"Everyone, imagine this: if we could successfully bring Moros into Moth to Fire, what kind of impact would that have on the power in our hands..."
Councillor Vincent's words came to an abrupt halt, but the councillors in the chamber were all intelligent people and quickly grasped his unspoken meaning.
If they could bring Moros into Moth to Fire, it would greatly strengthen the organization's power and influence, substantially elevating the status and authority of councillors like them.
"That's not a bad suggestion."
Councillor Eugene highly approved of the idea, though he still pointed out the core issue hidden behind the proposal.
"But the crucial question is, who would be willing and able to represent Moth to Fire in making contact with Moros?"
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the chamber instantly became tense.
Based on Moros's past behavior and personality traits, Moth to Fire's behavioral and psychological experts had already compiled a detailed profile on him.
The report revealed Moros's vindictive nature. The strongest Collapse Energy adapter on record would exact cruel revenge for any offense or attack.
The councillors of the Moth to Fire Council naturally had not forgotten that they had once ordered the nuclear attack submarine California to attempt to sink the large ocean liner Moros had been aboard—the Ocean Miracle.
That action had seemed perfectly reasonable at the time, but now it could very well lead Moros, still nursing a grudge, to take the opportunity to retaliate against the envoy.
The councillors seated in the chamber were all privileged children born into wealth and status.
They enjoyed lofty positions and luxurious lives, and had little interest in risking themselves for Moth to Fire.
Thus, after a round of hushed discussion, the councillors of the Moth to Fire Council began finding all sorts of excuses to shirk this dangerous task.
"Everyone knows I've never been good at handling diplomatic affairs. Don't count on me at a time like this..."
"My expertise is financial management. I have no experience in this area..."
"Cough, cough. I seem to have caught a cold. Before I recover, I'm not suitable to serve as an envoy..."
"..."
Listening to the councillors' increasingly outrageous excuses, Councillor Eugene could not help but frown.
But he also knew that the councillors present were roughly equal in status, and he had no way to force anyone to take on a particular assignment.
Therefore, after glaring at the councillors present, Councillor Eugene turned his gaze toward the proposer of the plan—Councillor Vincent.
"Councillor Eugene, we all know that Moros possesses special means of gathering information. For Moth to Fire's sake, none of us are suitable to serve as the envoy for this contact."
After noticing everyone's attention focusing on him, Councillor Vincent swiftly adjusted his strategy and gave an answer that neither offended anyone nor temporarily eased the tense atmosphere.
Although Councillor Eugene found Councillor Vincent's excuse reasonable, he was still unwilling to let him off so easily.
So, he fixed his gaze on Councillor Vincent's eyes and pressed on in a firm, serious tone.
"Then tell me, Councillor Vincent. Who would be suitable to serve as our envoy?"
"Us councillors definitely won't do, but the agents won't do either. Their status is too low..."
While laughing it off, Councillor Vincent rapidly reviewed potential candidates in his mind.
Seeing every councillor's gaze converging on him, Councillor Vincent knew he could not muddle through this.
"Perhaps we can launch a comprehensive internal investigation within Moth to Fire and seek out members willing to risk themselves for the greater good."
Though still somewhat dissatisfied, Councillor Eugene knew he could not push him any further.
After all, Councillor Vincent had already put forward a plan.
Even if that plan looked like nothing more than an attempt to shirk responsibility, he could not directly deny its feasibility before it had been carried out.
"Very well, Councillor Vincent. We'll do as you say."
Withdrawing his stare from Councillor Vincent, Councillor Eugene continued.
"However, even so, we still need to prepare for both possibilities..."
First Research Institute, subordinate to Moth to Fire.
"Klein! This is an opportunity!"
Looking at the announcement that had appeared on her smartphone, Mobius's lips gradually curled into a meaningful smile.
"Doctor, don't tell me you intend to become the envoy for this mission?"
As the one who understood Mobius best, Klein naturally knew what her doctor meant.
Mobius smiled and nodded. She turned to Klein, anticipation gleaming in her eyes.
"Klein! You won't object, will you?"
Klein's dark circles were extremely obvious, difficult to conceal even with makeup.
Years of living on instant noodles and cured foods had left her complexion pale, while her light green hair looked messy and dry.
Even so, her eyes still revealed her concern for Mobius.
Klein knew that once the doctor made up her mind, it was difficult to change it.
So she tried persuading her another way.
"But, Doctor, would they really allow you to come into contact with someone so dangerous?"
"That is a problem, but I can solve it."
PS: Mass release 5/6
Chapter 79: The Serpent and Moth to Fire's Separate Actions
Just as Klein had tried to persuade her, the Moth to Fire Council rejected Mobius's application without hesitation.
For ordinary matters, the councillors of the Moth to Fire Council would not mind giving the organization's finest researcher some consideration.
But after discovering that Moros possessed special means of obtaining information, so long as the councillors of the Moth to Fire Council had any sense at all, they could never allow something that might result in a massive leak of Moth to Fire's secrets.
As one of Moth to Fire's earliest members, even though Mobius did not possess much political power, she knew far too many of Moth to Fire's secrets.
It was precisely because Mobius herself was immensely valuable and held the prestigious status of a Moth to Fire elder that the council's attitude toward her was not harsher than merely rejecting her application.
After all, with Mobius's intelligence, there was no way she did not know how much risk her actions would bring to Moth to Fire.
However, the councillors of the Moth to Fire Council clearly still did not understand Mobius well enough.
If Mobius would change her mind merely because the Moth to Fire Council had rejected her, then she would not be Mobius.
"Doctor, is this really going to be alright?"
On a transport plane flying toward the Far East, Klein watched the green-haired scientist beside her with deep concern.
"Klein, my calculations have never been wrong."
Mobius replied casually, appearing fully confident in her plan.
"That little white mouse will definitely appear at Eden's concert."
Though Mobius specialized in biology, her extraordinary intelligence and sharp insight were enough for her to discern the close connection between Moros and Eden from Moros's movements and the series of changes in Fuyuan City.
"Doctor!"
There was a hint of displeasure in Klein's voice.
Even though she had long grown accustomed to Mobius's willfulness, Klein could not accept her doctor's deliberate avoidance of the subject this time.
"Don't worry. Everything is under control."
Mobius answered calmly.
Of course, she understood the consequences her willful actions would bring this time.
If nothing else, simply violating the Moth to Fire Council's resolution would certainly result in cuts to the First Research Institute's research funding next term.
"Doctor! Even so, this is too—"
Before Klein could finish, Mobius interrupted her.
The doctor known as the "devil" within Moth to Fire leaned close to Klein's ear and spoke softly.
"I'm telling you, Klein..."
"W-what?"
"Humanity, as a form of existence, is weak and unstable. They are always swayed by emotion and cannot touch the truth even in death..."
Mobius's voice seemed to possess a kind of magic that made one involuntarily sink into it.
Feeling the warm breath against her ear, a hint of color appeared on Klein's pale face.
"The council's resolutions? They have no value whatsoever!"
Mobius's lips curved slightly, revealing a trace of disdain.
Her pink-to-green gradient eyes shimmered with contempt and scorn for the councillors of the Moth to Fire Council.
To this scientist pursuing infinity, those so-called resolutions were nothing but restraints and shackles, incapable of stopping her steps toward the truth.
"Klein will definitely understand me."
Mobius stared into Klein's eyes, trying to probe the thoughts buried deep within her heart.
"Right, Klein?"
"Sigh, I understand, Doctor. I'll support you."
With a sigh, Klein ultimately chose to support Mobius.
That was hardly surprising. As Mobius's most trusted assistant and the one who understood her, Klein would stand by her side no matter what decision Mobius made.
Their gazes met in midair. At that moment, time seemed to freeze into eternity.
When faced with Mobius's request to volunteer, the Moth to Fire Council would reject it without hesitation.
That was because the councillors understood the importance of the classified information Mobius possessed, and that her actions might expose Moth to Fire's secrets.
However, toward those "warriors" who lacked sufficient information but held a certain degree of status, the council displayed an entirely different attitude.
Not only would the councillors place no obstacles in their way, they would provide all kinds of assistance and support, even vigorously praising the self-sacrificing spirit of these "warriors."
That was easy enough to understand.
If a few simple words could attract a group of cannon fodder willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause of "justice," why would they not be happy to do so?
Thus, with the support of the Moth to Fire Council, these warriors who had voluntarily risked their lives to contact the reportedly difficult-to-deal-with "Collapse Energy adapter" boarded small transport planes and arrived in Fuyuan City in less than half a day.
With the support of the Mu Continent, Moth to Fire's intelligence system was still highly efficient.
Moreover, Moros had not deliberately concealed his whereabouts, allowing Moth to Fire to successfully track his movements after he recovered the Undead Legion from the Xinke City battlefield.
The moment they landed, these warriors received an enthusiastic welcome from Fuyuan City's government officials.
The level-five Dark Magic, Curse of the Underworld, cast by Moros had not only wiped out every Honkai Beast and zombie on the Xinke City battlefield, but had also ruthlessly exterminated every living thing within the spell's range, including the guards and researchers of the Xinke City Collapse Energy Research Institute.
Naturally, Fuyuan City's elites were extremely dissatisfied by this.
They could clearly see that if Moros had been willing, he could have used other methods to deal with the Honkai Beasts and zombies on the Xinke City battlefield without implicating the forces under their control.
Under such circumstances, Moth to Fire's visitors became the focus of Fuyuan City's elites.
They hoped to use Moth to Fire's power to pressure Moros into providing sufficient compensation for their losses in Xinke City.
With the help of the local power brokers, Moth to Fire's envoys arrived at the hotel where Moros was staying without any trouble.
However, what happened next left every person in power watching Moth to Fire's envoys through various means utterly stunned.
Without any warning, dozens of sharply dressed young men suddenly became vacant-eyed idiots, capable only of making meaningless "ah-ba, ah-ba" sounds.
Level-three Dark Magic: Mind Control!
As a Battle Spell Moros had mastered entirely through his own study, he could naturally adjust its effects.
Under Moros's control, the Mind Control cast upon Moth to Fire's envoys this time possessed unprecedented duration.
As for exactly how long this Battle Spell would last?
Put it this way: until the meteor of Finality descended, these envoys from Moth to Fire could forget about escaping their current state.
Of course, it would be another matter entirely if a Flame-Chaser Warrior with psychic perception abilities intervened.
"alt=Mobius/
PS: Mass release 6/6
Before you continue