Sorrow / Infiltration

Mei could only stand at that distance; if she got any closer, she would be stung by the cold.

Kevin's cold expression relaxed the moment he saw Mei. He shook his head slightly and said, "Forget it, I'm not suitable to be in crowded places anymore."

"I think quite a few people would be willing to wear winter clothes just to see you," Mei said with a smile.

"But I don't want to see a ball full of Canned Food in bulky clothes." Kevin closed his eyes, imagined the scene, and thought he'd probably have nightmares about it. "Besides... I'm not a hero, not in any way."

"... Lin and you both volunteered."

"But I chose to believe you willingly, while Lin chose to die willingly. He only participated in the Flame-Chaser project from the beginning to provide a trial and error opportunity for the Hypervariable Surgery." Kevin turned his head away. "He was a failure, and I was a success, but that doesn't mean we should idolize the success."

"But humanity needs a hero."

"I know, but I have you. What does Lin have now?"

Kevin stood there, facing May.

They seemed very close, yet also very far apart.

What separates them... is it the cold... or something else?

Finally, Kevin took a step forward and crossed the distance.

Chapter 106 Sorrow

"So-so."

Mobius closed his chopsticks and placed them next to the bowl; the rice and dishes had been completely eaten.

Lin had already finished eating. Since he had no sense of taste, everything tasted the same to him. Once he was sure he was full, he stopped eating.

"It is indeed a bit worse than before, but the difference is not significant."

Mobius's stomach was aching.

That's not the case at all. This meal was the worst she had eaten since leaving home. Lin remembered how much seasoning to put in the dishes, but his hands didn't allow him to do such precise operations. Moreover, since he had no sense of touch, sometimes he would put the seasoning in instinctively with his head down and not even be sure if he had put it in.

In the past, Lin would taste a little before taking it out of the pot to make sure it was missing anything, but now he skips that step.

This resulted in Lin's dishes being nothing more than a hodgepodge of seasonings, either too salty or too sour, with two completely different flavors clashing in a single meat gravy. Compared to that, even instant noodles could be considered gourmet food.

Although he was mentally prepared, Mobius did not expect that the loss of his senses would have such a significant impact on Lin's cooking.

"Anyway, what you used to cook wasn't that good, and it's about the same now." Mobius put his hands under the table, clutching his stomach. "Remember, I'll come to see you every day, so remember to prepare the meal for me in advance, just like before."

"...good."

"And one more thing," Mobius hesitated for half a second, but still said, "I'll go with you to Sakura's house."

"...What?"

"Didn't you invite me? I happen to have some things I need to do outside of Moth of Flames, so I'll use this as an excuse to go out." After thinking for a moment, Mobius looked at Lin with a cold smile. "Just consider it as me using you to leave headquarters."

"But I already..."

"I told you to go, so go, understand?" Mobius ruthlessly interrupted Lin's rebuttal. "I've granted you the privilege of leaving headquarters. You can go out if you want, of course, for the sake of convenience later... but you can also go wherever you want to relax and be a good-for-nothing."

"..."

"Do you understand? You can go out, as long as you notify me in advance... This is for my own convenience."

She emphasized it again and again.

Elysia stood in a corner of the ball that was being set up. Unlike the lively atmosphere, she, who always loved excitement, was unusually not wearing an evening gown, preparing to make more good friends at the ball.

She was simply wearing her uniform, standing quietly in the shadows.

"Eri ...you look like you have a lot on your mind, this isn't like you."

"My dear Eden, can't I have some feelings? Am I so dull in your eyes?"

Elysia turned her head and saw Eden, dressed in a dark red dress, walking gracefully to her side.

After the Seventh Honkai Eruption, Eden, as a survivor of the Seventh Honkai Eruption, was taken in by the Fire Moth. She also met Elysia. Unlike Lin, Eden was moved by Elysia so quickly that it seemed like they were born to be best friends. They soon became close friends who could talk about anything.

Now, Eden, as a special guest, will sing a song for the warriors of the Firemoth at the ball, which is why she is here in a formal dress.

"No, it's just that you often say things directly, instead of like this..." Eden came to Elysia's side and watched the hall being decorated with her.

It was truly beautiful—crystal decorations, pure white irises, silk ribbons... It was as if they had crammed all the most beautiful decorations they could think of into this ball, wanting to make it even grander than ever before.

"You're right, I should speak up about what I'm thinking." Elysia's unique smile appeared on her face as she took Eden's arm. "Actually, I was thinking... whether I should go find Lin and Kevin."

Why not go?

Eden had already heard Elysia tell him about her relationship with Lin, from their subtle acquaintance to their later emotional connection, and the many heart-to-heart talks between Elysia and Lin. Eden had heard every word.

These two people are like different facets of the same person—similar yet completely different.

"... Eden, did you know? There are two gyms in headquarters. At first, almost no one went to the second gym because of its remote location and the presence of a loner there."

Elysia gradually stopped smiling.

"At that time, the Second Gym was simply unnoticed. Its existence was solely for the service of one person, but that was not the original hope when the gym was built."

"But now, people know about the Second Gym through another person, and still no one goes there, because there is someone there, but he is not antisocial, but he can no longer integrate into the group."

"The gym hasn't changed. It's still the same equipment and the same space. The only thing that has changed is the people who use it. But it has been in the same situation at different times for different reasons."

The first person to not fit in was Lin. Because of his presence and the fact that few people knew about the Second Gym, the Second Gym was left unused.

The second person who couldn't fit in was Kevin. Because of his existence, the Second Gym became well-known. It was the gym used by heroes, but because of him, who exuded a chilling aura, no one in the Second Gym approached him.

"Eri... do you pity them?"

"... Pity? I don't know, but what they are enduring is perhaps something that this ball can't alleviate."

Elysia put away her worries, her eyes sparkling, and turned to smile, saying, "Eden, I'm really looking forward to your performance!"

"Looking forward to it..." Eden shook his head helplessly.

Elysia could not comprehend the pain those two people endured.

Which is more painful: losing a loved one or being unable to embrace a loved one?

Perhaps it's impossible to compare them, because Kevin and Lin wouldn't compare the two things.

So Elysia made a decision.

She always makes decisions quickly, and this time was no exception.

"I just got in without really knowing what was going on..."

Pardo stood trembling in the corridor, already dressed in the Fire Moth uniform. She was a little confused as to why everyone was walking around so cheerfully. Had something good happened?

Her journey here was fraught with difficulties, and what's bizarre is that... she joined the Fire Moth through legitimate channels.

"By the way, Brother Lin... where could Brother Lin be?"

Chapter 107 Infiltration

Pardo cautiously peeked out from around the corner; she was genuinely confused about the current situation.

After following that person away from Dusk Street, she followed them all the way to a place that looked like a research institution. She assumed Lin was there, so she sneaked inside.

She searched everywhere but couldn't find Lin. Then she noticed a lot of people queuing up in one place, not knowing what they were doing. Just as she walked over, someone in front of her walked out, and she was pulled into the queue without realizing it.

Pardo was terrified, thinking she had been discovered. However, after going inside, she was asked to take some tests. After excelling in several tests, she passed and entered the interview stage.

She was stopped by four menacing-looking examiners who asked her why she wanted to join the Fire Moth.

Pardo dared not admit that she had sneaked in; she simply said that she had joined to find someone.

The examiner then asked who he was looking for.

Pardo thought for a moment and said she would look for Lin.

Unsure of Lin's image in the eyes of these people, Pardo noticed a subtle change in their expressions. Finally, she told her that she had successfully joined the Fire Moth and would be assigned to headquarters, then gave her her uniform and badge.

But before she could board the transport plane, an accident occurred, and the place suddenly became busy, with no time to pay attention to these newcomers or anything about the Seventh Honkai Eruption...

Due to various factors, she lived in that branch until the end of the Seventh Honkai Eruption before being sent to headquarters.

Once inside, no one told her what to do, and she wandered around in the bustling atmosphere like a nobody.

However, Pardo also enjoys lively places; at least she can always find something to gain when there's a bustling area on Dusk Street.

"Brother Lin... you're here, right?"

To be honest, Pardo regretted being forced into the job at first. She was living comfortably in her own home, but she insisted on going to find Lin, who was somewhere between crazy and half-crazy. She was just like a cat blinded by dried fish.

But now she doesn't think that way anymore.

During the days she stayed at the branch, she ate in the canteen every day, from morning till night, and no one bothered her. Although the place where she slept wasn't as big as the house, it was big enough for two of them to roll around in.

Even though Pardo had never come out of that secluded corner of Dusk Street, she could still clearly see that the organization called the Fire Moth probably possessed far more power than the entire Dusk Street.

As the saying goes, it's good to have a big tree to lean on for shade, Pardo immediately thought that she might as well just be a parasite in the Fire-Chasing Moths...

On the other hand, what exactly are these people doing?

Pardo watched as people passed by, each carrying a decoration. She only ever saw these things at the sanatorium on Dusk Street during Christmas, but compared to the extravagant displays of the Moths of Fire, the sanatorium's decorations seemed rather shabby and stingy.

Of course, her first thought was that the nursing home would also distribute some food to those who couldn't get enough to eat at that time.

So, filled with anticipation for the delicious food and her mouth watering, she secretly followed someone and slipped into the venue where the ball was being held.

"This is... I'm exhausted."

As soon as Mobius entered the laboratory, he plopped down in a chair, brushed the hair from his forehead, and let out a heavy sigh.

"...Um, Doctor." Klein saw Mobius unceremoniously pick up her water glass and take a big gulp. Her fingers moved off the keyboard, intertwining in confusion. "What did you do outside at noon?"

Mobius left home at noon and only just returned. As soon as he got back, he complained of being exhausted, as if he had done some heavy physical labor.

However, Mobius's physical strength is indeed not very good. She is the type who needs to rest after walking a few miles. Only experiments can keep her energetic for several hours or even several days without rest.

"... Are you curious?"

After drinking a full glass of water, Mobius finally managed to suppress the awful taste in her mouth. She put down the glass, her blue eyes glancing lightly at the conflicted look on Klein's face, her lips curving into an exaggerated smile.

"Not really..."

"Oh? You'd better think carefully before you speak, Klein."

"..."

Seeing Klein's dilemma of not knowing whether to speak or not, Mobius's gloomy mood vanished instantly.

"Just like you think, I went to see that guy." In a good mood, Mobius naturally wouldn't leave it a mystery; she yawned and said, "Then I had a meal and did some things..."

"How is Mr. Lin...?"

"..."

Mobius silently touched his fingers and said coldly, "Who knows... Whether it's good or bad, only he can judge."

"..."

"Aren't you going to invite me in, Lin?"

Lin suspected that these people had planned to come to him one after another. Not long after he saw Mobius off, Eden, dressed in a formal suit, knocked on his door.

He stepped aside, without saying a word, but that was pretty much a gesture of invitation.

Eden smiled politely at Lin Yi and walked into his room, her long dress trailing behind her.

"Was someone just here? Did I disturb you?"

Eden immediately noticed one or two strands of bright green hair beside Lin's bed and table. They were clearly women's hair. She turned and looked at Lin, who had closed the door, but he silently shook his head, whether to deny that someone had been there or that he had disturbed them.

"..."

"..."

After they were both seated, Lin ignored Eden and began to practice his hand control again. More and more obscene words appeared on the paper, but his expression did not soften at all.