"A MANTIS? Apologies, but we are a unit directly under the MOTHs' headquarters. Without orders from above, we will not comply."
The soldier's attitude was extremely firm, his posture ramrod straight, the very picture of pride.
If Fu Li didn't know that their purpose for being stationed here was to kill Rin, he might have actually believed their bones were that hard.
Besides, Fu Li had seen this exact demeanor on many of the MOTHs' higher-ups, but their fates had all been the same.
Ten minutes later, Fu Li dragged the last man by the foot, tossed him onto the pile of soldiers, then grabbed the squad leader and slammed him against the wall.
The man who was thrown against the wall let out a pained grunt, but Fu Li paid him no mind. He bent down and rummaged through the pile of ruined guns on the floor.
Finally, he found a shotgun, tossed it into the squad leader's arms, then squatted down and pressed the muzzle to his own head.
"Heh, weren't you quite arrogant just now? Come on, I'll give you one more chance."
Although a single pull of the trigger would fire the bullet, the squad leader had no such intention. He could only stare at Fu Li with eyes full of terror.
It was only at this moment that he truly understood why these people were called monsters, beasts, dangerous half-breeds.
"10..."
"9..."
"3..."
"1..."
The muzzle of the gun was twisted into scrap metal. Fu Li reached out and patted the man's shoulder.
"I give you a chance and you don't take it. Since you can't win, then scram."
"Hmph... what's a MANTIS? Without the genes of those monsters, what are you? You're nothing."
"Hmm... a playboy, a billionaire, a top-tier scientist, a researcher on the MANTIS Project, Mobius's best assistant, Vill-V's primary financial backer, and your savior..."
After his verbal barrage left the man red-faced, Fu Li grabbed him and tossed him back onto the pile of his men. Without a second glance, he walked into the prison and shut the heavy gate.
If Kalpas had been the one to find them, these people would undoubtedly be dead.
Upon entering the prison.
Damp... cold... despair...
Within the empty prison, the sound of dripping water echoed rhythmically, like musical notes dancing in Fu Li's heart.
Through the tempering of this simulation, he had already integrated the rhythm of music into his combat style, allowing him to better predict his opponent's movements.
This even included non-human creatures like Honkai Beasts.
He had also finally obtained a weapon suited for him, a sword called the Key of Domination: "Ruoli," which was a homophone for his name.
Step... step...
The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty room. When Fu Li reached the innermost cell, he finally saw a small figure.
She was curled up over there, her clothes long stained with filth. Beneath her messy, cherry-blossom pink hair, a pair of beautiful apricot eyes were filled with fear.
It seemed that upon seeing the armor on Fu Li's body, Rin's body trembled even more violently. She shrank further into the corner, like a frightened little white rabbit.
Rin would only become the Herrscher of Corruption after she was killed.
The Honkai had not miscalculated the human heart, but the one thing it had not accounted for was the appearance of Fu Li.
"Don't be afraid, Rin. I am Li, a friend of Sakura's."
As if sensing the little girl's fear, Fu Li pressed a few buttons on his armor, and it transformed into an exquisite formal suit.
This was a suit of armor co-developed for him by the three great big sisters—Mobius, Eden, and Vill-V. It could be said to be a masterpiece of practicality and artistry.
Could the likes of Kevin, Su, Kalpas, or Kosma ever have such a thing?
Sure enough, upon seeing Fu Li's handsome appearance, Rin's trembling stopped, and the terror in her eyes dissipated somewhat.
But it was not hard to see that she was still extremely wary, which was completely understandable.
However, Fu Li was who he was. He was the "little brother" who had single-handedly raised the domestically challenged Mobius. Dealing with a small child was a simple matter.
"You're... my sister's friend? Li... I've heard that name. My sister said you're a good person."
Seeing Fu Li's approaching figure, Rin shrank back again, subconsciously speaking well of him.
Only Fu Li himself knew that he was by no means a good person. But for the people he liked, he would never hesitate to show them kindness.
"Rin, don't be afraid. Your sister will be here soon."
Fu Li walked to the front of the cell. With a light swipe of his finger, the cell door instantly shattered, the edges of the break clean and smooth, as if cut by a hot knife through butter.
Next, Fu Li did not continue to display his power. Before Rin's disbelieving eyes, his fingers flipped and changed.
In a moment, several wrapped pieces of candy appeared in his palm.
"How about it? Surprised?" Fu Li smiled warmly and extended his hand.
Given Rin's current situation, those people would certainly not have given her any food. Candy, on the other hand, was rich in sugar and a favorite among children.
It was a pity that he didn't have much of the candy he had prepared for Griseo left, only these few pieces.
Sure enough, upon seeing the candy, the light in Rin's eyes reignited, and she subconsciously reached out for it.
But her hand, thin and frail, stopped halfway. Rin swallowed hard.
"Is... is this candy really for me, Big Brother... Li?"
"Of course. You've already called me Big Brother. Never mind candy, once your sister and I get you out of here, you can have whatever you want to eat."
Receiving his confirmation, a joyful expression finally appeared on Rin's face. She accepted the candy, thanking him as she did.
Watching her gobble it down, Fu Li couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
No matter how you looked at it, Sakura had contributed and bled for the organization, and had even done plenty of its dirty work.
Even if Rin was a Herrscher and was locked up, that didn't mean she should be treated like this. At the very least, three meals a day should have been guaranteed.
Taking a harmonica from his waist, Fu Li began to play a song from Rin and Sakura's hometown.
The gentle melody echoed through the prison, creating a stark contrast with the cold, lonely atmosphere.
Following the song, Rin's movements gradually slowed. She was no longer eating just to eat, but began to quietly savor the taste of the candy.
The long-forgotten sweetness spread from the tip of her tongue. Rin's eyes slowly closed, and her trembling body gradually calmed. A single teardrop traced a path down from the corner of her eye.
By the time the sweetness in her mouth had faded, the song had also just ended.
When Rin opened her eyes again, a clean, damp towel was before her.
"Wipe your face. I sent Sakura a message before I came. She should be here soon. You wouldn't want your sister to see you looking like a little stray cat, would you?"
"Thank you... Big Brother Li..." The current Rin was much more docile. After taking the towel, she began to gently wipe the grime from her face and hair.
Li was right. She really didn't want her sister to see her like this.
And Fu Li naturally turned around, closed his eyes, and continued to play his harmonica.
The melodious tune echoed, until...
The iron gate of the prison was torn open by the cold glint of a blade.