Raven was mentally exhausted.
As an executive of World Serpent, all of her duties had now been suspended.
The reason? She was suspected of colluding with Schicksal.
Not long ago, Jackal, in order to test Raven, had told her about Cocolia's secret activities. But not long after, Nagazora City, the site of Cocolia's planned operation, was brought under Schicksal's control.
Cocolia's ambitions were thwarted.
Schicksal, on the other hand, had profited immensely, even absorbing all of ME Corp's assets in the Far East.
And Raven's situation had become precarious.
At a meeting of the World Serpent executives, Jackal had bluntly voiced her suspicion that Raven had leaked the information to Schicksal. Although Gray Serpent didn't believe Raven would betray World Serpent, after weighing the options, he temporarily suspended Raven's missions and duties.
However, Gray Serpent had also told Raven that once her name was cleared, her work would return to normal.
But being under suspicion was not a pleasant feeling.
There was no telling how long it would take to clear her name. An arrogant and obstinate person like Jackal would surely stick to her judgment, meaning Raven's review process would be dragged out for a long time.
To this, Raven felt this was some serious bullshit.
She really hadn't betrayed World Serpent!
She wasn't the one who passed the information about Nagazora City to Schicksal!
But at the meeting, Jackal had presented evidence. On the very day she told Raven about Cocolia's plan, Schicksal had begun making unusual movements. In hindsight, it was clear this was Schicksal mobilizing Valkyrie squads to infiltrate Nagazora City.
This action later allowed Schicksal to launch their sudden, decisive strike, destroying all of Cocolia's preparations in the city.
Even Gray Serpent, who had been closely monitoring Cocolia, sensed that something was amiss.
Schicksal's actions had been far too swift, as if they had known about Cocolia's scheme from the very beginning.
Combined with the fact that Raven had once been alone with the Schicksal Overseer and had managed to escape unscathed, it was hard not to be suspicious.
Jackal believed that Raven, in order to save her own life, had struck some kind of deal with the Schicksal Overseer.
For example, to act as a mole within World Serpent, providing vital intelligence to Schicksal.
This slander had angered Raven so much that she had almost gotten into a fight with Jackal.
But it was also incredibly difficult for Raven to explain how Otto had let her go.
She even suspected that Otto might have done something to her while she was unconscious, like planting a listening device.
But after checking her body a dozen times, Raven found nothing out of the ordinary.
In short, these past few days, Raven had been at her wit's end dealing with this mess. The main reason she stayed with World Serpent was the money.
After she came of age, she had once left World Serpent to find another way of life, but in the end, she had returned.
Because the pay from World Serpent was just too good.
But now, that source of income had been cut off, and her goal of saving enough money to live a free and peaceful life seemed more distant than ever.
And if she were to quit World Serpent now, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting to Jackal's accusations?
Frustrated, she had come to the bar she owned. After closing up for the day and sending her employees home, Raven changed into some light clothes and vented her frustrations with a combat training session in the underground facility.
After working up a sweat, her mood improved, and she came back up to the bar to mix herself a drink.
It tasted awful, though. After one sip, she just kept it in her hand, swirling it.
But just then, her nightmare appeared.
The Schicksal Overseer had somehow appeared in her bar without her noticing!
The sight of Otto made her stomach ache.
This was the man who had knocked her out with a single punch, leaving her unconscious with her eyes rolled back and her tongue lolling out.
But what truly terrified Raven was, how did he get in?!
She was under review. The perimeter was being watched by World Serpent's agents, and even electronic signals were being monitored.
He must be a ghost.
Thinking about everything that had happened to her, Raven felt a wave of powerlessness. Could it be that her being suspected was also part of this Schicksal Overseer's plan?
This man was too terrifying.
You're the Overseer of Schicksal, why would you go to such lengths to scheme against a lowly World Serpent grunt like me? Is it really necessary?
Otto sat down beside her. Raven clutched her stomach, her nerves on edge, as if a monstrous beast had taken the seat next to her.
Hearing Otto's request for beef offal, Raven shook her head.
"I can't cook."
It wasn't that she couldn't, really, just that her cooking was terrible.
Otto watched her for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.
"Miss Raven, you don't seem very happy to see me."
"Mr. Otto, you seem to have a lot of free time," Raven retorted through gritted teeth. Her meeting privately with the Schicksal Overseer... if anyone found out, her status as a traitor would be cemented.
Of course, she could try to subdue Otto to prove her loyalty to World Serpent, but the Overseer had appeared before her without a sound. Could you really believe he came without any backup?
The area outside was probably already under Schicksal's control.
The moment she made a move against Otto, she would likely be subdued instantly.
Although Raven would never betray World Serpent, she felt her own life was a little more important.
Seriously, if you're the great Overseer of Schicksal, go pick on Jackal. Why bully me?
Raven's mind went numb. This feeling of being completely outmaneuvered crushed any thought of resistance.
"Heh heh." Otto chuckled lightly. He picked up the wine glass and swirled it. "I just wanted to know your decision regarding my previous proposal."
"Are you going to quit World Serpent and come to my Schicksal?"
"I can promise you, as long as you prove your worth, what you gain in Schicksal will be far more than what you have in World Serpent."
Otto took a sip of the wine. It really was disgustingly bad. Did Raven actually enjoy drinking something worse than horse piss?
A flash of surprise crossed Raven's eyes. Could it be that the drink she mixed was actually to the Overseer's liking?
"If you're willing to come to Schicksal, I can make the decision to gift you a private island. I can even have a villa built on it for you."
Raven's eyelid twitched.
Isn't that my lifelong goal?
She had almost saved up enough to buy a small island, but an island still needed buildings on it.
But this goal... not even Gray Serpent, the man who raised her, knew about it. How did Otto know?
Raven's mind went numb again.
She felt as if he could see right through her, down to her underwear.
This completely extinguished any remaining will to resist.
All she ever wanted was to live a good, peaceful, and free life.
The man before her was like a worm in her stomach; he knew what she was going to do before she even did it.
Ugh, this is so annoying.
Raven covered her face with her hands. Otto watched her. She smelled faintly of sweat, and a few strands of her short gray hair were stuck to the side of her face.
She must have just finished working out.
"I must refuse."
"I will not do anything to betray World Serpent," Raven said, lowering her hands.
If she went to Schicksal now, she would only face retaliation from World Serpent.
Raven didn't think Schicksal could protect her.
Having been to the Elysian Realm before, she knew the true depths of World Serpent's power.
When the Sovereign of World Serpent returns, they will be unstoppable.
"Is that so?"
Otto swirled the glass. Raven found herself looking at his slender fingers. For a man, his hands were more beautiful than those of many women.
Raven decided to just lie back and accept her fate. Though, if Otto tried to kill her, she would still fight back.
"That's a rather good answer."
"Wouldn't you agree, little mouse in hiding?" Otto said softly, turning his head to look toward a dark corner.
Raven frowned. What was this man talking about?
Just then, the shadows in the bar seemed to twist, and a figure emerged from them.
It was a person in a black hoodie. Under the hood was a white mask that revealed only the right eye.
A crimson, cybernetic right eye stared at Otto.
This was the World Serpent executive, Gray Serpent.
"Did I..." Gray Serpent's hoarse voice rasped from under the hood, "...come at a bad time?"
Holy shit, when did Gray Serpent get here?
Thank god I didn't betray them, or I'd probably be dead on the spot right now.
Raven was stunned. She looked at Otto. She hadn't detected Gray Serpent at this distance, so how did he?
Could it be... this Schicksal Overseer is a better fighter than I am?
"No. You've come at the perfect time."
A smile spread across Otto's face. In truth, Gray Serpent's hiding in the shadows was useless. With Otto's new eyes, there was nowhere to hide. He had spotted him instantly.
These eyes of mine are pretty amazing.
"You must be the World Serpent executive, Gray Serpent?"
Gray Serpent stared at Otto and slowly nodded.
"Overseer of Schicksal, Otto Apocalypse. What brings you here?"
Unlike the arrogant Jackal, he was calmer. Everything he did was for the Sovereign.
"Mr. Gray Serpent, I came here merely to discuss a trade with you, World Serpent."
"A trade?"
"Yes, a trade," Otto nodded.
He placed the wine glass on the counter and pushed it towards Gray Serpent.
"I wish to use the Seven Thunders of Retribution... to trade with you, World Serpent, for the Cosmic Juggernaut."