"Griseo, call me Big Sister Mobius."
"Auntie Mobius."
"It's Big Sister Mobius..."
"Grandma Mobius."
"..."
Mobius waved her hand expressionlessly, telling Griseo to go play. She was in a good mood today so she wouldn't hold a grudge, but she would definitely find out which brat taught Griseo to call her that.
Nearby, Klein, Nuwa, and the others couldn't help but stifle their laughter. A single twitch of Mobius eyebrow was usually enough to make them tremble; anyone entering this lab would shake in their boots at the sight of her, yet she was powerless against the innocent Griseo.
"Klein, come here."
Klein, who had planned to tease Griseo with Nuwa, could only walk over.
"What is it, Doctor?"
"You were with Griseo yesterday, right?" Mobius glanced at Griseo, who sat on a chair with an ethereal expression, starting to paint. "Did Blanca come by?"
"Eh? Now that you mention it..." Klein paused. "Senior Blanca didn't seem to come to see Griseo."
Mobius heart skipped a beat. She asked again: "Did Griseo go back to sleep last night?"
"No, she slept in my room."
"I see. You go back to work."
Mobius showed little emotion. After briefly assigning tasks, she left the lab. Sitting on her mobility device, she moved down the corridor with a cold face toward Blanca room.
Who was Blanca to Mobius?
...No, she couldn't really say who she was. If everything had to be defined by relationships, Blanca was merely a former assistant who had been with Mobius for a certain amount of time.
Mobius used to admire Blanca. In her view, if that idiot Ato hadn't lured her away, Blanca could have reached Mobius heights. Blanca had helped Mobius a great deal, and even her personality suited Mobius tastes.
More importantly, Blanca had recommended Klein to her lab. For that one act alone, Mobius would forever remember the kindness of their family.
Among those who could understand her: Klein was one, Blanca was one, and that bastard... was maybe half of one.
How ridiculous. She, Mobius, was actually using words like "gratitude" and "kindness." It might be the only time in her life.
There was no wind in the corridor, yet she felt a chill seeping into her collar. The hallway was long and narrow, seemingly endless. But even a road a thousand meters long would eventually reach its destination.
Mobius arrived at Blanca door. She stared at the new door, raised her hand, and knocked.
Knock, knock...
The dull sound of the knocking echoed in her heart. Each knock felt like she was hitting her own heart.
This time, someone opened the door quickly. Blanca looked the same as before, a bit dazed. She seemed surprised to see Mobius.
"Let me in," Mobius said plainly.
Blanca stepped aside. Mobius steered her device into the room. Reaching the center, she exhaled a faint white mist. She looked at the family photo on the desk—the smile of the man she somewhat disliked was frozen in the frame, making her feel complex.
Mobius didn't wait for Blanca to speak. "How are you?"
"...I'm okay."
"Have you been in your room all day yesterday adjusting your mood?" Mobius gave a charming smile, like a genuine twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, showing no trace of hypocrisy.
Blanca nodded numbly. "Yes."
"Why didn't you come to see Griseo?"
"...She was with you, Doctor. I didn't think I needed to worry."
"Blanca, you aren't that kind of person." Mobius smile vanished. She lowered her head, thinking for a moment, then looked up again. "I always believed that if you hadn't left the lab, and if you hadn't been bogged down by useless sentimentality, you could have researched a way to evolve humanity into a more perfect being with me. After all, you were someone who could understand me."
"But you are just like that idiot. Even though you can find the answer through the most rational means, you still allow sentiment to control you."
Confusion grew in Blanca eyes. She looked at Mobius, not understanding why she was suddenly saying this.
"When Ato took you away, I cursed him and 'love' to high heaven. It truly made me feel that humans are still imperfect, letting emotions dictate their thoughts."
"So, regarding you not coming to pick up or visit Griseo yesterday, I have only one question." Mobius snake-like pupils were as sharp as daggers, ready to pierce through anything. "Did you manage to suppress your sentimentality overnight?"
Blanca confusion deepened, and her eyes filled with disbelief. Her original numbness began to vanish under the weight of these emotions.
"Doctor, but didn't you tell me to adjust my state on my own? That's why I stayed in my room alone." Blanca looked helplessly at the green-haired girl who was as dangerous as a poisonous snake. In this moment, Mobius had finally bared her fangs—she was the truly infamous "Mobius."
Blanca sludge-like mind began to work again. Her reactions and intelligence were sharp; she immediately understood Mobius current train of thought: "Doctor, you think I'm a Tenth Herrscher?"
"Correct." Mobius answered without hesitation.
But in truth, after seeing the shift in Blanca expression, Mobius wavered. There was definitely a Tenth Herrscher in Fire Moth headquarters—likely more than one. She didn't know what Mei plan was, leaving them be without regular Honkai energy checks for everyone.
Mobius thought Blanca was a prime suspect. Her abnormal behavior had raised her guard.
"But Doctor, isn't such a thought just you being swayed by your own brand of 'rationality'?" Blanca bit her lip. She looked blankly at the photo on the desk. When her eyes passed over Ato and Griseo faces, her gaze softened. "Do I have to do exactly what you expect me to do...?"
"..."
Mobius looked at Blanca in silence. She knew that look all too well; she couldn't possibly be mistaken. It was clear and resilient. Even after leaving the lab, it had never changed.
"I..."
"Besides, I clearly went to see Griseo. Why would you say I didn't?"
"...What did you say?"