Bargaining Chips

Amidst the relentless chaos, the turmoil sparked by the Herrscher of Dominance raged for a full twenty days. During this period, hundreds of thousands became casualties almost daily. Although Ren could ensure the HoD wouldn't directly target civilians, he couldn't prevent others from exploiting the chaos, using the Herrscher's name to enact their own bloody justice.

It couldn't be helped; once unleashed, chaos spread like nuclear fission. The darkness within human hearts proved far more dangerous than the Honkai itself.

However, as most underground organizations were gradually purged, both Welt Yang and Ren understood that this farce likely wouldn't last much longer.

After all, everyone knew that regardless of the HoD's current severe impact, its actual disruption to the overall order of civilization was ultimately insignificant. Because behind modern civilization stood an inescapable presence—Schicksal.

And the reason the Herrscher of Dominance could act with such impunity was precisely because that man had yet to make his move.

As the most steadfast shield against the Honkai in modern civilization, Schicksal possessed an unparalleled intelligence network. To suggest Otto Apocalypse didn't know about the Herrscher of Dominance was more laughable than suggesting Ren didn't care about Kiana Kaslana.

Yet, thus far, not a single Valkyrie squad had been deployed. The answer was obvious: Otto was condoning the HoD's actions.

The reason wasn't hard to guess. Although Schicksal had connections with governments worldwide, it couldn't directly control their operations, making it susceptible to the infighting of various factions. Just look at Anti-Entropy, the former North American branch: Welt had to navigate pressure from Congress, councils, and local groups, not to mention internal conservative and reformist factions.

As the global power, Schicksal's internal issues were naturally significant. Many countries were plagued by rampant gangs, not due to a lack of capability, but because those in power often colluded with these underground elements. While Valkyries risked their lives fighting the Honkai, these societal parasites were busy exploiting their own people. It was impossible for Otto not to find this vexing.

But Schicksal was an organization fighting the Honkai, not humanity. Even Otto had no grounds to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations, often forced to turn a blind eye.

The Herrscher of Dominance, however, cared little for political ties. Belonging to no human faction, it indiscriminately purged these deep-rooted cancers. Furthermore, constrained by Ren, the HoD refrained from harming civilians.

In a way, the HoD was solving intractable problems Otto couldn't address himself. Their interests aligned perfectly.

Thus, Schicksal's inaction spoke volumes.

Of course, there was another crucial reason for Otto's tolerance: he knew who was pulling the strings behind the Herrscher of Dominance.

---||---

"Herrscher of Flame, Stigmata Wielder, Visitor from Another World, and now the Herrscher of Dominance... Ren, oh Ren, which one of these is your true identity?"

Within the newly repaired Schicksal HQ, inside the Bishop's office, a soft sigh escaped.

More than three months had passed since the Herrscher of Sentience wreaked havoc on Schicksal. Otto Apocalypse now inhabited a brand-new Soulium body. Aside from the occasional phantom ache on his cheek when things were quiet, he had seemingly regained his usual composure.

Of course, to Otto, the Senti incident was merely a minor interlude. Schicksal was just a tool; even if smashed to pieces, it wouldn't affect his ultimate goal: reviving Kallen Kaslana.

However, as events unfolded, Otto had to admit he faced an unavoidable problem: Ren.

This individual, appearing from nowhere, had mysterious origins and unfathomable power. Initially thought to be just an unlucky soul parasitized by the Gem of Haste, subsequent encounters revealed Ren possessed strategic depth and abilities rivaling his own.

More importantly, Ren seemed to know an unsettling amount about him—not just his relationship with Kallen, but even Schicksal's clandestine experiments. In contrast, Otto knew almost nothing about Ren.

Otto was intelligent; he understood the critical importance of such information asymmetry for someone like him. This was why he had repeatedly probed Ren during his various actions.

Yet, the results were unsatisfactory. Every time Otto thought he had a grasp, Ren would reveal entirely new capabilities, always full of surprises, impossible to pin down.

The turning point finally came during the battle on Coral Island months ago. Through his deal with Ren, Otto gained the opportunity to converse with the Will of the Honkai. During this dialogue with a "god," he asked how to revive Kallen.

To his despair, even the Will of the Honkai couldn't bring Kallen back. When he inquired about Ren's identity, however, he received some unexpected information.

First, Ren was indeed a Herrscher, but not one known from the Previous Era. Second, Ren was not of this world.

Lost in grief over Kallen at the time, Otto hadn't fully processed this vague information. It wasn't until the birth of the Herrscher of Sentience and his own subsequent death and revival at her hands that realization dawned.

He recalled an experiment conducted long ago in pursuit of truth, during which he had inadvertently entered a boundless Sea of Sand and glimpsed a figure strikingly similar to Ren.

Otto had initially dismissed it as an anomaly. But combined with the Will of the Honkai's information, he finally understood: that Sea of Sand wasn't merely Imaginary Space; it was truly Outside the World. And that figure was no illusion—it was Ren himself.

This world was never short of madmen, especially those driven by profound obsession.

"Since this world cannot allow me to revive Kallen, then I shall go Outside the World! Since a broken branch cannot mend, then let the Imaginary Tree grow a new bough!"

Without a doubt, Ren, originating from another world, was the key figure Otto desperately needed to reach that realm beyond.

「One abandoned everything, crossing worlds to be with their beloved. One exhausts their entire life, seeking passage beyond the world to resurrect their beloved.」

"Indeed, Ren," Otto mused, shaking his head slightly, "you and I are the same kind of person."

Although he now saw a path to reviving Kallen, achieving his goal required Ren's assistance. Yet, Ren had arrived in this world through his own power; he had no obligation, logical or emotional, to help Otto.

"There's no room for sentiment at the negotiating table," Otto thought. "To achieve my aim, I must increase my leverage!"

Undoubtedly, Otto's greatest bargaining chip right now was Schicksal itself.

Just as Otto was contemplating his next move for negotiation, a knock sounded at the office door.

"Durandal? Come in."