Y/N, THE 14TH MEMBER OF THE FLAMECHASERS: An [Honkai Impact 3rd] Mini-Story

49. KLEIN/MOBIUS/MEI: ABOUT THE ANOMALIES, RESTRAINTS, & MOBIUS

=========================
=========================
MEANWHILE...
IN THE WAR ROOM...
WITH KLEIN...
=========================
=========================

Klein:  "No hardware error found..."
Klein:  "No base logic error found..."
Klein:  "That's curious..."
Klein:  "Did I make a wrong judgement?"
Klein:  "The Elysian Realm has stayed the same and there has never been any changes?"
Klein:  "But how is this possible?"

Klein:  "..."

Klein:  "Wait, the anomalies..."
Klein:  "They're possible without modifying the software..."
Klein:  "But there's only two people who can do that..."

Klein:  "But her special portal had vanished along with the other special portal."
Klein:  "So there's no way it could be Miss Y/n."
Klein:  "To leaves..."

Just when Klein thought of this, a thick, slimy shadow came from behind and enveloped her.
Though she was used to it, goosebumps did creep up her back and make her shiver.
When the shadow fell on her, it felt like something tangible—cold and sticky.

Klein: "..."
Klein:  "Of course it was you, Dr. Mobius."
Klein:  "Besides Y/n, you know Elysian Realm better than me, and both of you can bypass the access control."
Klein:  "But Miss Y/n's special portal vanished, leaving her out to have access from the controls, let alone here in reality."
Klein:  "And you're the only sim here that could have messed with the system."

Mobius:  "Hmm..."
Mobius:  "Very well, Klein, sound reasoning."

Klein:  "But if your purpose is to stop her from further exploration, this is meaningless."
Klein:  "Even without my help, the Herrscher can get into the abnormal areas herself."

Mobius:  "Haha..."
Mobius:  "Klein, did you forget what I taught you?"
Mobius:  "Don't let your mind dwell on the surface..."
Mobius:  "Think, what's the nature of the anomalies?"

Klein:  "...Nature?"
Klein:  "..."
Klein:  "Three types of portals, behavior mode probe, shadow, environmental recognition block, and sentience modification..."
Klein: "..."
Klein: "Dr. Mobius, do you plan to..."

Mobius: "Haha..."
Mobius giggles.

Klein: "Your research of the 8th Herrscher..."
Klein: "Has it succeeded?"

Mobius: "We'll know very soon after the experiment returns a result."

Klein: "But..."
Klein: "I've remember you've given up on the research."

Mobius: "Give up?"
Mobius: "Haha, not wrong, just..."

Someone's footsteps came nearer, drowning out Mobius's words.

Mei: "?"

Mobius: "This time, Klein, try to exert yourself a bit more."
Mobius: "During the experiment on Hua, if you worked an hour more every day, the result might have turned out to be more satisfactory."

Klein: "..."
Klein: "Dr. Mobius, the way you shift topic is just..."
Klein: "And..."
Klein: "How can there be 25 hours a day?"

...
...
...

=========================
=========================
STILL IN THE WAR ROOM...
WITH KLEIN AND MEI...
=========================
=========================
After Mobius left the war room...

Mei:  "Do you have a minute, Klein?"

Klein:  "..."
Klein:  "Hah..."
Klein:  "I made a wrong judgement myself..."
Klein:  "Your question, please."
Klein:  "I'll do my best to answer it."
Klein: "That appearing before you would accelerate my work of restoring the realm."
Klein: "I appreciate your help, but..."
Klein: "My work efficiency has dropped as a result."