"The Second Herrscher's ability, compared to the First Herrscher's, which can be explained more easily on a physical level, involved an abstract concept—Time. Now, based on Dr. Einstein's recent research into the spacetime concept, Time itself is a property of space, so the Second Herrscher's ability is partly related to Time..."
"However, records and research on the Herrscher core suggest that the Second Herrscher cannot arbitrarily control spatial dimensions. If that were the case, it would be truly terrifying..."
"But the Second Herrscher's ability is not just about folding the surrounding three-dimensional space; it is a broader spatial manipulation capability..."
The R&D head droned on, introducing the Moth of the Flame-Chasers' research into the Second Herrscher to the person sitting in the chair. Although his vocabulary was not overly obscure and the academic terms were mostly simple and understandable, combined with his enthusiastic emotion and rapid speaking pace, he was clearly a science madman trying to sell his latest questionable product.
Lin's helmet was covered in spittle from the R&D head. He sat there rock-still, his monochromatic gear making him look like a pitch-black ice sculpture. Since the helmet was opaque, it was impossible to tell if he was sleeping or listening without saying a word.
Elysia, conversely, was listening with great interest, taking in every word and occasionally asking a question or two.
"In short, we currently can't replicate the Second Herrscher's ability to construct Imaginary Space, but with the help of the new head of the Engineering Department, we've achieved her spatial transfer through another method. That achievement is this Phase Transfer Device."
The R&D head held up the wristband-like device: "It was originally called Imaginary Transfer Master One, but we unanimously agreed the Engineering Head's naming taste was too poor, so we settled on the Phase Transfer Device."
Elysia's face was clearly alight with excitement, as if she had just spotted a new toy. She turned to say something to Lin, but found him still sitting motionless, his head lowered, the light of his dark-blue viewport dimmed.
Elysia leaned closer, her cherry lips parting curiously: "Lin? Did you fall asleep?"
"..."
Seeing no reaction from Lin, Elysia, a woman of action, immediately reached out her nefarious hand to touch the helmet interface at his neck, grinning maliciously: "Looks like you were too tired from the mission. Take off your helmet and sleep."
The R&D head was about to stop her: "Wait, he's not asleep—"
"Clap."
A gloved, strong hand grabbed the slender forearm. The dark-blue window relit. Lin raised his head slightly, staring directly at the surprised Elysia. He spoke in a deep voice, "What are you doing?"
Elysia tilted her head: "Weren't you sleeping?"
Could this person really be a robot that automatically powers on the moment someone tries to touch his helmet?
The R&D head found the interaction between the two a little amusing: "Lin never sleeps when others are present. He was reading a novel."
"Reading a novel?"
"Don't you dare speak of this." Lin glared at the R&D head, but through the helmet, the lethal intent was virtually non-existent.
Lin's only remaining pastime was reading novels. He used to listen to music, too, but he himself had forgotten when he stopped filling his ears with soothing or passionate music.
Lin didn't want to imagine what Elysia, whose boundless curiosity was already piqued by a mere helmet, would do upon discovering his hobby was reading novels.
"Let's put the principle explanation aside for now. How do I use it?"
Lin accepted the Phase Transfer Device. After scanning it, the information uploaded by the R&D head automatically popped up in his viewport. He strapped it onto his left hand and walked to the designated testing area.
A half-meter-thick earthen wall stood in the testing area. The goal was clearly for him to use the Phase Transfer Device to pass through the wall.
The R&D head, watching him adjust the data on the device, slowly dropped his smile. He said with slight hesitation: "This device hasn't undergone a living tissue test yet. You may be in danger. If foreign matter gets jammed into your body, it's highly likely we won't be able to save you. Are you sure you want to try?"
"If I don't try, we will never get the data." Lin's attitude toward the R&D head was better than toward others; at least he was one of the slightly more conscientious researchers in the Moth of the Flame-Chasers. He took a deep breath, raised the device to his eyes, and said, "And if I don't experiment, someone else will... no, never mind. Let's start."
The R&D head didn't hear the first part of his sentence, but Elysia was stunned the moment that nearly inaudible sentence left his mouth, staring at the figure whose expression was hidden.
"Press the switch, and everything will depend on your own split-second reaction."
Everyone else retreated to a safe distance with their data recording tools. Lin turned to the R&D head. After receiving a nod, Lin held his breath and pressed the switch.
"————"
An ear-splitting grinding noise rang in his ears.
The world before his eyes transformed into a deep gray space.
In the second before losing consciousness, Lin couldn't feel his body's existence, and was then swallowed by a tide of darkness.
"So... you called me so urgently just because the experiment resulted in an accident?"
Mobius walked out of the operating room, writing a string of numbers on a computation pad. She wore an expression as placid as still water, not even sparing a glance at the gruesome sight of Lin lying on the gurney, as if he were just an ordinary corpse.
"The Moth of the Flame-Chasers has countless experimental accidents every year. Losing a limb, a leg, or even one's life is normal. My research direction is different from your R&D Department. What use am I?"
The R&D head's expression was exceptionally grim. He had not anticipated that the first living tissue test would result in such severe consequences for Lin. This could no longer be explained as a "mistake"; it was akin to pushing Lin into a crematorium.
The Phase Transfer Device's core principle was to let the user travel from Real Space to Imaginary Space and then return to Real Space, achieving a teleportation effect, similar to the principle behind the Second Herrscher's ability to reflect attacks.
However, they had miscalculated the difference in teleportation between humans and inanimate objects, which resulted in the user's flesh not being fully covered upon returning to Real Space, leading to a cutting effect.
And Lin, lying unconscious on the gurney, was missing his left leg from the mid-thigh down, the cross-section perfectly smooth, a testament to their error.
"He should have been prepared to die when he started an experiment no one had ever done before. Besides, reattaching a leg should be handled by the Medical Department, not me." Mobius's gaze rested on Lin's severed leg for a moment, then she looked away as if she hadn't seen it, turning back toward the operating room.
"My dear Mobius, fabricating an identical leg would surely be simple for you."
"..."
If there was one person Mobius least wanted to see in her lab, Elysia was definitely at the top of the list. Her appearance inevitably spelled trouble, and the entire lab's efficiency would plummet by 80%.
This included Mobius's personal efficiency.
Whenever Elysia looked at Mobius with her charming, teary eyes, Mobius's heart would sink.
Elysia approached Mobius step by step, the shimmering tears in her eyes looking genuine as she pleaded: "Mobius, my dear Mobius, please."
"What does this have to do with you again?" Mobius hastily backed away, terrified that Elysia might actually embrace her, and asked testily.
"..."
Elysia's face suddenly changed, becoming dark and indifferent, her eyes staring straight into Mobius's.
Mobius was caught off guard by the abrupt transformation: "...What is the meaning of this?"
A threat? The silent treatment?
"Tsk, fine, I understand. Leave him here. I'll have Blanca make him a new leg later, alright?" Mobius frowned in annoyance under Elysia's frigid gaze, which she had never witnessed before.
Elysia smiled radiantly after Mobius agreed, returning to her previous demeanor: "That's great! This trick I learned from Lin actually worked! But I don't think doing this to a friend is very nice, is it? I won't do it again."
"..."
Mobius stiffly turned her neck to look at Lin, who lay there like a dead man.
Learned it from him?
Maybe I should just give him a Honkai Beast leg.