"Soil... there's still some residual Honkai energy, though not much. It won't be a major issue. Switch the primary construction team to mechanical units and personnel with resistance to Honkai energy, and include a dose of Honkai energy inhibitors. Once the 'Moonlight Throne' device is completed, this residual energy could even serve as the initial startup power…"
The brownish soil sifted through Sigurd's fingers as he analyzed it thoughtfully.
Then, he lowered his head and lightly stomped on the ground.
"On the surface, the foundation seems stable… Dr. Einstein should've conducted an underground environment survey, right?"
Sigurd turned to Raiden Mei for confirmation.
Holding a tablet to record his observations, Raiden Mei instinctively straightened her posture, put on a serious face, and forced herself to remain calm.
"Yes! A comprehensive exploration was conducted using seismic waves, electromagnetic signals, and precision gravity field analysis. No weak geological structures were found. Additionally, a thick granite bedrock was identified 18 meters below ground, providing solid support!"
"Hmm… Ultimately, these are indirect methods. I trust Dr. Einstein's technology, but have you tested it with Honkai energy?"
"Honkai energy?"
Raiden Mei blinked in confusion.
Sigurd glanced at her and sighed.
"Sigh… After all these years of dealing with Honkai, humanity has begun reaping its benefits with the full deployment of the 'Moonlight Throne.' However, both Anti-Entropy and Schicksal still instinctively treat Honkai energy as a source of war and threat… Minds remain too narrow."
"Huh?"
Raiden Mei stared at him, half-understanding his point.
Without further explanation, Sigurd summoned a swarm of worker bees, which descended onto the ground, burrowing into the soil.
Then, a surge of Honkai energy spread out from beneath his feet. Amid the golden glimmers across the ground, the worker bees transformed into energy-guiding devices, channeling the Honkai energy into the underground layers.
Sigurd extended his perception, using the infused Honkai energy to construct a complete underground model in his mind.
"Electromagnetic signals, gravity, and seismic waves only reflect single physical properties. Honkai energy, on the other hand, can provide a complete and accurate representation of the reality—if used correctly. Understand?"
As he recorded the model into a virtual screen projected by the bees, Sigurd posed the question to Raiden Mei.
Raiden Mei dutifully recorded the practice on her tablet, then saluted with sincere respect.
"Yes! Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Sigurd. I'll remember this experience and apply Honkai energy more flexibly in the future."
"So you didn't understand?"
Sigurd cast her a flat glance.
Raiden Mei: "…"
Some things were best left unsaid. Not everyone could be compared to a "demon king" like him! Even with a new perspective, there's still a process of adaptation and experimentation—it's impossible to master instantly!
Internally grumbling, she lowered her head outwardly, pretending to show shame.
"Forget it. The point is to encourage open-mindedness. Our enemy is the Honkai, a force that grows stronger alongside civilization. To have a chance at victory, we must be united and exhaust every ounce of ingenuity. Especially in the field of scientific research, narrow-mindedness and stagnation are unacceptable."
"…Understood. Thank you for your guidance."
Raiden Mei expressed her gratitude again, this time showing a warm and sincere smile as she grasped the deeper meaning behind his words.
Sigurd patted her shoulder in encouragement.
The next second, Raiden Mei froze in place. Physically and mentally, her brain went blank, cold sweat broke out, and a shiver ran down her spine.
"In your youth, influenced by hormones, I played around a bit, which may have caused you some distress. I apologize for that. Try to overcome it soon. You'll be an important strategic asset to civilization in the future, and it's best not to have such obvious psychological weaknesses."
Half-apology, half-requirement, Sigurd spoke calmly.
Raiden Mei stiffly nodded.
She never thought she'd see the day when Sigurd apologized to her—wait, "playing around"?! Did that mean her struggles were partly due to his deliberate actions?
Before she could process this thought further, Sigurd continued with another question:
"The facility is near the coast. There must be designs to resist typhoons and tsunamis, right?"
"Yes! Preparations have been made to withstand high-intensity typhoons and tsunamis."
"Add another circle of defensive and countermeasure installations on the coastal side. In extreme cases, consider the threat of Honkai Beasts emerging from the sea."
"That... indeed, I hadn't accounted for this issue. Should we move the construction site further inland just to be safe?"
"No need. Dr. Einstein's layout is quite logical; this location is optimal. Even in extreme scenarios, this is only a supplementary facility and won't significantly impact the entire system's operation. Just enhance the defenses—there's no need to relocate."
As Sigurd walked ahead, he explained his judgment to Raiden Mei.
Suddenly, his ears twitched, catching a sound that made him glance back.
Not far behind him, Kiana and Sin Mal, who routinely followed him, were pulling at each other's cheeks while muttering insults under their breaths, a typical quarrel between them.
"Eleven o'clock direction, about sixty-seven kilometers away—there are signs of Honkai Beast activity. Kiana, Sin Mal, go deal with it. Don't let them gather into a sizable group."
"Yes, sir!" x2
The two of them immediately stood upright, saluted, and activated their black armor. Trailing pale blue flames, they vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
"Sigh..."
Sigurd let out a deep sigh.
If there ever came a day when these two could be even half as reliable as Bronya, his quality of life might improve by a significant margin.
Looking at the quiet Bronya beside him, Sigurd took a deep breath and shook his head.
Never mind. A noisy bunch is better than a second Bronya—one cunning and bold vixen is more than enough.
"Let's go check the actual construction progress. I heard from Dr. Einstein that many aspects of this system's implementation were arranged by you. It's a good chance to see how much you've improved."
"Yes, Mr. Sigurd."
Raiden Mei swallowed nervously, struggling to suppress the trembling in her legs as she followed him a few steps behind.
<+>
After a day of inspection, Sigurd had a comprehensive understanding of the details of the Moonlight Throne mega-system in the Far East region. He had Mei compile a long list of suggestions for improvements.
Once they returned to the base, Mei immediately went to report the situation to Dr. Einstein—judging by her quickened steps, she seemed eager to escape from Sigurd's presence.
Bronya, now free from duty, bid a polite farewell and went off to reunite with Seele, whom she hadn't seen for over half a month.
As for Kiana and Sin Mal, Sigurd casually sent them off on another task.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he could enjoy some long-awaited peace and quiet on his own.
<+>
Tn: If you want to see more chapter of this story, please go to my Patreon[1], just for $5 each month, you can read till the latest chapter.
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