility of saving the world because of Schicksal.
After a moment of silence, Otto smiled again: "Of course, my friend, I believe this deal, whether for you or for me, will be a win-win."
Win-win?
Takatsuki thought for a moment, wondering what Schicksal had that he needed, those technologies?
He didn't rely on the technology tree either…
However, seeing Otto's confident look, Takatsuki also perked up…