The news of the attack on ME Corp quickly reached Raiden Mei.
Simultaneously, a beautiful carrier pigeon delivered a letter to the Raiden estate.
“Thank you for your letter.
The information you provided has saved countless lives.
All members of our Schicksal team extend our most sincere thanks to you.”
The letter had been sent directly from Schicksal Headquarters.
It mentioned that the Overseer was quite surprised by the letter—to be honest, quite shocked—and was very eager to become pen pals with the writer, even wishing he could travel to Nagazora City to meet him immediately.
Reading this, Chiaki closed his eyes.
He took a long time to compose his emotions, then took several deep breaths and opened his window, checking to see if a Honkai energy fission bomb was about to fall on his head.
One had to remember that the Overseer’s previous pen pal had been directly hit in the face with a Honkai fission bomb and had died quite thoroughly.
If you want to be Otto’s pen pal, can you actually survive a Honkai fission bomb?
After confirming no such bombs were heading toward Nagazora, Chiaki continued reading the letter.
A group of heads popped up behind him, peering over his shoulder to read.
“How I long to transform into a soaring bird, to fly over mountains and rivers to reach the distant Far East and meet you in person.
However, the more I contemplate it, the more I feel such a method would be too abrupt.
Therefore, I have sent an elegant and beautiful messenger, hoping she may serve as a bridge of communication between us…”
The words in the letter were incredibly flowery and over-the-top.
It seemed as if Chiaki were some legendary figure, and Otto was considering resigning from his post as Overseer just to come to Nagazora City and swear fealty.
So nauseating.
Is he an idiot?
Chiaki thought.
“Sir, although you are a distinguished guest entrusted by the Overseer, is it not somewhat impolite to mock him so openly in front of me, a Schicksal Valkyrie?”
The “elegant and beautiful messenger” mentioned in the letter was standing right in front of him, her voice carrying a professional, business-like smile.
Chiaki looked up.
The beautiful, elegant maid stood before him.
She had ash-blonde hair that fell gracefully, partially veiling her face and revealing a single, wine-red right eye.
She wore an immaculate maid’s uniform, complete with a white lace katusha headband.
Her posture was perfect, and her every movement was imbued with a quiet, confident grace.
Her lips were slightly pursed, and her expression carried a charming, subtle smile.
“Is your Overseer a five-foot-tall, blonde, blue-eyed little lady?” Chiaki asked.
“Please do not make baseless assumptions regarding the Overseer’s gender or height,” Rita replied instantly, though she secretly wished that were the case.
Chiaki nodded, drained the rest of his cola, and said, “Then he truly is an idiot.”
“It would make me quite sad if you simply ignored me,” the beautiful maid said, her eyes narrowing as she emitted a dangerous aura.
In the next instant, a scythe, the Void Spear, the Atlas Sword, and other weapons were all leveled at her throat.
“Mm…
ah, it seems I underestimated you all.” Rita elegantly adjusted her posture, crossing her legs with practiced grace.
Her movements were fluid and composed, betraying no sign of distress despite the weapons aimed at her.
Just then, a knock at the door caught everyone’s attention.
At that exact moment, the maid transformed from a “messenger” into a venomous snake, deftly slipping out from the circle of weapons.
She had been searched from top to bottom before entering and had no weapons of her own; therefore, to turn the tide, she needed to—seize a blade!
She set her sights on the katana resting on the sofa next to Chiaki.
The moment this man had entered the room, he had caught her attention.
His aura of a battle-hardened warrior made her subconsciously think of her captain, Durandal.
However, his physical stats seemed somewhat lacking—based on her observation, he was only slightly stronger than an average adult male.
Her hand, encased in a translucent black lace glove, easily reached for the sword.
But the moment she gripped it, something felt wrong.
This sword…
was too light!
In the next instant, Talulah swung a blade toward her.
Rita instinctively raised her sword to block, but the katana that had accompanied Chiaki through countless battles, along with its sheath, snapped instantly.
“A model sword?!”
“A model sword?!”
Talulah and Rita cried out in unison.
Because his aura had been so convincing, when Rita realized his physical stats were normal, she naturally assumed the sword itself was special.
Talulah, having seen Chiaki’s many miracles, had even held a fantasy that his blade might be a legendary weapon.
Neither of them expected that Chiaki was carrying a plastic model sword!
Seeing his long-time companion end its life so easily, Chiaki felt a surge of pure, unadulterated rage!
“You bastard!
Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a weapon that can pass security and be carried on a high-speed train or a plane?!”
When the door burst open, a certain athletic-clad “big sister” who had run all the way from ME Corp rushed in, only to see Rita tied up with various ropes, a “Useless Maid” sign around her neck, and Kiana’s smelly socks stuffed in her mouth.
Meanwhile, the only male in the room was clutching a broken blade with a face full of agony.
Having learned the whole story, Durandal admitted her mistake.
“I am truly, deeply sorry.
We will compensate you for your loss.
I will contact Schicksal to have them send a new weapon immediately.”
“Why do you think a new weapon solves this?!
This blade has been with me through countless battles.
Do you understand the value it held?!” Chiaki said, his face cold.
“…My deepest apologies.”
“Don’t say sorry.
When people apologize, they just do it to prepare for the next time.
I want to see sincerity.”
Durandal fell silent for a moment, then straightened her posture and made a promise.
“My friend has destroyed a cherished weapon, a ‘friend’ that fought alongside you and shared many memories.
I feel immense shame.
But please allow me to make a vow: In the name of Bianka Ataegina Durandal, I swear to make amends for this sin.”
“A Divine Key.” Chiaki demanded, his price high.
Durandal denied him.
“That is impossible.
Every Divine Key in Schicksal is extremely precious.
They will never provide one to you.”
“Not a Schicksal one, then?”
“If I know where one is located, I will do my best to help you obtain it.”
“There is an unowned, unfinished Divine Key buried beneath Nagazora City.
Use that to compensate me for my loss, and I’ll let Rita go.”
Goose, let me see where your limits are!