How many chances does a person get to pause and reflect in their lifetime?
...
"Minister, aren't you going to help?"
The assistant looked at Kevin's receding back and couldn't help but ask Mei, who was completely focused on her work.
Mei had been the head of the Research and Development Department for over a year. In her assistant's eyes, she was a dedicated and excellent minister in all aspects, devoted entirely to her work, seemingly oblivious to the outside world.
Based on her daily routine, one would never guess that this bespectacled girl, whose life revolved between two points, was the culprit behind the internal divisions in the Fire Moth.
Over the past year, her emotions had become increasingly difficult to read. Her smiles were more frequent, but they were less and less like those of the once-shy girl.
Perhaps only in Kevin's presence could she momentarily reveal a genuine smile.
"...No need. I can't help much. Just leave it to Kevin," Mei replied without raising her head, busy pondering a new weapon design.
"But..."
To the assistant, Mei seemed no different from usual, yet with such a major incident occurring, why would Mei, who was qualified to attend upper-level meetings, simply leave the matter for Kevin to handle?
Mei prevented the assistant from speaking further. She turned to look at her deputy, who was slightly older than her, and capped both pens: "Go get me the blueprint for A7."
"..." The assistant stopped, momentarily bewildered. He then understood that Mei meant for him to drop the subject.
Help?
Mei called up Prometheus II. After reviewing the second and third assassination cases, she confirmed one thing.
...
"Another indoor assassination."
After the fourth victim appeared, the entire situation spiraled into an uncontrollable frenzy. Everyone could see that someone was targeting the high-ranking officials of the Fire Moth, and that person might even be Lin, who had disappeared.
"I told you! That helmet guy hiding his face all the time meant no good."
"That's not right. The evidence isn't conclusive yet, and wasn't he confirmed to be incapable of combat?"
"What's so difficult about killing someone? He uses those weapons to kill even Herrschers and high-level Honkai Beasts, let alone a person!"
"Exactly! He must be dissatisfied with the high-ranking officials and isn't content with his current power..."
In the current chaos, the headquarters had no time to manage public opinion, and the attempt to completely suppress information was failing. Though private discussions hadn't reached the internal network, many had already concluded that the evidence was solid.
Lin had always been controversial since joining the Fire Moth, constantly at the center of public opinion, and this incident would undoubtedly amplify the questioned parts of him indefinitely.
The members of Hen's temporary squad gathered in the conference room. With no mission and no one to train them, all they could do was discuss the recent events.
Elvin seemed out of place among the indignant people, looking awkward and confused. He muttered quietly: "But Captain Lin shouldn't have any reason to kill people... Would a killer risk their life to hunt Herrschers?"
"..."
The moment he said this, everyone strangely turned their attention to him, and the air in the conference room instantly solidified.
"Elvin, have you forgotten? It's because of him that our squad lost more than half of its members."
Someone said abruptly.
Elvin gave a helpless, bitter smile: "But we were sent to our deaths from the very beginning. If it weren't for Captain Hen, we would all have died there. If you want to find the true source, shouldn't it be the person who gave the order to sacrifice us?"
This stumped the person, who couldn't find a word to refute Elvin.
Elvin was right. Even if they were looking for revenge, they should go after Sigma and the high-ranking officials behind him, not Lin, who came to aid. Lin hadn't known the circumstances of Hen's squad at the time, and if the mission had proceeded normally, Lin's support would have been very timely.
"What are you talking about! We have evidence now! It must be him!" The person shouted, his face flushed with indignation. "How should I know what he's thinking? He's been mysterious all day long; we don't even know what he looks like! Maybe he's just crazy! Have you ever seen anyone recklessly rush into danger zones all day long just to do those missions, huh?"
"...Forget it. Maybe you're right."
Elvin hadn't expected him to be so agitated, as if he had been hurt. Elvin shook his head, not wanting to argue further.
They were just a group of recruits brought together; disagreements and conflicts were normal. Elvin himself was unremarkable, with mediocre abilities in all areas. He believed he just needed to calmly execute his missions, and avoiding intense conflict with others was the best approach.
They didn't see the full picture regarding Lin, relying entirely on subjective speculation, and subjectivity was the most likely place for error.
Maybe he really was wrong?
Elvin laughed self-deprecatingly. Anyway, he was a nobody. He survived this mission, but might die in the next. Having escaped death once, he had gained a more open-minded perspective on many things.
Elvin's smile made others feel like he was mocking them, but Elvin was too lazy to explain. He got up and walked out the door without a word.
"Ah... Hmm? Can I help you?"
Elvin wanted some fresh air. Looking at the usual corridor, he took a deep breath, only to notice someone standing nearby, staring at him silently.
The girl with a shoulder-length, inwardly curled highlight was looking at him thoughtfully, making him feel a bit uncomfortable.
They didn't know each other, did they?
"Why did you speak up for Captain Lin... Lin?" she suddenly asked after watching him in silence for a while.
"You heard that?" Elvin was surprised. The soundproofing of the conference room was unparalleled by other rooms; it was difficult to hear what was inside even by pressing one's ear against the wall. "It seems my voice was too loud just now..."
He sighed: "It's not exactly speaking up for him. It's just that I feel like everyone has entered a strange state—numbing themselves and numbing others."
What is right?
What is wrong?
Truth? Lies? Fallacy? Reality?
None of it seemed to matter anymore. It was just that "something was happening," like the anomalous yet seemingly rational phenomena before the descent of the Honkai.
"I just feel like everyone is too harsh on Captain Lin. Maybe he's not as... despicable as others imagine?" Elvin exhaled a breath upwards. "Covering his face might be because of disfigurement. Being mysterious might be because he doesn't want contact with people. Constantly going on missions... Is everyone really more willing to believe that someone hunting Herrschers has ulterior motives than that he simply wants to protect humanity?"
The girl gazed at the expression on his face, and after a moment, handed him a file: "For your own good, you should speak less like this, at least in front of those people."
"What is this?"
"Your squad's medical report. The lab asked me to deliver it."
Elvin nodded, taking the report. Just as he was about to return to the conference room, the girl behind him said abruptly, "Stick to what you believe in your heart, but don't be too extreme about it. There's nothing wrong with being a 'person in the crowd'."
Elvin turned back in surprise: "Thank you."
However, the girl had already turned and left.