Why it never ends

Chapter 1044 Identity
Hesta's eyes swept across the faces of the young men in front of him.

"It seems I was right."

"...Don't be so self-righteous," one of them looked Hesta in the eye again, "We are just here to carry out a mission. As for why we are doing this, the higher-ups don't need to explain to us - and how we, the entire Deep Anchor, are closely connected to each other... I don't need to explain to you either."

"That's what makes me a little unsure right now," Hesta said. "I've fought with a group of diehards among you, and I almost killed one of them - they know how powerful I am. But these people sent four of you rookie reservists here tonight... It's hard to say whose life they want."

Several young people didn't understand Hesta's meaning at first. When they came to their senses, they couldn't help but feel angry. However, the gap between the enemy and us was so huge that straightforward anger would only highlight their own incompetence. Some of them turned their heads away, some sneered, and some continued to cry silently, as if they had not heard the conversation just now.

"Do you know who I am?" Hesta asked softly.

"You are Jane Hestar," the oldest reservist replied, "the new inspector of District 12—"

"I entered the reserve base in the spring of 4623, when I was eleven years old. From 4624 to today, I have participated in 27 critical operations, 41 medium operations, and three salvage operations." Hesta said softly, "The Mercury Needle who brought me into the base was also my guardian. Her name is Chiba Masaki - maybe you have heard of this name? Because her bullet time has always been a legend in Mercury Needle."

Several young men opened their mouths slightly, their expressions slightly frozen on their faces.

The person in front of him threw out a string of impossible numbers and a well-known name - yes, Chiba Masaki was one of the most famous victims in the Faialar tragedy.

One of them spoke haltingly: "...Since, since you also have relatives and friends who died in this tragedy--"

Before she could finish her words, another person interrupted her: "Why does it start from 4624? Did you start carrying out missions in the second year of becoming a reserve?"

"Yes," Hesta folded his arms, "I first participated in Operation Extreme Danger in 4624. During those years, I almost always went with Ms. Chiba. She was an independent fighter and rarely acted with the main force. And our mission types were usually very special, such as capturing aberrants alive and conducting targeted rescue in the wasteland area covered by the chelate tide..."

"That's impossible," one of them murmured in a low voice. She looked at Hesta in surprise. "How long had it been since you awakened for the second time? Was the bullet time stable enough?"

"That's exactly why I was able to work with Ms. Chiba," Hesta replied, "because at that time I hadn't yet awakened for the second time, and the scent of the initial awakening mercury needles left on me was exactly the bait that the Deformers coveted the most."

Several people stared at the person in front of them in astonishment: "You...you didn't..."

"At that time, I had a special ability. Although I had not awakened for the second time, when the chelate appeared beside me, I could directly enter the bullet time. Unlike those mercury needles that had awakened for the second time, my bullet time was almost infinite. It was only limited by my personal physical strength. Before I was completely exhausted, I could move stably, continuously, and without restrictions in the bullet time."

Hearing this, the faces of several young people changed - they immediately smelled something familiar from Hesta's story, which was different from the mainstream reserve mercury needle and the almost infinite bullet time before the second awakening...

"…So, what now?"

"Of course it has awakened for the second time now," Hesta said, "otherwise, we can only wait for the Chelate to get close to us before entering Bullet Time. Isn't that very passive?"

"How did you awaken for the second time?" "That's another story," Hesta smiled. "Anyway, think about it. If your superiors really want to kill me, what kind of configuration should the assassination team that comes tonight have?"

"Your companion is not bad either. I've read her information," one of them said. "She has led many extremely dangerous operations, but she was still defeated by our people... It was you who inexplicably refused to touch the water and food here that caused our failure."

"Shouldn't you be prepared for the second hand?" Hesta's expression became serious when talking about the mission, "If Victoria and I both eat the problematic food, then it would be easy to catch her and kill me, but if either of us is not infected, don't you have to be prepared for a coordinated attack?
"But you didn't. Some of you retreated immediately after capturing Victoria, leaving me, a very threatening opponent, to the four of you in reserve. Do you think this is reasonable?"

"that is because--"

"That's because it would be too risky to leave a few truly mature fighters behind." Hesta interrupted the man in front of him. "The last time we accidentally fought in King's Square, Sahame was seriously injured. If it weren't for a friend of mine who risked his life to send her back, she would probably be dead now - and a Deep Anchor that is splitting apart can't afford such a price now."

Hesta glanced at the seriously injured young man beside him.

"I have no doubt that if all of you die tonight, then tomorrow morning Deep Anchor will make a big fuss about this..." Hesta said softly, "So I'm taking a gamble. I want to see how many people will come looking for me if I keep you alive."

While they were talking, they heard a series of interlaced footsteps overhead. There were at least six or seven people coming.

"Jane! Where are you?"

"Basement." Hesta looked up. "The entrance is behind the stairs on the first floor."

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Soon, Zoe, Ende and Theresa all appeared in Hesta's sight. They were carrying large and small boxes. Two doctors with messy hair were lying on Zoe and Theresa's backs.

"We ran here," Zoe said. "It's estimated that the Ximoya helicopter will arrive in an hour. Where are the people who need to be rescued?"

……

In an unknown underground research station, Victoria finished reading the last experimental record.

She took off her glasses, looked at the wall expressionlessly, and said nothing for a while.

"What do you think now?" Welsing asked softly.

no answer.

"Although I really want your answer," Welsing continued, "you are my respected senior, and I must give you some time to think about it... You can stay here until dawn, and I will come back then."