"You're beyond saving. Goodbye." Adam abruptly stood up.
Grot looked at him in confusion, unsure how the man who had once promised to help was now turning his back on him so suddenly.
"If it were just an emotional issue, I could teach you how to control it. But if it's genetic, there's nothing I can do."
"I can't be certain your genes are flawed. It's not a definitive conclusion. But unless you and I can think of a better answer…" Adam made his thoughts clear before turning on his heel and walking away.
The so-called rescue plan for the ex-Guardsman, all of it—Grot—meant nothing now.
Adam inwardly cursed his own human limitations, his inability to truly perceive the deeper reasons behind such decisions. Had he been more insightful, he wouldn't have bothered coming to Grot in the first place, trying to save someone who was, in his mind, beyond redemption.
Grot suddenly felt like he'd been abandoned. He watched Adam's figure grow smaller in the distance but didn't curse him. Instead, he offered a quiet blessing: "I hope you pass the crew training and pilot that ship."
Adam said nothing, nor did he look back.
"Son of a bitch," Grot muttered under his breath, then turned to leave as well.
…
For a while, Grot's life resumed its usual pattern.
By day, he visited the factory to oversee the repair of the logistics machinery, listening to his coworkers discuss the latest war developments.
By night, he would purchase some synthetic ingredients and head to his sister Maya's place, where the two of them would share dinner.
One evening, after preparing a meal from those synthetic ingredients, Maya suddenly fixed her gaze on Grot and asked, "Why do you seem more and more dazed?"
"Huh?" Grot paused, spoon halfway to his mouth, and looked up, bewildered.
"What does tonight's food taste like?" Maya pressed.
Grot shook his head, still confused. He couldn't taste anything at all.
Though synthetic ingredients resembled vegetables or meat, they were just combinations of edible materials. They tasted better than the free rations provided by the logistics machines, but that wasn't saying much.
His dazed response only confirmed Maya's suspicions. He was indeed becoming more and more lost in himself.
She shifted the topic to something more engaging: "How's the war progressing?"
"They're still fighting in the underhive sewers. Some units have moved to the Spire of the Hive, bombarding the entire area with artillery. It's nearly over," Grot repeated what he had heard earlier in the day, his face emotionless.
"So, the title of 'Legion Commander' will soon change to 'Governor,' right? Rising from a mere soldier to this… quite the legend," Maya mused.
Grot smiled and nodded. "Absolutely."
As one of the few surviving members of the 44th Regiment, Grot knew that Qin Mo hadn't even been a soldier—he was a convict. The entire war was never truly his fight. With his skills, he could have easily left the underhive.
But he had stayed, offering aid, consolidating defenses, organizing the counterattack… This hive world was one of the spoils of war he rightfully deserved.
Seeing how much her brother enjoyed discussing the Governor, Maya continued, "I heard the Governor plans to build several cities in the lower hive. The machines have already started construction."
"When did that happen?" Grot asked, surprised.
Building cities in the lower hive wasn't like building in the underhive. The place was packed with people. It meant not only constructing new buildings but also tearing down the stacked, ramshackle structures that filled the area.
"I thought you'd already heard." Maya handed him a bulletin.
As Grot ate, he read the bulletin, confirming that Maya was right. The lower hive was indeed under construction, and its residents had been temporarily relocated to New Kato.
Once he finished reading, Grot realized that Qin Mo hadn't solely focused on the war. He had also been planning extensively, with city-building being just one part of his grand design.
The bulletin even included updates on another planet in the Tyrone System.
On Tyrone II, the so-called "Lord of Wisdom" had supplanted the Emperor's worship. That industrial world had clearly rebelled, and in the near future, an interplanetary war was inevitable.
Though the war plan had just been announced, everyone in the hive knew it was coming. Tyrone II's rebellion wasn't a secret—after all, the First Army had been fighting forces from Tyrone II this whole time.
But Grot's attention remained on the war itself. He set the bulletin down and remarked, "This war across the star system will be over soon."
"I agree. Tyrone II stands no chance against our counterattack," Maya nodded. "Everything is getting better."
Grot said nothing, his eyes fixed on his bowl. He, too, believed that everything was improving—except for him.
In his mind, Adam's words from earlier echoed relentlessly. Whether Adam was right or wrong didn't matter; Grot knew that he was very likely to end up like his brother—a madman.
His sister's comment about his growing apathy had hit the mark.
Everyone in the city was periodically subjected to tests by the logistics machines, most of which evaluated their mental state.
Grot had already been informed that his condition was deteriorating. If things continued this way, he would inevitably go insane. One day, he would be just like his brother, shouting about some Champion of Valor or some other nonsense, slaughtering everyone in sight.
At that moment, Grot made a grim decision. If his fate was to go mad and be executed by the Guards, he would rather die on the battlefield, where at least his ashes could be honored in an orbital dock.
"I want to return to the army."
Maya was stunned by her brother's sudden declaration. "But… you're not a Guard anymore."
"Of course I'm not. I'll ask the Governor to let me join the regular army, just as an ordinary foot soldier," Grot replied.
"And what if you die in the war?" Maya asked, her voice stern and full of anger.
"The 44th Regiment lost nearly everyone. Only twenty or so of us survived, and thirteen are still missing, probably buried in some tunnel. I lived through all that. Do you really think I'll die on Tyrone II?" Grot smiled.
Maya wanted to argue, but Grot had already risen and left.
Upon returning to his quarters, Grot immediately penned a letter requesting to re-enlist as a soldier, planning to hand it over to Gray at their next meeting.