When you know your opponent well enough—when you can grasp their patterns of behavior, even their way of thinking—all their possible actions become as clear as reading the lines on your palm. It was just like the conflict that unfolded in that city right before the last Honkai Eruption.
To his dying day, Otto never knew that his every move was under someone else's complete control, that he was like a marionette dancing on strings, without a single misstep.
But what happens when two opponents can completely understand each other's behavioral patterns, even their ways of thinking?
The answer is simple: nothing happens at all.
Any strategy or plan, no matter how clever or ingenious it may seem, can hardly escape the other's notice. Not only will it fail to bring any real benefit, but it might even give the opponent more openings. They could seize upon some tiny, imperceptible flaw in your plan and deliver a fatal blow.
The so-called "the more you do, the more mistakes you make" is nothing more than this.
Therefore, in such a situation, the battle between the two sides reverts to its most primitive and least aesthetically pleasing form:
Probing, feinting, and then relying on their own abilities...
This is an extremely tacit understanding. Those who cannot grasp this unspoken agreement aren't even qualified to step onto this stage of conflict, which is at once devoid of beauty and yet exquisitely wonderful.
Just as the existence of the "Key of Corruption" was, in itself, a tacit understanding and consensus:
Lin Wei's consistent calm and restraint when using the authority of Corruption gave Otto the confidence and leeway to maintain his own basic rationality. In turn, Otto's own restraint and caution prompted Lin Wei to not keep his finger glued to the trigger.
Is that hard to understand?
Simply put, after several rounds of clashes and contacts, Otto believed that Lin Wei would not resort to the most extreme tactics right from the start, using the Key of Corruption to throw all of Schicksal into chaos. It was precisely for this reason that he didn't preemptively blanket every possible location Lin Wei might appear in with Honkai Fission Bombs.
He was more than capable of doing such a thing...
But he also knew that if he were to adopt an extreme strategy against Lin Wei, it would, in turn, force Lin Wei to abandon his previous restraint and recklessly use the Key of Corruption to launch an equally brutal "indiscriminate attack" against him.
So, as long as Lin Wei didn't make the first move, Otto could maintain a basic level of restraint.
And as long as Otto could maintain that restraint, Lin Wei, not having to worry about being indiscriminately blanketed by Honkai Fission Bombs, could naturally maintain his own basic restraint as well...
It was an extremely fragile, yet miraculously precious, mutual trust.
Once this tacit understanding was broken, what lay behind it was an infinite cycle of suspicion.
Two enemies standing at opposite ends of a scale, both knowing the other was a rational yet insane individual. Therefore, the very instant this infinite chain of suspicion began to turn, both would also employ the most decisive, extreme, and effective methods to ensure the other's annihilation.
The result, naturally, would be a cataclysm in every sense of the word...
Whether Lin Wei and Otto were near or far, from beginning to end, both had the other firmly in their crosshairs. And after all the previous dangerous games and probes, Lin Wei, as the source of this "dangerous cycle," had successfully used the "sincerity" of "not firing the first shot" to win Otto's "tacit agreement" to "refrain from extreme countermeasures."
While a lose-lose is better than a win-lose, if there was a choice, no one wanted to end up in a lose-lose situation.
Since neither side wanted to completely tear things apart and reach a point of no return, on the basis of this fragile consensus, they could still sit down relatively calmly and play a more controllable game...
---||---
"So, sometimes, having a relatively good reputation does have some value."
After Rita left, Lin Wei chuckled softly and pushed a freshly served matcha cake in front of Yuno. It was the dessert that the now-departed Sofina had ordered, now left for someone else to enjoy.
"If the key to starting this dangerous game wasn't in my hands, but in Otto's, I'm afraid I could never trust that he would show the same restraint as I have, right?"
It was precisely because the Key of Corruption was in his hands, precisely because of his "inaction" at Schicksal HQ, and precisely because he was the hero who had turned the tide during the Manila Honkai Eruption...
It was the combination of all these preconditions that forced Otto to reciprocate with a corresponding show of "sincerity" when Lin Wei had proactively "crippled" himself.
As for why Otto was being so "humble and courteous"? It was because Lin Wei had also proven to him that if he dared to act rashly, the Honkai Fission Bomb that had been aimed at ARC City could very well have ended up crashing down on his own head in another form...
"But then again, to be compared to Otto in terms of reputation?"
Lin Wei laughed self-deprecatingly. "What a failure of a life, right?"
If there was a joke that could match "competing with Otto on morality," it would probably be "competing with Welt on having a bottom line."
Unfortunately, it seemed Lin Wei had done both of these rather classless things.
Thinking about it, Lin Wei was at a loss for words.
Yuno, sitting beside him, didn't quite understand his self-deprecating humor. In the Stigmata Space, Yae Sakura understood, but she couldn't be bothered to respond. And the one person who both understood and wouldn't ignore him, Miss Rita, was currently busy reporting to Otto, unable to engage in any deeper "discussion" with him.
"Are we going to Schicksal now?" Yuno asked, a growing sense of anticipation bubbling up inside her as the final moment drew near.
"Of course, but don't be in a rush," Lin Wei said with a smile, patting her head to soothe her anxious heart. "At the very least, we should wait for Overseer Otto to finish his preparations and send us an invitation, right?"
What Lin Wei wanted was never a simple "rescue and run." Otherwise, why go through all this trouble? He could have just stolen a transport plane from World Serpent and snuck into Schicksal HQ.
He was doing this partly because he knew Otto would be prepared for such a move, perhaps even having already placed Anna under Durandal's watch. But more importantly, some things could only be resolved fundamentally through a direct, open confrontation like this...
"Oh, okay..." Yuno nodded. Lin Wei had given her some of the details beforehand, so she had a general idea of what she needed to do and didn't question his reasoning further.
Besides, just as they were talking, Rita had finished her report to Otto and gracefully walked back in from outside.
"Mr. Lin, my apologies for the wait."
Rita wore her usual elegant and proper smile as she relayed Otto's message in a few brief words. Acting as the messenger between the two "kings," Rita remained dutiful even in this awkward position where she could easily displease both sides.
"A guest? Heh... is that so?" Lin Wei gave a noncommittal smile at Otto's self-aggrandizing description. "In that case, I shall defer to my host's arrangements."
His tone was so casual, it was as if he were truly an invited guest and not an enemy who was like fire and water with the Overseer.
"Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Lin," Rita smiled lightly and said softly. "It will be several hours before the Overseer departs and arrives. In the meantime, please allow Rita to take the place of the departed Miss Sofina and act as a temporary guide to show you two around the area. How does that sound?"
It was unclear whether this was Otto's specific arrangement or her own spontaneous idea. It sounded reasonable and sincere, yet it carried the feeling of "the calm before the storm."
"Is that so? How thoughtful of you, Miss Rita," Lin Wei smiled. "I recall you're from England. Are you also this familiar with a city so far away in Egypt?"
"As a Valkyrie of Schicksal, I am required to carry out various sudden or urgent missions all over the world. Over time, one naturally learns a thing or two," Rita said with considerable humility. "While I can't compare to a professional tour guide, please consider it a small token of my goodwill."
She was being far too modest.
In fact, while searching for the Second Divine Key, Rita had traveled nearly the entire globe. She had paid particular attention to ancient civilizations with long histories like Egypt, searching the land over and over again. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of the history and stories of this land. Not only was she more than qualified to be a tour guide, but she had even written a few academic papers on ancient Egyptian studies in her spare time to pass the time. Although they went unnoticed within Schicksal, they caused a small stir in the relevant academic circles outside of it...
"Is that so? Then I'll have to trouble you, Miss Rita," Lin Wei said, no longer refusing. "In that case, please take care of Yuno for me during this time."
Hearing this, Rita couldn't help but glance at him. Seeing his expression was normal, she couldn't tell if his words were just a casual pleasantry or held a deeper meaning. She simply smiled and said, "It would be Rita's honor."
An equally ambiguous reply.
Afterward, the three of them left the shop and began a rather unremarkable tour.
It turned out Rita's earlier protestations were indeed just modesty. With practiced ease, she planned an excellent route, leading Lin Wei and Yuno through various streets and scenic spots with remarkable efficiency.
"Here, please stand next to this bluestone and look up to your right. Good, now smile."
Click.
"Could you two please take two more steps forward? Stop! Perfect, this position and angle are the best."
Click.
...
Rita, who had produced a camera from who-knows-where, always managed to find the perfect spot at each location and, with the best angle and incredible speed, snap one perfect photo after another.
"Alright, next we're going to..." After another click of the shutter, a satisfied Rita began planning their next destination.
"Hold on a moment, Miss Rita..." Once her commands ended, Lin Wei completely slumped over, rubbing his sore and weary legs. "Forgive my rudeness, but is this how you traveled with Durandal, too?"
He couldn't take it anymore. Who visits four attractions, climbs more than ten flights of stairs, and takes over a hundred photos in just one hour?
One hour would have been bearable, but it had already been four hours!
Four hours!!
Anyone who knew what was happening would think their tour guide was taking them "sightseeing." Anyone who didn't would think some photographer was dragging his models from one shoot to the next! It was only then that Lin Wei suddenly remembered Rita's legendary feat of touring the entirety of London with Durandal in just three and a half hours, with enough time left for a proper meal...
So that's what they mean by "special forces-style tourism"! I thought it was just a metaphor, but with you, it's the real deal!
He was so tired he felt like his lungs would explode.
While Lin Wei looked like a half-dead dog, Yuno, with her superior physical conditioning, seemed much more composed. Seeing Lin Wei's look of utter despair, she quickly helped him up and couldn't help but complain to Rita, "Vice-Captain, Mr. Lin isn't as athletic as we are. Maybe we should slow down a bit."
"Team member Yuno's way of speaking has also become much more tactful. You're like a completely different person from when you were at HQ," Rita had been observing Yuno since the moment they met and couldn't help but remark. "Before the Honkai Eruption, you were probably a quiet and gentle literature-loving girl, weren't you?"
"...That's all in the past," Yuno said, shaking her head and tightening her grip on Lin Wei's arm slightly.
A Honkai Eruption had destroyed everything, yet it seemed that in this quietly passing time, Lin Wei had pieced those shattered fragments back together again. What an astonishing thing!
"My apologies, that was Rita's oversight." Rita smiled apologetically. She would never admit that the reason for this "high-intensity" tour was just a little prank to get "revenge" for all of Lin Wei's previous annoyances. Putting the camera away, she extended her hand in a graceful gesture and said with a smile, "As an apology, I know a nearby place with excellent roasted lamb chops. Would you two care to join me for a short rest?"
With her petty little game of "revenge" over, Rita reverted to her elegant, considerate, and meticulous self.
"Sure, in that case..." Lin Wei was just about to agree when Rita's communicator beeped.
"Ah, my apologies. It seems Rita's apology will have to be postponed a little..." Rita glanced at the device and said with an apologetic look, "The Overseer has sent a message, inviting you to the banquet."
"Is that so? Tell him to wait!" Lin Wei gently pushed Yuno away and said in an irritated tone, "Tell him I'm tired and I'm eating first!"
You want to mess with me? I'll make you wait, too!