It may be a bit late but please accept this small New Year's gift.
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"Though I have stressed it many times, I will explain it to you one last time."
Spaciel watched the treatment pod gradually empty, the liquid draining out, and Lin's single foot touching the ground it hadn't felt in a long time.
"Currently, the Honkai Sickness serum being researched at the Fifth Branch is only a hair's breadth from completion. That is to say, humanity is just one step away from being able to cure Honkai Sickness. However, this also doesn't mean that humanity has defeated the Honkai Sickness."
"One dose of serum requires the remains of at least ten thousand Honkai Sickness patients. A cure forged from the lives of ten thousand people can no longer be called 'precious,' as we often say that life is priceless."
"If you can stay here in my care, I can use the first dose of serum on you under the guise of an experiment. Note that this is not special treatment; it's because your case is unique and has reached the late stage of Honkai Sickness corrosion, making you an extremely valuable specimen."
"Your chance of survival is quite high. Even if it can't be completely cured, I believe it will allow you to return to the state you were in before the 15% corrosion rate."
"But if you leave now, I cannot guarantee how long you will live, and the first dose of serum will definitely not be tested on your body. I will only wait for you to die, then extract the serum from you for those who are willing to accept it. So, think carefully."
Spaciel knew he was trying in vain. He wasn't intimately familiar with Lin, but they weren't strangers either. Furthermore, Spaciel had conducted a psychological analysis on Lin. It was impossible for Lin to abandon his intentions just to cling to life.
"...I will."
"I don't think you will, but I have nothing else to say." Spaciel lowered his hand from the control panel. "Couldn't you even wait a few more weeks... even a few more days?"
"What's happening at headquarters must be related to that person. I don't have time."
"...From all perspectives, you truly don't have time. Alright, then at least take this with you."
Spaciel tossed out three tubes of bright green serum. He pointed to these lethal poisons: "I can't reduce their toxicity; rather, their toxicity is a necessity for their efficacy... But given your condition, keeping these just in case might be better. After all, there's a difference between dying now and dying later."
Lin didn't say anything. As usual, he pushed open the treatment pod, braced himself against the wall to get out, put on his clothes, and then picked up the serums and put them on his tool belt.
"Dr. Spaciel, thank you for your care."
"...That's why I find it strange. You seem to have changed, and it was a sudden change." Spaciel looked at the calm Lin with an amused expression. Even though he looked mostly the same as usual, Lin carried an unusual aura. "And what made you decide overnight that you are so eager to leave..."
"If there's a next time, I will explain it to you."
"Chairman, shouldn't you rest?"
After the transport plane took off, the Chairman leisurely read the poetry collection he brought, occasionally reciting a meaningful line of poetry. His scholarly demeanor fit his personality well.
Considering the long flight time and the Chairman's physical issues, Himeko reminded him.
"Don't let my appearance fool you. I was once the one on the very front lines of the Fire Moth in my youth." The Chairman closed the poetry collection and placed it on the table after hearing Himeko's words. "So you don't need to worry about me."
Just moments ago, he claimed to be old, and now he was boasting about his past physical fitness...
He didn't think there was any contradiction in his words and smiled: "Besides, I need to constantly watch the time. What is the time now, please?"
Watching the time?
Himeko was quite confused by this statement, but still honestly checked her watch and replied: "9:13 AM."
"Oh, good. Then we still have about ten minutes. Let's chat for a bit."
"Ah? Oh..."
Himeko had heard rumors about the Chairman's eccentric personality, but he had never openly acted disrespectfully toward them, the soldiers of the Fire Moth. Coupled with his past experience commanding operations on the front lines, he had a relatively high approval rating among the soldiers.
Dystopia was organizing documents, and Seele was uninterested, looking elsewhere. The chat would likely be just between the two of them.
"Then what would you like to talk about?" Himeko asked.
"Discussing political affairs with you would be too boring. I hope our conversation can be a bit more relaxed. Let's just talk about someone we both know." The Chairman licked his lips, drawing out his words: "Captain Lin, MSA-079, perhaps."
This sudden mention of Lin caught Himeko off guard. In her mind, Lin and the Chairman, as well as the other high-ranking officials, should have no close relationship. Lin never interacted with the higher-ups, who only gave him various orders—a most ordinary superior-subordinate relationship: "Why Lin?"
"You look like you didn't know I visited Captain Lin before." The Chairman sighed. "Ah, I actually hoped that scene would be seen and spread by more people. Doesn't the image of the high-ranking officials being terrifying run deep? A little bit of the high-ranking officials being considerate and amiable toward subordinates would be more conducive to unity."
"...I think the average person wouldn't specifically want to spread that kind of thing." Himeko's greatest virtue was that, even though she was respectful, she would still say what needed to be said and do what needed to be done. She dared to voice her opinion directly, even to the Chairman.
"But the fact that I visited Captain Lin will not change, will it? As long as the original intention remains, there is no problem."
What was this man talking about?
"Captain Lin once served under your command for a period, Captain Himeko. What is your opinion of Captain Lin?"
"Chairman, you actually paid attention to Lin's movements?"
"Of course. After all, I was the one who proposed his promotion."
"This—" Himeko couldn't help but be taken aback. "Under the current circumstances, asking me for my opinion on Lin... Are you trying to confirm if Lin is the killer?"
"Heh heh, I don't like playing detective games. Don't restrict yourself to me or others. Just share your most genuine impressions."
The Chairman looked somewhat expectant. He crossed his hands and waited for Himeko to speak.
"Alright then... A workaholic who seems to draw his motivation from nowhere, someone who likes to be mysterious and make small moves, treats orders as paramount, but likes to contradict people on matters outside of orders. Also, he's generally quite gloomy, never exposing any skin."
Himeko waved her hand dismissively at this point, but then offered a somewhat relieved smile: "But, Lin is an absolutely excellent warrior, far more excellent than I am."
"...Excellent?"
The Chairman's smile contained a deep, incomprehensible meaning.
"That's wonderful."