Threats and Counter-Threats

Amber practically fled the oppressive atmosphere of the meeting room, only relaxing after putting a safe distance between herself and the door.

"Whew…" She clutched her chest, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart, before turning her attention to the task Otto had assigned her.

"Amber." A hand suddenly landed on her shoulder, making her jump.

"Oh, Lady Durandal…" She blushed, relieved to see it was only Durandal.

"Are you alright, Amber?" Durandal asked, surprised by her flustered state. She'd never seen Amber so… emotional.

"I'm fine!" Amber insisted, adjusting her glasses. She glanced nervously behind Durandal, then continued, "The Overseer asked me to prepare a banquet, but…" She hesitated, unable to articulate the strange, unsettling feeling she'd experienced in the meeting room.

Durandal, seeing her unease, understood. "It's alright, Amber. You can go and rest."

"But… the Overseer gave me a task," Amber protested.

"It's his order. There's a meeting in progress. They don't want to be disturbed." Durandal shook her head gently. "He'll contact you later."

She knew Amber had been used as a pawn in their little game of one-upmanship. It was no wonder she was so shaken. If she'd actually started preparing a banquet… Durandal shuddered. The poor girl.

"Don't worry. Even I was dismissed," she said, smiling reassuringly, patting Amber's shoulder. "I'll be here. Nothing will happen."

"Alright." Amber considered this, then bowed slightly and left.

Watching her enter the elevator, Durandal sighed, running a hand through her hair. She was just as frustrated.

She pulled out her communicator.

"Rita… yes, there were some… complications, but the situation is stable… how's Yuno? Is she alright?"

"…Me? Don't ask…"

"No, really, everything's under control. It's just… complicated."

"Don't worry, I'll intervene if necessary."

"By the way, Rita, I'm on standby, with nothing to do. Could you send me that book I was reading? I'll catch up while I wait… yes, that one. Thanks."

"No need for snacks or drinks… no coffee… no juice!"

A few minutes later, Durandal sat by the window, reading her poetry book. The elegant words soothed her troubled mind.

…

"I thought… how… disappointing," Lin Wei said, his voice laced with mock sorrow, as if his sincerity had been rejected.

What's the greatest insult?

Throwing someone's own words back at them.

And that's precisely what Lin Wei was doing, using Otto's rhetoric against him.

The look on Otto's face was priceless. Lin Wei savored his victory.

"Your silence, Overseer, suggests… remorse? Perhaps even an impending apology?" He smiled magnanimously. "No need to be so formal."

"How… generous of you," Otto replied, his smile strained. Then, his voice turned cold. "Hand over the Key of Corruption."

He was done playing games. This annoying newcomer, empowered by the Key of Corruption, was a threat.

He had to neutralize him, now.

"Indeed, I am generous," Lin Wei said, his smile widening, as he watched Otto's aggressive posture. "I saved your life, even after you tried to rewrite my mind. Such selfless generosity! And you don't even thank me. Instead, you order me around…" His smile turned cold. "Overseer, aren't you being a little… rude?"

"Such sharp wit. But I'm not interested in word games. I'll say it again. Hand over the Key of Corruption." Otto's smile turned into a sneer. "No matter how much you posture, you won't change one simple fact. You can't kill me. Not that you wouldn't. You simply can't afford the consequences."

He leaned back in his chair, looking down at Lin Wei. "So, drop the act. Let's be practical. Hand over the Key of Corruption, and I'll pardon your insolence, even offer you… compensation."

"Oh? Such directness, Overseer? How… surprising." Lin Wei clapped slowly, feigning curiosity. "What kind of compensation? Or, since you prefer plain speaking, how do you intend to kill me after I've outlived my usefulness, after your… generous pardon?" He would match Otto's bluntness.

"You misunderstand me. But then again, your reluctance to actually harm me, despite your hostility, only proves the hollowness of your threats, doesn't it?" Otto sneered. "You're afraid. You have no leverage."

"Really?" Lin Wei's smile widened. "And you would dare harm me?"

"While I have no proof of this… 'Zeroth Power Output,' I see no reason to risk it." Otto chuckled. "But would you, a self-proclaimed hero, risk it?"

"Do tell," Lin Wei said, gesturing for him to continue.

Otto frowned at his calm demeanor, convinced it was a bluff. "Unfortunately, I just received a report. Another city has been destroyed by the Honkai, just like Manila… I had no choice but to order a Honkai fission bomb strike, leveling the entire area…" He paused, sighing dramatically. "A tragedy, isn't it?"

He was certain this would enrage Lin Wei. The hero who'd saved Manila wouldn't tolerate such a blatant threat, especially since Lin Wei seemed aware of Otto's past atrocities, like the New York incident. And Otto could do it again.

Otto, while disgusted by his own methods, waited for Lin Wei's reaction, ready to exploit any outburst, just like he'd done with Welt Yang.

But Lin Wei simply smiled coldly.

"Allow me to remind you, Overseer, the moment I set foot on this island with Pandora, you no longer control your weapons."

Otto frowned.

"But since you're so eager… I'll indulge you." Lin Wei waved a hand, activating the room's projector. A large world map appeared, dotted with lights representing cities. "Which city deserves to be… erased, Overseer?"

Otto stared at him, his gaze piercing, unsure of his intentions. Was he bluffing?

"Since you can't decide, I'll choose for you." Lin Wei conjured his own map projection. "A disaster on the scale of Manila… it has to be a major population center." He scanned the map, then chuckled. "How about… Arc City? Located in Shenzhou, far from Schicksal's reach, allowing the Honkai to spread unchecked…"

"You…?" Otto was stunned. He'd even prepared a justification.

"Since you have no objections, Arc City it is." Lin Wei snapped his fingers.

The screen flickered, a Valkyrie appearing in the center. "Overseer, what are your orders?"

"I, as Overseer of Schicksal, order you to launch a maximum-yield Honkai fission bomb at Arc City, Shenzhou!" Lin Wei said, turning towards the screen.

"What?!" Otto, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, jumped to his feet. "Lin Wei, what are you doing?!" "You dare impersonate me?!"

The Valkyrie stared at him, bewildered. "Overseer, why?"

Otto froze. She'd been looking at Lin Wei when she'd said "Overseer."

Before he could react, the screen changed, showing the Valkyrie's perspective. She was staring at her communicator, which displayed Otto's image. The screen-Otto was calmly explaining his decision: "I've just received intel that a catastrophic Honkai eruption has occurred in Arc City. A fission bomb strike is the only option."

Otto turned stiffly to Lin Wei, who was issuing the same order, his voice perfectly synchronized with the screen-Otto.

He's insane!

"That's an order. Do you intend to disobey?" Lin Wei glared at the screen, his voice filled with mock authority.

The terrified Valkyrie, unable to comprehend the situation, reluctantly accepted the order.

"Very well. Carry it out." Lin Wei nodded, ending the call, then stretched languidly, turning back to Otto with a smirk.

"Satisfied, Overseer?"

Otto stared at him, speechless. He didn't know how to respond without appearing weak. He knew he'd lost control. Completely.

"It seems you are. Excellent." Lin Wei chuckled, then asked casually, "Do you know… why I keep calling you 'Overseer?'"

Otto's expression darkened.

"Because, aside from that title, you're worthless to me." Lin Wei's smile vanished, his gaze turning cold and arrogant. "Without that title, you're nothing."

Otto was stunned. He hadn't expected such a swift and brutal retort.

"One last chance." Lin Wei returned to his seat, his voice icy. "Either drop the act and speak to me honestly, or when that missile hits Arc City…" He smiled coldly. "I'll kill you, and avenge them."

He pointed at Otto. "Choose."

In the distance, a fiery streak rose into the sky, heading towards the horizon.