“What a long night.”

  “You chose it.”

  After Aleph’s rescue on the apartment building, he didn’t choose to tinue fighting. The appearance of a Tempr-css beast was a warning to him. He’s not some kind of person who would deliberately pce himself iremely dangerous situations.

  Unfortunately, he was carried away. If that honkai beast didn’t appear, he might’ve chosen to fight to unlock more achievements.

  Due to his choice of returning, they didn’t take more than thirty mio e back. They avoided all that they could, and only when there were some persistent Chariot-css beasts did Aleph take a.

  In the end, they mao send all sixteen survivors into the shelter, including Carole.

  “As per the rules, I have greatly endangered your life. How will you mahe aftermath?”

  Sakura asked him a reasonable questiohat he prepared an answer from the moment he asked her to e with him.

  “I will expihing to director Einstein. I will also ask for help from Mei. I assume you are familiar with her. If that isn’t enough, I will talk with some people… such as Miss Elysia.”

  Aleph was more than prepared to hahe aftermath. He was strangely familiar with how politics worked. He attributed it to his fotten past.

  “I hought I’d be able to hide my strength. If the higher-ups cause trouble because of it, they are free to do so. But, I believe they won’t choose that option.”

  Be it Aleph’s potential or his current strength, he is extremely beneficial to the person he would side with. In the first pce, his position in Fire MOTH is ral. Nobody would choose to pick a fight with him. They would rather extend their olive brao him.

  Elysia was already a good example of it. She remained ral throughout Fire MOTH’s internal struggles, which led to them letting her do what she wanted.

  “You thought a lot about it.”

  “Of course. We have to get our brains going sometimes.”

  “...So this is what you’re aiming for.”

  At this moment, Sakura realized the meaning behind his as. She thought that his demonstration of ‘strength’ will result in a series of events. It will theually push his status within Fire MOTH to the top in one go.

  What she didn’t know h’s inal iion.

  ‘I only wao unlock more achievements. I might as well use the aftermath to my advantage.’

  Aleph only wao test his strength and unlock more achievements, so as to bee stronger. However, doing so made things more plicated for someone in his position. Just the aftermath he will bring after this night is huge.

  That was why he made up a pn on the spot. He was no lohe free man he once was. He was already tied to the Fire MOTH the moment he joihem. There is strict surveilnce of everything he does.

  “If you , you use tonight’s events to make them think you are suitable to guard me. Our familiarity is anood reason to vince your leader. It’s more objective.”

  Hearing his words, Sakura took an him.

  “We didn’t have close bonds. How did you know?”

  “Yanization is not within the official Fire MOTH database. It’s easy to tell that it deals with shady things, and the least important thing in such a pce are feelings. I would be surprised if you have su emotional tie with others.”

  Aleph gave her the impression of being able to see through anything. Even a little bit of her movement could give away somethied to her.

  Upon realizing this, Sakura decided to be aboveboard.

  “The favor… You said I could ask for anything.”

  “Well, anything within my capabilities.”

  She fell silent for a moment.

  “I want you to save my family.”

  Aleph’s smile immediately turned into a frown. He could immediately see through Sakura’s problem.

  “They really dare to take someone hostage.” He muttered with a heavy tone. “Do you know which cilor spearheaded yanization?”

  “No, but I’ve heard that there are multiple cilors who supported it.”

  “Did they kidnap your family?”

  “They pced them under surveilhe moment I go against them, they will…”

  This time, it h’s turn to remain silent.

  “The higher ups… I thought they’re too pt and ignorant from what I’ve seen earlier. But if it’s up to that extent…”

  He recalled one of his versations with Mei.

  …

  “You want to reach a higher status?”

  “tributing to studies is no longer enough. I’ve seen a lot during my stay here. Even the hidden struggles. Didn’t you hear it from Kevin?”

  “There are always deaths during every expedition. Fire MOTH is pletely devoted to dumping human resources to fight the honkai.”

  Kevin’s situation was far worse than what Aleph and Mei experienced. He got to see his rades fall one by oher due to honkai eruptions or other simir circumstances.

  “It’s not just that. The higher ups are iionally deying some institutes. The fifth, for example. They were cutting their fundings to prevent their MANTIS Project from reag pletion.”

  MANTIS, also known as the Massively Augmented etegrated Soldiers, was the fifth institute’s main project headed by Doobius. It seeks to ie a honkai beast’s power within humans, thus breaking the shackles of the weak. It would serve to produdividuals with strong bat capabilities who are enough, in theory, to fight honkai beasts by themselves.

  “It’s an ope that every cilor steals their research data while dug their own studies. They are fighting to be the first oo harness such teology.”

  “You are saying that the higher ups are screwing over Fire MOTH, and in turn, humanity?”

  “That’s about it.”

  …

  Looking at the taciturn pink-haired woman, Aleph gave his answer.

  “I will help you with that regard.”

  Hearing his answer, Sakura felt more relieved.

  “If you fulfill that, you will have my life.” She decred solemnly. “Even if you ask for me to die, I will do it.”

  Aleph saw the determination behind her eyes. If Hua’s will is just about to bee stronger, Sakura’s will is already strong enough. It was the differeween a rookie and a veteran.

  “I will remember that.”