"I just don't like hiding behind women and watching them sacrifice themselves for me."
Lin Wei spoke in a flat tone, without a hint of fluctuation, as if he were merely stating an objective fact.
This time, facing Otto, Lin Wei found his emotions remarkably muted. He felt no particular disgust at his presence, nor was he shocked or angered by his words and actions.
Now that the few "audience members" for whom he needed to put on a show had left one by one, facing a cunning old fox from the mountains, even twitching a facial muscle to change his expression felt like a waste of energy.
"Hehe, for Mr. Lin to say that, it truly makes me ashamed."
Faced with Lin Wei's almost humiliating taunt, Otto just chuckled softly and said curtly, "But as the Overseer of Schicksal, one must always make trade-offs. When facing a battle that concerns the life and death of humanity's future, some sacrifices are unavoidable."
His tone was full of emotion, as if he were reminiscing about his fallen subordinates. Then he pointed at Lin Wei, then at himself, and laughed heartily.
"Of course, whatever the reason, a humble person like me who can only hide in Schicksal HQ and issue orders is naturally no match for Your Excellency Lin Wei, who stands on the front lines of the brutal battlefield, personally shielding everyone. Compared to you, Otto Apocalypse naturally seems incomparably despicable and ridiculous."
With just a few words, he deftly shifted the focus of Lin Wei's "accusation," brushing it aside and skillfully placing a metaphorical high hat on Lin Wei's head.
Of course, Otto also knew that this so-called "high hat" wouldn't be taken seriously by Lin Wei.
"Hehe, Overseer Otto's rhetoric is as impressive as ever."
Lin Wei watched the man's performance with great interest, then glanced around at the endless expanse of yellow sand and chuckled.
"Speaking of which, Your Excellency invited me all the way to this place, which doesn't even have barren mountains and treacherous waters, as a guest. Don't you even have a place for us to sit down and rest? Just standing here chatting in this hot, dry desert... compared to Your Excellency's Soulium body, my humble mortal flesh is starting to feel the heat."
As he spoke, he pretended to wipe his forehead, showing Otto non-existent sweat, as if he were truly a guest who had been invited over, and as if all the recent conflicts and schemes had never happened.
"Oh my, my apologies, my apologies... A long-awaited reunion can make one a bit too excited. I can't believe I forgot something so important. This is truly improper of me."
Otto laughed as if he'd had a sudden realization.
"To receive Your Excellency's special visit, I have made special arrangements. As you can see, the young lady by your side will be well taken care of by her good friend Anna and one of Schicksal's most outstanding Valkyries, Rita. As for Your Excellency Lin Wei..."
Otto slowly brought the hand he had been holding behind his back to the front. It was empty. He chuckled and said, "I've thought long and hard, and among all of Schicksal, the only ones qualified to personally receive you, besides Durandal with whom you've had several encounters, is probably just humble me..."
Otto raised both hands slightly, as if giving Lin Wei a choice, and said in a magnanimous tone, "If Your Excellency disdains to walk with a despicable person like Otto, I can also summon Durandal back here to entertain you. How about it?"
For the mighty Overseer of Schicksal to lower himself so much, he was certainly giving Lin Wei enough face.
"That won't be necessary."
Lin Wei smiled, completely unconcerned by the fact that Otto had separated him from Yuno and Anna from the very beginning. In a tone as casual as if he were deciding where to go for the weekend, he said, "No need to trouble two different hosts for one matter. Since Your Excellency is in such a leisurely mood, it would be rude of me to refuse."
Lin Wei believed that Otto had offered this seemingly reasonable choice because he knew Lin Wei would inevitably choose one option. Of course, if he had chosen the other, Otto would have gladly agreed and really had Durandal appear before him.
A direct confrontation? Of course not. Or rather, the moment he chose to avoid Otto and go with Durandal, Otto would have had no need to make a move on him.
While having Durandal, the strongest Valkyrie, hide in the shadows again after a perfunctory appearance seemed like a risk, using the reason Otto provided to bring her back into his sight sounded like a risky strategy that was "handing over a weapon." And in fact, it was "handing over a weapon," just that the target was slightly different.
The so-called "soldier against soldier, general against general, king against king"—if he had made the other choice, the real meaning would have been "Lin Wei, in fact, does not have the courage to face Otto again, to the point that he would rather 'risk' being with the strongest Valkyrie."
To that end, he would even delude himself into thinking he was being clever, using Durandal's so-called "strongest" title as a reason to deceive and convince himself...
Such a self-proclaimed clever person was naturally not qualified to be Otto's opponent. He would only fall into the trap and be manipulated and played with by Otto's endless schemes.
"Hehe, to be trusted so by Mr. Lin, it is Otto's honor."
Otto smiled lightly and gestured gracefully with his hand.
"Please."
He wasn't disappointed by the result. After all, he had just laid this trap casually. Even Durandal, who had cooperated with him to complete this "opening performance," was unaware of this fact.
In Durandal's eyes, this was just a slightly unusual "reception." The only reason it was "a bit unusual" was that the person being received was a bit unique. Anna's sudden outburst was just a minor interlude. In fact, the moment she darted out from behind him, Durandal's instincts didn't even register the thought of stopping her. She just let her vent her suppressed emotions a little.
But in Otto's eyes, the picture was this: Anna, with her gentle yet fiercely resolute personality, would inevitably try to take Lin Wei away the moment he appeared. And Durandal's personality was such that she wouldn't stop her at first, only calling a halt to her one-sided drama at a relatively appropriate time.
And so, through a coincidence, an accidental encounter, Lin Wei's long-sought goal—Anna—and the most obvious major obstacle—Durandal—were presented to Lin Wei right at the beginning of the story.
Goodwill and deterrence, these two completely opposite goals, were achieved seamlessly at the same time. Then, it was Otto's turn, the "backstage director," to make his entrance.
And then?
Anna, who had just been reunited with him, and his only helper, Yuno, were taken away from Lin Wei with a reasonable excuse. The psychological blow of gaining and then losing, the helplessness of being completely isolated on enemy territory from the moment he landed, the ever-present gaze and threat of Durandal, who had appeared briefly and then disappeared back into the shadows...
And the person in the middle of it all, just as he was becoming wary of everything, would feel a sense of powerlessness, as if his fate were completely controlled by others, and an immense, suffocating pressure.
At this moment, Otto, knowing his little tricks couldn't fool Lin Wei, would then offer a choice with a beaming face, sending a more subtle signal to Lin Wei in a very veiled way:
"Well, are you scared? Want to bow your head, and I'll have someone else talk to you?"
If I were to give up so easily at the very beginning, I would be looking down on myself too much...
He stepped on the soft gravel under his feet, making a rustling sound as he walked to Otto's side, then gestured with his eyes. Otto also smiled faintly, lowered his arm, and walked shoulder to shoulder with him.
If you don't admit defeat, then so be it. In fact, if Lin Wei were to give up so easily, this anticlimactic, farcical ending would only disappoint me, Otto thought calmly.
"I've forgotten how many years it's been since I walked side by side with someone like this..."
As they walked slowly, as if on a stroll, Otto looked up at the blue, cloudless sky, reminiscing with a look of emotion. Then he came back to his senses and smiled apologetically.
"Hehe... I couldn't help but think of some trivial matters from my youth. I've made a fool of myself."
Although this blond man didn't look much older than Lin Wei, he spoke with the vicissitudes of an old man recalling his past. Of course, Lin Wei knew that even a truly old man would be like a babbling child in front of Otto.
"Hehe, I can understand."
Lin Wei smiled faintly.
"As the Overseer of Schicksal, Your Excellency's status is already lofty, and the Schicksal HQ where you reside is high above the clouds. As they say, 'it's cold at the top.' For you to condescend to travel with me in such a remote and desolate place is truly flattering."
Isn't this what you wanted to hear? Here you go!
"'It's cold at the top'... For you to quote such an ancient saying so casually, it's truly characteristic of someone from Shenzhou."
Otto smiled faintly, turning his head to look at Lin Wei.
"It reminds me of another old friend of mine—hehe, I'm sure you know her. It's a pity she's on an important mission and can't be here, otherwise she could have joined us today."
"Miss Fu Hua? Of course I know her."
Lin Wei also smiled, reminiscing with emotion.
"A year ago, I had the honor of meeting her once."
Unlike Otto's half-true, half-false sentiment, Lin Wei's was genuine. That accidental meeting was the beginning of his entire story, but...
"Hehe, yes, that was a wonderful turn of fate."
Otto looked away, still smiling lightly.
"Just like our fate today..."
In fact, Otto was far from as calm about that incident as he appeared.
His strongest tool had been beaten up against a wall by someone else without his knowledge. How could he possibly forget something like that?
Even that clone who had defected and called himself "Moriarty" hadn't managed that!
Every time Otto thought about it, he wanted to slap himself. It was a feeling of "one misstep leads to eternal regret." If I had known it would cause so much trouble, I would have investigated Lin Wei myself!
Was it too late to remedy that past oversight now?
"Your Excellency the Overseer really values me..."
Lin Wei smiled.
"Not long ago, you and I had some unpleasant incidents, yet we can still chat so happily when we meet again. I can't help but admire Your Excellency's magnanimity!"
His tone was sincere, without a hint of sarcasm.
"Hehe, as they say, you don't get to know someone until you fight them. The fate between people is just that wonderful, isn't it?"
Otto laughed heartily, his words carrying a hidden meaning.
"Just as you said, even though some unpleasant things happened not long ago, you're still so open and honest today, even letting your companion be taken away by Rita. When it comes to magnanimity, Your Excellency Lin Wei is the one who truly commands admiration!"
Although this outcome was what he had hoped for, Lin Wei's cooperation and composure were a bit too much. It couldn't help but make him suspicious, wondering if this guy had some other trick up his sleeve.
But as the "dealer" of this game, he couldn't easily reveal his doubts. After all, he had already made his "friendly gesture." If he were to show any obvious deviation from that, it would undoubtedly give Lin Wei room to make an issue of it.
If it were just about making a fool of himself, Otto wouldn't mind. If it could make Lin Wei underestimate him, Otto would be even happier. But based on his observations, Lin Wei seemed to have been deliberately waiting for him to make this gesture. It seemed that arousing his suspicion was part of Lin Wei's plan.
Just like at the "reception," where Otto had casually set up a pressure-filled display of power for Lin Wei, Lin Wei seemed to be returning the favor with his almost complete cooperation.
Was it a fit of pique? Otto didn't know. After all, if this were considered a "bout," the price each paid was completely disproportionate. From the actual outcome, Lin Wei had handed over his only two companions to him as hostages.
What benefit could he gain from doing this?
"Unless..."
Otto looked at himself, then at Lin Wei, who was just a stone's throw away.
"Unless he considers me the hostage he has in his control?"
The Key of Corruption...
The thought of that name made Otto snort coldly.
Has Lin Wei's confident and risky reliance been this all along?