Honkai Impact 3rd: Saving the Pre-Civilization by Hand-Crafting Black Tech

Sakura initially paid no mind to Ai Yue's introduction. His claims were far too exaggerated, and she assumed it was mere self-aggrandizement.

It wasn't until she actually experienced the effects of the equipment that she realized Ai Yue had actually understated things.

In the past, she had been an assassin hidden in the shadows, skilled in stealth and surprise attacks, seizing her enemies' weaknesses when they were careless for a fatal blow.

But with Ai Yue's equipment, Sakura felt as if she had transformed into a berserker.

Weaknesses? In front of this blade, it didn't matter if the enemy hid behind a shield or cowered in a reinforced concrete safe house; they were all equally vulnerable.

Sakura cleared out the entire Poison Pupa Unit from start to finish and genuinely encountered nothing that could block this blade.

As for the spacetime rift generator, it allowed her to escape in all sorts of unimaginable ways when facing encirclement by enemies. With these gloves, bullets seemed to fly slower than butterflies in her eyes, and even the splash damage from grenades and explosives couldn't keep up with her escape.

And the shoes that allowed her to leap in the air could be triggered independently by each foot under Sakura's control, achieving a triple jump effect. Not only could she scale a ten-meter wall in a single bound and change direction mid-air, but she could also unexpectedly use them as an offensive weapon, blasting enemies away.

Even the most unadorned vest, designed solely for defense, could withstand a sniper rifle shot, reducing the impact force to a level a Fused Warrior could endure. It even had a self-repair function, so there was no need to worry about its defensive capabilities diminishing during continuous combat.

With these few pieces of equipment, Sakura, armed with just a blade, basically mowed down the entire Poison Pupa Unit by herself. Few of the weapons Vill-V had meticulously prepared were even used, leading her to constantly complain that she hadn't collected enough data and that she shouldn't have brought Ai Yue into this.

This sentiment reached its peak when Vill-V learned that Ai Yue had specifically instructed Sakura not to lend the equipment to her for examination. Angered, she stormed back to the Spiral Workshop alone, not even seeing Dr. Mei.

After a brief inquiry into Sakura's experience with the equipment, Ai Yue received an entirely positive response and nodded with satisfaction.

However, after this, Sakura uncharacteristically showed a hint of hesitation. After much deliberation, she finally spoke, "I'm sorry, though this request might be a bit abrupt, would Dr. Ai Yue be willing to part with that blade? I truly love it!"

As she spoke, she bowed deeply and pulled out a bank card from her pocket. "This is my savings from over the years. If possible, please allow me to purchase it."

Sakura knew very well what an excellent weapon meant to a warrior, especially since she had personally experienced the blade's power. Although she had only tested it for less than a week, Sakura was already finding it hard to part with.

During this time, the thought of having to say goodbye to this blade after the mission ended even made it difficult for her to sleep.

"I think you might have misunderstood, Sakura," Ai Yue's expression was somewhat subtle in response to Sakura's actions. "I never said I was taking back this equipment, did I?"

Huh?

Sakura looked up in confusion, only to see Ai Yue turning to get the equipment case. "Rose, is the data collection complete?"

"It was completed 3 minutes and 14.61 seconds ago," Prometheus replied. "The database has been updated, and the equipment blueprints are being updated. Do you need to view them now?"

"Let's wait for a moment," Ai Yue waved his hand, then walked back and handed the equipment case to Sakura. "Continue to use it. There's no need for psychological burden, nor do you need to pay. Equipment like this will be implemented on a large scale for Fused Warriors in the future."

Naturally, he wouldn't take Sakura's hard-earned savings. Someone else was supposed to pay for these things.

Equipment like this... implemented on a large scale?

Sakura instinctively hugged the case to her chest, her expression still one of bewilderment.

"I thought weapons like these would be difficult to mass-produce," the girl finally snapped out of her reverie, shaking her head with a hint of self-deprecation. "It seems I underestimated Dr. Ai Yue's capabilities."

The powerful weapons that made Vill-V's eyes water were, to Ai Yue, just ordinary equipment that could be mass-produced quickly. Although this thought might seem disrespectful to Vill-V, Sakura couldn't help but wonder about the vast difference between Vill-V and Ai Yue.

However, even if such equipment were to be mass-produced, Sakura silently kept Ai Yue's kindness in her heart. The Moth to Fire had many members, but few were willing to show kindness to someone like her.

If there's an opportunity, I must repay him properly.

Sakura soon left with gratitude in her heart. However, before Ai Yue could even look at the weapon blueprints updated by Prometheus, a new communication came through.

"There's been a development regarding Kalpas," Dr. Mei's voice came from the receiver. "However, there's a meeting you need to attend."

Author's Note

As the title suggests, this book will officially go on sale at 10 AM on the 31st.

Speaking of which, I'm quite the unknown old eunuch on CiYuan. My editor told me to write something to ask for votes and first subscriptions, etc. When I think of those I've wronged in the past, I suddenly feel a bit embarrassed to speak.

In my youth, full of arrogance and foolishness, I wasted such good results, and what I wrote in the end was garbage that I couldn't even bear to read myself. Now, an opportunity to restore my reputation is before me, and I must consider if this is my only chance in this life... I forgot the rest.

All in all, I know very well that regaining readers' trust is a difficult task, but fortunately, I've come prepared and offer three reasons to persuade you.

The first reason is that the current performance of this book is not bad. According to my editor, as long as I can maintain it without collapsing, I don't have to worry about starving. And as a poor person, I obviously have no reason to give up this cash cow.

The second reason is that the structure of this book is actually quite simple: climb the tech tree, act cool, form a harem, then confront the Herrschers one by one, and finally, everyone ascends together to become space police. The timeline of the Pre-Civilization is also relatively clear. If I follow it, there's basically no risk of collapsing. Even if my personal skill causes things to fall apart later, I can wrap it up quickly. At worst, I'll just write up to the Herrscher of the End, so there's no need to worry about my reputation being ruined in my later years.

The third reason is... pity me, I really need the first subscription results! I'll kowtow to you all!

Speaking of which, I haven't asked for votes up to this point. I still hope you can cast more votes next month to make this book's performance look better. I will work hard to update and give back to you all!

Chapter 48: What's the Use of Home, Home Gave Me

I couldn't avoid it after all.

After hanging up Dr. Mei's call, Ai Yue couldn't help but sigh.

The issue with Kalpas was indeed quite special. Coupled with the fact that every application Dr. Mei submitted during the establishment of the "New Poison Pupa" was sensitive, Ai Yue wasn't too surprised.

"Rose, I'm going out. Be mindful of your online activity," Ai Yue reminded Prometheus before leaving. "Also, starting today, monitor the entire internet. If you find any abnormal cases of coma, report them to me."

"Understood," Prometheus replied without turning her head, like a shut-in engrossed in the internet. "Go quickly, Dr. Ai Yue."

My daughter isn't listening. My heart aches.

Ai Yue walked out of the research institute with a heavy heart and saw Sakura waiting for him at the entrance.

"Dr. Mei just said she wants me to take you to the meeting location," Sakura explained when she saw Ai Yue's gaze. "Follow me, Dr. Ai Yue."

"Just call me Ai Yue," Ai Yue said as he walked beside Sakura. "Didn't you just call me by my name before? Why have you gone back to using my title recently?"

Sakura glanced at him subtly, too embarrassed to say, "Because I didn't know you were so powerful back then."

Honestly, at first, the fox-eared girl's impression of Ai Yue was just "a genius boy who could alert Dr. Mei." But no matter how exceptionally talented he was, it still took time to bear fruit. At least for now, Sakura could still regard him as an equal.

Who would have thought that Ai Yue, after joining Moth to Fire, would grow like he was fed fertilizer, with his progress accelerating daily? Now, he was already a big shot comparable to Dr. Mei and Vill-V.

This made Sakura feel a bit of reverence.

However, seeing that Ai Yue was still as peaceful as ever, the girl couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. In their conversation, her address for him reverted to its original form.

The meeting place was in the comprehensive building of the Moth to Fire base, the same place where Ai Yue had initially undergone his assessment. The two arrived at a conference room on the third floor, where Dr. Mei was already waiting.

Yet, in the vast conference room, only Dr. Mei and Kevin were present, making it feel somewhat empty.

"When does the meeting start?" Ai Yue glanced around the room. "Are we just the four of us meeting?"

"Of course not," Dr. Mei sighed with a complex expression. "Actually, everyone is waiting for you. Please sit down, we'll start soon."

So, Ai Yue casually found a seat, while Sakura stood behind him, acting as a bodyguard like Kevin.

Since the destruction of the old Poison Pupa and the establishment of the new one, she no longer had to lurk in the shadows, turning her blade against her own people.

This feeling of being able to live in the sunlight was truly wonderful.

As Ai Yue took his seat, Kevin turned off most of the lights in the conference room. Soon, several projectors installed on the ceiling activated. They swiveled their lenses, projecting corresponding human figures onto the seats at the other end of the conference table.

Although they were human figures, the projections were processed. Apart from the general outlines, nothing else was clearly visible. Ai Yue didn't even need to wait for them to speak to know that their voices were definitely processed too.

These people truly embodied the meaning of "fear of death" to the fullest extent.

"Dr. Mei, and Dr. Ai Yue, whom I'm meeting for the first time, greetings." There were five projections opposite them. The first to speak was the one in the center, seemingly the highest-ranking individual. "Regarding your request to release the prisoner Kalpas, who is confined in 'The Deepest Place,' I believe there are many details that require discussion."

Just as Ai Yue had thought, his voice was specially processed, completely masking any gender or vocal characteristics.

Ai Yue blinked, then took out a pair of glasses from his pocket and put them on. These seemingly ordinary glasses concealed a special design with dual-layer lenses and a micro-crystal display. Combined with the mini-chips integrated into the frames and temples, they were sufficient to be used as a special computer.

Of course, for Ai Yue, he only needed to connect to Prometheus through these glasses to directly access the power of a supercomputer and artificial intelligence.

"Firstly, Kalpas is not a prisoner. He was sent to The Deepest Place by you under the pretext of 'requiring long-term observation' due to the dangerousness he exhibited during his assessment," Dr. Mei clearly anticipated this and retorted. "So much time has passed, and I believe Kalpas's behavior in The Deepest Place has proven himself. Moreover, we can now use Aponia's 'Judgment' to exert some restraint on him. Therefore, this is not a reason for you to block this application."

"Kalpas's behavior in The Deepest Place has indeed been very quiet, but this only proves his considerable intelligence. I believe he is using this behavior to lull us into a false sense of security, waiting for an opportunity to be released," another projection spoke. "As for the 'Judgment' you mentioned, setting aside whether its effectiveness is as potent as reported, even if it truly has such an effect, how can you guarantee that Aponia won't show leniency towards Kalpas, who also hails from the Twilight Street sanatorium?"

The two sides quickly engaged in a heated verbal exchange. However, Ai Yue had no opportunity to speak, only able to sit on the side and question the purpose of his presence.

But soon, he would understand why he was here.

"It seems our differences are significant, and a more detailed discussion is necessary." After ignoring Ai Yue for a long time, the projection opposite shifted its attention back to him. "What are your thoughts on this, Dr. Ai Yue? I heard that wanting Kalpas released was actually your idea, wasn't it?"

"Yes, what about it?" Ai Yue leaned back in his chair. "Does the identity of the report's proposer affect your attitude?"

"You jest. We all approach every report with fairness and impartiality," the other party emitted a muffled laugh, which sounded more like a distorted shriek. "I am merely curious about your objective. If you are simply seeking capable subordinates, perhaps we can offer better candidates?"

As expected.

Ai Yue knew very well that the reason he had to be present was because he had previously sided with Dr. Mei, causing those in power to start paying attention to his existence. This meeting was likely a way to convey some sort of message to him.

Even if you control secret troops and expand your influence, so what? Targeting you is still as easy as pie.

"No need. Not everyone can earn my trust." Thinking this, Ai Yue shook his head, a mocking smile on his face. "Having said so much, everyone must be tired. Let me resolve this meaningless argument with a simple method."

"Please, go ahead."

Although the other party still used polite language, their tone was filled with flippancy and casualness, clearly not believing that Ai Yue could have a solution to a problem that even Dr. Mei couldn't solve.

"The 'Honkai Energy Absorber.' I recall its patent application hasn't been approved yet, has it?" Ai Yue said casually. "I can sign a statement transferring this patent to you all, in exchange for you reconsidering this report. What do you think?"

The conference room suddenly fell silent. The projections opposite showed varying degrees of fluctuation, clearly weighing something.

But it was obvious that such an unbalanced offer didn't require much consideration from these projections.

"It seems Dr. Ai Yue truly values this camaraderie. In that case, we should no longer dwell on this matter," the leading projection said gently after a moment. "So, this statement?"

Hearing the obvious eagerness in the other party's tone, Ai Yue couldn't help but chuckle. "You draft it, I'll sign it. No problem, right?"

At this very moment, his lenses were displaying six lines of text.

The first five lines were different IP addresses, and the last line contained only three simple words—

"Locked."

Chapter 49: Making The Deepest Place Great Again

Under Ai Yue's sudden and massive concession, the meeting, which should have dragged on for a long time without resolution, abruptly concluded.

However, such an outcome clearly did not satisfy everyone. In fact, besides the five projections who were the biggest beneficiaries, perhaps only Ai Yue could still smile.

Even Sakura, who didn't understand these matters, could tell that Ai Yue had given up something important when she saw Dr. Mei's distinctly cold expression.

"You were a bit too hasty, Ai Yue," Dr. Mei sighed after the five projections on the other side disappeared. "The issue with Kalpas could have been resolved with more negotiation. Your easy concession will only lead to more targeting in the future."

As the saying goes, the kind are often bullied. Now, with just this minor difficulty, Ai Yue had given up a patent that could bring immense wealth. In the eyes of these higher-ups, he had become someone who could be easily manipulated.

The future? These people might not have much of a future themselves.

"We'll talk about those things later," Ai Yue couldn't reveal his dark plans at this moment, so he just smiled and changed the subject. "Dr. Mei, are these people all from the Opposition Faction?"

Actually, he didn't need to ask. Ai Yue could sense that there was a problem behind this matter. If, before the establishment of the new Poison Pupa, Dr. Mei's plans were suppressed by the Opposition Faction, it would be understandable. But if, after the establishment of the new Poison Pupa, this suppression not only didn't ease but even intensified, wouldn't that mean the new Poison Pupa was established in vain?

"Alas, this is also my fault for thinking too simply," Dr. Mei said, her expression a little embarrassed. "In reality, these five individuals represent five different factions, and these five factions are sufficient to represent the will of two-thirds of the world's countries and powers."

Ai Yue nodded. So, it wasn't just the Opposition Faction attending the meeting today. No wonder they were so difficult to deal with.

"They ganged up to pressure me, which was a warning of sorts, but I didn't expect them to target me over the Kalpas incident," Dr. Mei sighed. "I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this."

"It's no big deal," Ai Yue waved his hand, not taking it to heart. "But following this unwritten rule, if they're giving you trouble this time, then the plan you wanted to push through should go a lot smoother, right?"

"Mhm, I submitted the 'Divine Keys Project' as well. I thought they'd use that report to attack me..." Dr. Mei trailed off mid-sentence, lost in thought. "No, perhaps, the person they're truly interested in is you?"

"Can't be helped, maybe I'm just too outstanding, so I stand out," Ai Yue shrugged. "Enough about that. With this proof, we can bring Kalpas out, right?"

"Yes," Dr. Mei nodded. "Are you in a hurry? Then I'll arrange the schedule now. By the time you get back, the procedures for the new Poison Pupa will also be ready."

"That's not urgent," Ai Yue looked in another direction. "Before that, I want to take him home to see."

The Deepest Place. This was a facility located on a small island in the Pacific Ocean.

Although nominally a sort of containment facility, the Moth to Fire members preferred to call it a "prison" and treated it as such. Those sent here had committed crimes for various reasons or were feared by the world for certain justifications.

These individuals should have been sentenced to death, but because the current civilization needed such combat power as a necessary trump card, this dark and deep prison was built to house them.

And now, Ai Yue was sitting on a plane heading to The Deepest Place.

"Speaking of which, you might not know, but back in the day, when we went to that place, the planes couldn't even land," the pilot this time was surprisingly talkative. Perhaps it was because no one usually took his plane, which only had one fixed route. "To prevent people from The Deepest Place from escaping and hijacking the plane, back then, both cargo and people had to jump out from mid-air with parachutes!"

"There was something like that?" Ai Yue responded cooperatively. "Then what did they do when they came back?"

"Uh, generally speaking, no one could return from The Deepest Place," the pilot said. "But it seems to have improved now. I heard it was the lady who came a while ago; she changed the entire Deepest Place."

"Is that so?" Ai Yue couldn't help but smile. "Then it seems she had quite a tough time."

"You can say that again! You know, The Deepest Place is full of vicious criminals. That lady looked completely defenseless. I was worried at first!" the pilot sighed. "It wasn't until I saw her fly down without a parachute that I realized my worry was unnecessary."

This time, before Ai Yue could reply, the pilot spoke again. "Sir, we've arrived. It's right ahead!"

Ai Yue looked out the window, and in his vision, a small island was gradually growing larger.