Penguin Logistics Rooftop.
Although it felt like the last conversation was only a few days ago, essentially, almost a month had passed since this exchange. Nearly a month's time was indeed enough to change quite a few things, but some things hadn't changed much.
For example, Texas's smoking addiction was slightly curbed; most of the time, eating chocolate could suppress and alleviate it. For example, Exusiai's hair had also grown out quite a bit, changing from the original foolish bowl cut to a hairstyle that could now barely be considered choppy short hair. Or for example, the increasingly tacit relationship between Croissant and Li Lin, and Sora and Li Lin getting to know and familiarize with each other through document work exchanges. Penguin Logistics was a relatively closed-off area; building good relationships was really easy.
Compared to just watching the fun at the very beginning, continuing to do so much now towards people already considered familiar seemed very deliberate, and excessive.
Li Lin had a good personality, upright conduct, even cohabiting with several beautiful girls—actually, they were quite self-aware—he hadn't done anything improper. Instead, he actively participated in work, took the initiative to build good relationships with colleagues, and absolutely wouldn't delve into topics they disliked.
Just imagine, a partner who looks decent, can always chat with you, and absolutely won't make you feel disgusted; is there anyone easier to gain favorability from? Croissant became a die-hard ally after a few drinking sessions; sometimes when her mood struck, she probably didn't even distinguish between genders, just grabbing heads and messing them up randomly. And Sora, who came and went irregularly, also had a very deep impression of Li Lin; after chatting for a while, they could quickly exchange some topics.
Under such premises, Texas's actions looked not so good. Bullying based on position, maliciously harming innocent teammates. Although not said directly, this kind of thought could already be seen from the conversations.
Li Lin was already a very hardworking person, why insist on pushing him to this extent? So tired he couldn't even sleep on the bed and had to sleep on the sofa, and it was due to personal reasons. Plus the occasional beating sessions—or rather, sparring. No matter who saw it, this was a very bad, arguably malicious signal. The signal that Texas disliked Li Lin.
And this malice, without even a reason, was precisely why others felt Texas was somewhat unnatural.
Although Exusiai was very clear why all this was happening. And she was just about to say these things.
"No matter what you say, let me declare beforehand, my stance will not change."
Texas looked at the scenery outside, licked her lips somewhat unnaturally, and sighed deeply due to not having a cigarette to smoke.
"I will not report his existence, but at the same time, I will not let him publish those things elsewhere. I will not allow such things to happen. A disaster like Columbia happening once is enough. So even if you, Exusiai, come to persuade me, I will not listen. I will not let him destroy the peace here."
"…Is there anything bad about it?"
"…What?"
"I mean, actually, if his ideas spread, is there anything bad about it?"
"Anything bad?"
Looking at the calm-faced Exusiai, Texas, due to the sheer absurdity, twitched the corners of her mouth, revealing a stiff, cold smile.
"Raythean Industries' Titan, the current civil war in Columbia, the originally peaceful life has all been shattered. Even Lungmen, because of those burning fragments, how much have we suffered? What could be bad? I think everywhere is bad. Everywhere is very wrong. This is completely different from what I initially perceived."
"Those things, were they done by the Prophet?"
"They don't have a direct connection to him, but they have an indirect connection. If there were no Lazarus File, if there were no those data, these wars could have been avoided. We are harboring a war criminal, Exusiai. We are harboring a demon from hell. Those things hidden in his mind are too dangerous for this world. If not for you, I would even directly try to kill him—"
"That's not right, is it? Texas. What I see is the exact opposite of what you see; we are protecting a prophet, someone who can truly lead us. Because, haven't you realized? Texas. Everything you just described, actually, regarding your current attitude, has a fatal loophole."
"…What?"
"All of this has nothing to do with the Prophet."
"Huh? How does it have nothing to do with him? Wasn't it him who spread those things online? How are these disasters unrelated to him? He—"
Wait a minute, is there really a definite connection between them?
Looking at the calm-faced Exusiai, Texas angrily wanted to refute, but her understanding of modern society made her pause.
Li Lin did nothing. If one had to say, he only did one thing. That was guiding the progress of technology, depicting a more advanced world and concepts, accelerating the pace of this world's advancement. Why was the Lazarus File fought over? Essentially because it was advanced.
It recorded much thinking and data that was hard to imagine here, exceptionally advanced. Even the kind of safe world occasionally mentioned during exchanges made people yearn for it. But when those things were displayed, they were true destruction; under the manipulation and utilization of those big shots, what emerged was unmatched power. However, none of the so-called beautiful futures Li Lin spoke of materialized; instead, it triggered enormous disasters, which was the culprit Texas felt was dangerous.
But, does the disaster brought by technological progress have a direct connection with the scientist?
Shouldn't the ones being blamed be those who initiated the war?
Because of the potential risks, should technology not be researched, letting the entire world return to that so-called pastoral scenery, letting everyone eat dust amidst Originium storms and radiation? Under the influence of leaders, technology that should have benefited humanity gradually turned into killing tools, but are the scientists really the ones to blame?
"Did you know? Actually, the prototype and true application of those things Prophet thought of, he actually told me about them. The ultimate goal of the Immortality Project, in the very beginning, was merely to ensure a person always remains in peak condition, continuously eliminating abnormal products within the body through metabolism, always maintaining the peak period of the human mental state. In other words, not only could it maintain eternal life, but it could also save the lives of all patients. It's even a panacea. But what did this file become in the hands of those people?"
"Answer me, Texas. The one who turns everything into weapons, who creates all disasters, who exactly is it?"
Is it the Prophet? Or our greed?
Exusiai bathed in the breeze between the buildings, looked at Texas whose expression was no longer so firm, and said in a low voice.