"Yelling at an injured man—is it your time of the month, or are you going through menopause? Or did you get pregnant?"
Delta's sarcasm was highly effective. The implication was that only a sissy would cause trouble for an injured man. Paired with Sigma's hulking image, the lethality was doubled.
"Delta, what are you doing here?" Sigma narrowed his eyes, a dangerous flicker of light deep in his eyes.
"If even you can come, why can't I?" Delta leisurely picked up a nearby wine glass, took a sip, let out a crude burp, and sighed, "Right. After all, I'm the selfish jerk who didn't provide technology and caused the death of warriors. Of course, I can't compare to the chief commander on the front lines."
Sigma's arrogance subsided slightly against Delta's blatant mockery. Although their positions were different, they were ultimately of the same rank. He scoffed, "Hmph. What is that supposed to mean?"
"What I mean is..."
Delta smiled at Sigma, but there was no humor in his eyes. He lifted his head and spoke coldly to the muscular man, who was a full head taller than him: "Don't use the dead warriors as a weapon to attack Lin. You're just profaning their sacrifice. Say whatever you have to say to me. I promise you can get it all off your chest."
There was not a trace of emotion in his voice, only biting coldness.
"Delta, you're... good," Sigma forced a laugh. He nodded, clenching his fists, but ultimately said nothing, glaring fiercely at both Delta and Lin before turning and leaving the hall.
Only after Sigma's retreating figure disappeared through the main door did Delta slowly put down his wine glass and sigh at the emotionally flat Lin: "Sigh, Lin, you're too introverted. You actually waited for him to finish all that nonsense. If it were me, he wouldn't even have the chance to say the first word."
Lin said calmly, "Were you planning to stab a knife into his mouth to stop him from speaking?"
"Maybe a gun?" Delta shrugged.
Elysia, standing behind, couldn't resist reaching out to pinch and pull Lin's face again. She said irritably, "Lin, even I was a little angry just now."
"...I'm sorry."
"That's so mean. How am I supposed to scold you when you apologize so directly every time?"
"I'm sorry," Lin shook his head.
He didn't intend to let Elysia speak because at least half of what Sigma said was true.
"Don't take what he said to heart. The words of a guy who's been commanding with fixed thinking for so long that the wrinkles on his brain have been smoothed out aren't worth listening to." Delta waved his hand, his unique mechanic's suit wafting the smell of oil.
"That gear was ultimately made based on your ideas. It was custom-made equipment. Do we have a rule in R&D that prevents others from customizing suitable gear?" Delta scoffed dismissively. "Besides, the set you use is completely unusable by an average soldier. Everything is in the warehouse, and anyone can take it. Even your helmet's technology is slightly inferior to others, simply because you requested no information simplification feature, so I just stripped the standard system's simplification function out."
"Seriously, the only exclusive technology is the weapons I gave you, but are the weapons of other soldiers that bad? If I dared to hoard technology, the Moth of the Flame would have seized my assets a long time ago..."
"That's enough, Delta," Lin stopped the rant of the habitually overworked R&D department head.
If he continued, it would never end. He was such a chatterbox that he could analyze the structure and operation of a common cannon and articulate it all. Lin did not want his ears to be constantly accompanied by mosquito-like nagging.
"Uh, fine." Seeing that Lin didn't want him to continue, Delta reluctantly shut up. His gaze wandered and settled on Elysia. He smiled mischievously, "Are you two used to being around each other now?"
Lin was initially annoyed when Elysia followed him to R&D.
"...Some things can't be solved by refusal," Lin was tired of this question, which nearly every acquaintance asked.
"Haha, that's true. After all, I've never met anyone who can refuse Elysia."
"..." Lin truly couldn't respond to that.
Remembering the previous topic, Elysia also asked with interest, "Dr. Delta, why do you often ask Lin to test new equipment?"
"What's your reason for being around Lin so often?" Delta picked up a piece of roast meat, swallowed it quickly, and wiped his mouth of liquid that could have been either grease or machine oil. "My reason for seeking him out is similar."
Elysia covered her mouth in surprise: "Are you also interested in Lin's true face?"
"..."
Delta pointed at Elysia. Lin spread his hands, indicating he was helpless.
"I posted a betting pool about Lin's true face on the Moth of the Flame intranet! After removing the most popular options, 'girl' and 'robot,' the remaining options include 'a sane zombie,' 'humanoid Honkai Beast,' and 'ultra-realistic projection'..." Elysia recounted all her crazy ideas one by one. With each one, Lin's face grew darker, until he could probably block his face with just shadows without the need for bandages.
Delta was intrigued and pulled out his communicator to find the post: "Really? I'll place a bet too."
Lin leaned back in his wheelchair, speechless. Even Delta was joining the mischief. He simply didn't know what to say anymore.
"Alright, I'm betting a month's salary. Lin, you better not disappoint me."
Delta laughed, patted Lin's shoulder, and walked off to find more food elsewhere.
"Oh? Why hasn't the vote ranking changed?" Elysia scrolled through the interface but didn't see Delta's vote. Then, at the very bottom of the betting pool, where the fewest people had voted, she found Delta's vote.
"This option is... a stunningly handsome man? Only three people voted for that."
"..."
Lin's expression remained unchanged.
...
Lin quietly watched the pairs of figures dancing in the Partyroom throughout the entire Party. He occasionally saw Ato (Captain of Fourth Squad) dancing with Blanca (Mobius's assistant). Seeing their respective smiles, his ice-like face softened slightly.
Days like this were rare for warriors whose lives hung by a thread.
"Is it beautiful?"
"..."
The girl's hair fell onto his neck, gently brushing his nape. A soft voice came from above his head.
"This sight is what everyone is striving for, and it's Lin's reason for fighting. So, it must be beautiful in Lin's eyes."
"...And you, Elysia?"
"Me? Of course, I'm beautiful."
"..."
She skillfully avoided the question.
Glasses clinked, and music swelled.
The dancing figures spoke of humanity's brief reprieve.
Lin looked at these people, lost in thought.
So far away.
Lin's finger twitched. He wanted to reach out, but his hand froze mid-air. He gazed at his bandaged fingertips, shook his head, and prepared to lower his hand.
"Clasp."
A hand took hold of his.
Just like that time.
"Oh dear, a maid must strictly follow her master's orders."
Elysia used slight force, pulling Lin up from the wheelchair. Her other hand held his waist, allowing him to stand barely upright.
"I am Elysia. May I invite you to dance?"
"...Yes."
The girl's smile was so bright under the lights.
Like a gentle spring breeze in March, brushing across his cheek.