The members I meant were naturally Dr. Mei and Dr. Mobius. Their versatility might not surpass Velvie's, but in certain specific fields, they were absolutely no less capable than her.
Velvie showed no fear at those words. If anything, she only hoped she could meet these geniuses who rivaled her sooner.
"I'm rather looking forward to seeing just how gifted these geniuses you mentioned really are. Don't let them end up being defeated by me in the fields they're best at."
Because she was Velvie, she had the confidence to say such words. Because she was Velvie, she believed she could do it.
"Then we'll wait and see. I look forward to your performance, Big V Teacher."
"So what exactly is this 'Big V Teacher' supposed to mean? I can understand if you call me V Teacher, but why add the word 'big'?"
Velvie had never been able to figure that out.
Chang Yuan naturally could not explain it outright. He could only sigh inwardly that Velvie still did not have a clear grasp of her own strength.
"It's just an affectionate way friends address each other. Don't worry about the details."
Chang Yuan waved his hand. He did not dare explain further, or Big V Teacher might beat him up the very next second.
Although he no longer feared most conventional firearms, who knew what strange contraptions Big V Teacher could produce? What if she had something that countered him?
After all, Big V Teacher always liked to keep something in reserve. For example, she had made some kind of anti-Kevin weapon just in case Kevin lost control, so she could put him in his place.
He had every reason to suspect that Velvie was already secretly researching anti-Chang Yuan equipment.
"Fine, I'll reluctantly accept that explanation. Now hurry up and leave. I need to return to Twilight Street. Come find me again once I'm ninety percent certain."
Velvie immediately began chasing him out.
Seeing that he had already accomplished his goal, Chang Yuan did not linger.
He waved goodbye to Velvie.
After returning to Flame-Chasing Moth, Chang Yuan began considering how to gather all the councilors together.
His status as vice-captain was not enough, and even Airi's position as captain was not enough.
Although Flame-Chasing Moth had been jointly established by the upper echelons of the various continents, granting captains considerable status across all continents,
in truth, captain was merely a position those higher-ups could hand out at will.
It carried no real authority at all, making it even more impossible to convene the councilors. Unless he had something more important, there was no chance of summoning them.
Chang Yuan did not dwell on that problem any further. Instead, he chose to first build a good relationship with Dr. Mobius.
Naturally, he would do all that after giving the Second Divine Key to Airi.
"Mm, this bow isn't cute at all. It does suit your handsomeness, Chang Yuan."
Upon receiving the Second Divine Key, the first thing Airi did was complain that the bow did not suit a beautiful girl like her.
Instead, it suited Chang Yuan, a boy, far better.
"But my archery isn't very good, so for now, you're the most suitable person for this bow."
"Fine, I'll make do with it for now. But does this bow have a name?"
"Um... Bow That Tilts the Heavens?"
"Mm-hm, I didn't expect you to be fairly talented at naming things, Chang Yuan. Bow That Tilts the Heavens it is."
Airi was quite pleased with the name.
To draw the bow and nock an arrow, tilting the heavens—it truly suited their current mission of saving the world.
After chatting briefly with Airi, Chang Yuan left to find Dr. Mobius.
"Hm? Oh, Vice-Captain Chang Yuan. May I ask what brings you to Dr. Mobius's laboratory?"
Seeing Chang Yuan enter the laboratory, Blanca asked him about his purpose.
"I'd like to see Dr. Mobius. Do you know where she is right now?"
Seeing a familiar stranger, Chang Yuan smiled calmly and asked.
"Then your timing is quite good. The doctor spent several days conducting experiments without rest, and she's currently eating and resting in her office. Go straight down this corridor, and her private office is at the end."
Blanca was initially a little surprised to hear that Chang Yuan had come to see Dr. Mobius, but she did not ask what it was about.
She immediately pointed him in the right direction.
After receiving the exact location, Chang Yuan gave Blanca a slight nod of thanks.
He then headed straight for Dr. Mobius's office.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Who is it?! Didn't I say not to bother me while I'm resting?"
Before Chang Yuan could even open the door, Dr. Mobius's rebuke immediately greeted him.
Chang Yuan's mouth twitched.
But Dr. Mobius inside soon added, "The door isn't locked. Come in yourself. Say what you need to say, then leave immediately."
Only then did Chang Yuan open the door and walk in.
"Hello, Dr. Mobius. I'm Chang Yuan, vice-captain of the First Squad."
"Tch, didn't you understand what I said? If you have something to say, say it. If not, don't disturb my rest."
Hearing his introduction, Dr. Mobius impatiently waved him off.
Chang Yuan could only feel helpless. How was this good timing, as Blanca had said? He had completely walked into the line of fire.
"Dr. Mobius, if I said that I understood ninety percent of Honkai's true nature, then... would you still be so eager to make me leave?"
As he said this, Chang Yuan met Dr. Mobius's gaze.
Upon hearing Chang Yuan's claim, Dr. Mobius did not immediately believe him despite being a researcher. Instead, she frowned at him.
"Are you willing to guarantee those words?"
"I guarantee it with my life. I can promise that at least ninety percent of what I said is true."
"...Go on. What exactly do you want from me?"
Only then did Dr. Mobius set aside her initial impatience and begin taking Chang Yuan seriously.
"I want to ask you to save humanity with me. But before that, we must remove the malignant tumor within Flame-Chasing Moth."
"...You should be thankful that there are no listening devices in my office. Otherwise, because of that one sentence, you might be dead by tomorrow."
Hearing Chang Yuan speak so openly, Dr. Mobius's tone became unusually serious.
She naturally knew who Chang Yuan was referring to, and what sort of people he meant by that malignant tumor.
But precisely because she knew, she dared say that Chang Yuan was bold.
Saying something like that was practically asking to die.
"In the future I saw, humanity suffered a crushing defeat. Though those malignant tumors did not bear the primary responsibility, they bore most of the secondary responsibility.
To prevent that final future from coming to pass, I must begin eliminating them before they can harm all humanity.
That is why I came to find you, Dr. Mobius. You will be one of my greatest allies."
Before you continue