Mu Continent.
Surrounding the Eye of the Abyss, a total of three of the world's most advanced laboratories had been constructed. The one researching quantum energy was merely one among them.
Currently.
Mr. Ra, clad in a Flame-Chaser uniform with a high-ranking insignia on his chest, and his beloved daughter Tefnut—also dressed in practical attire, covered by a white coat symbolizing her status as a researcher (no, to be precise, it was Tefnut using her elder sister's body)—stood together in a laboratory dock that resembled a ship's bridge.
However, unlike her father's solemn expression, Tefnut, whose thoughts were difficult for ordinary people to fathom, wore a faint smile.
Before them...
"An astonishing piece of research."
The laboratory head, a woman with tousled青绿色 (qinglvse - teal/blue-green) hair, looked at the documents provided by the two visitors with an expression of amazement.
"A Honkai Energy Absorption Converter."
"To draw in surrounding Honkai energy on a large scale and convert it into conventional energy that humans can utilize through ordinary means... If such a device could be mass-produced, let alone alleviating the energy crisis, Honkai would no longer even be a threat to us."
"One could even say,"
"If I had seen this plan sooner, Erwin's quantum energy research experiment wouldn't have needed to continue."
The director slowly raised her head, adjusting non-existent glasses on the bridge of her nose.
"Is this a concept proposed by your esteemed daughter?"
"No."
Mr. Ra slowly shook his head.
"This is a plan from The Flame-Chasers, one that couldn't be initiated due to funding issues."
"I see."
The director nodded gently.
Her gaze shifted back to the documents in her hand, and she quickly flipped through a few more pages—
"'Moonlight Throne Project'... Indeed, that's her naming style."
"As expected of Mei."
Gently folding the papers along the center line, the director solemnly placed the documents on the desk beside her.
"Well then, you two."
"You've come to me with such top-secret information. Is there something you require my assistance with?"
"As far as I know."
"The Flame-Chasers should be exceedingly... busy right now."
The director spoke very directly.
Although Mr. Ra was a high-ranking member of The Flame-Chasers, within the sphere of influence of Mu Continent, it wasn't clear whose status was higher. She had indeed just completed a new research project, but that didn't mean she had time to deal with 'mundane people'.
"Dr. Lieserl."
Mr. Ra pronounced the director's name with great solemnity.
"We hope."
"To entrust this research to you."
————
"Entrust?"
"Mr. Ra, are you looking down on me?"
The Eye of the Abyss was Mu Continent's most important installation. Being able to establish a laboratory nearby already proved Dr. Lieserl's status in the academic world. "Borrowing" the research results of others—setting aside such a private request, she might not even be willing to accept a formal collaboration.
True researchers.
They all possessed their own pride.
"This plan."
Lieserl's finger tapped lightly on the desk.
"Indeed, as you said, the written plan is still in the conjectural stage."
"But based on my understanding of Mei, since she dared to propose the plan, she must have already made preparations for 'Step Two: The Verification Stage' before even publishing it."
"If things progressed quickly..."
"I'm afraid even an experimental prototype might be close to completion."
"For you to 'entrust' such important research to me..."
"I don't believe The Flame-Chasers are so destitute. Your internal disputes... please forgive me, but I cannot entertain them. Eins, show them out!"
"Understood!"
Eins was a blue, spherical robot floating beside Lieserl, concurrently serving as an assistant, database, weapon, and command center—a mechanical assistant Lieserl had specially built to protect herself.
"Doctor, please wait a moment!"
It wasn't Mr. Ra who spoke to stop Lieserl, but Tefnut, who had been standing beside him, silent until now.
"Please look at this... before making your decision."
Tefnut slowly pulled open the clothing on her chest.
At the center of her flat chest, a crystal imbued with a hazy purple hue had replaced her human heart, or rather, it had completely fused with the human heart. Around it, all skin and organs had become translucent, the blood vessels and sinews clearly visible.
"Stop! Eins!"
The astonishing scene before her finally captured Dr. Lieserl's attention.
"This is..."
She slowly extended her right hand towards Tefnut's chest.
"Is Mobius still conducting that experiment?"
Lieserl understood what this was.
After the First Herrscher, the Herrscher of Reason, was killed, its Herrscher Core had passed through the hands of multiple laboratories.
At that time, The Flame-Chasers had not yet been established.
Mobius, who held absolute authority in the field of biology on Mu Continent, had proposed the "Artificial Herrscher" hypothesis based on this Herrscher Core—replicating a Herrscher Core and implanting it into a human with adaptive compatibility.
However, the plan was soon halted.
The high mortality rate and uncontrollability were evidently not something that could easily be approved in the then still "peaceful" social environment.
Lieserl looked at the almost finalized product before her—
"No."
Tefnut's voice was as tranquil as ever.
"Dr. Mobius abandoned this experiment. The one who created this Artificial Herrscher Core... was me."
"..."
"Astonishing."
"If I'm not mistaken, this isn't purely the result of human creation?"
Facing Lieserl's query, Tefnut replied with great composure:
"As expected of Dr. Lieserl."
"The Artificial Herrscher Core implanted in my body is the core of a special Emperor-class Honkai Beast, a product of its fusion with an early-stage 'Fake Pseudo-Core'."
"On this basis."
"I found a true Pseudo-Herrscher Core and fused it once more."
"..."
"Very good."
Lieserl nodded with a hint of amazement, slowly retracting her right hand from Tefnut's chest.
"To dare to touch the forbidden at the cost of one's life, such an achievement... makes your ideas worth listening to."
"Tefnut."
"That name... although the appearance doesn't quite match, if I recall correctly, you used to be Charles's disciple, didn't you?"
"Yes."
Charles was an old friend of Dr. Lieserl.
He was not a native of Mu Continent and had lost his life to a Honkai Beast attack during his vacation.
"A 'Herrscher' isn't so easily 'formed'. Since you've come this far, you must have more than one contingency prepared, right?"
"Since you've sought me out..."
"Whatever other 'surprises' you have, bring them all out."
Mr. Ra and Tefnut exchanged a glance.
The armed automaton standing behind them slowly placed an extremely tightly sealed "suitcase" on the ground.
"This is..."
"The 'Spear of Longinus,' lost on the Australian battlefield."