In the changing room of the Hermes-class high-speed battleship.
Natsuki Minamiya stood with her back to Luo Shu, holding a tablet as she reviewed data about their upcoming voyage:
"Before departure, you seemed quite shocked when you heard the IS core energy source was a Wisdom Cube?"
"Yeah, that Tabane Shinonono really gave me a fright."
Floating weightlessly in the centre of the room, Luo Shu slowly donned the White Knight's form-fitting spacesuit.
After securing the suit, he reached for the helmet, which was locked in the wardrobe. As he put it on, he said to Natsuki's back:
"If this Wisdom Cube is what I think it is, then using it as an energy source is such a waste."
"The greatest function of Wisdom Cubes should be merging with warships, transforming mechanical vessels into a special intelligent species called shipgirls."
"That capability is the most extraordinary power of Wisdom Cubes."
Natsuki showed surprise at this: "Most extraordinary power? Are shipgirls like Spirits, naturally able to grow into Demigods?"
"...Possibly even more exaggerated."
Luo Shu secured his spacesuit helmet, checked the oxygen supply, then said seriously:
"If my understanding isn't mistaken, newly born shipgirls possess the terrifying capability to cleanse a planet's biosphere - they're truly a monstrous species, practically an interstellar race."
"...Ever since joining you people, I keep hearing about these outrageous things."
Natsuki Minamiya rested her chin on one hand and sighed.
First, there was a Spirit who could naturally grow into a Demigod, then a shipgirl capable of cleansing the planet's surface, and oh, let's not forget Luo Shu, a god in his infancy.
How had the world become so dangerous in just a single day?
"I find it hard to believe, too. I never expected Tabane Shinonono to have secretly stockpiled 22 Wisdom Cubes. Apparently, she discovered them while mining metals on the moon—utterly ridiculous."
As Luo Shu spoke, he couldn't help but think of those shipgirls from Azur Lane with their impossibly exaggerated figures. The fact that he now had 22 Wisdom Cubes at his disposal suddenly filled him with the urge to conduct a "Heavy Construction."
Using Wisdom Cubes to create shipgirls was referred to as "Construction," a daily ritual back when Luo Shu played Azur Lane in his past life.
Though he never managed to summon any decent shipgirls back then.
Natsuki turned her head to glance at Luo Shu, noticed he had changed clothes, and then faced him properly to ask:
"Do you know how to use Wisdom Cubes to create shipgirls?"
"No."
Luo Shu shook his head, then glanced to his right at the azure square crystal floating mid-air:
"Before we left, I had Lacus interrogate Tabane. According to her reply, even Tabane Shinonono has only figured out how to harness the energy inside the Wisdom Cubes and added an external IS unit to the outer shell."
"So in reality, Tabane Shinonono doesn't know how to use Wisdom Cubes to create shipgirls either. Even if I used the divination ability of the Encyclopedia, I couldn't find any methods for utilising Wisdom Cubes."
Though surprised, Natsuki wasn't entirely shocked by this revelation:
"The authority of Wisdom Cubes really does reach Demigod Rank, huh..."
Luo Shu nodded in agreement and added:
"For something capable of creating races of Demigods—or even Angels—that's only to be expected."
From what he understood, just two Wisdom Cubes and a bit of in-game "gold" could produce high-tier shipgirls like aircraft carriers or battleships, capable of cleansing the planet's surface.
Such combat power was nearly on par with Angels, beings who had completely transcended mortality and wielded divine authority.
So it made sense that a single Wisdom Cube's authority surpassed that of a Demigod, rendering it unsearchable by the Encyclopedia.
"Though it's a bit frustrating, for now, Tabane Shinonono's method of using Wisdom Cubes as an IS energy source is the only way we can utilise them."
Luo Shu sighed at this point. If he could use the Wisdom Cubes at hand to create shipgirls, the power he wielded would reach unprecedented levels in an instant.
Unfortunately, such a thing was currently impossible. Luo Shu even suspected whether the shipgirls—an even more exaggerated race than Spirits—were unable to be born due to the suppression from the Divine Kingdom within him.
He couldn't confirm this himself, but there was one thing he was certain of.
That was, future research on Wisdom Cubes absolutely couldn't be left to Tabane Shinonono's reckless whims.
Using one Wisdom Cube as an energy source for an IS was tolerable, but if all 22 were utilised that way, it would be nothing short of a crime.
Neither Luo Shu, Lacus, nor even Tabane Shinonono herself would tolerate such waste.
With this thought, Luo Shu took a deep breath and then turned to Natsuki Minamiya to ask:
"Have we reached the destination yet?"
"Ten minutes ago, the Hermes-class unmanned high-speed battleship had already approached the target's orbit."
Natsuki Minamiya looked at the tablet in her hand, observing the small battleship on the screen—66 metres long, 8 metres wide, 8 metres tall, with a capacity of 12 units, and an azure-blue hull...
It was the Hermes-class unmanned high-speed battleship, developed by the SDS Space Research Department.
Its primary function was to rely on its force-field shield—essentially a turtle shell—to carry 12 remotely piloted Skill Demon Gods, rapidly penetrating enemy core positions to execute decapitation strikes against their leadership.
Of course, when necessary, it could also transport powerful Hero Rank individuals for assault operations.
Just like how it was currently carrying her and Luo Shu.
"Over at Copernicus, Ania sent another message saying she's remotely controlled the high-speed ship to approach the target orbit. Based on the previous exploration data..."
Natsuki glanced at the map displayed on her tablet, pondered for a moment, and said:
"According to computer estimates, it'll take about 10 more minutes for the target sleeping at the boundary to manifest in our current space orbit temporarily."
"But speaking of which, spending 16 hours daily at the boundary and 8 hours floating in space—are we sure this Spirit called Mukuro Hoshimiya hasn't developed any mental issues?"
Natsuki rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Could a normal person really spend their days floating in space or sleeping in another dimension, doing nothing but staring blankly or sleeping? It seemed impossible to imagine.
Luo Shu slowly floated towards the Wisdom Cube and explained:
"Mukuro Hoshimiya seems to have used her sealing ability to seal her own emotions."
Natsuki froze for a moment upon hearing this, then sighed:
"That explains why she might not be easy to communicate with. No wonder you needed me here to block her escape routes."
Luo Shu chuckled at this, grasping the Wisdom Cube in his hand.
Just then, the Hermes high-speed ship trembled slightly.
Sensing the movement, Luo Shu frowned instinctively and looked towards the projection window on the right.
At that very moment, he saw a pair of pure, flawless amber eyes.
Staring at the golden-haired little angel on the projection window, who tilted her head with an innocent, bewildered expression, Luo Shu fell silent.
Right then, a screen materialised mid-air, displaying Lacus's face.
"Ahem, can you hear me?"
"Due to unknown reasons, Hoshimiya seems to have descended into reality ahead of schedule. Currently, Ania and Tabane Shinonono are both attempting to locate her position. Hmm, why are you all making that face?"
At that moment, Natsuki Minamiya's lips twitched as she stared at the simulated window on the right, observing the utterly calm Mukuro Hoshimiya:
"If you're asking for the reason, it's probably because the target, Hoshimiya, is currently standing right in front of the ship's surveillance camera."
Lacus: "???"