At the lunar airport, a single-seat high-speed shuttle docked. Before its hatch opened, a streak of white light emerged and coalesced into a human figure on the boarding bridge.
Sephiroth appeared within the glow, and several nearby knight guards immediately struck their chests in salute.
"Welcome, High God!"
Sephiroth nodded to them, then vanished in a flash of white light. A moment later, he appeared inside the research institute building.
Amid the guards' respectful greetings, he walked toward an elevator in the Central Hall.
More than three months had passed since the "Hachinosu Incident."
Although public opinion around the world had grown complicated, things remained fairly stable overall. Nothing particularly major had happened.
The biggest stir was the Revolutionary Army's increased activity. But after Bondrewd's baptism, the activities of Dragon and his comrades had attracted little discussion.
For Sephiroth, however, something important had happened today-Blackbeard's modifications were complete.
Normally, Sephiroth visited the moon about once a week. He had a general idea of York's progress.
When he had come to the moon four days earlier, York had reported that the work was nearing its end and would be finished in three to seven days.
Staying on the moon for a day or two was fine for Sephiroth, but a whole week was not practical. He was busy.
That morning, York had sent Sephiroth a message via satellite saying the modifications were complete, so he had come ahead of schedule to take a look.
York was already waiting in the corridor outside the Third Research Institute's entrance.
Silver-gray airtight doors lined both sides of the corridor, while arrays of cool white lights ran along the ceiling.
Although the corridor had been adapted for larger bodies, York's 480-centimeter height still stood out.
"Lord Sephi~!"
Seeing Sephiroth, York lazily raised a hand in