"Want to try it? Whether you can shatter my hand before I release the Honkai Beasts."
Rit's face was full of mockery, and he nudged his ID card closer to the switch.
After the two shots, Rit confirmed that Lin truly had no intention of killing him. Lin could have simply shot him in the head from behind, yet he only disabled his mobility.
"A facility like this wouldn't open with just a simple card swipe." Lin raised the muzzle of the gun slightly, aiming subtly at Rit's hand.
"Do you remember the detention facility at the Fifth Branch?" Rit's mouth curved to both sides, widening his eyes in a chilling smile. "Do you want to bet on how I opened it?"
"..."
That enormous door stood behind Rit like the gate of hell.
After a prolonged silence, Lin slowly lowered his gun.
Rit shook his head, tutting: "What a shame. If you had just broken my legs at the start, none of this would have happened. You're a lot softer-hearted than you let on."
"What's the next move?" Lin wasn't in the mood for idle chat. The situation was deadlocked, and there was no guarantee that no one would arrive here soon. He couldn't let Rit stall for time.
"What move? Open the emergency call for me, and get out of here!" Rit shouted.
He didn't believe Lin would prioritize the lives of the other people in The Deepest Reaches over his own. Pushing Lin too hard now would be counterproductive, so letting Lin leave with the data was the best outcome for both of them.
So, what would Lin choose? To let go of him, a heinous murderer, for the sake of some relatively unimportant people, or to abandon The Deepest Reaches, which wasn't much better itself, for the sake of the fallen Seeles of the Fifth Branch?
Rit secretly swallowed. He was outwardly arrogant but inwardly incredibly nervous. He couldn't possibly release the Honkai Beasts; he would be the first to die.
But he had to make it look convincing!
He shouted with false bravado: "Do you think I won't dare release the Honkai Beasts? The judgment for me after capture will absolutely be execution, so don't even think about whether I dare. What's the harm in taking a few more down with me after killing so many?"
Lin silently put the gun into his pocket, looked at Rit, and spoke a single, quiet sentence:
"You won't."
Just those three words ripped Rit's mask off. His fingers froze in the air, the card less than half a centimeter from the switch.
"I know someone whose lover is his everything. Everything else is like starlight compared to the moon. So, I know you won't open it." Lin slowly walked forward, staring at Rit, who was backing away with nowhere to go. "Because if you die, your daughter won't survive either."
"You... Stop!"
"I can help you." Lin continued walking forward. His slow, approaching figure exerted immense pressure on Rit, making sweat pour down his forehead.
"Stop joking! You'd just let me go? Didn't you chase me here to capture me!"
"I didn't say I'd let you go."
"What?" Rit was stunned, then enraged. "Are you mocking me!"
Lin certainly wouldn't let Rit and the people behind him off the hook, but it wouldn't be his hand that delivered the judgment.
"What is your daughter's condition?" Lin stopped at a subtle distance, not too close, but enough to maintain psychological pressure on Rit.
"Why are you asking?"
"Is it a common illness or a Honkai disease?"
"..."
Rit hesitated, looking at the calmly standing Lin. He grit his teeth and said, "A rare cellular necrosis disease. There have only been six cases gloPartyy. The mortality rate is one hundred percent. My daughter is the only remaining case."
Such a one-in-a-billion disease could indeed only be treated or delayed by the Moth of the Fire Chasers. Lin was not surprised when Rit mentioned this outlandish illness.
Lin immediately followed up: "I can save your daughter."
"You? Humph..." Rit's teeth chattered. "You're certainly a genius in combat, but you're not a doctor. How can you say you can save her?"
"Do you know Mobius?"
"That Mobius?! Are you insane! You want my daughter on that freak's operating table!"
"But Mobius's research in cellular biology is unparalleled. If anyone has the assurance to save your daughter, it would have to be Mobius."
"..." This time, it was Rit's turn to fall silent.
Lin occasionally monitored the surroundings of A-3 Sector, ensuring no one entered.
After one more minute passed on Prometheus's timer, Rit looked up and said hoarsely, "What do you want me to do?"
"The person who gave the orders, and you." Lin's viewport showed that Rit's heart rate had slowed down. Lin said lightly, "You will face the punishment you deserve."
Lin had no right to forgive Rit on behalf of the Fifth Branch. Even if he did it for his daughter, he had no right to punish Rit. Even if Rit deserved death, the only ones with the right were the survivors of the Fifth Branch, led by Doctor Spaciel.
Lin would not place himself above the law for others, but he also wouldn't let the due judgment be absolved by privilege.
"...Alright."
Rit sighed, lowered his hand, and moved the ID card away from the switch.
Leaning against the wall, he laughed, relieved: "The punishment I deserve, huh... Maybe that's right. You're a true weirdo, just like the rumors say."
Lin shook his head. It seemed this matter was concluded satisfactorily. Now, he only needed to figure out how to take Rit back, find the Cocoon's commander, and report it to Mei.
"Sigh, come help me up. Your two shots completely broke my legs. I can't walk."
Rit pointed to his bloody, mangled legs. Lin glanced at them, then walked forward, intending to carry him on his back.
However, just as disaster strikes without warning yet always adheres to patterns, everything that seems sudden is traceable, yet still catches people off guard.
"Drip————"
Rit's and Lin's hair stood on end simultaneously. A chill shot up from their soles.
In a situation no one expected, the tightly closed door detaining the Honkai Beasts suddenly let out a massive sound, then opened with a rumble.
Rit's eyes widened. He watched the Honkai Beasts, originally contained in individual pod-like cells, walk out of the opened cells, emitting distorted screams.
"Howl————"
What was going on? He definitely hadn't touched the switch.
The situation of all Honkai Beasts being released together couldn't possibly be the effect of just opening one large door!
A thought flashed through Rit's mind, and then his brain instantly went blank.
"We've been discovered?"