NERV Headquarters, Technical Division 1.
The chief technician's office was far too dim. The only light came from the red lettering on the wall and the computer screen on the desk.
Shinji Ikari and Misato Katsuragi had told her more than once that working in an environment like this was bad for her eyes, but NERV's chief technician never really listened.
At least the lingering smell of cigarette smoke was gone.
"The Key of Nebuchadnezzar... I've never heard of it. It must be something top secret that only the higher-ups know about."
"Right. It certainly sounds important."
Ritsuko Akagi worked with a tablet in her hands. Its screen displayed EVA armor Shinji Ikari had never seen before. "So, it looks like you and little Ryo are getting along pretty well."
"You'll never believe this, but there's a righteous person in my church." Shinji Ikari looked at the tablet screen with her, unable to make any sense of the data on it.
"So you do know your fan club is a cult. Still, I didn't expect you to think so highly of little Ryo." Ritsuko Akagi's face looked faintly flushed in the light.
Though Shinji Ikari couldn't understand the experimental data, he could still read the English letters and Japanese. "F-Type Equipment. You really are working on it."
"Well, our two immediate superiors approved it. Though it's strange that we still have to work in secret after getting their permission," Ritsuko Akagi said meaningfully.
"More infighting among the higher-ups, I suppose."
"Probably."
"But this decision does work in our favor."
"It's too early to say that. The plans have been finished for a while, but actually building it will still take time." Ritsuko Akagi glanced at him. "Now, I have some bad news and some good news. Which do you want