[Physiological Features Confirmed]
His head returned to this confined space. The air purifier silently released clean oxygen. Operational parameters appeared on the familiar visual display, bringing the world of information back into his view.
Lin intended to use visual control to adjust the system parameters back to their previous state when a line of text appeared in the upper right corner of the visual display.
[Welcome, Lin]
"..." Lin slightly furrowed his brow. He looked at Delta in front of him, who was wearing a knowing smile that clearly conveyed "figure it out yourself."
Lin asked in his usual flat tone: "Who are you?"
Without any delay, the line of text continued to appear in the upper right corner.
[I am Prometheus Unit 1, the artificial intelligence created by Dr. Mei to assist soldiers. You may call me Prometheus Unit 1]
Created by Mei?
This new system added to the helmet caught Lin off guard. He felt an inexplicable sense of invasion of his private space.
"I don't need an auxiliary system." Lin was blunt, intending to cancel the AI. He had no interest in having another entity in his helmet that might interfere with his judgment during combat.
Ultimately, he didn't need two-person operations.
[I am currently in an incomplete phase, and the assistance I can provide is limited. I do not have authorization to view most of the Moth of the Flame's combat data. Therefore, Dr. Mei has installed me into your system to learn your combat data in real-time and to improve based on your feedback]
Learning...
Lin's previously firm attitude wavered for a moment.
He personally didn't need an auxiliary system. An assist was like automatic versus manual transmission in a car; there's excellent automatic and excellent manual. Lin could perform more precise operations without the automatic, and using the auto would be less convenient.
But most people were only mediocre manual drivers. If assisted by an automatic system, their driving skills would improve. While they might not reach Lin's level of fine control, reaching the first-class level would be more than enough.
In other words, it would raise the average skill level.
If the average skill level increased with the auxiliary system, the casualty rate would decrease.
This was consistent with Lin's original intention when providing the Titan manufacturing concept.
Mei understood him better than he imagined. The exact wording of Prometheus might not have been intentionally programmed by her, but she had certainly adjusted Prometheus's system to appeal directly to Lin's sensibilities with a single sentence.
After contemplating for a moment, Lin slowly nodded. He then realized Prometheus might not see his nod, so he spoke aloud: "Alright. I will grant you system access, but do not interfere with my judgment unless I explicitly request your assistance."
[Understood]
"How is it? Doesn't having another person in your head feel strange?" Delta looked at Lin, who had put his helmet back on, with a joyful smile. For him, Lin looking like this was the most familiar sight.
Lin shook his head faintly: "Just an AI."
"It's not just an AI. Dr. Mei explicitly programmed Prometheus with a female designation, so you could call her a girl."
"Superfluous."
Lin didn't understand the point of assigning gender to an AI. Did Mei consider him bored and want to find him a companion?
"The mindsets of soldiers and us researchers really are different. The reason artificial intelligence is called artificial intelligence is because it can simulate, develop, and extend human intelligence. The more complete an AI is, the closer it is to being human, and the more it surpasses human capabilities, doing things humans can and cannot do."
Delta sighed, looking at the Titan being assembled in the distance: "Also, for the Titan to reach the level you envisioned, the mental link required would put too much strain on a human. The AI can handle most of the burden."
But how is that different from an AI-controlled Autonomous Titan? And it also increases the demands on the pilot.
"...Is the Manned Titan concept flawed?" Lin gazed at the Titan, which still had half its inner structure exposed.
"Of course not! I've dreamed of building something like this since I was a kid." Delta laughed heartily, putting his hand on Lin's shoulder. "It's just a shame I won't be piloting it myself."
"Don't you want to try?" Lin noticed the self-mockery on his face and countered.
"Forget it. I'd die. I don't want my brain fried. I promised to make gear for you until the Honkai is gone." Delta yawned, looking visibly tired. He then pulled his neck in and showed an expectant expression.
"Disasters, monsters, the end of the world, and then a giant robot fights back. Isn't that the moment we all look forward to in a hero story? When monsters attack the city, and the Titan descends like a deus ex machina from the sky—that is probably humanity's ultimate romance."
Lin was surprised that Delta could say this, yet it felt reasonable. Most people in the hard sciences were similar to Mei, lacking emotional depth. Delta, however, was often emotional, and the fact that he was the head of the R&D Department was likely thanks to his exceptional talent.
"Ah, I can't take it anymore. I need to rest too. If you need anything, just tell my assistant. But you don't look well enough to equip much. Just take something basic, as you're only going to the branch."
Delta covered his head groggily, shaking it hard. Overwhelmed by sleepiness, he bade Lin farewell, then slumped into a chair, snoring with his mouth open.
To fall asleep instantly in such a noisy environment, he was clearly overworked.
Lin shook his head, called Delta's assistant, and asked him to cover Delta with a blanket or move him back to his room to sleep.
"I can't. The Minister said he has an important discussion meeting in two hours and told me not to take him back to his room. It's too much trouble."
"..."
Lin looked deeply at the sleeping Delta. He said nothing and turned to leave.
They didn't need many words. They were already clear about each other's choices, and it was not for anyone else to judge.
"MSA-278, Immer, reporting for duty. Assigned to the Seventh Squad starting today. Please give instructions, Captain."
The man in uniform handed over his Moth of the Flame emblem and performed a standard military salute to the helmeted man in front of him. His expression was meticulous, showing no sign of being a new recruit.
Lin took the emblem and glanced at it. After the Second Honkai Eruption, the Moth of the Flame emblems no longer had individual serial numbers and were standardized, only serving as identification. This one was no exception.
The emblem was made of special material, so its authenticity could be discerned by touch.
Lin returned the emblem to Immer. Immer respectfully accepted it and put it back in his pocket.
Hua also stood beside him, observing her new comrade. This was her second teammate and a future battle companion to entrust her back to.
Immer, the last to join the trio, was actually the oldest. However, he showed no disrespect toward the Captain or Hua due to his age, a trait better than most new recruits.
Lin focused his gaze on Immer's face and said, "The Seventh Squad currently has no mission. I will be accompanying Dr. Mei to the Fifth Science Department tomorrow for a month of escort duty. You will both remain at headquarters, learning and coordinating with Fifth Squad Captain Himeko."
"Escort duty?"
"Is there a problem?" Lin looked at Hua, who had spoken up.
Hua realized her slip of the tongue and stood at attention: "No, Captain."
"Captain, are there any additional instructions?" Immer asked.
"No."
Lin didn't know that Immer had voluntarily requested transfer to the Seventh Squad. Most new recruits were unwilling to join the Seventh Squad, as it was a new team, and the Captain was a Lieutenant who had only been a soldier for half a year longer than them, with rumors of his coldness and ruthlessness flying everywhere. Everyone prayed they wouldn't be assigned to the Seventh Squad.
Only Immer applied for the transfer after learning Lin was the Seventh Squad Captain.
And the reason for that was known only to himself.