Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players

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The mechanical doors slowly opened, revealing the golden-haired man seated majestically on his throne.

Dressed in attire familiar to all captains—a white shirt, long purple robe, and black trousers—he appeared refined and approachable. However, this very outfit incited deep resentment among them.

However, Ana's feelings towards him were more complex.

On one hand, as a transmigrated Captain, she harbored both wariness and disdain for Otto. Then there was envy; everyone wished to become Otto. Lastly, there remained Ana's original sentiments of admiration and respect.

Undeniably, unless peeling through layers of facade, to all Valkyries, Otto was undoubtedly their revered Schicksal Bishop. Under his leadership, humanity achieved victory after victory against Honkai.

These mixed emotions left Ana feeling uneasy and somewhat restrained.

"No need to be nervous, my hero."

As Ana felt slightly overwhelmed, Otto spoke with a smile, spreading his arms wide—a familiar gesture that made her involuntarily shudder and lower her head.

It was well-known that nothing good ever followed when Otto assumed this pose.

To maintain her persona, Ana forcefully suppressed her discomfort and softly said, "Compared to our captain and those who died confronting Honkai, I am merely a coward, guilty of fleeing."

This sentiment genuinely reflected Ana's inner turmoil.

Even though Ana was no longer the original, escaping from the battlefield during a Honkai crisis remained an insurmountable barrier for her. Despite being a transmigrator, she had to confront these consequences.

"No, no, no. When facing an unbeatable enemy, retreating is the wisest choice. Moreover, you never forgot your duty as a Valkyrie. Even during withdrawal, you effectively protected numerous civilians and upheld Schicksal's interests. You are undoubtedly a deserving hero," Otto shook his head, offering his assessment before further remarking with admiration.

"It's no wonder Schariac's holy blood awakened within you; you possess unwavering determination and responsibility akin to Cecilia."

"Compared to Senior Cecilia, there is still much I need to learn." Ana humbly responded, her head bowed.

"Hmm, although your experience may be slightly lacking, given time, I firmly believe you will surpass Cecilia," Otto said warmly. His words were not mere flattery; it was crucial to note that Ana, being younger than True Kiana (Bianka), had already matched Bianka's strength. Surpassing Cecilia seemed well within reach for her.

"As a reward, I can fulfill one reasonable request of yours," Otto smiled, his amiable expression masking his true intentions. However, Ana understood this as Otto testing her once again.

However, it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Otto knew everything about Ana and couldn't discern any differences from her past self. As such, he trusted her implicitly.

"As your subordinate, I merely wish to follow you, Lord Bishop, and fulfill my duties and responsibilities as a Valkyrie," Ana declared earnestly, meeting Otto's gaze head-on.

Otto studied Ana's eyes, searching for any hidden motives, but her gaze remained unwavering. Rita had already provided some training on this front, ensuring she wouldn't falter now.

"Excellent! Truly worthy of being a Valkyrie I hold in high regard!" After scrutinizing her for a moment, Otto chuckled appreciatively.

These words brought temporary relief to Ana, signaling that the immediate crisis was averted, and Otto still trusted her.

"Have you heard of the Far East Branch?" Otto stood up, turning his back to Ana as he spoke slowly.

"Yes, I have." Ana's heart jolted, but she quickly responded.

"The Far East Branch is led by Lady Theresa, who established a Valkyrie Academy there to train Valkyries..."

"Lady Theresa is the granddaughter of the Lord Bishop." Ana glanced at Otto and uttered this seemingly meaningless statement, which actually pertained to her character archetype.

In front of Otto, most astute individuals would avoid discussing his relationship with Theresa. However, Ana's persona differed from Rita's; thus, confronting Otto directly showcased her straightforwardness and innocence.

"Correct!" Otto replied calmly, appearing quite satisfied with Ana's forthrightness. He aimed to plant a loyalist within the Far East Branch but didn't want to alienate Theresa. Therefore, a candid and objective Valkyrie like Ana was his optimal choice.

Should any critical situation arise, she would likely remain neutral, yet if it touched upon her core values, she would exert her utmost effort. To Otto, Ana represented the perfect pawn, highly useful and easily expendable should the need arise one day.

This assessment could be considered very objective, albeit applicable only to the original Ana, not the current version.

One might argue that Ana needs to adhere to her character archetype, but in reality, this requirement is as flexible as how the neighboring Aeon follows their destiny path. The implementation of such standards allows for considerable leeway.

For Ana herself, all she needs to ensure is that her actions remain acceptable to the players.

What? If players don't accept them?

That's not Ana's fault; she's just a game character. It must be the issue of some idiotic scriptwriter then! How can characters be at fault? Blame lies solely on the moronic scriptwriters who push fans' buttons and trigger backlash.

Even amidst backlash, the blame should never fall directly on the character itself. This has become a widely accepted consensus.

"So, would you be interested in joining the Far East Branch and serving as Theresa's deputy?" Otto asked with a smile, gazing at Ana.

"Of course, I'll preserve your position and affiliation at Schicksal Headquarters, including retaining the reformed Snow Lotus Squad."

Under Otto's proposal, Ana would essentially serve as a liaison, enjoying benefits from both the Far East Branch and Schicksal Headquarters. This compromise was chosen by Otto, fearing Ana might otherwise reject the offer entirely.

After all, forcing matters wouldn't yield favorable results.

He was delivering talent to his beloved granddaughter, not creating more headaches for her. However, would this maneuver raise suspicions about Ana's true identity with Theresa?

That depends on Ana's own choices, but for now, Otto aimed to ensure she willingly goes to the Far East Branch.

For Schicksal Headquarters' Valkyries, they generally resisted transferring to branches due to significant disparities in resources and equipment.

Oh, how much he fretted over Theresa's concerns! (Yeah right.)

Indeed, Otto's decision to send Ana to the Far East Branch wasn't solely based on Theresa; it also tied into his ongoing experiments.