Honkai: Fire Moth Herrschers

"Awake?" Michael heard Mobius's voice the moment he opened his eyes.

"This is… Fire Moth One…"

He turned his head sluggishly, seeing Mobius perched on a chair beside his bed, a stack of reports in her hand, which she was reviewing absentmindedly.

She impatiently crossed her legs, swinging one foot back and forth, her small heel dangling from her shoe. She didn't seem to be wearing socks, and with Michael's eyesight, he could clearly see every line and texture of the skin on her foot.

"It stinks…" Michael's voice was weak.

"What?"

Mobius looked up, frowning at him. Michael noticed she was wearing a small pair of glasses, making her look more mature than usual.

"I said… you always keep the lights off in your lab. Now you're nearsighted?"

"Tch! Better than almost drowning at sea! Wait, don't you know how to swim?"

"Cough!" Michael, regaining some strength, sat up, propping himself up with his hands. "Isn't there an old saying in Shenzhou? It's the ones who know how to swim who drown…"

It was rather ironic. He'd had several escape options, including but not limited to: swimming the two hundred meters to Pohnpei, using his Herrscher powers to create a boat, or simulating the core of the Herrscher of the Void for spatial travel…

But the water was too cold, and his scalp was really itchy [author's humorous aside, likely to avoid criticism]. His leg cramped almost the moment he hit the water, and he started thrashing uncontrollably, swallowing a considerable amount of seawater. Fortunately, he was lucky enough to be swept onto the island by the current after only ten minutes or so.

"Where are the others?" Michael asked casually.

Mobius scoffed. "You mean Elysia, right?"

"No, don't overthink it."

"Tch! Relax, they're all back safe and sound, no injuries. That woman was blocking my door this morning, wanting to see you."

"Which woman?"

Mobius glanced at him, not bothering to respond.

His attempt at humor failing, Michael got out of bed and changed into his combat uniform without hesitation.

"By the way, the commotion you caused last night made the news."

"Oh? Is it serious?" Michael had seen the miniature mushroom cloud from afar last night and had to admit, the impact had been a bit excessive. A normal Chariot-class Honkai beast, even one over twenty meters tall, close to being a higher-class beast, would have been either severely injured or dead after that attack.

Even Michael wasn't confident he could have emerged unscathed.

"So?"

"So, there's probably a protest going on in Ruruye's Dagon District right now – residents complaining about the demolition company working late at night and disturbing their sleep."

Michael struggled to suppress a laugh.

"By the way, what about the survivors from the Tower…?"

"Everything's taken care of. That kid, A… Al-something? I heard you specifically requested him?"

"Yeah, he has good Honkai adaptability… Don't you dare get any funny ideas!"

"Tch!" Mobius shook her head dismissively. "Michael, have you gone soft these past few days? Why do you care about every stray cat and dog?"

Michael was about to leave, but her words stopped him in his tracks.

They were physically close, yet their backs to each other, they seemed miles apart. The fluorescent lights illuminated Mobius's face, casting a shadow behind her.

The same light illuminated Michael's back, his face hidden in darkness.

"Mobius…"

Michael's voice was low and hoarse, and for the first time, he omitted the honorific "Doctor."

Mobius shivered involuntarily, her eyes narrowing, pupils trembling slightly.

"I know that in your mind, humanity is a collective concept. Sacrificing some individuals for the whole is inconsequential. After all, the minority must always align with the interests of the majority."

"Perhaps. But what's wrong with that?"

They both turned their heads slightly, their gazes meeting in their peripheral vision.

"No. One day, you'll realize that there are always certain 'individuals' in your heart whose weight, whose significance, surpasses all others."

"Oh? I'd like to see that. Who would this individual be?" Mobius said nonchalantly.

Michael turned his head back. The pose had been dramatic, but his neck was stiff.

"I'm just saying, Mobius. For the sake of our… acquaintance, can I request that you don't target innocent people?"

"Hmph…" Mobius stiffly turned her head back, letting out a grunt.

"I'm leaving." Michael declared unilaterally, an air of finality in his tone.

"Wait!"

"What now?" Michael's hand was already on the doorknob.

"Did you use your Herrscher powers last night?"

"Of course." Michael was puzzled. This pointless question wasn't like Mobius.

Had Fire Moth discovered something? No, that couldn't be right, or he wouldn't be comfortably resting in Fire Moth One.

"Nothing. When we fished you out last night, your Honkai energy readings were a bit high. I had to cover for you."

"Oh, thanks."

Michael was relieved. As long as Fire Moth hadn't found any concrete evidence, it wasn't a big deal – well, he felt like he was missing something, but it wasn't a big deal!

The sun outside looked like it was past noon. Michael went to the cafeteria for a meal, then, instead of seeing Elysia immediately, he asked for directions and found Himeko in the cockpit, helping to record flight data.

Himeko didn't seem surprised to see him. She continued writing something on a piece of paper, asking casually, "Are you feeling better?"

"Fine."

She nodded, then whispered, "I've had Sakura distract Elysia. Leave Fire Moth One and wait for me by the 680mm railgun. I'll be there in ten minutes."

Michael paused, then felt a surge of excitement.

What were they going to do? Simply ask for the "truth," and then attempt to deliver some form of judgment.

An hour later, night was about to fall on Ruruye once again. It was quitting time, and clerks streamed out of City Hall, walking on the frosted streets that were both translucent and subtly textured.

Michael and Himeko sat on a bench in the park opposite City Hall, chatting casually.

Calling it a park was a stretch – there wasn't a single blade of grass. Human civilization on Ruruye Island had completely overtaken nature.

But… Ruruye was still a magnificent sight.

"See? Even with just human power, we can create such incredible landscapes." Himeko said with a touch of pride.

Michael looked up at the sky. Pale green crystal skyscrapers formed a circle, with only a tiny point of light visible at an immense height, bringing to mind the metaphor of a frog in a well.

"It's certainly impressive." Michael offered genuine praise, but silently thought, "…Also called Ruruye, this place really resembles somewhere three million light-years from Earth…"

Himeko was already talking about something else. "I checked. Alfred leaves work half an hour later than everyone else. We'll wait until everyone's gone before going in. We'll have plenty of time."

Just as she finished speaking, a man in a suit came hurrying towards them.

They exchanged glances, a hint of wariness in their eyes.

The man quickly reached them. "Captain Himeko, Squad Leader Michael, City Official Alfred has been expecting you. Please, come this way."

When Michael saw Alfred again, he was hunched over his desk, his face almost buried in the paperwork. He wore a jacket draped over his shoulders, a thin white shirt underneath. His skin was as pale as ever, almost the same color as his shirt.

"One moment… cough, let me finish this document."

The assistant didn't enter the office. He closed the door behind Michael and Himeko.

Only the three of them remained. Michael, unwilling to wait any longer, asked directly, "Alfred, doesn't your conscience bother you?"

Alfred's writing stopped.

"So you've come to condemn me? But what have I done wrong? If it weren't for my serum, Captain Himeko, would you even be standing here?"

He calmly denied any wrongdoing.

Himeko frowned. "You know that's not what we're talking about. Just tell us, was the Honkai eruption in the three blocks of Dagon District your doing?"

"Hey, hey, hey! You can't just make accusations. Do you have any proof?"

Certainly, here is the text split into two parts for better flow:

Michael took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. He meticulously listed all the inconsistencies he'd found, his voice steady but laden with quiet fury. "I suspect you diverted the miniature Honkai reactor from Pohnpei, causing the Honkai energy reaction in one of the blocks to spike instantaneously."

He paused for a moment, his gaze narrowing as the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place. "Then, you quickly shut it down and removed it, ensuring the reaction stopped. This would have caused a rapid initial outbreak, spreading to three blocks and infecting everyone with Honkai sickness. But it would have also prevented further spread, wouldn't it?"

Alfred leaned back in his chair, a smile spreading across his face as he listened to Michael's analysis. Then, he started clapping slowly.

"Perfect! Brilliant! And then? As warriors fighting the Honkai, surely you don't believe the value of a few dozen doses of serum is less than that of tens of thousands of ordinary people?"

Michael couldn't hold back any longer. He grabbed Alfred by the collar, lifting him easily and slamming him against the wall.

Alfred, unaccustomed to such treatment, grimaced and coughed uncontrollably.

Himeko didn't intervene, simply watching coldly.

"You…" Michael's voice suddenly trembled. Himeko frowned, sensing something wasn't right.

"What is it?"

"See for yourself." Michael released Alfred, whose lips were twisted in a mocking smile.

He casually unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his neck, covered in purple veins.

"How… You didn't have this when we were on Pohnpei…" Himeko was increasingly bewildered. This revelation was more ironic than Alfred's mocking smile. She even thought he might have drawn the veins on with a marker.

"It's definitely Honkai sickness," Michael said coldly, his tone final.

He thought for a moment, then added, "Late stage."

A long silence followed, a deathly, solemn silence, as if they were in a graveyard, not a city official's office.

Did he really do it? If he had dozens of doses of serum, why wouldn't he treat himself? Was it because he hadn't done it, or was it out of guilt?

A barrage of questions tormented Michael and Himeko's minds.

They recalled how he had acted all frivolous and carefree, yet pushed them with unusual urgency when they first arrived in Ruruye.

For a moment, they couldn't tell whether the man before them was good or evil.

"Any more questions? If not, may I ask you to leave?"

Michael, his face grim, turned to leave.

Just as they reached the door, Alfred spoke softly, "Oh, give my regards to everyone on Pohnpei!"

Michael didn't stop.

After they left, Alfred remained in his office late into the night.

"Beep, beep, beep…"

He held his phone to his ear, listening to the raspy voice he both knew and loathed. "The annoying moths are gone?"

"Gone. Tch, as per your request, old man, I first took the blame, and now I've cleared my name by showing off my Honkai sickness… no, not cleared, they're still confused, unsure what kind of person I am."

"Good." The voice on the other end didn't seem angered by the "old man" remark, perhaps having grown accustomed to it. "Moths will be moths. They only chase faint flickers of light, especially when the lead moth is on the wrong path."

Alfred frowned. Despite his familiarity with it, the voice, like it had gargled hot coals, still grated on him, especially with its condescending tone.

"That's all. Give yourself a shot, quickly. You're my most promising biologist, much better than that lunatic Mobius. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you…"

Alfred hung up. "Scoff! Much better than Mobius… Is that praising my competence or my obedience?"

He opened a drawer, staring at the only two objects inside – a vial of serum and a photograph.

Driven by a powerful survival instinct, he picked up the serum, removed the cap from the needle, and aimed it at his vein…

But his eyes fell on the faded photograph, and he hesitated.

"Perhaps… But I don't want to solve this trolley problem anymore… Saving some means killing others. There's no right or wrong choice… only… the one who makes the choice, the one who carries it out, bears an unforgivable sin. The only way…"