Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

Fu Hua's surprise caught Otto off guard.

Does this mean she's not as close to him as I thought?

"You weren't aware of this… connection?" He could tell her surprise was genuine.

This was… good news. It meant Fu Hua didn't know Welt as well as he'd feared, making her less likely to be a threat.

He relaxed slightly.

"No, that's not important…" Fu Hua, recovering from her shock, said urgently, "You can't bring him to Schicksal HQ!"

She couldn't believe the reckless, unpredictable Lin Wei had been captured so easily.

She recalled Bronya's recent anomaly, also connected to Lin Wei, an incident Otto had also noticed, sending her to investigate.

Did he cause trouble in Anti-Entropy, and now he's targeting Schicksal? She was worried.

Lin Wei had already revealed the Key of Corruption during his attack on Anti-Entropy. And Welt had confirmed its existence, even revealing his own identity to do so.

If this was another one of Lin Wei's schemes, allowing the Key of Corruption into Schicksal HQ would be a disaster. The floating island, humanity's most advanced technological marvel, could fall into his hands.

But what was his goal? She couldn't understand.

Destroying Schicksal HQ would only cause global chaos and create countless enemies. Lin Wei was reckless, but not malicious. He was a gambler, yes, but a calculating one, always with a specific objective in mind. He wouldn't take such a risk without a good reason.

Is he trying to strike before the Key of Corruption becomes widely known, catching Otto off guard? It was a stretch, but she couldn't think of another explanation.

She had to stop him.

"Oh?" Otto, intrigued by her sudden outburst, decided to probe further. "You think… who shouldn't come to Schicksal HQ? 'Lin Wei,' or 'Welt'?"

"Cough, cough…" Fu Hua was about to reply when Welt's muffled cough from the next room startled her. She quickly moved to an empty cabin before continuing. "I don't understand why you think they're the same person." Welt's warning had reminded her to be cautious. Both "Lin Wei" and "Welt" should be irrelevant to her now, yet Welt had contacted her specifically about this. He likely suspected her involvement. She had to be careful.

"There's a reason, of course." Otto wasn't suspicious of the sudden change in location. He was paranoid, but not delusional. "Before the eruption, Rita was investigating the disappearance of several high-ranking Anti-Entropy members. She uncovered some… interesting information in Singapore."

"Singapore!" Fu Hua's heart sank. She remembered her encounter with Rita there. Did my interference expose Lin Wei, leading to this?

If so…

She felt a pang of guilt.

"You seem surprised. Is there something… you'd like to share?" Rita had omitted Fu Hua's presence in Singapore from her report. Otto was curious about her reaction.

"No, just… too many coincidences," she replied vaguely, not wanting to reveal her involvement.

"Indeed." Otto agreed. The timing, the location, the connection to both Anti-Entropy and the Honkai eruption… it was suspicious.

He briefly recounted his failed attempt to capture the World Serpent agent in Manila, how Lin Wei had interfered, and Rita's subsequent investigation.

"So, you're saying this eruption is also connected to Anti-Entropy?" Fu Hua asked, her mind elsewhere. Compared to this revelation, the fact that Lin Wei had been involved in Otto's pursuit of a World Serpent agent was insignificant.

Just minutes ago, Welt had expressed concern about his partners' sudden silence. Now, Otto had provided a possible explanation, and it was… disturbing.

What's happening in Anti-Entropy? The recent events, starting with the 3rd Eruption, had changed Anti-Entropy into something… unfamiliar.

"Unfortunately, we don't have concrete proof," Otto said, his tone regretful, indirectly confirming her suspicions. Then he changed tack. "But you don't seem surprised that this 'Lin Wei' was there." He was still trying to gauge her reaction, to assess the risk. He couldn't afford any surprises, not with K-423.

"No, he can't be Welt," Fu Hua said firmly.

"Oh?" Otto was intrigued, waiting for her explanation.

"Otto, I think I understand why you're telling me all this," Fu Hua said, seeing through his charade. She'd figured out his game. "You ordered me to infiltrate St. Freya, to monitor Kiana. A year ago, you asked me to investigate Lin Wei. I followed your instructions. If you still suspect me of colluding with Welt, with Anti-Entropy, then find someone else for this task." She was tired of being his pawn.

She couldn't imagine betraying Kiana and the others. She'd grown fond of them.

"My dear Fu Hua, there's no need to be so… defensive." Otto, a master manipulator himself, wasn't fooled by her outburst. He studied her eyes, a hint of amusement in his own. "We've worked together for five hundred years. I wouldn't doubt your loyalty over such a minor incident. Rest assured, my promise remains unchanged. After this mission is complete, Schicksal will protect Shenzhou. Forever…"

"Always the same empty promises…" she muttered, annoyed, yet also resigned. She couldn't escape her oath.

"I'm genuinely concerned about you, my friend," Otto chuckled. "I wouldn't want Anti-Entropy to… manipulate you." He knew how easily she could be influenced.

"Do you think everyone is as… malleable as you, Otto?" she retorted. Lin Wei, despite his manipulative tendencies, had always been respectful, never making unreasonable demands. He wasn't as shameless, as greedy, as Otto.

"Such harsh words. You wound me, Fu Hua." He feigned hurt.

"…How do you intend to deal with this eruption?" She changed the subject, not wanting to argue. "According to the Principal, the situation in Southeast Asia is critical." Why was he hoarding his strongest Valkyries instead of deploying them to contain the disaster?

"Don't worry, my friend," he chuckled, bringing the conversation back to Lin Wei. "With our… noble Herrscher of Reason on the scene, the situation is already under control."

Fu Hua stared at him. Should I just bring Welt here and let you two talk face to face?

Otto sent her the detailed reports, including the satellite image. She stared at it, stunned. "He did this?" She couldn't believe it. She'd seen how weak he'd been just a year ago. How could he have gained such power?

Could the Key of Corruption do this? She doubted it.

Was his Stigmata that powerful? She wasn't sure.

"Are you certain… this is Lin Wei?" she asked, her voice filled with doubt. She wanted to know what he'd been through, what had transformed him so completely.

She'd been surprised by his seemingly selfless act, so unlike his usual manipulative nature.

But then, she remembered their first meeting, his words, his actions, and it… made sense, somehow. He was a complicated, contradictory man.

She reviewed the data again. It's not entirely unbelievable that he'd be mistaken for Welt…

He's such a strange man… she thought, rubbing her temples.

"Of course. Durandal retrieved him from Manila. He'll be arriving at HQ soon." Otto chuckled, pleased by her confusion. "It will be… an interesting reunion, don't you think?"

"You shouldn't do this, Otto. He's…" She almost called him a "madman," but it felt disrespectful, considering what he'd done. She couldn't think of a more appropriate word. She suddenly felt conflicted.

Revealing the truth about the Key of Corruption would mean certain death for Lin Wei, now in Durandal's custody. She couldn't allow that.

But allowing him to enter Schicksal HQ with the Key of Corruption would put Otto in danger. She couldn't allow that either.

But if she didn't reveal the truth, how could she prevent this disaster? She was trapped between a rock and a hard place.

"Otto, I request a transfer back to HQ," she said, hoping to mediate between them, to prevent a conflict.

"I'm afraid that's not possible," Otto replied, his suspicions aroused by her unusual eagerness. "K-423 is too important. You can't leave her side." He assumed she was trying to help Welt. He wouldn't allow it.

"You…!" She was exasperated by his distrust. Her good intentions had backfired.

But she knew arguing would be pointless. "Good luck, then," she said, her voice filled with resignation. She'd tried to prevent this conflict, but it seemed inevitable now.

She sighed, giving Otto a long, searching look, then ended the call.

Otto frowned, puzzled by her look, but he couldn't ask her about it now.

Amber entered, announcing Durandal's imminent arrival.

"Excellent. Have Bianka…" He paused, then changed his mind. "Have Bianka take our guest to the old HQ." He remembered Fu Hua's warning, though he didn't understand it. Better safe than sorry.

"Yes, Overseer," Amber replied, surprised by the unusual request.

"And Amber, assemble a medical team. I want our… guest… to receive the best possible care," he said, smiling. Whether he was "Lin Wei" or "He Kun" didn't really matter.

"Yes, Overseer."

What mattered was the information Lin Wei possessed, especially about World Serpent. He would recover his losses.

But the simulated Fenghuang Down won't work on him… he thought, annoyed. I'll have to wait until he wakes up…