Clunk—clunk—clunk—
The subway sped steadily through the dark tunnel.
Inside the carriage, Kevin pressed urgently, "Why does MOTH want Mei? What kind of organization is it?"
A mysterious group with unknown motives seeking Mei—there was nothing reassuring about that. He had to learn as much as possible to ensure her safety.
Ido did not hide anything.
"MOTH is an organization initiated by the United Nations to combat the Honkai Eruption. They began operating even before the First Honkai Eruption broke out. They concealed information about the Honkai from the public and secretly eliminated outbreaks around the world.
"And by the way, this is already the third global Honkai Eruption."
Hearing that MOTH was an official organization under the United Nations, Kevin said, "So MOTH is a righteous group protecting humanity?"
"Protecting humanity doesn't automatically make them righteous, Kevin," Mei added calmly. "If sacrificing a minority for the sake of the majority is required, would you call that justice?"
"Uh... you're right, Mei."
Ido nodded in agreement. "Exactly. MOTH's list of atrocities is endless. Sacrificing innocent civilians, eliminating whistleblowers, detaining valuable individuals, conducting human experimentation... That's precisely why our boss founded an organization to oppose MOTH."
"Whoa, Sister Ido, so our organization isn't just some small... sales group?" Pardo exclaimed in surprise. Clearly, during the Mad Hatter Party's newcomer orientation, she hadn't paid much attention.
Mei's expression grew more puzzled. "If that's the case, why send me to MOTH? There's no guarantee they would even accept me. And you don't seem to intend for me to act as a spy."
Ido shrugged. "That part, I don't know. It's all part of the boss's plan."
After learning about MOTH's darker side, Kevin's expression turned tense. "Why would you send Mei to such an organization?"
"Relax. Our job is only to ensure your safety," Ido replied indifferently in the face of his anger. "Even if we didn't send you, MOTH would come for Mei anyway. You have no choice."
Clunk.
The front of the subway struck something again.
"Indeed... against the United Nations, we have no way to escape," Mei admitted with a nod. Then she probed further, "In that case, what if we joined your organization instead?"
"That would depend on our boss. You—"
Before Ido could finish, the lights in the carriage went out simultaneously.
The train slowed, then came to a complete stop.
Darkness swallowed them whole.
Their vision vanished, leaving only pitch black. Their hearing, however, grew unnaturally sharp. All ambient noise disappeared, replaced by the sound of hurried breathing and pounding hearts.
It was Pardo who broke the silence.
"Sister Ido, the subway fell asleep! What do we do? Sister Ido—"
Conductor Pardo frantically slapped the control panel, trying to wake the "subway."
Rumble—rumble—rumble—
With the carriage now silent, they could hear distant thunder from far above—likely ground level. Fear flickered in their eyes.
Then, like a meteor striking the earth, a massive shockwave knocked them off their feet.
The ground began to convulse violently, as if being torn apart. The shaking was so intense that the train derailed and slammed into the tunnel wall.
Kevin shielded Mei firmly against the seat. Pardo, while protecting her cargo, pulled out a coin and muttered prayers under her breath. Ido positioned herself protectively in front of Pardo.
The tremors lasted a long time before finally subsiding.
Fortunately, although derailed, the subway had not overturned.
Kevin lifted himself off Mei, whose cheeks were slightly flushed, and took out his phone to use as a light. Instead, he discovered the screen was distorted—not physically broken, but internally malfunctioning.
He tapped it in confusion. "Out of battery? It was at forty-five percent just now."
"It's a strong electromagnetic pulse," Mei said, showing her own phone, which was similarly blue-screened. "The subway must have been affected as well."
Ido pulled a quantum communication wristwatch from her jacket pocket.
"Lecturer, what's our current location?"
The voice of the quantum computer Lecturer sounded from the device.
"Altitude negative 304 meters. Located beneath the shallow waters of the East Sea, near Sapphire City on the Shenzhou mainland. Current coordinates: 125°09′ east longitude, 32°42′ north latitude."
Sapphire City was the coastal city of Shenzhou closest to the Far East.
Fortunately, the subway had not stopped in the middle of the sea between the two regions. Crossing a strait on foot would have been impossible.
"Your communicator can resist electromagnetic interference?" Mei asked curiously.
Ido nodded. "That's right. It uses quantum communication."
As if recalling something, she quickly opened a channel.
"Hey—Newton, can you hear me?"
After a brief beep, a young girl's voice came through.
"Shh—keep it down. I'm on a transport plane!"
"I need to know where MOTH's rescue units are," Ido said seriously.
"Hmm... give me a second... In about an hour, MOTH's Fifth Squad will land at Sapphire City Airport."
"Good!"
Ido lifted her leg and kicked the subway door.
With a deafening bang, the door flew off under her unbelievable strength and crashed into the opposite wall.
Mike stared in shock. That force could easily have shattered a leg.
Yet Ido seemed completely unaffected. She jumped down from the carriage, rolled her shoulders, and strode into the darkness ahead.
"Let's go, Pardo. Time to have some fun. Let's smash those guys to pieces!"
"Wait, Sister Ido! My cargo's still on the train—"
Inside the carriage, Mike shook his head helplessly and looked at Mei.
"Mei, you're the smart one here. If you've got any ideas, speak up. This is an emergency."
"Don't be fooled by how experienced we look. Compared to a true intellectual, we're nothing."
"Exactly, exactly," Pardo chimed in, nodding proudly with her hands on her hips as if she were the one being praised. "If Boss were here, she'd definitely think of a way—one that lets me take my cargo too!"
Mei looked at Pardo's hesitant expression and smiled faintly.
"Miss Pardo, aren't you going with your Sister Ido? You're from the same organization, aren't you?"
Pardo pointed at the scattered goods on the floor.
"My cargo hasn't left. Of course I can't leave."