"It's just a speculation without any substantive evidence; we cannot commit all our military forces."
Ten minutes after receiving the intelligence, the conference room was filled with decision-makers, but compared to the previous atmosphere of them working together to conquer large-scale Honkai Eruptions, this time, the meeting seemed to be still caught in internal strife, filled with conflicting opinions.
The Speaker spoke first: "We cannot stake all our combat power on a single possibility."
"Haven't we learned enough from the Fourth Herrscher?" His opponent impatiently rapped the conference table. "The situation is exactly the same as before the birth of the Third and Fourth Herrschers. Do we have to wait until it's irreversible before we act?"
"My point is not to withhold support, but that we don't need that much military force." The Speaker appeared calmer. He looked around and said, "My suggestion is to commit the same level of combat power as during the Fourth Herrscher's suppression battle, and transport the self-operated Titan to Trant. Isn't the pilot, MSA-079, already stationed there? He has multiple Herrscher-suppression experiences. Even if a Herrscher descends, he can stall for enough time."
This statement received approval from many people. After all, this was still just the speculation phase. A few charts couldn't prove anything. What if it was a Accidental? If the Herrscher didn't descend in Trant but elsewhere, then support would be difficult.
"Wait a minute, the Head of Engineering, Vil-V, reported that the Titan pilot's physical condition no longer allows him to pilot the Titan, or he will suffer sequelae even more severe than the last time."
The Speaker rolled his eyes. "So?"
"...What 'so'? MSA-079 is our best soldier right now, not a consumable for the Titan."
"Then I'd like to ask." The Speaker pressed his hands on the table, staring intently at the person who objected. "Does MSA-079 have any other use besides piloting the Titan?"
"You..." Rage was clearly visible on the person's face.
"We need the Titan, not MSA-079. If he can serve as the Titan's battery, why keep him around if we don't use him?" The Speaker tilted his head and smiled. "We are currently discussing how to combat the Honkai, not humanitarian concern for a soldier."
"No, I also object. The defeat of the Fourth Herrscher last time had an element of luck. The Delta Flight Device could reduce the Fourth Herrscher's wind-field influence, but we still don't know the authority of the Fifth Herrscher. We cannot rely on the Titan as a guarantee."
"I agree..."
"I object..."
"Objection..."
"Bang!"
A loud noise brought silence to the increasingly lively conference room.
The person who slammed the table was the Speaker. He slowly raised his head, retracted his hand, and gently rubbed his wrist, slowly revealing a sneer: "I remember this is a conference room, not a vegetable market."
"..."
"Gentlemen, since when have our unified opinions on combating the Honkai become divided?"
Since when?
The previous efficiency and unity were replaced and segmented by different voices.
"Perhaps some will say that Dr. Mei caused our split, but in my view, Dr. Mei's appearance merely brought forward a problem that was bound to emerge sooner or later." The Speaker's words were restrained. "This is not necessarily a bad thing; it allows us to correct ourselves before committing a greater mistake."
"Correction?"
"Indeed. I have always believed that if there is no strong enough voice to maintain order above equal power, such problems will sooner or later become a stumbling block for humanity."
"Mr. Speaker, we are discussing military operations, not an election!"
However, the Speaker smiled without speaking, looking not at just this one person, but at everyone present.
Wouldn't these people know what the Speaker was planning? Before founding Fire Moth, they were all political veterans, regional leaders, and peerless geniuses. Based solely on the Speaker's words, they could guess his intentions.
But what he said was not wrong; it merely brought to the forefront what everyone knew but was unwilling to mention.
The problems with their decision-making system had already been exposed, but everyone believed this was how Fire Moth differentiated itself from the corruption of secular organizations because they were "special," and Fire Moth was also "special."
"However, I think it's not too late to address this matter later. Let's proceed with the vote for this operation in the usual manner."
...
"Phew... That was a truly unpleasant meeting."
The Speaker walked into his private space and took off his miniature earpiece. His expression was no longer as relaxed as before; instead, it became solemn.
The Pupa was disintegrating. Judging by the wounds on the Pupa members who had died one after another, the killer was Sakura, whom he had personally invited into the Pupa.
Only she could achieve this level.
He could probably guess how Mei had flipped Sakura, but now it was impossible to stop her.
He had originally planned to rely on the Pupa to increase his voice and power, but now that so many people couldn't even handle one person, it seemed he would have to achieve his goal through other means.
The Speaker sat in his chair, head bowed, his expression hidden.
...
"Half of the Branch combat forces and Headquarters combat forces stationed in Trant, the rest are on standby..."
After receiving the combat intelligence from Headquarters, Imar looked blankly at Lin.
Half?
What did that mean? Did it mean only half of the people would participate in the operation?
And, it seemed there was no mention of evacuating the residents?
"Captain..."
"You all stay put and stand by." Lin gave the order and walked outside.
As he walked out, the Prometheus inside his helmet had already begun reporting additional information to him.
[Headquarters has issued instructions for MSA-079 Lin to pilot the TT-079 Custom and stand by in Trant. The Titan will arrive in sixteen hours.]
This was the order that Prometheus read out, followed by her own words: "Lin, are you sure you want to continue piloting the Titan?"
The last neural connection had caused symptoms more terrifying than paralysis—the complete loss of all five senses. In a state where one wasn't even sure if they were dead, an average person could go insane after just a few minutes or even tens of seconds.
If Lin connected to the Titan's nerves for an extended period again, he might prematurely meet his end.
Lin asked, "Was there any mention of letting me use my own judgment?"
"Before the Herrscher's birth, MSA-079 may use his own judgment on whether to pilot the Titan. After the Herrscher's birth, he must pilot the Titan for the battle."
"Understood." Lin nodded. Prometheus did not act disobediently as before.
At that moment, a sharp clink sounded on his helmet, as if a stone had struck it.
"Snap."
He looked up. A "stone" hit his visor and shattered into scattered ice fragments.
In late autumn, Trant was experiencing a hail storm.