A Malfunction Occurs

But unlike Lin's deliberate avoidance, they simply maintained distance, rather than completely cutting off social interaction.

Therefore, people like Lin, who are sensible enough not to associate with them, generally won't bother with them.

So what's the situation now?

"Oh, so your name is... 089? 069? Anyway, I have high hopes for you."

Here we go again.

Lin looked at the soldier who patted him on the shoulder, gave him a thumbs up, and then walked away, puzzled.

What exactly happened?

"The above is the procedure for MSA-079. He/She is not allowed to leave headquarters before the investigation is completed. He/She needs to report on the precautions regularly. His/Her physical condition will be the responsibility of Mobius."

Lin listened to the High Council meeting's "treatment" of him without uttering a single word.

Rather than instructing him on what to do, it was more of a precaution and a trial against him.

Only a very few people knew about Lin's relationship with the Speaker, so the High Council were not on guard against it. Their main concern was that he might suddenly become the next Herrscher.

So far, no male has become Herrscher, but before that, no one's consciousness had entered the Herrscher Core. There are always precedents for everything. Since Lin can enter the Herrscher Core, is it possible for him to become Herrscher?

So the solution was... to plant a bomb.

A miniature bomb is installed in Lin's heart. Once he becomes Herrscher, the Honkai Energy content will exceed the threshold and it will automatically explode. It can also be detonated manually, and it only takes 0.3 seconds to completely destroy his heart.

The trial focused on Lin's wrongdoing in withdrawing from the Fire Chaser without authorization and his unauthorized use of the Honkai Sickness Serum, which resulted in property damage to the Fire Chaser.

In fact, the use of the Honkai Sickness Serum had nothing to do with Lin's personal will. However, since Spasi's importance has been assessed as a high priority, he has not been punished. Moreover, since there is a shortage of personnel, the punishment for Lin is not severe. The specifics are the same as what Sakura told him. It's just that he can't return to his original position and his captain privileges are revoked.

What really concerned Lin was that Mei did not attend the meeting. Her current position was that of an acting High Council, and she was entitled to attend the High Council meetings of Moth Chaser.

Instead, Prometheus Unit 2 recorded the entire meeting.

"Doctor Mei is conducting a closed experiment. She says she will follow all decisions and leaves the rest to you." Prometheus Unit 2 conveyed May's message to the not-so-pleasant-looking people present in a voice even colder, more mechanical, and genderless than that of Prometheus I.

However, as mentioned before, the Moth Chasing the Flame is going through its most difficult period, and talents like Mei are extremely rare. Even if she doesn't attend the meeting, they can't have any objections.

"Anyway, do you have any other comments? MSA-079."

After reviewing each of their terms and confirming that everything was correct, Lin sighed and replied, "I have no objections."

This can be considered a period to the end of the Sixth Honkai War...

After he finished speaking, he was about to leave, but when he turned around and took a step, the astonishment on the High Council's face made him hesitate for half a second.

That expression seemed to say... "Why don't you have any objections?"

Perhaps they felt the punishment was a bit too harsh, which is why they were surprised?

Thinking of this, Lin straightened up and explained, "I believe the punishment I received was very reasonable. I voluntarily relinquish my position as captain of the Squad Seven and will not appeal."

What do you mean?

"..."

Lin frowned as he glanced at one of the High Council who was questioning him in an incredulous tone.

His meaning was clear enough.

"I mean..."

"Is there something unreasonable about this? Don't be unreasonable, MSA-079. I know this incident has had a great impact on you, but it was a decision made for the sake of humanity."

"..."

"Unlike that traitor who has been targeting you and Doctor Mei in the meetings, I have high hopes for you. Do you understand?"

Although still completely confused, Lin nodded, and after the other party let out a sigh of relief, he turned and left the conference room.

After he left the meeting room, a man had been waiting outside, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Forest..."

Kevin met Lin's gaze with a frosty expression.

"..." It seemed that he had something to discuss with him, so Lin waited quietly for the other party to speak.

What are you and Mei doing?

Kevin's first words startled Lin.

What are you doing... He hasn't seen Mei recently, and he didn't even run into her today. What do you mean by "what are you doing"?

Kevin took out his communicator, and the screen displayed the intranet forum. One of the top hot posts caught his eye. The bold red text was clearly written by the administrator, and bold text was rarely used in this place, which was usually used for casual conversation.

The image shows a gambling table.

Headquarters soldier number MSA-079, I believe many people are familiar with this number. Even new recruits should have heard of this number from the veterans. It is equivalent to the Yan Luo King of the Flame Chasers. He participated in all the large-scale Honkai battles and Herrscher extermination battles from the Second Honkai War to the Sixth Honkai War. He has always been the first among the Flame Chasers in terms of the total number of missions completed. He was the former captain of the Squad Seven of Headquarters. He is a helmeted man who always wears a helmet and never shows his true face.

Recently, MSA-079's personality seems to have changed. He, who never took the initiative to socialize and had a bad attitude towards others, has begun to treat others peacefully and kindly. Moreover, he, who was resistant to romance, seems to have more contact with women.

I'm setting up a betting pool here, betting on whether MSA-079's personality has truly changed. Anyone who can get him to take off his helmet and confess his feelings, regardless of gender, will be considered proof of his personality change.

In order to keep this betting game going, I will place the largest bet on the "no" side. As long as it can be proven, everyone who bets on the "yes" side will get a chance to "make a wish." I will grant any wish that I can make.

Lin's gaze fell on the signature at the end of the post.

Mei, Head of Research and Development at headquarters.

Chapter Fourteen: Malfunction Occurrence

"Doctor, the meeting has ended, and the punishment for Lin has been decided, just as you expected."

Mei stood behind the busy crowd. When she heard Prometheus Unit 2's words through her earpiece, she didn't say anything, her attention still focused on the experiment in front of her.

This is an adaptive closed experiment on a metallic substance called "Soul Steel". According to her estimated results, Soul Steel is the most suitable material for forging Divine Key. It has super adaptability, plasticity and memory to Honkai Energy, and it will not be corroded by Honkai Energy. If it passes this experimental test, then Soul Steel should be able to be used in the production of various equipment and weapons.

"Also, Doctor, someone has posted betting odds on the intranet in your name."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Mei finally reacted. She took out her communicator, opened the intranet forum, and easily found the pinned post and the betting odds with her own signature.

Mei couldn't recall ever doing such a thing.

"Prometheus Unit 2, whose account posted this?" Mei asked after a moment's thought, having seen the contents and bets.

"Unable to find. The poster's posting location is outside of MothChaser, and the account used is a temporary account. The account was deleted after gaining administrator privileges through hacking."

"A temporary account?" Mei frowned even more upon hearing this. The internal network accounts of the Fire Chaser are all bound to the identity, and there is no such thing as a temporary account. Since the other party has one, it means that he is not a member of the Fire Chaser, but a hacker who has invaded the internal network and posted this message through technical means.

It's not hard to imagine that this major setback has affected every aspect of Moth Chaser. They may have neglected to maintain confidentiality and prevent external threats, leading to this hacker intrusion into Moth Chaser's internal network. The fact that they were able to infiltrate an internal network with security levels equivalent to a country's requires that hacker's skills be considered world-class.

The data has been leaked.

Since the other party was able to publish betting odds in her name, and the content of those odds was accurate, it means that the internal information of Moth Chaser has been leaked.

"Doctor, should we launch an investigation?"

Mei pondered for a moment, then shook her head.

"No, we don't have that much energy to investigate hackers right now."

Neither the Fire-Chasing Moth nor she had the energy for it, but Mei had another idea.

"Should we remove the betting odds?"

"...No."

Mei's lips curled into a playful smile.

"What are you and Mei planning?"

Kevin's tone wasn't exactly aggressive, but Lin still sensed something different in it.

"No, I have absolutely no idea." Lin actually wanted to ask Kevin if he knew anything, but seeing that Kevin looked completely clueless when he asked him, he suggested in a consultative tone, "Should we ask Mei? Does she have other plans?"

"You know? Then what are you doing?"

"... I said, I don't know."

"You don't need to emphasize that you know anymore." Kevin stared straight at him expressionlessly. "If it's something you can't tell me, then forget it."

Wrong.

Lin keenly sensed that something was wrong; it seemed that everyone who had been talking to him earlier was unable to understand what he was saying.

Lin asked seriously, "Kevin, what happened?"

Whether it's the effect of Honkai Energy or something else, this is not a good sign. Misunderstandings are extremely dangerous. Could it be that there is poisonous gas spreading in headquarters?

"What... are you saying?"

Unexpectedly, Kevin's face, which hadn't changed since the Sixth Honkai War, twitched slightly. He looked at Lin with a... inexplicable gaze and took two steps back.

It was less a surprise and more a... warning.

"I meant poison gas..."

"Lin, I didn't expect you... to have changed so much." Kevin took another step back, staring at Lin with surprise and uncertainty. He took a deep breath to steady his twitching face. "Is the blow too much? Actually, I didn't mean to distance myself from you or anything. It's just that I feel... I can no longer be as carefree as before, whether it's for us or for everyone else."

"..."

"But you actually think that way... I really didn't expect that. I thought you and Elysia were so close because... but now it seems it's actually another sign of a good relationship." Kevin looked like he had just realized something, leaving Lin completely clueless about what he was talking about.

Could it be that he had also inhaled the poison gas, and therefore the words Kevin said were misinterpreted?

Lin's heart sank, and she immediately held her breath. Although she didn't know if the poison gas could be inhaled through breathing, this precaution was still meaningful.

He made a gesture to Kevin covering his nose, and without waiting for Kevin to understand, he turned and ran towards the Spiral Workshop.

In his spare time, Vill-V crafted a new helmet that could detect poison gas and whose air purification system could also block it. He had to stop the poison gas from completely engulfing the entire Moth of Fire before it could engulf them.

"Hey! Lin!"

Watching Lin run away in a flash, Kevin blankly lowered his hand, unsure of what to feel.

Lin actually said such a thing... Has Lin always seen him that way?

Kevin couldn't help but get goosebumps.

"Bang!"

Lin kicked open the door of the Spiral Workshop and rushed inside.

Each area of the Fire Moth has an independent air purification system, which is to prevent the leakage of experimental toxic gas. However, this nerve toxin may have been deliberately released by someone, so the regional air purification system cannot stop the other party. The source of the toxic gas must be found as soon as possible.

"Oh, Lin, what brings you here again?"

While playing cards, Vill-V looked up and saw Lin Chong, who looked menacing even through his bandages, enter the Spiral Workshop. She immediately chuckled and stuffed the cards under her crossed legs, whistling as if nothing had happened.

"Vill-V, is my helmet fixed yet? Or do you have any gas detection equipment here? I suspect that poison gas is spreading in the Headquarters Base."

Lin concisely summarized his purpose: this was an extremely urgent matter that needed to be resolved immediately.

Vill-V shrugged, as if startled, and gave Kevin a similar expression. "... Huh? This... are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"No!" Lin raised his voice.

"No, that's not right. You never seemed like someone who would have those kinds of thoughts before... On the contrary, your whole demeanor is too much like someone who would have those kinds of thoughts..."

"You..."

Linton stopped.

Could it be that the poison gas has spread here?

No, the consequences of this are unimaginable.

Lin picked up the whiteboard on the table, quickly wrote down what he wanted to say, and then showed it to Vill-V.

Since we can't understand each other's languages, can't we just express ourselves in writing?

"... Do you really think that way?"

Confusion, shock, and bewilderment appeared in Vill-V's eyes...

Lin nodded impatiently.