"The Third Herrscher was confirmed to have been born in Changkong City three hours ago."
"After the Third Herrscher's birth, Changkong City was covered by thunderstorms. All city infrastructure is completely paralyzed, accompanied by continuous lightning strikes."
"Based on the phenomenon and the detected information of intentionally manipulated electromagnetic fields, the Third Herrscher's ability is provisionally estimated to be related to the electromagnetic field."
"The Third Herrscher's provisional code name is the Herrscher of Thunder. She must be stopped before her destructive range extends beyond Changkong City."
The Moth of the Flame-Chasers high-level council was more efficient than any other conference in the world. These individuals, who could cause an earthquake in many fields and nations just by stamping their feet, might engage in political infighting over incompatible ideals during peacetime. Yet, when fighting the Honkai, they didn't even need the most basic vote to keep the vast organization functioning correctly.
"In addition, Mei, the talent whom Mobius personally introduced, is also located at the site of the outbreak, Changkong City."
"Squads have been dispatched for search and rescue, but we have yet to receive a response."
"..."
A long silence.
"We need talent like Mei to join us. Expedite the search and rescue efforts."
"According to the files, Soldier MSA-079 once attended the same school as Mei and originated from the same region. We can have MSA-079 invite Mei to join the Moth of the Flame-Chasers."
"Agreed. As we are about to launch an operation against the Third Herrscher, we don't have additional manpower for search and rescue. MSA-079's combat power could also be utilized in the rescue. Assign the task to MSA-079's squad: a solo search and rescue mission in Changkong City."
But the next piece of news caused everyone to frown.
"MSA-079 encountered the Third Honkai Eruption while executing another mission in Canghai City and was severely injured while engaging a Chariot-class Honkai Beast. That Chariot-class Honkai Beast has been confirmed as a special individual and named Honkai: Heavy Crusher."
"MSA-079 has been rescued. The transport plane will arrive at headquarters in half an hour. It is estimated that he will recover basic mobility after receiving treatment. Should we still have him execute the mission?"
This was a question, meaning it required a vote.
It wasn't that big of a problem. It simply meant sending Lin into this state was basically sending him to his death.
It was just the life of a soldier. Even an elite, he was still just a soldier.
Trading one soldier's life for the future of the Moth of the Flame-Chasers and humanity was a worthwhile transaction that even an elementary school student could figure out.
Therefore...
"Unanimous vote."
Lin's gaze rested on the ceiling. He seemed to want to count every stripe on the ceiling, but his bandaged head couldn't turn. He could only repeatedly roll his eyes between the few visible straight lines.
"You're truly a mess. You usually clear entire Honkai Beast nests single-handedly, and this time, just a lower-tier Honkai Beast messed you up like this."
"..."
Himeko appeared at the doorway at some point. The fully armed, red-haired woman walked up to him, letting him see her serious expression.
Even though Lin had received basic treatment, his physical injuries were still difficult to look at. He was riddled with holes, as if he had just finished playing the Blackbeard game, making one wonder if water would leak out if he drank any.
Lin watched her without a word, his gaze lingering on her outfit and the noticeable greatsword she carried.
Himeko glanced at her sword and smiled: "New equipment. If you had returned earlier, you might have gotten to use it... Heh, maybe you'll get to use it soon enough."
Hearing Himeko's words, Lin understood.
He said plainly: "What's the mission?"
Himeko was clearly stunned for a moment, then shook her head with a bitter smile: "Let's not talk about that first... You were lucky this time. If you had received the inhibitor even half an hour, or even a few minutes, later, the Honkai energy would have started corrupting your body..."
"What's the mission?"
"You still didn't use that gun, did you? You ran out of bullets in your other gun, but you didn't touch your prized pistol..."
"What's the mission?"
"Seele and the little girl she brought back have both received treatment. Don't worry."
"I'm not worried," Lin said flatly. He paused, then continued, "What's the mission?"
"Are you a parrot! And you're a tsundere exactly like that book said!"
Himeko was frustrated by Lin's demeanor. No wonder he always emphasized that he was a soldier, not a warrior. Was this absolute obedience a good or bad thing...
"Search and rescue mission. The location is Changkong City. You need to rescue a person who is very important to the Moth of the Flame-Chasers."
"Mei."
"...How did you know?"
It was a simple deduction: a search and rescue mission, located in Changkong City, important to the Moth of the Flame-Chasers—these three points pointed to a talented person in Changkong City who was also connected to Lin.
Lin only knew two people well in Changkong City, so it was a simple choice between two people.
"Don't overthink it. The requirement for our squad to conduct the search and rescue is purely because our squad's diminished combat strength is insufficient to participate in the Third Herrscher subjugation, and you just happen to know that person." Himeko finally tried a more subtle approach. "You and Seele don't need to engage in combat. Focus on the search and rescue. I'll handle the fighting."
When she received this mission directly from high command, she suspected they had gone insane.
Lin's left arm was completely ruined, and his other injuries were only "decent"—being able to move at all fell into that category.
Logically, he should be recuperating as an injured soldier in the rear. Instead, they wanted to send him to the battlefield, merely for the sake of "rescuing someone"?
And Seele; though not injured, her mental exhaustion was significant. They wanted to throw a rookie directly into the battlefield where the Third Herrscher was located?
Himeko secretly hoped Lin would show even a sliver of displeasure so she could join him in cursing the idiotic high command. Even if it changed nothing, it would at least make her feel a little better.
"I understand." But Lin's voice was the same perpetual ice-cold tone, without any unnecessary flourish. It was brief and powerful, as if emotion had never manifested in him. With his left arm still in a sling, he stood up and immediately started walking out the door.
Himeko clenched her fist behind his back and asked in a low voice: "Are you going to get your gear?"
"..."
Lin stopped at the doorway. He looked up at the dim light, which was just as gloomy as the weather on that bygone day.
He took a deep breath and said, "Captain, I'll tell you a secret."
Himeko didn't react: "What?"
"The type of woman I like is actually like Dr. Mobius."
"...Huh?"
"So I'm going to see Dr. Mobius now. See you later."
A completely confused Himeko listened to Lin's rapid footsteps fading away, still reeling from the sudden leap in conversation and the inexplicably revealed secret.
Was he trying to joke with her?
And did he actually have a preference for older women?
Lin often suspected that Mobius's lab would remain exactly as it was no matter what happened. Even if a flood came, it would be Noah's Ark, and if it wasn't, its owner would forcefully put it on the ark.
"Yo~ If it isn't the slightly defective little lab rat. What's up?"
The green-haired woman sliced a muscle tissue sample from Honkai: Heavy Crusher, the Honkai Beast Lin had killed, and placed it under a microscope, greeting the silently entering Lin with her characteristic voice.
If sarcasm counted as a greeting.
Lin acted as if he hadn't heard the contempt in her voice and stated directly: "I want a new arm, just like the leg you replaced for me."
"...Little lab rat, you seem to misunderstand me." Mobius turned around. Her perfect body curved like a graceful, slender snake with the movement, and every word she spoke was like a viper flicking its tongue—cold and fatal. "I'm not a doctor. At best, I replace broken parts in toys."
"But you don't belong to the category of toys I like... Oh, wait, you don't even really qualify as a toy."
"Replace it for me. I need to go save Mei."
"...Mei? You're going to save her?"
Mobius had personally met Mei and judged her to be the person the Moth of the Flame-Chasers needed. Thus, she knew Mei's value better than anyone.
"Hmph, just to save one person... A little lab rat who can't run with one less leg is nothing to me but..."
"I will come to the lab to cook for you, so you won't have to eat instant meals anymore." Lin said flatly.
Mobius froze for a moment. Then she scrutinized the man, who was wrapped in bandage after bandage, and asked genuinely, "...Did you hit your head too hard?"
"Elysia is quite interested in my face. I can show it to you, allowing you to gain the upper hand in your conversations with her from now on."
"...What exactly are you talking about?"
"I can kill more Honkai Beasts and will exert myself to kill Herrschers, bringing their corpses back to you."
Lin's tone was sincere. For this man who mostly expressed himself through silence, this was his most earnest request since joining the Moth of the Flame-Chasers.
His gaze lowered, and he whispered: "I can give you everything I can do, so please help me replace my arm so I can fight."
Kevin and Mei were still alive. Lin believed they were still alive.
So he couldn't let himself decline now.
Emerald green eyes squinted, watching Lin for a long time. Then, Mobius scoffed and laughed coldly: "Interesting."
She turned and pressed an intercom button, speaking to the other end: "Blanca, come here. We have a surgery to perform."
Mobius's exquisite earrings glowed green under the lab light, making her look particularly unsettling. She turned back and smiled meaningfully at the composed Lin.
"Very well. In exchange for everything you are, I will give you a brand new arm... Should I also replace the other damaged parts while I'm at it? Though it won't change your Honkai energy adaptability or resistance, it could make you feel completely new."
"No need. Don't bother with anesthetic either. I'm in a hurry. If you're interested, we can discuss it when I return."
Lin lay down on the operating table without being told, casually unwrapped the bandages, and exposed his left arm, still in a cast.
Mobius slowly walked to the operating table and shone the surgical light on Lin's face. Her expression grew increasingly strange. Her eyes moved, taking in every detail of Lin.
"No anesthetic? You certainly have the nerve. Heh heh... Fine. Let me witness the limits of human endurance."
After the assistant entered the lab and the light outside the door turned from green to red...
The surgery began.