Loneliness and Companionship / The Traitor Project

"Tsk, how shameful it is to be in heat." Mobius smacked his lips, then said to Lin, "In the end, the world of consciousness collapsed for unknown reasons, and your consciousnesses were forcibly sent back to your own bodies."

A crash?

No, even if Lin didn't have that memory, he was certain that he had "seen" something.

Even now, his hands are trembling instinctively.

Why are all the problems he encounters related to consciousness?

"However, the data has been collected, making it quite an interesting experiment."

"What kind of experiment is this?"

Without a word, he and Sakura were sent into the world of consciousness. He didn't mind participating in the experiment, but that didn't mean he wouldn't care.

"Go find Mei. She's the one who came up with the idea. We two are just employees." For some reason, Mobius wasn't in a good mood. She coldly pointed to the door. "Now we need to organize the data. Goodbye."

Lin was kicked out in a daze. He stood at the door for a moment, pondered, then went downstairs to observe the villa before heading towards a room.

"Knock knock".

A few seconds after he knocked on a door, the door opened.

"I know you have a lot of questions. As compensation for being a volunteer in this experiment, feel free to ask."

Mei handed over a cup of black coffee, then sat down in the beanbag chair, looking at Lin sitting at the table with unusual languor.

What is the experimental project?

"The experiment on ideological modification and enhancement, referred to as the AR experiment, mainly attempts to modify consciousness through the powers of the Eighth Herrscher. This experiment involves multiple projects, and thanks to the special nature of the Eighth Herrscher this time, we can conduct the experiment to a certain extent by utilizing the Herrscher's abilities."

In fact, the Eighth Herrscher was also brought to this island, where she was constantly injected with large amounts of stabilizers to prevent her from waking up.

"Actually, it was you, Lin, who inspired me. You, Vill-V, and Mobius all discussed the possibility of consciousness modification."

"..."

That's right, Lin had already thought of modifying consciousness to carry out a plan back then, and now Mei has turned that idea into reality.

"Why me and Sakura?"

"You were recommended by Elysia, and your consciousness is also extremely special. We all agree that adding special data to the experiment will increase the success rate." Mei took a sip of coffee, stirred the thick, dark liquid with a spoon, and stared at the reflection in it. "As for Sakura... you've probably already guessed it, there's something wrong with her consciousness."

Lin wasn't too surprised when he heard this; just like Mei had said, he had already guessed it.

The entity that consciousness world is probably Sakura herself.

"During her last mission, she investigated an extremist organization called the 'Humanity Salvation Society.' After returning to base, her consciousness was contaminated in the same way as the Eighth Herrscher's contaminated video."

"However, she did not fall into a deep sleep, but she did exhibit some extreme emotional fluctuations. After consideration, we decided to conduct this experiment on her to cure her consciousness pollution."

In this world of consciousness, Little Red Riding Hood's existence is extremely special. She is a combination of "Hunter", "Wolf" and "Little Red Riding Hood". This multifaceted and contradictory existence is actually a true reflection of Sakura's self, one side is conflicted, and the other side is cold.

However, compared to the others, Lin was more concerned about the process by which Sakura was contaminated. "Humanity Salvation Society?"

"An organization that claims humanity has committed unforgivable sins that have brought divine punishment, and that they will save humanity, sounds like a story similar to some kind of religion. However, the organization's internal doctrines mention the Moth of Fire, and the organization itself is an extreme criminal organization. In addition, the leader's almost brainwashing proselytizing methods make it extremely dangerous, so Sakura was sent to eliminate it."

"Humans exist in groups. During my studies abroad, I have seen countless groups, including the moths that chase fire, which are also a group organization. So, by starting with their mode of existence, I should be able to understand humans the fastest."

A synthesized mechanical voice echoed in his mind, and the dangerous aura emanating from the Artificial Lifeform holding an umbrella in the rain was far more intense than that of an ordinary person.

"Anything else you want to ask? If not, you can enjoy the rest of your vacation. Of course, if possible, I hope you won't mess around with those girls in the villa, since the soundproofing isn't very good, especially with Vill-V and A..."

"... Can the consciousness of Herrscher also be modified?"

Lin's question abruptly brought the pleasant conversation to a freezing point.

Mei took a sip of coffee and quietly closed her eyes.

"... Lin, some things cannot be said like this."

Chapter 159 Loneliness and Companionship

Sakura sat in the afterglow of the setting sun. The sunset she saw on the beach in reality felt completely different from the sunset in her conscious world. She let the waves lap at her ankles, and listened to a series of unique songs in her headphones.

She didn't remember what exactly happened; she just closed her eyes and opened them again, only to find herself awake in reality. Vill-V clapped her hands and congratulated her on the removal of the consciousness contamination.

But at that time, she must have met someone.

The feeling was strange and indescribable, but she was certain that she had seen someone at the time, and that person was the culprit who caused them to leave the world of consciousness without completing the game.

"Who--"

Lin suddenly turned around, and a slender arm wrapped in bandages tore through space and appeared in front of him. The familiar shape made his pupils contract.

Sakura also sensed a terrifying sense of danger from that hand. She immediately drew her sword and slashed at the arm, but the hand opened its five fingers, and a golden chain shot out from the tear she had made, deflecting her sword.

What speed!

Sakura was the fastest among the Fire Moths, but she couldn't react to the chain at all.

No, it's not that the opponent is faster, it's that my speed has slowed down!

From the moment that chain appeared, the Honkai Energy she could normally mobilize suddenly stopped within her body, causing her movements to become much slower than usual.

"This was just preparation." Prismatic Eyes, representing some kind of Herrscher ability, emerged from the crack, and several chains emerged from her body, binding Lin's hands and feet. "Prove to me your ridiculous ideals."

Her bandaged hand transformed into a blade, piercing Lin's body with a single strike. Immediately afterward, her Prismatic Eyes blazed intensely, and she injected something into Lin's body.

"..." She paused, because Lin's consciousness seemed to be...

"Whoosh!" The sound of wind breaking through the air came.

Without turning her head, she directed the chains to entangle the descending blade, then swiftly turned and punched Sakura in the stomach, sending her flying.

"Consciousness contamination?" She frowned as she watched the cherry blossom fly away.

"Splash."

The weather on the island is unpredictable, something Sakura learned from the world of consciousness, and it was indeed true; a heavy rain suddenly poured down on her head without warning.

However, Sakura did not return to the villa. She sat there, thinking about what had happened in the past few days in the world of consciousness.

Is it special? Not really.

Is it not special? Impossible.

She couldn't quite describe how she felt; she breathed a sigh of relief... but new worries arose.

Perhaps people from the Far East are just naturally sentimental, and she is perhaps the most outstanding among them.

Sakura sighed softly.

Aren't you going to find shelter from the rain?

A man standing not far behind her under a coconut tree asked.

With his eyes closed, Su reached out and caught the falling raindrops. As if contemplating something, he calmly said to Ying, "Let's go back."

"... I'm sorry, please let me stay here to calm down."

"If you don't mind, I can act as a confidant."

"..."

Sakura wasn't familiar with the others, and she was even less familiar with Su, but it was precisely this unfamiliarity that made Sakura want to confide in someone.

"Su, where should life go?"

"... Sorry, this topic is too broad for me to answer," Su replied expressionlessly.

He hadn't expected that her first words would leave him speechless. Was she really thinking about something so serious and grand?

Can he answer that he's going to the dock to make fries?

"Oh, sorry, I misspoke." Sakura shook her head somewhat awkwardly. "I was just thinking that everyone advocates for the equality of life, but when it comes to actually comparing them, it is often possible to determine which life is more valuable."

"... like other animals and humans?"

"Well, it's not just that."

After all, there is absolutely no equality between humans.

"When we keep taking away other lives, we are constantly denying the equality of life. But some people tell me that taking away lives is for the sake of other lives to live better, and that inequality is for the sake of equality."

Contradiction.

From her ideals and missions to her identity, Sakura is filled with contradictions.

"More valuable... life..." Su murmured.

"..."

"My teacher told me about his experience. When he lost his arm, Doctor Mei actually made a choice between him and his daughter." Sue recounted what Spasi had told her in a calm tone, and Sakura looked at him. "Doctor Spacy chose his daughter without hesitation, but his daughter was unconscious and unable to make a choice, so according to his wishes, his daughter should have been treated."

"But Doctor Mei chose Doctor Spacy and abandoned his daughter because... his life was worth far more than his daughter's."

"So Doctor Spacy watched his daughter die, and he said he had never hated himself so much at that time."

"But later, Doctor Spacy used his research to save many people and developed the Honkai Sickness Serum. Doctor Mei did make the right choice."

Therefore, life also has value. When a scale is placed between the life of someone who can save humanity and the life of an ordinary person, the fair scale will tip towards an unfair result.

"But my teacher told me that humans are just repeating an unequal selection process. This time they select people who are valuable, and next time they select people who are even more valuable, and so on, until the 'most valuable' people live in a lonely world and there is no one else."

"So, if you're afraid of being alone in an unequal selection process, stop for a while and find someone to rely on."

Su said something meaningful, and then he walked back with a coconut in his arms.

Meanwhile, another person had already arrived behind Sakura.

"... Aren't you going back?"

The man wearing sunglasses asked, standing in the rain.

"I want... some peace and quiet," Sakura said again.

"I see."

Lin nodded, and then... he sat down as well.

The two sat silently side by side on the shore, where the waves crashed one after another, getting soaked in the heavy rain and gazing at the horizon.

Sakura went from being completely bewildered and surprised to becoming calm.

That's right, Lin is that kind of person, seemingly distant yet always drawing people closer.

After a very long time, long enough that even the rain had stopped, Lin stood up and wiped the rain off his face.

"Sakura, it is a blessing to be alive as a human being in this world. We can always think about why we live and how we should live."

"When you feel lost, come to me. I won't give you the answers, but we can probably feel lost together."

Chapter 160 The Betrayer Plan

"You humans are really interesting, researching Honkai, learning about Honkai, using Honkai... creating monsters that combine Honkai Beast and humans..."

In the dark and gloomy basement, a "person" had just woken up from a dose of stabilizer powerful enough to knock out an elephant. She was imprisoned in a container isolated from Honkai Energy, bound by a straitjacket for mental patients, and weakly smiled as she looked at the person who had entered the basement.

"Now they're even targeting the Herrscher and the Herrscher Core. Don't you know what it means to know when to stop?"

Ignoring the Eighth Herrscher's incessant chatter, Mobius walked to the table, picked up a syringe so large it was frightening, and approached the Eighth Herrscher.

"Humans are a learning race. From the first monkey-man to use a club, humanity has never stopped learning." Mobius plunged the syringe into the Eighth Herrscher's neck, automatically injecting an excessive amount of stabilizer into her body. "The Honkai is only a temporary problem. Humanity has faced many crises throughout its history. One day, humanity will transcend the Honkai and reach even greater heights, or to put it more bluntly..."

Mobius sneered at the Eighth Herrscher: "You are nothing but a stepping stone for humanity."

"Is that so..." A sinister smile crept across the Eighth Herrscher's drowsy face. "Then we'll see... when your most trusted person... becomes..."

"What?" Mobius didn't hear what she said next. The Eighth Herrscher had already fainted. Mobius frowned and pulled out the syringe.

The person you trust most becomes...

"Lin, you're starting to act mysterious now."

Spasi sat in his private office staring at the storage device in his hand. After a while, he disconnected the intranet, locked the room, and then plugged the storage device into the computer.

What was retrieved were two videos, one of which was only a few seconds long and had a "Do Not Watch" label in the title.

Since that's the case, Spasi clicked on another video first. The first thing that appeared was Lin wearing a helmet. After adjusting the recording equipment, he stood in front of the camera and said the first thing...