After devouring a breakfast large enough for three people in record time, Leon walked through the spacious hall toward a metal gate on the south side.
The smart home assistant detected his approach and verified his biometric information through the identity recognition system. Once confirmed, Leon entered a seven-digit password on the physical control panel to the left of the gate.
As soon as the password was entered, the gate emitted a low mechanical hum and slowly slid open, revealing the "armory" behind it.
The sound of the metal gate opening echoed through the hall and the armory, while the lighting system inside activated simultaneously, filling the space with cool-toned light.
From Leon's perspective, the walls were neatly lined with military-grade firearms—weapons that only internal personnel of the Imperial military were authorized to use and purchase. Each firearm was meticulously maintained and cleaned, arranged in an orderly fashion, exuding a cold metallic sheen as if awaiting their master's call.
Directly opposite the gate were two large ammunition safes, storing various types of ammunition, as well as offensive and defensive equipment.
Additionally, numerous firearm accessories, magazines, and other gear were neatly arranged on the workbench to the right.
As an experienced agent, especially one with a "high salary" from the Investigation Department, Leon had near-obsessive standards for his equipment.
Aside from spending a significant amount on real estate, Leon had also invested his extra savings into purchasing weapons and gear.
For him, firearms were not just tools—they were an integral part of his job.
In his spare time, Leon would often retreat to his workshop to fine-tune and maintain these weapons, ensuring they performed at their best during critical moments.
Whenever he went out on missions, he would carefully select the appropriate equipment to ensure that each task was completed smoothly—or even exceeded expectations.
More importantly, as a member of the Imperial Investigation Department, Leon's weapon and equipment needs were fully reimbursed during missions, allowing him to focus entirely on his work and combat without financial concerns.
Entering the armory, Leon quickly located his most familiar and trusted pulse pistol.
Standing in front of the gun rack, his gaze fixed on the pistol as if it were an old friend, silently recounting every battle they had fought together.
The pulse pistol had a sleek, streamlined design that emphasized efficiency and precision. Its familiar silver-and-black finish reminded him of the HK USP pistol he had used when he first joined Atlas—the two shared almost identical designs.
Both the slide and grip of the pulse pistol featured the same classic silver-and-black color scheme, with a focus on practicality, tactical utility, and concealability.
The most notable feature of the pulse pistol was its 10mm caseless pulse ammunition. Unlike traditional bullets, these rounds required no metal casing but delivered significantly greater kinetic energy, making them devastatingly lethal—especially against human tissue.
Of course, the magazine's base also needed to be fitted with a small condensed-state battery.
As a result, whenever Leon encountered emergencies during missions and chose to discard empty magazines for faster reloading, his colleagues in the logistics department would often complain.
After all, while these magazines were consumable items, they weren't meant to be casually thrown away.
Fortunately, Leon frequently treated his logistics colleagues to afternoon tea, beer, or coffee, which kept them from openly criticizing him.
Leon took the pistol from the rack, expertly removed the magazine, and inspected its internal structure.
He then opened the ammunition safe and loaded it with caseless pulse rounds.
Next, he picked up several additional magazines and loaded them with standard, armor-piercing, and high-explosive pulse rounds to prepare for various combat scenarios.
Afterward, he donned his holster and tactical belt, securing the pistol firmly to his side and placing the magazines in a pouch on his lower back.
For his final preparation, he selected a shock dagger, ensuring he had a deadly option for close-quarters combat.
Once he confirmed all his equipment was in order, Leon left the armory and locked it securely behind him.
Finally, he put on his brown flight jacket.
This jacket not only made Leon appear more sharp and commanding but also significantly boosted his "defensive capabilities."
The clothing provided by the Investigation Department for its agents offered impressive bulletproof properties. Leon's flight jacket, for instance, could even withstand spikes fired from a Gauss rifle.
Of course, whether the wearer ended up with broken ribs or other internal injuries depended on their luck.
This was why Leon had already put on his padded combat undersuit earlier.
Additionally, the Investigation Department issued bulletproof clothing for all seasons, allowing agents to better perform infiltration and espionage missions in different climates.
However, flight jackets like Leon's had to be purchased out of pocket.
With everything ready, Leon left his home and took the magnetic levitation elevator to the mid-level parking garage of the building.
A black SUV-like hovercar was parked in a corner, its design giving it a稳重 and "retro" appearance even while hovering in the air.
As Leon approached the hovercar, the automatic radar on its roof quickly scanned his biometric information. Once verified, the car unlocked its doors and started its engine in advance.
Opening the door and settling into the driver's seat, the car's AI system—with a slightly stiff but increasingly gentle mechanical female voice—asked:
"Mr. Kennedy, what is your destination for this trip?"
"To the office," Leon replied as he fastened his seatbelt.
"Understood," the AI responded calmly, activating the driving system and causing the magnetic levitation engine to emit a low rumble.
The hovercar lifted off effortlessly, smoothly leaving its parking spot and slowly entering the designated air traffic lane.
The windows reflected the "serene" yet bustling morning scene of New Acra, with towering skyscrapers appearing especially majestic in the morning light. The early rush hour traffic flowed like an unending tide.
"Mr. Kennedy, would you like to manually operate this flight, or shall I take over?" the AI inquired again.
"You take over," Leon replied casually, his tone slightly lazy, clearly not in the mood to pilot the hovercar himself.
"Understood, Mr. Kennedy," the AI confirmed before fully taking control, allowing Leon to focus on the scenery outside or take a short nap.
At this stage, intelligent operating systems had permeated every aspect of society.
From everyday devices like phones and watches to spacecraft and various vessels, all were equipped with AI-assisted systems.
Safety was also a non-issue, with these systems achieving a true "zero-failure," "zero-error" standard.
After all, these products were rigorously overseen by both intelligent and simpler AI systems.
The Empire's philosophy had always been "people-oriented." Since intelligent assistance could significantly improve the quality of life for its citizens, the Empire's leadership naturally promoted its widespread adoption.
As for those whose jobs were replaced by intelligent systems or machines—such as delivery robots taking over the roles of human delivery workers—the Empire ensured that all citizens were provided with sufficient and suitable employment opportunities.
Former delivery workers no longer had to endure the elements.
And for aerial vehicles, intelligent control systems were essential to ensure passenger safety.
Otherwise, obtaining a "driver's license" for a hovercar would be as difficult as becoming a pilot in the past.
At that moment:
"Mr. Kennedy, today is November 22, 2010, in the main universe. The local time in New Acra is 8:35 AM. The remaining distance to your destination is 336 kilometers, with an estimated arrival time of 45 minutes."
The car's AI system announced the day's data and brief travel information.
Leon, however, had long stopped paying attention to such routine updates. He leaned back in his seat, adjusted his posture slightly, and gazed out at the morning scenery of New Acra.
As the hovercar sped along the aerial traffic lane, the dense clusters of skyscrapers and bustling lanes intertwined, painting a picture of a thriving metropolis.
"If needed—"
Before the AI could continue, Leon interrupted, "Switch to the Acra Morning News for me."
"Understood. Switching to the radio station now," the AI responded, and the car's audio system began playing the New Acra Morning News.
A clear, fluent female announcer's voice filled the car:
". . . Now, let's return to the studio. Everyone, according to our latest reports, the issue of resource allocation in Universe-14 (Starship Troopers) has once again become a focal point. Although the Blood Angels Legion has reached a second round of friendly negotiations with local opposition groups, there are still many voices questioning the fairness of resource distribution.
So, Professor Yang, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
"Ahem, I believe this is likely due to the behind-the-scenes capitalists in Universe-14 being dissatisfied with the wealth distribution under the Empire's system. To protect their own interests, they have secretly funded a formidable military organization composed of deserters from the former United Citizen Federation.
They are aware that the Blood Angels Legion has been restraining itself from using absolute force to avoid causing hundreds of millions of civilian casualties, which is why they believe they hold bargaining power.
However, I am confident that the Blood Angels' Primarch has the capability to resolve this issue swiftly. . ."
The news content filled the car with a hint of "political atmosphere," and Leon shifted his gaze from the window to recline in his seat and listen.
The cityscape outside flew by as New Acra's bustling downtown gradually receded into the distance.
In the suburban areas below the hovercar, patrol officers and their synthetic partners occasionally appeared, handling minor civil disputes.
Meanwhile, anti-riot hovercars carrying special police units raced past, possibly engaged in tactical training or preparing to raid a criminal hideout.
At the same time, the radio continued to broadcast updates on New Acra's traffic conditions, significant social events, and major Empire news.
Feeling at ease, Leon gradually relaxed and drifted into a brief "second sleep."
Although his physical abilities had been enhanced through genetic modification and consuming the "Emperor's Flesh," putting him on par with—or even slightly above—combat knights and battle nuns, the physical exertion from the previous night had left him unusually exhausted.
But Ada Wong had also undergone genetic modification, and her stamina and endurance were equally astonishing. . .
The aftermath of their "wild night" was more intense than any grueling mission Leon had ever undertaken, pushing his physical and mental limits to the brink and even instilling in him an uncontrollable sense of "awe" toward Ada.
What frustrated and humiliated Leon the most was that Ada had left a note on the nightstand that read, "Not bad, puppy."
Not bad??
Leon, now with his eyes closed, let out a self-deprecating smile.
Ada was the type who rarely showed her emotions, making her difficult to read.
And that note made him realize the "terror" of women.
Soon, Leon fell into a brief slumber.
However, he woke up on his own without needing the car's AI to alert him. Outside the window, the "steel jungle" of New Acra had given way to the massive and grandiose Imperial Palace.
The most central area was the "Ruins Base" located at the heart of the palace.
Countless ships and cargo vessels穿梭 above the Ruins Base, using spatial gates to transport vast amounts of rare resources and qualified colonists to the main universe and other universes.
The Ruins Base was no longer the underground facility it once was, hidden from the eyes of other governments and organizations.
The spatial gates, glowing like liquid mercury, were now "displayed" in the core area of the Imperial Palace under the Emperor's psychic control.
Each gate had been expanded to a size of 4km x 4km, making them the most eye-catching "structures" in the Imperial Palace—or even on Earth in the main universe.
This significantly improved the Empire's transportation,调度, and construction efficiency. Even Emperor-class and Traveler-class vessels could now travel directly between universes without needing to be disassembled and reassembled by the engineering department.
In addition to the ships and cargo vessels in the sky,密密麻麻的磁悬浮轨道 also spanned the spatial gates, connecting different universes.
All of this was part of the Empire's ongoing expansion and control over cosmic order.
However, the altar at the center of the Ruins Base and the statue of an Astartes remained the same size as before.
Additionally, the seventeenth spatial gate appeared unusually "quiet."
There were no错综复杂的轨道 or往返的各类载具, and at the front of the gate's assembly area, a group of Thousand Sons-painted Astartes, auxiliary troops, and elite personnel from various departments were preparing to cross the gate.
Seeing this, Leon commanded:
"I'll take manual control from here. You handle guidance and assistance."
"Understood, Mr. Kennedy," the AI replied.
With that, Leon took over the hovercar's controls and headed toward the assembly area. . .
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