"Prometheus I, how do you feel?"
Prometheus I, sitting in the pilot's seat with both hands gripping the control sticks, responded to Mei's question from the communicator with a flat expression: "No feeling whatsoever."
As a synthetic android, she didn't need to feel. She lacked even the bodily organs and senses of a normal human. Compared to the previous neural link shared with Lin, this minimal neural link, merely for activating the Titan, would not affect her much.
"Very good. Your neural link with the battle puppet is similar to a series circuit to achieve the effect of driving the Titan system. However, you cannot achieve the functions of an autonomous Titan, much less the personal Titan driven by Lin. But your mission is only to deliver the Titan into Lin's hands, so do not attempt to engage in combat."
A battle puppet?
Prometheus I let out a long sigh. She glanced at the black-haired battle puppet sitting in the corner of the cockpit, connected to both herself and the system by a data cable.
The battle puppet's appearance bore some resemblance to Mei herself, suggesting it was an independent unit requested during its creation by Einstein.
Vil-V seized the opportunity to interject: "Mei and I discussed it. Her intelligence was personally adjusted by Mei, so from now on, she is Prometheus III, your little sister."
"…I have no concept of family," Prometheus I replied.
For some reason, Vil-V was dedicated to fostering a sense of family in Prometheus I, to make Lin's identity distinct from that of an ordinary helper and recipient of help.
"Prometheus III, report status," Mei commanded.
"System operating normally. Pilot has no organ abnormalities… Abnormality detected. Pilot has no organs. Requesting pilot change."
"…"
Was this truly the intelligence personally adjusted by Mei?
Feeling a certain degree of suspicion, Prometheus I immediately transmitted her data to Prometheus III via the neural link, which finally stabilized Prometheus III, who was about to disconnect the neural link.
"Then, Dr. Vil-V and Dr. Mei, we are departing…"
"Wait."
Just then, a cold voice stopped Prometheus I's deployment.
Mei looked toward the large entrance of the R&D department. A white-haired man in combat gear stood there, his handgun held loosely downward, his face bloodied, meeting Mei's gaze.
"…Kevin."
"Mei, I'm glad you're safe. Hua has told me the general situation. I will handle things from here."
Vil-V felt a sense of astonishment upon hearing this. She felt that Kevin seemed… changed somehow.
Mei, however, didn't say much. She asked: "Have the others been settled?"
"Combat personnel losses are about one-third. Including the wounded, the number of immobilized personnel accounts for seventy-eight percent. I have arranged for the remaining high-level executives to be concentrated in one place for care. I will take people with me to support the Fifth Branch in subjugating the Sixth Herrscher."
Vil-V realized how Kevin had changed.
He had become colder.
Every word was filled with chilliness, like his friend, devoid of any sentimentality, calmly analyzing and commanding to find the optimal solution.
Before this, while Kevin had been gradually speaking less, he was mostly just standing behind Mei, silently carrying out her instructions.
Now, he wasn't following orders; he was making his own arrangements.
"What happened?" Mei's silence didn't mean Vil-V would remain quiet. She considered herself to be a person with considerable humanistic concern in the Fire Moth organization, which suppressed its true nature.
"Nothing. One person in the First Squad mutinied and was executed. One died from an attack, and two were wounded."
Kevin had no expression on his face when he said this.
He was simply stating the facts.
"Mutiny…" Vil-V seemed to vaguely sense the cause of Kevin's change. "Then, is the First Squad only left with you who can still act?"
"Yes."
Mei didn't deliberate. She immediately sent communications to the communicators of some people at the headquarters: "Everyone except those protecting the high-level executives will go to the frontline with you."
Combat personnel like Hua who hadn't participated in the mission were few in number at the headquarters, but enough to form a small squad.
"…"
Kevin did not object. He understood clearly that personnel were scarce now, and even if he was capable of solving the Herrscher subjugation alone, there were too many variables. Adequate preparations had to be made.
This was not a game for heroes. Just as he told Kosma, the one who defeats the Herrscher will be a hero, but before defeating the Herrscher, they must not consider themselves heroes.
"You will depart with Prometheus I's Titan. Lin is also there now."
"Lin returned?"
"Didn't you always believe he would return?"
"Yes…" Kevin lowered his head, watching his trembling hands, gradually clenching his fists. He muttered almost imperceptibly, "But… is it really okay for him to see all of this?"
"Right, Immer also woke up. He wants to join this mission."
…
"Hua, how long was I asleep?" Immer asked Hua, who was looking worried, while weakly putting on his clothes.
"Not long… but the world has been turned upside down now."
"I thought so."
Immer's observational skills were quite excellent. The Seventh Squad's intelligence was compiled by him and reported to Lin, so after waking up, seeing the people rushing past the sickroom door and only Hua by his side, he had already deduced some things.
"After you fell unconscious, some more high-level executives were killed. They were forced to transfer the executives to other branches for protection, but during the transfer, the rebels tore off their disguise, attempting to directly blow up all the transport planes and initiating a rebellion, which was finally stopped by Dr. Mei and Dr. Einstein."
Hua's mouth was full of bitterness: "Even though the purge was stopped, Fire Moth is severely weakened, and at this critical juncture, the Sixth Herrscher has been born."
"What did you say… the Sixth Herrscher!"
Immer had no idea that another Herrscher had been born while he was unconscious. Now, wouldn't that be…
"Has she been subjugated?"
"No. We are currently searching for her. I plan to go to the frontline. The Captain is back; he is there."
Hearing the news about Lin, Immer's eyes sharpened. He immediately quickened his pace in dressing, casting aside his physical weakness to stand up.
"I have to go too… cough…"
He clutched his abdomen. The wound there had not fully healed. An average person would have died long ago, but thanks to Fire MOTH advanced technology, even wounds of this lethal severity could be healed.
However, Immer needed a period of rest. He had just awoken from a coma and his body hadn't fully adapted yet.
"No, Immer."
"Don't say anything, Hua. I must go. The Captain is waiting for us…"
"…"
"Hua?"
"Immer, the Sixth Herrscher this time is someone we know."