Honkai: Fire Moth Herrschers

Michael took a deep breath and nodded.

His thoughts raced. Who could have leaked Elysia's ability? The only others present at the time were Himeko and Sakura.

Himeko was out of the question. Sakura… was it possible?

He had witnessed Sakura's gradual attempts to influence him, but he didn't think it was her. And the timing didn't add up – the battle in Ruruye was almost three months ago, and Fire Moth's expansion was a month and a half ago. If it were Sakura, the timing wouldn't match.

Shaking his head, Michael stopped dwelling on it. Not because it wasn't important, but because mere speculation wouldn't lead to a correct conclusion. There was no point wasting time.

He then focused on another word Mobius had used.

"Ignorant? What do you mean? Could it be…?"

"Heh, exactly what you're thinking."

Michael sighed.

The anomalies in Shenzhou and the Far East had started a few months ago, around the same time the Fifth Squad went to Ruruye.

Unusual Honkai energy concentrations had been detected in many areas, along with a large number of infected Zombies.

Last month, the Fifth Squad had submitted a joint report, pointing out that the current anomalies in Shenzhou and the Far East, including the unusual Honkai energy readings and the increased Deadman activity, mirrored phenomena observed in the records of the previous two Eruptions.

The conclusion was obvious – the Third Eruption was imminent.

The likely locations were eastern Shenzhou and the Far East, with Michael highlighting the possibility of a Herrscher appearing in major cities like shanghai and Nagazora.

The report had been submitted to headquarters, but like a stone thrown into the sea, it had vanished without a trace.

Michael had no idea what had happened. Headquarters hadn't even responded. It seemed Mobius knew something.

"Those consultants dismissed your report as 'alarmist.' If it weren't for Phamas's support, they would have reprimanded you. They believe that as a combat squad, your only duty is to 'execute' orders. Thinking about when and where a Honkai eruption might occur is their job."

"But without our frontline reports, how can they make accurate assessments?" Michael was both angry and confused.

"Obviously, by sitting in their air-conditioned offices, with their feet up, relying on their imagination."

"And what was their assessment?"

Mobius pursed her lips, pausing for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully, or suppressing some emotion.

"They believe that Honkai eruptions follow a natural pattern…"

"That's a reasonable assumption," Michael said quietly.

Mobius glanced at him. Whether he was being sarcastic or simply stating a fact, she continued, "Their so-called 'natural pattern' is this – the interval between the First and Second Eruptions was six years, so the Third Eruption should naturally occur five and a half years later…"

Michael was speechless.

"You shouldn't have brought up the First Eruption," he said, shaking his head.

"What, are you blaming me for indirectly revealing your identity?" Mobius raised an eyebrow, her tone sharp, but then softening, "I didn't know about you when I created the model. Besides, your identity wouldn't hold up under scrutiny."

"I was just joking, Doctor. You have no sense of humor."

"Heh…" Mobius chuckled dryly. "You still remember I'm a doctor?"

Michael touched his nose. He and Elysia had gotten used to calling Mobius by her name, a trend that had spread throughout the Fifth Squad, then Fire Moth. Now, only Mobius's new assistant still used the "Doctor" honorific.

After a brief silence, Michael asked, "Does their time-based theory even hold up? I mean, they can't possibly believe it themselves, can they?"

Mobius licked her lips. "They have a second argument: the First Eruption was small-scale, confined to a narrow area of a few dozen kilometers. The Second Eruption was larger, but the initial affected area was only about three hundred kilometers… And now, the anomalous areas have spread, covering almost all of eastern Shenzhou and the Far East. The affected range is too large…"

"It's hard to imagine the amount of Honkai energy required for an eruption on such a scale. And how powerful the Herrscher born from such an eruption would be."

Mobius glanced at Michael, who was stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"Don't tell me you're actually considering their motives? Let me tell you, not everyone understands Honkai as well as we do… Many people see it as something like the Black Death or smallpox, a terrible plague, but one that humanity will ultimately overcome. And because of this, those politicians disguised as consultants, they care more about their authority, their image, and of course, burying their heads in the sand."

"Ah! That's not quite right. You know that thought experiment in quantum mechanics? In their eyes, the Third Eruption is in a superposition of both happening and not happening. They think that as long as they don't observe it, they can delay it indefinitely."

"Isn't that still burying their heads in the sand?"

"…I just think it sounds more sophisticated."

Michael rubbed his face, forcing a smile. "Mobius, you'd make a good psychologist."

Mobius ignored his compliment. "What about the Doctor?"

"Oh, Dr. Mobius…"

A vein throbbed on Mobius's forehead. She snorted, but couldn't argue with him.

"Honestly, Mobius, did Phamas deliberately let you out to contact me and confirm the Third Eruption?" Michael suddenly asked.

Mobius didn't respond, not even with a scoff.

The car stopped in front of Fire Moth's secret base. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary office building, just… smaller.

The only unusual feature was the three-letter sign on the roof: MiHoYo…

Yes, the secret base was disguised as a game company. It actually was a game company, but that was just a cover for Fire Moth's expanded operations. The top few floors and the basement housed the Fifth Squad, the support company, and their equipment.

Michael spotted a familiar pink figure dozing off in front of the building.

She noticed the car, but after taking a step forward, she hesitated and waited.

Michael, observing her, asked impatiently, "So, any good news?"

"Are you that eager?" Mobius retorted.

Michael, shamelessly, nodded.

Mobius sighed, lowering her voice and speaking quickly, "Phamas still has some authority. She's transferring Himeko to shanghai City as well. That means over half of the Fifth Squad will be concentrated here. As for Sakura in the Far East… she couldn't pull that off. Also, Fire Moth One has been recalled from the Southern Hemisphere and is on standby, ready to support shanghai."

Michael nodded. Himeko's arrival was a welcome surprise. As for Fire Moth One, without some modifications, it wouldn't be very useful, especially against the Third Herrscher's powers…

But that meant…

"So, Phamas did let you out?" Michael was both surprised and unsurprised, a hint of irony in his tone.

Those two, who had never gotten along, were now working together under pressure from the United Government?

Mobius rolled her eyes, not wanting to discuss it further.

Michael reached for the door handle, then paused.

"Tell Phamas I'm ninety percent certain the Third Eruption will occur within a month, at most, before the students' summer break. As for the location, I can only guess shanghai? Or Nagazora? But definitely in this area, and shanghai will likely suffer significant damage."

Michael's voice was slightly distant. He had been worried that his presence might alter the course of the Third Eruption, but after saving Hua, he was now certain it would arrive – as scheduled.

"Is this a Herrscher's premonition, or something else?"

"Whatever you want to believe."