An awkward silence settled in the passageway leading to the space city.
Both Lacus and Natsuki had now fully appreciated the twisted nature of this woman.
Even Luo Shu, who'd already deduced the answer through the Encyclopaedia and understanding of the original work, couldn't help but twitch at her words.
To embezzle billions from the secretive SDS organisation just to develop a global tracking system for finding her sister?
This woman's siscon tendencies exceeded all reasonable limits.
With a sigh, Luo Shu looked up at the still-smiling Tabane:
"Fine. If we exclude this function, can the Zeus system be used as-is?"
Tabane blinked, clasping her hands behind her back as she playfully replied:
"A secret for a secret, you know~"
Hearing this, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow but replied without much surprise:
"You want to use the Encyclopaedia in my hands to divine your sister's location?"
"Bingo~"
Tabane Shinonono snapped her fingers, then pointed at Luo Shu with a finger-gun gesture: "Although it's weakened without the core functions I designed, the finished Zeus system can still locate the approximate range of an Abyss Descent within 30 minutes of its occurrence."
At this point, Tabane withdrew her right hand and tapped her chin with a finger, pondering:
"Hmm, under energy-saving conditions, it should narrow it down to within five kilometres?"
Natsuki Minamiya was visibly shocked: "It can lock onto the general location just 30 minutes after occurrence? That's monstrous technology..."
Although it couldn't be predicted in advance, locking onto a five-kilometre radius within 30 minutes was terrifyingly advanced technology.
This was something that even the united efforts of the Five Major Powers and global experts, researching for thirty years, had failed to achieve.
Neither mystic side divination nor technological detection methods worldwide could detect Abyss Descents - only through manual searches and post-event anomaly discoveries could the Abyss's arrival be indirectly noticed.
Yet here was Tabane Shinonono, single-handedly advancing this technology to the point of 30-minute post-event tracking.
And this was while 90% of her energy was devoted to developing tracking technology targeting her sister.
Frankly, Natsuki Minamiya couldn't help feeling that even without the chaos of the Abyss, Tabane's personality would eventually trigger a global crisis rivalling an Abyss Descent.
This woman simply wasn't the type to stay quietly in her lane!
"As expected, the doctor has kept many things from me." Lacus shook her head slightly in resignation.
In the past, she had actually suspected that Tabane Shinonono might be diverting funds to research other projects that piqued her interest.
However, due to her high regard for Tabane's abilities and understanding of a scientist's eccentricities, Lacus had turned a blind eye, thinking that no matter what, Tabane wouldn't go too far—the misappropriated funds couldn't possibly exceed 20% at most.
But now, it seemed she had underestimated Tabane Shinonono.
Had this woman diverted over 90% of the funds for other purposes?
Though inwardly complaining, Lacus couldn't help but be astounded by Tabane's capabilities.
After all, many of the SDS's cutting-edge technologies were highly complex, making it difficult for Lacus or even the higher-ups in the business department to detect inflated costs when reviewing funding applications. In fact, they had even proactively added budgets on several occasions.
Yet, Tabane had somehow managed to deliver technologies that met SDS's high standards using only a tenth of the allocated budget, effectively siphoning off 90% of the funds.
Such behaviour undeniably showcased her extraordinary, almost common-sense-defying research capabilities.
Under these circumstances, even if Tabane was excessively reckless, Lacus began considering whether to ask Luo Shu to recruit her into the Familia.
At this thought, Lacus glanced at Luo Shu—just in time to catch the intense look in his eyes as he stared at Tabane.
'Looks like... I might not even need to ask.'
Meanwhile, Luo Shu, equally aware of Tabane's exaggerated abilities, wasn't thinking about having her research some Abyss detection device. Instead, he wanted her to absorb the vast knowledge within the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System and attempt to develop technologies that could assist in human evolution and advancement.
Compared to relying on external technological enhancements, Luo Shu preferred using science to strengthen himself.
And in this field, Tabane seemed to possess a genius-level aptitude.
If Luo Shu remembered correctly, in the story she belonged to, Tabane had developed cell-based self-enhancement technology, turning herself into a monster capable of overpowering an aircraft carrier with sheer physical strength.
If that were the case, Tabane's abilities might far exceed everyone's expectations.
Just as Luo Shu was pondering this, Tabane seemed to notice something. She clasped her hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly, and studied Luo Shu with keen interest.
"Mmm, judging by your expression, you're thinking of recruiting me, aren't you?"
"Don't even think about lying to me~ These rabbit ears on my head have a built-in lie detector function, you know?"
Tabane pointed at the mechanical rabbit ears atop her head, her face brimming with curiosity as she watched Luo Shu.
Luo Shu's heart skipped a beat. He quickly looked up the information and then gave her a strange look.
"...Those ears only have a tracking function for your sister, don't they?"
"Oh?" Tabane's eyes lit up. "Even after I activated my divination-blocking device, you could still divine that?"
"It seems the high-level divination tool you possess must be an Abyss Artefact of Demigod Rank or above."
"Hey, hey, how about we make a deal?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu frowned and outright refused.
"If you're suggesting trading something for my divination tool, then forget it."
The Mysticism Encyclopaedia was now embedded within the Divine Kingdom. Forget whether Luo Shu could retrieve it—even if he could, he wouldn't sell such a useful tool.
Hearing Luo Shu's words, Tabane Shinonono chuckled:
"What I want isn't that sort of thing~"
As she spoke, she reached into her chest and, to Luo Shu's astonishment, pulled out a transparent test tube still warm with body heat.
"...This?" Luo Shu was puzzled.
At that moment, Tabane Shinonono cheerfully retrieved a flesh-coloured glove from her white coat and slowly slipped it on:
"Mind if I collect a bit of your genetic material?"
"Don't worry, I'll be as gentle as possible."
"Of course, if you're resistant to me doing the collection, I could always persuade Lacus to help."
"Oh, right—the sample mustn't be contaminated with saliva. It could interfere with the experiment."
"So it's best to use professional gloves."
Hearing this, Luo Shu instinctively glanced at Lacus's cherry-red lips.
Noticing his gaze, Lacus's expression froze.
Seeing this, Luo Shu immediately said, "That's not what I meant."
Lacus, meanwhile, replied, "That sort of thing... should wait until after marriage..."
Instantly, the atmosphere became unbearably awkward.
Standing behind them, Natsuki Minamiya watched with gleeful amusement, her expression full of mischief.
Just then, Tabane Shinonono seemed to notice her too, eyes sparkling as she said:
"Ah, I almost forgot—we have a spatial magician here~ That makes things even simpler~"
"You should be able to extract the material remotely using your spatial abilities, right?"
In an instant, Natsuki Minamiya was also stunned.