Lin Wei's Probes

Schicksal HQ, Floating Island

"Finally done…" Alvitr yawned, rubbing her eyes as she stumbled out of her office. Basking in the warm sunlight, she stretched languidly. "Time for a short break before the next task."

With both squad captains away on missions, she, the ultimate "tool person," had shouldered most of the paperwork—casualty reports from Manila, economic damage assessments, damage reports from other Schicksal branches, and even Immortal Blades' mission debriefs.

Strictly speaking, many tasks were outside her purview. But she was the ultimate tool person. The energetic young woman had a relentless work ethic, and her recent heartbreak made her seek solace in constant activity.

She'd become the earliest riser, the latest sleeper, the hardest worker, and the lightest eater in Schicksal HQ.

"Alvitr, you're out too?" Two Valkyries whispered in the corridor of the Immortal Blades' quarters. Seeing Alvitr emerge from her office, they grabbed her wrist, pulling her along.

"Hurry, hurry! We'll lose our spots!" one of them said, a mix of excitement and curiosity in her voice.

"Huh? Spots for what?" Alvitr stumbled, her sleep-deprived brain struggling to keep up. "Is it lunchtime? But the HQ cafeteria is huge. Since when do we need to grab spots?" The floating island, a lavishly funded futuristic base, boasted luxurious amenities.

The Valkyries exchanged amused glances. "Wow, something Alvitr doesn't know? That's a first!" Alvitr, known for her encyclopedic knowledge of Schicksal, was usually in the know.

"What's going on?" Alvitr asked, even more confused.

"Okay, okay, no more secrets." The other Valkyrie leaned in conspiratorially. "Reliable intel says the legendary hero who single-handedly resolved the Manila incident is coming to HQ!"

"Yeah, escorted by Rita herself. They were the first responders, saving Squad Snow Lotus and preventing further disaster." The first Valkyrie nodded. "The Overseer must have arranged it." A touch of romanticism colored her words.

"Wait, you mean… 'Mr. Lin Wei,' the one Snow Lotus and Rita keep talking about?" Alvitr finally understood, surprised. "I thought he was critically injured, recovering at the orphanage."

"She was at Schicksal this whole time?!" The first Valkyrie gasped, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "A hero who braved danger, overcame impossible odds, now critically injured… A tragic, beauty figure in need of protection!"

"Ahem," Alvitr coughed, deciding against commenting.

"Hey, Alvitr said 'Mister.' He's a guy!" the second Valkyrie said, nudging her friend. "Wipe your drool. What 'tragic beauty'? I told you to stop reading those trashy novels…"

"A guy? Even better!" The first Valkyrie's excitement intensified. She grabbed her companions, pulling them along. "Everyone's talking about it! Hurry, hurry, we'll miss it!"

"Slow down!" Alvitr chuckled, joining the throng. She was curious about this Lin Wei, too.

Despite their haste, they were late. The Immortal Blades' quarters were far from the third hangar. By the time they arrived, it was packed.

"Aw, man…" one Valkyrie groaned, trying to see over the crowd. "I can't see anything!"

Just as she was about to give up, Alvitr's surprised voice rang out. "The transport ship's doors are opening!"

She turned to see Alvitr calmly holding up her phone, recording the scene. "I can see!"

As the doors opened, Lin Wei stared at the crowd, dumbfounded. What is this? Durandal's fan club? But she's not even here!

Then, a blue meteor streaked across the sky, passing over the transport ship, heading towards the heart of the floating island.

"Okay, I get it." Seeing the girls turn to watch Durandal's departure, Lin Wei relaxed. They were waiting for her. Makes sense…

But before he could fully exhale, the crowd turned back to him, their excitement even greater.

Lin Wei took a step back. Creepy.

"Rita, what a lively welcome! Are they all here for you?" he asked, gesturing towards the crowd, feigning confusion. "They can't be here for me. Can they?" Is Otto pulling out the "grand welcome" treatment? Acting so humble?

"You misunderstand, Mr. Lin Wei. The Overseer issued no such instructions," Rita replied smoothly. "They must be here of their own volition. Honestly, I'm surprised by the turnout myself."

Lin Wei scoffed, unconvinced.

Rita sighed, her smile fading, her voice turning serious. "Every Valkyrie here witnessed your actions on the battlefield, Mr. Lin Wei. They remember. How could they not be moved?"

Lin Wei paused, touched by her sincerity, but still skeptical. "…Only a handful of people saw me, including you. How did it spread so quickly?"

"It seems you haven't realized the magnitude of your actions, Mr. Lin Wei." Seeing his softened demeanor, Rita smiled again. She projected the satellite image of the aftermath onto a nearby screen. "Everyone who witnessed that spectacle, everyone who saw this image, would be curious, even awestruck, by the one who created such a miracle."

Lin Wei himself was startled by the image. He knew, from Yae Sakura, that he'd caused quite a stir. But seeing it from a satellite's perspective was a different matter.

I did that?

I caused that much destruction?

And I'm still alive?

Lin Wei felt a cold sweat. He'd been a little too reckless.

"Besides Immortal Blades, Valkyries from around the world came to assist. They all saw the phenomenon, and heard from Snow Lotus about everything that happened before you arrived." Seeing Lin Wei's stunned silence, Rita was amused. "And then, there's Anna's return…"

"Anna?" Lin Wei snapped to attention. Why mention Anna? Accidental, or a probe? He schooled his expression, his mind racing, considering the possibilities—especially the bad ones.

"Yes. After all, Miss Jell Meister and Miss Anna Schariac were the only ones who witnessed the entire event up close." Rita, oblivious to his reaction, continued, "After returning safely, Anna shared her account with everyone. That's how the full story, and your image… became more… well-defined."

She smiled, her gaze lingering on him. "Even… heroic." His earlier fear hadn't diminished her respect. It had made his bravery seem even more real.

Lin Wei, noticing her subtle expression, processed the information. This widespread dissemination of his deeds was no accident. Anna had played a role. He could guess her motive—making him famous might deter Otto.

That silly girl… he sighed. She'd tried her best. But…

"How are they doing?" he asked casually, trying to gauge if his connection to Anna had been revealed. This was crucial before meeting Otto.

"…Anna was recently promoted to Squad Snow Lotus captain," Rita replied carefully, her answer deliberately vague.

"I see." Lin Wei sighed, then gestured towards the hangar. "Are they here now?" He needed to know if Anna had been recalled to HQ. It would determine his approach with Otto. He watched Rita closely, searching for any flicker of deception.

His gaze, perfectly measured, didn't raise any alarms. Rita simply explained, "The battle just ended. The residual Honkai energy is still unstable. Snow Lotus is monitoring the site, eliminating any remaining threats. They haven't returned to HQ."

"Is that so?" Seeing nothing amiss, Lin Wei looked away, feigning surprise and disappointment. "I thought, given their performance, they'd be promoted to Immortal Blades." He was still probing.

Rita was sharp. Trusting her blindly was dangerous.

"You jest, Mr. Lin Wei. Snow Lotus is an elite squad. They're not subordinate to Immortal Blades. There's no 'promotion' involved." Rita smiled. "Actually, HQ did consider transferring some Snow Lotus members to Immortal Blades, but they refused." She sounded slightly regretful.

She was fond of the Valkyries she'd commanded. But the grieving, exhausted girls wanted to stay together. She couldn't force them.

Rita had noticed Anna's distress upon her return, the same grief and anger shared by her squad, only more intense. Choosing not to pry, Rita had missed a crucial piece of information.

With a little prompting, she could have uncovered the truth. But the opportunity had been lost. As for Durandal, she might have noticed more, but wouldn't volunteer information.

Lin Wei's careful probing revealed nothing.

"I see," he said, dropping the subject. Pushing too hard would be counterproductive. While he hadn't gotten a definitive answer, he didn't suspect Rita of lying.

There were too many people outside, including Immortal Blades members—they weren't as tight-lipped as Rita. Lying would be pointless.

Honesty, on the other hand, might make him hesitate to act rashly.

Lin Wei took a deep breath, composing himself, then turned towards the hangar door.

He wanted to see how this "den of tigers," and the infamous Otto Apocalypse, would "welcome" him.