Chapter 290

"Miss Rita, you can be a little happier; the benefits at our St. Freya Academy are very good."

"Heh, hehe, thank you for your concern. If you have any need in the future, please feel free to command Rita."

"You really don't need to be this depressed. Look on the bright side: although you've lost Durandal, we still have Theresa here. Plus, you won't have to serve as the black glove for that guy across the way anymore; you can focus on being a proper Valkyrie and a (not so) proper maid."

"!!!"

Rita blinked her eyes sluggishly.

What this person said actually seems to make sense~

Although I'm afraid I won't be able to fight side-by-side with Lady Durandal for a while, there is still the world's cutest Lady Theresa at St. Freya Academy!

And there's no need to do those unspeakable, dirty jobs for Otto anymore. As a maid, perhaps the trash she has to clean up in the future won't need to contain human corpses and blood.

Ah, this...

Suddenly, I feel like my future is bright!

"I understand, Lord Bai Ge. Thank you for waking me up."

"Mm, you're welcome. And it seems that from now on, the dormitory chores can be handled by a dedicated person. How nice~"

Bai Ge patted Rita's shoulder and chuckled lightly.

"My friend, your way with words is also quite impressive."

Otto raised an eyebrow in surprise. Although he didn't hold high expectations for Rita's loyalty, he truly didn't expect Bai Mouren to be able to shake her resolve so quickly.

"Ahem! Now that Rita has been given to you, shouldn't you give me the beacon for the Key of the Thousand Worlds?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? And when did I become friends with you? Please don't try to get close to me, Archbishop Otto Apocalypse."

"Heh~ Alright, Student Bai Ge. But going back on your word isn't a good thing. Didn't we agree..."

Otto tapped his fingers on the table, revealing a very dangerous expression, yet Bai Ge interrupted him directly.

"We didn't agree. I requested two S-rank Valkyries, and you only gave me one, didn't you? However, I will allow you to pay for the remaining portion in another way."

"Tsk! You Shenzhou people have a saying: 'A man's heart is never satisfied, just as a snake tries to swallow an elephant.' Don't be too greedy."

Otto showed clear displeasure.

The losses he suffered today were greater than the last few hundred years combined. For Otto, who had always kept everything in his hands to win alone while others suffered, this was something he was very unaccustomed to.

Bai Ge tossed the beacon in his hand and caught it.

"Didn't someone say in the last chapter that I could make Otto Apocalypse bleed heavily? Since you yourself allowed it, how could I live up to the Archbishop's good intentions?"

"Hmph, hahahaha~ Fine, fine, fine. Alright, tell me what else you want. But I must remind you, my patience has its limits, Student Bai Ge."

Otto said after laughing a few times.

His appearance made even Welt break out in a cold sweat, instinctively sensing danger and ominousness.

However, conversely, Welt also felt a deep sense of admiration for Bai Ge at this moment.

He admitted that if he were in Bai Ge's position, he would never be able to remain so calm and indifferent; he probably would have already given in and chosen to exchange the beacon with Otto.

Yet, this was actually Otto's goal.

His angry laughter just now was nothing more than acting.

By leveraging the fact that others didn't know how important the beacon of the Key of the Thousand Worlds was to him, he disguised the illusion that his bottom line had been reached—that if you don't stop now, I will really turn against you.

Thereby trying to make someone give up on demanding more.

After all, if there were a choice, no one in this world would want to turn against Otto Apocalypse.

Unfortunately, the person sitting in front of him now was not Welt, but Bai Ge, a young man who was incomparably clear about the value of the Key of the Thousand Worlds beacon to him.

And, well, Shenzhou people...

Can eat anything, but they cannot suffer a loss.

Bai Ge: "You think you can bluff me with this and make me stop? You're thinking too wishfully, Otto. I've already said that today I will make you bleed heavily!"

A flash of greed crossed the young man's eyes.

"I want that core you are currently holding."

"Hmph, the Gem of Desire? Student Bai Ge, you don't really think that just because you've mastered the Gem of Haste, you can master another Herrscher core, do you? Be careful of playing with fire and getting burned."

Otto snorted coldly, but this request did not exceed his expectations; he only regretted that he seemed to have no Herrscher cores left now.

"That's not something you need to worry about, Otto."

"Alright then, I will send someone to deliver it immediately."

"Don't be in such a hurry. I actually have one more thing I want. I can give you a chance to choose one of two... of course, you can also give it to me along with the Gem of Desire."

A flash of cunning crossed Bai Ge's eyes. These words also surprised Otto; the young man in front of him was greedier than he had imagined.

And... it had been hundreds of years since anyone had made him take a multiple-choice test, which actually piqued Otto's interest.

"Oh? What else do you want?"

"The first Divine Key you possess, the Key of Revelation—Void Archives. I want it."

Bai Ge said without hesitation.

"... That is truly an unexpected answer."

Otto raised an eyebrow, truly surprised.

He took out a cube that emitted golden light from his bosom; this was the Void Archives.

A Divine Key crafted from the core of the Herrscher of Reason from the previous civilization, capable of replicating weapons and items whose construction principles the user understands, even other Divine Keys can be replicated.

However, the power of replicated Divine Keys is far inferior to the originals. At the same time, its interior is a knowledge space that extends almost infinitely, storing a massive amount of knowledge from the previous civilization.

It was precisely by relying on the knowledge of the previous civilization stored in the Void Archives that Otto had been able to develop Schicksal's technology far beyond the outside world over the past few hundred years, to the point where even Anti-Entropy, with genius doctors like Einstein and Tesla, found it difficult to catch up.

"It's truly curious, why did you suddenly set your sights on my Divine Key?"

"What's there to be curious about? It's precisely because it's a Divine Key that I want it."

Bai Ge took out the greatsword Shamash and tapped its orange-red blade, speaking as if it were a matter of course.

"Alright, that is indeed a simple and normal reason."

Otto was not overly suspicious this time; after all, a Divine Key is a precious item that is naturally coveted if targeted.

However, he felt that Bai Ge might have made a mistake this time.

The Void Archives is different from other Divine Keys; it does not provide much of an increase to the holder's own strength.

(After all, the goal of the Void Archives' existence is the inheritance of knowledge. Compared to its construction ability, the technological knowledge of the previous civilization contained within is the most precious treasure.)

Thinking of this, Otto curled his lips into a wicked smile.

He decided to hand the Void Archives over to Bai Ge. After all, this was the price he had intended to pay Kevin Kaslana in exchange for the Key of the Thousand Worlds beacon, which was entirely within his acceptable range.

(Once he understands the value of the Void Archives, he might be very disappointed. By then, even if he hands it over to Anti-Entropy or uses it to develop St. Freya, it won't pose a threat to me.)

After all, he had long since backed up the knowledge within the Void Archives, and having started so many years ahead, it was impossible for Anti-Entropy and St. Freya to catch up to his pace within at least a dozen years.

And according to his predictions, his long-cherished wish would soon enter its final stage.

(This young man Bai Ge has already... well, he has completely escaped my control. Now, I cannot let him continue to increase his strength, so handing the Gem of Desire to him is not a good idea.)

Otto inexplicably believed that if it were Bai Ge...

He might really be able to master a second core.

And this was something he felt he needed to prevent.

Conversely, from Otto's own perspective, the only reason he wouldn't give the Void Archives was probably just that "this is an old friend I've used for over five hundred years."

But such sentiment alone could not restrain a rational villain like him.

(Handing this old friend of mine to Bai Ge might even cause him a bit of trouble.)

After all, the Void Archives is a Divine Key with self-awareness, and it had been in the hands of a villain like Otto Apocalypse for over five hundred years; it had undoubtedly learned some of his schemes.

(It's truly something to look forward to. I hope you won't end up like me five hundred years ago, almost having your body occupied by it.)

Thinking of this, Otto revealed a look of pleasure. He placed the golden cube of the Void Archives on the dining table and pushed it in front of Bai Ge.

"... It seems you have made your choice, Otto."

"Yes, Student Bai Ge. I'll leave this old friend of mine to you. I hope you can use it well."

"Of course. Here, the beacon is yours."

Bai Ge said, tossing the Key of the Thousand Worlds beacon in his hand, and Otto immediately caught it with quick eyes and hands.

Looking at the object he had dreamed of in his hand, even he couldn't help but feel a bit excited and thrilled at this moment.

(Finally! Finally, the most important piece of the puzzle has been obtained by me. With this, the only thing left is for K423 to complete her awakening as the Herrscher of the Void, but that is only a matter of time.)

(My long-cherished wish is finally about to be fulfilled! Ah~ Kallen! This time, I will definitely be able to truly resurrect you!)

Bai Ge glanced at Otto again.

He also felt a little bit of admiration in his heart.

This sentiment, which had not faded in the slightest after five hundred years, could only be said to be worthy of the God of Pure Love.