Silence didn't last.
It shattered.
Ethan's gaze stayed on Iris.
Cold.
Measured.
"…remove that," he repeated.
The word lingered.
That.
Not a person.
A variable.
Jared stepped forward.
Just one step—
But enough.
"…no," he said.
Calm.
Too calm.
Ethan tilted his head slightly.
"…you're hesitating."
"…incorrect."
"…your response time increased."
A pause.
"…insignificant."
"…no," Ethan said softly.
"…it's human."
Silence.
Iris grabbed Jared's sleeve.
"…what is happening," she whispered.
"…decision point," Jared replied.
"…I DON'T LIKE DECISION POINTS."
"…noted."
Ethan took another step forward.
"…you've proven your intelligence," he said.
"…your adaptability."
"…your potential."
A pause.
"…but not your priority."
Silence.
"…define priority," Jared said.
Ethan didn't hesitate.
"…efficiency over attachment."
The room felt colder.
Iris froze.
"…so basically…" she said slowly,
"…you want him to choose logic over people."
Ethan smiled.
"…correct."
"…hard pass," she muttered.
"…your opinion is irrelevant," Ethan replied.
"…rude."
Jared didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But his mind—
Accelerated.
Option A: Remove variable.
Outcome: higher survival probability.
Option B: Retain variable.
Outcome: unpredictable.
Risk: increased.
Conclusion—
"…Jared?" Iris said quietly.
He didn't answer.
Because for the first time—
The equation didn't resolve cleanly.
"…this is inefficient," he muttered.
"…yeah???" Iris replied nervously.
"…highly inefficient."
Ethan watched closely.
"…you see it," he said.
"…attachment is a flaw."
"…remove it."
Silence.
Jared's eyes shifted—
To Iris.
She didn't look away.
Didn't step back.
"…if you're going to choose," she said,
"…just do it."
Silence.
"…don't overthink it for once."
A pause.
"…I trust you."
Everything stopped.
Trust.
Not logical.
Not measurable.
Not efficient.
And yet—
It stayed.
Jared's thoughts halted.
For a fraction of a second—
No calculation.
No prediction.
Just—
Decision.
"…no," he said.
Silence.
Ethan's smile faded slightly.
"…final answer?"
Jared didn't hesitate.
"…I don't remove variables I haven't fully analyzed."
Silence.
Iris blinked.
"…that's your reason??"
"…partial."
"…YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE."
But she smiled.
Just slightly.
Ethan exhaled.
"…disappointing."
"…expected," Jared replied.
"…you chose inefficiency."
"…I chose uncertainty."
Silence.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"…then you fail."
The lights flickered.
The room shifted.
Pressure—
Different now.
Heavier.
More dangerous.
"…Phase 2 ends," Ethan said.
"…Phase 3 begins."
Silence.
Iris swallowed.
"…there's a Phase 3?!"
"…yes," Jared said.
"…I HATE PHASES."
Ethan stepped back.
Distance increasing.
"…next time," he said,
"…you won't get a choice."
Then—
He disappeared.
Gone.
Like he was never there.
Silence returned.
But not calm.
Never calm.
Iris exhaled.
"…we're alive."
"…temporary," Jared said.
"…CAN YOU NOT."
"…accurate."
She looked at him.
Serious now.
"…you really chose me."
A pause.
Jared didn't look away.
"…uncertain."
"…wow."
"…but I didn't remove you."
Silence.
Then—
A small laugh.
"…I'll take it."
Jared turned.
Already thinking ahead.
Because now—
Everything changed.
Not just the system.
Not just the enemies.
Him.
For the first time—
Logic broke.
And something else—
Took its place.