The Beauty "Person" Trap

In any case, with the axe handle breaking, the liquefied and compressed air, once released from their restraints, should have created a violent explosion with collateral elemental damage.

However, FrostNova reacted quickly, forcibly using Originium Arts to create a thick layer of ice on the outside, thus extinguishing the explosion.

After breaking this exquisitely crafted, handmade, and ingeniously designed Cryo-Driven Axe, FrostNova felt a little embarrassed. But this embarrassment manifested as a somewhat aloof demeanor; she stammered, "It's broken."

Oute pinched his Jingming acupoint and said, "This was only designed for the commando team. I didn't tell you beforehand that it had limited load-bearing capacity. That's my fault."

It always manages to crash in the weirdest places, Oute.

The Cryo-Driven Axe is a weapon designed to meet the minimum requirements of the Yeti Squad. For its target users, those with a basic understanding of Originium Arts, it's simply impossible for them to overload their Originium circuits in a short time, or to artificially generate liquefied gas and forcibly damage the axe handle...

Oute said to Hoshino beside him, "The difference isn't between thermal and cold drive; it's just that she didn't control her strength. If you used your full power to unleash your Originium Arts during a powered slash, the result would be about the same."

What Huang tested was Thermal-Driven Axe.

In contrast to the long battery life brought by the self-sufficiency of the Cryo-Driven Axe, the design concept of the Thermal-Driven Axe is short bursts of power. Although the design concept is completely different from Huang's usual chainsaw, the actual feel is very similar. Therefore, she basically did not cause any trouble when testing the Thermal-Driven Axe.

"This weapon is designed for ordinary people, don't be so crude. If you want to use it for a leader's unit, you really need to go for something more robust." Oute shook his head and called out, "Bring the power halberd over, let's try it again!"

Agent Aegir echoed, "Then it seems we still need to equip the power axe with a prominent display so that all users can clearly see its limits."

The issue she hadn't yet voiced was: incorporating air liquefaction technology into individual weapons seemed somewhat redundant.

How could ordinary soldiers possibly use up so much gas?

Oute nodded and said, "Weedy, your idea is good."

These minor issues are actually quite obvious, but since this is a completely new weapon, there's a lack of models to follow, so all the minor problems have to be identified by ourselves.

Weapon testing is meant to identify problems; if there are no problems, then there is a problem.

The operator who pointed out the problem, and who also had obsessive-compulsive disorder about cleanliness, was Weedy.

She was one of the first employees recruited by Rhodes Island after its rebirth as a pharmaceutical company. About half of the automated systems currently used on Rhodes Island's main ship were created by this exceptionally delicate and frail Aegir.

From a certain perspective, Weedy is a "veteran employee" with "more seniority at Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals" than Oute.

The Babel and stuff...

We solemnly declare that there is no debt succession relationship between the Kazdel Babel government and Rhode Island Pharmaceuticals.

FrostNova heard Oute's call, raised the ice block in her hand, and asked, "What should we do with this?"

This thing is already a bomb.

Based on the principle of cold drive, liquefied air mixed with compressed air and released directly expands at a much slower rate and with a much smaller power than normal bombs.

However, it will inevitably cause some collateral damage.

Oute tried to step forward to speak, but Huang grabbed him.

Although it wasn't very useful, it was still a bomb after all, and Oute, with his genuine human flesh and blood, simply couldn't confront it head-on.

"Doctor! Don't do anything reckless!" Huang said, both amused and exasperated.

After focusing on certain projects, Oute occasionally neglects things that aren't very important—like his own life.

Oute could only shout, "FrostNova! How long can it be sealed?"

FrostNova was somewhat confused. She replied, "If we don't reinforce it, it can probably be sealed for another two or three hours."

"I see, then let's leave it there for now!" Oute asked the person beside him, "Have you found the power halberd?"

"Give this a try." A passerby engineer lifted up a hideous, jet-black monster with both hands.

Guard Power Glaive, cold-drive prototype.

Although FrostNova had anticipated this from watching the engineer's movements, she still exclaimed in surprise when she actually handled it, "It's so heavy! It's completely different from the last one!"

The Engineering Department brought in quite a few precision-engineered power axes, and because of the characteristics of the Interstice, they could be subjected to reckless and violent testing. In fact, it would be better if they broke during the testing!

Therefore, no one expressed any objection to FrostNova's rough handling just now.

And why was the Engineering Department able to bring these meticulously crafted power axes, each with its own unique design philosophy, to the Interstice...? They're currently wearing "Dream-Sleep Device" and sleeping on cots in the Rhodes Island Engineering Department.

Kal'tsit's use of the "Dream-Sleep Device" to fool them wasn't entirely to clean up Oute's mess. Based on her previous independent testing, if the Engineering Department operators firmly believed in the Dream-Sleep Device's effectiveness, they could project most of the Engineering Department's equipment into it...

Conversely, if we ask them to focus solely on bringing things over, they might not be able to bring back many items.

Chapter 108 The Beauty Trap

Based on the same reason that "beliefs determine what a person can bring into the Interstice," and also due to the Engineering Department's duty roster issue, Closure doesn't need to personally wear the "Dream-Sleep Device" she concocted today—incidentally, Kal'tsit has strictly forbidden her from revealing the truth.

Weedy glanced at the weapon FrostNova had taken and explained, "It's designed for powerful warlocks like you; it's much tougher than the Cryo-Driven Axe you just used."

"Unlike the Power Axe, the Power Halberd has more varied slashing directions and also features Originium Arts amplification capabilities."

Oute added, "But we haven't finalized the materials yet, and right now there's some over-piling on materials to achieve the intended performance."

FrostNova looked at the halberd with some longing.

A weapon similar to his father's.

Shortly afterward, inside the church, Kal'tsit was discussing with Oute the plan for further exploration of Hamlet.

"... But conducting live-fire testing directly is still too dangerous!"

Among the buildings that are already in use, taverns and churches are suitable as temporary command centers.

However, since Oute preferred to convert the tavern into dormitories to provide overnight accommodation for the eight-times-great Engineering Department, he arranged the offices and temporary command center in the church.

As for why a tavern can be converted into a dormitory... in the first Darkest Dungeon game, it's written as a tavern but read as a technical college. It certainly has plenty of "ready-made beds" available.

These large beds, originally used for moaning and groaning, are now being used to relieve the fatigue of the finest minds in Rhodes Island —so they can continue drawing with renewed vigor.

The pews that were originally intended for worshippers in the church were moved to the sides, and a table was placed in the space freed up in the hall. Around the table were Oute, Kal'tsit, Specter, Skadi, Alina, W, Blaze, and FrostNova.

Basically, all the hero units that Oute intended to recruit are now here. By the way, Kal'tsit is to Oute's right, Specter is to his left.

Oute's sleep schedule, Hamlet is almost forever frozen in the dead of night. But inside the church, the burning incense and candles still press the shadows of everyone back to their feet.

"Whether it's Blaze or FrostNova, they both have enough combat power to deal with all of this." Oute took out a simple map and pointed to the cave below the Sea Cliff. "The enemies here are not very strong for them and can be easily dealt with."

The Cove, for powerful teams, is also known as a sanatorium.

"Is there any connection between the two?" Cat crossed her arms and asked rhetorically, "An unskilled weapon is even worse than bare hands!"

Kal'tsit has repeatedly refuted my decisions, which is very unusual. In reality, she at most... Oh, I see!

Oute now understood: Kal'tsit's understanding differed from his own.

In the cat's eyes, this area is actually closely related to Oute's spirit; in reality, the things Oute plays with are unlikely to get burned.

In her view, everything that happened here would strongly affect Oute's personality, Kal'tsit was unwilling to take even the slightest risk in this matter.

What impact will a failed "exploration" have on Oute?

Oute knew perfectly well that this wasn't the case, but could he reason with Kal'tsit? This was something that couldn't be resolved through reasoning.

What's his skill level?

Who dares to reason with Kal'tsit, a woman who's also a cat?

If reasoning doesn't work, then talk about feelings.

Oute took off his gloves, his palm covering Kal'tsit's pretty face, his thumb gently stroking the cat's smooth cheek.

"Meow! What... what are you doing!?"

In front of everyone, Kal'tsit was somewhat at a loss, and for a moment she even blurted out a cat's diplomatic language to humans.

Cats rarely use "meow" when communicating with each other, and wild cat kittens that lack socialization also generally don't meow. It could be said that "meow meow meow" is the unofficial diplomatic language between humans and cats.

Stinky otter!

Filled with a vague sense of bitterness, W rolled her eyes, turned her head away, and began to drift off into her own thoughts.

Little Deer placed her hands on her chest and looked at the couple with a smile.

"Don't worry about me." Oute closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Reverse Mapping Protocol, start.

Thump--thump thump.

"Can you feel it?" Oute placed his other hand on his chest and asked, "This is my heartbeat."

"Everything is as usual."

"This is neither an adventure nor a radical move. I may not be an expert in this field, but I still understand its core."

To be honest, this tactic is a bit abstract, and besides, it's been used repeatedly. Will Kal'tsit be swayed by it?

The cat's eyes were unfocused.

Using Oute's eyes, she saw herself.

From a first-person perspective, she saw Oute's hand gently stroking her cheek; she saw herself unconsciously straightening her back; she also saw the varying attitudes of the heroes around the table; she heard her own slightly rapid breathing; she felt the heat on her cheeks...

Thump! Thump thump!

This is her own heartbeat.

Clatter

Kal'tsit slapped Oute's hand away.

"This is a one-time exception." Kal'tsit averted her gaze.

This will not happen again; we must try harder next time.

Specter lowered his eyes, as if there was something else on the table worth studying.

After some preparation, at the town's exit.

"Have a safe trip," Oute said, waving to them from where he stood.

"Stinky otter!? Aren't you coming!?" W exclaimed.

You were daydreaming during the meeting, weren't you?

Oute glanced at her sideways.

The Sarkaz girl's face flushed bright red. "W-why are you looking at me like that?"