A sliver of moonlight filtered through a gap in the clouds, illuminating the man below the window. Ryan propped his head up, seeing Kevin clinging to the windowsill on the fourth floor.
"Since when were you here?"
"Uh, since dusk. Can you let me in already?"
Ryan seemed not to hear, pausing in thought before suddenly understanding. "You came to get your things, saw Su in the dorm, didn't want to see him, so you waited outside the window until he left?"
"Yes, yes, yes! I've been hanging here for two hours; my arms are numb." Kevin's face darkened, realizing Ryan was teasing him.
"Tell me why you didn't want to see him first."
Perhaps a cloud obscured the moon; Kevin's expression visibly dimmed, slightly hesitant. "We're doing dangerous things. The more Su knows, the more he worries. It's pointless. I joined Fire Moth to protect them. It's best if he knows nothing, and everything is resolved."
"Yeah, I figured as much."
"You figured it out, and you still asked?!" Kevin exploded, only to see a hand reach out, pulling him into the dorm as if he were a piece of paper.
Kevin lay sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath. He mused that Ryan usually seemed weak and scholarly, but his strength was immense. Recalling that night, it made perfect sense.
The shockwave from his fight with the Honkai Beast had destroyed two classroom buildings. Was this guy even human?
As he was thinking, Ryan's face suddenly appeared before him, startling him into a sitting position.
"W-what are you doing?"
Ryan squatted, observing Kevin's expression for a long time before shaking his head. "Nothing. I just noticed you've changed. You're using logic to consider things. I'm guessing you saw some rather stimulating training materials for new recruits?"
At the mention of training materials, Kevin fell silent. The new recruit training had lasted over two weeks, and he'd undoubtedly learned the truth about the world.
Towns reduced to rubble, Fire Moth soldiers bleeding profusely—through virtual reality technology, recruits experienced the battlefield firsthand. They witnessed soldiers reduced to pulp, burned bodies beside tanks, and the terrifying Herrscher of Reason.
Over a thousand recruits were instantly engulfed by the Herrscher of Reason's firepower; not a trace remained.
Kevin swallowed, nausea rising in his throat.
"Looks like you've changed indeed." Ryan patted his shoulder, calmly stating, "People change due to their circumstances; it's normal. The important thing is to maintain your core values."
"You're trying to advise me?"
"If I wanted to advise you, I would have kicked you out of Fire Moth long ago. With abilities come responsibilities; my words are also a reminder to myself."
Ryan smirked. Looking at Kevin now, he recalled his own past. When he'd first regained consciousness, he'd been ecstatic, seeing the luxurious mansion and planning how to squander his wealth. Then, one day, he saw familiar symbols in the documents his father brought home.
"I remember being completely stunned at the time, trying several times to restart, but unable to bring myself to do it; I just closed my eyes and tried to find a way out, learning about guns and tactics."
That bewilderment only subsided around the age of ten. One day, while hunting on his family estate, he encountered an infected animal attack. The nausea stemming from sheer terror remains vivid to this day.
'I killed it, unlocked my Path, like grabbing a lifeline against the current. I resolved to leave my pampered life, traveled the world, learning from soldiers, assassins, and hunters, frantically absorbing knowledge while hunting Honkai.'
"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Kevin waved his hand in front of Ryan's face; the latter snapped back to attention.
"Just some old memories. Seeing a recruit like you inevitably brings them back."
"Wait, we're the same age. What's with the senior attitude?"
"In Fire Moth, aren't I a senior?" Ryan slowly stood up, hands on his hips. "New recruit Kevin, call me senior! Didn't your instructors teach you basic manners?!"
Kevin's face flushed; he had to admit Ryan was right. Considering the battle that night, Ryan could single-handedly defeat all of them, yet he felt embarrassed.
"Sen… Senior."
"I can't hear you! You want to fight Honkai whispering like that?!"
Kevin clenched his fists, then saw Ryan raise a smiling fist, forcing him to grit his teeth.
"SENIOR!"
"Okay, good spirit. Now, let's get all your belongings…" Ryan paused mid-sentence, seeing Kevin's murderous expression. Realizing the kid was at his limit, he quickly changed to a friendlier demeanor. "Alright, just kidding. Su packed everything. Let's head back to the Far East Branch together."
"That's acceptable. Otherwise, I'd have beaten you up today. Oh, you're going back to the Far East Branch too?"
"I received a troublesome mission; some research needs doing, so I'll stay a few more days."
Kevin was overjoyed, grabbing his luggage and helping Ryan carry two bags. "Great! I haven't seen Mei in ages."
"You miss your brother only when you don't have a girlfriend, huh?"
"No way! I've always cared about you, like that junior sister of yours."
Ryan's expression turned serious, then he understood Kevin's slip of the tongue.
"You're teasing me, aren't you?"
"Haha, I guessed right. Something's up."
"Don't beat around the bush. I knew Hua when she was in elementary school." Ryan said casually; he'd avoided mentioning his travels before because Mei was too clever, easily exposing any lies, but it didn't matter now.
"I was learning martial arts in Shenzhou at the time. Her family is a martial arts clan; I visited their home, and we gradually became acquainted."
"What happened after that?"
Kevin took a sip of water, listening intently. Before, he would have questioned why a teenager was learning martial arts, but now he understood.
Ryan worked harder and started fighting earlier.
"She's honest but unlucky. Whenever she encountered trouble, I resolved it for her. Over the years, I'd return to Shenzhou to see her every so often."
At the seemingly emotionless man's words, Kevin swallowed, almost smelling the scent of blood. This was far from an ordinary story.
He realized he'd been foolish. Mei had mentioned Ryan wasn't simple, but he'd dismissed it. Now he understood; this man had been preparing for this for years.
After a moment of silent contemplation, Kevin suddenly punched Ryan in the chest. "I thought you were serious. You didn't even let a primary school girl go."
Ryan almost choked, raising his fist in return. "You want a beating?"
The two laughed as they reached the doorway, their earlier tension dissolving. Ryan grasped the doorknob, smiling at Kevin. "I'll lock up then."
Kevin showed a hint of nostalgia, nodding.
"Let's go. After we deal with Honkai, we'll come back. Hopefully, everything will be the same."
Ryan didn't scold him for setting up a flag, but gently closed the door—a closing of a beautiful memory, finally locking it with a click.
He exchanged a look with Kevin, each holding out their keys, putting them together in a shared pocket before grabbing their luggage and heading into the corridor.
"Let's head back to the branch, then grab some late-night food."
"Same old thing? Can we change it up?"
"That noodle place is closing down; let me treat you one last time."
"You're buying?"
"Cheapskate."
...
Mu Continent, York City.
One of the world's most prosperous cities, even at night it bustled with activity. From a Fire Moth-branded skyscraper, the human metropolis stretched below.
A dense tapestry of lights formed a shimmering expanse; skyscrapers remained brightly lit, late-night workers hurrying through the streets, the occasional gunshot punctuating the night.
On a giant holographic display, a stunning young woman sang; her perfect voice halting passersby, earning a moment's breathless pause before the green light signaled their return to the daily grind.
"Humanity, so rich, its civilization so radiant. No matter what trials it faces, like Fire Moth, it will endure. But will the butterfly burn itself out first, or will the flame be buried?"
An elderly man at the window softly recited, his gaunt face reflected in the glass; a neatly trimmed goatee, silver hair carefully combed back, a Fire Moth lapel pin adorning his crisp suit.
"With Fire Moth, the flame will be buried, of course."
The old man's sapphire eyes shifted, observing the opening door; a blond middle-aged man stood before his desk.
"Chalice, are you so certain?"
"Indeed, Commander. We've recruited all the new personnel, and dealt with two Herrschers." Chalice, a handsome man, bowed gracefully. He had to be certain; the man before him was the Fire Moth Commander, also called the Director or Chairman—the ultimate authority in this supra-national organization.
"Even if there are shortcomings, at least everything is under control for now."
Shortcomings?
The old man scanned the documents on his desk, each sheet top secret. The topmost document was a file containing a photograph of a girl with pigtails.
"The US Congress refused further funding, citing a financial crisis. Lucia also refused to deploy nuclear weapons; they still don't understand, fearing our power will be unmanageable after resolving the Honkai threat. But they don't even understand what Honkai truly is."
"Each nation has its own agenda. Only when the survival crisis outweighs immediate interests do they reluctantly unite, but they're already considering the aftermath." Chalice chuckled, taking a bottle of wine from a cabinet and pouring a glass. "So we should thank the Herrschers for their appearance."
"Indeed. Without them, the United Nations would have long since approved a partitioning plan. After all, anything below Emperor-Class Honkai Beasts is insignificant; there's no need to maintain Fire Moth."
"Let's raise a toast to the Herrschers then." The middle-aged man offered a toast, taking a sip before continuing. "Seven divisions, thirty-five branches. Fire Moth has indeed grown beyond control. No wonder they're reluctant to continue investing, even faced with the terrifying Herrschers."
"That only proves the Herrschers aren't terrifying enough!" The Commander tapped the desk, leaning forward; his thin frame exuded immense power. "The Far East Branch report. We found a new recruit, but encountered considerable difficulties. His identity has been exposed. I already anticipate the meeting's content."
Chalice glanced at him, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Hand over the Blood Demon, then investigate the origins and expose those past incidents, right? There's no other way. Fire Moth is a coalition of powerful national agencies. Even if I've sent many to their deaths bravely, some traces are bound to remain."
"Two years since the second Herrscher. That's how humans are; they forget the pain of wounds too easily." The old man's expression turned sarcastic. Like those blockbuster films, humanity unites against an alien invasion, then fights amongst themselves over the spoils.
"No need to worry, they'll be gone soon enough."
"That young man's family doesn't wield that much power. Even as a member of the Fire Moth Council, he can only represent a single European voice."
"It's irrelevant." The blond man took a document from his briefcase and placed it on the desk. It was filled with complex data and charts. The old man stopped breathing, glancing at it.
"The third Honkai is approaching."