"After Mobius heals Uncle, and Uncle wakes up, we can go find Hua together. That should make Hua really happy."
Thinking this, Li Mo took out his phone, opened his contacts, and found Mobius's private number.
The ensuing chat was particularly strange.
Li Mo: "Hey, Mobius, mind if I crash at your place for dinner?" [Lit: Mind if your house adds another pair of chopsticks?]
Mobius: "Sure, as long as you're willing to get on the operating table, any condition is fine."
Li Mo: "Do I really need to go under the knife just to scrounge a meal? Ouch, my kind Mobius, you've changed. You've become so heartless, so unfamiliar."
Mobius: "Don't think I don't know what scheme you're plotting. Hurry up and send me your address, I'll send someone to pick you up. And don't forget what I warned you about before: don't expose your special characteristic. It's very dangerous for you."
"Wait... you're only calling me now? Don't tell me you already..."
Li Mo: "I can explain."
Mobius: "Forget it, no need to explain. Since it already happened, what we need to do is solve the problem, unlike some people who only know how to eliminate the person who raises the problem. And yet, those very people are the ones funding me. This world is hopeless."
Li Mo: "Haha... Sounds like you have quite a few complaints. I'll send you the address right now. No one has found me yet. I'm hiding in the ruins. I'll contact your people when I see them arrive."
With that, Li Mo sent his real-time location to Mobius, then picked a relatively high beam, carried Hua's father, and jumped onto it.
He quietly gazed into the distance.
After seeing familiar people arrive, he remained hidden in the shadows.
Mobius: "Fine. Be careful yourself."
Mobius hung up the phone, staring at the experimental data before her, silent for a long time.
"Sigh..."
"Really can't let one's guard down. Klein, prepare for overtime."
---||---
The captain of the 4th Squad, stationed in the city bordering Shanghai, sat angrily on a nearby rock.
Himeko's grand speech had momentarily made her feel small-minded. But if not for survival, what was the meaning of fighting?
If every captain acted willfully, risking themselves for individual ordinary people, then who would protect the greater number of ordinary people?
However, Himeko indeed had the capital to do so.
At least among all the current captains in Fire Moth, she was the human closest to a Herrscher.
Although, even with technological assistance, she was still far from reaching a Herrscher's level, she was undeniably the peak combat power of current humanity.
But the price was that her lifespan was nearly exhausted. Among all captains, Himeko suffered the most severe Honkai erosion.
The territory Himeko managed was Australia, already the place where Honkai Beasts were most rampant. Coupled with her constantly fighting on the front lines, even the best medical care couldn't keep up with her body's deterioration.
In a few years at most, Himeko would die from Honkai erosion.
If she avoided contact with Honkai energy as much as possible, this timeframe would extend at least twofold.
Burning herself out to save a group of children with uncertain futures... but could those children truly grow to her level in the future?
Fallen geniuses were never few in number.
Just as the 4th Squad captain was lost in thought, the vibration of the phone in her pocket pulled her back from her reverie.
"Huh? Dr. Mobius's phone number?"
"Why is she calling me?"
The 4th Squad captain was somewhat stunned. In a sense, Mobius was considered high-level within Fire Moth. Although not part of the decision-making layer, she could mobilize captains for tasks to a certain extent.
This was a right granted to scientists like her by Fire Moth's decision-makers.
"Hello? Dr. Mobius, is there something you need from me? I'm currently..."
Before the 4th Squad captain could explain her situation, Mobius interrupted: "I know where you are. Immediately lead your squad into the center of Shanghai City to find someone. After finding and bringing them out, immediately put them in a vehicle, avoid contact with others. I've already sent you the address. Go quickly."
Rescue someone? Why is it finding someone again?
Fine if Himeko goes in to find someone, but I have to go in too?
"Uh, Doctor, may I ask the reason?"
"This matter is classified within Fire Moth. Your clearance level isn't high enough to know more. Just bring the person out. After bringing them out, send them directly to my lab. Hurry up, don't keep me waiting," Mobius urged impatiently.
Hearing the change in tone over the phone, the 4th Squad captain could only swallow her anger and agree.
Why does everyone have this tone?
"Full squad, equip anti-Honkai erosion armor. Prepare to enter the center of Shanghai City," the 4th Squad captain commanded.
Her teammates behind her were eager, showing no signs of negativity or fear.
"Finally, a chance to show our skills!"
"It's always collecting supplies or intelligence. Don't even know what use all this training is for. Feels like ordinary people could do it with armor on. This time, we can finally earn some merit!"
"Be careful, though. Although the Third Herrscher has been dealt with, we still need to take the remaining Honkai Beasts and Deadmen seriously. But as long as we don't encounter high-tier Honkai Beasts, our chances of survival are very high."
However, before the team members could get too excited, the 4th Squad captain poured cold water on them: "Don't think about earning merit. This mission is classified, no credit to be gained. Just go in, bring one person out, and it's over. Don't get drawn into fights."
"Ah, rescue? Is there anyone still alive in the center of Shanghai City? I think..."
"Shush, don't talk too much. We just follow orders."
"The higher-ups must have their reasons for arranging things this way."
Just two hours after Himeko had left, the 4th Squad captain, whose philosophy directly opposed Himeko's, was leading her team to do the exact same thing.
Only, one was voluntary, the other passive.
However, Himeko has already left Shanghai City and returned to her jurisdiction, yet I have to repeat what she did. How pointless.
Surely we can't be looking for the same person.
Along the way, the countless remains and skeletons of Honkai Beasts made everyone gasp.
Thousands of Honkai Beasts looked like they had been tortured for a long time, their corpses littering the ground, stuffed into cracks in the earth, crammed under collapsed buildings, missing arms and legs – worse off than the dead.
Did Himeko do this? Isn't she afraid of dying herself if she fights like this?
The 4th Squad captain couldn't help but worry about Himeko's condition. If these corpses of Honkai Beasts and Deadmen were truly the work of the 5th Squad, then Himeko must be close to becoming a Deadman herself.
With such a vast number, how long would she have had to fight to kill them all?
Even if she wasn't fighting alone.
No, Himeko didn't kill these. She's not that reckless, nor that powerful. There wasn't enough time.
"Did Captain Himeko do all this?" a team member asked.
"No. They only went in recently. It couldn't have been Himeko. Their goal, like ours, is to find someone. There's no reason to actively engage Honkai Beasts head-on."
"These Honkai Beasts died horribly. Perhaps they fought among themselves, resulting in this situation."
The 4th Squad captain analyzed.
Honkai Beasts infighting – this was the most reasonable explanation.
Otherwise, it was hard to explain why thousands upon thousands of Honkai Beasts and Deadmen were dead. It was definitely not something one person could achieve.
Because no matter how strong a person is, they couldn't withstand continuous, high-intensity Honkai erosion while fighting for so long. Even killing one Honkai Beast per second, one could only kill 3,600 in an hour. Killing tens of thousands would require non-stop fighting for three hours.
Forget high-intensity combat; even running at high intensity for three hours is unbearable for most people, even with armor, let alone killing Honkai Beasts.
"Honkai Beast infighting? Should we upload this intelligence then?"
"..."
"Probably okay. I'll explain the situation to Dr. Mobius. As for more details, it's beyond her jurisdiction. We can report the situation on site to Fire Moth high command and let them figure it out."
Are you kidding? We spent so much effort, risked entering here to find someone, how could we not take some benefit? Even small merits are better than none.
Besides, reporting the intelligence truthfully is beneficial for researchers analyzing Honkai patterns. It's correct both officially and personally.
Led by their captain, the 4th Squad arrived at a martial arts hall. Before their eyes lay the remains of a Templar-class Honkai Beast. Its body was pierced through, a small hole hanging like a name tag on its chest, very conspicuous.
"Hey, hey, hey... Why is there still a Templar-class Honkai Beast here?"
"Wait, is that the point? Shouldn't the point be that this Templar-class Honkai Beast was killed? Look, there's a fist-sized hole in its body. Was it killed by a human?"
"What kind of human punches straight through a Templar-class Honkai Beast..."
Faced with such a bizarre scene, the 4th Squad captain walked up and examined it closely.
She confirmed this Templar-class Honkai Beast was killed by someone; its body was covered in man-made wounds.
But not Himeko. Himeko always fought with a greatsword, not close-quarters combat.
Because the human body is too fragile. Under absolute mass crushing, the slightest carelessness could result in being turned into paste by a Honkai Beast. With a weapon, one could maneuver. Without a weapon, a carbon-based lifeform's fist punching through a silicon-based lifeform's armor was simply fantasy.
Therefore, historically, dead Honkai Beasts always bore weapon marks. No one had ever been seen fighting them with fists.
Fire Moth currently had no such eccentric individuals.
"Hello! Are you the rescue team sent by Mobius?"
While everyone was still reeling from the Templar-class Honkai Beast's death, Li Mo emerged slowly from the ruins, carrying Hua's father on his back.
The moment they saw Li Mo alive and well, even the 4th Squad captain couldn't help showing astonishment.
This demeanor... doesn't feel like a survivor?
The rescued people in the past were invariably sallow and thin, haggard [idiom: dove-shaped swan-faced], downcast, listless...
Where did this suddenly appearing youth get his enthusiastic look? You're waiting for rescue, not on vacation!
The 4th Squad captain's mouth twitched. She couldn't see any sign of mental or survival pressure on him. But since he mentioned Mobius and the task she assigned, he should be the person she was looking for.
Why does it feel like this was completely effortless?
Speaking of which.
His eyes are really beautiful...
For a moment, most members of the 4th Squad couldn't help but gape, staring intently at Li Mo's face, half-covered by purple-black blood. Against the backdrop of Honkai Beast blood, those crystal-bright pink eyes, shimmering with dazzling luster, looked exceptionally bewitching.
"Um... While I don't mind you all staring at me, I think it's better if we leave here first," Li Mo suggested with a smile.
"Mm... huh? Yes! Right, right, let's leave here first. This is the center of the Honkai eruption, very dangerous. Stick close to me, I'll protect you."
The 4th Squad captain reached out, wanting to take Li Mo's hand.
Li Mo tilted his head, asking puzzledly, "Protect? But all the Honkai Beasts and Deadmen here are already dead."
A member of the 4th Squad stepped forward teasingly, "How do you know? Don't tell me you killed them all? Hehe, relax. You're so good-looking, don't lie."
Li Mo glanced around, smiled meaningfully, then shook his head: "How could that be? I'm just an ordinary person, without your powerful strength."
"Alright, no time to waste. Let's leave here first," the captain retracted her hand and ordered.
Soon, Li Mo and Hua's father joined the 4th Squad. After leaving Shanghai City, they got into a vehicle, were transported to a nearby airport, and then took a plane directly to Mobius's laboratory at Fire Moth headquarters.
That evening, Li Mo finally arrived at Mobius's lab.
Hua's father was taken by Klein, who introduced herself as Mobius's assistant, to the medical room for a full check-up. Li Mo followed the location Mobius sent him to her current laboratory.
"Iris scan? Same as the lab back in Shanghai City. Wonder if my iris still works now."
Li Mo walked forward, letting the scanning machine scan his eyes.
The next second, the machine issued a permission-granted prompt, and the door slowly opened.
The room inside was pitch black, without a sliver of light.
Just as Li Mo stepped inside, he was dragged, then pushed onto a table to lie down.
Immediately after, the lights turned on, blindingly bright.
"Hehe, little white mouse, you really know how to cause trouble. What price will you pay this time?" Mobius pressed her hands on Li Mo's shoulders, leaning down, her ample chest nearly suffocating him.
Her green eyes scanned him meticulously from top to bottom, finally settling on Li Mo's increasingly alluring pink eyes.
"Hmph~ Hmph~" Mobius sniffed lightly, teasing, "Why do you exude such a fragrance? This scent isn't quite right, like poppies..."
Li Mo's hands had nowhere to go. He wanted to push Mobius away, but his shoulders were held down. The only place his hands could reach was her chest.
Touching that would be fatal.
Although he could break free with a little effort, he was, after all, under her roof and needed her help. He couldn't offend her too much.
"I thought you were only this bold on the operating table. So... my dear Mobius, are you confident you can dress me again properly?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Mo was moved by Mobius onto the operating table. Mobius's lips curled up wildly, her mature face showing an intoxicated expression.
"I don't know, but I can't stop~"
"Yelp!"
"It hurts a bit, bear with it..."
Li Mo tried his best to keep his body relaxed.
Under the bright lights, the scalpel gleamed with a frosty white luster. His chest was cut open, tubes inserted into his brain and various parts of his body, constantly monitoring Li Mo's physiological data.
The extracted blood, upon touching a fragment of Honkai crystal, instantly engulfed its flashing purple light completely.
...
...
Several hours passed. Li Mo, clothes disheveled, got off the operating table.
Mobius was engrossed in processing experimental data nearby. The instant noodles beside her had gone completely cold.
"..."
Sensing Mobius had no intention of leaving or talking to him, Li Mo left the lab on his own and followed the signs to the kitchen.
The food supplies in the kitchen were pitifully scarce.
Doesn't Fire Moth assign dedicated chefs to researchers?
Li Mo didn't understand.
"There are still eggs. Oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar are all here, but why are they almost expired? How long has it been since Mobius cooked..."
This kitchen was fully equipped, everything except ingredients. And people.
"Forget it, I can still make egg-fried rice."
Li Mo was confident in his cooking skills. When he lived with Hua before, Uncle wasn't around, so he cooked for Hua. He had the flavors down perfectly.
While waiting afterwards, Li Mo went into the medical room.
Hua's father was hooked up to various life support machines. Of course, whether these were used or not didn't matter, because his body was fine; only his consciousness hadn't recovered.
Li Mo: "Klein, how is Uncle's condition now?"
Klein: "Hmm... Not too good, but not too bad either. Although his body is fine – heart, organs, and all aspects including the brain are very healthy – certain parts of the brain are no longer active. We can only continue to observe."
"He is indeed still alive. If I had to define it, he's a dead person with a living body."
Li Mo: "Can he be saved? His survival is very important to me."
Klein: "I'm very sorry, but in my opinion, he's already dead. Perhaps the Doctor has a way; after all, her specialty is life research."
Li Mo: "I see. Alright then. The egg-fried rice should be ready. Klein, are you hungry?"
Klein: "..."
Li Mo: "Kids should eat more, help them grow. Come, big brother will take you to eat the egg-fried rice I made."
Klein: "No, thank you. I'll stay here... The Doctor went to Shenzhou for vacation to escape work assigned by Fire Moth. The deadline for that work is tomorrow night. There's too much; I have to work overtime to finish it before I can sleep."
Li Mo: "What about eating?"
Klein: "Eat after finishing..."
Li Mo: "..."
Poor child.
Hearing Klein's statement, Li Mo couldn't help but lament Mobius's tyranny!
Such a young child having to work overtime all night, rushing to finish work, unable to even eat.
Is the workload at Fire Moth really this high?
Or is Mobius just too lazy, accumulating too many pending work files?
But Mobius looked so focused, didn't even glance at the cold instant noodles on her desk. She doesn't seem like a lazy person.
So strange.
Li Mo brought a bowl of steaming hot egg-fried rice from the kitchen, then walked over to Klein and placed her on his lap.
"I can't. Eating makes me sleepy, my work efficiency will drop, and I won't finish these tasks. Then the Doctor will be criticized by them again..." Klein struggled, pushing away the bowl and spoon Li Mo offered.
Li Mo's eyes softened with affection. He held Klein, gently stroking her small head: "It's okay. You continue working. I'll feed you."
Klein didn't refuse. As long as it didn't delay her work, anything was fine.
Besides, she was indeed a bit hungry.
Li Mo was very patient, scooping up a small spoonful of egg-fried rice with the spoon, then steadily bringing it to Klein's mouth.
Back and forth. After half an hour, the bowl was completely empty.
"The Doctor hasn't eaten either..."
"I know. I'll take it to her now. Don't worry, I'll make sure she finishes it."
"Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome. If you could smile, I think I'd be very happy."
"Mm... Like this?"
Klein squeezed out a stiff smile, clearly forcing it.
Li Mo gave a wry smile and ruffled Klein's head again.
"Don't rub my head like the Doctor does..."
"Is that so? Sorry, force of habit."
Li Mo stopped his criminal act, returned to the kitchen, scooped up another full bowl of egg-fried rice, and walked towards Mobius's laboratory.
Mobius had her eyes closed, slumped motionless on the desk.
"...Fell asleep from exhaustion?"
Li Mo wasn't sure whether he should wake Mobius. Judging by her swollen eyelids and dark circles, her return to Fire Moth hadn't been easy.
Taking time out now to handle his affairs probably made her already tight schedule even more constrained.
The content on the screen instantly caught Li Mo's attention.
It recorded his peculiarities and Mobius's usage and speculations about them.
One part particularly interested Li Mo.
"Immortality" [不朽] and "Abundance" [丰饶].
These were titles Mobius had prepared based on his special characteristics.
His flesh and blood possessed the effect of reviving the dead, regrowing flesh on white bones. Any energy with destructive properties would fall silent upon contact, losing its harmful ability.
The cost was unknown, but if the origin could be determined and utilized reasonably, perhaps suffering could be eliminated from the world.
However, Mobius's notes in the file didn't mention this. Even watching Fire Moth's young warriors suffer agonizingly from Honkai erosion, she hadn't made this research public.
The more precious the gift, the more wary one should be.
"Since you're here, choose your title. 'Immortality' or 'Abundance'?"
"'Immortality' means never perishing, very fitting for your limitless healing characteristic."
"'Abundance' literally means plentiful and rich, implicitly meaning a selfless gift."
Li Mo initially thought Mobius had woken up, but it turned out to be just a recording left on the computer.
Presumably, Mobius had anticipated falling asleep by the time he returned, so she simply recorded the message, letting Li Mo choose himself.
Li Mo stared at the two words on the screen, pondered for a moment, then chose the latter—
"Abundance."