Assassination Begins

As night fell, Mobius, accompanied by Zhu Yufeng, discussed the presumption of innocence of Admil with Elvon, the director of the Third Institute.

"I simply cannot believe that you would actually choose to condone Admil's actions!" Elvon in a low voice.

Although he was mentally prepared when he saw Mobius on the list of final reviewers, he couldn't change it in the face of reality. Admil had indeed done a clean job, and procedurally, there was no way to find fault with him. Admil could only be criticized morally. Therefore, the final review result for Admil also depended on the opinions of those involved in the review regarding Admil's actions.

For Mobius, who is known for his unbridled behavior, being Admil's censor is undoubtedly the worst-case scenario.

"Why call it indulgence?" Mobius said, leaning back in his chair. "Admil had obtained the subject's consent before the experiment, and his procedures were all in order. I don't think there's anything about him that warrants his expulsion from the Fire Moth."

"We researchers studying the Honkai do everything we do to fight against Honkai. However, in the process of fighting the Honkai, we cannot abandon our humanity," Elvon in a deep voice. "Sacrificing innocent lives for a vague and uncertain theory is not worthwhile, and... if such behavior is allowed, it will open Pandora's box. How many people will become the next Admil because of this?"

"Humanity? What is humanity?" Mobius said with a faint smile. "Elvon, tell me, how many patients have you seen die over the years from being injected with a hastily developed drug to treat the symptoms of Honkai Energy Corrosion? The First and Second Research Institutes were quite normal a few years ago. Even the Present the Third and Fifth Research Institute have taken over this matter, can you guarantee that no one has really died because of it?"

Elvon silent.

"I know you're probably thinking that your true purpose is to save them, that you treat them like patients and do everything in your power to save them, while Admil's actions are more like treating ordinary humans as experimental subjects, so the fundamental purpose is different," Mobius continued. "But so what if the purpose is different? Isn't the ultimate goal to defeat the Honkai? And how many of those above really care about your and Admil's purpose? What they want has always been resolution."

"Mobius ..." Elvon said, staring into Mobius's eyes, "More than half a year ago, I heard that your style of doing things had finally changed, and you even took in a group of survivors infected by Honkai Energy. You used conventional treatment methods on them, and after that, you developed the treatment drug that Su has the Present taken over... I thought that you had finally understood the true meaning of life and would no longer easily trample on the lives of others..."

"The essence of life is evolution, and that will never change," Mobius said, frowning.

Elvon glanced at Zhu Yufeng and then said, "Your name is Feng, right? I remember you are the most outstanding warrior to emerge from headquarters in the past year. So, I would like to hear your opinion on what Admil did this time."

"My view is consistent with Dr. Mobius's. People cannot suppress their own kindness. If their hands and feet are bound by kindness, they cannot resist the Honkai," Zhu Yufeng said calmly.

"If it were your family, your best friend, your lover who were sacrificed, would you still think this way?" Elvon asked again.

Mobius glanced at him. The old man was trying to morally blackmail Yu Feng? Dream on. How many people had this boy, who was only two months old and hadn't even reached adulthood yet, killed during the suppression of the Rebel Army? If moral blackmail had any effect on Zhu Yufeng, would those surrendered Rebel Army really not say a word before they died?

"I would never agree," Zhu Yufeng replied. "Besides, what do other people have to do with me? I only protect those I care about, only those I love and those who love me. Do I have an obligation to care about others?"

Elvon was taken aback. He looked at the boy in front of him in surprise. He had heard others mention this boy at the meeting. They all said that the boy trained very seriously and even once inspired the soldiers in the headquarters to compete fiercely. Many people had high hopes for him. There were even rumors that Mobius changed his style because of this boy. He also thought that the boy was full of vigor and enthusiasm for the future, just like all his energetic peers.

But upon the Present inspection, all he saw in Zhu Yufeng's eyes was calmness.

So what exactly is he striving for?

Just for his narrow-minded reasons, for the sake of those who protect him?

"Aren't you afraid that what you are the Present tacitly approving will one day befall the people you cherish?" Elvon tried to persuade the young man. In his opinion, the boy must have been influenced by Mobius. How could a young man say such cold words?

Mobius looked at Elvon, then suddenly felt a little bored, so he looked away and began to examine the room where he was having his meeting with Elvon.

She had a bad feeling... However, it wasn't time for Xila the Present carry out the assassination mission yet. Xila usually followed orders, unless Modesti betrayed her, or...

Mobius's gaze returned to Elvon.

In the previous chapter, she didn't get along with this stubborn old director, so they rarely spoke. In the end, he seemed to die in the Fifth Law incident, the major incident caused by Admil.

Ah, I remember now. In the eulogy that Fire Moth gave him later, it said that he had tried his best to stop Admil, but he failed. Even so, he still chose to sacrifice himself in the end, using his life to prevent the situation from expanding further.

Overall, aside from being a bit stubborn, he's a rather stubborn person.

What was he planning to do to stop Admil back then?

While Mobius was pondering, Zhu Yufeng answered Elvon's question, "I will make those who do this pay the price, and that is not a reason for me to care about others."

He knew what Elvon was trying to say: that as long as everyone held onto that bottom line, the world would become a better place, or something like that. But even if it were better... it wouldn't save the world from sinking.

When it comes to decision-making, rationality is often more important than emotion.

Elvon's idea as one of the decision-makers was not wrong in its starting point, but it was out of step with the preconceived notion that the Honkai Energy do everything... In the end, it was the limited understanding of the Honkai that led people at this time to believe that humanity would eventually defeat the Honkai, without giving up or trying not to give up some things.

However, having already read the story once and experienced it firsthand, Zhu Yufeng scoffed at it.

You can't morally blackmail me as long as I have no morals.

No one is obligated to think about others; he's not a saint, and besides, he's never cared about this world.

Looking into Zhu Yufeng's eyes, Erwin finally realized that he had no way to persuade the boy. He sighed deeply and said, "In the future, the world will never be led forward by someone like Mobius. If that day really comes, humanity... won't be far from extinction, will it?"

Zhu Yufeng narrowed his eyes; he too had sensed something was wrong.

He also mentally complained that Mobius was not interested in leading humanity at all. In the end, the leader of humanity was even more rational and indifferent than Mobius. Apart from Kevin and defeating the Honkai, he didn't care much about anything else.

However, to be fair, when Mei took over the Fire Moth, humanity was indeed on the verge of extinction.

"If a person loses their humanity, can they still be called a human being?" Erwin said. "I absolutely cannot let this kind of thing continue to spread."

"So, you plan to perish here with Dr. Mobius, along with Feng and everyone else?" Admil's calm voice rang out from the doorway.

"Admil?!" Erwin stood up. "How did you..."

"I am your student, and even if you are unwilling to admit it now, I still understand you." Admil glanced at Mobius and Zhu Yufeng. "You brought them here, wasn't it for the so-called 'eliminating evil from the smallest beginning'? You originally prepared this room for me, didn't you?"

"You removed the detonation device in this room?" Erwin asked in a low voice.

"It was Admil and I who dismantled the building together. Director Erwin, you said that one cannot trample on the lives of others, but what you are doing now, isn't it also trampling on the lives of Dr. Mobius and Maple? Even your own life?" Sue followed Admil into the room and said.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yufeng glanced at Erwin. The old guy was really going all out, even willing to die. So what if he blew this place up? At most, he'd just kill himself, though he and Mobius would get injured too.

He specifically learned from Elysia and even tried to create a barrier using Honkai Energy on his own, but it still wasn't as strong as the crystal barrier Elysia created with Honkai Energy. I remember Elysia once used a crystal barrier to protect Hua from Kevin's Heavenfire attack on the Law of Binding, which caused an explosion.

However, I didn't participate in this story because in the end, it was I Black Abyss White Flower killed the Law of Restraint.

At least the protection is still adequate.

Erwin looked at Admil, then at Sue, and slumped into his chair as if all his strength had been drained. He said, "Sue, you are an old friend of mine who highly praises your talent, and I have seen your kindness in you... But indeed, kindness alone cannot change anything. Evil is sometimes necessary. Neither Mobius nor Admil should exist. Even if it costs me my life, as long as we can nip the spreading evil in the bud..."

It's hard to say about Admil, but most of the allegations against Mobius are actually rumors.

Sometimes, having too much prejudice against someone can affect your judgment of rumors about them.

Mobius looked at Erwin, sneered, and said, "Erwin, I really don't know what you relied on to climb to the position of director of the Third Research Institute. I suspect that apart from the knowledge you possess, the rest of your brain is just water. In short, you are a master of double standards, insisting on your own good while not hesitating to do evil. When you make these decisions, how are you any different from us?"

"I did it for..."

"Who isn't doing this for humanity?" Mobius scoffed. "And who decided that there's only one path to fighting the Honkai, only one way?"

Oh, Yu Feng might not be fighting for humanity, and she doesn't seem to be right now either... So what? She just doesn't like this old man right now, so she'll just have to give him a piece of her mind.

Standing beside Mobius, Zhu Yufeng looked at Admil and Sue, lost in thought. If things were resolved later, Admil would probably leave without hesitation, and Sue might chat with him for a bit. But if Xila came over at this time, he would have to protect not only Mobius but also Sue.

To put it in the worst-case scenario, we might even add Admil to the mix.

As for Erwin, who cares?

Is this old man completely obsessed with his own ideas? There were quite a few oddballs in the Previous Civilization...

Hmm, at this point, will he also have to be wary of this old man shooting him in the back?

Should I just kill him right now? No, that's unrealistic. First, Sue wouldn't agree, and while Admil is always more rational than emotional, he still has feelings for his teacher, Erwin. Otherwise, during that accident, when Erwin originally intended to die with him, Admiral had already discovered Erwin's plan and only managed to knock Erwin unconscious. If I don't have a reasonable excuse to kill Erwin, maybe Admil won't say anything outwardly, but he'll still have a grudge.

This is such a hassle. Maybe we should just call Ugar over and dismantle the Third Research Institute.

Just as Zhu Yufeng's thoughts were wandering, wondering how to reasonably dismantle the Third Research Institute, an explosion came from outside, followed by the sound of an alarm from the Third Research Institute.

"Has it started?" Zhu Yufeng and Mobius exchanged a glance. This seems to be ahead of the initial plan? What did Modesti send?

The assassination plan was roughly as follows: first, an explosion would alert the personnel inside the Third Research Institute; then, some other cannon fodder assassins would be arranged as a cover to attract the attention of the security personnel; after that, that... that other person would bring Xila under the pretext of helping Mobius move to a safe area, make contact, and then find an opportunity to assassinate Mobius.

Erwin seemed completely unsurprised; his expression remained unchanged throughout.

This all fell into Admil's eyes, and also attracted the attention of everyone else present.

"Let's find a way to evacuate to a safe area first. Follow me." Zhu Yufeng said to the others.