"Speaking of which, Lin, aren't you worried that Fire Moth will track your card transactions to find our location?"
"I'm not using our cards."
Lin knew that careless spending on Fire Moth cards would lead to tracking. He was using an independent account unconnected to Fire Moth, under the identity "Lin Qijiu" created by Prometheus.
He sat at the table by the window, checking his gear. There wasn't much to prepare—mostly just his aged pistol. Though well-maintained, the passage of time left marks on the body of the gun. He wiped the grip and loaded a full magazine.
"...It's truly surprising," Elysia said softly, looking at Lin profile.
"..."
"Even though we've lived in Fire Moth for so many years, returning to normal society doesn't feel uncomfortable at all."
In these days of investigating the polluted recording, their methods were no different from ordinary people. For example, when they went to the movies, they watched the whole thing seriously. Aside from looking for abnormal events, their behavior was largely indistinguishable from anyone else's.
Lin stopped his hands and looked at the bright moon shining equally upon the world. "Perhaps it's because we were always suited for this kind of quiet life."
"..."
He suddenly felt the silence and turned to see a pair of smiling eyes staring at him.
"Lin... sometimes, you really have a way with words. It makes me... not know how to describe you."
"Was I wrong?"
"No." Elysia let out a long breath and shook her head with a smile. "You aren't wrong at all... surely we... and not just us, but those whose lives were twisted by the Honkai, should have been better suited for a quiet life."
People often fantasize that going to an extraordinary world or discovering the hidden dark side of the world would bring tsunami-like waves to their peaceful lives. But after actually touching the "extraordinary," they yearn for the ordinary. It's like the classic saying: it's a besieged city; those outside want to get in, and those inside want to get out.
But Elysia and Lin sincerely hoped that no one else would ever set foot in this besieged city. They would be the watchers, guarding the ordinary lives others sought but could not reach.
"Where is Lin?"
"He went out on a mission and hasn't returned yet."
Su and Kevin exchanged the usual pleasantries. Neither expected to see the other again so soon. Every time Su saw Kevin, he felt moved by Kevin current icy temperament and expression. A few years were enough to transform a person into this.
Kevin didn't mention Lin disappearance, and Su didn't press the matter. Just as they were about to catch up—since they hadn't been able to last time because Kevin had been "stuck"—two people entered the room.
Upon seeing the leader, both men went silent, as if fishbones were stuck in their throats. It was Kalpas and Immer, who had met at the banquet. But they were somewhat unrecognizable.
Mainly, as Kalpas walked in wearing his abstract, comical mask, he was swinging that long, trunk-like object on his lower half. This dazzling behavior made them unsure if they could confirm this person was actually Kalpas.
"Hmm? What, why aren't you wearing them?" Kalpas irritable voice held a hint of confusion. He looked at their normal pants, then at his own elephant pants, and suddenly realized. "Is Lin lying to me?"
"Impossible. Captain Lin cannot lie," Immer countered expressionlessly.
"Then who lied to me?"
"Only you and Captain Lin saw the gift and the note inside. Captain Lin couldn't lie, so you must have lied to yourself."
"So that's how it is," Kalpas muttered, pinching his chin with a deep frown.
"..."
How should one describe this scene? Kevin and Su, who didn't know the backstory, felt it looked like someone tricking a fool. But from Immer's certain tone and expression, he seemed to be answering seriously. But how did these two end up together? Didn't Immer almost kill Kalpas at the banquet?
"Boy, you've got guts. Lin saved you once, and you come back to seek death again?" Kalpas smiled playfully. He didn't care about Immer's murderous gaze. His hands hung naturally at his sides, without the slightest intent to resist.
"Do you... remember me?" Immer's fist was clenched like a stone. His anger was palpable, and his whole body was shaking.
"Hahaha... didn't I just say..."
"Not that!" Immer roared, glaring at Kalpas. He wanted nothing more than to rush forward and hack this man to pieces. "Do I need to help you remember!"
"Oh?" Kalpas narrowed his eyes and slowly studied Immer from head to toe. He had no memory of this stranger. But then again, Kalpas was only irritable, not stupid. Since he had never seen Immer at the sanatorium, there was only one place left.
"So you're a survivor from back then..." Kalpas had clearly figured it out. He pointed slowly at Immer. "I didn't notice you joined this place after escaping. Hehehe... truly... interesting."
A dangerous light flashed in Immer's eyes. Unable to endure any longer, he pulled a pistol from behind his back, aimed it at Kalpas forehead, and pulled the trigger repeatedly without hesitation!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
But something strange happened. The bullets leaving the barrel disintegrated in mid-air before they even touched Kalpas. Immer wasn't surprised. He had known long ago that the person before him... no, Kalpas could never be human. Kalpas was a humanoid monster!
He immediately drew his close-quarters weapon and lunged at Kalpas, but before he could even see the movement, Kalpas grabbed the front of the weapon and lifted him off the ground, throwing him away.
"Hmm... you're much more interesting than Lin."
Mentioning Lin, Kalpas still couldn't suppress his rage. But after glancing at Immer, who was still recovering on the ground, he let out a sneer. "If you want to come for 'revenge,' 'retaliation,' or 'assassination' in the future, I welcome you anytime. I hope you don't bore me."
"By the way, when can I leave? I truly can't wait... to see Lin again."