Ryan, in a simple shirt and glasses, looked refined and elegant, appearing frail amidst the surrounding burly n.
But as he questioned them, those handpicked warriors simultaneously tensed, as if sensing a predatory beast baring its fangs; they instinctively reached for their weapons.
"Enough. Don't be alard." Wien raised his hand; even his gray eyes narrowed instinctively, yet he maintained his composure and elegance.
"Ryan, you're becoming increasingly frightening, but thankfully, you're rational."
He knew the man before him was beyond control. His duel with the Herrscher of Thunder was a testant to that. He, and the entire airport, could be annihilated in monts. Even if Fire Moth mobilized its forces, it would be revenge, nothing more.
Thankfully, he wasn't a Herrscher. Besides mutual benefit, more importantly, Ryan wasn't alone; he had friends, and they weren't monsters.
"I need answers." Ryan said calmly, his killing intent receding; this older brother wasn't that foolish.
If they truly believed his relationship with Mobius was improper, they wouldn't have risked this eting.
"It wasn't us. So within the Council believe Mobius's research is too dangerous."
"More dangerous than the Honkai?"
"Yes. In their eyes, the Honkai can be defeated; for now, it isn't that terrifying." Wien inhaled, his expression unchanged. "But uncontrolled research on the Honkai is frightening. Humanity excels at self-destruction; history teaches us that."
So, that was it.
Ryan felt a headache coming on. He understood their perspective; only he knew the true power of the Honkai; perhaps a few others understood, but it was too late.
He guessed who was behind this.
"The Pureblood faction?"
"Yes. A very rigid group. They want to combat the Honkai with purely 'human' thods; otherwise, becoming Honkai Beasts is aningless."
The Pureblood faction was deeply convinced that the Honkai was rely a calamity like past pandemics; humanity would overco it. Mobius's attempt to redefine humanity was unacceptable to them.
Ryan found this amusing. "After witnessing the Herrscher of Thunder and Shanghai, do they still think so?"
"There's been so change, but not much. They still hope to apply Honkai energy to scientific research and inventions, preserving humanity, using science to combat the Honkai. Places like Shanghai exist globally; it's not sothing they can easily dismiss."
Truly...
Ryan couldn't label them "foolish." Everyone's perspective was different; choosing a different technological path was acceptable; the "God's Rod" was their achievent.
This confidence wouldn't change until the era of the Seventh Herrscher; they would suddenly realize that Herrschers had evolved from destroying cities to destroying continents; the advancent of science and technology was far slower than the evolution of the Herrschers.
No wonder they rushed the warrior fusion project. Without Kevin's protagonist aura, human civilization would have ended with the Seventh Herrscher.
He felt a pang of frustration but not overwhelming anger; the Pureblood faction had a point; fighting Herrschers head-on wasn't a bad strategy.
"And now?"
"Regarding your relationship with Dr. Mobius, the assassination attempt has been called off. I've also given them so advice." Wien elegantly tapped his cane on the ground. "Regardless of faction, everyone in Fire Moth is working to combat the Honkai and preserve human civilization; their thods simply differ."
And to seize power after defeating the Honkai.
Ryan lowered his head; the main premise was correct. Factionalism was human nature. Even if he purged the Fire Moth Council, their replacents might not be better.
"You ca all the way here just to tell this?"
"Yes. And to remind you that we are family." Wien placed a hand on his chest, bowing slightly. A beautiful secretary opened the car door.
The bodyguards quickly entered their vehicles, leaving only the tail lights.
Ryan stood on the tarmac, frowning. He wasn't afraid of power struggles, but he knew things weren't so simple.
They stopped the assassination attempt on Mobius because they feared my retaliation. I could have guessed that. So why warn ?
Seconds later, his brow cleared. If they feared his retaliation, they'd keep secrets and silence soone.
So it was the Pureblood faction who tipped off Vill-V; no wonder the authority levels were so high that the Far East Branch couldn't respond in ti.
Ryan recalled the assassination attempt in Nagazora City. Putting himself in Wien's shoes, he quickly understood his motive for the warning.
If I were colluding with Vill-V, they would assu I'd act based on his information, weakening the Pureblood faction and harming political rivals. If I weren't involved, they'd suffer no losses; I'd simply owe a favor.
Ryan rubbed his temples; soone less intelligent wouldn't have analyzed it so quickly. He had to admit that these high-ranking officials were shrewd, just not in a constructive way.
"That's your patron, isn't it? I think I t him at a budget committee eting once." Mobius quietly appeared beside him, clicking her tongue. "What did he say?"
"Boring factional politics; it's more taxing than research." Ryan looked away, not ntioning the Pureblood faction; Mobius wouldn't care.
"Ah yes, so tedious. Let count them." Mobius extended her slender fingers, slowly listing. "Young progressives, the cautious faction, the Pureblood faction, the evolution faction, and the faith faction. These people created so many factions; do they think this is a kindergarten?"
This sarcastic comnt made Ryan chuckle; he recalled a joke from before his ti travel:
The most fantastical thing about wandering Earth isn't the moving Earth; it's humanity uniting.
"Perhaps it's an endless ga of musical chairs. I understand, but I don't approve. Forget them; take to your lair."
Mobius rolled her eyes at Ryan, then saw a beat-up yellow pickup truck approaching; its diesel engine sputtered and coughed, as if about to fall apart; the back was loaded with what looked like everyday supplies.
Ryan stared, pointing at Klein, who was leaning out the window. "This is your assigned vehicle? When did Fire Moth beco so stingy?"
"Funding was short last ti, and I sold the other car. I don't go out much anyway. This pickup is great; it can carry people and cargo."
The epito of professionalism: disregarding comfort and focusing on research. Ryan wanted to give her a thumbs-up... but that would be odd.
"If I rember correctly, the Fifth Research Institute is in the desert, over 200km away. Why not take a helicopter?"
"Because fuel costs co out of my budget." Mobius replied matter-of-factly, opening the truck door. "Of course, if you're willing to pay, I wouldn't mind."
Ryan almost offered to pay, but seeing Mobius's smile, decided against it.
"Fine, I'll ride. My physique shouldn't be a problem."
Ryan got in and imdiately regretted it. The battered truck only had two seats. He'd planned to drive, but Klein clung tightly to the steering wheel, shaking her head; she wouldn't switch seats.
"Get in; what are you waiting for?" Mobius urged.
"I can sit..."
"Of course, I'll sit on you. Do you expect you to sit on ? Do you lack basic gentlemanly etiquette?"
Saying that made you neither gentlemanly nor ladylike.
Ryan stared silently at Mobius, daring her to reveal her sche. She seed to realize her error; a smirk played on her lips.
"Ha ha, you wouldn't be embarrassed, would you? Relax; I've seen more than you have. Don't display such pointless shyness."
What's with this act?
Ryan fell silent. Since Mobius had said so, he didn't mind. He'd barely settled onto the damaged seat when Mobius squeezed in, sitting directly on his lap.
Instantly, he felt a soft, yielding sensation, as if a perfectly ripe peach were resting on his leg.
Her tight skirt revealed her curves; strands of green hair brushed his face, causing a slight tickle. Mobius relaxed completely, leaning against his chest, reminding him of a certain proverb:
A fragrant embrace.
The scent of shampoo and body wash filled his nostrils—a clean, slightly musky aroma, exuding a lazy charm, like late-spring azaleas, stirring his senses.
Mobius adjusted her position several tis; the tactile sensation made Ryan instinctively tense, trying to distance her from his core.
"What are you fidgeting about? Are you... having a physiological reaction?"
You got , but I won't be shy.
Ryan smirked, countering her sarcasm. "I rely find your body odor unpleasant; you're too close."
"You! I don't have body odor!"
"Check for yourself."
Mobius raised her arm, about to sll her armpit, then realized he was teasing her.
Ha ha, playing childish gas in front of .
She composed herself, lying completely on Ryan, raising an eyebrow at Klein, who was watching with amusent. "What are you laughing at? Drive!"
"Yes, Doctor."
The truck finally started. Ryan regained his composure; Mobius was clearly teasing him.
How to satisfy her? Shift the focus.
Ryan tried to ignore the sensation on his lap, focusing on the desolate landscape outside, considering Vill-V. He found he couldn't concentrate.
Mobius was like a hyperactive child; she kept shifting positions and asking about his research, the strange posture turning into a pseudo-academic debate.
"Mobius, have I offended you sohow?"
"Ha ha, why are you suddenly saying this?"
Ryan looked at Mobius, leaning against him, her elbow pointed at his throat, her legs raised; her lazy expression was full of resentnt.
"Why are you torturing ?"
"Torture? Don't you like this ambiguity? It's a decent form of seduction."
"The word 'seduction' loses all aning when it cos from you."
"Ah, the psychological factor of affection; interesting." Mobius seed enlightened, then yawned. "I don't know much about this, but biological instincts are part of my research. Besides, aren't you secretly pleased?"
Secretly pleased? Do you think I'm a monk?
He abruptly pushed up.
"Oof!" Mobius jumped, her head hitting the ceiling; her smug expression froze. That sensation...
Was a Dragon's Ascent strike!
"What was that?!"
"Instinctive retaliation. You asked for it." Ryan smirked, quickly recoiling as a fist slamd into the seat cushion. He'd reacted quickly; otherwise, he would have been seriously injured.
"Were you serious?"
"You started being playful; no one dares treat like that." Mobius bit her lip, her pale face flushing.
Playful? Who was acting like a playgirl just now?
Ryan laughed, grabbing Mobius's waist. "Do you want to throw you out of the car?!"
"You can fight Herrschers; go ahead, tear apart."
"Dr. Ryan, Dr. Mobius, please stop fighting!"
A sharp horn blared from a passing truck. On the desert ridge, a battered pickup truck, swerving, headed south.
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