Speculations About the Theater Fu Hua’s expression didn’t change upon hearing Otto’s words, but she began considering whether she should tell him about the Stigmata Theater.
However, doing so would violate the promise she had previously made to Theresa.
Yet if she didn’t tell Otto, she would have no way to explain the problem that had appeared in Kiana—or rather, K423.
As an A-Rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, Fu Hua was actually an Immortal who had protected Shenzhou for thousands of years.
Before that, she had even been a MANTIS left behind by the Previous Era.
Her relationship with Otto wasn’t simply that of a subordinate and superior.
They were partners.
This was also one of the reasons Otto felt comfortable entrusting Fu Hua with the important task of monitoring K423.
Just as Fu Hua was hesitating over whether she could tell Otto part of K423’s situation while keeping the Stigmata Theater a secret, Otto suddenly smiled and said, “Old friend, are you hesitating because of the Stigmata Theater?” Otto directly brought up the Stigmata Theater.
As the Overseer of Schicksal and the supreme authority who had controlled the organization for five hundred years, Otto knew very well that under certain circumstances, one must never test another person’s humanity, because humanity couldn’t withstand such tests.
By the same principle, when dealing with someone like Fu Hua, one must never place their friendship on one end of a scale and the other person’s principles on the other, then weigh them against each other.
Doing so would only result in the loss of this rare friendship while filling both sides with suspicion toward each other.
That would offer Otto absolutely no benefit—unless, under certain special circumstances, making the other party distrust him and betray Schicksal was precisely the goal he wanted to achieve.
After hearing Otto’s words, the tension around Fu Hua’s eyes seemed to ease slightly.
Fu Hua asked, “You went there too?
The Stigmata Theater?” Otto nodded.
“That’s right.
Not only did I enter that theater, but I also witnessed K423’s splendid performance inside.
“Hmm, she was just like the real Kiana, like Siegfried’s true daughter.
“It seems she’s been living quite well at St.
Freya Academy during this time and has made many friends.
“That’s a good thing.
Emotions can help her better suppress the Herrscher persona within her body.” At this point, Otto revealed a faint, meaningful smile.
Fu Hua didn’t understand the hidden meaning behind Otto’s words.
She merely explained, “Kiana’s performance in the Stigmata Theater differed from reality in many ways.
That strange girl gave me a very dangerous feeling.
“I believe she may have been the Second Herrscher’s persona, but what exactly was the meaning behind the Stigmata Theater presenting events that way?” From Fu Hua’s perspective, whether it was the Herrscher or Kiana, they were clearly the same person.
Yet in the Stigmata Theater’s performance, they seemed to have been divided into two completely different people.
After hearing this, Otto shared his own speculation.
“Actually, it isn’t difficult to understand.
“Since the Stigmata Theater is a theater, the plays it performs should naturally contain a degree of artistic embellishment.
“The protagonist of the previous performance was undoubtedly Kiana.
“From Kiana’s perspective—or rather, according to her memories—she certainly wouldn’t have attacked and harmed Siegfried herself.
“Therefore, the person who fought Siegfried could only have been someone else.
“That mysterious girl was the Herrscher Kiana imagined as bearing responsibility for everything—the villain.
“Her mind would then naturally fill in the missing details, creating a scene in which the revived Second Herrscher fought Siegfried.” Fu Hua quickly understood as well.
Fu Hua understood human consciousness in even greater detail than Otto did.
Sometimes, people would unconsciously imagine additional details, beautifying or vilifying reality.
Thus, what people perceived often differed from the actual truth.
The Stigmata Theater’s performance might merely have been Kiana’s subconscious recollection of what she had experienced in the past, rather than the true facts.
Otto said, “Of course, this is only one of my speculations.
The Stigmata Theater remains extremely mysterious to us.
“Perhaps the performances within it aren’t stories that occurred in the reality we inhabit at all!” Fu Hua looked at Otto and said, “You mean the performances in the Stigmata Theater may very well be stories and events experienced in Parallel Worlds or other World Bubbles?” Otto nodded in confirmation.
In truth, he believed the latter possibility was more likely.
Having discussed this far, Otto continued, “Old friend, I’d like to know everything you experienced inside the Stigmata Theater.” That was the information he truly wanted.
Naturally, Fu Hua had nothing left to conceal.
After all, Otto already knew the greatest secret—the Stigmata Theater.
She couldn’t hide the remaining matters from him either.
Telling Otto everything directly would also prevent him from resorting to other methods that might disturb the academy’s peace.
Fu Hua gradually recounted everything they had experienced inside the Stigmata Theater to Otto.
When she mentioned the Wish System, Otto’s expression suddenly changed slightly.
Otto asked in a calm tone, “The Wish System—can it fulfill people’s wishes?” Fu Hua shook her head and replied, “We thought so at first as well, but judging from Kiana’s experience, it isn’t a wish-granting machine that fulfills people’s desires.
It’s merely a System used for drawing prizes…” After hearing Fu Hua’s words, Otto felt a trace of disappointment.
He had long suspected that the Stigmata Theater was most likely a ruin left behind by the Previous Era and couldn’t truly grant wishes.
After all, not even the God of Honkai could resurrect the dead.
If a device left behind by the Previous Era could accomplish that, then the Previous Era wouldn’t have been destroyed by the Honkai.
However, even if there were only the slightest possibility, Otto wouldn’t give up his investigation.
After thinking for a moment, he said, “Not necessarily.” He seemed to have thought of something.
“Old friend, I remember you saying that Kiana’s performance only received sixty-two points, correct?
“It seems her performance wasn’t fully recognized by the Stigmata Theater.
Perhaps she could have done even better.” Otto had a thought.
The Wish System couldn’t possibly be as simple as the System they had witnessed.
Kiana might only have received a Pistol because her performance was only worthy of a Pistol.
If she performed better and received a higher score, could she possibly unlock other functions of the Wish System?
With this thought in mind, Otto said to Fu Hua, “Old friend, I believe this matter may require you to take action personally.” ★ ★ ★ Shilling time!