Humph, even if it's Mei, don't try to trick me.
Ryan sat on the plane, shaking his right leg gently. The moment Mobius appeared, he knew that it was Mobius' revenge. That black-hearted woman must have been holding a grudge against him for what he said to Kevin.
"I hope that life will be harmonious soon. I am doing this for your own good. Why don't you understand how kind I am?"
Ryan understood the moment he saw Mobius. As a smart man, how could he let someone lead him by the nose, even if that someone was Mobius?
"She is not stupid. Since she is willing to accept Mei's instigation, she wants to get back what she paid for from me with interest and hold on to my power."
Do you really think I'm stupid? Do you think I can't see through this trick? As for whether Hua and Mobius will fight? Honestly, Hua's stubborn character would likely be able to shut down Mobius' sarcasm. As long as she was on guard, Mobius couldn't fool her. Even if a fight broke out, Mobius would most likely not stand a chance and would be pinned to the ground by Hua.
"It's a perfect match. Maybe with Mobius' encouragement, Hua will become less boring. I really have good intentions."
Ryan was somewhat proud of himself. When it came to a battle of wits, who could beat him? He left in such a hurry that he managed to escape the Fire Moth's surveillance. This plan to escape wasn't that simple, though. The key lies in the Fire Moth's attitude. After all, this isn't a turn-based game.
Ryan had already facilitated the research institute's cooperation and cleared the obstacles for the Mantis plan, so the higher-ups would definitely respond.
"Mantis are a double-edged sword. They also give the Fire Moth the power to deal with me and Elysia. Even if Mobius is in charge, they can still control it."
The fusion operation isn't too complicated. As long as the carrier is suitable, it can be used on anyone. The reason the Thirteen Heroes were called heroes was because there were only these thirteen Mantis left at that time. They did not represent billions of humans—only they could bear the high-level Honkai beast genes.
The technology is in Mobius' hands, but the distribution of materials is still controlled by the Fire Council. Ryan didn't want to be led around by them.
Ryan held the side of his face, understanding the Fire Moth's thoughts. This had nothing to do with creating obstacles. Everyone wanted the power to protect themselves. He would not turn against the Fire Moth Council until he could take over all of its resources and ensure that a civil war would not break out.
"Let's use the name of the experiment to get the materials in our hands first. It's all within Mobius' authority anyway, and no one can object. But expecting the Intelligence and Combat Departments to cooperate is a luxury."
But why do I need any cooperation?
Ryan smiled to himself. It was a perfect plan: kill two birds with one stone and leave everyone speechless. As the plane bounced slightly during its descent, Ryan looked out the window and saw the Lion City airport was bustling with activity, with planes parked everywhere.
After the Third Honkai, East Asia became the hardest-hit area. Although Fire Moth repeatedly advertised that other areas were safe, people were still in a panic.
We're not fools. With cities abandoned one after another and the defense lines pulled back, it's clear that Fire Moth is stretched thin.
People were everywhere, acting happy and carefree. Many chose to go to the more desolate Australia or the heavily guarded Mu Continent, with Lion City becoming a transit hub. But Ryan knew that it was all meaningless. The randomness of the collapse meant that no place could be deemed truly safe.
The cities of Mu Continent and Australia had already been hit even worse.
Ryan dragged his luggage off the plane. As he passed through customs, he saw Sakura waiting for him. Her long pink hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she looked smart and capable in a T-shirt and skirt pants. She had headphones hanging around her neck, seemingly listening to music.
Ryan paused for a moment, still feeling some unease over the "black stockings" incident. He cursed Mobius again under his breath.
Sakura had already seen him. A strange look flashed across her purple eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, as if nothing had happened.
"Dr. Ryan, you are very punctual."
Pretending to have amnesia? So gentle...
Ryan was touched by her behavior and walked over casually: "Did you finish the matter so quickly?"
They shook hands. Sakura hesitated for a moment and bowed slightly, saying, "It's all thanks to your care."
This time, she had gone to Neon first and brought her sister Rin to Lion City. It was much safer here, given the strategic location and the large number of Fire Moth troops stationed.
Ryan responded, "I'm just keeping my word. Don't take it to heart."
"But there aren't many people in this world who can live up to the word 'honesty'."
Ryan was taken aback for a moment, then nodded in agreement. He picked up his luggage and walked out of the airport with Sakura, who led him to her newly purchased car parked outside.
The car started, and they drove along the coastal highway toward the city. Lion City, known for its wealth before the collapse, was densely populated with high-rise buildings, had excellent public security, and was well-equipped with parks and shopping malls.
"It has nice greenery and is quieter than New York. No wonder it was rated as one of the best cities to live in by the League of Nations."
"After all, Lion City is small in size, and its strategic location is crucial. Now that the Pacific branch has moved in, Honkai beasts will have a hard time surviving here." Sakura said, gripping the steering wheel with both hands.
Ryan didn't think much about it and asked, "Did you have a smooth journey?"
"At first, the Far East Branch followed me, but I shook them off. They didn't pursue me."
"Of course. You're the security director of the research department. You specifically asked Dr. Mei for annual leave. Can they still issue a warrant?" Ryan adjusted his seat and laid back comfortably. "We're doing things according to the rules. No one can find fault with it. Even I asked for leave properly."
The higher-ups wanted to monitor them, but both Sakura and Ryan were stealth experts, which is why he didn't ask Kevin for help. Sakura was strong enough to handle things quietly without revealing her sister's location.
Sakura glanced at Ryan, who seemed pleased with himself, and knew that he was plotting something again—such as the information about Honkai beasts that Dr. Mei had hacked from the Intelligence Department. What rules was he talking about?
Ryan noticed her gaze but didn't think much of it. If the higher-ups suspected his whereabouts, he could always ask Mei and Mobius for help. As for the future, if he encountered a Honkai beast, he wouldn't just sit there and wait to die.
"We're all working for humanity, so it doesn't matter who gets it, right?"
"Do you know why I asked you to join the Fire Moth?"
"Can I play my best role?"
"This is just one of the reasons. I want to test their bottom line. Just like I don't want to fall out with the Fire Moth, they don't want to be my enemy either."
Sakura's expression softened, showing some approval. When she met Dr. Mei, she realized that Ryan's power wasn't weak at all. There was no exchange of interests, no blood oath, but what held the group together was something more solid—ideal.
Fighting for the survival of mankind. With this belief, there was no need for factions based on interests. It was like a ripple from the inside out, slowly affecting the young and vigorous members of the Fire Moths and all humans who were unwilling to give up.
People like me, who walk in darkness, cannot escape.
Sakura wanted to create a safe world for Rin, so Honkai had to be eliminated, and Ryan didn't need to use any tricks.
The car sped along the beautifully laid-out streets, stopping soon at a tall building in the city center. Ryan adjusted his seat, looking out the window at the comfortable conditions. Nearby, there was a garden with children running on the lawn while their parents stood by. It looked no different from the days before the third Honkai.
"Is this it?"
"It should be considered my home. You helped so much; you should come see it." Sakura unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door.
Ryan was surprised, but then realized Sakura had no intention of hiding her sister. So there was no need for secrecy.
"Please wait for me for two minutes."
Sakura seemed confused but waited patiently. Shortly after, Ryan returned with a huge rabbit doll in his hands.
Sakura was taken aback. It was hard to equate Ryan's appearance with the horrific scene she had in mind. Despite the earlier incident, which only proved Ryan's weird habits, it didn't negate his strength.
The Cocoon were crushed one by one, and all the senior members of the Fire Moth who were full of cunning were tricked by him. But when Ryan, holding the doll, approached, Sakura's widened purple eyes returned to normal as she bowed slightly.
"You're thoughtful."
"You can't come empty-handed when you visit someone. This is basic etiquette." Ryan didn't care. Seeing Sakura hesitate to speak, he smiled bitterly. "Don't worry, I'm not a weird person. The last misunderstanding was all because of Mobius."
"Her stuff?"
"Yeah, Mei must have said a lot of bad things about her. That person is even more weird than Vil-V. You know how painful it is for me, right?"
Sakura let out a small chuckle. The two of them entered the apartment elevator, and Sakura pressed the button for the fifth floor. As the elevator ascended, she coughed lightly.
"You and Dr. Mobius are a match made in heaven."
How many times have you heard something like this?
Ryan rolled his eyes and whispered, "Are you saying I'm a weirdo too?"
"No, no, I can't thank you enough. Dr. Mobius may be a little weird, but she is a great beauty."
Perhaps because she was about to see her sister, Sakura wasn't as reserved as usual. When they arrived at room 502, she used her fingerprint to unlock the door.
"Rin, I'm back."
Her voice was gentle, not as cold as usual. Ryan heard the sound of footsteps, and soon a girl about eleven or twelve years old, also with long pink hair, rushed out barefoot.
"Big sister--"
With a coquettish voice, she pounced on Sakura and buried her face in her sister's arms, rubbing it like she was washing her face. After a while, she paused, as if realizing something was wrong.
"Hey, who is he?"
There was a hint of alertness in the girl's deep blue eyes, along with a maturity that didn't belong to her age.
"This is...."
"I'm your sister's colleague, my name is Ryan. Here, this is a gift." Ryan said casually, bowing slightly and handing the doll over. "Rin, I hear you're very smart and obedient. Your sister tells me you're also very good at studying and you love to work."
He was wearing a black windbreaker and frameless glasses, looking harmless.
"Sister, do you really say that to me?" Rin looked at the doll and then glanced at Sakura, who was dazed. The latter nodded subconsciously.
"Great! Mr. Ryan, I'll get you some slippers."
The girl was so happy that she took out the slippers and placed them neatly.
"Welcome to my home. Wait a moment, I'll make tea right away."
Rin held the doll, swinging her thin legs, and disappeared into the corridor. Ryan stepped into the entrance with a smile, but as he did, he was once again held by Sakura.
"Wait, I never mentioned Rin."
She admits she loves to work, but she's good at studying? Even Sakura is embarrassed.
"When I met Hua, She was about the same age as Rin, so I had already accumulated some experience. Since they are just kids, just praise them more. Don't worry, I'll be able to become friends with Rin soon."
Sakura took a breath, completely unable to connect the gentle man in front of her with the cold-blooded executioner in the desert.
I don't understand, I really don't understand...