At the dining table, Fu Hua was silently, single-mindedly devouring her meal. She was a person of few words to begin with.
In response to Mei's compliments, she merely offered a simple nod.
As for Otto's flattery, she was so accustomed to it that she had no reaction at all.
However, Fu Hua sensed a peculiar atmosphere at the table. The clothes Mei was wearing now didn't seem to be the same as before. Her face was adorned with a touch of elegant, light makeup, and beneath her skirt, her long, slender legs were now clad in black stockings emblazoned with the Apocalypse family crest.
???
Why do Mei's stockings have the Apocalypse family crest?
Fu Hua shot a glance at Otto, then buried her head back into her food.
She was just an emotionless rice-eating machine.
The dinner table was somewhat quiet. Fu Hua and Mei were both naturally reserved, and Otto felt a sense of restraint, like sitting with elders at a formal banquet.
If it were just him and Mei, he would have Mei sit on his lap, hold her hands, and have her feed him.
But Fu Hua had worked so hard to prepare this delicious meal. It would be too monstrous of him to kick her out while eating.
Besides, Otto cherished his life.
After quietly finishing dinner, Mei began clearing the dishes. Otto turned to Fu Hua and reached out to pat her shoulder.
"You worked hard today."
Otto said with a smile. In response, his hand was swatted away by Fu Hua as if it were something filthy.
Otto, put away that routine you use on young girls!
Having been rebuffed, Otto wasn't the least bit angry. Fu Hua had always been this way.
"Old friend, the room next door is empty. You can go over there and get some proper rest. I've got things handled here."
Otto said, effectively dismissing Fu Hua.
This third wheel was getting in the way of his business.
Fu Hua glanced at Otto, said nothing, and left the room directly.
Watching her depart, a smile spread across Otto's face. Among his current subordinates, Fu Hua was the most useful and the most reassuring to work with.
Because even if he were to run a lap outside completely naked, she would only think, That bastard Otto must be plotting some kind of conspiracy again.
However, Fu Hua wasn't the main course in Nagazora City; she was, at best, a side dish.
Otto tiptoed into the kitchen and saw Mei washing the dishes. He gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind.
"Ah!"
Embraced from behind, Mei let out a small gasp, but upon sensing a familiar presence, she didn't struggle.
"I'll wash the rest."
"Go to the bed in the bedroom and get ready."
"You're looking forward to tonight as well, aren't you?"
Otto held Mei close, whispering softly into her ear. Mei nodded, but Otto didn't release his hold. He only let go once Mei had nearly finished washing all the dishes.
There were still quite a few unwashed dishes left.
And besides, he hadn't had enough of holding the girl in his arms.
Mei left the kitchen. Otto casually picked up a bowl and began to hum a cheerful tune, his mood bright.
He would continue to raise Mei's affection level shortly.
However, his own time was running short. Judging by the movement of Honkai energy around the city, it would take about a week for Nagazora to accumulate enough to birth a Herrscher.
And his window to act was only about half a week.
Without pausing his movements, Otto looked at the System panel. Today's daily mission was completed with ease, and he now had 420 crystals and 600 friendship points, enough for one more supply pull.
Friendship Supply is garbage. Not even a dog would pull from it.
For now, only Stigmata and Herrscher Cores from the supply were valuable. Divine Keys had to be seized by his own hands, and Schicksal could manufacture most five-star weapons on its own.
Suddenly, a question struck Otto.
"System, if I acquire other Stigmata in the future, will they conflict with each other?"
He currently had the Cecilia Stigmata. Could it be equipped alongside others?
[Stigmata produced by this System do not conflict with one another. As long as you wish it, Host, you can equip an infinite number of Stigmata.]
[If you feel certain Stigmata are no longer of use to you, you may choose to gift them to others.]
Gift?
"You mean to say, I can give this Cecilia Stigmata to someone else right now?"
Otto posed a hypothetical.
He certainly wouldn't do it. His current combat strength was entirely propped up by the Cecilia Stigmata and his Soul Steel body.
[That is correct. The Host can gift a Stigmata to another party through physical contact.]
[However, the more powerful the Stigmata, the longer the duration of physical contact required for the transfer.]
"And something given away... can it be taken back?"
[It can. The Stigmata and equipment you draw are bound to you. Even if you grant a Stigmata to another, your connection to it will not be severed.]
[You can reclaim the Stigmata through physical contact.]
[However, each Stigmata can only be transferred a maximum of three times per day.]
A thought sparked in Otto's mind, causing him to pause his dishwashing.
"Then..." Otto's eyes narrowed slightly. "Will the recipient... experience the memories contained within the Stigmata?"
He waited for the answer.
[They will.]
"Crack." The bowl in his hand was inadvertently crushed. Otto paid it no mind, simply tossing the shards into the trash.
"Heh." A soft chuckle escaped his lips.
"Right, after I complete the mission 'Have Schicksal possess a Herrscher', what's the approximate power level of the body I get as a reward?"
[You'll be able to punch Fu Hua and kick Kevin.]
Otto's eyes widened. Holy mother, this System is finally being reliable for once...
[That is not something you will be able to do.]
Goddammit, you System! Why do you have to speak with such dramatic pauses!?
[However, its uniqueness will far surpass that of any MANTIS, transcending everything in this world.]
[It is the body that is most compatible with you.]
Uniqueness, huh?
What kind of uniqueness?
Exceptionally handsome?
Or perhaps... exceptionally long?
Regardless of the specific uniqueness, he was finally going to have a body of flesh and blood.
The Soul Steel body was incredible, but Otto knew he was no passionless saint.
He had his own desires.
He had girls he yearned to touch.
Otto asked a few more questions about the new body, and the System answered each one, giving him a general idea of what to expect.
His plan to deal with the Will of the Honkai was gradually becoming more complete.
With all the dishes washed, Otto thoroughly cleaned his hands and walked to the bedroom door.
The door was ajar. As Otto pushed it open, the first thing that met his eyes was a pair of slippers, placed neatly beside the bed.
And kneeling upon that bed was Mei.
Her lovely face possessed the delicate features of an Eastern beauty, her exquisite countenance enhanced by perfectly applied makeup that made her look fresh and ethereal.
Her long, amaranthine purple hair was like the boundless night sky, while her white sleeveless dress was like a silver waterfall cascading from it.
Her skin was fair, and her long, straight legs were sheathed in lustrous black stockings as her shapely hips rested upon her heels.
Her hands were like soft reeds, her skin like smoothest cream, her neck like a swan, her teeth like rows of pearls. A delicate forehead and arching brows, a charming smile so sweet, and beautiful eyes that gleam.
That ancient poem was likely describing just such a maiden.
"Mei, I hope I didn't keep you waiting long."
Otto said with a smile.
He then took out his phone and snapped a picture of her.
But then, a new idea struck him.
"Mei, can you cover your eyes with your right hand, like this?"
Otto raised his own right hand, holding it horizontally before his face to cover his eyes.
The pure, untainted Mei looked puzzled, not quite understanding the meaning behind Mr. Otto's request.
Nevertheless, she obediently raised her right hand, holding it horizontally to cover her own eyes.
Otto's eyes lit up. He quickly took another photo with his phone, making sure to include the entire bed in the frame.
After all, some things have more impact when you include the background.
After taking the pictures, Otto expertly uploaded them to Schicksal's private database.
Heh heh.
Chuckling to himself, he tapped his phone a few more times, issuing several commands. He soon received a message confirming that all preparations were complete.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Next up would be a touching father-daughter reunion.
He could already feel the tears welling up at the corners of his mouth.