"He just learned to walk this morning, and this afternoon he was in a bloody fight that landed him in the hospital. Sigh, how can our child be so ill-behaved?"
The pink-haired girl's flawless skin was even fairer set against the white flesh of the apple. She sighed, dividing the peeled apple into five slices, then brought a slice to the mouth of the person in the hospital bed, only to immediately pull it back and pop it into her own mouth when the other opened his.
"Crunch, crunch…"
She chewed the apple, her face a picture of great sorrow: "And it was a fight with a girl."
"…Did you rush back just to say that?"
Lín glanced at her cheeks, which were chewing the apple like a little hamster, then looked at the apples on the table, reaching out to take one.
A slender hand beat him to it, pulling the plate away.
"…"
Lín looked at the smiling Elysia. Since only she was there, he wasn't wearing his helmet.
Elysia, meanwhile, seemed to enjoy watching Lín's face, which was expressionless yet conveyed a hint of innocence—it was truly amusing.
She picked up another slice of apple and put it in her mouth, mumbling indistinctly: "Mph thasnt me wooried bt yoo (I'm not worried about you)."
"No need to worry. With the Medical Department, most injuries won't be fatal."
"If you had arrived any later with that injury, it truly would have been fatal." Elysia's gaze drifted to his chest. "Besides, you're only recently recovered from a serious illness. I estimate you'll have to lie here for a few more days this time."
"…No matter."
Since his paralysis was already cured, being injured was not such a big deal for Lín.
"But then again, there aren't many people who can beat you up like this, and that girl's knife technique looked a little familiar." Elysia and Lín both looked towards the knife that had been confiscated and now rested in the corner of the room. "That's a weapon developed by Delta, isn't it?"
This knife was clearly an advanced version of the Plasma Shadowblade, and it utilized unreleased technology. Its appearance, along with powered armor, in the hands of a single assassin made the situation highly intriguing.
Elysia took two of the remaining three apple slices and ate them both, chuckling: "Lín seems to know that girl, doesn't he? Would you be interested in introducing me?"
"…Amazing swordsmanship."
"Mmhmm."
"…"
"That's it?"
Elysia sighed, feeling a headache coming on: "Lín, you still don't know how to talk well. I thought you'd say she also has beautiful pink hair just like mine."
Lín shook his head: "I don't like pink."
"Oh really?" Elysia had a mischievous smile on her face. She pointed to the apple on the table and said, "Lín, why don't you reconsider? There's one slice of apple left, personally peeled by Elysia, oh~"
"Knock, knock."
At that moment, someone knocked on the door of the hospital room. Elysia's smile vanished, and she let out a flat sigh. She picked up a mask from the table and handed it to Lín, then got up to open the door.
"Excuse me for the interruption. Is this the room for MSA-079, Captain Lín of the Seventh Squad?" A refined man in a black suit stood outside the door with a smile. When Elysia saw him, her original smile became even brighter.
"Oh my, isn't this…" Elysia recognized him. After all, the controversies surrounding Mei over the past two months had almost worn out the ears of them, the Squad Captains. This person standing before her was one of the key representatives opposing Mei.
The Speaker's mouth twitched subtly upon seeing Elysia open the door, but he maintained a polite smile on the surface: "Captain Elysia, are you also here to visit Captain Lín?"
"Are you saying you are too~" Elysia drew out the last syllable meaningfully.
"Yes, I didn't realize Captain Elysia and Captain Lín had such a good relationship." The Speaker nodded. "That is truly a wonderful thing. Mutual care and concern between people is precisely the spirit of humanity."
"Elysia."
Lín's call stopped Elysia, who still wanted to say something. After glancing at the Speaker's smile, she stepped aside. Once he entered, she locked the door from the inside.
Upon entering, the Speaker saw Lín lying in the hospital bed and his mummy-like injuries, and couldn't help but lament: "Captain Lín was injured protecting his friend. It truly is our responsibility for failing to prevent the base's intrusion."
"…Is there something you need?"
"'Need' is too strong a word. It's just that I've long heard of Captain Lín's accomplishments and have deep admiration. I've always wanted to meet you, but unfortunately, I've been busy with various miscellaneous duties, and Captain Lín has also been dutifully completing various missions, leaving few opportunities." The honorifics the Speaker used for Lín were somewhat out of sync with the difference in their statuses. "So, this time I just wanted to come and visit you… Speaking of which, why are you wearing this… mask?"
As he said the last part, he sounded a little hesitant.
Lín was wearing a pure black mask that only exposed his eyes and mouth. His emotionless eyes, accentuated by the mask, made him look even more ferocious, essentially turning him into a spitting image of a bank robber.
"I have social anxiety."
"…"
Elysia covered her mouth and chuckled uncontrollably.
Lín might not be able to out-argue her, but with his unusual way of thinking, it was quite easy for him to annoy someone.
The Speaker looked at the nonchalant Lín, wanting to speak but refraining. Finally, he clenched his fist and let the matter drop.
"Very well, Captain Lín, I'm relieved to see that you are able to move normally. When I heard the news of your paralysis, I worried for quite some time, afraid of losing such an excellent warrior as yourself."
"I'm a soldier. Also, what exactly do you want?"
From the beginning, this person had been saying things that seemed both reasonable and unreasonable to flatter Lín, and Lín had listened for a long time without discerning the purpose of his visit. This was somewhat uncustomary for Lín, who preferred things to be addressed within three sentences.
It wasn't that Lín couldn't accept the reason for a visit; when Elysia said she came to visit, Lín didn't question her further.
However, the Speaker claimed he was here to visit Lín, but Lín could tell that his objective was not merely that.
This nearly impatient attitude made the Speaker clench his fist once more, yet he still forced a smile and said: "Actually, my visit to Captain Lín this time is to inform you of the outcome regarding the assassin."
Hearing this, Lín lowered his head in thought: "…Are you handling it?"
"Such matters must be handled seriously. After all, both Captain Lín and Dr. Méi are precious assets to the Moth of the Flame."
"Aren't you unsupportive of Méi?" Elysia, standing behind him, suddenly asked.
"Differences in viewpoint do not prevent us from fighting together for humanity. Seeking common ground while reserving differences is my philosophy, and it is also the philosophy of the Moth of the Flame." The Speaker smiled humbly. "I hope this can also become the philosophy of all humanity."
Lín asked: "How is Sakura?"
"The assassin lady has been taken out of danger after treatment. After discussion, we have decided to detain her in the Deepest Pit."
The Deepest Pit had been publicly announced by the Moth of the Flame as a prison for the most heinous criminals, meticulously crafted by the Head of the Engineering Department, the genius mechanical engineer Vil-V.
Lín wasn't particularly surprised by this outcome. From the start, he intended to hand Sakura over for judgment, and this was simply the result of that judgment.
"Besides that, I would also like to ask you a question."
"Speak."
"You are a friend of Dr. Méi. What are your views on her plan?"
"…Seeking common ground while reserving differences."
Lín answered the question by borrowing the Speaker's own words.
He neither supported nor opposed it. Humanity needed something, and that was what would be done; it wasn't something a viewpoint could change.
"Is that so? Then I believe we can become very good friends."
Upon hearing this, the Speaker smiled gently, stood up, and reached for the apple on the table.
"Snap."
Elysia snatched the apple first, then smiled and offered it to Lín's mouth.
"…" Lín glanced at her and took a bite.
"Heh heh, you two have a truly good relationship."
The Speaker didn't seem annoyed by this scene. After bowing respectfully to Lín and Elysia, he turned and left the hospital room.