Rain lashed against the window; the courtyard was already flooded.
Ryan stood before the window, gazing at the gloomy sky, lost in thought.
Yesterday was sunny; only a light shower fell when he and Hua returned home.
Then, overnight, a violent storm had erupted, the wind rattling the windows, even lifting the roof of the small factory across the street.
"The city is experiencing severe weather; wind speeds are up to fifteen on the Beaufort scale. All flights are canceled. Experts attribute this to a new type of storm caused by the El Niño phenomenon, characterized by sudden onset and disappearance. Citizens are advised…"
The TV broadcast was showing news reports. Ryan didn't believe a word of the expert's explanation. There were no signs of El Niño a few days ago; how could such a storm erupt after Mosha's retreat?
It likely had nothing to do with Mosha. It was a spirit-type Honkai Beast; if it could manipulate weather, it would be far more powerful. And Third Herrscher isn't the Herrscher of Wind.
Ryan was perplexed. He'd changed many things, but his actions shouldn't have altered the timeline.
"What is Fire Moth doing? Why haven't they issued a warning? Their intelligence department should know better than I do."
Frowning, he recalled his call to Ato yesterday. Ato suggested the South Shenzhou branch was operating at sea; intelligence indicated a possible connection between the storm and Mosha. He'd been shown real-time Honkai readings.
There was no Honkai core within three hundred kilometers; not even a zombie—everything seemed peaceful. Ryan couldn't do much.
Shanghai has over ten million people; evacuation based on speculation is impossible; there's no way to defend against everything, nor can the entire city be covered with anti-aircraft missiles.
No one can be a savior, a god protecting the refuge; at least not yet.
The wind heralded the storm; Ryan felt an invisible pressure. His phone rang; he answered, smiling.
"Mobius, how's the equipment?"
"It's done."
"What? So fast?" Ryan was surprised. It had only been a week.
"Shouldn't you trust my abilities?"
The same cold, languid, yet slightly amused voice.
Thousands of miles away, Mobius sat in a dimly lit office, half-reclining on a chair, her slender legs draped on the desk. One hand held the phone; the other supported her head; she looked like a snake awakening from hibernation.
"The Materials Research Institute has everything; the fabrication was a little difficult, but that's not a problem for me. It took a lot of effort."
"Dr. Mobius is a genius!" Ryan was delighted, showering her with praise.
Having worked for seven days, Mobius, who'd been somewhat sleepy, perked up, unconsciously smiling. "You're quite eloquent today. I've sent the materials; they should arrive in Shanghai in two hours."
"I'll pick them up immediately. Goodbye!"
"Wait." The smile vanished; Mobius's face became cold again.
Retracting her initial statement, this man was still so annoying.
"Dr. Mobius, what else?"
"Call me by my name; I feel like you're being sarcastic." Mobius paused, unsure what to say.
She wanted to chat—about Ryan's time in Shanghai, about Hua, or anything other than business.
But the words caught in her throat. She mumbled, "Let me remind you, the situation in Shanghai is not good; it's not too late to regret your decision."
Her words hinted at more than just Honkai.
"I know, but once I've made a decision, I only move forward, not backward. Thanks for your concern."
"Who's concerned about you? I've already bet on this deal; if you die, I'll have wasted my resources!" Mobius's voice sharpened, realizing her slip, then reverting to her cold tone.
"I hate unequal exchanges, so understand this: your life isn't just yours; it's also mine."
That sounded… strange.
Ryan unconsciously scratched his face, not in the mood for idle chatter with Mobius, nor to inquire about Chalice from her; some mud is best left undisturbed.
"Yes, yes, I understand. My life belongs partly to you. But don't worry; I'm neither reckless nor weak. When I return, we'll continue our business."
Beep, beep, beep…
The busy tone echoed in his ear, startling Mobius. After a long pause, she angrily threw the phone on the desk, her expression shifting.
But Mobius wasn't indecisive. About five seconds later, she spoke abruptly.
"Klein, go there!"
The typing outside the office stopped, followed by hurried footsteps. A girl with short green hair entered.
She was slender, her hair disheveled, with heavy dark circles under her eyes. She bowed respectfully. "Doctor, what do you need?"
Mobius glared at her. After Blanca left, Klein was her new assistant. After a trial period, she found her acceptable—diligent, not overly talkative, and efficient. She seemed suitable for long-term employment.
"Elysia's whereabouts?"
"Yes, Ms. Elysia has been dispatched to the Southwest Ba City in Shenzhou; apparently, she's going to the central region soon."
Hearing this, Mobius frowned. All signs pointed to Shanghai as the most likely location; why send Fire Moth's strongest member to a distant, yet not-too-distant place?
"Ha ha, those people are plotting again; they're even stupider than children."
She scoffed sarcastically, pacing restlessly. Given the higher-ups' arrangements, she couldn't expect any notification; as a seasoned tech specialist, she had no connections with those factions.
Her hesitation didn't last long; Mobius quickly made a decision.
"Tell them I need to go on a business trip."
"What? You only returned recently."
"Who says you can't go on consecutive business trips? Remember to bring the experimental biological repair pod."
"Oh, okay." Klein didn't dare argue, dutifully asking, "Where is the Doctor going?"
"Shenzhou, Shanghai."
...
Meanwhile, Ryan paced his living room, a hint of excitement on his face, his mind racing.
Mobius's efficiency was astounding; she'd finished so quickly.
This exceeded his expectations. The situation was changing rapidly; Ryan had worried he wouldn't keep up, but Mobius had delivered, ahead of schedule.
"I prefer working with decisive people. Everyone wins."
Ryan nodded in satisfaction. He disliked indecisiveness; Mobius suited him—efficient, reliable, and proactive.
As for Mobius's warning, it couldn't escape his notice.
"Half the preparations are complete. Next is seeing Hua off, then I can focus on preparing for Herrscher of the Thunder."
Ryan clapped his hands lightly, heading upstairs, pushing open Hua's half-closed door.
"Hua, have you changed your flight ticke—"
He stopped. There was no revealing scene; the girl was simply lying down, her white calves swinging as she played on her phone.
Seeing Ryan, Hua quickly hid the phone under her pillow. Unfortunately, he had excellent eyesight and easily spotted it.
It looked familiar—wasn't it Kevin's favorite apocalyptic game, Ark?
"You're still playing mobile games?"
"Uh, Carole got me hooked. I play it when I'm bored." Hua, embarrassed, quickly stood up, trying to compose herself. "I'm practicing what you taught me, honing my willpower!"
"What did I teach you?"
"To separate training, studying, and leisure; to enjoy life; and to hone willpower through continuous challenges."
Ryan pondered; it was indeed his advice. He had to fight, conduct research, and hone his skills. Without some personal life, he'd become unbalanced.
"Wait, that's a gacha game; what willpower are you honing? Let me see." Ryan wasn't easily swayed; he snatched the phone and checked the game, almost laughing.
Despite high proficiency, all her characters were low-tier; the only two high-tier characters were duplicates, a stark contrast to Kevin's boastful team.
"You…"
"I'm just unlucky; I can't seem to draw high-tier characters. I finally saved up enough to summon, and I got the same character twice." Hua hung her head, filled with frustration.
So, that's what she means by honing her willpower.
Ryan patted her shoulder sympathetically; her willpower far surpassed steel.
Her perseverance was admirable.
"They say spending money changes your luck; there's no such thing as bad luck; it just means you haven't spent enough."
"I won't waste money on that; I'd rather spend time on other things." Hua firmly shook her head; she was indeed sensible.
Isn't she going to break down? This is going to be hard.
Ryan licked his lips, unsure how to advise this straightforward girl. After a moment, he brought up the main topic. "Flights are canceled; why don't you take the high-speed rail?"
"The high-speed rail is also fully booked; the earliest ticket is in two days."
Ah, such a large storm; even the trains are affected.
Ryan paused; it wasn't a problem; he could arrange a Fire Moth vehicle; there was no need to flee in panic.
"I'll go to the Fire Moth mainland liaison office; I'll be back around seven. Pack your things."
"Senior Brother, can I come with you?" Hua reached out, her eyes filled with anticipation and reluctance.
Ryan didn't overthink it; a child's curiosity about a secret organization was natural.
He considered it and nodded. "Fine. Call Carole; she'll come too. After we're done, I'll take you both out of Shanghai."
"Okay, I'll pack now." Hua smiled; her joy was evident.
"You're always so curious; that's a good thing." Ryan tapped the girl's forehead, then glanced at his phone. "You still have a ten-summon left; I'll draw for you?"
"Okay." Hua handed him her phone, peering over his shoulder with curiosity.
Ryan casually tapped the summon button. A multicolored light illuminated their faces.
Hua froze. She'd expected to see Ryan struggle, but a golden light appeared with a single tap. Her stunned expression solidified.
Not only gold, but—
Three golds!?
...
Heavy rain hammered against the car windows. The wipers worked frantically; the dark sky occasionally rumbled with thunder, though no lightning was visible.
Ryan sped through the streets; aside from a few emergency vehicles, there were few people; occasionally, a tree, uprooted by the wind, would splash water onto the road.
The atmosphere in the car was heavy. Ryan glanced at the rearview mirror; Hua sat quietly in the back seat, her usual stoic expression tinged with resentment.
'Gacha game resentment, instantly broken by my three golds.' Ryan smirked. These small joys were satisfying; he was pleased with the impact he'd had on Hua.
His junior sister was stubborn, serious, sometimes lacking the vitality of her age, even a little boring. If this lasted fifty thousand years, it would be unsurprising if she became reclusive.
She'd finally learned to make friends and enjoy leisure. Only a colorful life inspires the desire to enjoy it.
"Still upset?"
"No, I just feel useless. Even at a mobile game, I'm not as lucky as you." Hua looked out the window, sighing softly. "I'm really unlucky. Last time, studying abroad, I was playing cards with Carole and the others, and ended up with sticky notes all over my face."
Puff!
"Hey, why are you laughing?" Hua patted the seat.
"I'm happy. You realizing this shows you've tried many things, and you're slowly becoming interesting."
Interesting? Shouldn't life be getting darker?
Ryan turned onto another road. "Stubbornness and focus are good, but excessive focus is dangerous. You need diversions. Besides, if you were truly unlucky, how would you have met me?"
Hua didn't understand the first half, but instinctively nodded at the second; it was indeed incredibly fortunate.
Ryan not only taught her martial arts, protected her, and provided for her financially; he'd also become a life goal.
Even if she couldn't walk alongside him, she wanted to follow behind.
"Senior Brother, I suddenly realize you're quite narcissistic."
"No, no, no. This is called self-confidence."
The car approached a building entirely of reflective glass. Ryan pressed a button; a heavy metal gate slowly opened.
Hua peered out the window, sensing familiarity. Seeing the guards in uniform, she understood.
This was the Shanghai National Land Security Bureau! Fire Moth's office—impressive.
A high school student entering such a place was naturally excited. Ryan, however, was used to it; he'd been to the USA intelligence headquarters. He drove into the underground garage.
Exiting the car, they saw Ato and several others.
"Oh, you brought her too." The man winked at Hua, only to find her stoic; he helplessly looked at Ryan for help.
"Don't overthink it; that's just Hua. Won't you invite me to your office?"
"No, it's safer here."
They exchanged smiles; some things didn't need explanation. Ato pulled out two cans of coffee and tossed them over, giving Ryan a strange look.
"What kind of look is that?"
"I'm admiring you. I don't know how you handle Dr. Mobius; that woman is incredibly difficult."
"Simple. First, use strength to resist, then pique her curiosity. That's the key. Finally, use benefits to control the situation." Ryan said smugly, then blinked. "So, you know her?"
Ato knew this guy would misunderstand; glancing at Hua, he chuckled. "My fiancée is her assistant."
"Blanca?" Ryan recalled the gentle woman, then carefully looked at Ato, sensing a familial resemblance.
"Yes. After we deal with Herrsche, I'll marry her. I've waited long enough."
"Hey, don't make such declarations before a battle." Ryan quickly interrupted.
"You believe in that kind of superstition?" Ato smirked. He initially thought Ryan was a battle maniac or a cold-blooded killer; he seemed pretty normal.
"I've learned my lesson. Forget it. Let's talk business." Ryan waved his hand, his expression turning serious. "I'm here not only for the supplies but for something more important."
"Go on."
"I've confirmed the third Honkai impact will occur in Shanghai, and it's imminent."
Ato frowned; he wasn't stupid; he sensed something was amiss, but war couldn't be decided by intuition.
"Shanghai is indeed one of five possible targets, but Su City has a higher probability. Besides, the data from the branch to headquarters confirms Shanghai is still within safe parameters."
"Data isn't always accurate, and it could be manipulated." Ryan sipped his coffee, his tone sarcastic. "I'm not suggesting a conspiracy, or perhaps Fire Moth is full of conspiracies; that wouldn't be surprising."
"You mean… we have an internal traitor?" Ato's expression turned serious. If anyone else had said this, he would have dismissed it; but Ryan was different.
After all, he'd single-handedly defeated an Emperor-Class Honkai Beast; reputation was invaluable, lending weight to his words.
"Not necessarily a traitor, but there's always a shortage of sensible people; Chalice left."
"Yes, he left yesterday, supposedly to oversee Su City."
"Do you think things became strange after he left?"
Ato fell silent. As a mid-level officer in the South Shenzhou branch, he'd noticed the unusual storm, but his reports were ignored; even the plan to hunt Mosha was rejected.
"Hearing you say this, something does seem off. How did you realize this?"
"Simple. I came to Shanghai, and they avoided me. Didn't they notice the Far East Branch's activities?" Ryan spread his arms, his face filled with disdain. "Even if Mosha is difficult to kill underwater, with Elysia, we could have easily killed it. Why ignore the obvious?"
That made sense. Ato had also noticed he couldn't easily contact Elysia; the official explanation was maintaining secrecy for a covert mission. But given her personality, it didn't seem like a typical covert operation.
"What benefit does this bring?"
Ryan didn't answer, observing him. After a few seconds, Ato's expression changed drastically; he unconsciously clenched his fists.
The motivation was clear—some within Fire Moth sought to break free from their restraints, transforming from a UN-affiliated organization into an independent entity, a true savior of humanity.
This meant immense power, a dramatic expansion of authority. The number of casualties was insignificant compared to that goal. Predictably, many would die in the Honkai event; a few more wouldn't matter.
Put simply, if the sacrifices of a few could hasten humanity's unity and prevent civilization's collapse, it would be a worthwhile trade.
"Those bastards… they actually…"
"Think it makes sense, at least logically." Ryan sighed, shaking his head.
"But it's wrong, fundamentally wrong. They abandoned their ideals and responsibilities, only to sacrifice others for some 'greater good,' including you and me. Honestly, if Chalice came to Shanghai and sacrificed himself for this 'greater good,' I'd respect him as a true man."
"Exactly. To sacrifice others, you must first sacrifice yourself." Ato agreed; those who couldn't do this were hypocrites. A worried look appeared on his face. "If that's their motive, I oppose them, but not with hatred. I fear what others upstairs might do."
"You mean the believers?" Ryan's tone turned serious, even laced with killing intent.
"Those fanatics believe they possess the Truth; they'll ruin everything. Among the forty-six council members, we don't know who is a believer."
"After the third Honkai impact, they'll gradually reveal themselves; we'll deal with them then."
"It won't be easy. Killing council members and staging a rebellion will bring the full force of Fire Moth down on us." Ato licked his lips, his voice heavy. "Even a Herrscher can't fight the entire world."
Individual combat strength has limits. Even a Herrscher has Honkai Beasts; she has an army. Even Elysia couldn't withstand a nuclear strike or a full-scale assault.
But I have no limits.
Ryan smiled silently, changing the subject. "Let's focus on the immediate. Give me Mobius's supplies; I need them urgently."
"The supplies are ready." Ato nodded, retrieving a large crate from a nearby vehicle, setting it down with a thud.
It was heavy, but Ryan didn't rush to examine it, trusting Mobius's skills.
"This is simple. Use your shortcut to contact Elysia. Don't say much; just say I want to talk. Also, use your authority to issue an evacuation notice, using the storm as a pretext."
"The first is no problem, but the second is like a grain of sand in a desert." Ato's tone was serious, but his eyes showed respect. "You're a true hero; facing danger head-on."
"I'm not that great; I just have a good saying." Ryan paused, glancing at Ato and Hua.
"Use your abilities to handle what you can; shoulder the corresponding responsibility, and do your best."
Hua's eyes lit up; she hadn't understood the previous conversation, but this resonated with her.
"Not arrogant, not retreating; you're truly admirable." Ato clapped his hands lightly, his expression serious. "I'll handle both tasks; you'll have results within two days. Any other requests?"
Ryan loaded the crate into his car. As he was about to tell Hua to get in, his expression changed, his gaze fixed on the coast.
"One small task. Take her to Huangpu Road to pick someone up; then take both of them out of Shanghai."
"Senior Brother, you…" Hua gaped, speechless.
Ryan cut her off, opening the car door, his expression serious.
"The storm is coming; we wait for the thunder."