Was the reason Vill-V wanted Planck because of her position within Schicksal's North American Branch?
But Edison was the one who truly held power there. The nominal head of Schicksal's North American Branch—Professor Planck—was more like Edison's advisor, and a link to Schicksal's Council.
And now that Professor Planck's whereabouts were unknown, could that have anything to do with Vill-V?
It seemed necessary to arrange for Reanna Brigantia to conduct a thorough investigation into Professor Planck's disappearance.
Otto did not need long to consider these matters. He quickly agreed without hesitation. "Very well. I will assign them to your team—under the title of General Affairs Knight of Schicksal's North American Branch."
As he spoke, Otto took out a large silver greatsword—the insignia of the General Affairs Knight—and handed it to Vill-V.
The General Affairs Knights of Schicksal were an administrative body independent of the dioceses, tasked with supervising integrity and handling various affairs within them.
In other words, it was a position that could do anything—or nothing at all. A leisurely post.
"Oh?" Vill-V revealed a surprised expression as she accepted the greatsword. "Your Excellency the Bishop, won't you ask what I intend to have them do?"
"Haha, there is an old saying in Shenzhou: 'A word once spoken cannot be chased down by four horses.' Since a beautiful young lady wishes to travel with her friends, how could I possibly ruin such a fine occasion?"
The restaurant was filled with a harmonious atmosphere.
Just then, a Valkyrie in full attire entered, bent down, and whispered a few words into Otto's ear.
Otto's gaze tightened slightly, and his brows furrowed. After a few seconds of thought, he looked back at Vill-V.
"My apologies, my friend. I'm afraid that promise can no longer be fulfilled."
Seeing the confusion on Vill-V's face, Otto spread his hands helplessly. "It is not that I refuse to give them to you. It is that... they are no longer under my control."
"Schicksal's North American Branch... has declared independence."
Otto took a heavy mobile computer from the intelligence Valkyrie and opened its LCD display, presenting to Vill-V the message from Schicksal's North American Branch. A bold Anti-Entropy logo stood out against a black background with white text—their declaration of independence.
"They now call themselves—Anti-Entropy."
After speaking, Otto calmly observed Vill-V, curious to see her reaction.
Yet Vill-V appeared utterly composed. She merely glanced toward Reanna Brigantia beside her.
Instead, it was Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, Reanna Brigantia, who wore a bewildered expression. Not long ago, several core members of Schicksal's North American Branch had been laughing and chatting with her. How had they suddenly turned into rebels?
Otto could understand Vill-V's composure. After all, she was someone from the future.
"Although I cannot give you those two individuals, my promise still stands. You may propose another request, my friend."
Otto did not swallow his word because of the North American Branch's sudden independence. Generously, he declared Vill-V's previous request void and invited her to choose again.
"Hmm..." Vill-V crossed her arms, wearing a troubled expression.
"Ah! Then how about this!" An exclamation mark practically appeared above Vill-V's head as she clapped her hands. "I won't make things difficult for Bishop Otto. I wish to seek out the Azure Empyrea and request a specialty from Mount Taixu—Hua!"
"Hua?" Reanna Brigantia looked puzzled. As Otto's most capable Valkyrie over the past century, she knew of the relationship between the Azure Empyrea and Bishop Otto. Yet she had not seen that immortal in a very long time—the one whose sheer strength once made even her, an S-rank Valkyrie wielding a Divine Key, feel powerless.
Come to think of it, this was the first time she had heard of Mount Taixu having any specialty besides Spring That Never Ages.
"Heh." A peculiar glint flashed through Otto's eyes before he smiled and nodded. "Although I do not know what sort of rare immortal creature this Hua may be, I will do my utmost... to request it from the Azure Empyrea on your behalf."
Swirling the red wine in his glass, Otto continued, "However, the Azure Empyrea acts as she pleases and follows no convention. She roams the world freely, without fixed residence. In the short term... I may not encounter her again."
In simple terms, the Azure Empyrea did not carry a phone.
"If she treasures it dearly and refuses to part with it, then there is nothing I can do."
Vill-V nodded in understanding. "Naturally. Seizing what others cherish is no noble act. If all else fails, I would also accept being taught how to play the erhu and mix tracks."
"Hahaha. If it is the erhu, I know a thing or two myself. There would be no need to trouble the immortal."
Reanna Brigantia could not comprehend the calm displayed by the two before her, yet she was thoroughly shaken.
It was one thing for Bishop Otto to remain composed in the face of major events—that was his usual demeanor. But Vill-V had only just acknowledged Doctor Tesla as her mentor, and in the blink of an eye, Doctor Tesla had declared independence alongside the North American Branch. Should she not be shocked at all?
The rebellion of Schicksal's North American Branch was no trivial matter. At worst, it could spark a Third World War.
Yet Otto was still chatting and laughing with Miss Vill-V instead of urgently arranging how to deal with the rebellion. Reanna Brigantia could no longer sit still.
"Lord Otto!"
Hearing her speak, Vill-V seemed to realize the gravity of the situation only then and turned to Otto. "Your Excellency the Bishop, then... do you intend to take action against Anti-Entropy?"
"Take action? No, no, no. How could I bear to do such a thing to my friends?"
Otto shook his head. With Vill-V as a source of future intelligence, he was already able to deduce many things.
For example, from Vill-V's attitude, he could see that even if he resolved at this very moment to destroy Anti-Entropy, it would still exist in the future. That meant any such attempt would ultimately be futile.
Otto had originally intended to reclaim control over the North American Branch. In the face of the Honkai, humanity could not afford internal strife. All strength must be unified to have any hope of victory.
But now that he knew certain pieces of future intelligence, he would no longer adopt the original strategy. Instead, he would change tactics.
What puzzled him, however, was why Katerina—wielding two Divine Keys—had failed to suppress those people of Anti-Entropy. It was most intriguing. Could there truly be someone in this world capable of standing against the Judgment of Shamash? Edison? Welt?
Or perhaps Welt's charm was so overwhelming that even Katerina had fallen under his sway?
"Reanna Brigantia, make preparations. Contact Schicksal's North American Branch... no, it should now be called Anti-Entropy. Contact the headquarters of Anti-Entropy. Inform them that their friend—Otto Apocalypse, Archbishop of Schicksal—will pay them a visit tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Vill-V could not help but complain inwardly.
As everyone knows, Otto fires Honkai Fission Missiles at his friends.