Chapter 24: Sirin's Growth

The girl named Sirin finally ceased to be reckless. Experiencing the loss of her brother twice made her mature in this moment.

From now on, the crumbling world was missing an inflated pufferfish and gained one that used its brain (dense fog).

Since her brother had said that Uncle Welt could be trusted, Sirin chose to trust him.

Let's follow Uncle Welt's lead and plan carefully...

In her heart, the girl silently made a determination:

She must, absolutely must, find her brother.

"Siegfried, can I ask you to keep an eye on the child who was taken away?" 

"Hahaha." Siegfried wanted to agree, but considering his identity as a Herrscher, having a connection with the leader of Entropy, was it a bit...

"Just pay attention to the child's condition, I don't ask you to give him special treatment, okay?" Welt also knew that his request was somewhat difficult for Siegfried. Siegfried had already returned to help him out, and in truth, the debt of gratitude had been repaid. Yet, Welt still hesitated to make this request, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"Sorry, is that acceptable?" Welt asked.

"Sigh," Siegfried sighed, "since I'm a kind-hearted person, I'll do it!"

Anyway, he probably had earned the Bishop's resentment by now, so a little more wouldn't hurt.

Sirin's eyes seemed to suddenly light up, and she looked at Siegfried with a twinkle in her golden eyes, feeling somewhat moved.

Unexpectedly, this white-haired rascal turned out to be quite decent.

"Thank you, Uncle Siegfried." Sirin followed the same way of addressing Siegfried as Welt, expressing her gratitude.

Siegfried was stunned. He hadn't expected that the once arrogant Herrscher would make such a gesture.

After all, he was just a child... Siegfried couldn't help but think of his beloved daughter, Kiana.

If this child hadn't undergone the experiments of Schicksal, if she hadn't become an Herrscher, would she be living a happy life like Kiana...

Lost in thought, as if realizing something, Siegfried suddenly paused and spoke with a bit of dissatisfaction:

"Call me brother, not uncle."

He didn't want to be in the same generation as Welt!

Back in the day, he was just a teenager and was harshly educated by Welt...

Well, forget it. Let's not bring that up. But the address had to be changed back.

"No!" Sirin's tone was resolute.

She only had one brother, and she would only ever have one!

...

So, Siegfried and Welt exchanged contact information, and Sirin and Bella followed Welt back to Entropy.

On the way, Sirin seemed uneasy, looking anxious.

Bella tried to comfort her, but Sirin didn't want to pay much attention.

Bella was puzzled. Hadn't she angered Queen Lady?

"Queen Lady, he will be fine, your brother," Bella continued to console.

Sirin's face grew even darker.

"Bella, don't call him Brother Chase."

"My brother can only be called by me."

Bella was flustered. "Then, what should I call him?"

Sirin froze, thought for a long time, but couldn't figure out what Bella should call her brother.

Bella called her Queen Lady, so she should call her brother...

She sighed. Well, couldn't figure it out.

Welt chuckled, "Still worried?"

Hesitating for a moment after hearing Welt's words, Sirin nodded.

"Don't worry, since Schicksal took Chase away, he must have some utility," Welt said. "I know Bishop Otto Apocalype of Schicksal quite well."

"This matter wouldn't be possible without his involvement."

"If he took Chase, it must be to achieve his own goals," Welt continued. "For example, as bait to capture you."

Sirin fell silent, pondering something.

...

Schicksal Headquarters, on the floating island.

Otto and Fu Hua were in an argument.

Fu Hua couldn't accept Otto's choice of using the relatives of Herrschers as hostages to capture Herrschers.

Otto, on the other hand, was indifferent, saying it was just part of the plan, and capturing Chase was a necessary evil.

Their conversation was unpleasant, and this not-so-friendly discussion ended prematurely due to Fu Hua's early departure.

Otto watched Fu Hua's departing figure and shook his head.

"Phoenix..."

He took a sip of red wine.

...

The next day, after receiving the treatment of the Void Archive's Mimic, Chase's injuries healed quickly.

It was noon, sunlight streamed through the window, shining on Chase's still unconscious face.

The young man's eyebrows trembled slightly, slowly opening his eyes, only to see a golden-haired, blue-eyed man.

The man's golden hair was long, tied into a single ponytail hanging over his left shoulder. He wore a purple Bishop's robe, exuding an air of grace and elegance.

Chase had just awakened, his consciousness still a bit hazy. He stared blankly at the elegant man slicing an apple beside him.

"Hehe, awake?"

The man noticed Chase and greeted him with a smile while slicing the apple.

"I spent quite some effort to heal you. You better repay me properly."

Chase's pupils contracted, as if struck by lightning.

If he didn't know the man's identity at the beginning, he knew it now.

This voice, he would recognize it even if turned to ashes.

Isn't this the clown who ambushed him? Why isn't he dead yet?

No, why isn't he dead either? He had originally planned to end the simulation at its best.

"Looks like you've recognized me." Otto finished slicing the apple. Although he was smiling, his eyes carried a piercing coldness.

To be honest, Otto didn't intend to spare Chase's life. The person who had made Otto suffer a loss had already died.

"Yeah, I know you even if you turn to ashes." Chase, unwilling to show weakness, met Otto's gaze with sharpness, counterattacking.

"The Second Herrscher, your sister, right?"

Chase smiled, his eyes filled with a dangerous aura. "Don't you know?"

To be honest, if it weren't for the lack of conditions, Chase really wanted to jump up and slap this old dog in front of him twice.

"Hehehe." Otto just laughed, not intending to say much. He continued, "I need you to help me lure out the Second Herrscher."

Chase was about to make a sarcastic remark but was interrupted by Otto.

"I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm just presenting my plan to you."

"Whether you refuse or not is irrelevant to me."

Chase looked at Otto's smile, and a sense of unease flashed through his heart.

"In some ways, we are quite similar after all."

Chase's face darkened, silently rolling his eyes.

Who wants to be similar to this guy? It's uncomfortable to breathe the same air as him.

"All for the sake of our beloved ones, the most important ones, exerting all efforts to try to save them. Willing to sacrifice everything—honor, money, even life—just for them."

"Doesn't that sound familiar? Clearly weak but still attempting to protect Herrschers, and yet, you... clearly at the physical limit but still willing to exchange lives with me. Isn't that your essence?" Otto asked, "Aren't all your actions fueled by your desire to protect your sister?"

"..." Chase was silent because what Otto said was true.

"But in the end, you miscalculated your enemy, miscalculated me." Otto seemed to open up, "You don't understand Honkai, and you don't understand me."

"Even if you had killed me back then, I wouldn't have died. Do you know why?"

Chase turned his head, not wanting to engage.

"Hehehe, telling you won't hurt." Otto said, "Because I am Otto Apocalypse. What you fought against was just my body."

Chase turned his head, his pitch-black pupils fixed on Otto's eyes, seemingly trying to explore the emotions in his heart.

Just a body, meaning he had more than one body? Perhaps this was a contingency plan left by the man called "Otto Apocalypse."

This could also explain why, when Chase was trying to perish with him, the only emotion he saw from Otto was astonishment, without any trace of fear.

Unable to die, why would there be fear of death?

Chase didn't understand why he would reveal this information to him, but the next moment, he understood.

Just listen to Otto saying, "Anyway, you won't remember all this soon. Telling you now won't hurt."

Chase's pupils searched slightly, and he saw what Otto held in his hand—a feather...

Clearly just a feather, but it made him feel a tremendous threat.

That kind of threat seemed even greater than death!

"Remember my name, Chase."

"I am Otto Apocalypse, the person closest to you, the most important person."

Chase only saw a flash of golden feathers before his consciousness blurred.