Schicksal's various airports were always bustling, with transport planes of all sizes constantly arriving and departing. Amidst such busy air routes, an ordinary returning transport plane didn't look particularly conspicuous.
"Vmm..."
After a slight vibration from landing, the hum of the engines gradually died down.
"We've arrived."
The pilot's voice came through the communicator.
Before Rita could say anything, Ana, who had been sitting quietly beside her with her head bowed, suddenly stood up. Ignoring everyone, she removed all the equipment she was carrying, piece by piece, then walked past the others without a glance, heading straight outside on her own.
"Miss Ana, please wait..."
Rita, seeing this, called out softly. Ana paused, turned around, and asked calmly and politely,
"Lady Rita, are there any further instructions?"
Her tone towards Rita had never been so distant and stiff. Her calm expression carried a hint of irrepressible sarcasm.
"Although I'm just an ordinary externally stationed Valkyrie temporarily transferred to headquarters, with little say, the mission is over now. Surely you won't even give me a place to rest?"
"..."
Rita looked at this junior who had become much more distant, but didn't say much. She just smiled as usual and walked over, intending to straighten the shoulder insignia that had become slightly askew due to Ana's earlier movements. However, Ana stepped back half a pace, avoiding her, and adjusted her uniform herself.
No need for your concern!
"...There's nothing for now. You've worked hard recently. Go back and get some good rest."
Rita naturally understood her rejection. Sighing inwardly, she withdrew her empty hands and still smiled patiently.
"As for Lord Overseer, I will report to him myself."
"..."
Ana felt a mix of emotions.
Rita's magnanimity towards her rude behavior made her feel a pang of guilt, yet she was unwilling to easily forgive this "accomplice" of Overseer Otto. After a moment of internal conflict, she simply saluted silently and then turned and left without a word.
"Ana, why does she seem like a different person?"
Several Immortal Blades members who had returned with them couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"I remember she used to be very talkative and cheerful. Why is she so silent now? And with the Vice-Captain..."
They had all been very familiar with Ana before, knowing her personality: lively, simple, and empathetic. It was precisely because of this that they were surprised and couldn't understand her current contrasting demeanor.
"Alright, gossiping about others behind their backs is very impolite."
Rita smiled and interrupted the squad members' whispers.
"Compared to breathing the stale air in this crowded cabin, wouldn't a comfortable hot bath be much more pleasant?"
"That's true. What about you, Vice-Captain?"
"Me? As one of the people in charge of this operation, there are naturally still some finishing touches that require my attention."
Rita said with a smile, watching her squad members leave, then turned and walked towards the main cathedral.
...
Meanwhile, Ana, who had left earlier, was somewhat absentminded. Only when she encountered acquaintances on the road would she force a smile onto her face and exchange a few greetings. The moment they parted, her expression would revert to a blank, an unspeakable silence.
Everyone was seeing such a silent Ana for the first time, including herself.
She was born and raised on this floating island. She was very familiar with every brick and tile, every blade of grass and tree, and every person who worked and lived in this city of miracles.
In her heart, this floating island had always been her hometown, the source of all meaning in her life.
But now, although her hometown was still familiar, it had also become somewhat strange. The ideals she had firmly believed in were now shrouded in an indescribable shadow, leaving her feeling lost and disoriented.
She didn't know why things had become like this.
After the Manila Honkai Eruption subsided, Ana, who suddenly received orders to return to headquarters, didn't think much of it.
Concerned for Lin Wei's safety, she immediately entrusted the final cleanup work to the remaining members of the Snow Lotus squad. Then, almost immediately, she rushed to Schicksal Headquarters at top speed.
And then, from that day on, Schicksal, the Overseer, Valkyries, duty...
All the things she was once familiar with, everything in the entire world, became exceptionally strange, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted, struggling to adapt, lonely, and helpless.
The only thing that comforted her was that Lin Wei was safe and sound, even managing to break out of Schicksal with Yuno. And this, in a way, was also her regret.
"If I had been a little slower back then, would the outcome have been different?"
Her Snow Lotus squad mates had told her via communicator that not long after she left, Lin Wei had come to Manila with Yuno.
Fate truly plays tricks on people! Ana thought with a mixture of sorrow and self-mockery.
Only now did she realize that after Yuno left, she didn't even have anyone here she could confide in...
Lost in thought, Ana arrived at the door of her room. She pushed it open gently, and before her appeared a somewhat empty and desolate room.
There were only a few very simple furnishings, and even some unrepaired damage on the surrounding walls, making the room seem not only desolate and empty but also somewhat dilapidated.
This, of course, was not the room Ana had lived in since childhood, nor was this area where the Schariac family resided.
She didn't want to go back there, partly because she didn't want to worry her family and teachers, but more so because she didn't know what attitude to adopt when facing them...
Thus, as if guided by some unseen force, Ana chose such a strange room—because Rita had told her this was where she had initially arranged for Lin Wei to stay, though he hadn't even had a chance to spend a single night here.
"That really was an intense battle. Almost everything was damaged..."
When she first saw this room, which Lin Wei had thoroughly wrecked, she couldn't help but angrily question Rita, who had led her there.
"Rita, you clearly fought alongside him in Manila. How could you bear to do this?"
"..."
Rita was at a loss for words; this truly had nothing to do with her!
But at that time, Ana didn't want to hear any explanations. She merely asked Rita politely to leave her "home." Then, stubbornly refusing any help from others, she single-handedly cleaned up all the tattered furniture, furnishings, and even the wall plaster and broken tiles scattered everywhere.
After doing all this, Ana, under Rita's complicated gaze, settled into this dilapidated house, which didn't even have many intact pieces of furniture left—though she hadn't had a chance to spend many nights here before Otto arranged for her to carry out missions she didn't want to do at all...
"..."
Returning here once again, Ana wearily lay down on the sofa Lin Wei had briefly sat on, her nose forcefully inhaling the cold leather scent, as if Lin Wei's scent still lingered there.
"Wuu... Liars, all of you are liars..."
Perhaps feeling as if Lin Wei was still beside her, Ana's body involuntarily curled up. Two streams of clear tears slid from her eyes, dripping onto the lonely leather of the sofa. She murmured to herself in sorrow, pain, and confusion,
"Lin Wei... Captain... What should I do?"
...
Meanwhile, as Ana drifted off to sleep, embracing her sorrow, Rita had successfully reached the main cathedral at the core of the floating island.
"Lord Overseer, after nearly a month of carpet searching, the Second Divine Key has been successfully excavated and secured—indeed, as Lin Wei stated, it was placed in the city of London."
Standing not far from Otto, Rita reported respectfully.
"Because this matter is of great importance, to prevent a surprise attack by hidden enemies to seize or destroy it, I discussed it with Lady Durandal and decided to split our forces. I will lead the majority of Valkyries back with the 'spoils' in a high-profile manner—this is to provide cover for Lady Durandal, who will secretly transfer the real Second Divine Key to a safe location."
That thing is really too big! Besides using specialized transport aircraft, probably only Lady Durandal can move it, Rita thought silently.
"You've done well, Rita."
Otto praised.
"It seems now that neither you nor Durandal encountered any accidents~"
As he said this, Otto's tone was quite playful.
"Yes, Lord Overseer."
Rita said, neither servile nor overbearing.
"Although it seems like an unnecessary precaution in hindsight, this is no reason for us to let our guard down—after all, the Second Divine Key is too important for you, Lord Overseer, and for Schicksal. Even the smallest risk should be eliminated with the greatest effort."
"You're right, Rita. Even a lion uses its full strength when hunting a rabbit, let alone a matter of such great importance."
Otto said, his words carrying a double meaning. Then, changing the subject, he smiled.
"What about that lovely Miss Ana Schariac? Didn't she return with you?"
"Squad member Ana's assigned mission has failed. Therefore, I took the liberty of allowing her to return to her quarters to rest first."
Rita reported, her expression unchanged.
"Regrettably, Lord Overseer. Even after transferring Miss Ana from Schicksal Headquarters and placing her in this special location in London, Lin Wei never showed any sign of appearing—it seems neither the Second Divine Key nor Miss Ana herself are that important to him."
Using Ana as bait to lure Lin Wei out of hiding—the malice in Otto's plan was almost undisguised. Even Rita herself had some reservations, let alone Ana, the person directly involved. How angry and incredulous must she have been when she heard this order?
"Is that so? Hehe... I wonder if this result should make our Miss Ana happy or sad?"
Otto smiled with an inscrutable expression.
"Rita, tell me, as an A-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, an outstanding descendant of the Schariac family in this generation, our dear Miss Ana actually fell for an outsider, an enemy of Schicksal, in such a short time, even going so far as to violate her duties as a Valkyrie and openly defy Schicksal's orders... How should I deal with her?"
If they were allowed to continue like this, wouldn't Schicksal be forcibly split apart by Lin Wei?
Otto still remembered what happened that day—right here in this main cathedral, under the watchful eyes of himself, Amber, Durandal, Rita, and others, Ana, who was clearly a direct descendant of Schicksal, had actually knelt on the ground, completely disregarding her dignity, and bitterly pleaded with him...
"Lord Overseer, Lin Wei is innocent! Both Lady Rita and Lady Durandal can testify!"
Ana, who had always been docile, even somewhat weak, was extremely agitated that day, her words incredibly fierce.
"On the battlefield of the Manila Honkai Eruption, he risked more and contributed more than any of us combined! He saved so many people! Including me, hundreds of Valkyries, tens of thousands of civilians, all survived because of his efforts!"
Ana knelt down with a "thud," crawling on her knees to the foot of the high Overseer's dais, and pleaded loudly with an agitated expression,
"I can swear on my honor as a Valkyrie, and vouch for him in the name of the Schariac family, Lin Wei is definitely not an enemy of Schicksal, but a reliable comrade-in-arms in this long war against the Honkai!"
Ana knew that if anyone could turn things around, it had to be her...
"..."
Otto, seated high on the ornate Overseer's throne, looked down indifferently at Ana, who was vehemently arguing her case before him, under everyone's gaze. A very absurd sense of amusement suddenly welled up within him.
How familiar this scene was!
Only, the person who had once pleaded helplessly and desperately had now become the lofty judge—could there be anything more ironic, more laughable in the world?
And so, Otto really did laugh, a hearty, chilling laugh.
"Hehehe... Hahahahaha!"
"Lord Overseer?"
Ana was overjoyed, thinking she had truly moved this respected Lord Overseer. She felt a surge of joy and gratitude, and also happiness for Lin Wei, who was far away.
"Ana Schariac, I admire your kindness, benevolence, and courage. I even faintly see the radiance of a saint shining upon you."
Otto, with an irrepressible smile on his face, slowly rose from his seat, descended step by step, bent down, and gently helped the kneeling Ana up. He spoke in a gentle yet regretful tone,
"It's just a pity that you've been deluded by the enemy, your eyes blinded by a one-sided reality..."
"...Lord Overseer?"
The joy and emotion in Ana's heart instantly faded. Her face turned deathly pale as she looked at Otto in disbelief.
Why? She couldn't understand.
Otto's expression remained gentle and compassionate. A golden light suddenly appeared, and countless golden feathers rustled down.
"So, for the sake of your future and safety, let me just... Huh?"
When the golden feathers landed between Ana's eyes and Otto touched her consciousness and memories, he suddenly saw a black-haired young man deep within her memories, holding a black feather, seemingly looking back at him with a mocking gaze.
Those were Ana's memories, things that had happened. That fellow Lin Wei had actually anticipated today's events long ago.
"..."
Otto's heart sank slightly. Since Lin Wei was already prepared for this, erasing memories became meaningless.
In that case...
Otto gently flicked his hand, retracting the shower of golden feathers along with the gentle smile on his face. He looked at the gradually recovering Ana with an indifferent expression and asked playfully,
"You want to plead for him?"
"..."
Ana had experienced something similar with Lin Wei before and naturally understood what terrible thing Otto had just done. Startled, she stumbled back several steps. Then, without even checking herself for anything unusual, she quickly answered Otto's question.
"Yes, Lord Overseer!"
"Hehe, of course, you can."
Otto nodded magnanimously. Then, before Ana could show any joy, he added in a mocking tone,
"As long as you can find him and make him obediently hand over the Key of Corruption, that lost relic of Schicksal, then..."
Otto leaned down slightly and whispered slowly and unquestionably in Ana's ear,
"I might just spare his life!"
...
"No, Lord Overseer, you clearly want him dead!"
Recalling Ana's complex expression, a mixture of anger and despair, the absurd sense of amusement in Otto's heart grew stronger.
He had seen such an expression on Kallen's face before, but he never expected to see a similar look again in such circumstances. This was truly the most ironic thing!
But, just a mere Valkyrie, what power of resistance could she have?
A single transfer order, sending her to London to participate in the excavation and protection of the Second Divine Key—even if Ana knew she was just bait, under Rita's careful escort, what reason or qualification did she have to refuse?
"...Miss Ana's temperament and willpower are still somewhat fragile, not sufficient to bear the responsibilities of an A-rank Valkyrie."
Otto asked how to deal with Ana. This was not a question Rita should answer, but she had to. So, she could only offer a seemingly reasonable suggestion.
"In Rita's opinion, she can be demoted to a B-rank Valkyrie as a disciplinary measure. After Lin Wei is apprehended, she can be reassessed and reinstated."
"Hehe, you're right, Rita."
Otto didn't mind Rita's little cleverness and said with a light laugh,
"Since the Second Divine Key is already in hand, it's time to deal with this 'Mr. Lin Wei' first..."
Otto tapped his fingers lightly on the thick documents on his desk and sneered,
"I'd like to see how long he can vanish into thin air and disappear without a trace."
...
North Africa, deep underground in a remote location.
A heavy metal door slowly creaked open.
Lin Wei stepped out, sniffed the cold, damp air in the corridor, and sneered.
"Heh, the air in reality really smells much worse than in the Elysian Realm."