[Soon, Tail arrived at another memory node.
At Scott's home, a group of disciplinary officers arrived and immediately moved to arrest Old Scott:
"Old Scott, you're suspected of accepting massive bribes.
Come with us."
"Ah, so the old bastard's finally caught.
Hahaha."
Old Scott seemed to have long anticipated this day.
He sighed and said:
"Walk by the river long enough, and your shoes will get wet.
Hahaha.
Just one question, officer—who sold me out?"
"This was an internal whistleblowing case.
We're not at liberty to disclose." The disciplinary officers refused to answer.
Old Scott, however, looked puzzled. "Internal whistleblowing… Most people involved in this either had no motive or no evidence… Who could it be?"
At that moment, Scott, who had remained silent the whole time, spoke up matter-of-factly: "Father, it was me.
I betrayed you."
Old Scott's face twisted in disbelief. "You… Scott, you actually sold me out?!"
"What heartwarming father-son love!
I'm gonna cry." Tail grinned with schadenfreude.
But when Old Scott finally processed it, his expression shifted to sheer delight. "I'm so proud of you!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA… I can't even." Tail was the first to lose it.
Old Scott gazed at his grown child with pride, as if to say, You've matured. "Climb higher by stepping on me!
Scott, you are the pride of the Scott family—a true Lone Wolf!
Your father is proud of you!"
Tears welled up in Scott's eyes as he choked out: "Fatheeeeeer!
I shall heed your teachings."]
[Tail]: "This guy's childhood is beyond saving… In all my years as a Sui-Yang, I've seen plenty of human-like beings, but one this messed up is rare!"
[Aha]: "I have to watch this!
What a riot!"
[Hulei]: "Scott, I'm putting you in charge of the Prison of Shadows—because you're the real Lone Wolf!"
[Qingque]: "Well… in a way, Scott's father really did care for his child."
[Stelle]: "Just that his love was a little… too human-like."
[Scott]: "After all, I am a true Lone Wolf!"
["Scott, you're my best friend.
I'm being transferred to Tartalion.
Let's grab a drink after work."
"This guy actually has friends… Maybe there's still hope for redemption here."]
[Stelle]: "'Best friend'?
I have a feeling this isn't even the peak of his insanity!"
[March 7th]: "Same here!"
[Tesla]: "Scott's giving off serious Otto vibes."
["Tartalion?
That's a border fortress ship.
Your work performance hasn't had any issues lately…" Scott's face was the picture of perfectly feigned concern.
"Hah, it was you who pulled strings to get me transferred, wasn't it?
No one else in our team has the means." Ashawat shot back.
"LMAO, why am I not surprised?"
"What can I say?
Your position was just too tempting.
I had no choice."
"It wasn't just about the position, was it?
There's also… Lakshmi.
Now no one will compete with you for her."
"Wait, does Scott actually have a love interest?" Tail perked up with renewed interest.]
[Huohuo]: "Tail… are you okay?"
[Tail]: "Why wouldn't I be?
The 'me' in the video probably just accepted it."
[Bronya Zaychik]: "And yet this didn't ruin their friendship?
You two are bonded in a whole other way!"
[Ashawat]: "I was simply outplayed.
Why would it affect our friendship?"
[Scott]: "Exactly!
Why would it?"
[March 7th]: "I knew there had to be a reason you two became best friends!"
[Kiana]: "Is the universe really this terrifying?!"
[Honkai Star Rail - Welt]: "No!
Kiana, most people in the universe are normal!
This level of human-like insanity is an exception!"
[In a secluded spot, Scott and Lakshmi stood facing each other.
Lakshmi spoke first: "Scott, how long have we known each other?"
"Seven or eight years?
Why?" Scott mused.
"All these years working together, and I only just found out our hometowns are so close.
Isn't that ridiculous?" Lakshmi gazed at him shyly.
Scott softened unexpectedly. "We never really got to talk about personal stuff at work."
"Who knew Scott could be such a sentimental scumbag?" Tail teased.]
[Elysia]: "Aww, Scott still has a soft side after all!"
The pure love warriors from the Honkai world all gave their approval.
Even if he was human-like in the worst ways, dedicating his love to just one person was still beautiful.
After all, when someone is full of flaws, even their smallest virtues shine brighter.
Among their coworkers, Scott's image had been shattered and rebuilt countless times—but who would've guessed he was a romantic scumbag?!
Still… why didn't they end up together?
Their colleagues couldn't help but imagine hundreds of thousands of words worth of angsty romance—until the next scene shattered their delusions completely!
[Lakshmi mustered her courage to confess: "All these years… there's something I've wanted to tell you but never dared."
"You like me, don't you?" Scott's voice was tender, laced with affection.
"Y-You—why would you say it so suddenly?!" The android girl flushed, half-complaining, half-delighted.
"Ooooh~ Not bad, Scott!
Straight to the point!
I respect that." Tail cackled like a delighted pig.
Then Lakshmi steeled herself and declared firmly: "Yes… Scott, I want to be your lover."
"Scott!
Finally—I found your weakness!" Tail howled with laughter.
But instead of being moved, Scott doubled over laughing. "HAHAHAHA!
Finally—I've got leverage on you!"
"…Huh?!" —Tail & Lakshmi.
He waved a recording device triumphantly. "Everything you just said is on tape!
Office romances are strictly prohibited in our department.
Once I submit this recording, you won't stand a chance against me for the supervisor position!
HAHAHAHA!"
Tail: "Defying Heaven."
Lakshmi stared in shock—then burst into ecstatic laughter. "This… HAHAHA!
Scott, this is exactly why I love you!"
Tail: "You too?
Defying Heaven."
"I understand.
I'll step aside for now.
But one day, when I defeat you like this… please accept my feelings."
"Nah.
Because I… am a Lone Wolf!" Scott sighed dramatically at the sky.
"Ugh, you're impossible!"]
[March 7th]: "DEFYING HEAVEN!"
[Stelle]: "DEFYING HEAVEN!"
[Qingque]: "Birds of a feather really do flock together…"
[Guinaifen]: "I thought this was some Xianzhou drama-level acting—but no, you're actually defying heaven!"