"..."
"Knock, knock."
The thin Su raised his head wearily. His slack facial muscles were covered in unkempt dirt. His pair of clear eyes were the cleanest parts of his entire body.
"Although it's a somewhat clichéd opening, this is the tradition of the organization, so you might find the words I'm about to say inexplicable." The one-armed man, his remaining hand tucked into his white coat pocket, also looked tired. "It's best if you understand, but I won't explain if you don't, Mr. Su."
"You... know me?" A flicker of life, like activated cells under a microscope, appeared on Su's face.
"I know you better than you think. I've been watching you for a long time, Mr. Su, since... the day you entered that hospital."
Spaciel smiled courteously. He walked in, taking in Su's entire figure: "You were in a coma for over a month, and after waking up, you confined yourself to this room. I imagine you've experienced some cognitive disorientation."
"I only remember... Director Fal and I went to save people... and then..." Su clutched his forehead, cold sweat dripping from his temples as terrifying memories resurfaced in his mind. "The monster... Wait! That child!"
"Don't worry. He has been taken in by the Fire Moth. When he reaches a certain age, he will be allowed to choose whether to stay with the Fire Moth or go out and live his life... though he might not have another choice once he grows up." Spaciel chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Hearing the familiar term, Su's pupils widened gradually: "The Fire Moth... Is this the Fire Moth?"
"To be precise, this is the Fifth Branch of the Fire Moth. It's currently being rebuilt, but it will soon return to its normal state. You should be very familiar with it, as it's right next to your hospital." Spaciel snapped his fingers. Boron, who was outside the door, walked in. "Boron, I don't need to introduce him to you, do I? He's my bodyguard."
"By the way, before I explain the situation, let me introduce myself first. My name is Spaciel, and I am the person in charge of the Fifth Branch of the Fire Moth. The application forms you submitted over the years were all rejected by me."
Spaciel took two of the three cups of tea Boron carried and placed one in front of Su. Su, not wanting tea, shook his head. Spaciel smiled and said, "This is an ancient Shenzhou tea. It has a calming effect on the nerves and will stabilize your confused state."
Hearing Spaciel say this, Su silently accepted the tea. After taking a sip, he held the warm cup and looked at his reflection in the pale green surface of the liquid.
He was indeed very confused.
During the Sixth Eruption, his will was firm, he threw himself into danger, and faced death without fear. But after waking up, the overwhelming and bizarre information felt like it was crushing his small mind, making it impossible to recall the process normally.
It was as if it were only a dream, and upon waking, he was utterly lost about the details of the dream.
"Let's return to the main topic. I've been paying attention to you these past few years because you possess qualities that most Fire Moth members do not: compassion for those afflicted with Honkai Sickness, and persistence in the face of disaster. These qualities meet my recruitment requirements. After the Sixth Eruption, I can now approve your joining the Fire Moth."
As Spaciel said, he would only state facts, not explain them. His speaking speed was just fast enough for Su to absorb the information. Everything else... he wouldn't elaborate on.
He believed that Su, the talent he valued, would understand the current situation. The most basic requirement for joining the Fire Moth was a grasp of the current reality.
In this regard, both Lin and Kevin did very well, and their friend... must not be too far behind.
"By the way, since you worked with Ragna and Fal, are you aware of the truth about Honkai Sickness and Honkai?"
"...A mysterious disaster targeting civilization and the illness it causes."
"Mm, very good. That summarizing ability saves me a lot of trouble."
Spaciel was very satisfied with Su's answer: "Then I don't need to introduce Honkai to you. I'll get right back to the work of the Fire Moth. It's actually very simple. All of us have only one goal... to combat Honkai."
"..."
"This goal is broad, yet small. Specifically, we will stop all phenomena caused by Honkai that are detrimental to humanity, and we aim to subjugate the Herrschers, the highest symbol of Honkai."
"And the Fifth Branch, which I am in charge of, served as the command center in the battle called the Sixth Eruption. Normally, we are a branch primarily engaged in Honkai Sickness research, meaning the branch that cooperates with your hospital to take away the bodies of Honkai patients."
Hearing the term Honkai Sickness, Su's eyes lit up, and he seemed invigorated: "Wait, I have a question."
"Hmm? Ask away."
Spaciel knew what Su wanted to ask. He just smiled, took a sip of tea, and waited for Su, whose expression was gradually shifting from panic to composure.
"Since you research Honkai Sickness, have you already developed... a cure for Honkai Sickness?"
"...Phew, that question is truly interesting." Spaciel put down his teacup and casually tapped the rim, listening to the pleasant clinking sound. He nonchalantly rolled up his sleeve. "I believe you know that the most clumsy but direct method for Honkai Sickness is to excise the diseased part."
"Yes, but during the surgery, the Honkai Sickness accelerates its rate of erosion. Most patients die from the heart or brain being eroded before the resection can be completed."
"Then, how do you suppose my arm disappeared?"
"..."
Su looked at Spaciel's bare arm and his chilling smile, clenching his fists: "Are you saying... there is no solution?"
"Hahaha... Don't be so nervous. My arm was indeed amputated due to Honkai Sickness, but I only wanted to use this to startle you." Spaciel smiled, narrowing his eyes like a fox. "However, the so-called 'cure' is not omnipotent. Like the amputation surgery, it removes the root of the disease, but it is not perfect either."
"You've already... developed it?"
"Yes. In the final stage of the Sixth Eruption, the Honkai Sickness serum was successfully manufactured and used on a patient in the late stages of Honkai Sickness. Within half an hour, the Honkai energy in that patient's body was completely expelled. It was a complete recovery from the brink of death."
"Really! That's wonderful!"
"Yes, it is wonderful. If you choose to join the Fire Moth, you will undoubtedly meet that patient soon." Spaciel looked meaningfully at the delighted smile on Su's face. "Now, would you like to know how the Honkai Sickness serum was made?"
"Or, would you like to hear a story about a traitor, a cannibalistic demon, and devoted humans? And the stories of those nameless individuals... who perished on the path of salvation to forge that serum?"