Helmet, Return to Position / Easy Work

"Is that so? Then congratulations on getting in touch with Mobius." Sigma jabbed sarcastically. Mobius was famous to everyone, though not for anything good.

Lin did not respond to him and asked, "Is there anything else?"

"Yes."

"Speak."

The gloom on Sigma's face eased somewhat. He stared at Lin's expressionless face, let out a breath, and said, "What happened last night... I was too impulsive."

"..." It was an unexpected development, but Lin showed no reaction. He merely folded his arms and coldly waited for Sigma to continue.

Sigma had also heard of Lin's indifference. He withdrew the foot blocking Lin's path and said, "Rumors about you started spreading everywhere months ago, including your combat record, character, and the weapons and equipment you use."

Lin knew that as well. Elysia had come looking for him in the first place because of those rumors.

But Sigma was the first person to develop such intense hostility toward him over rumors.

"I haven't crossed paths with you much, so my impression of you was limited to the image built from those rumors. That led to some misunderstandings."

Sigma paused there and studied Lin's reaction. Seeing that he still looked as though it was impossible to tell whether he had listened, Sigma continued, "There were also some minor frictions between Delta and me, which deepened the misunderstanding. After I went back yesterday, I reviewed your combat records."

"Honestly, your overall combat approach was remarkable. You definitely weren't someone who achieved outstanding results solely by relying on your equipment's performance."

"..."

The compliment had come rather suddenly. Yesterday, this man had been verbally attacking him; today, he was praising Lin's personal strength. Unless Sigma was truly broad-minded, most people would not be able to swallow their pride like this.

Lin shook his head. "It was nothing. In that situation, plenty of people could have done better than I did."

"Perhaps. But you were the one who was there. There's no question about that."

Sigma extended his hand and nodded to Lin. "In any case, I don't expect you to forgive me, but I hope we can get acquainted again. I'm MSA-066, Sigma of Combat Command."

"You don't need my forgiveness." Lin decided to give him this courtesy after all. He reached out and shook his hand. "MSA-079, Soldier Lin."

"You still have things to do, so I won't disturb you any longer. Goodbye."

Lin nodded in response, walked around Sigma, and continued forward.

"..."

The tall man narrowed his eyes as he watched Lin's retreating back.

Recovered? His aura was still weak, his steps unsteady, and there was no strength in his handshake. He was probably only barely able to walk.

At a time like this, even if someone fired at him from the front, he would not be able to dodge.

And if it came from behind...

Without a sound, Sigma drew a pistol from inside his collar and slowly aimed it at the back of Lin's head.

Lin walked onward without noticing anything, completely unaware that behind him, a gun barrel glinting coldly was aimed at his head.

All it would take was pulling the trigger to easily kill this unguarded man.

Should he carry out the order here?

Lin walked farther and farther away, nearly reaching the corner.

His finger began to tighten, and the trigger started to give way beneath it.

The cold gleam in Sigma's eyes, along with the anger he had concealed, began to fill his gaze. His finger pressed harder and harder, while the hand gripping the pistol turned white.

"Tch..."

He put away the gun, turned around, and hurried off in the opposite direction.

Lin stopped at the corner, discreetly glanced at Sigma's departing back, then withdrew his gaze as though nothing had happened.

Helmet, Back in Place

Physiological characteristics confirmed

With his head back inside the cramped little space, the air purifier silently released clean oxygen. Operating terms appeared on the familiar display screen, bringing the world of information back into view.

Lin intended to use visual controls to restore the system parameters to their previous state when a line of text appeared in the upper-right corner of the display.

Welcome, Lin

"..." Lin frowned slightly and looked at Delta in front of him. The other man wore a smile with an unclear meaning, his expression plainly saying, "Figure it out yourself."

Lin asked evenly, "Who are you?"

Without any delay, another line of text appeared in the upper-right corner.

I am the Artificial Intelligence created by Doctor Mei to assist soldiers. You may call me Prometheus Unit 1.

Created by Mei?

The new system added to his helmet caught Lin off guard. He inexplicably felt as though his private space had been invaded.

"I don't need an assistance system." Lin straightforwardly wanted to remove the Artificial Intelligence. He had no interest in putting another person in his helmet who might interfere with him in combat.

At the end of the day, he did not need two-person combat.

I am currently incomplete and can provide only limited assistance. Most Fire Moth combat records are inaccessible to me, so Doctor Mei installed me in your system to learn from your combat data in real time and receive your feedback for improvements.

Learn...

Lin, who had originally been firm in his stance, hesitated for a moment.

He himself had no need for an assistance system. Having one or not was like an automatic transmission versus a manual transmission. There were first-rate automatics and first-rate manuals. Lin could perform more precise operations without using an automatic transmission, whereas using one would actually be less convenient.

But most people were only second-rate manual drivers. With the support of an automatic transmission, their driving skills could improve. They might not achieve Lin's level of fine control, but entering the first rank would be more than enough.

In other words, it would raise the average standard.

If the average standard rose with an assistance system, then the casualty rate would fall as well.

That was consistent with Lin's original purpose in providing the concepts for Titan construction.

It had to be said that Mei understood him even better than Lin had imagined. Prometheus might not have said that because Mei deliberately programmed it in, but Mei had definitely adjusted Prometheus's system based on Lin's likely reaction, allowing it to strike directly at what Lin cared about with a single sentence.

After considering it for a while, Lin slowly nodded. Then he realized Prometheus probably could not see him nodding, so he said, "Fine. I'll grant you access to the system, but don't interfere with my judgment unless I actively use your assistance system."

Understood.

"How is it? Isn't it amazing to feel like there's someone else in your head?" Delta cheerfully looked at Lin, who had put his helmet back on. To him, this version of Lin was the most familiar.

Lin shook his head and said blandly, "It's just an AI."

"It's not just an AI. When Doctor Mei wrote Prometheus's program, she explicitly gave her a female setting, so she can be considered a girl."

"Unnecessary."

Giving an AI a gender, Lin did not understand the point. Had Mei considered that he might be lonely by himself and wanted to give him company?

"As expected, soldiers think differently from people like us. Artificial Intelligence is called Artificial Intelligence because it can simulate, develop, and extend human intelligence. The more complete an Artificial Intelligence is, the closer it becomes to humans. Its performance can then surpass humans, allowing it to do what humans can and cannot do."

As Delta spoke, he looked again at the Titan being assembled in the distance. He let out a breath and said softly, "Besides, the mental link needed for Titans to reach the level you envisioned puts too much strain on people. AI can take on most of that burden."

But how was that any different from an AI-controlled Autonomous Titan? It even raised the requirements for the pilot.

"...Was the Autonomous Titan a mistake?" Lin stared at the Titan, half of whose inner structure was still exposed.

"How could it be? I've dreamed of making something like that since I was young." Delta casually draped an arm over Lin's shoulder and snorted with a laugh. "It's just a pity that I won't be the one driving it."

"Don't you want to try?" Lin caught the self-mockery on his face and asked in return.

"Forget it. I'd die. I don't want my brain getting fried. I'm going to keep making equipment for you until the Honkai disappears." Delta yawned, obvious exhaustion on his face. Then he hunched his shoulders and showed an expectant expression.

"Disasters, monsters, the apocalypse, and then giant robots fighting against them. Isn't that what we look forward to—the moment a hero appears in heroic stories? When monsters attack a city and a Titan descends from the sky like a divine intervention, that is probably humanity's greatest form of romance."

Lin was rather surprised that Delta could say something like that, but it also seemed only natural. Most engineering types were similar to Mei, lacking emotional thinking. Delta alone was often driven by emotion, yet he had still become the Head of Research and Development. That was also thanks to his overflowing talent.

"Ah, I can't take it anymore. I should go rest too. Lin, just tell my assistant if you need anything. Though with your current condition, it doesn't look like you can equip much anyway. Just carry something to make do with it. You're only going to a branch, after all."

Delta groggily held his head and tugged at it several times. Too sleepy to bear it, he said goodbye to Lin, then plunged headfirst into a chair and fell asleep with his mouth open.

Being able to fall asleep instantly in such a noisy environment, he really was overworked.

Lin shook his head and called over Delta's assistant, telling him to get Delta a blanket or carry him back to his room to sleep.

"That won't work. The Head said he has an important discussion meeting in two hours and told me not to take him back to his room. It's too troublesome."

"..."

Lin looked deeply at the sleeping Delta. He said nothing and turned to leave.

They did not need excessive words. They had long understood each other's choices, and it was not for anyone else to judge them.

"MSA-278, Immer, reporting. Effective today, I have been assigned to Squad Seven. Please issue your orders, sir."

The uniformed man handed over his Fire Moth badge and gave the helmeted man before him a standard military salute. His expression was meticulous and serious, showing no sign that he was merely a recruit.

Lin accepted the badge and inspected it. After the Second Honkai War, Fire Moth badges no longer bore identification numbers. They had been replaced with a standardized design and served only as proof of identity. The one before him was no exception.

The badge was made of a special material, so its authenticity could be determined just by its feel.

Lin returned the badge to Immer. Immer respectfully accepted it and placed it back in his pocket.

Hua stood to the side as well, observing her new companion. He was her second teammate and the comrade who would one day entrust his back to her.

Although Immer was the last of the three to join the squad, he was actually the oldest. Yet he showed no disdain toward his superior or Hua because of his age, which was better than most recruits.

Lin focused his gaze on Immer's face and said, "Squad Seven has no mission for now. Tomorrow, I will accompany Doctor Mei to the Fifth Science Department for a month-long protection assignment. You two will remain at headquarters and train and coordinate with Squad Five's captain, Himiko."

"A protection assignment?"

"Is there a problem?" Lin looked toward Hua, who had spoken.

Hua realized her slip and stood at attention. "No, sir."

"Sir, are there any additional instructions?" Immer asked.

"No."

Lin did not know that Immer had voluntarily requested assignment to Squad Seven. Most recruits did not want to join Squad Seven. It was a new squad, and its captain was a lieutenant whose seniority exceeded theirs by only half a year. Rumors of his coldness and brutality were everywhere, and everyone prayed they would not be assigned to Squad Seven.

Only after learning that Lin was Squad Seven's captain did Immer apply for the assignment.

As for why, only he himself knew.

Easy Work

The transport aircraft was much slower and steadier than usual, likely because Mei's physical condition was far worse than that of ordinary soldiers.

After reaching the designated altitude, the transport aircraft activated its optical camouflage. From the outside, it became completely invisible as it cut through the air toward the branch.

Lin shut off his helmet display's outside view, activated soundproofing, and brought up the novel he had not finished last time to continue reading, completely adopting an attitude of ignoring everything outside.

And the reason he did so was...

"Lin, what does it feel like to wear that helmet? Does it look really futuristic from the inside? Mei said there's an Artificial Intelligence inside now. Can you talk to it?"

At headquarters, the white-haired youth gave people the impression that he was Mei's attendant. He was not particularly silent, but he spent most of his time at Mei's side with a cold expression, so most people had no concept of how sunny and cheerful he was.

Whenever Lin, Mei, and Kevin were all together, the habits he had retained since before joining Fire Moth became completely exposed.

Annoyed beyond endurance, Lin isolated himself inside his helmet. It was not that he found Kevin especially irritating, but Lin had already developed the habit of never saying anything unnecessary that could leak information in unfamiliar environments or while working.

The order to protect Mei was far too broad. From the moment he stepped out of headquarters, his work had already begun.

Though both Mei and Lin knew perfectly well what the High Council's order truly meant, Lin still would not relax his principles.

Lin, Private Kevin requests communication. Disable soundproofing?

This time, Lin had activated Prometheus's assistance system, intending to test her performance and lay the groundwork for the future.

"No." Lin absorbed the novel's plot at a rate of ten lines per second.

One reason he still read novels was, to some extent, to broaden his imagination. Many battles relied on imagination to accomplish seemingly unbelievable actions and raise the upper limits of one's abilities.

Of course, he had no intention of trying plots that were obviously fabricated at a glance.

Lin, Doctor Mei requests communication. Disable soundproofing?

"..." Lin fell silent upon seeing that line.

He strongly suspected that if he refused to disable it now, Mei would activate the backdoor system installed in Prometheus.

"Disable it."