Bianka managed to find some equipment that wasn't completely destroyed, but the power source had long since stopped working. Her mechanical knowledge was a bit poor... actually, her knowledge of anything other than combat and the Houkai wasn't great. She knew a little bit of everything, but only at a surface level.
"If only Rita were here..."
Bianka always thought of Rita virtues at times like this. That all-purpose maid was a master of both the living room and the kitchen, skilled in both arts and letters. Connecting a power source would be no problem at all.
Should I go ask that Rita?
"What are you trying to do?"
"..."
This guy was truly like a ghost that wouldn't leave.
Lin, wearing his hat and with his hands in his pockets, walked in from the door. He bent down to pick up the roster Bianka had just dropped, silently gazing at the names one by one.
Bianka didn't want to deal with him and continued fiddling with the unfamiliar equipment.
The rain drizzled outside. Lin found a relatively clean spot to sit down. He stared out the door idly, occasionally looking back at Bianka, who was performing "violent maintenance" that resulted in loud clanking noises.
For some reason, she reminded Lin of Kevin. Perhaps in their straightforward nature, they were a bit alike.
"..." Bianka suddenly turned her head and met Lin gaze. She took a deep breath, her mouth twitching as she asked, "Do you know how to fix this?"
Lin took one look and said plainly: "Just cut the wire and connect the end to the battery on the right."
It was that simple? Bianka doubtfully tore the wire with her hands and plugged the end into the power port under the old battery cover.
Beep—
Bianka blinked as the screen lit up with a glow. She glanced at Lin, but he had already turned back to look elsewhere. So, she hurried to the screen, wanting to find some information.
But one problem followed another. She... didn't know how to use the Previous Era's machines. She wasn't a computer illiterate, and the machine's appearance was indeed like a computer, but the keyboard layout and the operating interface left her dizzy. It was vastly different from what she usually used.
"Hey..."
Bianka turned around and didn't see Lin. She looked left and right and found Lin squatting in front of a mushroom growing indoors, seemingly evaluating if it was edible.
...Is he some kind of animal like a wolf or a bear?
She felt she couldn't just call him by his name; that would be too "familiar." But he only had one name, so what should she call him?
Wait, he had been eating mushrooms just now—needle mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, shiitake, straw mushrooms, and such. And now he was looking for mushrooms again. His expressionless face was also very "mushroom-like"...
"Hey, Mushroom."
"..."
Lin turned his head coldly, as if asking, "Are you calling me?"
"Yes, I'm calling you." Bianka tilted her nose up triumphantly. She felt she had scored a point, her chest filled with pride.
"What is it, Goosey?" (Note: "呆头鹅" translates to "dumb goose/dull goose," used as a nickname for someone stubborn or slow-witted).
"..."
Bianka smile lasted less than two seconds before freezing. Her head felt like it had turned into a honking goose head.
"What did you call me?"
"Goosey."
Lin pulled up a mushroom and sniffed it. As expected, still no sense of smell. What was the reason for only the sense of taste returning? Rita said it might be himself, so what had changed compared to before?
Lin couldn't tell the color of the mushroom either. Looking only at the shape, many fungi looked similar. It was better not to eat them recklessly. He put down the mushroom and spread his hands: "Your personality isn't flashy at all, so Goosey is an easy-to-remember nickname."
"W-Why?"
"Because your name is too long and I don't want to say it. Besides, didn't you give me a nickname too?"
"The second part is the real reason, isn't it? Are you that spiteful?"
"The one who gives the first nickname loses half the battle."
"That's so childish!"
The more Bianka thought about it, the angrier she got. She slammed her palm onto the machine: "Anyway, you Mushroom, hurry up and help me find something!"
CRASH!
"..."
"..."
The two of them silently turned to look at the screen that had broken in half under her hand, the shattered parts still sparking with electricity. After a moment of shock, Bianka immediately turned back: "It's not..."
Lin took a step back, pointing his fingers at her: "I oppose violence."
...
The "Mushroom and Goosey" duo wandered around for a while before finally finding a machine that was still somewhat functional and carrying it back to the battery.
Lin quickly connected the wires to the battery, adjusted a few things, and successfully turned on the machine. He said seriously to the red-faced Bianka: "I'm sorry, Lady Goosey. I shouldn't have provoked you. Please don't take your anger out on me."
"You're provoking me right now."
"Is that so? I thought you weren't angry since you haven't beaten me black and blue yet."
"Maybe next second I'll beat you into pieces."
Bianka stared intently at the screen, and Lin brought up the things she wanted to see.
"Is there a key personnel list?" Bianka watched the numerous names scrolling by.
"For example?"
"For example..." Bianka thought of the roster she found earlier. "Fire-Moth."
Lin casually opened the database. All the information from the moment before the internal network was disconnected was inside.
The first name that appeared was Mobius. Bianka didn't know why she insisted on picking this seemingly useless personnel list, but she had Lin scroll down, recording every name she saw in her memory.
There was a slight glow reflected in Bianka eyes: "Why do you know how to use these machines?"
"Because I know how."
"Are you talking nonsense?"
"You're the one talking nonsense."
After a short while, the list arrived at a name. Bianka rubbed her eyes in confusion. After confirming she hadn't misread it, she looked at Lin. He was continuing to scroll down the list very naturally, as if he hadn't seen it at all.
"This person's name is the same as yours, Mushroom."
"That's me, Goosey."
"So it is you... Are you a person from 50,000 years ago?"
"Obviously not. I haven't lived for 50,000 years yet."
Click.
Bianka pressed her hand over Lin, preventing him from scrolling further. She took a slow, deep breath, staring at Lin, who was as calm as a deep pool: "You're saying you are the 'Lin' on this list, the same person?"
"Yes."
"Fire-Moth?"
"Correct."
Bianka brain stalled for a few seconds. She slowly opened her mouth, then let go and took a step back.
This person is... a Pioneer from the Previous Era? Just like that 'Su'?
"You seem to have a lot to say, Miss Goosey."
An invisible cold light flickered in Lin eyes as he looked at the stunned Bianka.