They All Said This Wasn't a Life Simulation Game! Section 27

"Really?"

Mei raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, after all... saying anything more would be dangerous for both of us."

"That's true."

Considering Sakura's and his own identity, Mei quickly understood the key issue.

"Then... happy cooperation."

"Happy cooperation, Dr. Mei."

Chapter 20: I Will Never Point My Blade at You

[News of Dr. Mei being assassinated quickly spread throughout Moth to Fire, with rumors claiming the assassin was a member within Moth to Fire.]

[Although the assassin's identity was not publicly revealed, from Sakura's disappearance and even your suspension and investigation, everyone could easily guess who the assassin was.]

[Soon after, Mei and Mobius convened a meeting to discuss the incident and how to proceed. Others also offered their suggestions and expressed concern for Mei's ordeal and situation.]

[Everyone tacitly avoided discussing "who exactly wanted to assassinate Dr. Mei." After all, they all knew that bringing it out into the open would mean a complete breakdown of relations, which would be bad for everyone.]

[At the end of the meeting, a certain member proposed, "Why don't we establish a special team to handle such matters, specifically responsible for internal incidents like assassinating important personnel of Moth to Fire? Moreover, such malicious incidents require specialized personnel to handle them. After all, we are heroes on the front lines of the battle against Honkai. This kind of backstabbing can be considered a betrayal, right? And traitors... need to be eliminated, don't they?"]

[Everyone knew that this was a member of "Poison Chrysalis," who had always wanted to expand their influence. They had been trying to control the "dark side" of Moth to Fire in their own way, and this time, they naturally seized the opportunity, wanting to bite off a piece of the power cake from others.]

[Logically, such a proposal should not have passed, as it would mean that the irregular method of "labeling the opponent as a traitor and then killing them" would be officially brought to the table and become a method usable by everyone. But... unexpectedly, a group of people, represented by Mei and Mobius, agreed to it.]

[Not only that, but Mei publicly stated, "Perhaps each of you should be equipped with some members who possess outstanding combat abilities to prevent malicious incidents like assassination from happening again." She also informed others that Kevin would be responsible for her safety when he was not on a mission, and Sakura would be responsible when Kevin was away. As for Dr. Mobius, since she rarely left the laboratory, she was not assigned anyone, but someone would accompany her when she went out.]

[While called protection, it was essentially surveillance... everyone understood this, but no one dared to openly object. Since Mei, as the "victim," proposed this suggestion, it was only natural. Furthermore, since the assigned personnel could be chosen by themselves, it wasn't considered too excessive.]

[Thus, with a slight majority, the proposal was passed, and the special unit "Poison Chrysalis" was officially established – they didn't even change the name, just directly adopted it.]

[At the same time, everyone in the higher echelons understood one thing: Mei and others had joined forces with Poison Chrysalis. To the extent that Poison Chrysalis was willing to split up your and Sakura's partnership, specifically assigning someone to protect Mei, and even potentially guiding this assassination, then using it as an excuse to achieve their respective goals.]

[Mei and Mobius, along with a group of researchers, gained stability. They could focus on their plans and continue their research without worrying about being backstabbed on the path of fighting Honkai, as doing so might incur the retaliation of "Poison Chrysalis."]

[And Poison Chrysalis gained formal influence, breaking free from their previous awkward position of being ordered around by anyone, as they now had the backing of researchers like Mei and Mobius.]

[At this moment, they had to restrain their methods, face the two united parties, and give them due treatment.]

[As for you and Sakura, after the meeting ended and the proposal took effect, you naturally returned to a slightly different ordinary life than before. Sakura became Mei and Mobius's escort, and was also nominally part of the "Poison Chrysalis" unit. You were reinstated to your original position and also nominally joined "Poison Chrysalis."]

[Naturally, there was nothing to be surprised about. Except that your opportunities to meet Sakura decreased, everything else was fine. Even Ling was brought to Moth to Fire, and Sakura could visit her whenever she had time.]

[Of course, those who vaguely guessed your and Sakura's past identities gradually reduced their contact with you. Many people unconsciously began to distance themselves from you. Of course, some people didn't show any particular reaction... like Elysia.]

[She was still as cheerful as ever, and even more concerned about you after that day.]

[However, like Hen, she developed a bad habit – she always tried to sneakily take your candy box when she met you. And you were happy to play this little game with her, confident that you wouldn't let her get it.]

[Absolutely not.]

[Under this atmosphere of mixed lightness and tension, time gradually passed, and then came—the Sixth Herrscher.]

The wind, carrying the coolness of the night, blew gently. As it passed through the quiet streets, it quietly swept away the lingering human warmth, carrying it far away.

"..."

Xi Wang moved rapidly between buildings, glancing at the silent street.

He remembered this place. He had been here once while on a mission. Back then, it was bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder, crowded on the relatively wide street. Shop employees enthusiastically introduced products to customers, and restaurant kitchens were bustling with activity.

Children played in the plaza, wobbling unsteadily through the crowd on roller skates. Elderly people leisurely danced to music, their rhythmic movements attracting the attention of onlookers. The children's laughter and the plaza dance music mingled, forming a cacophony called "popularity." Couples who had finished shopping sat in quiet corners, resting and whispering to each other, occasionally playfully bickering over small gestures.

Even three days ago, it was still like this. As the most prosperous commercial street in the area, thousands of people passed through it every day, playing and enjoying themselves, adding a touch of liveliness. Even the high moon could not stop them.

But now, it was plunged into deathly silence. Even Xi Wang's footsteps sounded a bit noisy, the passing wind seemed a bit jarring, and even his own heartbeat became so clear.

But...

Let it be.

Xi Wang withdrew his gaze, his eyes as calm as a lake.

He merely quickened his pace slightly, heading towards that place, the place where the person he cared about was.

Bang—!

He heard a sound from afar. The sound gradually faded, echoing in the quiet street.

"...Wang, you're here."

Xi Wang landed gently beside her, and she nodded, maintaining a smile as she spoke.

"The operation was successful."

"Mhm... what happened to him?"

Xi Wang glanced at the billboard by the street, which bore a clear crimson fist print. His gaze then fell on Kevin.

"Wang... you're here. Where are your teammates? Where are they? Are the others still here?"

Seeing Xi Wang arrive, Kevin asked urgently, his panicked tone like someone grasping at a lifeline.

"...They're all dead."

Seeing his appearance, Xi Wang hesitated for a moment before truthfully explaining the situation.

They were warriors, soldiers; there was no need to hide things from each other. Besides, casualties like this couldn't be concealed anyway; he'd know as soon as he returned to base.

"I'm the only one left alive and able to move in the squad. Considering you two are still in the center, I came to check on things."

To protect Kevin's fragile state of mind, Xi Wang slightly rephrased his words to avoid hurting him further.

"They're all dead... Ah, it's... as expected..."

Kevin seemed dazed. He already knew this, had already guessed it, but when he saw Xi Wang arrive, he still hoped for news that "others had survived."

But that was impossible. With a Honkai Energy outbreak of that magnitude, very few could survive. The fact that the three of them could still stand here and talk already indicated that all three of them had incredibly resilient physiques.

"It's all... my fault..."

Kevin swayed, eventually having to lean against a nearby advertisement board to keep himself from falling. Then, his hand unconsciously tightened, adding another grip mark to the board.

"...Should I tell him that even if no one's here, damaging property still costs money?"

Xi Wang turned to Elysia and asked in confusion.

"..."

"Haha~"

Elysia covered her mouth and chuckled a couple of times, causing the heavy atmosphere to lighten slightly.

"...Don't say that, Kevin."

Elysia said softly.

"Their deaths are certainly your fault, but... they're mine too."

"...What happened?"

Xi Wang frowned and asked.

"...In the final moments before our successful subjugation, the Sixth Herrscher displayed... human 'emotions'."

Elysia spoke slowly.

"We've never encountered anything like this before, so Kevin..."

"So I hesitated, and let her take the city with her as she died."

Kevin's voice sounded from the side, picking up Elysia's words.

"The people around, all the innocent ordinary people, they died just like that."

"They didn't do anything, they didn't do anything wrong. Just because of me, a completely unrelated stranger, their lives ended like this, vanishing effortlessly, without even leaving behind corpses..."

"I killed them..."

Because of his hesitation.

"Oh."

Splat—

Xi Wang responded blandly, then took out his candy box and popped a piece of candy into his mouth.

His attitude seemed to imply, "That's it?"

"...But you were the one who killed the Sixth Herrscher and ended this disaster."

Elysia shot him a playfully chiding glance before speaking softly.

"..."

"It's okay, Kevin. If it were me, the outcome wouldn't change... The same questions would arise in my mind, I would also hesitate and doubt, and I... would make the same choice as you."

Elysia tried her best to comfort Kevin, and what she said was also the truth.

"..."

Kevin shifted his gaze to Xi Wang, who was standing off to the side by himself, eating candy and enjoying the cool night breeze... or perhaps just spacing out.

"Don't look at me. I didn't personally experience the situation, so I have no right to speak."

Noticing Kevin's gaze, Xi Wang calmly and plainly said, seemingly unconcerned by it all.

If it were him, he would have pulled the trigger without hesitation... After all, he would never care about such things, and might not even have any doubts.

Seeing Xi Wang like this, Kevin couldn't help but have this thought.

If it were him, he would have surely killed her cleanly, and none of this would have happened...

Splat—!

With a very loud sound, Xi Wang forcefully closed his candy box, responding to Kevin with a look of utter disdain.

"What's with that look?"

"..."