I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

"I have no need for weapons."

As he spoke, Xi Wang gently pulled his hands in front of him, and blue water appeared with his movements, changing into the shapes of various weapons such as knives, swords, hammers, and even bows and arrows according to his wishes, and finally turning into several water clumps of different sizes floating around him.

Besides the physical enhancements and improved traits, Gabriel granted him the ability to control "water," though this "water" seemed rather peculiar...

Although Mebius had repeatedly tested that the "water" summoned by Xiwang was indeed water and possessed various water properties, and that all the tests showed it to be water, in Xiwang's hands, as long as the "water" remained within a hundred meters of him, it would possess additional water-related properties.

For example, while maintaining the "knife" shape, a "water jet" cutting effect can be achieved at a lower flow rate. It can also have elasticity or viscosity similar to "slime" when the water is in a mass. Or it can make the water less susceptible to temperature effects, such as a lower freezing point or a higher boiling point.

While maintaining this property, testing these "water" devices still only yields the conclusion that it is water, as if water itself possesses this property.

Although this characteristic weakens with distance and is closer to the water in the common people's minds, it is already very unusual. It is as if the "water" in his hands is a completely different thing from the water in the common people's minds. However, in terms of its properties, it belongs to the water in the common people's minds.

In the end, it can only be concluded that the "water" manipulated by Xiwang is something that is "like water but not water".

Well... all I can say is that it lives up to its reputation as "Honkai (all-powerful)," as to have produced something that can only be described as "magical."

This undoubtedly excited Mebius even more, giving her a new understanding of Honkai energy. After all, the previous [Gabriel] had not shown the ability to "manipulate water," at most becoming more active due to increased moisture in the environment. Now, this result made her believe that it was a mutated product of the fusion of Xiwang's [trait] and [Gabriel]'s genes, and that, currently, it was a benign mutation.

Now, she is almost convinced that Xi Wang's [traits] can perfect her ideas and bring her one step closer to her ideals.

and so……

"So...do you want me to help you reject her?"

Mebius crossed one arm over his chest and propped his face up with the other, his dangerous snake-like eyes narrowing slightly as he asked softly.

"She's been using this excuse to make a lot of weird and wonderful things lately... although she ended up giving them to other members of the Firemoth crew because she didn't think they were suitable for you, but... you know, she's not the kind of person who can sit still."

"Besides, ever since I submitted your test data, she's been urging you and Kevin to try out that weapon that's about to be perfected~"

"...A 'Divine Key' weapon made from the [Fifth Herrscher Core]?"

"Yeah~ That thing is almost finished~ How about it? Want to give it a try, little guinea pig?"

"...No need, I have no need for weapons."

"Haa~ That's true~ After all, you already have such a convenient ability now~"

Mebius approached Xiwang and poked the water clumps floating around him. Although it was just water, it had a strange elasticity. Although it should have been transparent, it was now the color of the sea. Mebius felt as if she was poking a very elastic "slime".

How to put it? It's a bit like "water" in games and anime. Because of this, Danzhu became even more interested in Xiwang. She would stick to him whenever she had free time, hoping he could take some beautiful cosplay photos for her. This made Mebius wonder if he had hired the wrong assistant.

"...Is there anything else, Dr. Möbius?"

"How distant! We get along so well, why are you using such a formal address to me?"

"It's only been a short time, and I don't think we get along that well. Also... can I leave now? We don't need to do any more tests; real combat will be more effective."

Facing Mebius, who was starting to touch her body again, Xi Wang squinted and calmly responded.

"So you're going to abandon them after you've achieved your goal? That's really heartbreaking..."

Mebius crossed his arms and sighed, seemingly disappointed.

"I've helped you so much, from research and surgery to materials, I've prepared the best for you. I've made many safety precautions for the surgery that no one else has... I even turned down the mission that Poison Chrysalis wanted you to do recently. Of course, I didn't let Sakura do it either~"

"I put in so much effort to deal with those people, and this is how it all ended up. It's so heartbreaking... *crying*..."

Mebius feigned concern by wiping away his tears.

"...Don't talk like that, it makes people feel uncomfortable."

Xi Wang rubbed her brows in annoyance. This way of speaking, which was similar to Alicia's, looked really strange on Mebius... and she didn't even imitate it properly.

"...What else do you want?"

After thinking for a while, Xi Wang finally relented.

"Hehe... Don't worry~ I won't make you too disgusted, little guinea pig~"

Almost instantly upon hearing the question, Möbius reverted to his original demeanor, lightly brushing his fingertips across his lips, his snake-like pupils narrowing slightly.

During their time together, Möbius gained a general understanding of Xi Wang's thought process and thus developed a method for dealing with him... I must say, you're really easy to manipulate, you guinea pig!

"My request is simple: spare your life in your next missions, you're a unique specimen, so cherish it!"

"I would have done it even if you hadn't told me."

"And also~"

Mebius stepped forward, leaned close to Xiwang's ear, and whispered in a seductive tone.

"You must come visit me regularly from now on, especially when you're feeling unwell. I'll be very, very interested!"

After she finished speaking, she nimbly extended her tongue and gently scraped it against Xi Wang's earlobe, causing Xi Wang to quickly turn her head away.

However, when he saw that Möbius merely turned his head to avoid him instead of moving away, he took a half step back and laughed as if he were quite happy.

"Hehe~ Very good, little guinea pig, I like you more and more~"

"...May I leave now?"

Xi Wang's voice carried a hint of weariness.

"If you promise me~"

"Definitely next time."

"Then I'll take that as a yes."

"……I am leaving."

"See you next time, little guinea pig~"

Seeing Xi Wang unconsciously quicken her pace to leave, Möbius smiled even more broadly.

"Oh, right……"

As if remembering something, Mebius called out to him again.

"Regarding those 'dirty things' in your body, although you've endured some time here and gotten through the most painful period, and even after becoming a fusion warrior, those 'dirty things' have had a negligible impact on you, but... I hope you remember to never come into contact with those things again."

"The bodies of fusion warriors aren't meant to be damaged, especially since you're already a mess from all that stuff. If it weren't for your [special trait], you'd probably be dead by now."

"I don't want to have to clean up those 'dirty things' for you again next time I see you. That would be an insult and a desecration of life... Do you understand, little lab rat?"

"…………Um."

Xi Wang turned his back to her and remained silent for a long time before finally responding with a single word, and then quickly left.

"Tsk...those guys are really wasting a lot of talent..."

Seeing Xi Wang's attitude and thinking about the character of those people like Du Yong, Mebius frowned in annoyance.

But... at this moment, she had no choice but to put this troublesome matter aside for the time being and turn back to the laboratory to organize the data—the data she had obtained from the mice was enough for her to conduct some experiments.

The problem is...

"...Where are Klein, Danzhu, and Cangxuan?"

"Hmm? They... haven't arrived yet?"

"...Tsk."

Möbius's brow furrowed even deeper.

"Yay! Good morning, Dr. Möbius and Senior Sister Klein! We're sorry we're late, but we bought some milk tea on our way back!"

"Ah... thank you."

Looking unusually tired, as if she had been staying up for several nights in a row, Klein accepted the milk tea handed to her by Danzhu, took a delicious sip, and seemed to have gotten a good sugar boost, as she appeared slightly more energetic.

However, one particular PhD student was not so easy to deal with...

"...Doctor, this is for you."

Cang Xuan glared at Danzhu, who ran straight to Klein's side, as a sign of his contempt for her deliberately leaving Mebius, the most difficult person to face, to her. But in the end, Cang Xuan could only pretend to be calm as he approached Mebius and placed her cup of milk tea beside her.

"...Cang Xuan, do you know what time it is?"

"........."

"It's eleven o'clock. Why didn't you have lunch before coming? I've already collected all the data from the lab mice for today."

"Sorry, Doctor, Danzhu and I will be bringing milk tea back every week for the next week..."

"uh-huh?"

"...and promise never to be late again."

"very good."

Möbius nodded, then gestured to a stack of documents placed to the side.

"These are the documents you two need to work on today. You're not allowed to leave until you've finished them tonight."

"...Doctor, you might as well just kill us."

Danzhu glanced at the stack of documents that was almost as tall as her, her eyes as dead as she looked.

"Even if he's dead, you have to take care of him properly."

Mebius spoke expressionlessly, glanced at the terminal in his hand, and then placed it on top of the stack of documents.

"Also, this is the experiment we'll be doing tomorrow. Get ready. We need to finish reviewing it tonight. I've roughly processed the data; you can break it down a bit."

"No……"

"And remember to bring milk tea tomorrow, and don't be late, you guys said it yourselves."

"Help……"

Before they even got their hands on the documents, Danzhu and Cangxuan had already disregarded their image and prostrated themselves on the ground, practically banging their heads on the ground.

"Senior Sister Klein... help... help me..."

The two little ones slowly crawled to Klein's side, who had started working on her documents again, and pitifully tugged at her clothes.

"Don't ask Klein for help; she has to help me with my experiments today."

Mebius's words drifted back softly.

"……Feel sorry."

Seeing Mebius say this, Klein had no choice but to say something apologetically.

It seems that the fact that the two worked overtime all night is now irreversible.