"...Many people die in every major Honkai eruption."
"But they didn't save me, and I don't even know most of them." Vil-V smile now carried a hint of helplessness. "It might sound cold-blooded, but while I lament every lost life, I don't love every single one of them deeply. Their deaths solidify my resolve to fight the Honkai, but they won't make me stop in my tracks."
"You really are... honest."
"Yeah, so it's better to be honest with yourself."
Mobius disliked Vil-V suggestive tone, but after pulling a long face, she didn't say much more.
"No wonder you were so... on the ship."
"After all, the opportunity was right there. If I didn't seize it, I wouldn't be the Grand Magician Vil-V." She tipped her top hat, smiling with absolute confidence. "I'll take this chance during the experiment to finish what I want."
"Wait, what are you planning? This is an experiment conducted using the power of the Eighth Herrscher."
This was the reason they had come to the uninhabited island. If problems arose during the experiment with the Eighth Herrscher, the number of people she could affect would be minimal. Moreover, Su and Aponia, the two psychic-perceptive MANTIS, were here to effectively prevent any resurgence of the Eighth Herrscher.
"Nothing much, just a whimsical idea."
Vil-V looked toward Lin, who was sleeping in the pod. "If the power of consciousness can make Lin 'believe' he has regained his senses, would that count as overcoming the side effects of the MANTIS surgery?"
"This..."
Mobius now found herself interested in the idea. A person could even be deceived into self-destructing via brain death; so, could someone who originally lacked senses be made to have the illusion of having regained them?
"If it were someone born without the corresponding senses, it might fail, since they don't know what it feels like to have them. But Lin deficiency wasn't innate." Vil-V pointed her wrench at Lin face. "Of course, this still requires data."
"Why don't you let that nun or Su try?"
"As for Su, he doesn't have that kind of ability. Even so-called psychic MANTIS have different branches—like Dystopia psychokinesis. As for Aponia, she could probably do it, but..."
Vil-V frowned rarely, an unpleasant expression appearing on her beautiful face. "She probably won't do it. At least, not on the premise of agreeing to my request. She gives me the feeling of being overly selfish when it comes to Lin."
Mobius also crossed her arms expressionlessly. "It's rare for us to share the same perception."
Outside, the sea waves came one after another. Currently, only the two of them were still working in the room. The others had either actually gone to play on the island or were wandering around the house to prevent any accidents.
Mobius took another sip of juice. Looking at the machine Mei had built to monitor the consciousness world, she couldn't help but marvel at Mei's genius. Only a short time had passed since the end of the Eighth Honkai Eruption, yet she had already researched consciousness and built such a machine.
"By the way, why did you think of letting Lin recover his senses?"
"Naturally, it's so I can [BEEP] and [BEEP] with Lin." Vil-V said with a flawless smile.
"Pffft—"
Mobius sprayed the juice right out of her mouth. She coughed twice, wiped the orange-yellow juice from the corner of her mouth, and glared at Vil-V. "Is your brain broken? Why are you saying such vulgar things?"
"What's vulgar about it? Reproduction is the most basic biological instinct, and mating is a key step in human love. Isn't marriage the best proof?"
Vil-V waved her hand self-righteously. "I also want to [BEEP] with Lin on the bed, [BEEP] standing up, [BEEP] sitting down, [BEEP] lying down, in the kitchen, toilet, living room, pool, grass, small woods, [BEEP] with clothes on, [BEEP] without clothes, [BEEP] while kissing—"
With a bang, Mobius crushed the cup in her hand. She stared dumbfoundedly at Vil-V, who was loudly announcing her [BEEP] plan. Vil-V had even decided on the children's names.
"You... shameless!"
"How can you say that? Like I said, life is short, enjoy it while you can. If you keep thinking about those rules and boundaries, you'll regret it sooner or later."
Tenderness like autumn water flowed in Vil-V eyes. She said softly, "The world is constantly giving us pain, so why can't we pursue happiness? He has already experienced so much trauma; why can't I give him a little comfort?"
...
"It's likely some kind of experiment." Lin deduced the general situation from the available information. "It started from the moment we finished the game and returned to the room."
"Will it be okay?"
"Hmm... probably."
Lin thought about what Elysia had said back then. He took an extra look at Sakura, who didn't understand what the look meant.
"Uninhabited island... it should be an experiment related to the Eighth Herrscher." Lin looked at Little Red Riding Hood, who had finished washing her hands and stood up. "We just need to follow the 'script,' and we should be able to complete the experiment."
"Why is it the two of us?"
"...I don't know. Maybe it's just a coincidence."
By now, Little Red Riding Hood had walked over. She came right up to Sakura and gazed at her animal ears. "Alright, let's go. I'll tell you about the 'Wolf'."
Sakura looked at her with slight surprise.
The reason for her surprise was that Lin had clearly said they were here to kill the 'Wolf,' yet Little Red Riding Hood was now saying she would explain the 'Wolf' situation. Didn't this mean she had already seen through the fact that they knew nothing about the 'Wolf'?
"Heh, do you take me for a fool? I've been deceived by 'people' before. How could I be so easily tricked? But since you didn't eat me, I suppose I can trust you a bit. After all..."
"I don't care what method is used, who is involved, or what price is paid, as long as the 'Wolf' can be killed."
Her eerie smile made Sakura slightly uncomfortable. This Little Red Riding Hood was completely broken inside.
"Did something happen?"
Little Red Riding Hood tilted her head, her lip curling as she repeated Sakura words syllable by syllable: "Did... some... thing... hap... pen?"
"Hiding in a corner watching your own grandmother be eaten—and while she was still alive. Starting from the first finger, until even her hair was finished. And after eating her, that monster even smiled at me. Does that count as something happening?"
"The hunter who came to save me was disemboweled and hung from the rafters with his own intestines. His blood dripped all over my face. Does that count as something happening?"