Use Good Steel Where It Counts (3K)

"Why didn't you use this set just now?"

Although the scale wasn't as large, W still preferred the second one to the current hailstorm.

"During Eyjafjalla's tutoring session, I became aware of the theoretical possibility of this technology. But to incorporate it into a plan, at least one field test is still needed."

"Eyjafjalla ...that little lamb?" W recalled for a moment, then said sarcastically, "Your taste is somewhat similar to Hedley's; you're bound to have something in common."

Show some respect to your adoptive parents!

Surprisingly, Oute did not respond.

"Stinky otter?" W's heart tightened, and his steps, which were trying to escape the area affected by the baby Catastrophe, became somewhat sluggish.

Although she wasn't very educated, she vaguely knew that manipulating Catastrophe wouldn't be an easy task.

Could it be that Oute is too weak to maintain this long-distance communication spell?

No, he's still there, still inside me.

W tried to pluck that string.

"I just fell asleep," Oute suddenly replied. "You haven't slept since you boarded the spacecraft."

"... Is it really that tiring?"

For us...?

"That 'Talulah' didn't expect to be ambushed at this juncture, and coupled with her constant weakening of Reunion Movement's organizational capabilities, micromanaging your battles is the least worrisome part."

Through the eyes and hands of the Specter outside, Oute confirmed that his body was still recovering its strength. He then went to the blacksmith shop, which had been converted into the Engineering Department, to continue working on the blueprints for the Malta.

He said casually, "The activities inside Lungmen aren't that interesting; they're filled with more tedious business maneuvering."

"Comparatively speaking, I actually put the most effort into Eyjafjalla."

W's shoe landed on a white bone, the remains of some pack animal in the wilderness.

Otter, you stinky otter! Go talk to Hedley!

Oute didn't explain further, only saying, "You can slow down in about five minutes, and after twenty minutes, keep watch on this high ground for a while just in case. If nothing unexpected happens after thirty minutes, then continue on foot to the temporary fortifications, where supplies and vehicles are located."

W, suppressing his anger, asked, "Damn it, why make things so complicated!"

"When Talulah's eyes are blinded by the Catastrophe, she needs a vague yet clear clue." Oute began to fill the gaps prepared in the blueprint with the new structure.

Admittedly, given the independence of this module, it could have continued construction after the Malta was completed... but he still dug another hole in the blueprints for the Malta, which were already measured in tons.

"Where do you intend to Talulah?" Recalling the rearranged mines, W guessed, "The construction site? But the Rhodes Island main ship is still there, isn't it? Won't that reveal our location?"

"Its name is Number Fourteen Facility." Across two worlds, Oute said to W, "Another key to large-scale warfare is to engage in the right battle with the right enemy at the right time and in the right place."

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

"Stop reading! Stop reading!"

"I don't need any of this nonsense!"

Oute, however, remained calm and composed. "Leaving aside that barely binding contract, you are now serving under me, and for the foreseeable future, I need your ability to stand on your own."

W looked up, and the highlands that Oute had just mentally depicted for her were already appearing at the edge of her field of vision.

Chapter 169 Good Steel Should Be Used Wisely (3K)

"I'm perfectly capable of handling things on my own!" W instinctively started bickering with Oute during the patrol.

Despite her complaints, W clearly sensed that Oute truly regarded her as... a disciple.

Disciple.

It was a wonderful experience.

Years later, W once again felt a different kind of care. Just as Theresa revealed to her one possibility as Sarkaz, Oute was now revealing to her another possibility as an ethnicity.

One possibility is that, after losing his memory, Oute can no longer conceal it.

It seems that Hedley's assertion about the "Mind Flayer" has indeed caused considerable harm...

However, considering that even the Patriot blurted it out in unison, perhaps we should blame the Sarkaz for their endless stream of witchcraft?

"But it didn't meet my standards."

Oute continued to monitor his physical condition using the Specter's sensory system.

Originally, when a person's mind enters the Interstice, the real brain continues to operate at high speed, ultimately leading to further dissipation of energy. However, after leaving the Interstice, the accompanying deep sleep can significantly alleviate this fatigue.

But Oute's body is now rapidly recovering its energy, as if... Oute's thoughts are being channeled elsewhere.

This observation, which contradicted previous results, made Oute realize more clearly that as he gradually conquered the Darkest Dungeon, the abilities he could use were also gradually increasing.

Under the undisguised gazes of the Sarkaz, W stood alone atop the high ground, grinning foolishly, oblivious to his own ignorance. "What level do you want?"

"With the same number of men, after destroying the wheel hub, he led his troops alone to break through to the evacuation point?"

"Are you kidding me?" W turned his head, glanced at the "Achoo," "Gossip," and "Quacker" squad beside him, and replied, "It will take a lot of effort to get these wild boars to eat fine bran and understand what the chief is saying."

The Sarkaz immediately withdrew their gazes, which had been looking at them as idiots.

"Going around killing as many people as you want in a crude way is fine, but what you just did?"

"Let's wait and see when that old woman stops telling riddles!"

Oute asked curiously, "Have you realized that you're not much better than them at cultural papermaking?"

W immediately recognized the word and exclaimed, "I remember that word! It's 'achievement'!"

"Hedley is truly remarkable; he can actually cram a few words into your head," Ott said Oute.

"You idiot!"

If we maintain communication with W as it is now, and forcibly connect reality from the Interstice, the time difference between the two worlds will be eliminated.

Just as the two were bickering, familiar footsteps echoed again from outside the corridor.

Unexpectedly, Specter followed the footsteps to the door.

This startled Kal'tsit when she pushed the door open and entered.

She tried to remain calm and explained, "I didn't sleep last night either, so I came back to catch up on some sleep."

The more guilty she seemed, the more she explained, "Last night, Oute activated several backup plans, and I also had several surgeries to perform..."

Finally, looking into the Abyssal Hunters's calm eyes, the cat asked, "Doc Otter?"

Oute casually replied, "What's wrong?"

Kal'tsit breathed a sigh of relief.

Oute was indeed possessing the Specter, but that doesn't mean it was Oute who did it! Kitty, you're getting too excited!

"I have some questions for you." She threw back the covers, snuggled into Oute's arms, and mumbled, "Take me inside..."

He drifted off to sleep halfway through his sentence.

It seems I wasn't just talking nonsense earlier.

Seeing this scene in reality through the Eye of the Specter, Oute sighed.

He said to Kal'tsit, who had just come to his side, "At least take your clothes off!"

Kal'tsit didn't directly answer that question, only saying, "I changed jobs after I left the Medical Department."

"I've already read the field mission request." Kal'tsit hesitated for a moment. "I also looked at the records when I passed the operations room..."

In the end, she still beat around the bush. "To so easily disturb and trigger a small-scale Catastrophe using individual intelligence and a small amount of Originium Prime as energy... this is completely beyond the level of modern humans."

Oute remained focused on the blueprints, not even looking up. "Strictly speaking, this is merely the aftermath of the last Catastrophe returning to the land it once ravaged in an isolated manner."

"I mean, modern Terra."

In contrast, on "this land," the concept naturally refers to pre-civilization.

Oute finally looked up at Kal'tsit.

"Although it's not a blank slate, but..." Oute pushed himself away from the table and the blueprint with a slight effort. "I don't have the luxury of standing on the shoulders of giants."

"If there were more empirical formulas or even theoretical equations available, then much less effort would be needed to guide Catastrophe disasters."

Whether out of selfishness or helplessness, Kal'tsit continued to go in circles, "It's like reinventing the wheel."

"Repetition?" Oute shook his head. "As I just said, it's a luxurious luxury."

"Reinventing the wheel, from an detached perspective." Oute slowly approached Kal'tsit: "Let me borrow a phrase: 'The greatest secret of the wheel is that it can be manufactured.'"

Nuclear weapons are one thing, but is this also the biggest secret of Falun Gong?

The cat flinched slightly, but quickly regained its composure and raised its head.

Oute couldn't help but gently stroke her smooth, delicate neck.

This unexpected reaction left Kal'tsit bewildered and also gave her a sense of guilt.

Etc?

Did you originally expect Oute to scratch your chin?

However, it seems that all these restrictions ultimately caused Kal'tsit's plan to directly question Oute to fall into a significant strait.

But upon closer reflection, Doc Otter's inability to resist temptation itself largely supports the claim that he has lost most of his memory...

In the end, Kal'tsit couldn't help but purr, just like a kitten that had been scratched comfortably.

When she realized this, she instantly removed Oute's hand.

"... don't want."

The voices of resistance were as faint as mosquitoes.

Meanwhile, on a high ground in the wilderness, W, grumbling and cursing, obediently followed Oute's instructions and disguised the clues.

"... Stop reading, stop reading! You're even more annoying Hedley!" she muttered, then asked, "I heard that Mind Flayer suck things out of other people's heads, right? Why do you, you little otter, like stuffing things into other people's heads so much?"

"I will not admit that I am a so-called 'Mind Flayer'."

"Okay, okay, yes, yes, yes." W deliberately imitated a tone he'd seen somewhere, like one used to coax a child, and said to Oute, "You're neither Mind Flayer nor Sarkaz, just a weak bird without feathers!"