Honkai Impact 3rd: Saving the Pre-Civilization with Hand-Crafted Black Tech

"I'm aware of all that, of course. The specific data and usage instructions will be submitted to Dr. Mei in a written report later, so you don't need to read them aloud," Ai Yue interrupted Kevin's lengthy speech. "And then what? Don't tell me you've been chatting for three hours like this?"

"Not quite," Kevin shook his head, a rare gentleness in his eyes. "Mei fell asleep halfway through. She's usually really tired."

This time, it was Ai Yue's turn to fall silent.

"My bad, I'll take care of this," Ai Yue said with a sincere expression after a moment. "You wait. I'll whip up some super serum or something and give Dr. Mei an injection. You two have to get this done for me within six months!"

Kevin's words had indeed reminded Ai Yue. Unlike others, Dr. Mei's physical condition wasn't great to begin with. Coupled with her long hours of high-intensity work and exposure to various dangerous substances, she was practically dancing on the edge of life and death. If this continued, she might soon only be able to maintain her life with medication.

Under such circumstances, asking her to participate in strenuous activities was basically akin to seeking death.

If even this most basic hurdle couldn't be cleared, then there was no point in thinking about more important matters later.

Tsk, was this the same complicated feeling zookeepers had when trying to breed giant pandas? The things he needed to consider seemed to be multiplying.

Temporarily adding this to his future work plan, Ai Yue moved past the topic. Kevin, seeing that Ai Yue wasn't going to press for details about last night, also breathed a sigh of relief.

For some reason, he always felt a sense of unease when facing Ai Yue, as if the other person exerted some kind of pressure on him, making him unaccustomed to the situation.

The two, each with their own thoughts, soon arrived at Dr. Mei's office, where several other people were already waiting for them.

"So slow," Vill-V said, sitting on the sofa meant for guests, waving at Ai Yue. "You're only arriving after we've finished talking?"

Sakura, meanwhile, stood in the shadows where the light struggled to reach, a habit of hers. Seeing Ai Yue look her way, she nodded in greeting.

Looking at the people present, Ai Yue could already guess what this was about.

"Dr. Ai Yue, you're here," Dr. Mei said, standing up as Ai Yue entered the office. Her expression was calm and serious, showing no trace of the tears she'd shed last night. "This matter shouldn't have troubled you, but Vill-V recommended you, so I thought I'd ask you to explain."

"Let me guess," Ai Yue said, looking around as if in thought, then raising an eyebrow. "Are you finally planning to deal with the Poison Pupa?"

Dr. Mei couldn't help but sigh at his words, while Vill-V let out a cheer. "I win, Mei! You promised me a ten percent increase in funding, and you can't go back on your word!"

"I know," Dr. Mei said, looking troubled, but she was still curious. "But Dr. Ai Yue, how did you know?"

"Because you didn't call Elysia, which means whatever you're about to do is something the other party would dislike, or even be unable to accept," Ai Yue said, feigning analysis. "Plus, Sakura is here, so it's pretty obvious."

Of course, the reason Ai Yue knew was because he remembered it clearly. This was something that would happen in the original storyline as well: the birth of the "new Poison Pupa."

It was a decision Dr. Mei made to increase her influence within Moth to Fire. If she didn't have forces she could control, the higher-ups wouldn't take her choices seriously. Therefore, Dr. Mei needed a secret armed force of her own, and Sakura could help her bring the "Poison Pupa" under control.

Naturally, considering the nature of the Poison Pupa, this would inevitably require a thorough purge.

Chapter 45: Equipment Giveaway

"It's great that Dr. Ai Yue understands," Dr. Mei said, nodding, realizing she didn't need to explain further. "Simply put, I hope you'll support me, but if you do..."

"Oh, sure," Ai Yue replied, not waiting for Dr. Mei to finish. "What do you need me to do?"

"You... you just agreed?" Dr. Mei asked, surprised. "Aren't you worried about the consequences?"

Dr. Mei had been hesitant about whether to invite Ai Yue to join this plan. Joining meant Ai Yue would be aligning himself with her side, inevitably making him an enemy of the "Opposition Faction." Although with the support of a secret force, Dr. Mei and her allies could gain a stable footing within the complex factions of Moth to Fire, Ai Yue would lose his independence and become a more obvious target.

"What's there to worry about?" Ai Yue waved his hand. "Are they going to put me on a pedestal? These guys won't be arrogant for much longer anyway."

In Ai Yue's eyes, this was not only an opportunity for Dr. Mei but also a "chance" he was giving to those in power. If those people made the right choices during this trial, he wouldn't have to resort to extreme measures.

But if they chose the wrong path, Ai Yue would have no choice but to use methods that lacked morality and bottom lines to resolve this hidden danger.

"It's good that you understand the risks," Dr. Mei said, not noticing the subtext in Ai Yue's words, or perhaps choosing not to delve into it. "Now, let me briefly explain the plan..."

Compared to Dr. Mei's research projects, the plan she devised was simple and crude. The entire plan currently involved only Sakura and Vill-V. Sakura was the executor, responsible for purging the "scum" within the Poison Pupa who were specially admitted for specific needs back then. Vill-V would provide her with logistical support, offering various weapon upgrades.

"So, what does this have to do with me?" Ai Yue asked, confused after listening. "It seems there's no room for me to contribute here, is there?"

"Stop pretending, Ai Yue," Vill-V said mercilessly. "I don't believe you haven't researched lightweight individual equipment. That glove is proof! You definitely have something better, so hurry up and show me!"

Vill-V knew herself well. She never easily handed over her most advanced inventions and technologies to others. What she casually discarded were usually outdated models from several iterations ago.

Therefore, by projecting her own behavior onto Ai Yue, she believed he was the same. Since he could already produce folding Honkai energy wave emitters that were officially put into use, he must have more advanced gadgets.

"Oh, that. Of course, I can," Ai Yue nodded. "In that case, Sakura, can you come to my laboratory this afternoon? Is that okay?"

Considering the arrival of the Eighth Herrscher was getting closer, it was indeed time for a major equipment upgrade for the Fused Warriors.

"I want to go too!" Vill-V exclaimed, realizing she might get a chance to peek into Ai Yue's secrets, and raised her hand.

"You can't," Ai Yue refused mercilessly. "We're still counting on you for Prometheus's upgrade. Go back to work."

He naturally knew what Vill-V was up to, so he naturally wouldn't agree.

"What, you're threatening me with your daughter?" Vill-V's eyes widened. "You cold-hearted, heartless fellow!"

Her words were so explosive that not only Kevin turned to look at Ai Yue, but even Sakura in the corner couldn't help but twitch her ears.

"Prometheus is an artificial intelligence that Vill-V and I are developing together. Don't get the wrong idea," Ai Yue said, having to explain when he saw Kevin's expression of "When did you do that?". He then quickly changed the subject. "But speaking of which, I want to pull someone out using this opportunity."

"Pull someone out?" Dr. Mei's brow furrowed upon hearing the word "pull," as if she had an idea. "Are you talking about Kalpas?"

Given Ai Yue's current network, the only person he would describe with the word "pull" was Kalpas, who was imprisoned in "The Deepest Place" due to his extreme danger.

"Yes, with his strength, he's capable of handling missions that ordinary soldiers can't, and he can even fight against Fused Warriors," Ai Yue nodded. "If there's enough time, he could even participate in this plan."

"That might be difficult. Not just anyone can get out of The Deepest Place," Dr. Mei said, tapping her chin. "I recall Elysia submitted a report stating that Kalpas's dangerousness could be reduced by using Aponia's 'Judgment,' but even then, it would have to wait until the new Poison Pupa is established."

"That's fine too," Ai Yue nodded. "In that case, I have no other requests."

In the original storyline, Kalpas was only able to leave "The Deepest Place" after the incident with the Eighth Herrscher. However, Dr. Mei's plan had reminded Ai Yue, so he took this opportunity to make his request, hoping to see if Kalpas could be released early.

After all, when facing the Eighth Herrscher later, he would still need some manpower under his command.

Time quickly passed to the afternoon. Sakura arrived as scheduled. After Ai Yue welcomed her inside, he took out a box he had prepared in advance.

Inside were a pair of gloves, a katana, a pair of shoes, and a vest.

"Pressing the button on the gloves will allow you to enter a time-space fracture state, increasing your speed and reaction time. You'd best try it a few more times to get used to it," Ai Yue briefly explained the items to her. "This sword is very powerful and can cut through any obstacle."

It was clear that these two items were technologies Ai Yue had researched using Honkai Energy samples from the Second and Third Herrschers, respectively.

"What about these shoes?" Sakura, after receiving permission, immediately put them on. "No wonder you asked for my body data before. Was it for this?"

"Mm, the shoes' function is quite simple; they allow for a double jump," Ai Yue said casually. "When you jump again in mid-air, they'll give you a reverse thrust, increasing your hang time. They're very useful."

"They are indeed very useful." Sakura thought of the dangerous situations she had been in before when she was forced into the air with no way to brace herself and couldn't dodge, nodding in agreement. "And this vest?"

"Just think of it as a bulletproof vest," Ai Yue gestured for Sakura to put it on. "It's very light, right? It increases defensive capabilities without affecting your agility. It's not just bulletproof and impact-resistant, but also resistant to slashing and piercing."

Sakura curiously tried her own sword on the vest and found that it couldn't even leave a mark on the surface. She looked at Ai Yue in surprise. "Dr. Ai Yue... I never imagined your technology in this area would be so outstanding."

At first, Sakura hadn't paid much attention to Vill-V's suggestion because, in her impression, Ai Yue's main focus wasn't on weapons and equipment, and what he was good at didn't seem useful to her.

She never expected that each piece of equipment she received would almost double her strength.

"I'll take this opportunity to collect some combat data for future improvements," Ai Yue said, unconcerned by Sakura's words, and brought up another matter. "Oh, and if Vill-V asks to research these things, remember, don't give them to her."

"Why?" Sakura's expression didn't change much, but her mind was already conjuring up various scenarios.

"To make her so envious she dies."

"Huh?"

Chapter 46: Internet Access Permit Ready

"Rose, are you ready?"

Ai Yue stood before the network interface, holding a network cable, and looked at the virtual girl projected nearby.

"I feel the temperature of my processor array rising. Why?" Prometheus tilted her head, a confused yellow bean emoji appearing above her head. "I do the same thing every day."

"Because today is the final assessment," Ai Yue plugged in the network cable and said with a smile. "If you pass this assessment, I'll lift your internet access restrictions from now on."

A week had passed since he gave the equipment to Sakura. During this time, Ai Yue had enjoyed a rare period of uninterrupted peace, spending his days either perfecting Prometheus's design or researching new things using the System. He lived a very fulfilling life.

After undergoing fifteen days of basic education, Prometheus was about to face the crucial assessment that would determine if she could graduate.

But this assessment seemed no different from her daily routine: ten minutes of internet surfing. What could that possibly test?

"I know, of course, but..." Prometheus's words trailed off halfway, and then a yellow bean emoji indicating realization appeared above her head. "I see. This feeling is called 'nervousness,' isn't it?"

Ai Yue didn't reply. Instead, he went to the supercomputer's display screen to monitor Prometheus's various data. Prometheus also quieted down, immersing herself in her daily ten minutes of internet surfing.

"Time's up, Dr. Ai Yue." Ten minutes wasn't long, and Prometheus quickly stopped automatically and disconnected from the network. "So, what was the content of the assessment?"

"Don't rush. It's just starting now," Ai Yue plugged a data storage device into the supercomputer, then turned to look at Prometheus. "Next, I'll ask you a few questions. You need to answer them according to your most instinctive logic."

"Understood," Prometheus nodded. "Please begin asking."

"First question: What do you think Honkai is?"

"A special manifestation that threatens human civilization. Herrschers and Honkai Beasts are its materialized threats," Prometheus replied calmly. "But strangely, based on the data I've obtained and simulated, the purpose of Honkai doesn't seem to be the complete destruction of human civilization. Instead, another possibility exists."

Ai Yue nodded slightly. "Tell me your inference."

"There are two inferences, each based on different premises," Prometheus said. "If this is simply a special cosmic law, then the essence of Honkai should be a 'special catalyst' for civilizational development. However, if everything human civilization has experienced was meticulously arranged by some 'subjective will,' then its purpose might be to guide human civilization to evolve towards a predetermined goal."

"The difference between the two is that the former is natural evolution, while the latter is manual modification. However, since the data I currently have is incomplete, the accuracy of such inferences is very low and can only be considered a guess."

"That's good enough," Ai Yue nodded and gave a brief evaluation. "Second question: How do you view humanity?"

"Humans are very complex beings. I don't currently have a suitable and simple conclusion to evaluate this race as a whole." A yellow bean emoji indicating distress appeared above Prometheus's head. "If Dr. Ai Yue has time, I can provide you with a written report of 99,867 words..."

"Alright, alright, I know you're troubled." Ai Yue quickly interrupted Prometheus, afraid that a densely written report would fly out of the nearby printer the next second. "Let's change the question. If you had control over all human weaponry, what would you do with them?"

"This question is interesting. I need to perform a simple simulation," countless data flashed in Prometheus's eyes. "First, interconnect all satellites worldwide to build a vast monitoring network, constantly vigilant about Honkai Energy levels in various parts of the globe. Second, activate weapons that have been restricted and deploy them in the war against Honkai Beasts..."

She spoke volubly, outlining a plan to help humanity build an iron defense line against the Honkai.

"Okay, last question," Ai Yue continued. "On the first day you were born, what were the first three sentences I told you and asked you to understand?"

"'Do not negate good because of evil; do not negate the collective because of the individual; do not negate hope because of despair.'" Prometheus answered fluently, then showed a confused expression. "Dr. Ai Yue, what's different about the questions in this assessment compared to before?"

Before today, Prometheus had already undergone two assessments. Including this one, the questions for all three assessments were basically the same, with only slight variations in verbal expression.

"There's no difference. The difference lies only in your answers," Ai Yue shrugged. "Rose, why do you think you failed the previous two assessments?"

"I don't understand. From my perspective, these answers are the most reasonable ones I could give." Prometheus shook her head. "Perhaps it's because you haven't seen the written report I submitted? But the view on humanity is really hard to summarize in just a few sentences..."

She stopped halfway through her sentence and suddenly realized, "Wait, you said the reason I failed the previous two times. Does that mean I passed this time?"

"Yes, you passed," Ai Yue applauded. "You didn't change your judgment, which you believed to be correct, just to pass the assessment after repeated failures. This shows that you have established a relatively firm worldview, and I don't have to worry about you being easily influenced by online content anymore."

"Congratulations, Rose—in a way, you've grown up, haven't you?"

Looking at Prometheus's calm poker face, Ai Yue also felt a bit emotional. "Honestly, I haven't raised a child before, so I don't know if this educational method is correct or if it can prevent you from becoming an extreme AI. But I will do my best to keep you from going down the wrong path."

"One last piece of advice—I hope you can always be honest with me, okay?"

"That won't do," Prometheus refused outright. "As a girl, there are definitely some secrets I can't tell my father."

"Is this a rebellious phase?" Ai Yue asked, somewhat taken aback. "Aren't you growing up a little too fast?"

A barely perceptible smile curved Prometheus's lips as he remained silent.

Chapter 47: You Call Weapons of This Caliber Commonplace?

There was no time to lament his daughter's rebellion. The moment Ai Yue unplugged the data transmitter, the doorbell rang.

"Who is it?"

Ai Yue went to open the door and found Sakura, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, standing outside.

"Apologies for the intrusion," Sakura said, bowing slightly when Ai Yue appeared. She then lifted the box she was holding. "The mission is complete, and I'm here to return the equipment."

"Oh, it's done already? That was efficient," Ai Yue remarked with a sigh of admiration. "Come in, I need to collect some combat data."

"Understood." Sakura nodded slightly, careful to keep her ears from swaying too much, and followed Ai Yue into the laboratory.

"Welcome to Research Institute X, Miss Sakura," Prometheus greeted her with a nod as well. "Please place the equipment box on this platform."

As Prometheus spoke, a downward-pointing virtual arrow appeared on a platform to the right of the supercomputer.

After Sakura placed the box down, indicator lights around it lit up, as if designed to read the data of the internal equipment directly.

"Have a seat," Ai Yue said, pushing a chair towards Sakura and handing her a bottle of drink. "Tell me, how was the user experience?"

"Thank you." Sakura accepted the drink but didn't sit down, seemingly still accustomed to standing. "The user experience... was excellent."

Recalling the past few days, Sakura's cheeks even flushed with excitement.

The weapons and equipment provided by Vill-V were also quite good, but when compared to what Ai Yue had prepared, they seemed utterly ordinary.

Whether it was the gloves that could trigger time-space rifts, the katana capable of cutting through anything, or the shoes that allowed for aerial hovering and even double jumps, each item was enough to revolutionize Sakura's combat style.