Time had been accelerated.
And what accelerated it was a life called "peace."
Life was always like that. When you were under immense pressure, time always seemed to pass especially slowly—for example, at work or school.
But once everything truly calmed down, time would slip away uncontrollably from your grasp—for example, while slacking off or during vacation.
In the days after Blanca left the research institute, nothing particularly noteworthy happened there. Mobius continued conducting experiments with Xu Ziling as usual. Whether it was Xu Ziling or Elysia, both could tell that Mobius had been somewhat absent-minded these past few days.
Perhaps losing an assistant had slowed her research progress. Or perhaps... there was something even more important in Mobius's heart, something that had firmly locked away her thoughts.
The prospects for researching Xu Ziling's sunlight-averse constitution were bleak. Five whole days had passed, yet Mobius still hadn't produced any decent medicine. All she had was a half-finished product she called "Sunscreen Liquid," which could help Xu Ziling withstand sunlight for a short while. But its duration... was less than nine seconds.
Xu Ziling had nothing to say about it. After all, he had always been a night owl. He slacked off at the company during the day and went home to play games at night. Even if he lived his entire life under the cover of darkness, he wouldn't mind. The only thing he needed to do was keep Mobius company and properly play the role of a "target to be conquered."
The system also seemed to have reined itself in after Xu Ziling gave it a scolding. Although its daily missions were still limited to things like "*** with any Valkyrie/Flame-Chaser," at least they were no longer absurd missions such as "maintain an ambiguous pose." Xu Ziling completed them all one by one.
Time eventually reached five days later—the seventh day since Xu Ziling had transmigrated.
[ Ding~ Daily mission: "Prepare dinner for any Valkyrie/Flame-Chaser" ] [Mission reward: Stellaron Shards*150; random mission reward: "A cooking spatula left behind by a certain Mad King"] [ Ding~ Trailblaze mission: "Survivor of the Honkai World" completed ] [Mission reward: Stellaron Shards*1600.] [Random item rewards*3: Kloros Pistol, "Secret of Marksmanship: The Times Have Changed," Kloros Magazine*5] [System inventory: Realgar Wine, Viper Serum, Blanca's Notebook, etc.] [Current incomplete missions: "Archon Mission: God of the Honkai World," "Weekly Mission: Ambiguous Pose."]
The system's voice pulled Xu Ziling's thoughts back as he sat at the dining table. Looking at his remaining Stellaron Shards, he felt somewhat helpless.
At a rate of 160 per pull, he had nearly saved up twenty pulls after completing the first Trailblaze mission. But the system shop wouldn't open until he completed the Archon Mission. He had the ability to spend, but nowhere to spend it. That was seriously frustrating.
"Wow... thanks for the meal~ Also, Little Ziling, your cooking is really good!"
At the dining table, Elysia sincerely thanked Xu Ziling, who had been responsible for cooking tonight. Mobius, seated across from them, listlessly finished the stir-fried shredded potatoes she had made for dinner, glanced at the time, and said:
"Little Mouse, what day of the week is it today?"
"Doctor, you've been asking that question since five days ago."
Xu Ziling shrugged helplessly before continuing,
"But today, you finally got it right. It's Friday—the day you said last Sunday that we would go to Chiyu Academy to pick up the talented person Senior Blanca recommended."
"Good."
Mobius nodded, then shoved all her utensils toward Elysia and said,
"Elysia, stay home and wash the dishes. Little Mouse and I are going out to pick someone up."
"Oh my! Professor Mobius, don't just take Little Ziling out to play!"
When Elysia heard that Mobius had no intention of taking her along, she immediately grew anxious. She hurriedly hugged Mobius's arm and said,
"Professor Mobius, can you really bear to leave the adorable Miss Elf at home?... Hehe~ Don't worry, if Miss Elf goes out with Professor Mobius, she definitely won't embarrass you. After all, Miss Elf is very good at making friends, you know??~"
"No."
Mobius rejected Elysia outright. Then she pulled her arm free from Elysia's embrace and said,
"Hmph. Don't you know what kind of person you are? Don't think that because I've been in a bad mood these past few days and let my guard down around you, I've stopped being wary of you. This is the assistant Blanca recommended to me before leaving, which naturally makes him my person. So don't trouble yourself by meddling, understood?"
"Mm... but..."
Elysia blinked her misty eyes and spoke aggrievedly,
"Professor Mobius, can you really bear to leave the adorable Miss Elf all alone at home? I really won't cause you any more trouble. Professor Mobius, you should trust me once in a while!"
Seeing Elysia's pitiful expression, Mobius fell into deep thought.
Ten seconds later...
"Bang!"
Mobius slammed the door of the small building shut and locked it from the outside, successfully trapping the pitiful Elysia inside when she had wanted to go out and play.
Xu Ziling, standing beside Mobius, looked around at Changkong City, already shrouded in night, and said to her:
"Doctor, isn't treating Elysia like this a little inhumane?"
"Inhumane?"
After putting away the key, Mobius raised an eyebrow at Xu Ziling and said,
"Little Mouse, you can use that word for anyone, but absolutely not for Elysia. Your mercy toward her will only end with her devouring you completely. Understand? I've said something similar many times already. Don't let me hear you use that word to describe her again, Little Mouse."
"Mm... all right."
Since Mobius had put it that way, Xu Ziling didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he began looking around.
To be honest, this seemed to be the first time Xu Ziling had left the small building and research institute since transmigrating—the first time he had truly seen this Honkai world.
And what he saw... well, how should he put it? He didn't feel much.
Changkong City in the Honkai world didn't seem all that different from the first-tier city Xu Ziling had lived in before transmigrating. Before the Honkai descended, this place apparently hadn't yet entered an era of explosive technological development. There might have been some advanced technology, but it wasn't so advanced that Xu Ziling would look like some primitive tribesman seeing the world for the first time.
The school district was still a school district, and the buildings were still buildings. At night, Changkong's neon lights shone in all directions, illuminating the world around them. The only difference was that Xu Ziling's residence had changed from a worker's apartment to a detached three-story building.
Still, calling Mobius's temporary residence a "small building" wasn't quite accurate. From the outside, it was clearly a three-story villa—and a school-district property at that. There were neighbors around the house, though they weren't close. A detached villa like this, even if merely rented, would cost at least seven figures.
Speaking of which, he couldn't help sighing with emotion. Following Serpent really was great. Although the research institute's funding was tight and they had to scrimp and save on everyday expenses, just look at this living environment... tsk tsk. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the dream of countless wage slaves from before his transmigration.
"All right, stop sighing."
Mobius tightened her clothes, waved a hand in front of Xu Ziling, and said,
"Little Mouse, see that school district up ahead? That's Chiyu Academy. We'll arrive once we cross this street... It's very close to our house. You think so too, right? When I had just left M-U, Blanca helped me choose this temporary residence in Changkong City... Thinking about it now, perhaps she had already identified the person at Chiyu Academy who could take her place from the very beginning. Hmph, if that's the case, she really is quite cunning..."
Xu Ziling looked at Mobius, who had changed into a white shirt, a hip-hugging skirt, and tight black stockings with high heels. He pondered for a moment, then asked,
"Doctor, should we take a taxi?"
"Of course we should... uh..."
Mobius was about to say that they definitely needed to call a taxi—her body couldn't withstand the exertion.
But halfway through, she suddenly remembered that she didn't have a single cent on her right now. The research institute's food, clothing, housing, and transportation all depended on Elysia, who was currently locked in her room...
Mobius thought for a moment, then extended one finger toward Xu Ziling and said:
"Ahem... of course we're walking there, Little Mouse. I can tell you clearly that the research institute isn't wealthy. Money and funding must be saved wherever possible...
"More importantly, although Elysia has probably given you a general introduction to the state of our era these past few days, you've only just awakened and lack a concrete understanding of our times. I'm having you walk there yourself so you can broaden your horizons. I'm doing this for your own good... understand?"
Xu Ziling glanced at Mobius's pockets, which were practically as empty as her sleeves, and immediately understood. He nodded at her and said:
"I see... I was overthinking it, Doctor."
"Ahem... Little Mouse, it's good that you understand my painstaking intentions."
Mobius coughed twice with practiced embarrassment, then left the small area in front of the building. As she walked along the street leading to Chiyu Academy's main entrance, she said,
"By the way, Little Mouse, I should tell you that we're not going to Chiyu Academy to pick someone up in the literal sense. Since this is someone Blanca recommended... heh heh, I have to give her a show of force and test how capable she really is."
Xu Ziling understood immediately. After catching up with Mobius, he said:
"Doctor, if you need me to cooperate with you later, just say the word."
"Smart."
Mobius snapped her fingers and said,
"But you don't need to worry too much, Little Mouse. Before today, I had already made arrangements with Chiyu Academy's administration. During tonight's evening self-study, I'll be giving lectures at their school as a 'biology professor,' teaching them two classes. When the time comes, just go up onstage with me as my teaching assistant and read through the PPT."
"Teach a class?"
Xu Ziling murmured those two words to himself. Then, as if possessed, he asked Mobius,
"Doctor, are you really certain that the person Senior Blanca recommended will definitely come to the lecture you're holding?"
"That isn't something you need to worry about, Little Mouse."
As she spoke, Mobius took out her phone and opened a document.
"I've already established a relationship with the school. The person Blanca recommended will definitely attend the lecture I'm holding there tonight. As for everyone else... hmph, I don't care. Still, quite a few people seem to have filled out the sign-up sheet. Take a look yourself."
Xu Ziling took the phone Mobius handed him and glanced at the list of students who had volunteered to attend. His expression immediately became fascinating—
[Chiyu Academy, Friday evening, May 18—Registration list for a special lecture by a certain biology professor] [List: Mei, Kevin, Acedia, Oshima Sakito, Klein, Higashishitakado Kagekawa, Su...]
Before you continue