Ryan didn't know it yet, but things had only just begun and Mei was already imagining the end. He hurried to the auditorium on the tenth floor, opened the door and found that it was already full.
Oops, I forgot about time while chatting.
On the stage, Kevin and Hua stood side by side, with the Fire Moth Medal of Human Courage hanging on their chests. This medal was specially awarded to recruits with outstanding performance, who either single-handedly defeated Honkai beasts above the Honkai Emperor level, or risked their lives to save their teammates. Nowadays, humans are constantly shrinking their defenses, and many people can get it.
It's great to have the honor earned with one's life.
Ryan had a gentle look in his eyes. He found a seat nearby and applauded with hundreds of spectators.
Clap, clap, clap.
The applause was enthusiastic. No matter how many conspiracies there were, the Fire Moth was essentially a fighting organization and they were full of respect for powerful warriors. Amidst the thunderous applause, the two people on the stage had different expressions.
The two men didn't know each other. Kevin had a tense face and looked a little nervous. Because of the tragic scene on the battlefield and the scene in the auditorium, there was some impatience in his eyes.
Hua had a blank expression on his face. She looked around with wide eyes, her face becoming increasingly gloomy until she saw Ryan waving and greeting people in the last row. She blinked and quietly smiled.
"Everyone, Hua and Kevin are just representatives. After the third Honkai, more and more people around the world have joined the Fire Moths and are willing to become heroes who protect humanity. Do you know why?"
Just as Ryan breathed a sigh of relief, Commander-in-Chief Carius strode to the podium. The nominal commander of the Fire Moth looked very capable, with his gray hair neatly combed behind his head, and his voice was firm and loud.
"Just like what Sergeant Kevin said in his speech just now, he joined to protect his lover, some joined for justice, and some joined for rewards. No matter what the reason is, Fire Moth will provide them with the best platform to fulfill their wishes."
"Whether you are a logistician, a soldier, a scientist, or a politician, you can all realize your ideals in the Fire Moth, and at the same time, implement the supreme justice—"
"Protect human civilization!!"
Crash.
There was thunderous applause, and even Ryan had to use a little more force. It was their first meeting, and this General Carius was very impressive.
Since the president is replaced every four years and cannot be re-elected, this speech level is already quite high, regardless of other things. There is no empty talk of justice, and he even took the initiative to admit that some people joined Fire Moth just for the money. He did not say how powerful Honkai was, but only made it clear that Fire Moth was a platform for realizing ideals, and he wanted to lure talents in first.
So now that the collapse is over, you still have some ideas, right?
Ryan's smile turned sarcastic again. Never mind. He was too lazy to discuss this old issue anymore. While Carius was leaving the stage and a group of people were singing the "party song" loudly, he took a good look at the two people on the stage.
Hua's anger turned into joy, needless to say, but Kevin looked a little weird, as if he was out of tune with this exciting scene, especially his eyes, which looked tired and weathered, like an outsider watching the carnival with cold eyes.
As expected, it was affected by the battlefield, and the impact was getting deeper and deeper.
Ryan sighed. Kevin was constantly traveling between battlefields, not going on an outing. Generally speaking, psychological counseling would be enough, but how to say it...
The two guys on the stage are somewhat unlucky with their teammates, and those who team up with them usually don't end up well.
Ryan couldn't change this metaphysics either. He had read the information. Kevin had become a team leader and led a special mobile force to black Africa, where they encountered an Emperor level Honkai beast. The team suffered heavy casualties, but eventually completed the expedition. Kevin returned with a planeload of his teammates' bodies to receive his reward.
The person who can play a key role is Mei, but that woman is so devoted to her work that she didn't even come to attend the ceremony. What the hell is she doing?
Mei definitely loves Kevin, but Ryan can't understand this woman. She might do something that is difficult for ordinary people to understand. Also, what does it mean that she said a bunch of inexplicable things to me?
Ryan stroked his chin and began to think hard. Mei's vision was fifty thousand years into the future. Although Kevin was very sad, it was also her ultimate insurance, and this insurance really won in the end.
Crazy Kevin is the basis for defeating Honkai... Hey, you don't want to make me crazy.
This idea popped up in my mind without any reason, and as I thought about it further, it does seem possible. With his combat power, skills, academic knowledge, and even his prophetic layout, isn't this definitely a more powerful version of Kevin?
It is no exaggeration to say that even if all the people of the previous civilization were extinct, Ryan could handle all the plans left behind by himself, and could even go a step further.
"You can't be so blindly suspicious of others. Mei isn't that pessimistic right now."
Ryan shook his head, still making bold assumptions and carefully verifying them.
Now, Mantis have been developed several years in advance, and the Divine Keys is also on the agenda. Although the territory controlled by humans is shrinking, the situation is very good. I haven't seen the commander-in-chief holding any award ceremony in a happy mood.
But the words of the Third Herrscher, 'the man from outside the universe', kept lingering in my mind like a curse, and it took a long time to go away.
Pop.
Just as Ryan was getting more and more absorbed in his thoughts, a small hand slapped the table, startling him. He looked around and found that the awards ceremony had ended and most people had left.
Hua, wearing the female Fire Moth uniform, stood in front of him, with a shining medal on her chest and a peaked-brimmed hat. The straight black uniform made her look slender, and her knee-length skirt revealed a pair of straight calves wrapped in flesh-colored stockings.
The girl was very capable and heroic, and her uniform was alluring, but her emerald eyes were full of questions.
"Brother, what are you thinking about? You are so obsessed."
"Oh, something unimportant." Ryan stood up from the table and looked Hua up and down. "Congratulations. You have just joined the Fire Moth for less than half a year and you have received such an honor."
Hua smiled, looking a little proud, but tried not to show it: "This is all thanks to my senior brother's good teaching. Miss Elysia also taught me a lot."
Ryan nodded and decisively accepted the flattery. Among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, the one who was most influenced by him was Hua, and for the longest time. If the world line was really no different from the original one, then he had been wasting his time all these years.
The girl is still serious and dull, but more determined and powerful.
"Kevin, don't look surprised, this is my junior sister, Hua." Ryan looked at the young man who was peeping nearby and took the initiative to call him over.
Kevin had never met Hua, but he knew of her when he was in Qianyu Academy. Now, after listening to Ryan's introduction, he was not too surprised. The only thing that surprised him was Hua's appearance. He originally thought that Ryan's junior sister was a muscle tank.
If the senior brother is so abnormal, then the junior sister can't be that weak either. Maybe she was beaten badly by Ryan in the Far East, and the latter's fighting ability ranks very high in Kevin's heart.
He first shook hands lightly with Hua, then winked at Ryan, his meaning was very clear.
"You are a very lucky guy. You have Mobius in front and your junior sister behind. How come I didn't realize you are such a beast before?"
Ryan's eyes twitched and he just raised his fist slightly, the meaning was equally simple.
'Stop talking nonsense, let's practice?'
Kevin, who has been full of confidence recently, was ready to make a move, but when he received horrible feedback from his intuition, he raised his hands in surrender.
They are both really interesting.
Hua looked back and forth. She had heard Ryan mention Kevin a long time ago, and she felt it was strange to see him now. Just now on the stage, he had that fierce aura as if he was a veteran of many battles, but in front of Ryan, he seemed like a normal sunny boy.
He is worthy of being a senior brother. He unites everyone like a flag.
Ryan didn't know that he was being praised again. He was talking to Kevin about Mei. When he heard that Mei was in a meeting upstairs, the young man's eyes dimmed a little, but soon returned to normal.
He has gotten used to it and understands his girlfriend's pursuit. In a sense, he and Hua are both pursuers.
"It makes me angry just to see you like this. You're just like a little wife, silently guarding behind me. Can you be a little tougher?"
"What's the tough way?" Kevin asked for advice. He felt that Ryan must be better than him because he could have the best of both worlds.
Ryan glanced at Hua, leaned close to Kevin's ear, and said word by word: "Simple, sleep with her and let her know who is on top and who is on the bottom."
Kevin's mouth twitched suddenly, and he quickly pressed Ryan's shoulder: "Don't talk nonsense..."
"Tsk, are you still a man? I've given you enough chances." Ryan was furious. In the original world line, Kevin became a human refrigerator due to the fusion surgery and lost his ability to do anything.
"That's not what I meant, it's just..."
"Ryan, you are really good at coming up with ideas. Why haven't I seen you be so smart before?"
A cold and familiar voice came from Kevin's chest, which made Ryan stunned. He looked at Kevin blankly, and the latter spread his hands and mouthed.
'Mei didn't have time to come, but she participated in another way.'
Live broadcast, right? You are really amazing.
Ryan gritted his teeth and listened to the breathing sound in the button, just like seeing the black-bellied woman's face flushed and extremely angry. He said nothing, just raised his hand to take off the camera and crushed it into pieces.
"Kevin, you are my brother."
"Yes."
"Then help me explain. I am doing this for your own good. I want Mei to not take the opportunity to retaliate against me." Ryan had a blank expression on his face. Seeing Kevin shaking his head, he gritted his teeth and said, "I will treat you to a meal. You can choose the restaurant. Is that okay?"
"This... let me think about it?"
"Don't give me that. I'm treating you to a meal when you receive an honor. Is that fair?" Ryan punched him in the chest, forcing Kevin to cover his chest and take several steps back. "Young man, your chest muscles have become more developed. Let me feel them later?"
"Go to hell, you fag!"
The two seemed to have returned to their school days, the era of good friends playing pranks on each other, which made Hua couldn't help but burst out laughing. When Ryan's eyes swept over her, she became serious again.
"Okay, stop pretending to be serious here, and come with us."
"Yes." The girl's face suddenly lit up with joy, and she asked casually, "Brother, aren't you always at Dr. Mobius?"
Ryan and Kevin were walking out arm in arm, and they didn't think much about it: "She's busy, how can she have time to eat."
He didn't notice that the girl behind him smiled even more excitedly than when she received the honor and clenched her right fist.
Yay!