MTLNOVEL Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Otto Reviews His Moves
Otto awaited good news.
In his view, with the plan having progressed this far, everything was already set in stone.
Welt was stranded in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Titan forces stationed around Anti-Entropy Headquarters were urgently deploying to intercept him. With such weakened defenses remaining, wouldn't it be child's play for Amber to infiltrate Anti-Entropy Headquarters?
Unfortunately, to lure the fish, the bait must also appear genuine and enticing. Thus, Schicksal's systems truly had been crippled.
Otto managed to restore only the essential subsystems needed to maintain the airborne base. As for external connections, he was effectively blind—unable to monitor the latest developments at all times.
While waiting, Amber's response came through the communicator.
"Lord Bishop, there has been a change in circumstances."
Otto frowned. A change in circumstances? Could Tesla and Einstein magically summon reinforcements out of thin air?
"What happened?"
"We've been surrounded by the Titan force... Zeke requests to speak with you directly."
"... Hand him the communicator."
"Yes, sir."
Thus, both individuals picked up their communicators, facing each other once more across vast distances.
"It's been a while, Mr. Otto. Your actions truly are... astounding."
So astounding that it caused Zeke's sanity points to drop significantly, nearly leading him to declare a break in relations on the spot. However, upon further thought, he managed to restrain himself. At this moment, flipping out would not guarantee victory.
Unfazed, Otto raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Even upsetting you now?"
Zeke, sitting atop a Titan robot's shoulder and holding the communicator, showed little emotion on his face, but internally, he was far from calm.
Genocide may sound like just a word, but witnessing its brutal reality firsthand helped Zeke understand why Otto was so despised.
The fact that he hadn't been killed despite his conduct indirectly attested to his terrifying nature. No one knew the true extent of Otto's power or how many trump cards he held. Dealing with someone like him was akin to walking a tightrope on the edge of a cliff.
"I am merely mortal, lacking your lofty perspective. In my view, Mr. Otto, there will come a day when you meet a gruesome end."
Otto stroked his chin thoughtfully, showing no concern for Zeke's impoliteness. From the beginning, he had stated that forming a friendship wouldn't hinder their eventual life-or-death struggle. A curse wishing death upon him was par for the course; after all, such sentiments were hardly uncommon over these past five hundred years. Instead, what piqued his interest more was:
"You struck precisely at the weakest point in my plan. It seems you have already discerned my true intentions. When did you first suspect?"
"After I handed over the Dark Gate data."
"How peculiar! Didn't you frequently visit Schicksal's central archive and express great confidence in your own technical abilities? Why would you doubt the Dark Gate paths you discovered?"
"Confidence is one thing, but dealing with you, Mr. Otto, leaves me no choice but to be cautious," Zeke sighed, inwardly feeling immensely relieved.
Initially, due to his superior intellect, Zeke had meticulously analyzed those Dark Gate paths.
He discovered that some of them, when data passed through, would compile strings with hidden patterns and send them back to their source—creating potential for reverse tracking.
However, this was also a necessary step to expedite data transmission, an inherent characteristic of the data transfer paths. In truth, there wasn't much reason to be suspicious.
It wasn't until the night he handed over the Dark Gate information to Welt that, after repeated deliberation, a series of clues fell into place. This allowed Zeke to glimpse Otto's deepest machinations.
It was truly by sheer luck; if Zeke had overlooked this barely discernible hint during his analysis, Otto's plan would have already succeeded.
Otto narrowed his eyes and calmly said, "I didn't expect my mistake to stem from underestimating a friend's wisdom. You recognized the possibility of tracking through the Dark Gates, thus surmising I intentionally led you to find them so you'd pass them on to Anti-Entropy... Then, you deduced my goal was targeting Dr. Tesla and Dr. Einstein?"
"Close enough."
"Even though you saw through my plan, you knew you weren't yet qualified to directly engage on the frontlines. So for these past few months, you've deliberately minimized your presence, portraying yourself as solely focused on scientific research and uninvolved with Siegfried's incident. Even just before the Heaven's Will System collapse, you were miles away, conducting routine new recruit training without arousing suspicion... All this, just to seize this critical moment—using minimal effort—to halt me when I couldn't react?"
Zeke remained silent.
For some reason, whenever Otto conversed with him, he often acted quite talkative. He particularly enjoyed providing explanations before or after certain events, meticulously dissecting Zeke's thoughts and actions, culminating in evaluations—as if following a set procedure.
Unbeknownst to Zeke, at that moment, Otto was flipping through a well-worn book titled "100 Techniques for Engaging with Friends."
On one page, highlighted in bold letters, it read: In both personal life and work, share your opinions and insights with friends openly. Sincerely praise their strengths while appropriately critiquing their weaknesses, fostering mutual growth together.
Having analyzed Zeke's thought process, Otto applauded and genuinely praised him:
"Brilliant! Indeed, if you had prematurely revealed your intentions and I caught on, I might have altered my plan, making it less likely for you to react as swiftly as you did just now. Turning the tables was indeed the optimal solution."
"...Thanks," Zeke replied dryly, still unable to grasp Otto's conversational approach.
Then, Otto's smile faded, reflecting his disappointment with the narrowly missed opportunity. He casually mentioned:
"Vera Crowe is still recovering here under my care."
"And Miss Amber has been staying as a guest here too," Zeke responded calmly.
"Do you think I would care about that?"
"I'm not certain. That's why there's one more report. I've validated the possibility of souls existing."
This was Zeke's trump card, meticulously prepared over three months—a condition Otto couldn't refuse.
As expected, upon hearing the word "souls," Otto's pupils contracted, and he urgently asked:
"What do you want?"
"Cease attacks against Siegfried and Welt, abandon any further plans to annex most of Anti-Entropy's bases... In short, let everything end here."
"Deal. Give me the report!"
"Miss Amber will bring it back with her. Also, regarding those two clones, I'm not particularly fond of them; destroy them."
"All right!" Otto agreed promptly.
Zeke wasn't concerned that he might renege on his word either. As long as Otto desired further research results, he wouldn't dare do anything rash.
Unfortunately, Vera was one of Otto's key pawns to control Zeke, and he would never let go of her willingly. Otherwise, this could have been an opportunity to retrieve Vera.
Zeke ended the call, tossed the communicator back to Amber, and threw over a USB drive before finally exhaling deeply.
"You know what to do?"
"Yes, Lord Zeke. It's an honor to meet you. Well then, farewell."
Upon receiving the USB drive, Amber bowed to Zeke, then led the reluctant elite Valkyrie forces into the wind and snow.
On the Mediterranean battlefield, cannons loaded and swords drawn, the vast army stood resolute against the colossal flaming blade soaring overhead, poised for battle.
"Heaven's Fire—hmm?"
Just as Siegfried unleashed his giant sword, ready to unleash its full fury, the advancing legion abruptly halted.
"Uh-oh! An urgent order from Lord Archbishop—we must return immediately to defend the Sky Base; it's Anti-Entropy's plot!"
The commanders of each unit paled simultaneously, swiftly issuing commands to change course.
In no time, mirroring their sudden appearance earlier, the massive army dispersed just as swiftly, vanishing without warning.
"They...they're leaving already?" Completely bewildered, Siegfried deactivated his Greatsword form, swaying unsteadily before collapsing backward. Welt caught him just in time.
"It seems Tesla and the others must have done something. No matter now, let's hurry and leave while we can!"
"Yes... Thank you... I feel...so sleepy..."
Siegfried's head drooped, with no further response.
Welt didn't waste any more time on checking Siegfried's condition. He hastily recreated the disposable rocket they had arrived in, lifted Siegfried onto it, stepped over the Scherniat sisters still pinned under heavy pressure, and hurriedly departed.
With this unexpected turn, the conflict finally reached a temporary pause.
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