Fire Moth perfectly embodied the public's fantasies of a mysterious organization—omnipotent, ruthlessly logical, and capable of appearing and disappearing without a trace.
But Ryan couldn't explain things to Hua; he was lost in thought, pondering Ato's mention of someone.
Assistant Director, Chalice.
He hadn't heard that name in a long time. Officially, the Assistant Director was the second-in-command to Fire Moth's leader, the Grand Commander, but this individual was far from simple.
"I don't understand his motives. He seems to stand outside all the factional struggles, yet connected to everyone."
Superficially, that was Chalice's role, but Ryan sensed something more. His arrival in Shanghai was inexplicable.
Was he inspecting the Far East Branch? Fire Moth might have predicted the approximate location of the third Honkai impact, but a simple official visit was pointless. The Shenzhou government didn't seem involved.
Ah, the key is Mosha's unusual behavior. It neither attacked nor left, simply lurking near the shore, seemingly waiting for something.
Herrscher? Could it be a collaborative partner? A collaborative partner would likely be Judgment-Class, a creature nearing the peak of Emperor-Class; a significant difference remains.
Before arriving in Shanghai, Ryan hadn't considered it much. Now, he realized this city was shrouded in mystery; a single investigation had unearthed countless issues.
"Oh well, I'll ponder it later."
He didn't overthink it; he looked at the girl beside him, finding her amusing.
Hua stood guard with an iron shovel, vigilantly scanning her surroundings, her expression serious, unlike a child excitedly discovering a secret.
She knew what she could and should do; this maturity was what Ryan admired.
"Let's go. That Honkai Beast is badly injured; it won't be coming back soon. And you, protecting me like this?"
"Yes, I know I'm weak, but I can still block an attack for you; that's enough." The girl remained composed, showing no trace of joking.
Hua's stubbornness moved Ryan. He could only nod gently. "Thank you."
"I should be thanking you. If you hadn't come to Shanghai, I would've investigated out of curiosity, and you saved me."
"We're even, then." Ryan naturally took her hand, walking out of the village. "Let's go home; I'll make lunch. I haven't cooked in a long time."
"Your cooking skills are ten times better than mine. By the way, aren't you going back with Fire Moth?"
"I hate that kind of mess. I'd rather stay with you. But well, I will stay a few more days, then you'll have to return to your home. Take your father to the mountains to hide."
A hint of reluctance flickered across Hua's face, but as a sensible girl, after witnessing the battle, she knew she couldn't do much.
"Okay, I promise. But you must promise me something too."
"What?"
"If we can't avoid it, let me contribute my strength. At least, let me control my destiny, like you."
Ryan slowed down, turning to see the girl's resolute expression. Selfishly, he didn't want Hua involved, as he couldn't guarantee her future.
But, as he'd said, no one could escape Honkai; eventually, everyone would be involved. Sooner is better than later.
"Okay, I promise."
...
Dark clouds gathered, as if a storm was brewing. Seagulls cut through the clouds, their dark eyes reflecting the steel behemoths.
A fleet sailed the sea; six destroyers formed a defensive formation around an aircraft carrier.
The waves grew larger; the bow of the ship rose and fell; only the hundred-thousand-ton aircraft carrier remained steady. On the moving weather radar, the enormous Fire Moth insignia was visible.
Unlike the Far East Branch's land-based facilities, the male Shenzhou branch operated from an aircraft carrier; this steel behemoth patrolled the high seas, a mobile fortress.
A blond Chalice raised his binoculars, watching the sparks from electromagnetic railguns as a squadron of fighter jets rapidly took to the air, a testament to civilization's might.
"Assistant Director, the battle report is ready."
A blue-haired man approached, gesturing for those around to step back. He placed a thick stack of reports in Chalice's hands.
"As planned, Dr. Ryan repelled Mosha. Its damage exceeds 58%; it has retreated into the deep sea."
Chalice accepted the report, glancing at it before placing it on the nearby table, a graceful smile playing on his lips. "Not surprising for one of the strongest Emperor-Class Honkai Beasts. This level of firepower only inflicted heavy damage. As long as its core remains intact, it will recover soon."
"We did our best; that thing is nearly impossible to kill."
"I'm not blaming you, Branch Director Erwin." Chalice briefly scanned him, flipping through a few pages of the report. "So, how did this Honkai Beast escape?"
"No, it's still lurking about fifty kilometers off the coast. Unmanned drones are monitoring it. These things are illogical; they neither come ashore nor flee." Erwin tapped the table, his sharp features twisting into a frown. "It's fortunate Dr. Ryan was there; otherwise, we might have called in that pink monster to deal with it."
"Let's not worry about these miraculous creatures; it makes us seem ignorant and arrogant. The Assistant Director's opinion is quite insightful."
"It's waiting for something."
"Precisely. All signs point to the threshold being reached; the third Honkai impact is imminent."
Silence fell over the bridge. Erwin swallowed hard; he wasn't worried about the Herrscher, but the man's attitude was strange.
There was no urgency, only a hint of anticipation. As a Branch Director, Erwin's EQ was high. Combined with the recent frequent meetings of the United Nations, he immediately understood.
"You mean…"
"Humanity always learns from experience. The Fire Moth detachment plan—you've heard of it, haven't you?"
"Yes, but the Grand Commander suppressed it."
"Temporarily. Once the storm passes, dissenting voices will resurface." Chalice looked at the raindrops on the window and the borrowed fleet. He asked, "You've experienced the previous two Honkai impacts."
"Yes, I fought on the front lines, experiencing those brutal, hopeless wars."
"So you know Fire Moth's purpose. But images can't convey the full horror. Do you know my opinion on the previous two Honkai impacts?"
Before the Branch Director could answer, Chalice inhaled sharply; a ferocious expression replaced his handsome, graceful demeanor.
"It wasn't desperate enough, cruel enough. This suffering hasn't penetrated every bone; people still live in a false peace, a peace bought by the sacrifices of people like you."
His grim tone mirrored the storm outside, but Erwin felt a surge of excitement. He'd endured enough suppression; he hated the concealment of the truth.
Those naive young progressives thought they were in a superhero movie, lost in the fantasy of behind-the-scenes heroism.
Chalice glanced at the excited Branch Director, calmly saying, "The future will be crueler. We must awaken everyone, even if the cost is high. Compared to humanity's future, it's negligible."
These words were like a thunderbolt, calming Erwin's excitement.
"I know what to do."
"Then go. Become humanity's alarm bell."
"Yes, I'll revise the plan immediately." The Branch Director nodded, then remembered something. "What about Dr. Ryan? Do we inform him, or hint?"
Him?
The blond man fell silent. Logically, they should invite him after he helped repel Mosha; they could collaborate to hunt Honkai Beasts.
"No, I can't predict his actions."
"He might discover something."
"It doesn't matter; time is short. What he discovers is irrelevant. Besides, we aren't truly assisting Honkai; ending this calamity sooner is better."
Aren't you afraid he might die?
Erwin's lips moved, but he said nothing. He saluted, turning to leave, his steps heavy yet resolute, as if carrying a great burden.
Chalice watched his back, his expression a mixture of admiration and contempt.
The weak always make choices, like a rotten apple, each cut leaving less until nothing remains. To be born as these weak, complex, and inferior beings is infuriating.
He looked away, at the intelligence report on the table, topped with an image of Mosha. His finger tapped the table; he gazed at the gathering storm.
Do we have the right to become something greater, to end this naive childhood?