"My, my, this is quite a grand formation. We're just going to make a little trinket, yet so many people are following. Or is this truly a 'Great Premiere' for them?"
Vill-V sat on the transport plane, swirling the ruby-red liquid in her wine glass as she glanced at the personnel manifest with a chuckle.
Mei finger traced from one corner of the design blueprints to another. She glanced up: "Are you drinking?"
"It's actually juice. I'm not Eden; I don't plan on drinking alcohol anytime, anywhere."
MEI nodded. It wasn't that she feared Vill-V's drinking would affect the upcoming plan, but rather she was concerned about Vill-V's mental state. After all, with Vill-V's multiple personalities, it was difficult to tell which one might still be immersed in the events of six months ago.
"Number One," Vill-V called out after finishing her drink, waving her empty glass.
Clack, clack, clack...
MEI watched in silence as a small doll, barely reaching her knees, walked out from behind Vill-V's chair.
As if specifically designed to highlight "cute" features, the doll had an oversized head nearly the size of its body. Combined with the familiar mechanical, expressionless face and crimson eyes, this humanoid—clearly a derivative of the Armed Puppet—possessed an aura that MEI found quite subtle.
Vill-V handed the glass to the shrunken Prometheus: "What's wrong? You should recognize Number One."
"It's not that I don't recognize her." MEI gave a thin smile and pushed up her glasses. "It's just that every time I see Number One's new chassis, it tends toward being taller. I thought the next time I saw her, she'd be a two-meter giant. I didn't expect..."
Prometheus tilted her head up with a blank, slightly pained expression, seemingly resigned to her fate.
"Number One's original body was pulverized during the Ninth Herrscher. Her consciousness system was transmitted back to headquarters, and I've been so busy with the Divine Keys that I haven't had time to build her a proper body. I had to scrap this together as an emergency measure," Vill-V said dismissively. "Actually, Number One would be fine staying in the virtual system. You designed her to remain virtual in the beginning, anyway. But she insisted on having a body capable of physical movement."
"Sigh, I suppose it's just a daughter going through her rebellious phase~"
"You're more like the midwife than the mother," MEI quipped. Vill-V giggled, finally showing a bit of her old spark.
"Let's talk business. What happens after this is over?"
"..."
"MEI, Fire Moth cannot survive another 'Great Purge' or 'Project KY'."
The members of Fire Moth, especially those in high positions, had lived through two internal rebellions. The organization's backbone had experienced them as well. Under the influence of the Tenth Herrscher, the atmosphere inside Fire Moth had become paranoid—everyone was a suspect, and trust was on the verge of total collapse.
Who is a traitor? Who is a Herrscher? Once suspicion spreads, the collapse of an organization happens in an instant.
Even MEI could not stop the deterioration. The Tenth Herrscher wasn't the root cause, but the Tenth Herrscher was undoubtedly the fire that ignited it. No one knew how many Tenth Herrschers were still lurking among humans, or how many were right beside them, waiting for the chance to kill.
If a similar event happened again, it would lead to true mutual slaughter among Fire Moth members. This time, there wouldn't be a single source to stop; it wouldn't be a "Purge," but a "Great Collapse."
"Let's solve the Tenth Herrscher first," MEI said, shaking her head. Further discussion was meaningless for now. "Also, Kevin said you've found a candidate for the Key of Blankness. Who is it?"
"You'll find out later. For now... that person cannot come back yet."
"Hey, do you plan on fighting me like this forever?"
"..."
Kalpas rarely initiated conversation. Most people took a detour just to avoid him; children stopped crying out of fear at his sight. Those brave enough to approach usually scurried off after a single glare.
However, this didn't apply to Immer and Sakura. Kalpas would strike up a conversation with them from time to time—though his tone remained full of his signature Kalpas-style mockery.
Immer put down the mission report in his hand and shot a cold glance at the masked man.
"I have no objection, but I hope you can make it more interesting for me next time." Kalpas rested his arms behind the sofa, laughing coldly. "Don't you plan on doing anything else?"
Immer retracted his gaze: "Once I kill you, I will."
"Hahahaha! Well then... I'm ready whenever you are."
Immer's typing was as rapid as falling rain. He didn't need to stop and think; a mission draft was produced quickly, needing only Sakura's review afterward. She was the squad leader, after all.
"And you? What do you plan to do?"
"Me? Aren't you planning to kill me? Why do you care what I do afterward?"
"Hmph..." A flash of impatience crossed Immer's face, followed by a flicker of complexity. "I know very well what we did to you. But I have no intention of giving up my revenge. If you want to kill me, that's fine too. I am prepared."
"Tsk, stop being so sentimental. You think I care about that? I just want a bit of fun." Kalpas laughed with undisguised cruelty. "I don't care about your reasons or your methods, as long as it's interesting. Only when you cease to be interesting will I crush you like a bug."
"..."
"Perhaps then, you can pray that the Discipline that woman placed on me can protect you."
Immer's expression remained cold: "I am not a sinless man. I have no need for prayer."
"Good! Good! Now that is my adjutant!" Kalpas laughter was thick with killing intent, yet he naturally draped an arm over Immer's shoulder. "Why don't you start imagining what you'll do after you kill me? It'll give you more motivation!"
"Let go of me."
"But, since you asked what I plan to do in the future..."
Kalpas suddenly stopped.
An indescribable feeling spread through Immer's heart. He turned to look at the mask inches away from him. The mask hid all expression.
Just like that man, using a helmet to block out his own heart.
"...Hey. As long as you haven't killed me, you plan on following me, right?" After a long silence, Kalpas asked in a tone slightly softer than usual.
"Naturally." Immer's eyes darkened.
"Good. Then let's keep fighting—until I've had my fill."
Kalpas laughed again.