To see a scene from your own past from a third-person perspective was, without a doubt, a very strange feeling.
Fu Hua sighed. Even now, she didn't know if agreeing to Otto's deal all those years ago was the right or wrong decision.
Otto had indeed kept his promise, using the power of Schicksal to protect Shenzhou.
But it was precisely because she had joined Schicksal that she brought Lixue there as well, and in the end...
"So that's why you work for Grandfather," Theresa said with dawning realization.
It all made sense now. How could someone as honest as Fu Hua, the legendary Immortal Celestial, work together with an old fox like her grandfather?
Thinking of this, Theresa's eyes darted about, and a wide smile immediately spread across her face.
"Hehe, um, Fu Hua... you've been at my St. Freya Academy for a few years now. How do you like it here?"
"It's very nice. What is it, Principal?" Fu Hua looked at Theresa with surprise, unsure of what she was getting at.
"Hehe, well, since you think it's nice here, why don't you just join my side? How about it?"
Theresa said slyly. She wanted to poach Fu Hua from Otto directly. After all, Fu Hua now knew the secret of the Q&A space. Although she had promised not to tell, Theresa still felt a little uneasy.
So, in for a penny, in for a pound. She would bring Fu Hua completely into her own camp. This way, they would not only gain a powerful new ally but also ensure that Otto would never find out about the Q&A space.
"Ah?" Fu Hua was taken aback by the suggestion, clearly not expecting Theresa to say something so suddenly.
"Don't be so quick to refuse, just hear me out. You agreed to help Grandfather for no other reason than that he could use Schicksal's power to help you protect Shenzhou. But I can do that too."
"Although St. Freya Academy might not be strong enough right now, we're very close to Shenzhou and can provide support at any time. And with the help of the Q&A space, I'm confident that St. Freya can grow stronger very quickly."
"Besides, my grandfather is an old fox, full of dirty tricks. If you stick with him, you might get sold out one day without even knowing it. But I would never sell you out."
"After you join my side, you don't have to immediately break ties with him. You can continue your undercover work, just as long as you don't pass on any important intelligence. How about it?"
"This..."
Fu Hua was stunned by Theresa's rapid-fire barrage of words. She was speechless for a long moment, not knowing how to respond.
If she refused, well, Theresa did have some valid points. But if she agreed... she wasn't that sort of impulsive person.
"Theresa, don't scare Fu Hua," Himeko said exasperatedly, then looked at Fu Hua with an apologetic expression.
"Sorry about that, Fu Hua. Theresa is just like that, always acting on a whim. Don't take it to heart."
Himeko was speechless. She had seen people poach talent before, but never like this.
Others would use reason, appeal to emotions, or tempt with benefits.
Theresa, on the other hand, was just swinging a pickaxe with no technique whatsoever.
"I-It's alright." The corner of Fu Hua's mouth twitched. She thought for a moment before replying to Theresa.
"Principal, let me consider it. But rest assured, I will not tell Otto about what happens here."
In truth, even if Theresa hadn't said anything, Fu Hua had no intention of telling Otto about the Q&A space.
She wasn't Otto's lackey, after all. Their relationship was a mere transaction. It was only natural for her to keep something so important to herself. Who in their right mind would reveal all their trump cards?
"Alright, then." Since Fu Hua had said as much, Theresa could only let the matter drop, though she was a little disappointed.
---o---
The next second, the system's voice from the Q&A space echoed in their ears once more.
[Question 7: When Otto points the mimicked Judgement of Shamash at Fu Hua's head, what are his last words?]
[A: Immortal Celestial, I did not lie.]
[B: I'm sorry, you know too much.]
[C: In carnage, I bloom, like a flower at dawn.]
[D: Do you want to bet whether my gun has a bullet in it?]
Fu Hua: "???"
What the hell...?
What is going on?
Why is it another question about me?
And what does it mean, Otto pointing a gun at my head? He wants to kill me?
"What... What kind of question is this?" Kiana was instantly shocked.
"Class Monitor, is this also something from the past?" Bronya asked.
Fu Hua subconsciously shook her head. She had no recollection of this event. While it was possible the memory had been burned away, she didn't think she could possibly remain on peaceful terms with Otto after something like that.
"Then it must be something that happens in the future," Bronya analyzed. "The Class Monitor's personality and Overseer Otto's personality are likely incompatible. It's possible that something happens in the future that causes a falling out between the Class Monitor and Overseer Otto, leading to him pointing a gun at her head."
"..."
Fu Hua's expression darkened. She couldn't deny that Bronya's analysis was very logical. She herself knew that she and Otto were by no means the same kind of people.
That man, while appearing to fight against the Honkai on the surface, had entirely different true intentions in his heart.
And Fu Hua was someone who saw fighting the Honkai as her life's mission. She had long anticipated that she and Otto would have a falling out in the future. She just never expected the situation to deteriorate to the point where Otto would rather kill her.
She couldn't think of anything she had done to cross him.
Is it just because I'm a good person? Do good people just get a gun pointed at them?
"Then how are we supposed to answer this?" Raiden Mei asked, troubled. "Do we have to guess again?"
"I will answer," Fu Hua said calmly, taking a deep breath.
She desperately wanted to know what would happen in the future that would lead to Otto pointing a gun at her head.
"Eh? Maybe we should wait a bit? Bronya might be able to analyze something else. After all, if you answer incorrectly, you lose a year of your life," Raiden Mei advised.
"There's no need."
Fu Hua shook her head. Lifespan? They were talking about lifespan with someone who had lived for fifty thousand years?
If she hadn't lost her power of immortality, she felt she could probably live for a few more millennia.
"I choose A."
Fu Hua glanced at the four options and casually picked one.
She didn't overthink it. It was simply because option A was the only one that contained her name.
Or perhaps... she just had an affinity with the letter A?
[Answer... Correct.]
[Congratulations, you have received one Materials Reserve Box.]
[Materials Reserve Box: Upon opening, you will randomly receive 1,000-5,000 units of item materials. The better your luck, the more rare materials you will obtain.]