What? Ryan is a lolicon???
Not just Eden, who asked the question, but even the calmest Mei was shocked. That's what you call a shocking statement. She had imagined countless answers, but she never expected Prometheus to say that.
She took back what she said before. She still needed to continue learning. Her emotional intelligence was on par with a newborn chick. How could she say that so easily?
Eden was instantly a bit awkward. She subconsciously showed an elegant and polite smile: "Prometheus, you can't just say things like that."
"Miss Eden, no, according to ethics, I should call you Auntie. Is lying a way to hide the truth? Like how you are extremely shocked right now, but your smile is still full of kindness?"
These words confused both Eden and Sakura. On one hand, they found Prometheus's half-understood appearance interesting, but on the other hand, they were also very shocked.
"Ryan is actually a lolicon? He doesn't seem like it. Doesn't he dislike Hua's tablet?"
The two of them looked at each other and decisively turned on their internal communication.
"Mm. I also noticed that when I wear low-cut clothes, his gaze always changes a little. Once, when I was sitting next to Aponia, he was clearly measuring something."
"Really? I didn't notice."
"Sakura, you're too slow. You don't actually think Ryan is a perfect gentleman, do you?"
"How is that possible? He has big plans."
The two of them clearly knew Ryan very well. Mei, who was on the side, wanted to laugh but also felt that she had to take Prometheus for further experiments. It was time to end this farce.
She was about to have Prometheus search for Ryan's whereabouts when the lab door opened again.
"You two are finally back."
It was Ryan and Mobius who came in. They didn't show any signs of rushing. Sakura even scrutinized them at the first moment. Besides seeing a few loose threads on the inner thigh of Mobius's clothes, she didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
Oh, and Mobius's expression seemed a bit smug. She wanted to say something but forced herself to hold it in, showing a sign of both joy and pain.
Sakura saw this and took a step forward: "Where did you two go?"
"We conducted a very serious experiment. It was a high-level one. Don't ask for the details. You wouldn't understand anyway." Mobius said first, touching her golden earring. "You're acting strange today. You actually came to find me."
"I came to find Ryan."
A knife-sharp gaze moved from Mobius's face to Ryan's. The man stood there with a serious expression, unmoving like a mountain, but the back of his head felt a bit numb.
Sakura is so scary. She's really hard to fool. Luckily, I used the Authority of Thunder to get back in a flash.
"Based on when I lost control of the Hyperion, they were together for eighteen minutes and twenty-five seconds. Don't worry, with Father's physical strength, the time was a bit too short."
A voice with not much tonal fluctuation sounded, which finally made Sakura's gaze move away. She thought for a moment and nodded slightly, feeling that it made some sense.
What do you mean 'the time was too short'? And is 'Father' referring to me?
Ryan felt that something was wrong after a closer thought. He also turned his head and saw the girl in a white coat. She was very short, only reaching his chest, and her appearance wasn't much different from his memory.
"Are you Prometheus?"
"Yes, Father. I was a little disappointed that I didn't see you just now."
Hiss, it really is me. Wait, how did I become a father just by giving Mobius a small reward?
"Why are you calling me Father?"
"Because this body was created by Dr. Mobius, and you are her lover. The success rate is ninety-nine percent. It's only right for me to call you Father according to ethics." Prometheus explained and then looked at Mei on the side.
"And my concept of existence was created by Dr. Mei, so she is also my Mother. Similarly, Kevin also has a ninety-nine percent chance."
Two mothers, two fathers. A double surprise of becoming a father, is it?
Ryan didn't know how to explain it. It seemed to make some sense, but he also felt that something was wrong. But he had no time to explain.
Mobius's smugness was on full display. Sakura was looking at him with an extremely serious gaze, and Eden next to her had a 'let's see what you do' smile.
"Prometheus."
"Yes, Father. Please speak."
"You... are really good at starting a war."
...
The newborn Prometheus had negative emotional intelligence and only told the truth. Fortunately, Sakura saw her as a child and didn't bother to argue with her.
She was soon taken away by the overjoyed Mobius. At least from the latter's perspective, this child was really good with words, and she had to be rewarded properly. Hmm, and she had to be taught more.
Next time, she would directly say a hundred percent chance and mock the other losers. She would also learn some of her mother's passive-aggressive remarks.
"I hope Prometheus won't be led astray. It's been a long time since Mobius was so approving of someone."
Ryan felt uneasy. He glanced at the fox-eared girl who was half a step behind him. She was expressionless, but she gave off a subtle coldness.
Great. I have to go back and forth putting out fires again.
"Sakura, are you angry?"
Her footsteps paused for a moment and then caught up. Sakura's tone didn't change: "I wouldn't be angry with a newborn baby. Ryan, do you think I'm that petty?"
She's definitely angry. You wouldn't usually talk back to me like that.
Ryan licked his lips. An angry Sakura was still very scary. Just like her personality, she was silent and sharp. Hua would go into her wooden-stick state, which is called sulking. Mobius would immediately enter her revenge phase, which he could deal with as long as he was vigilant.
"Your character is of course very good. Sometimes I even admire it."
"Ryan, I think you're a bit guilty."
"Why?"
"Your praise is too forced. It sounds like you're just trying to make conversation."
Uh, she saw through me at a glance and pointed it out without mercy. She really is scary.
Ryan slowed his pace, and his brain also started to run at full speed. The soldiers passing by all made way, not daring to disturb the commander-in-chief's thoughts on the survival of civilization.
'This has nothing to do with Prometheus, obviously. Sakura is concerned about what happened between Mobius and me, but I can't say it out loud. After all, even Mobius, who was at the height of her smugness, didn't dare to show it.'
He suddenly missed a certain gold-medal wingman. If Elysia were here, any problem would be covered up with laughter.
The man fell into deep thought. Only the sound of footsteps could be heard. Sakura remained silent, looking at the figure half a step in front of her. A slight curve quietly appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Ryan's analysis was not wrong. Sakura was concerned about what he and Mobius did, and she was even more annoyed that they hid it from her. But just now, she was no longer angry, and she couldn't even explain it herself.
'Maybe this trouble itself is a healing balm? At least I've confirmed that he cares about my feelings?'
Sakura blinked a bit uncertainly. As the most serious person by Ryan's side, she wouldn't normally cause trouble at a time like this. She really couldn't hold back just now, but now she had no intention of repenting.
Why could Elysia be willful, Hua be willful, and Mobius be willful, but I had to be a serious subordinate? All I think about is the big picture?
The girl's youth was soaked in a sea of blood. On the contrary, when she smelled the scent of Finality, she had a rebellious impulse. But she opened her mouth and quickly closed it again.
Sakura didn't know what request to make at this moment because a sword shouldn't have too many personal thoughts. Any action that caused Ryan trouble would reduce their chances of survival, just like a bad habit that should be abandoned in a life-and-death struggle.
So in the end, she would still prioritize the big picture.
"Sakura, let's go out. The time is about right for us to get to Shenzhou." Ryan spoke up at this time. He hadn't really thought of a good way, so he just took the opportunity to take Sakura out.
One reason was that he was afraid that Mobius would self-destruct and make things worse for him. The other reason was that the attack was already in the plan. Shenzhou was too big, and the mutated Honkai Beasts were also strong and numerous. Su, as a Psychic-type Fusion Warrior, was mainly in charge of reconnaissance and tracking and couldn't solve the fundamental problem.
He also wanted to reap some benefits. As long as he was fast enough, there would be no chance for them to self-destruct.
Sakura was stunned for a moment. She didn't expect Ryan to think the same thing as her. She had been conflicted for a long time and had only found this one 'willful' reason.
"Okay, when do we leave?"
"The [Trailblazers] team is just the two of us. Let's go." Ryan glanced at the camera on the ceiling, reached out and grabbed Sakura's forearm. The two of them instantly turned into a brilliant blue and dissipated like butterflies.
The quantum leap went directly through the thick armor and into the outside of the ship. In the sky, the sea and sky were one color, and the Earth showed a clear arc.
"Hold on tight. I'm going to accelerate."
"Can you carry me? That way, we can save some Honkai energy."
Ryan, who was bent down, was stunned. Sakura was good at speed, so she shouldn't need his help. Before he could agree, he felt a soft sensation on his back. A pair of fair arms wrapped around his neck.
"Sakura, you're a bit willful today."
"Don't you like it?"
Her answer was still straightforward, the complete opposite of the platypus. It gave him a completely different feeling.
Ryan slowly raised his hand and held the knees that were clamped on both sides of his thighs.
"As long as you like it."
The aura in the air solidified and didn't dissipate for a long time, but the people in the center had already been propelled by gravity. In the blink of an eye, they were several kilometers away, becoming a small black shadow on the monitor.
This was something that was planned a long time ago. Mei didn't try to stop it when she saw it. She slightly turned her head and looked at Mobius, who was busy on the operating table.
"I'm surprised. You don't have many emotional fluctuations."
"Mei, you don't actually think I'm petty, do you?"
"Yes, you are very petty."
Mobius stiffly raised her head, her snake eyes showing a cold look. Then Dr. Mei stared at her with an expressionless face, as if reminding her: Save your strength. You have never won against me even once.
This contempt almost made Mobius lose her composure. After a while, she snorted coldly and turned her head away.
"I won't stoop to your level. To be honest, there are some people I can't control, so I might as well try a different way."
"So you've given up?"
"Of course not! I'm just trying a different way to win. For example, by taking a dominant position in that guy's social life. To achieve this goal, I sometimes need to be a little more generous. It would be pretty nice to order that fat woman and the others around then. Mei, what's with that look?"
She kept making excuses. Mei didn't understand at first, but after she gradually understood, she showed a look of pity, with a hint of concern.
"A mistress's mentality?"
"S-something like that. I think it'll be interesting. I'll let that vixen have a taste of sweetness this time. Anyway, I can't stop it, so I might as well leverage it."
"First, I hope you'll focus on your work. There will be plenty of time for you to think about these boring things after we cross the Finality." Mei first warned her and then turned to the lab door.
"Second, that possibility doesn't exist. Mobius, you're too arrogant. You still haven't figured out your position."
"What position??"
"Hehe. The bottom of the food chain."
Mei said this and walked out of the lab. She then heard a sharp whistling sound in the air. A scalpel was slammed into the corridor wall.
She turned her head expressionlessly and replied coldly: "Damaging public property. I'm deducting one million Euros from your budget."
"Get lost!!"
...
Ryan didn't know that Mobius was being bullied badly by a certain scheming woman. Even if he did, there was nothing he could do. In the food chain of the Fire Moth, he and Mei were undoubtedly in the top two layers. No one could do anything to them.
The Authority of Wind cleared the airflow in front of him. The gravity slingshot created by the Authority of Stars continuously propelled him, making him reach above five times the speed of sound. The coastline soon appeared in front of him.
He was in Shenzhou again. The only difference was that the villages and cities were all abandoned. The highways were full of abandoned cars. The steel, exposed to the high Honkai energy environment, had corroded. Weeds grew in the collapsed ruins. Everywhere, there was a sense of deathly strangeness.
Of course, this was already a normal phenomenon all over the Earth. As long as the Earth was still here, they could just tear it down and rebuild it.
"Let's just wait here." Ryan landed on a tall building. He could see a red line extending from the screen.
Su had used his psychic power to lock onto a Honkai Beast. It hadn't noticed that it was being tracked. It had crossed the strait from the peninsula and was heading south. The Honkai energy it was emitting was getting stronger and stronger, exceeding the processing capacity of the [Divination] team. He originally wanted Hua to flank it, but since Ryan had come himself, there was no need to make Hua run for nothing.
Sakura slowly climbed off Ryan's back. She raised her hand and looked at the tactical terminal. She then put away her distracting thoughts and frowned: "This Honkai Beast is growing? It's 20% stronger than when it was first discovered."
"It's probably actively absorbing the Honkai Beasts it passes. According to Mobius, it's like a big fish eating a small fish. The specific details haven't been determined yet, but there must be some kind of rule."
"That doesn't sound good. If that's the case..."
"The one that ran away in South America is the biggest fish. It cut off its tail to survive and become stronger." Ryan had already anticipated this. This was the ultimate waste utilization.
Sakura hadn't thought of this. Her expression immediately became tense. She used her fingers to zoom out on the map and look at the situation around the world.
That's right. Only a few of the Honkai Beasts were actually hunted down. Most of them assessed the strength of the enemy and immediately ran away if they found the hunters to be stronger. If they couldn't run, they would cut off their tails to survive, or just self-destruct to stop them.
In this situation, only the three teams of Kevin, Kalpas, and Elysia could consistently hunt them. Hua was an exception because she suddenly got a power boost, which caused the Honkai Beast to misjudge her.
"No wonder you took these Honkai Beasts so seriously. If they are allowed to grow like this, their strength will be astonishing." Sakura looked up at the man who was looking at the scenery. "Are you that confident? I don't see any tension in you."
"I'm used to it. Why should I be nervous? Think about how many problems the Honkai has given me and how many times I've been pushed to a dead end. Only the weak worry for no reason." Ryan shrugged lazily.
His action and judgment were maxed out. Instead of worrying for nothing, he might as well interact with the girls. At least it would keep him in a good mood to face the challenge.
Only the weak worry for no reason, and the strong just need to press on?
Sakura pondered for a moment and then bowed slightly: "I've learned something."
"Hahahaha, it's not a lesson. I've always been like this. Didn't some people in the organization call me the king of slackers?"
"Sometimes you do seem lazy, but based on the results, you have the right to be."
"Maybe it's because I'm a top student. Don't all top students do well in exams and have a good time?" Ryan explained casually. While Sakura was savoring his words, he stood on top of the skyscraper, looking down at the entire city.
How many times has he been to Canghai? Every time, it gives him a fresh feeling.
He used to come to Canghai to find Hua and witnessed the economic takeoff of Shenzhou. Skyscrapers rose one after another, and the streets were bustling with people. Thinking back, it had been almost four years since his last visit. The Third Herrscher didn't destroy this city. Instead, humanity voluntarily abandoned it.
Just four years, and the changes are so great. Soaked in a high-Honkai energy environment, it was like fifty years had passed.
He looked at the rusted railing and gently squeezed it. The metal turned to dust. According to Mobius's research, from the Eleventh Herrscher onwards, the Earth had entered its period of destruction. Even if they did nothing, the creations of civilization would disappear within a hundred years.
"The Honkai Beast won't arrive for another three hours. Is there anywhere you want to go?" Ryan asked, and then he realized it was a bit out of place.
With such a desolate scene, no one would be in the mood.
"I want to go there."
A fair finger was raised next to him. Ryan subconsciously looked at it and saw a Ferris wheel in the distance being gently turned by the howling wind.
Dinsey Land. He had planned to take Hua there, but that girl didn't go because she was afraid of wasting money.
"You're still in the mood for that?"
"You were the one who asked. And you owe me a promise. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
Her voice became a bit somber. Ryan suddenly remembered that there was such a thing. However, he made that promise to Rin, who had already taken refuge in the Sea of Quanta.
"Mm. I promised Rin that I would take you and your sister to an amusement park when I had the chance. But Rin isn't here."
"She is." Sakura opened her collar and took out a pendant. Inside was a photo of the two sisters.
I see. She's afraid that she'll miss the opportunity if she doesn't do it now.
Ryan was not so good at reading people's minds, but his emotional intelligence was above average. He quickly understood Sakura's thoughts, and he himself was also like this, which was why he was so relaxed.
If he were to spend all his energy on it, he still wouldn't be confident. If he failed the Finality anyway, wouldn't it be a loss? By being relaxed like this, even if he failed, he wouldn't have any regrets.
Humanity is a shared experience. He thought this way, Elysia thought this way, and Sakura was no exception.
"Alright. It's just the two of us in this entire city. It's indeed a unique kind of date."
"It's better to be quiet. Time also seems to slow down." Sakura actively raised her hand. It stopped in the air for a moment and was then gently held by Ryan.
A gust of wind blew, kicking up layers of rust, and the two people standing on the rooftop had disappeared.
...
Dinsey Land was also a landmark building in Canghai. It had the largest Ferris wheel and roller coaster track in the Eastern Hemisphere. In the past, it was a very popular place. The hotel prices around it had even doubled. But ever since the Third Honkai, it had been abandoned.
There were no more families with children, no more staff in clown costumes giving out balloons. All that remained was the rusted steel under the twilight and the dusty neon lights.
After being silent for several years, under this twilight, the lights that had been off suddenly lit up, as if the sword of civilization had pierced through this deathly silence. Cheerful music began to play, and various facilities slowly started to turn.
Sakura stood at the entrance, looking up in surprise at the colorful lights. She had taken Rin to an amusement park during her vacation before, but the memory was so old that it was starting to get blurry.
"Good luck. I used Honkai energy instead of a generator. It can still power the entire park."
"That's possible?"
"Honkai energy can do anything. Let's go in and take a walk." Ryan held the girl's hand. He felt very strange after walking into the amusement park.
There was trash everywhere. The restaurant had already collapsed. The lake was like a swamp, and a few small boats were overturned on the shore. The night wind blew, and the haunted house let out a whistling scream, followed by the sound of steel rubbing against itself from the various facilities that were in disrepair.
Instead of a cozy amusement park, it was more like an adventure show.
"It's really nice. It reminds me of how it used to be." The colorful neon lights reflected in Sakura's eyes, and a faint smile appeared on her cold face.
"This is nice? You have very low standards."
"In this apocalyptic world, what else can we ask for? Isn't the Hyperion the only sanctuary we have left?"
Ryan was stunned for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
Sakura's personality wasn't lively. Ryan was also very unfamiliar with places like amusement parks. The two of them just walked among the ruins. In the middle, they tried the roller coaster, which was known as the most thrilling in the world.
After trying it, they realized that the speed was too slow. Ryan and Sakura sat side by side with their arms crossed. Their butts were stuck to the seat like they were glued. When they reached the end, they looked at each other and then went to try the other rides one by one.
Flying Horizon, Pirates of the Caribbean, Gravity Hammer...
Anyway, there was no need to queue. They tried all the thrilling rides. When they were on the Gravity Hammer, it was so old that the entire ride, along with the boat, was thrown out and slammed into the lake.
In the past, this would have been a major safety accident that would have made headlines. But Ryan and Sakura stood on the surface of the lake, seeing that they didn't even get a single drop of water on them. They both spread their hands at the same time.
"This is different from what I imagined. In the movies I've seen, shouldn't there be continuous screaming? Why do we both look so calm?"
"Uh, it's probably because we're too strong. It wasn't like this when I came with Rin before."
"You're right. These are games for 'humans'. We haven't been human for a long time."
Ryan and Sakura were both very rational, so they couldn't pretend to be scared. Because it was so different from what they had imagined, both of them were a bit awkward.
"Is it boring to be with me? I'm not as lively as Elysia, and I'm not as gentle as Hua." Sakura lowered her eyes. She had been with Ryan for a long time, but it was more like a calm lake, uneventful and hard to create ripples in.
That's why she took this opportunity to make a request, hoping to add some color to their boring daily life. But now, it seemed the effect was very poor.
"Don't overthink it. It would be boring if you were all the same. Your distinct personalities are what makes you attractive." Ryan knew the girl was blaming herself. He held her hand again: "You don't need to think so much, and you don't need to change. Being tough on the outside and soft on the inside, that's your trait."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie to you? This kind of contrast is what gives people the greatest sense of novelty."
"Ryan, you are truly strong and gentle." Sakura let out a soft breath. The look of conflict on her face disappeared. With her steps, ripples spread out on the surface of the lake.
"In this apocalyptic world, there are not many people you can entrust yourself to. In the beginning, we were partners. You guaranteed Rin's safety, and I became your blade."
"That's right. We agreed to take what we needed. That's why sometimes I feel a bit strange..."
"Strange about why I have to get involved in this mess?"
Ryan shrugged and was about to speak when a hand was placed on his lips. He felt a warm breath on the side of his ear.
"Because after ensuring survival, people always want to have more."
"If you have to blame someone, blame yourself for giving a blade too much of a self."