Karl's growing group of women really did need someone to maintain order among them.
And as the number of women around him continued to increase, having someone take the lead wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Of course, Karl couldn't say whether Yan would always hold that position.
If a woman stronger than her appeared in the future, she might genuinely threaten Yan's place.
But knowing Yan's personality, she would never surrender without a fight.
And in the end, Karl would probably be the one who benefited most from their competition.
He was actually rather curious to see how things would develop.
"Once you have someone stronger helping you in the future, you won't need me anymore."
Yan's voice became slightly resentful.
"I'll just be left alone in some room aboard the warship for eternity."
Karl's teasing had clearly exposed the fact that he knew exactly what Yan had been doing.
For a moment, she felt as though she'd been caught red-handed.
But she quickly regained her composure and spoke calmly while remaining in his arms.
"How could that happen?"
Karl smiled.
"My Yan is my little Angel."
"You'll always have a place in my heart."
"I don't object to what you're doing, and I don't intend to interfere with how you women settle things among yourselves."
His arms tightened around her slender waist.
"But you'll never lose my favor."
Karl gently kissed her ear.
Yan turned her head and glared at him.
"Every word you say sounds nice."
"But I can't even access the Kryptonian genes anymore, and you're still saying I haven't fallen out of favor?"
"I don't believe you."
"You're a liar!"
The annoyed look she gave him carried a completely different charm from before.
Karl kissed her cheek.
Only then did he notice how much Yan's temperament had changed.
She still possessed the pride of a veteran Angel warrior, but much of her former youthful sharpness had softened.
Now, she carried a calmer, more mature elegance.
"That's not what happened."
Karl continued holding her as he explained.
"I recently obtained the Kryptonian Codex of Life and gave it to Vastness to analyze."
"So I restricted access to the entire Kryptonian genetic database."
"I didn't realize Vastness had also locked the previous templates."
He lightly tapped Yan's forehead.
"Why would I deliberately block you, idiot?"
Then he spoke aloud.
"Vastness, grant Yan access to the Codex of Life."
[Understood, Sir.]
[Level-Two access authorization granted.]
Yan snorted.
"At least you know what's good for you."
She immediately began reviewing the Codex.
The difference from before was enormous.
Previously, only a limited number of ordinary Kryptonian warrior templates had been available.
Now, the Codex contained countless genetic profiles.
Yan frowned slightly.
"So which one are we giving them?"
"Some of these goddesses have already reached the limits of their natural potential. Even with training, Skyfather level might be their ceiling."
"Unless we use that final template..."
Karl also brought up the Codex.
After browsing through the available profiles for a while, he made his decision.
"Use the Kryptonian general-class template."
Yan looked at him.
"That should be enough to push a few of the strongest from Skyfather level into the Single-Universe level."
"The others should at least be able to reach Skyfather level."
Karl closed the genetic interface.
"After that, we'll see how they perform."
Karl understood perfectly well that all fifty-nine Olympian goddesses couldn't become his principal wives.
At most, only a few of them would ever reach that position.
For now, improving the potential of the most promising among them was enough.
"Perform?"
Yan initially didn't think much of his wording.
Then she narrowed her eyes.
"I think you're just a pervert."
Karl blinked.
"You keep talking about evaluating their performance, but you're clearly thinking about those ridiculous games they keep playing with you."
Yan's cheeks turned slightly red.
"They really have no shame."
"No wonder you disappeared into the Shadow World every chance you got."
Hera and Gaea had spent a great deal of time studying Karl's preferences during the past month.
The endless schemes they invented had opened even Yan's eyes despite her seven thousand years of experience.
She stared suspiciously at Karl.
"The fact that they're former queens, ancient goddesses, and high-ranking Olympians makes it even more exciting for you, doesn't it?"
Karl coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem..."
"I'll admit I'm fairly satisfied."
Then he immediately pulled Yan closer.
"But my Yan is still the best."
Yan's eyes narrowed.
Remembering some of Gaea's more outrageous antics during the previous month, Karl decided that continuing this argument would only make things worse.
He immediately kissed Yan.
"Tch."
Yan rolled her eyes.
"A man's promises really are unreliable."
Then she turned back toward the gene-modification chambers.
"Anyway, the injections are starting."
Her hands moved rapidly across the controls.
The Codex extracted the selected genetic information.
Vastness then synthesized the corresponding gene serum from the data.
Inside the chambers, all fifty-nine Olympian goddesses were already submerged in energy-rich suspension fluid.
The Kryptonian serum was injected into their bodies one after another.
Karl watched the process for a moment.
"According to Angel terminology..."
He smiled.
"I suppose that makes me Angel Yan's male god."
Yan glanced sideways at him.
"So my words aren't lies."
"Hmph."
Yan raised her chin proudly.
"It's your honor to be this Angel's male god."
The next second, however—
her entire body suddenly weakened.
Her white wings unfolded behind her without warning.
Karl's hand immediately moved over the soft feathers.
"You—"
Yan trembled.
Karl hadn't forcibly manipulated her genes.
The reason he could make her wings appear was simple.
Yan herself had granted him Level-Two authorization to her gene engine.
That was an extraordinary level of trust.
It effectively allowed Karl limited control over some of her body's gene-engine functions.
Yan had originally intended to grant him Level-One authority.
Karl had refused.
He had accepted only Level Two.
Even so, Yan soon came to regret giving him that much.
Ever since Karl gained access, he had developed a habit of making her wings appear whenever he pleased.
And her wings happened to be one of her most sensitive areas.
Whenever his hands brushed over them, faint tingling sensations spread throughout her entire body.
Before long, Yan was leaning weakly against him.
"Yes, yes."
Karl laughed as he lifted her into his arms.
"It truly is my honor to be the male god of the Thunder God of War."
Then he disappeared from the laboratory with Yan in his arms.
The Olympian goddesses would need at least twelve hours to complete the genetic modification.
There was no reason for either of them to remain there watching.
...
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