"Hm?"
Under the moonlight, Hera looked up at the sky without saying a word but let out a slight hum.
Bronya frowned and asked,
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, really. I just felt like someone was thinking about me, quite intensely, too... Sorry, ever since my consciousness network spread across the globe, I've become especially sensitive to certain information. It happens sometimes. But it's probably nothing. After all, there are plenty of people on this planet thinking about me—it's not surprising."
"Sigurd once said there are only two things in this world that truly make him wary: one is the Honkai, and the other is Otto Apocalypse. Just as he said, you're becoming more and more terrifying."
"Oh? Is that Sigurd's assessment of me? I'm truly honored... Well then, here's what you wanted."
Hera handed over a small glass vial, and inside the transparent container were tiny, colorless capsules.
She explained, "According to your specifications—colorless, odorless, no detectable energy reactions, soluble in any liquid, and specifically effective against Honkai beast genes. Its potency is strong enough to work on a Fusion Warrior's physique. It should perfectly meet your needs... potent 'Camellia Poison.'"
Hera smiled slyly as she saw Bronya take hold of the vial, her smile growing even more fox-like in its cunning.
Bronya's usually indifferent expression shifted, a glimmer of determination flashing in her eyes.
Hera stroked her smooth, pale chin and asked, "By the way, why did you come to me for help? What made you think I'd assist you?"
Bronya shook the glass vial, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "You and Sigurd have a relationship that's both adversarial and cooperative. But he holds the one thing that could destroy you. Over the years, you've been forced to yield to him time and again, giving in to his demands. If you had the chance for a little revenge, you wouldn't refuse. Besides... you're a typical thrill-seeker. I don't believe you'd pass up on something this interesting."
Bronya calculated that Hera, while always willing to scheme against Sigurd, was also one of the few people who wouldn't want any harm to come to him, ensuring her cooperation and safety.
"Hmm, well said. As expected from someone trained by Sigurd himself. I admire you." Hera nodded, smiling warmly with a brightness that belied her true intentions.
"Be mindful of the dosage. Normally, one pill is sufficient. If you prefer to have your mind blown, two or three will do, but no more than that. With Sigurd's constitution, he'll be fine even if you go beyond three, but I'm afraid you might get... broken."
Bronya's expression shifted once again—though she had asked for this, she was, at her core, still an innocent young girl, and she wasn't quite ready to handle Hera's suggestive implications without showing some discomfort.
"…I'll be careful. In any case, I'll have him check the drug's properties before actual use."
"Huh? Wait a second, isn't this supposed to be for Sigurd? How can you let him find out?"
Hera blinked in surprise.
Bronya rolled her eyes.
"I just asked for a sample. There's no way I'd use it on him without confirming its safety first. As for Sigurd finding out... I'll come up with a good excuse. As long as you don't say anything, and I don't say anything, how would he ever know I plan to use it on him?"
"Uh... good point."
"That's it for now. I can't stay out too long to avoid exposure. I'm heading back. You can do as you please."
"Okay! Byebye~~"
As Hera waved her hand and said her cheerful goodbye, Bronya turned and vanished into the night.
"Humans really are fascinating. Living for so long does have its advantages. I wonder what kind of expression you'll have when everything unfolds... I can't wait to see it. Hiding that vixen from me, huh? Well, consider this a small gift in return. Aside from that, there's nothing much more I can do, Sigurd!"
Hera's smile, which had never truly reached her eyes, gradually faded. In the end, she sighed softly, with a deep sense of helplessness.
Sigurd had kept the matter of Yae Sakura well hidden, and if it weren't for the gravity of the current situation, he might not have revealed it at all.
Hera couldn't quite figure out her own feelings toward Yae Sakura.
Perhaps it wasn't exactly hate, since after all, Yae was the one Kallen loved.
But there was definitely a deep sense of dislike—not just because Yae held Kallen's love, but also because Yae had been the catalyst for Kallen's death.
Yet, when traced back to the root, the direct cause of Kallen dying at the hands of the Honkai Beast was Otto himself, who had released the beast.
For Otto, this was the most profound pain he had endured over the past 500 years. Compared to this, Yae Sakura... as long as she didn't obstruct his goal of reviving Kallen, Otto wouldn't go out of his way to kill her.
Still, Sigurd hiding Yae Sakura's return from Otto hurt his feelings, and Otto felt the need to show some reaction.
Bronya's plan was spot on: Otto had practically been smiling the entire time he created this potent drug, hoping it would bring Sigurd quite the surprise.
...
Bronya returned to her room, closing the door behind her.
She summoned her mechanical bunny and, after confirming that no one had visited in her absence, let out a sigh of relief.
As long as no one entered her room, no one would discover that she had been away.
With her black armor and the various technologies she had developed, Bronya could conceal all traces of her existence—her optical signature, heartbeat, breathing, body temperature, biological magnetic field, Honkai energy, and so on.
Even Sigurd, unless he specifically searched for her, would be unable to crack her stealth techniques.
Just like that time at the moon base, when Bronya had eavesdropped on Sigurd and Kiana pouring their hearts out to each other, Sigurd hadn't detected her presence at all.
"I'm a step behind... but I won't always be. Kiana, I'm sorry, but Sigurd is mine."
Bronya gazed at the glass vial in her hand, and a faint smile spread across her lips.
In terms of maturity and intellectual capacity, none of the other girls could compare to Bronya, who had lived through complex experiences and possessed exceptional intelligence.
Her decision-making and execution abilities were on an entirely different level.
And that was her greatest advantage.
...
Meanwhile, outside the base, Fu Hua was speaking to Theresa:
"Sigurd has always said that I'm an expert in the field of consciousness. It may sound arrogant, but I believe he's largely correct. Otto's techniques are quite advanced. In the past, due to my position and physical condition, I might not have been able to help you. But now, I can help free you from the shackles in your mind and restore your former self."
"Please help me! I beg you!"
Theresa pleaded almost without hesitation, bowing deeply.
Fu Hua nodded.
"That's why I'm here. Sigurd and I both believe that you have tremendous potential. It's a shame that Otto's manipulation has suppressed it."
"Thank you!"
Theresa repeated, her eyes showing a hint of hope.
Then, familiar footsteps approached from the distance.
"But there's a condition."
Sigurd strolled over, bathed in moonlight, yawning lazily.
Theresa turned to look at him.
"What condition?"
She didn't try to negotiate using her relationship with Kiana; instead, she asked directly.
This was her own problem, and she didn't want to involve Kiana.
The child had already been through so much, and Theresa didn't want anything to jeopardize Kiana's personal relationships.
Sigurd held a thick red book in his hand.
"Introduction to the Human Civilization Collective—the foundation of Welt's ideological system. You know we've been working hard to spread and practice it. However, from the beginning, Otto understood the power of this ideology. He crafted a deceptive narrative to unite his Valkyries while doing everything he could to prevent the true essence of Welt's ideas from spreading within Schicksal."
Sigurd explained casually, though inwardly he had to give Otto some credit.
He couldn't deny that Otto, the master manipulator, had an exceptional grasp on the power of ideology and how to use it.
Otto was like a player in a rigged game—he's too overpowered.
It still baffled Sigurd, though, how someone so skillful could have failed to win over Kallen all those years ago.
Take Sigurd, for example—he barely had to try and had already won over Kiana effortlessly.
In comparison, Otto seemed... a bit lacking.
<+>
Tn: If you want to see more chapter of this story, please go to my Ko-Fi[1], just for $5 each month, you can read till the latest chapter.
Latest Chapter in Ko-Fi: Chapter 274: Infighting? A Hundredfold Payback![2]
Link to the latest chapter: https://ko-fi.com/post/Chapter-274-Infighting-A-Hundredfold-Payback-E1E31DBJY8[3]
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/hildegard[4]
[1] https://ko-fi.com/hildegard
[2] https://ko-fi.com/post/Chapter-274-Infighting-A-Hundredfold-Payback-E1E31DBJY8
[3] https://ko-fi.com/post/Chapter-274-Infighting-A-Hundredfold-Payback-E1E31DBJY8
[4] https://ko-fi.com/hildegard