"Otto, you know... a great deal."
Hearing Otto's proposal, the crimson light in Gray Serpent's cybernetic eye flickered.
Raven, on the other hand, stared at Otto in disbelief. Isn't the Seven Thunders of Retribution the very thing Otto stole from me? Using something you stole to trade for something else... is this guy a dog?
"When it comes to the affairs of your World Serpent, I know a thing or two," Otto said with a faint smile. "However, I have only ever known your name, Mr. Gray Serpent. This is our first time meeting."
But inwardly, he was far from calm.
Damn it, why is Gray Serpent here?!
While this isn't World Serpent headquarters, it's obviously still a super dangerous place.
Dog System!
"Otto. Your trade, I refuse."
Gray Serpent was slightly surprised that Otto knew of the Cosmic Juggernaut's existence. Even among the executives, only a few knew of its connection to World Serpent.
Back then, after Lord SU sealed the Sovereign in the Sea of Quanta, the Cosmic Juggernaut was sealed away by him high above the River Thames.
"So that bargaining chip isn't enough, I see."
Otto picked up the wine glass and took a sip.
Although it was disgusting, the taste helped to clear his mind.
"In that case, let's make a different deal."
"I am willing to offer a promise, in exchange for World Serpent not interfering when I go to retrieve the Cosmic Juggernaut."
"Oh? Otto, you know where the Cosmic Juggernaut is?"
Gray Serpent met Otto's gaze, but he felt a strange, inexplicable chill.
The feeling was somewhat familiar.
It was as if the one watching him was Dr. Mobius, or perhaps even Lady Elysia.
Impossible.
Gray Serpent dismissed it as a figment of his imagination. How could Otto possibly compare to those two great figures?
The only one who could change this world was the Sovereign!
"I don't think it will be too difficult to find. But if your World Serpent were to cause trouble, it would be a waste of time dealing with you. So why not eliminate that possibility beforehand?" Otto said with a smile.
"Then, what will you offer in return, Otto?" Gray Serpent asked slowly.
In the Sovereign's absence, Gray Serpent was the one who made most of the decisions.
If they could get the Seven Thunders of Retribution back, that wouldn't be a bad outcome.
Gray Serpent also wasn't afraid of Schicksal finding the Cosmic Juggernaut. It was sealed within a folded space above the River Thames. Finding it on a planet as vast as Earth was an incredibly difficult task.
And even if they found it, there was still the armed puppet the Sovereign had left behind, a puppet that possessed one percent of the Sovereign's power at his peak.
Mere Schicksal couldn't even withstand a single finger from the Sovereign.
"A promise," Otto said slowly.
Raven's eyebrow twitched.
This guy. A moment ago it was the Seven Thunders, now it's just a promise.
He really refuses to be on the losing end of any deal.
"If World Serpent does not interfere with us, then Schicksal will not interfere with World Serpent's plan to rescue Kevin Kaslana from the Sea of Quanta," Otto declared.
The crimson light in Gray Serpent's eye flared.
Gray Serpent realized that Otto knew far, far too much.
Where was he getting his information about the Sovereign?
"I don't think your World Serpent has any other choice," Otto said with a smile. "If you interfere with our search for the Cosmic Juggernaut, then Schicksal, even if we have to risk everything, will stop you from rescuing Kevin Kaslana."
"When that time comes, perhaps the Finality will descend, and Kevin Kaslana will still be sealed away in the Sea of Quanta."
Kevin was incapable of leaving the crevice of the Sea of Quanta on his own.
So, as long as Schicksal could stall World Serpent, the date of Kevin's return would be postponed indefinitely.
"Otto, you're very confident in Schicksal?" Gray Serpent said coldly.
This was the first time World Serpent had ever been threatened.
"But of course." Otto was indeed very confident in Schicksal. "Perhaps Schicksal will lose, but your World Serpent will have lost precious time."
"Or do you believe that with World Serpent's current capabilities, relying on those dry bones in a tomb, you can overthrow Schicksal in a short amount of time?"
Gray Serpent's mechanical fingers twitched slightly. He stared at Otto. Was this an example of a reckless man having no fear of a powerful one?
If Schicksal interfered, World Serpent would indeed lose valuable time.
Even if the Sovereign ultimately returned, there wouldn't be enough time to execute the Stigma Project.
However, once the Sovereign returned, Schicksal would no longer be a threat.
But... the "dry bones in a tomb" Otto mentioned, was he referring to the memory simulacra of the great ones in the Elysian Realm?
Gray Serpent strongly suspected that Otto had somehow read Raven's memories, which was why he knew so many of World Serpent's secrets.
Looking at Otto, Gray Serpent felt an inexplicable sense of danger, like a venomous snake sensing an unknown terror nearby, making him hesitant to act rashly.
Gray Serpent had to admit, he had always underestimated this Schicksal Overseer.
And even if he killed Otto here and now, it would be useless.
This man, like himself, could not be killed.
In that case, there was only one answer.
"Otto, I hope you do not go back on your word."
Gray Serpent had agreed.
In any case, the probability of Schicksal obtaining the Cosmic Juggernaut was close to zero. Even if they could find it, getting past the armed puppet would be exceedingly difficult. And even if they miraculously managed that, they still couldn't wrest control of the Divine Key from Lord SU.
"Then the deal is struck. I wish us a pleasant cooperation."
The two had reached a filthy, shady deal.
Otto spoke with a smile. He raised his glass, gave a slight nod to Gray Serpent, and then downed the contents in one go.
Their agreement was purely verbal. They both knew that even if they signed a contract, when one party decided to violate it, the signed paper would be nothing more than a worthless sheet.
Otto placed the empty glass on the counter. He stood up and looked at Raven beside him.
"Miss Raven, my offer to you is still valid."
"However, the things you are pursuing right now... are they really what your heart truly desires?"
"If you have the time, you could pay a visit to Nagazora City. Perhaps there, you will feel something different."
He remembered that Raven would eventually adopt the orphans who lost their families in the Nagazora Honkai Eruption. However, this time the disaster area had been contained by Schicksal, so he didn't know if she would still meet those little girls.
"I have served World Serpent with merit! I have bled for World Serpent! I am loyal to World Serpent!"
With Gray Serpent right there, Raven immediately declared her loyalty.
"Is that so?" Otto looked at Gray Serpent with great interest. "Mr. Gray Serpent, if I were to offer the Seven Thunders of Retribution in exchange for the young lady beside you, would you make the trade?"
Gray Serpent looked at Otto and slowly shook his head.
"Is that so? What a pity."
Otto shrugged. He walked toward the closed bar door. Unlike his sudden appearance before, this time he strolled leisurely to the entrance and pushed the door open.
As he opened it, the light of the setting sun spilled onto him. He paused.
He turned his head to look back at the two inside the bar.
"Could you pass on a message for me?"
"Pass it on to Mobius in the Elysian Realm."
"Tell her this: if she can become the true Mobius, I will permit her to kiss my feet again."
He had no words for the pink-haired elf, because that was just a memory in a Stigmata; she didn't know him at all.
But Mobius... he had had contact with her.
Neither the memory simulacrum of Mobius nor the original were easy to deal with. Since he would have to face them eventually, Otto decided to light a fire under them.
Otto was very curious. When the time came, would it be the simulacrum or the original who appeared before him?
But in the end, they were both Mobius.
A hint of displeasure arose in Gray Serpent's heart. Dr. Mobius was his creator; Otto's words were undoubtedly a form of blasphemy.
But this was a message for Dr. Mobius.
Gray Serpent would relay it faithfully.
After speaking, Otto walked right out of the bar, his expression as casual as if he had just been visiting a neighbor.
Watching Otto's departing figure, Raven let out a sigh of relief. The shadow that man cast over her was simply too heavy.
However, she glanced at Gray Serpent.
"I didn't think I'd be more important than the Seven Thunders of Retribution," Raven said with a smile. It seemed she was quite valued after all.
But Gray Serpent only shot her a sideways glance.
"There's no way Otto would have actually traded the Seven Thunders. You are not worth that price."
If Gray Serpent had agreed, Otto would have likely used the opportunity to sow discord and mock them.
Gray Serpent would not give him that chance.
His grating, ice-cold synthesized voice made Raven's expression freeze.
"You will resume your duties after some time has passed. To do so now would displease Jackal."
Gray Serpent said flatly.
Then, without a backward glance, he left.