HI3: Starting from the Previous Civilization

Far away in the Dusk Street convent, Aponia was staring at the sky, lost in thought. Once again, she saw those 'threads of fate' bouncing around as though they were dancing in a nightclub. She simply sighed and resumed her tasks—she'd long since grown used to such strange sights.

…

"Alright, let's discuss business, Dr. Mobius."

Mobius noticed that the boy across from her suddenly wore a serious expression, entirely different from a moment ago. She wasn't surprised. After all, she herself had glimpsed that grim future they both seemed to know about. She could tell there was plenty he hadn't revealed yet.

'It appears he's not only seen that hopeless future; he's also acquired something else,' Mobius thought. 

'Or perhaps he's received some hidden knowledge, a legacy of sorts. This is getting interesting. 

Unraveling something so mysterious bit by bit is half the fun, isn't it? You're not escaping from me, my dear little lab rat. 

If my guess is correct, this boy called "Fan" might be like Elysia—possibly a Herrscher. After all, in those visions of destruction he described, I never once saw him. 

If that's the case, then the sudden emergence of such a variable could be tied to that wondrous form of life known as 'Herrscher.' 

He likely hasn't realized it yet. 

Gosh, Herrschers really are something else. And Elysia… who might still be out there traveling… 

I can hardly wait to haul her onto my operating table and study her properly. Hahaha…'

Having such a thought made Mobius's cheeks flush as a gentle smile curved her lips. 

([Note]: This isn't 'that' type of situation—if your thoughts run wild, kindly reflect on them elsewhere.)

(As for Fan, he had long been aware that thanks to his three special abilities, he was practically the ideal vessel for a Herrscher core. In theory, if he absorbed enough Honkai Energy, a core would form inside him. During that process, he'd just need to strengthen his mental resolve. The moment he actually turned into a Herrscher, he'd have to devour the newborn will inside the core, thus claiming a power of his own. According to all the data he had, the first Herrscher should be the Herrscher of Reason—colloquially, the "I-think-therefore-it's-true" Herrscher.)

…

Fan noticed Mobius's odd expression, ranging from cold sweat before to sudden mania now, and worried he might've made the wrong choice. 

'What's up with her, anyway? She was dripping sweat a moment ago, and now she's giggling like she's lost it. Did I bet on the wrong horse by inviting her to build a research lab?'

He heaved a sigh, staring at Mobius—still in her private reverie—and muttered to himself, 

'Well, what's done is done. I'll just take it one step at a time. Looks like my plan to hide in the Sea of Quanta may still be necessary.'

Mobius kept on giggling, immersed in her daydream. Curious eyes from the other customers lingered on them. Even the café manager stood behind the bar, polishing cups while watching them with mild amusement.

Fan got up and gave Mobius's shoulders a quick shake. 

"Dr. Mobius, hey… Snap out of it!"

He was about to give her a couple of light slaps on the cheek when she finally came back to her senses. She'd been so deep in her own imagination that she accidentally spoke her innermost thoughts aloud:

"What happened? Where's my little test subject?"

She blinked, then shuddered for no apparent reason. Glancing around, she saw various curious onlookers. The flush on her face grew even brighter.

"C'mon, let's find somewhere else to talk," Mobius said, cheeks reddening. She grabbed Fan's wrist and tugged him toward the exit.

The abrupt yank made Fan stumble, nearly falling over. 

"Dr. Mobius, wait—I haven't even paid yet!"

With a slightly haughty snort, she let go of him long enough to say, "Hurry up and do it, then. I'll wait outside." 

Her flushed cheeks betrayed her embarrassment or anger (maybe both).

Fan watched her walk out. He pulled out a black card and handed it to the owner. "Boss, here you go."

The café owner—a large man behind the counter—took the card with a calm nod, swiped it on the POS machine, and handed it back. Then he leaned in, lowering his voice:

"Kid, I'm rooting for you. As they say, 'the intense woman fears the persistent man, and the strong-willed man can win over the toughest lady.'"

He sneaked a glance at Mobius waiting at the doorway and continued:

"Judging by my observations, that green-haired beauty wears a tough exterior to hide her soft inside. If you peel away her shell, you'll find the gentle core within. Keep at it—if you have a thick enough skin, you'll succeed."

The staff eavesdropping nearby nodded in agreement, echoing their boss's assessment. 

With a thumbs-up and a toothy grin, the boss returned the black card.

Fan smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

Ding! The café door closed behind Fan. Inside, everyone—including the staff—heaved a collective sigh. They'd wanted a little drama, but it ended too quickly.

Outside, Mobius grabbed Fan's wrist again and strode off in a hurry. 

"Dr. Mobius, slow down…"

She didn't answer, only dragging him along. After some time, they'd already covered a fair distance. Office workers on their lunch break all seemed drawn to the striking pair, a good-looking guy and a gorgeous woman.

Fan shook his head. "Dr. Mobius, if you need a private place to talk, I know one. Wandering aimlessly isn't going to help, and everyone's staring."

Still visibly flustered, Mobius glanced around. Those passing in suits gawked openly at them. Not far away, a few lab researchers she recognized suddenly went white as though they'd seen a ghost.

They rushed off, arms pumping like frantic windmills, yelling, 

"I can't believe it—Dr. Mobius actually has a boyfriend?! That's why she ran out in such a hurry, to meet her boy toy! And here I thought… old cow eating young grass…"

Fan rubbed the back of his neck and gave an awkward laugh.

Mobius's face darkened. She had a sinking feeling that rumors would soon be flying. Jerking her hand away from his, her cheeks tinged red—either from anger or embarrassment—she snapped, "Well? Don't just stand there; lead the way!"

Under his breath, Fan gave a silent thumbs-up to the retreating researcher. 'Thanks, buddy. If I ever can, I'll make sure you get a nice red envelope.'