MOTH Biological Research Institute corridor.
The regular meeting had just ended.
Two biological researchers who had finished their reports were about to head back to their lab for a drink when they ran straight into a green-haired woman who seemed to be passing by.
Dr. Mobius!
Why was she here?
She hadn't attended the meeting just now—they thought she wouldn't be coming back today.
The two immediately straightened up, respectfully greeting her like soldiers encountering a superior.
"Good afternoon, Minister Mobius!"
After all, if they displeased this venomous snake, they would have to start wondering how much time they had left to live.
Besides, who knew whether Dr. Mobius was really just passing by or not.
Mobius, sipping her milk tea, turned her head and nodded slightly at them. The heavy dark circles under her eyes, combined with her cold, mechanical tone...
It sent chills down their spines.
"The meeting is over?"
"Y-Yes." The two researchers were startled and nodded frantically like pecking chickens.
As expected, Dr. Mobius must have had some interest in them to initiate a conversation.
"Looks like I overslept again..." Mobius lifted her milk tea and glanced at it. "Even milk tea isn't working anymore lately. Sigh."
Seeing that Mobius' attention had shifted away from them,
the two researchers didn't dare exchange any pleasantries and quickly slipped away.
They kept close to the wide corridor walls, leaving Mobius' line of sight as fast as possible to avoid attracting any unnecessary interest from her.
Only after entering their own lab did they finally let out a sigh of relief.
Thinking back to what had just happened, the researcher holding the report still felt lingering fear.
"Why would Dr. Mobius greet us? She's not planning to turn us into..."
"Hey, didn't you hear what Group Eight said? Dr. Mobius seems to have changed a lot..."
The other researcher, now seated in an office chair and drinking tea to calm himself, shook his head as he recounted the rumors he had heard.
"For example, she talks less now, she actually responds to people, and she's working even harder.
"I even heard that someone saw her working at dawn..."
The researcher holding the folder gasped. "What—did the sun rise in the west, or has Honkai already ended? Or did some unlucky guy get targeted by the snake again?"
The last unlucky person who had been lured by Dr. Mobius had already spent two months in MOTH's psychiatric ward, completely out of his mind.
A change in Dr. Mobius herself wasn't what was frightening—the terrifying part was the purpose hidden behind that change.
To this day, that man was still shouting nonsense about how Dr. Mobius was his idol, his god.
Clearly, his brain was completely broken.
Beep—
The lab door opened, and a quiet girl with glasses walked in, leading a white-haired, sunny-looking boy.
"Dr. Mei!"
The researcher who had just been gossiping about Dr. Mobius panicked and knocked over his teacup.
The shock of Mobius earlier had made him forget that Dr. Mei had an appointment today.
The other researcher wasn't any better.
Since Dr. Mei and Dr. Mobius were relatively close, they feared that what they had just said might reach Mobius' ears.
If that happened, their lives would be over.
"No need to be nervous." Hearing Dr. Mei's words, the researcher who had bent down to clean the spill sighed in relief—but her next sentence made his heart leap into his throat.
"I heard everything."
"Cough—cough—"
Couldn't you just say it all at once?
And at a time like this, shouldn't you be reassuring them by saying something like 'I won't report you'?
At least put on a good front.
Looking at the trembling researchers, Dr. Mei folded her arms and adjusted her glasses.
Her intention had been to make them more cautious.
"I don't mind personally, but you should avoid spreading rumors about Dr. Mobius lately. Consider this practical advice for your own safety."
Would they be turned into lab rats by Dr. Mobius?
The two researchers exchanged glances.
"No, the danger does not come from Dr. Mobius."
Dr. Mei seemed to see through their thoughts.
"Some people..." Dr. Mei pointed upward. "are making some big moves..."
Her words trailed off abruptly, clearly indicating that what followed wasn't suitable to say out loud.
However, reprimanding these two subordinates was only incidental. She took the injection that was regularly administered to Siegfried from their hands and left with Kevin.
She could only hope that these careless researchers wouldn't run into trouble.
Given MOTH's current situation, there weren't many allies she could find while avoiding the watchful eyes of the higher-ups.
Some among the higher-ups had already noticed her subtle actions and begun extending their reach.
Only after returning to Mei's private office and confirming no one was nearby did Kevin finally release the curiosity he had been suppressing.
"Mei, that person earlier... that wasn't Dr. Mobius, was it? She was..."
"Kevin, trying to obtain intelligence through channels provided by the higher-ups will yield nothing."
Dr. Mei knew what Kevin wanted to say, but now was not the time to reveal her full plans.
Walls have ears. There might be more than just the two of them here.
And the probability of that was very high. The power of MOTH's higher-ups—when they remained silent, they remained silent, but when they acted, it was thunderous.
When dealing with Honkai, they hesitated and faltered. When dealing with humans, they struck without mercy.
Those who had survived multiple changes in leadership were all exceptionally talented when it came to dealing with humans.
...
But some things could be said without issue.
"Kevin, we currently hold no real power. If we want to oppose them, we can only rely on subtle strategies and feigned weakness."
"What we need to do now is accumulate strength and wait for the right opportunity—and that opportunity is coming soon."
Of course, the higher-ups were aware of this as well. They would not simply stand by.
As far as Dr. Mei knew, they had already begun taking action.
"Kevin, prepare yourself... I need you to go to Barcelona and protect Dr. Mobius. That is the surface-level task, meant for the higher-ups to see. Your real mission is to investigate the tendencies of MOTH's higher-ups regarding the situation in Dusk City."
Dr. Mei was considerate toward Kevin. The task she assigned already hinted at part of the truth.
"Tendencies? What tendencies?" Kevin was confused.
It seemed that even after spending so long in MOTH, Kevin still hadn't grasped certain unspoken matters.
So be it.
Dr. Mei spoke coldly.
"The tendency to 'look toward the stars.' That carries a certain level of danger."
"Kevin, I don't need you to take action against them. The details of the mission have already been sent to your personal terminal."
"Remember—if anyone tries to stop you, show no mercy. No matter who they are, they are enemies of humanity."