Schicksal HQ
Inside Schicksal HQ, Rita methodically processed the messages appearing on the data screen, feeling that—Otto Apocalypse truly had no intention of holding back this time.
Kolosten itself hadn't been blown up, but a nearby town had truly been attacked by Schicksal's modern weapons.
Although the attack failed for unknown reasons, it clearly wasn't because Otto suddenly had a change of heart and abandoned the massacre.
At the same time, the images everyone saw weren't just broadcast at HQ, but simultaneously in every branch.
HQ had suppressed the rebellion instantly thanks to Leo Ash and the others, but the Valkyries currently at the branches were already growing agitated over Otto's outrageous claims.
In this situation, if Schicksal HQ mishandled the response even slightly, it could trigger an even more severe disaster.
Facing this difficult situation, Rita could only try to stabilize things while thinking of a solution to this predicament.
However, she regrettably discovered one thing.
Rita Rossweisse was no fool, but in terms of strategy, she wasn't yet capable of managing and resolving the major crises an organization faces at critical moments.
Her management experience was limited to a single elite Valkyrie squad. Asking her to suddenly devise a solution to the unrest...
She had one, but without the necessary conditions, it was meaningless even if she thought of it.
The reason everyone was in turmoil over the video was simple: until today, almost everyone in Schicksal had seen the former Bishop, Otto Apocalypse, as the backbone of the fight against the Honkai.
But now, the backbone had become the one stabbing them in the back. Faced with such an sudden betrayal, it was inevitable that her uninformed colleagues would fall into chaos.
But, precisely because the chaos was caused by the loss of their leader, if someone could step up right now and become a new, convincing leader, at least 80% of Schicksal's problems would be solved.
As for the candidate, Rita first ruled out Theresa.
She was fond of Theresa, yes, but *because* she was fond of her, she understood Theresa better than anyone.
Anyone who knew Theresa knew she was an excellent warrior, but hardly a mature leader.
When managing the Far East Branch, most of the paperwork was handled by her friend and adjutant, Murata Himeko.
Of course, if a leader could select suitable talent, possessed sufficient decisiveness, and had the seniority and charisma to command respect, then being unable to handle paperwork wasn't a major issue.
But, charisma? Theresa lacked it most of the time.
As for seniority, Theresa actually had enough.
At least, she did before today.
But after today, her seniority would plummet, dragged down by the traitor Otto.
Unlike Leo Ash, who had only joined the Apocalypse family four months ago, Theresa had been Otto's doted-on granddaughter for her entire forty-plus years of life.
It could be said that while her combat achievements were great, as long as she held the identity of 'Otto's granddaughter', it would be very difficult for people to recognize her seniority.
As for the Schicksal member most suited to be the leader at this stage...
"Sigh... it really has to be Leo."
After a soft sigh, Rita handled a document from one of the branches, her emotions growing even more complex.
Even today, she didn't want Leo to face more danger fighting the Honkai.
But things had reached a point where it was no longer her decision.
Rita had no doubt about her brother's ability to win.
She just worried that her brother, whose heart was so twisted, would pile even more unnecessary pressure on himself by shouldering responsibilities that didn't belong to him.
"Lady Rita, please stop what you are doing."
Hearing the familiar voice, Rita smiled and looked toward the woman at the door.
"Lady Amber. Is something urgent at this time?"
"The branches are still awaiting HQ's directives. I trust you know that delaying action at a time like this is hardly a smart move."
"Yes, I know."
Facing Rita's almost overt verbal warning, Amber dropped her usual demeanor and matched her intensity.
"But unfortunately, today, I'm afraid Lady Rita won't have time to handle these matters anymore."
Opening her own data screen, Amber spoke calmly to Rita.
"Perhaps you've already noticed, but your family is no longer in Kolosten."
"And now, if Lady Rita doesn't want anything to happen to her family, I hope you will cooperate with my actions for the time being."
"Oh?"
Looking at the 'parents' on the screen, Rita narrowed her eyes slightly.
"I truly never expected that you, Lady Amber, would do such a thing at a time like this."
"Let me think..."
"—Was it that villain Otto who ordered you to threaten me with my parents?"
"...Of course not."
Facing her colleague's accusation, Amber shook her head slightly and spoke with firm conviction.
"I am Lord Otto's subordinate. When Lord Otto needs me, I will naturally act for him."
"Even if he has betrayed Schicksal, and even betrayed humanity?"
"Yes. Working for Lord Otto is the meaning of my life."
Amber, sensing the killing intent now radiating from Rita, showed no trace of panic.
"Please retract your killing intent, Lady Rita."
"I am no match for you, but if you attack me, your family certainly won't survive."
"Mm, indeed."
Hearing Amber's threat, Rita replied, looking slightly troubled.
"You are correct. If I act recklessly, they will certainly be killed by your subordinates."
*Something's wrong.*
Amber, who was also a Kaslana in a sense, had been feeling uneasy all day.
It was precisely because of this unease that Amber, without receiving any orders from Otto, decided to play this trump card she had long prepared against Rita.
Perhaps Rita's combat power was no longer on par with those peak fighters, but while the joint Schicksal-Anti-Entropy forces were assaulting Otto, Rita was acting as both the brain and part of the muscle within Schicksal.
If she could control Rita, or even threaten Rita into helping her with a few small tasks, Amber's actions might be able to stall Leo Ash's movements, buying Lord Otto a little more time.
But now, Amber, already on edge, suddenly leaped backward, just in time to see her chest had been slashed open by a scythe.
"You—"
"Lady Amber. This is truly regrettable."
Rita, now clad in her Godsbane Armor and wielding her Pantheon PRI-ARM, emanated a terrifying chill.
This coldness wasn't just the physical chill from the power of Argent Knight: Artemis and Skadi of Celestial Frost.
Even just meeting Rita's gaze, Amber could see a bone-chilling killing intent in the eyes of her colleague, who was usually polite to everyone.
"Just now, I confirmed one thing, and that is..."
"—For the Schicksal of today, you are, without a doubt, an enemy we must strike down."
"Wait! Your parents—"
"Unfortunately."
Facing Amber, who hadn't had time to prepare for battle, Rita had already severed her right arm with the scythe.
"My parents were rescued by Leo long ago. He's so much more capable than his useless older sister. He anticipated you might try such underhanded tactics."
*Leo Ash... Why is it him again!*
Looking at the frozen stump of her arm, Amber didn't hesitate and chose to retreat.
Although she was a Bioroid, her combat power was nothing special.
And now, not only had Rita not been controlled by her leverage, she had been thoroughly enraged by Amber's actions.
In a one-on-one fight, having lost an arm, Amber had no chance of winning.
Yet even now, Amber was still thinking about how she could help the master she wished to serve.
But unfortunately for her...
As Amber fled into another corridor, she suddenly saw a group of people appear in the main hall on the other side.
No, not just a group of people.
After recognizing Leo Ash and the others back in the Schicksal main hall, Amber also saw, next to them, a huge pile of Soulium.
Or more accurately, a huge pile of Soulium Bodies that had belonged to Otto Apocalypse.
At this moment, on these 'corpses' of Otto, Amber could see terrible wounds on every single one.
And in the hall, Leo Ash shouted to the crowd, who hadn't yet grasped the situation.
"Everyone, stop what you're doing! I have an announcement to make!"
"Just now, we confirmed one thing—the villain Otto Apocalypse has been completely and totally killed by us!"
"We also brought back the Soulium Bodies he wasted so much Soulium on! Hey, Mike, don't run off! Go notify the weapons R&D department to come get this stuff! Who was it that wrote up that ' Pantheon Weapon Mass Production Plan'? We've got plenty of Soulium now, time to upgrade everyone's gear!"
With every word Leo Ash spoke, Amber's heart grew colder.
She desperately wanted to tell herself that Otto, with his Rebirth Programs, wouldn't die so easily.
But now, she just stared at the tachi gripped in those people's hands, and her actions only magnified the unease in her heart.
"Oh my, Lady Amber. Are you not running anymore?"
Rita, having caught up, smiled as she approached her former colleague, who now stood frozen like a wooden chicken.
"Or is it that even you feel..."
"—That everything Leo said is true?"
"Ah, Sister."
Seeing Rita and Amber, Leo Ash quickly walked over to Rita, ignoring Amber, whose face was now twisted with resentment.
"I kept my promise. I'm back, safe and sound."
"Yes. I'm relieved."
"Also..."
Leo Ash suddenly turned, glaring daggers at Amber, and yanked her up from the ground.
"What are you looking at, Otto's lapdog?"
"What? You got a problem with me killing your master?"
"Lord Otto... he just wanted..."
"Ah, 'just wanted'—who cares what he wanted? He did bad things, so I killed him. That's how it works."
Looking at the struggling Amber, Leo Ash sneered.
"If he hadn't stirred up trouble, I might have kept his dirty deeds quiet, for the Matriarch's sake."
"But now... hey, this self-exposure was *his* idea. If everyone curses his name after his death, he can't blame me."
"Also, I'm only telling you this because I'm in a good mood today, but that look in your eyes—it's like *I'm* the one who did something wrong."
"Anyway, I was planning on dealing with Otto's loyalists like you eventually. So now..."
"—It's time to say goodbye, Miss Lapdog-I-Barely-Know."
With a *snap*, he broke Amber's neck, then kicked the Bioroid's body, shattering it on the spot.
"Mm. Satisfying."
"Leo... are you really okay?"
Watching Leo Ash kill Amber in one smooth motion, Rita asked with a hint of worry.
"After killing Otto... shouldn't you rest for a bit?"
"Rest?"
Hearing Rita's suggestion, Leo Ash looked helpless.
"Sis, do we really have time to relax right now?"
"HQ and the branches definitely still have Otto's loyalists. Even after he did all this, they won't be willing to believe the truth."
"In the time to come, we have to find all these misguided colleagues."
"If they're willing to repent, they're still our good colleagues. But if they remain stubborn..."
"—Then we have no choice but to send that trash down to meet their beloved Bishop Otto."
....