it is Arknights!

Sora caused a bit of a ruckus for a while, then left together with Francka and Liskarm. After all, her main job was being an idol, and much of her time didn't belong to herself. Being able to come to Penguin Logistics for a period was already quite good. When there were no missions, she also had to sing, dance, and perform everywhere.

And after Sora left, the Penguin Logistics dormitory, which had been somewhat lively, finally quieted down. The few remaining people tidied up the messy room, cleared out the cluttered space around, made a place for Li Lin, and then went out to buy some daily necessities. They detailedly defined times and rules for Li Lin. After all, only girls lived here before, and now a boy suddenly appeared. Not only was Li Lin not used to it, but the other girls weren't either.

After laying down the law and discussing the respective use of time and place—we all know this stuff becomes bullshit once you get familiar, but it's still very useful when you're not—Li Lin finally settled down officially. Apart from Sora, the part-time auxiliary idol, having some minor opinions, and Texas remaining silent throughout, Croissant and Exusiai maintained a very welcoming attitude. Needless to say about Exusiai; Croissant was entirely considering safety aspects. Having a stable rear position reporting points was much better than struggling hard at the front. Although she was sturdy, she wasn't invincible. Reliable teammates like this, the more the merrier.

Of course, Li Lin himself always claimed it was a matter of luck, actually nothing significant. But in the eyes of Croissant and the others, it was purely modest talk. At the suggestion of the Forte, to celebrate Li Lin's arrival, they held another hot pot party inside the Penguin Logistics dormitory.

Adhering to the principle of 'never leaving the table until drunk', Croissant and Li Lin, halfway through eating, already had flushed faces, calling each other brothers, and bragging about protecting each other.

As the remaining relatively sober person, Texas gave Exusiai a look and went up to the rooftop alone.

Feeling the slightly cold breeze outside, the Lupo's ears twitched slightly. She looked at the flowing, brilliant night scenery of Lungmen for a long time. Texas, with some mysterious past, gazed at the bustling and noisy city night view, slowly taking out a cigarette from her pocket and placing it on her lips. When she encountered somewhat tricky situations, she habitually wanted to smoke a cigarette. And looking at the scenery outside, she inexplicably felt a bit nervous about the upcoming moments.

From the current situation, everything was already a foregone conclusion. Whether it was attitude, behavior, or all actions, the outcome was already destined. The main choice was to be made by Texas herself. But somehow, she was extremely reluctant to make any choice.

The price for the second time.

Texas took out her lighter, shielded the wind, lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled some white mist, melting into the night.

After a while, her ears twitched slightly, and the sound of the door being pulled open came from behind her.

"Yo, Texas. What did you call me for? Is there some urgent job from the boss?"

"…No, just came to ask you a question."

Texas turned around, quietly looking at the curious-faced Exusiai.

"How long exactly do you plan to hide it? Regarding Li Lin, that Prophet matter, how long do you intend to hide it?"

"What are you talking about? Is something wrong with Li Lin?"

"He is the creator of the Lazarus File."

"…"

If only you had said you didn't know, how good that would be.

Under Texas's disappointed gaze, Exusiai's originally smiling face gradually dimmed. She forced a smile onto her face, but it carried an inexplicable bitterness. Making Texas hate her current actions even more. But although she hated it, she didn't regret it.

"Is that so, it's that obvious… When did you find out?"

"That attack was when I started to suspect. And when Officer Ch'en came, I was already certain."

Texas took a drag from her cigarette, feeling a speechless pain filling the area around her lungs.

"Prophet Li Lin, he is the creator of the Lazarus File, right? Those so-called novel settings, those so-called setting drafts, are actually all part of the Lazarus File. What he's writing isn't a novel at all, he's writing a book of prophecy. And those things naturally don't need a main text, they just need others to walk the path. Right?"

"Ahaha, well, not necessarily. I believe Prophet actually doesn't have any ill intentions."

Exusiai waved her hand, laughing heartily as she spoke.

But under Texas's calm expression, Exusiai's forcibly maintained smiling appearance also gradually fragmented into pieces.

The two looked at each other speechlessly, only the biting cold wind blowing around them made the hems of their clothes flutter. Unsure how much time had passed, Exusiai let out a long sigh, leaned on the railing looking at the night view outside, and suddenly said.

"Texas, do you believe in God?"

"…What?"

"Do you believe that above us, there is a great will watching us?"

"I don't believe in gods. If there were gods, why would they let all living beings suffer such hardships?"

"Then let me put it another way, Texas. Do you believe in fate? The kind where you walk alone in the wilderness ( yǔyǔ dúxíng - archaic: walk alone with difficulty), and then one day suddenly look up and find that the light is right there, your mission is right there, the meaning of life is right there. Do you believe in such a fate?"

"I don't believe."

"But I do."

Looking at Texas before her, whose hair tips were slightly red, Exusiai said with a very serious expression.

"We Laterano believe that fate will eventually descend upon a person one day. At that time, the person will be able to realize what their life's mission truly is. I actually didn't like this saying. At the very beginning. I like chasing trends, I like music and bullets, I like this interesting and exciting life. Although I am also very devout, I know I am different from ordinary Laterano."

"You…"

Texas looked at Exusiai, opened her mouth, but ultimately just looked at her calmly, waiting for her next words.

"Everyone likes living rigidly, everyone adheres to certain rules and regulations according to doctrine, as if those things are sacred and inviolable. Clearly, they are behaviors permitted by the classics, but they have to become compromised and rigid because of it. I grew up in that kind of environment."

"Coming out of Laterano was partly to train myself, and partly to escape that kind of environment. I felt that wasn't my fate, nor was that the life I wanted. Even in life at Penguin Logistics, I often felt a hint of emptiness. An emotional void. I knew my fate had not yet arrived. It was that feeling of walking alone in the wilderness, unable to see any light around."

"Then, I saw the Prophet. He gave me a whole new meaning. He is my light, my candlelight, my soul. The enlightenment of my fate."

"When I met him, discussed those mutual cognitions, I had this feeling at that time."

"Ah, it's him. He is my fate."

"So, it's actually love at first sight? I thought you wouldn't be so…"

Texas looked at Exusiai beside her, feeling it was somewhat absurd.

But this statement was met with Exusiai's denial. This Laterano shook her head very seriously, refuting Texas's words.

"No, rather than saying I fell in love with him at first sight, it's more like finding a soul that had been missing for a long time. All my doubts can be answered by him, all my questions can be explained by him. I feel incredibly at ease by his side. So I trust him, just as I trust myself."

"Only at times like this do you resemble a Laterano."

"Ahahaha, perhaps."

Exusiai scratched her hair and said with a smile.

"I don't know what love is, or love at first sight. But if this feeling is love, then I might indeed love him very much. Even knowing clearly that the things he's doing will have a great impact on this world, I turn a blind eye . Because the great ones always influence everything around them, making it dance, or making it sink into depression. And the lambs can only choose whether to obey or not. So I won't speak out. But I won't stop others either. So Texas, you…"

"You are a Laterano. And I am a Lupo."

"—!"

Really understands well.

Lupo never betray friends. Looking at Exusiai, whose expression gradually showed surprise and joy, Texas shook her head.

Tossing the extinguished cigarette butt off the building, Texas beckoned the cheering Exusiai, and they walked down the stairs together. Downstairs, there were still two drunkards waiting for them to drink; it was time for them to go down and deal with the two drunk individuals.