So that really was a love divination just now, Anna concluded with certainty after leaving Fu Hua's room.
To think that even an A-rank Valkyrie could be troubled by love—that came as a bit of a surprise to Anna.
But thinking about it, her own Branch Leader had also been considering such major life decisions recently.
However, being a Valkyrie was a perilous job with an uncertain future. Unless one met a kindred spirit, it was difficult to maintain a long-term relationship.
Anna shook her head. She was still young and didn't understand or have any interest in such things. She felt that being here with her teammates was more than enough to be happy.
She would rather spend all the time she might use on romance to train herself. That was the only way she would have a chance to become an S-rank Valkyrie!
Lord Durandal must be the same way.
With that thought, Anna picked up the other meal tray to deliver to the person who had specifically requested her.
Since they knew her name, could it really be a family member? Anna couldn't help but wonder.
She only knew the person was male, because the Branch Leader had referred to them as "he," and her tone had been respectful, even a little subservient. It seemed the other party held a very high status.
In that case, it was very likely someone related to the Schariac family.
It wasn't that Anna looked down on other men, but men without Honkai energy adaptability mostly worked in logistics or research within Schicksal. Those who could stand on the front lines of battle were few and far between.
Those men weren't worthy of throwing their weight around in the Far East Branch.
Could it be her father coming to see her?
Anna was puzzled, but she felt it was a strong possibility.
After all, her father doted on her.
"Reporting! I am Anna Schariac, B-rank Valkyrie of the Far East Branch, here to deliver your meal."
Anna stood before the door and knocked.
Even though it might be a relative inside, proper etiquette was essential.
But there was no response.
Don't tell me he's doing a love divination, too? Anna couldn't help but think. If it really was her father, he would have scrambled to open the door the moment he heard his daughter's voice.
Then it must just be someone who knows my name.
A pang of disappointment hit Anna. She had left home when she became an official Valkyrie and hadn't seen her father in a long time.
But she quickly cheered up. She was the woman who was going to become an S-rank Valkyrie, after all.
Her father would surely support her on this path.
Just as she was about to knock again, the door opened.
"Hel... lo?"
A figure appeared in the doorway. Anna was about to speak, but when she raised her head and saw the person's face, she froze.
"L-L-L..."
Anna was suddenly tongue-tied. She stared at the man with long, golden hair as brilliant as the sun.
This figure was no stranger to her.
Her mother and grandmother both collected his posters, hug pillows, figures, and a whole series of other merchandise.
And Anna had all of those things in her own room back at the Schariac family home.
"Anna Schariac?"
Otto was dressed in his white and gold Overseer's vestments. He smiled as he looked at the girl before him.
The girl had beautiful, long chestnut hair and pink eyes, with a blueish-purple hairpin on the left side of her hair.
She wore a black beret decorated with two white four-pointed stars.
Her uniform was a white Valkyrie battlesuit, with a blueish-purple cape draped over her left shoulder, also bearing a white four-pointed star insignia.
It seemed she was a girl who liked shiny things.
"Yes, yes! Lord Overseer!"
Hearing the esteemed Lord Overseer actually say her name, Anna was overwhelmed with surprise and honor.
She had grown up hearing the name Otto Apocalypse.
If the Kaslana family motto was to protect the people, then the Schariac family motto was to defend the Overseer.
The family of knights protects the people; the family of saints accompanies the Overseer.
To put it dramatically, the first word a Schariac child learns after birth is not "Mama" or "Papa," but "Lord Overseer."
The Schariac family considered it their highest honor to serve the Overseer.
If Durandal was the goal Anna aspired to, then Overseer Otto was the object of her reverence and service.
"Don't be nervous."
Otto smiled. He held no ill will towards Anna.
He took the meal tray from her hands.
The Schariac family was full of loyal martyrs. Otto had a very favorable impression of this family so devoted to him.
"Yes, sir!"
Anna acted as if she were being addressed by a drill instructor, placing her hands stiffly at her sides and standing up straight, chest out and back rigid.
This made Otto give her a second look.
On par with Mei.
Among the Herrschers, only Bronya and little Senti bring shame to the name.
"Come in."
Otto placed his lunch on the table, then sat down leisurely in a chair. He didn't tell Anna to leave but instead invited her in.
Anna obediently entered the room without the slightest hesitation, which pleased Otto greatly.
Otto liked obedient children.
However, standing before him, Anna's heart pounded with anxiety. She didn't know why the Lord Overseer had summoned her.
Could it be that she had done something wrong?
"Anna, I recall you're part of the Far East Branch's Snow Lotus Squad, correct?"
Otto said with a smile, feeling a bit like a head teacher lecturing a student.
"Yes!" Anna was once again overwhelmed. Not only did the Lord Overseer know her name, he even knew which squad she was in.
Could it be that the Lord Overseer was paying close attention to her?
"You've performed excellently in the Snow Lotus Squad. When I asked, your Branch Leader had nothing but praise for you."
"You've done well," Otto praised simply.
This allowed Anna's anxious heart to settle. It seemed she hadn't made a mistake somewhere.
But to be praised face-to-face by the Lord Overseer—she could brag about this for a year!
This made Anna ecstatic.
Being young, she had little control over her expressions, and a look of pure joy spread across her face.
Otto studied her. His first impression was of a very well-behaved girl, one who even had a gentle, refined air about her, like a lady from a noble house.
She was a piece of uncarved jade. With a little polishing, she would become an outstanding Valkyrie.
"Anna, do you want to leave the Snow Lotus Squad?"
But Otto's next words made Anna's happy expression freeze.
"L-Lord Overseer, did I do something wrong?"
Anna asked timidly. Everyone in the Snow Lotus Squad had taken such good care of her; she didn't want to leave them.
"No, no, you've done very well."
Otto could see that Anna was a person who valued her relationships, and such people were the easiest to control.
"It's just that... would you like to come to Schicksal HQ and become one of my direct subordinate Valkyries?" Otto asked.
This was one of the reasons he had come to the Far East Branch.
"Huh? Am I worthy?"
A direct subordinate of the Schicksal Overseer!
Anna was shocked. Her first instinct was to doubt her own qualifications, which gave Otto a deeper insight into her character.
Then, something suddenly occurred to her.
"Could it be... Lord Durandal's Immortal Blades!?"
"I-I can become a member of the Immortal Blades!?"
When one spoke of the Overseer's direct forces, the first that came to mind was the Immortal Blades, led by Durandal herself. The minimum rank for its members was A-rank Valkyrie, and its captain and vice-captain were both S-ranks.
In an instant, Anna felt like she was floating on a cloud, as if she had been struck by lightning in the form of happiness.
Was her long-held dream of fighting alongside Lord Durandal about to come true?
"No, I'm not asking you to join the Immortal Blades."
But Otto shook his head.
This sent Anna plummeting from the clouds into a valley. She hung her head, a dark cloud seemingly forming above her.
Otto looked at her like this and smiled.
"However, if you wanted to join the Immortal Blades, it's not impossible."
Otto's words made Anna snap her head up, her eyes shining with hope.
"But, I don't think you are suited for the Immortal Blades."
Anna's head drooped again, her face falling.
Otto chuckled softly. She really was an adorable girl.
The current Anna had yet to experience the Manila Honkai Eruption; the Snow Lotus Squad hadn't been torn apart yet. She had yet to be beaten down by the cruelty of the world. This was her most innocent period.
Although it was amusing, Otto didn't continue teasing her.
There would be plenty of time for that later.
"I am preparing to establish a new team, and I would like you to join."
"And Durandal will also be a member of this team. You will have your chance to fight alongside her," Otto said.
Although the Immortal Blades seemed impressive in the eyes of these Valkyries, to Otto, they would soon become obsolete in the face of Herrscher-level combat.
Every time a major incident occurred, the members of the Immortal Blades were the first to fall. If their captain, Durandal, couldn't use Abyss Flower, they would have probably all been wiped out long ago.
To Otto, the only useful members of the Immortal Blades were Durandal and Rita Rossweisse. The others were only good for clearing mobs.
In the future struggle against the Honkai, the tides of battle would be turned by high-end combat power alone. Therefore, Otto wanted to create a small, elite squad that integrated all of his top fighters, much like the Thirteen Flame-Chasers of MOTH.
"A new team?"
Anna was surprised. What kind of team would require Lord Durandal to join, and merely as a member at that?
But the thought of fighting side-by-side with her idol, Durandal, made her incredibly excited.
"Are you willing?"
Otto asked.
Although Anna was currently a B-rank Valkyrie and had some issues with her temperament, Otto still chose her.
He possessed the Authorities of several Herrschers, including the Herrscher of Ice. While Rita was also a candidate in his mind for the Herrscher of Ice, Otto could select other Herrschers besides that one.
If worse came to worst, he could just dig out the Core of the Herrscher of Stars and give it to Anna.
The Herrscher of Rimestar—the powers of both the Herrscher of Ice and the Herrscher of Stars were suitable for Anna.
By then, Anna would possess Herrscher-level combat power.
"I am, I am!" Anna's head bobbed up and down like a chicken pecking at rice, terrified of letting this opportunity slip by.
But the little girl then asked curiously:
"Lord Overseer, what will this squad be called?"
That question actually stumped Otto.
He hadn't thought of a name.
But now that he was establishing the squad, it did indeed need a name.
Should he just copy the Thirteen Flame-Chasers?
Otto smiled.
He wasn't silent for long before he spoke slowly.
"Aegis."
---o---