[The news of Dr. Mei's assassination quickly spread among the Fire Moths, and there were rumors that the assassin was an internal member of the Fire Moths.]
[Although the identity of the assassin has not been made public, from the various signs that Ying has disappeared and even you have been suspended for investigation, it is not difficult for everyone to guess who the assassin is.]
[Soon after, Mei and Mebius held a meeting to discuss the incident and how to deal with it afterwards. The others also proposed their own methods and expressed their concern for Mei's experience and situation.]
[Everyone tacitly agreed not to discuss the issue of "who exactly wanted to assassinate Dr. Mei?" After all, everyone knew it, and if it was brought to the table, it would tear the relationship apart, which would be bad for everyone]
[At the end of the meeting, a member said, "Why don't we set up a special team to handle this kind of thing? They should be responsible for internal incidents like the assassination of important members of the Fire Moth. Such malicious incidents also require special people to handle. After all, we are the heroes at the forefront of the fight against Honkai. This kind of stabbing in the back can be regarded as a betrayal, right? And traitors... need to be cleaned up, right?"]
[Everyone knows that they are members of the "Poison Pupa" who have always wanted to expand their voice. They have been trying to control the "dark side" of the Fire Moth in their own way. This time, they naturally seized the opportunity and wanted to take a big bite from others and bite off a piece of the power cake.]
[Ordinarily, this proposal would not be passed. After all, it would mean that the illegal method of "labeling the other party as a traitor and killing them" was officially put on the table and became a method that everyone could use. However... unexpectedly, a group of people represented by Mei and Mebius agreed to this.]
【Not only that, Mei openly stated that "perhaps you should also be equipped with some members with outstanding martial arts to prevent such vicious incidents as assassinations from happening again." At the same time, she told others that Kevin would be responsible for his own safety when he was not on a mission, and when Kevin left, Sakura would be responsible. As for Dr. Mobius, he basically did not leave the laboratory so there was no equipment, but someone would follow him when he went out.】
[It's called protection, but it's actually surveillance... Everyone understands this, but it's hard to object openly because it's natural for Mei, as the "victim", to make this suggestion. Plus, she can choose the personnel herself, so it's not too much.]
[So, with a slight advantage, this proposal was passed, and the special force "Poison Pupa" was officially established - even the name was not changed, it was just moved here directly]
[At the same time, everyone in the upper echelons is clear about one thing - Mei and the others have joined forces with the Poison Pupa, to the point that the Poison Pupa is willing to split up the combination between you and Ying and assign one person to protect Mei. It is even possible that they are guiding this assassination together, and then taking advantage of the situation to take what they want.]
[Mei, Mebius and other scientific researchers have gained stability. They can concentrate on their plans and continue their research without worrying about someone stabbing them in the back while fighting the Honkai. After all, doing so is likely to lead to revenge from the "Poison Pupa"]
[The Poison Pupa gained the official right to speak, and escaped from the previous awkward position where anyone could order them around. After all, they had the support of a group of scientific researchers such as Mei and Mebius.]
[At this moment, they had to restrain their own methods, face up to the two people who joined forces, and give them corresponding treatment]
[As for you and Sakura, after the meeting ended and the proposal came into effect, you naturally resumed your normal lives which were slightly different from before. Sakura became the escort of Mei and Mebius, and was also listed in the "Poison Pupa" unit. You were reinstated and were also listed in the "Poison Pupa" unit.]
[As it should be, there is nothing surprising. Except that you and Sakura have fewer opportunities to meet, everything is fine. Even Ling has been taken to the Fire Moth. Sakura can go back to see her whenever she has time.]
[Of course, people who vaguely guessed your and Sakura's previous identities gradually reduced their contact with you, and many people unconsciously began to distance themselves from you. Of course, there were also some people who did not express anything...such as Alicia.]
[She is still as cheerful as ever, and even cares about you more after that day]
[But like Hen, she has developed a bad habit - she always wants to steal your candy box when she meets you, and you are happy to play this little game with her, and you are confident that you will not let her get it.]
[Absolutely not]
[In this atmosphere of lightness and tension, time slowly passed, and then came the Sixth Herrscher.]
----------
The wind blew gently, bringing with it the coolness of the night. As it passed through the quiet streets, it quietly took away the remaining popularity and carried it away into the distance.
"........."
Xi Wang moved quickly with the help of the building and glanced at the quiet street.
He remembered this place. He had been here during a mission. At that time, the place was bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder, crowded in the relatively wide street. The store employees were enthusiastically introducing the products to the customers, and the restaurant's kitchen was bustling with activity.
There are children playing in the square, moving crookedly in the crowd on roller skates. Elderly and leisurely people dance to the singing, and their rhythmic dance moves attract the attention of others. The children's laughter and the songs of square dances mix together, turning into a noisy sound called "popularity". Couples who have just finished shopping in the mall sit in a quiet corner, whispering while resting, and occasionally play with each other because of some small actions.
Even three days ago, this place still looked the same. As the most prosperous commercial street in the area, thousands of people walked through it every day, playing and enjoying themselves, adding a bustle to the place. Even the high moon could not stop them.
But now, this place was plunged into deathly silence. Even Xi Wang's footsteps seemed a little noisy, the wind blowing past seemed a little noisy, and even his own heartbeat became so clear.
but……
So be it.
Xi Wang withdrew his gaze, his eyes as calm as a lake.
He just quickened his pace slightly and rushed to that place, where the person he cared about was.
boom--!
A sound was heard from far away, gradually fading away, only to echo in the quiet street.
"...Wang, you are here."
Xi Wang landed gently beside her, and she nodded, maintaining a smile and spoke.
"The operation was successful."
"Um...what happened to him?"
Xi Wang glanced at the billboard on the street, which had an obvious scarlet fist mark on it, and then his eyes rested on Kevin.
"Ho...you're here, where are your teammates? Where are they? Where are the others? Are they still there?"
Seeing Xiwang coming, Kevin asked hurriedly, his panicked tone as if he had grasped some life-saving straw.
“…They are all dead.”
Seeing his appearance, Xi Wang hesitated for a moment, and then told him the truth.
They are warriors, they are soldiers, there is no need to hide things from each other - and such casualties cannot be concealed at all, he will know when he returns to the base.
"I'm the only one of the team still alive and able to move. Considering that the two of you are still in the center, I came to check the situation."
In order to protect Kevin's current fragile mentality, Xi Wang slightly modified his wording to avoid hurting him again.
"They're all dead...ah, yes...it's really like that..."
Kevin was a little dazed. This was something he had obviously known and guessed a long time ago, but when he saw Xiwang coming, he still hoped to get news that there were other survivors.
But that is impossible. Under an explosion of that magnitude, very few people can survive. The fact that the three of them can still stand here and chat shows that their physiques are incredibly strong.
"It's all... my fault..."
Kevin's body was shaking, and he had to hold on to a billboard beside him to avoid falling down. Then his hands unconsciously exerted force, adding another grip mark to the billboard.
"…Should I tell him that even if no one is here, he still has to pay for breaking things?"
Xi Wang turned his head to look at Alicia and asked puzzledly.
"........."
"Haha~"
Alicia smiled twice with her hands covering her mouth, and the originally heavy atmosphere dissipated a little at this moment.
“…Don’t say that, Kevin.”
Alicia said softly.
"Of course it's your fault that these people died, but... it's also mine."
"……What happened?"
Xi Wang frowned and asked.
"... Just before the victory, the Sixth Herrscher showed... human emotions."
Alicia spoke slowly.
"We have never encountered such a thing, so Kevin..."
"So I hesitated and let her take the city with her before she died."
Kevin's voice sounded at the side, taking over Alicia's words.
"The people around, all the innocent ordinary people, just died like that."
"They didn't do anything, they didn't do anything wrong, just because of me, a stranger who had nothing to do with them, their lives ended just like that, they disappeared so easily, without even a corpse..."
"I killed them..."
Because of my own hesitation.
"Oh."
pat-
Xi Wang responded calmly, then took out his candy box and stuffed a candy into himself.
His attitude seemed to say—that's it?
"…But it was you who killed the Sixth Herrscher and ended this disaster."
Alicia gave him a strange look, then spoke softly.
"........."
"It's okay Kevin. If it were me, the ending wouldn't change... The same questions would appear in my mind, and I would hesitate and doubt, and I would... make the same choice as you."
Alicia tried her best to comfort Kevin, and of course, what she said was true.
"........."
Kevin shifted his gaze to Xi Wang - he was just standing there by himself, eating candy and enjoying the cool night breeze... or maybe he was just daydreaming.
"Don't look at me. I have no right to speak since I haven't experienced the situation myself."
Noticing Kevin's gaze, Xi Wang just spoke calmly and calmly, as if he didn't care about it.
If it were him, he would pull the trigger without hesitation... After all, he would never care about such things, and might not even have any questions.
Seeing Xiwang like this, Kevin couldn't help but have this idea.
If it was him, he would definitely kill her cleanly and neatly, and these things wouldn't have happened...
pat--!
There was a very loud sound. Xi Wang slammed the candy box in his hand shut and responded to Kevin with a look of disgust.
"What's with that look in your eyes?"
"........."
"You're not thinking that it would be better if I came, are you? Don't disgust me, how could such a thing be possible?"
Xi Wang maintained that look of disdain, but his tone was calm.
"Not to mention that I don't have the same power as you two to fight the Herrscher. Even if I did, I wouldn't care about any consequences of the battle. As long as the Herrscher dies, that's enough. After all, that's the mission assigned by the superiors. I don't care about anything else."
"Compared to those who have died and you failed to save them, why don't you look at how many people you actually saved and then think about how to reduce the number of deaths next time."
"And who are you showing such a sad face to? Are you trying to be pitiful? Don't act like you can bring the dead back to life. If you succeed, I will definitely kill you first."
"……Why?"
Although Xi Wang's previous words were relatively normal, the last sentence was a bit puzzling, so much so that Kevin asked subconsciously.
"Because you caused all my previous missions to fail, and then caused me to lose money and go bankrupt. I also had to wander around while avoiding multiple pursuits and wanted orders, and finally I was stabbed to death or starved to death in some corner."
Xi Wang rolled his eyes, his tone adding a bit of disgust...Anyway, ever since the [Poison Pupa] was officially established in the Fire Moth, his and Ying's previous identities have been semi-public, and one can guess it with a little thought, so he seemed to have no scruples when talking about this topic.
Not to mention that there are only three of them here now.
“Pfft… Kevin, he just hopes that you can remember this [sacrifice] and do better next time… But what he said might be a little harsh, maybe a little… tsundere?”
Alicia covered her mouth and laughed twice, then took over the topic. As for the last sentence... Xi Wang did not refute it after hearing it, but just rolled his eyes slightly, then shut up and stayed aside to eat candy silently.
Anyway, he is not good at comforting people, so let Alicia do it.
"Not only Wang, but me too, Kevin. I hope you can remember it, remember this sacrifice, remember the hesitation and weakness at that moment, and keep it firmly in your heart. This way... you will be Kevin."
"Sacrifice is sacrifice, yes, we all know that, but... these people who have passed away, these people who were [forced to sacrifice], are you, me, and the common responsibility of many of us. It is something that all those involved should bear, and it should not be all placed on one person, nor should it be borne by a single person."
"So, I want you to remember this day, remember this moment, and keep it forever in your heart, in my heart, in his heart... and it will remind us all what we are fighting for."
"Speaking of which, Kevin."
Alicia walked briskly, a little closer to Kevin, her long pink hair seemed to glow in the moonlight, and she lightly changed the subject.
"If one day, you would sacrifice the [minority] for the [majority] without hesitation, or choose to sacrifice the [majority] for the [minority]... Hmm~ It's a bit hard to imagine~"
Alicia tilted her head.
"After all, you are still a little too unfamiliar to me~?"
"...Alicia."
Kevin's mood seemed to have recovered a lot, and his tone gradually calmed down, no longer filled with hesitation and regret as before.
"If you had to choose... would you choose the minority... or the majority?"
"……me?"
Alicia smiled, slightly moved away from Kevin, and walked forward, leaving him with her back.
"Kevin, you know, there is a difference between a minority and a minority. In everyone's heart, there must be some minorities... let alone the majority, they may even be more important than the whole."
"so……"
