The director of the fifth institute.

  She is a special existehin Fire MOTH. She was one of the oldest members within the anization. She was also the one who recruited the “stro human” to Fire MOTH. It wasn’t wrong to say that she has a siderable influehin the group.

  Unfortunately, she focused more on her researstead of the usual influence development route. Before she k, most of the cilors began cutting the fifth institute’s fundings.

  A siderable k of it goes to the cilors. When the fundings es down, each of the personnel who oversee it will secretly get a portion of it. That goes on until the amount that she receives was less than half of what she should’ve gotten.

  It became an ope that the fifth institute is bullied like that. Add to that the fact that their main dire didn’t hold much appeal pared to the other four institutes, there were “justified reasons” to cut their fundings down.

  ‘Someone like her… There’s a sed case.’

  Mobius did not care about Fire MOTH’s internal affairs. The results of her research was what mattered the most.

  ‘A new spe.’

  A tinge of excitement rose up in her mind.

  *****

  ‘Doobius…’

  The moment their gazes met, Aleph felt something.

  ‘She’s just like Sakura. No, she’s stronger..?’

  These internal thoughts were hidden to himself.

  “Good afternoon, Doobius. I heard you came for me.”

  “Who wouldn’t? After all the fuss you made, the higher ups began pg more attention here.”

  “That’s iable.”

  “Oh? You already pnned for everything, no?”

  “That, I wouldn’t deny.”

  With just this versation, Aleph pared Mobius to the one from his prior impression.

  ‘Snarky, has a high ego, disregards the higher ups. Has a strong personality and couldn’t be easily persuaded.’

  In short, she’s uable.

  “I presume you must be curious about my strength.”

  “Previously, yes.” She frankly admitted. “Now, I’m curious as to why you are in that dition.”

  Aleph felt her pierg gaze linger on him. He made up his mind not to show his weakhis easily. That way, the uable woman in front of him would take him more seriously—which is ducive to the siy of their expected iation.

  “It’s nothing much. I worked too hard the past few days.”

  The moment he replied, Aleph chose to slowly enter his APS (Active Power State). Gradually, there seems to be an invisible pressure starting to emerge from this guest lounge. He tinued doing so until the purple lines were a tad bit short from extending beyond his elbow.

  “Let’s get straight to the point, Doobius. Your visit must be reted to your fifth institute. To be exact, your main research project.”

  Mobius fell silent for a while. It wasn’t known when, but a thin smile appeared on her rosy lips. Her gaze became more trated to him, as if she wasn’t afraid of direct eye tact for prolonged periods of time.

  “I want your help with it.”

  “What kind?” Aleph asked.

  “Your blood samples. I want to study your uniqueness. It will be eveer if you e with me personally.”

  Aleph expected everything he had heard.

  Her current research project was the initial stages of the “MANTIS” project. It was a research project that aimed for humans to be embedded with genes ing from honkai beasts. That will be the basis for humans to wield the power of honkai as their own.

  Unfortunately, the project didn’t see much success after several years of iment. The higher ups thought that this project would not wield the results they desired, hehey are colleg back their previous iments in the form of budget cuts.

  ‘Ahing to note. She’s greedy.’ He thought. ‘But her project…’

  Aleph foresaw that if it succeeded, it would bee one of humanity’s foundations to go up against honkai beasts on their own. There is even a ce that the solo-kill of Emperor-css honkai beasts could be enacted by undergoing this project.

  ‘There's a possibility of a huge achievement appearing.’

  He did not fet where his current strength came from. The ones reted to bat were cleared up by him during the Sapphire City eruption. The best pce to farm achievements was to work on Fire MOTH as a researcher.

  As such, he chose to be more sincere by showing a part of his “strength” that she was ied in.

  Numerous thoughts passed in his mind. His silent state fell on Mobius’ eyes. For some reason, she did not remove her gaze on him. It was unknowher it was a simple examination or not.

  Tap.

  Tap.

  Aleph’s fingers stopped tapping the ha.

  “ we ge it? Instead of samples, how about I work with you?”

  “Hum?”

  Mobius’ eyes widened in intrigue.

  “Five days in a month. I will work with you in the fifth institute for five days every month. I will help you with your main research project.”

  A few seds ter, it was met with her light ughter. Her legs were crossed, revealing a portion of her smooth white thighs. She zily held her head with her arm atop the armrest.

  “That surprised me. This is my first.” She said. “You must have heard everything about me.”

  “I did. Except for your extreme ditions, there isn’t anythirimental.”

  Mobius fshed her signature smile. It might have seemed sio others, but Aleph had the leeway to appreciate her charm.

  “Well, if you really want to work with me, I don’t mind.”

  She stood up from her seat. Although her coat was oversized—which hid her figure—Aleph’s eyesight and intuition told him about Mobius’ true figure.

  ‘Ugh, these stupid thoughts…’

  Despite his inner reprimanding, he could not help but pare Mobius to Mei.

  ‘What am I even thinking?!’

  Fortunately, this internal struggle was only represented outwardly by the tip of his mouth twitg.

  Soon, Mobius gestured for a handshake. Aleph caught onto her iions and shook her hands.

  ‘It feels cold… and soft.’

  “I am looking forward t with you.” She said with her usual smile.

  “Same goes for me.”

  After a set of formalities, he watched as Mobius left the guest lounge.

  “She’s uable… but beautiful?”

  It’s not as if he hadn’t seen a fair share of beautiful women.

  ‘It’s her charisma. It’s pletely different from others.’

  Aleph felt like her gaze was akin to a snake—ohat is eyeing her prey. She also exuded a certain charisma that set her apart from the others in this world.

  Yet…

  ‘Why did I feel some familiarity with it?’

  *****

  Nagazora City.

  The third eruption turhe bustling city into a ghost city. No signs of life could be seen except the occasional troubles caused by honkai beasts.

  Inside Aleph’s room, several items were messed up due to the earthquake. The charts, maps, and paintings hung on the wall are all loosely scattered on the floor. His desk was a plete mess.

  Underh his bed lies a bck metal box. His precious diaries were stored in it along with aem—a broken silver mirror. Its silver square frame was intact, but the mirror itself was badly shattered by some force.

  Hum-!

  The broken fragments of the mirror briefly glowed with silver light. A vague phantom of a clock could be seen from the mirror itself. Unfortunately, it was doomed to fail.

  Soon, everythiuro the previous stillness.