"As you can see," Boothill said, "I've infiltrated the Construction Logistics Department. Waiting for the right moment to take a shot at him."
Lin Yi pulled out his phone and @-tagged Yu Qingtu, asking her to mix four drinks.
"Alright, sit down and talk slowly—"
He glanced around awkwardly.
"…Actually, there's nowhere to sit."
Zhuixing stepped forward.
She ripped the ship's door off with her bare hands, bent it into a table, then tore pieces from the wall and squeezed them into four crude chairs.
Lin Yi stared.
"…You know I could've just teleported furniture."
Boothill gave a thumbs-up.
"Now that is some ridiculous physical strength. Just like her sister."
Zhuixing waved her hand.
"My strength is only a fraction of my sister's."
Dongfang Qiqing swallowed.
She hadn't expected the gentle, considerate girl beside her to possess such terrifying power.
Lin Yi looked at Zhuixing curiously.
"Why bring the real body here?"
He waited patiently.
When Lin Yi traveled, Zhuixing always accompanied him—but the ones acting outside were usually consciousness-controlled clone bodies.
Those clones had only appearance, not Path power.
They were basically ordinary humans.
Even Zhuixing's unusual genes didn't change that.
Lin Yi had never solved this mystery.
His true body still lay inside Space City, continuing the Ascension Experiment—a plan to steal authority and ascend like a god.
The chances were slim.
But once interrupted, the experiment would fail entirely.
Geniuses had to attempt something outrageous.
This experiment was Lin Yi's masterpiece.
As far as he knew, the other geniuses were also secretly conducting equally terrifying projects.
Which was why the Genius Society was essentially Nous's public list of cosmic hazards.
Zhuixing's real body guarded Lin Yi's original body in Space City.
If the city ever fell, she would be the last defense.
"This isn't my real body," Zhuixing said.
"My real body is still where it should be."
"The power of Elation seems to have projected part of my physical strength here."
"So fascinating."
"I want to experiment on myself immediately."
Lin Yi shook his head.
"No."
"Stay away from Ruan Mei."
"Don't let her corrupt you."
"We're not doing self-experiments."
Zhuixing blinked.
"But teacher, aren't you experimenting on yourself?"
Lin Yi froze.
…Oops.
Maybe he was the bad influence.
His phone vibrated.
"Ahem. Let's change the subject."
"Perfect timing."
He opened a small spatial gate.
"Custom drinks from Yu Qingtu."
"And not just tasty ones."
"Not many people get the honor of drinking these."
Four miniature portals opened over the table.
They slid backward, leaving four glasses behind.
Each drink looked different.
One burned with wild flames.
One was deep blue-black like a starry sky.
One glowed gold, tiny lights racing through it like meteors.
One was crimson with a snowy foam cap—its bubbles bursting upward like a miniature volcano.
"Pick one."
"I only told Yu Qingtu roughly about you."
"Let's see if your choices match a genius's judgment."
"Zhuixing, wait. Don't help them eliminate options."
Boothill sniffed.
"Ha! I only came hoping to drink some of your rare wine."
"Didn't expect a bonus."
He grabbed the flaming drink immediately.
"Smells like malt… and gunpowder."
"This one's mine."
He downed it in one gulp.
"Good stuff."
"My thoughts feel sharper already."
Lin Yi nodded.
"That drink is called Eternal Fury."
"So the feeling isn't your imagination."
Dongfang Qiqing chose the crimson drink.
Snow-Capped Volcano.
Lin Yi took the blue-black one—Night Star.
Zhuixing sighed and picked the golden Chasing Light Child.
She had already tasted it before.
She wanted to try something new.
Boothill wiped his mouth.
"This really is incredible."
"But if a genius brewed it personally, I doubt I'll get another chance."
Lin Yi replied calmly.
"That drink contains diluted Nanook Golden Blood."
"From now on—"
"As long as anger and passion remain in your heart…"
"Nothing will shake your will."
Boothill raised an eyebrow.
"Well damn."
"That's quite the gift."
"What's the catch?"
"Need me to do something?"
Lin Yi shook his head.
"No."
"A farewell gift."
"I won't be traveling with the Interstellar Squadron anymore."
Boothill's expression changed instantly.
"You joking?"
"Or did someone threaten you?"
"Do you think anyone can threaten a genius?"
"I already intended to step away."
"The Company simply gave me an excuse."
"Damn those Company dogs—"
"This time the Company isn't responsible."
"I wanted to leave long ago."
Lin Yi leaned back slightly.
"My influence on your group has become too strong."
"And you've begun to rely on me."
"Have you noticed?"
"The Interstellar Squadron keeps expanding."
"But you're thinking less and less."
"When problems appear, your first thought is asking for help—not solving them."
"That's unhealthy."
"Yes, the organization began because of me."
"But I was never truly part of it."
"A mature organization shouldn't rely on outsiders."
"Now that your structure is stable, that dependency must disappear."
"What happens if I die someday?"
"Will you stop thinking entirely and just become reckless brutes?"
He paused.
"And besides… I have my own work."
"I've already spent 888 system hours on the Squadron."
"A nice lucky number."
"Let's stop here."
"A genius's time is extremely valuable—you know that."
Boothill fell silent.
"We…"
"No."
"We already considered you one of us."
"We thought we'd fight together until every thinking lifeform in the universe was free."
"But…"
He sighed.
"Still."
"You'll always be our comrade."
"If this is your decision—"
"Then I respect it."
"To free will."
He filled his glass with malt liquor and raised it.
Lin Yi raised his own.
They said nothing.
Yet everything was said.
It was all in the drink.
The moment their glasses clinked—
a Light Cone quietly formed.
Lin Yi sensed the ripple of memory substance.
He took out a camera-shaped relic.
Moment Eternal.
It was originally Herta's relic Sacred Face, once used to record pure beauty.
After visiting the Garden of Recollection again, Lin Yi had modified it using their technology.
Now it automatically generated Light Cones whenever it captured a moment of "beauty."
Although—
even Lin Yi couldn't figure out the pattern.
He opened the camera's back panel.
Several Light Cones rested inside.
One floated into the air.
Lin Yi summoned his Key of Erudition.
The key struck the Light Cone.
Crack.
Glass-like echoes rang out.
With each strike, a projection separated.
Six Light Cones hovered in the air.
Five were faint illusions.
One was real.
After merging the projections—
the Light Cone stabilized.
Light Cone: "Boundary" V
When the bearer loses direction, a sudden insight will guide them back to their original path.
Once, a genius guided a group of Rangers—out of curiosity or justice—to form a new organization born from the Galaxy Rangers.
"For ideals. For freedom. We fight to liberate every thinking lifeform."
But now the same genius chooses to draw a line between them.
"Even so, we will always consider you our comrade."
Lin Yi glanced at it briefly and pushed it toward Boothill.
"You're lucky."
"A new Light Cone happened to form."
"Take it."
Boothill whistled.
"Damn."
"I know you robbed plenty of treasures from the Garden of Recollection."
"So I won't refuse."
Light Cones were treasures most Pathstriders would never obtain in their lifetime.
Only the Garden of Recollection and a few organizations could produce them.
Even their methods were incomplete.
A non-mass-produced Light Cone could sell for an astronomical price on the Ninth Agency's black market.
Because in a sense—
a Light Cone represented power that could be passed down forever.
Even the Company's mass-produced three-star Light Cones were expensive and restricted.
Boothill had none.
He had poor relations with both the Company and the Garden of Recollection.
This gift was priceless.
Then Boothill remembered something.
"Oh right."
"If you're not dead, why didn't you tell Ranpo?"
"She believed the news completely."
"She's currently hunting Phantylia, trying to start a revenge campaign."
"No one can stop her."
Lin Yi blinked.
"She believed it?"
"That's strange."
"She knows the one acting outside usually isn't my real body."
He thought for a moment.
"…There must be a misunderstanding."
"Zhuixing."
"Contact Ranpo."
"Tell her not to throw her life away."
"An Emanator of Destruction isn't something to joke about."
Ranpo was absurdly powerful.
With preparation she could destroy a star.
But even so—
against an Emanator—
she could only hope to escape alive.
Lin Yi frowned.
"…No."
"I'm still worried."
"She's not reckless."
"If she's doing this, something's wrong."
"Zhuixing."
"Go personally."
"I don't need you here."
Zhuixing looked up.
Their eyes met.
"…You're right."
"Sister always worries me."
"I'll go."
"Have a pleasant journey, teacher."
She returned to the phased Rainbowlight Ship and entered a cloning chamber.
To outside observers, it looked like her consciousness had left the body.
Boothill scratched his head.
"You two worry too much."
"With her strength, who could threaten her?"
"If there's danger, it's danger for the other guy."
Lin Yi chuckled.
"Maybe."
Boothill spun his revolver.
"Anyway."
"What's with the disguise?"
Lin Yi replied casually.
"We're heading to Kasbelinyat VIII."
"But I heard pirates roam this region."
"So we're planning to see some real pirates first."
Boothill raised an eyebrow.
"Fishing operation again?"
"You're really bored."
"Need help?"
Lin Yi smirked.
"That topic change was pretty forced."
Boothill froze.
"…Wait."
"No enemies?"
"What enemies?"
"Seriously none?"
He scanned the ship carefully.
Lin Yi shrugged.
"None."
"Relax."
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