Purpose

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"Everything I have done is solely to fulfill the mission my father entrusted to me before he passed—to save humanity."

"Save?" The old man snapped angrily. "Do you know what these people have gone through? What you call 'saving' is nothing but a cruel massacre!"

"Massacre?" Luna furrowed her brow slightly, her tone soft but sharp. "You should understand that with limited resources, elimination is an inevitable choice. I merely created a microcosm of society, a reflection of the world you once lived in. If this is called a massacre, then what does that make all of human history?"

The old man was momentarily speechless at Luna's words. After a long silence, he sighed, still discontented. "But you cannot just trap them here and strip away their freedom. Such actions are utterly inhumane."

Luna’s gaze was deep, her tone calm yet resolute, leaving no room for argument. "I do this for the continuation of humanity. Without what I have built, humans would have vanished from this world long ago. You know the environment outside is no longer suitable for survival; there aren’t enough resources to sustain our future. We need to establish rules and rebuild order."

The man with glasses suddenly sneered, breaking the silence. "Humans were never meant to exist in this world." His voice was cold, revealing no concealment of his disdain for humanity.

The old man was at a loss for words, falling silent for a while, a flicker of confusion and helplessness in his eyes. The air was thick with a suffocating tension. Yun Xian lowered his head, his thoughts tangled.

The man with glasses pressed on: "So, what exactly is your purpose in bringing us here?" His gaze was sharp, filled with suspicion.

Yun Xian and the old man froze, looking up at Luna in unison.

Without pausing, the man with glasses continued, "What has always puzzled me is the transmission principle of the mold disease. Usually, mold invades those who are weak or immunocompromised, yet my body has remained healthy, and I infected faster than anyone else." He paused, his voice growing heavier. "So, I took Yun Xian as a control subject, and as I expected, the mycelium in her body was even more active and developed significantly faster than mine. This phenomenon clearly cannot be attributed to coincidence."

Staring at Luna, his tone became even more calm and meaningful: "These data suggest the spread of the mold disease is not purely natural; there must be some form of human intervention behind it."

The atmosphere turned exceptionally heavy. Luna’s expression shifted slightly but quickly regained composure.

The man with glasses added, "Moreover, except for those soldiers and that woman, everything else along the way seemed unusually smooth." His eyes sharpened as he stared at Luna. "What is your real objective?"

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Luna’s expression showed no hint of panic; instead, a slight approving smile appeared. "Your intelligence is truly impressive. In fact, everything I have done was not out of malice, but out of consideration for humanity’s future."

She took a deep breath, her gaze resolute. "My father once attempted to rebuild human society and create a system capable of sustaining our species. I have inherited his mission. But now, my energy reserves are nearly depleted, and as the guardian of this world, I can no longer maintain the system’s operation. To continue fulfilling my father’s mission, I need to find a leader who can find a way forward for humanity."

She smiled faintly and looked at the man with glasses. "So, would you be willing to stay here and lead humanity toward a new future, Jiang Lian?"

The old man and Yun Xian were slightly taken aback, their eyes complex as they looked at Jiang Lian. They did not fully understand Luna’s decision, but they could sense the irresistible force behind her words.

Jiang Lian frowned. "So, you knew from the moment we appeared here that we didn’t belong? What about everything before that? A test?"

Luna nodded calmly. "Exactly. From the start, I knew you were not from here." She paused. "I apologize for what happened earlier, but it was also to better filter out the right leader. If you agree to stay, I will heal you and your companions and ensure their safe return home."

Jiang Lian curled the corner of his mouth, but there was no smile in his eyes. "Why do you think you can use these things to threaten me? Life or death means nothing to me. I’m here to do these tasks purely because I find them interesting." He sneered, "Can you tell me what you find enjoyable about wanting me to stay here and do this?"

Luna’s eyes softened, and she smiled at him. "Enjoyment? How about absolute power and freedom?"

Jiang Lian lowered his head, stroking his chin thoughtfully, as if weighing something. Time seemed to stretch in that moment. Yun Xian and the old man remained silent, watching him tensely, waiting for his decision.

After a long while, Jiang Lian finally looked up. His gaze was still cold but carried a hint of resolve. "I agree."

A satisfied smile appeared on Luna’s face, her eyes gentle. "I’m glad you’ve made this choice." Her tone held a note of relief, as if everything had been anticipated.

"Then, to show my sincerity," she said as transparent mechanical arms slowly rose from the console, holding two green syringes that shimmered faintly in the light.

Luna looked kindly at Jiang Lian and Yun Xian. "This is a gift for your first meeting."

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Without hesitation, Jiang Lian stepped forward, took one syringe, aimed it at his neck’s carotid artery, and pressed the plunger decisively.

Then, he handed the other syringe to Yun Xian. After a moment’s hesitation, she took it and injected the liquid into her body.

The fluid rapidly spread through their veins, bringing an unexpected sense of comfort, as if a chilling fog had been completely dispelled.

Luna’s eyes flickered slightly. Seeing their reactions matched her expectations, she continued, "To ensure your friends’ safety, I will arrange for them to stay in separate rooms until they can safely return home."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a fine black line appeared on one smooth metal wall. With a faint metallic scraping sound, it slowly parted to reveal a deep corridor.

Two bee-shaped robots silently descended from the ceiling, their wings fluttering gently, emitting a soft humming sound, signaling Yun Xian and the old man to follow.

They exchanged complex glances with Jiang Lian before following the bee robots into the passage.

The doors to the rooms on either side of the corridor opened automatically, and they were each placed in a separate room. The doors quietly closed behind them as they stepped inside.

In the hall, Jiang Lian silently watched the metal door slowly close, his expression calm and unreadable.

Luna softly broke the silence. "Now, let me show you our laboratory."

Jiang Lian nodded and followed her toward the innermost wall. Like before, the wall silently opened, revealing another passage.