Within the depths of Schicksal, in a concealed chamber.
"Are you prepared?"
The blond youth, Otto, inquired of his loyal subordinate.
This was a virtual reality faithfully recreating history. Within this space, in this city, more than just Kallen was reliving a past story. At this point in history, Otto had not yet become the Archbishop of Schicksal. He held little sway even within the Apokalips family, merely the youngest son.
Relying on his intelligence, young Otto was no longer the insignificant figure of his childhood. He had become his father's capable assistant, but nothing more.
Through normal channels, whether pleading with his father, the Archbishop of Schicksal, or arguing with the powerful Council, Kallen's rescue was impossible.
Kallen, Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, with outstanding achievements, was nonetheless sentenced to hang. Undeniably, the upper echelons of Schicksal had weighed the pros and cons and made their decision. They would not change it simply because of Otto's burgeoning scientific abilities.
Therefore, extraordinary measures were necessary. The Honkai beasts defeated by Schicksal forces, but unable to be killed and only temporarily imprisoned, could be used as pawns.
"Yes, everything is prepared, Young Master."
"Excellent."
Still young, and unable to conceal his emotions, a look of excitement crossed Otto's face. However, as a virtual personality without independent awareness or the ability to think, like the other NPCs, he did not know the consequences of his plan, nor that this scene, this dialogue, had been repeated many, many times.
This was a theatrical performance, constantly opening, performing, closing, and resetting. The actors on stage were like puppets, unaware of how many times they had performed, or even that they were on a stage for an audience, though before, there had been no observers.
But this time, the performance had two unexpected viewers. And on stage, one performer, who should have been completely ignorant of her situation, seemed to be gradually realizing her predicament.
Or perhaps she had already realized it, but didn't know how to change it, and so continued to play the puppet numbly.
In a corner of the city, in a prison cell used to hold special prisoners.
When Hua Yi had made some progress in researching the [Soul of the Earth Treasury - False], according to the time in this virtual reality, it should have been around three or four in the morning. Through the small window on the prison cell wall, the night was no longer as pitch-black as before. Both Kiana and Kallen were already asleep.
Kiana had spent time living in the wilderness with her father in her childhood, and was therefore unfazed. She lay down on the hard floor of the prison cell without complaint, sleeping soundly.
And Kallen, though her wrists were bound by chains, restricting her to a seated position, had still found a comfortable posture to enter dreamland. Whether she was experienced and knew how to allow her body to fully rest in such a state, or it was simply the training of a Valkyrie.
Hua Yi surprisingly felt that he was still quite energetic, and didn't plan to sleep. He began to admire the sleeping faces of Kiana and Kallen.
Purely in terms of appearance, both were beautiful young women to a considerable degree. When they closed their eyes, they were as serene as young ladies. The difference, apart from their personalities, was probably in their figures.
Kallen's figure was much better than Kiana's.
It could be assumed that Kiana had not yet fully developed, and still had potential.
Gradually, dawn broke.
"Kallen, it's time, come with us."
Plague Doctors... no, from the beginning, these guys had not shown the qualities of a doctor. They neither healed the sick nor showed any of the qualities doctors should have. Perhaps calling them Men in Black was more appropriate. They were characters unrelated to doctors.
Several Men in Black appeared outside the prison cell, wanting to take Kallen away.
It was very early, Kiana hadn't even woken up, but Kallen opened her eyes just at the right moment. The timing was too perfect, as if she knew in advance that the Men in Black would come to take her away at this time.
"I will speak to Grandpa Arthur, explain that there is no connection between us, and request that he let you go."
As a Valkyrie, Kallen should possess considerable combat ability. Even unarmed, defeating these few Men in Black should not be too difficult. After all, during the brief burst of conflict before, Kiana had easily kicked over one of the Men in Black.
However, Kallen did not resist and followed the Men in Black out of the prison cell, turning her head before leaving to say those words.
Hua Yi glanced at Kiana, who had not been awakened, and then looked at Kallen.
"When the opportunity is in front of you, are you really not going to try to seize it?"
"..."
Kallen paused, her footsteps faltering. While Hua Yi was speaking, the Men in Black beside Kallen stood still like puppets, as if they had heard nothing. This was because the current situation was an unexpected result, with no corresponding criteria or triggering behavior.
"I, I don't know what to do."
With confusion, Kallen gave her answer and left with the Men in Black. Hua Yi chuckled.
She didn't know what to do, but not that she didn't want to do it.
She could still respond to unexpected intruders, and could express clear emotions when anomalies not included in the planned scenario arose, not a standardized, mechanical response like "Your question does not exist in our database, I cannot answer it", but a very human-like confusion.
This was not something a virtual personality could do, nor was it something artificial intelligence could do.
Kallen, Kallen, are you a similar flower that bloomed unexpectedly, or the former strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal, a lingering soul that still remains in the world after her death?
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