No hesitation, no self-deception. Forget-Me-Not has always been good at observation, studying every detail of her target before a hunt, but once she moves, she never looks back.
Taking advantage of Ryan time pacing and thinking, Sakura mind drifted slightly, and many images flashed in her mind.
When she was first captured, her heart was dead, then she was forced to cooperate for Rin. Gradually, she found Ryan reliable and that he treated her as a human, so she dedicated herself to working for him.
After nearly two years, her thoughts had changed again during this not-so-long period.
Ryan was the only reliance in this apocalyptic world. Ryan regarded her as a very important and close person. It's no exaggeration to say that in her more than twenty years of life, only Rin received such treatment.
The closest family. Because of him, she had friends like Elysia, Hua, etc. She no longer hid in the darkness, walking alone. It was as if a ray of sunlight illuminated the assassin's shadowy figure.
Originally, returning to the darkness would have made her more valuable, but this man grabbed her hand, insisting that she bask in the light.
"So you should be responsible to the end."
"Hm? What did you say?" Ryan turned his head. He was thinking about the 'coordinates' problem.
"Nothing, just made a decision." Sakura shook her head, not trying to cover up like Mobius, but as a martial artist, she hoped to be open and honest.
In the battle meeting two days ago, Elysia specifically asked for her opinion, and she said she hadn't made up her mind. If she were to sneak off now, it would be too shameless.
Nonsense, forget it, serious matters first.
"Coordinates, coordinates..."
The Sea Of Quanta and the original world must be bound by a coordinate, otherwise, they would truly become wandering humans, and even the most solid World Bubble would dissolve in the sea in less than a thousand years.
According to Mei plan, Fire Moth would open a door between reality and the sea through a device researched by Grievous. This device would digitize matter at the origin and materialize information at the destination.
However, the 'steel cable' connecting reality and the World Bubble must not break, or the people sent away would not be able to return.
"Headache. Ordinary people can be sent away, but warriors must stay, because if everyone runs away, the world will sooner or later be filled with Honkai energy. If the 'steel cable' is cut, humanity will perish without a fight."
Ryan never thought of just running away blindly. For humans, surviving for a thousand years would be blissful, but civilization would definitely be completely severed. It would be worse than the seed program.
"Do you want me to give you a massage?" Sakura couldn't help much, only speaking quietly.
"That would be a bother." Ryan sat back in the lounge chair, feeling her slender fingers rubbing his temples. Her slightly cool body temperature calmed him down.
Insufficient information. The current news mostly comes from past life memories and the Quantum Institute's exploration. The 'Sea' opposite the Imaginary Tree is definitely not that simple. He even suspects the existence of 'quantum energy.'
I still need to go there myself. These Herrschers are really annoying, one wave after another, making it impossible for me to free myself.
Because of the time distortion in his dreams, Ryan didn't dare to go exploring the deep sea in a tense situation. Even a slight error in the flow of time would be troublesome. And with so many Imaginary-side authorities, wouldn't there be a rejection reaction?
Thinking it over, there was no clear answer. Ryan had decided to make time to go. Opening his eyes, his grey eyes became firm again.
"Made up your mind?"
"Yes, I'll go after killing another Herrscher. With thirteen teams, I don't believe we can't suppress a few Herrschers."
"Perhaps you should trust us more?"
"Of course I trust you. I'm staying here just in case of unexpected situations, like this Ninth Herrscher definitely has a conspiracy. I can't let you step on landmines."
Ryan waved his hand with a bitter smile. Like Donggong City, only he could handle it. The others' combat power and acting skills weren't up to par. How could they fish properly?
"Anyway, there's no rush. Let's gather the population on the continent of Mu first. If we really start the plan, I estimate Honkai will get anxious. Write down my analysis from just now as a report and give it to Mei to hear her opinion."
"Okay."
She answered, but her hand on his head didn't stop. Ryan felt a bit strange, but seeing how comfortable it was, he didn't pursue it. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
Click.
The lock turned, and Hua walked in. She immediately saw Ryan lying on the lounge chair with his eyes closed, and Sakura behind him. Her eyes instantly shot up.
Sakura also looked at her, her eyes filled with determination, making it immediately clear.
So that's it. No wonder Sister Sakura was so hesitant that day. Didn't she say she hadn't made up her mind yet? What happened that made her decide so quickly?
Hua immediately understood, but she had already prepared herself mentally, so she wasn't too shocked.
Fighting over one man was fighting, and fighting over two was fighting. At least Sister Sakura wouldn't be as annoying as Mobius; she had good manners and etiquette.
"Senior Brother, I've almost finished forming the team."
"So fast?" Ryan sat up slightly, only then realizing it was Hua. He quickly disengaged from Sakura hand; his skin wasn't thick enough to be indifferent.
"Yes, the [Fleeting] team doesn't have many people, and most of them are veterans from the Punishment Blade. Freya knows them all, so forming the team was naturally convenient."
The Tenth Team's captain was relatively weak, but its subordinates were strong, mostly veterans. That Freya was one of the earliest MANTIS, and had cooperated with Ryan during the Battle of Britain.
Ryan also remembered that somewhat sharp-tongued girl, and seeing Hua dull personality, the two should get along very well.
"I see. Then the Tenth Team is the first to complete its combat deployment. Well done, Hua."
The girl immediately smiled sweetly. She loved being praised by Ryan, feeling acknowledged, even though she was now so far behind that she couldn't even see his back.
"Then can I ask for a reward?"
"Oh? What reward do you want?" Ryan was very surprised. Hua usually just stood at attention and saluted at this point.
"Dr. Mei issued a quick reconnaissance mission. Can I invite you to guide us?"
During the formation of the teams, they would first undergo simulated battles. After passing, they would be considered combat-ready and then execute actual combat missions, naturally with a very detailed and scientific outline.
The Tenth Team was the first to start deployment. Ryan, both for public and private reasons, should go and check it. After all, the idea was good, but whether it worked well or not depended on the results.
"Alright, I'm free for the next two days anyway. Everyone in the Golden Courtyard is off to work."
Yay!
Hua quietly clenched her fists. Fortunately, she had been a "wooden stump" for so long that she managed to hide her excitement, then quietly winked at Sakura.
Sorry, Sister Sakura, I've been busier these past two days than when I was rushing homework. It's really taken a lot out of me.
Sakura read the meaning in that glance and instinctively said, "Do you need me to come along?"
"You don't need to go. I'll be back in a few days at most. If you have time, help me keep an eye on Eden and Su. Tell them what MANTIS have to face. Those two noobs have zero combat experience." Ryan said, walking away, leaving a regretful Sakura standing in the room, frowning slightly as she saw Hua quietly stick out her tongue at her.
When the door closed, she let out a wry laugh again.
Hua was also seen by her as a sister with no blood ties, usually very close. She placed her hand on her chest, brushing away a lingering trace of unpleasantness.
"Fighting over a man with my own sister, what kind of thing is that..."
Whoosh—
The door opened for the second time then. Sakura quickly put away the smile on her face, only to see Mobius standing at the doorway, craning her neck to look inside.
"Ryan? Where did he go?"
"He went on a mission with Hua. Do you need something?"
Tsk, too late by a step. It's all Pardofelis's fault for dilly-dallying, saying she wanted super-transformation surgery but then chickening out, making me waste my time for nothing.
"He's the Director-General, what kind of mission is he on? I don't remember the Tenth Team going to fight a Herrscher."
"But this is the best time to test the Thirteen Flame-Chasers. Ryan has that responsibility." Sakura glared back decisively. While Mobius was puzzled, she said without hesitation:
"Doctor, Ryan is partly mine. I won't let go."
It was too direct, making her snake eyes constrict sharply. Mobius didn't even react for a moment. She had never seen such a bold and decisive declaration, and instinctively opened her mouth.
"What do you mean, 'partly yours'? He, he, he can't be cut in half!"
Sakura placed her hand on her chest, and corrected cleanly: "Wrong, it's at least three halves, but no matter how many parts, I will occupy one. To get all of it would be best, of course, that depends on your attitude."
Unveiled, unhidden, it was a masterful strike, fully embodying the designation [Fleeting].
This direct hit made Mobius dizzy, and she couldn't even manage to be stubborn anymore, instinctively taking a step back.
"What's that got to do with me? Go ask him then. Alright, I have things to do, I'm not going to waste time with you."
Whoosh—
The automatic door quickly closed again.
Sakura still stood behind the lounge chair, this time a faint smile appearing on her face.
"Fighting Dr. Mobius is still more interesting." ... This girl, she's unusually excited.
As expected, Mobius really stimulated her.
Ryan glanced at the girl beside him out of the corner of his eye.
The stiff military uniform, short leather boots, and grey stockings. Her face still showed no expression, but after knowing her for almost ten years, Ryan knew what Hua was up to just by her slight movements.
Very happy.
Even her steps became lighter. But Ryan was doing this on purpose.
From the beginning, he planned to defeat them one by one. Always avoiding them wasn't a solution.
"I haven't been home for two days. How's the Golden Courtyard?"
"Everyone's busy. Only Griseo, Rin, and Blanca are left. When I went back last night, they kept pestering me to tell stories, saying they were so bored." Hua instinctively smiled, feeling warm as she talked about Griseo.
"Bored? Did she finish her test papers? Did she practice her calligraphy well?"
"Senior Brother, you're truly a demon! Griseo is only in first grade elementary school!"
"Hahaha, what about Pardofelis? She should keep things from being boring, right?"
"Pardo went to help Mobius."
"What? She went to help Mobius??" Ryan was momentarily bewildered.
How was this different from an elementary school student messing around in a high-energy physics lab? Under Hua explanation, he then learned that the timid cat had a relapse, was determined but also scared of death, so she was dilly-dallying and pestering Mobius.
It was a bit like an elementary school student facing a nurse's needle, constantly asking the nurse auntie to be gentle.
"Hahaha, this timid cat. Perhaps the super-transformation surgery will enhance her luck." Ryan rubbed his hands.
When Eden, Su, and Pardofelis finish their surgeries, won't the Thirteen Flame-Chasers be complete?