"Since you are both so distrustful of each other and currently unable to accept the situation..." Otto's voice rang out again.
You had to admire him. Just moments ago, he'd been sandwiched between the two Shus, so overwhelmed by their presence he couldn't even speak. Yet the first words out of his mouth still carried that customary tone.
"So, rather than meaninglessly expending energy here, why don't we... try a different approach?"
He spread his hands slightly, as if proposing the most reasonable of suggestions, even though his shoulders were still in their death grips.
"How about mutual supervision?"
The two Shus froze in unison, the violent surge of their auras halting for an instant.
Otto continued, his tone persuasive as he nonchalantly removed their hands from his shoulders.
"Isn't this perfect? Just two days ago, Shu promised me he would try to set down some of his burdens, return to a more 'normal' state, and get some proper rest."
He deliberately avoided specifying which Shu, his gaze sweeping across two faces etched with struggle.
Hmm, they looked a bit savage.
Having once again failed to distinguish between them, Otto withdrew his gaze and began to elaborate on his specific proposal.
"Isn't your main concern that the other might cause destruction to the base? You can both supervise each other in carrying out this 'rest plan.'
"If either party makes a move that is inconsistent with resting or daily routines, exceeding necessary limits—such as attempting to mobilize large-scale forces, conducting high-risk experiments, or... attacking each other.
"Should any of the above situations occur, the other party can naturally regard it as having potentially threatening intentions and take appropriate measures."
"Conversely, if both sides can maintain a relatively peaceful and low-energy state under supervision, it will at least prove that in the short term, neither of you intends to take destructive action immediately.
"This ensures the safety of the base and all of us, and also buys time to clarify the truth."
Otto paused, then added, "After all, the real 'Shu' would surely be willing to keep his promise and does indeed need to rest.
"And any 'abnormality' would be difficult to completely hide under such close-range, high-intensity mutual surveillance."
It was a rational proposal, using their extreme distrust of each other to forcibly create a dangerous equilibrium and stalemate. It even had a clever touch of using their own spear to pierce their own shield.
But it was also undeniably dehumanizing.
Otto was well aware of the massive landmine in his suggestion. He just had to turn his head to see... and the heart that had been in his throat finally didn't know whether to drop dead or just drop.
Their faces were masks of pure disgust...
It seemed neither Shu had picked up on the dehumanizing undertones of his words.
They were simply finding it unbearable that they were about to be forced to be tied to the very thing they loathed, were most wary of, and wanted to beat to death the most—to the point of even breathing the same air.
Their brows were furrowed enough to strangle a Honkai Beast, the corners of their mouths were pulled down as if weighed by a thousand-pound weight, and their eyes, besides the lingering anger, held a deep sense of revulsion and rejection.
They glared at each other, as if trying to kill each other with their eyes, or perhaps hoping to see a hint of retreat or objection on the other's face.
And then came that look of shock again: "You dare to act all high and mighty?!"
Was Shu upset?
Of course he had a reaction to Otto's words.
A few minutes ago, Otto's even-handed, "blame-on-both-your-houses" attitude might not have elicited much extra emotion from Shu.
After all, the Shu of that moment was still immersed in a mindset of threat assessment and prioritizing protection.
Back then, Otto's inability to tell who was real and who was fake would have seemed to Shu like a limitation of his abilities, completely understandable.
He might have even felt that Otto's ability to stabilize the situation was a testament to his reputation. After all, Shu knew all too well how insidious these things called "Herrschers" could be.
But now was different.
The question of his "self" had been laid bare before Shu, raw and bleeding, by Otto's careless words just moments ago.
The possibility of being a "copy" had already lodged itself in Shu's heart like a poisoned barb.
And nursing this wound, hearing Otto speak to "the two of them" in such an impartial tone now, that feeling...
It hurt.
A suffocating pain, like an invisible hand squeezing his heart, constricting his breath.
At this moment, what was in Shu's heart was no longer just simple anger or killing intent. In a corner of his soul, a mixture of grievance, indignation, and even a sharp pang of "betrayal" was twisting inside him, growing thorns.
Every "gentlemen," "you," and "both sides" from Otto was like a small hammer striking the wound on Shu's "self-perception," which had just begun to throb violently.
How could he... use that tone?
To that 'thing' that might steal everything from me?
The impulse to completely destroy the figure opposite him boiled up again like lava. Shu's fists cracked, his knuckles white from the force.
But in the end...
The greater good.
Those three words, like a cold set of shackles, once again reined in the impulse that was about to run wild.
He couldn't be so selfish, to do such a thing for a moment of personal satisfaction...
He couldn't...
...This is for everyone's sake.
He thought of the people in the base who trusted him, of the newly revived Sapphire City, of Kiana, Mei, Bronya...
If he lost control here, if the two "Shus" really fought to the death in the core area... the consequences were not something he could accept.
He couldn't put everyone in danger just because of his own "feelings."
"...Fine," Shu squeezed a word out through his teeth, his voice dry and hoarse.
Almost simultaneously, the other [Shu] also nodded with a grim face, the movement so small it was almost invisible.
They both took a step back in near-perfect sync, re-establishing that uncomfortable yet necessary警戒 distance.
They still stared daggers at each other, as if trying to glare this villain to death.
But the berserk energy around them began to recede and calm down, with extreme reluctance.
Otto seemed not to see the spectacular display of disgust and struggle on their faces, merely maintaining a proper smile and nodding at them in approval.
"Very good... Well then, I will complete the analysis of the remaining routine checks as soon as possible.
"You two may leave first and familiarize yourselves with this... new mode of getting along.
"The permissions in the base are still fully open to you both. However, for the thirteenth underground level... it would be best if you both notify me in advance before going."
Neither Shu looked at Otto again, as if one more glance would only intensify the suffocation in their hearts.
They turned at the same time, their movements still carrying that detestable synchronicity.
The two walked towards the laboratory exit, their gaits stiff, their backs ramrod straight, with a zone of pure repulsion separating them.