"Concessions"

It had all happened so fast.

Many in Arc City, going about their evening routines, were unaware of their brush with death.

For others, however, it was a different story.

"That bastard!" Jackal, having witnessed the dramatic turn of events on her screen, felt no relief, only a surge of anger. If the missile had hit, she would have been less furious.

It was the near miss, the blatant display of power, that enraged her. It was a classic move, one she, as a frequent victim, recognized all too well.

…

Schicksal HQ

"Bravo! A truly spectacular performance. Worthy of the strongest Valkyrie." Lin Wei clapped slowly, marveling at the display on the screen, which had turned to static after the bright flash.

He wondered if he'd inadvertently stolen someone else's thunder.

He didn't care about the shock or awe this "fireworks show" might have caused his friends in World Serpent. It had been a necessary measure.

"Durandal has never disappointed us," Otto said, his composure returning after the near disaster. His voice held a hint of mockery. "You, on the other hand, are full of surprises." How did Anti-Entropy not tear you apart?

"You flatter me, Overseer," Lin Wei replied smoothly, accepting the "compliment" at face value.

Such thick skin, Otto thought, deciding to abandon the pleasantries. "This charade is over. What do you want?" He wanted to kill this infuriating man, more than he'd ever wanted to kill anyone. But the Key of Corruption, and its unpredictable nature, stayed his hand. Time to negotiate.

"What do you mean, Overseer?" Lin Wei remained impassive. "Be more specific."

"Don't play coy." Otto sneered. "I admit, I can't touch you right now. But you can't touch me either. We're both trapped, unwilling to risk the consequences. Isn't that your entire point?" He'd quickly grasped Lin Wei's intentions.

"Such honesty, Overseer. I'm honored." Lin Wei chuckled. "It seems Lady Durandal's heroics have given you… confidence." Don't push it. Even without Durandal, you can't win.

"Your words are as tiresome as ever," Otto retorted. "Fine, I admit, you have the upper hand. With Durandal gone, you could kill me, even destroy Schicksal HQ, and escape."

"But you haven't. You're just sitting there, playing word games… how… amusing."

Damn it, he's right. Lin Wei cursed his careless remark about Durandal. He'd given Otto an opening. A focused Otto was a dangerous Otto.

"If you intend to continue this stalemate, I'm happy to oblige," Otto continued, his voice laced with false concern. "But… I'm made of Soulium. I don't tire or hunger. While I can endure this… conversation indefinitely, it's hardly fair to you. Perhaps we should… conclude this… quickly. What do you say?" What do you want? Name your price.

Trying to be the good guy now? Lin Wei sneered internally.

"A sound proposal, Overseer. But 'conversation?'" He chuckled. "Such a… gentle euphemism for this… tense standoff. Your mastery of language is truly… admirable." 

Twisting words, downplaying the threat, and now acting like the reasonable one? Please.

Otto frowned. Don't push your luck.

"Such… humility, Overseer, is truly inspiring," Lin Wei said, his voice smooth and casual, as if reminiscing.

"Just moments ago, you treated me like a prisoner, then tried to kill me. If it weren't for my… self-preservation instincts, I'd be dead or captured. And now, you're offering… polite conversation. It seems… there's truth to the saying…" He paused, his smile turning cold, his voice sharp and firm, delivering a verbal slap to Otto's face.

"One needs the capacity for violence, even evil. One doesn't have to use it, but one needs to have it."

I don't want to hurt you, but I can. You're the one who should be afraid, not me. Don't act like you have the upper hand.

Otto's expression hardened. "Are you deliberately provoking me?" His voice held a hint of menace, but he felt a pang of frustration.

Lin Wei was right. He was out of options.

"Provoking? You've been the aggressor, Overseer. I've been trying to de-escalate this situation. And now, you accuse me of provocation? How… unjust."

Here we go again… Otto sneered. Unjust? You?

"It seems you still misunderstand me, Overseer. Allow me to clarify." Lin Wei conjured Pandora again, letting it spin in his hand. "Do you really think this is all I have, Overseer? Do you think the Key of Corruption is my only weapon?"

Otto stared at the black box. "It's… formidable. But…"

"Formidable is enough, Overseer. Thank you for your honesty." Lin Wei put away Pandora, spreading his hands. "Even without the Key of Corruption… do you think it would be difficult for me to be your enemy, given my… knowledge of Schicksal, and of you, Overseer?"

Before Otto could respond, Void Archive interjected, "Madman or not, he's trouble. Anyone who crosses him… they're in for a rough time."

Otto ignored Void Archive, sneering at Lin Wei. "Your cunning is… impressive. But it's not enough." He'd never been outmaneuvered. Without the Key of Corruption, this man was no threat.

"I'm just a… resourceful individual, Overseer. Hardly a match for you." Lin Wei chuckled, accepting the insult, then continued, his voice turning sharp. "But… my resourcefulness, plus the Key of Corruption… what do you think now, Overseer?"

"…Such… sincerity, Mr. Lin Wei, is truly… touching." Otto was tired of his games.

"But, Overseer," Lin Wei continued, his voice smooth and calm, "before today, before Manila… you didn't even know I existed, did you?"

Otto's eyes narrowed.

"A nobody like me, with these two weapons, could have easily attacked Schicksal, just like you attacked me. Do you think you'd be standing here now?" Lin Wei smiled, his eyes glinting dangerously.

"And Schicksal, even Lady Durandal, wouldn't even know who to blame." You're alive only because I spared you.

"…I should thank you for your… mercy, then," Otto said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Indeed, you should." Lin Wei accepted his "gratitude" without hesitation. "Now you understand my 'goodwill' in Manila. I could have killed you, but I only destroyed your Soulium body. I spared your life."

"Such a convenient… coincidence," Otto sneered, pointing out the flaw in his narrative. "That we were both in Manila, that you managed to disrupt my plans so effortlessly… playing the victim after reaping all the benefits… do you think I'm a fool, Mr. Lin Wei?"

"Benefits? The only benefit was avoiding a direct conflict with you." Lin Wei's voice turned sharp. "And avoiding the Key of Corruption… is that your benefit, or mine, Overseer? Think carefully before you answer."

"You…!"

Lin Wei interrupted him again. "Treating me like a prisoner, despite your 'hospitality'… I've been making concessions, Overseer. Why do you keep accusing me?"

Otto seethed. Concessions? You? Even if it were true, so what? He'd dared to obstruct Otto's plans.

"It seems you still misunderstand my goodwill, Overseer." Lin Wei sighed dramatically. "Then allow me to offer you a… gift." He paused, then smiled. "I know the location of the Second Divine Key."