"Cough, cough... Snake-sis, long time no see."
Pardofelis' carefree voice, like that of a cat without worries, carried a hint of flattery.
"Mm. But you, Pardo—three days apart, and you've changed. Let me see… the Royal Gardener of the Ark-00 installation, assistant to that fellow Hua… So, how many cushy jobs with good pay, little work, and light responsibilities have you picked up at once?"
The moment one heard the voice, it was clear it belonged to an intelligent, mature beauty. Her tone was slightly husky, yet filled with a soul-stirring allure.
"Hehe… Of course! It's just, Snake-sis, you're always in that creepy, terrifying place, like a torture chamber for dissections. That one time I went to visit you, really—on the whole way there my hairs were standing on end. After coming back, I even had nightmares for days, every time I closed my eyes it felt like all sorts of strange monsters were about to drag me into the sea. I really don't know…"
"Mm—?"
The mature voice drew out the nasal tone.
"Uh… no, no, I mean… I was just surprised that you, Snake-sis, a homebody who plays with corpses… cough cough, I said the wrong thing… Ow! Oww! It hurts—it hurts… Snake-sis, I was wrong!"
"Nothing but nonsense from a cat's mouth… With you, an ignorant girl, it's useless to explain. What 'playing with corpses'? That's called science. No matter how terrifying something was in life, in the end it's only a specimen in the anatomy room."
"Got it, got it. Next time, I promise—I'll study hard, make progress every day, and won't slack off at all! Right, right—Snake-sis, let me introduce you. This is Azril. She's the junior that Her Majesty values, and the commander of the Imperial Guard!"
Balancing the fat orange cat, Canned, on her head, Pardofelis pulled over Azril, who stood with perfect poise and an elegant smile.
"She… commander of the Imperial Guard?" The voice carried doubt.
She looked a bit dull, not very clever.
Mobius silently released Pardofelis' furry cat ears from her fingers and thought to herself.
...
Talking along the way, the group soon entered the inner court of the Ark Palace. They walked through gardens and palace corridors like a sudden clearing after clouds.
In this pearl palace built of steel, marble, and countless precious gems, the thriving greenery seemed out of place, yet was all the more precious. Carefully pruned and tended exotic plants surrounded them, adorning the place with life and nature, spreading all the way to the magnificent golden gates ahead.
Here, through towering pillars and carved railings, one could see the central area of the Ark's palace: a bright, blue region. Within the massive ring-like structure existed a very young star and protostars still forming.
The intense radiation from these newborn stars caused surrounding gas to glow brightly. In stark contrast, streams of cosmic dust wound through the area, glowing faintly in dark red and orange shadows.
The power core of the Ark-00 installation—an artwork of the heavens.
Under the watch of towering Imperial Guards, Mobius, Pardofelis, and Azril passed through the carved golden doors and entered a lavish study filled with numerous artworks and shelves lined with brown, red, and blue gilt-embossed tomes.
"Your Majesty—!"
At once, Mobius' eyes fell upon her nominal superior as chief of the Imperial Science Bureau—Dr. Stylish—who, with his exaggerated and flamboyant gestures, was currying favor before the emperor's luxurious desk.
Like some jester flattering a naïve young emperor to achieve his own aims.
But Selene was no rubber stamp. The answer was clear: Dr. Stylish was trying to please his sovereign, seeking some benefit.
"According to the testimony from survivors of the 'Earth United Army Tower-e Star Brigade' submitted by the Dark Angels Legion's exploration fleet—this creature, after forcing the native humans to emigrate off-world, wiped out all monsters on Earth. It even completely assimilated the planet itself, with its flora and fauna evolving to mimic Godzilla for survival, constructing a brand-new ecosystem with Godzilla at the apex."
"This is an extremely rare phenomenon, with immense research value!"
Dr. Stylish spoke with excitement. After obtaining access permissions from Bias, the intelligent servitor attending Selene, he reached out and tapped a few times on the revealed holographic screen.
"Rrroar—!"
Shhh!
As the projection screen unfolded, the instant the image loaded, blue-white light burst forth. Onscreen, a charged particle beam with a dazzling trail shot skyward.
Zzz—
It slammed into the void shield array encasing the test grounds. Like a stone cast into a pond, ripples spread outward, then vanished.
It was clearly a section of the Imperial Science Bureau's giant biological experiment site. The massive, scarred creature with sharp dorsal fins awoke. With a furious roar, the coral-like spines along its back surged with blue-white charged particles, writhing like dragons.
Almost at the same time, thunder roared. Beams from sentry plasma fortress cannons pierced the skies—plasma cluster rays too swift for detectors to track ripped through Godzilla's massive legs. With a shrill, agonized cry, blood and flesh burst forth. Just as it had managed to rise, it faltered again, body swaying.
Meanwhile, amid the grinding of chains, gears, and hydraulic rods, the colossal expanding barbed anchor spears embedded deep within Godzilla's body began retracting. Even this three-hundred-meter colossus was forced to bow its neck to the slaughter, shackled so tightly it could no longer stand.
Zzzzt, zzzzt!
Blue-white arcs crackled—the charged particles being forcibly siphoned from within Godzilla's body by the anchor spears.
On the high platforms of the testing ground, numerous researchers pointed and gestured in discussion. Heavily armed guards gestured toward the rare specimen.
Encircling the test site, four experimental auxiliary Titan mechs, each no smaller than Godzilla itself, watched like predators. Though not as lethally outfitted as full military models, the giant hydraulic pincers, surgical-assist devices, and power-cutting equipment on their dual main arms and four auxiliary arms were still more than powerful enough against giant beasts.
Seeing this, Selene nodded in satisfaction.
Yes. The Imperial Science Bureau's exaggerated—indeed, excessive—defenses were her doing.
Had the lessons not been clear enough? Across countless colonial worlds, scientists' carelessness, or underpowered security forces, or accidents in research leading to breaches and leaks—how many disasters had been caused by escaped specimens turning on their creators?
Selene would not tolerate the risk of some so-called test subject survivor crawling from a corner one day to launch terror attacks. Extermination was one thing—but appearances mattered, too.
To prevent such incidents altogether, Selene had from the outset moved the Science Bureau's headquarters away from the Imperial capital, relocating it to a barren desert within the Honkai Dimension.
It was convenient for expansions, and convenient for oversight. Even if by some miracle a specimen escaped, it would face nothing but endless gray wasteland measured in astronomical distances—and the swarms of Honkai Beasts roaming there.
Escape was near impossible anyway, for Selene had stationed an entire Imperial Guard war cohort on constant rotation as garrison.
Noticing Selene's nod, Dr. Stylish pressed on: "Here is the preliminary analysis of Godzilla…" He swiped open a full-body anatomical projection.
"According to tests, Godzilla is not purely biological. It belongs instead to a form of hyper-evolved plant life. It possesses no skeleton, relying entirely on tissues composed of hardened cellulose for movement. This cellulose has metallic properties, functioning as coils, circuits, and armor."
"It possesses ultra-high hardness, toughness, and regenerative ability sufficient to withstand thermonuclear attack. However, at close range it can still be damaged by high-powered lasers."
"Its tissues overall display characteristics of superconductive matter and asymmetrical materials, capable of absorbing all kinds of electromagnetic waves. Unless it emits heat rays, it generates almost no infrared or radiation. Moreover, it has a certain electromagnetic propulsion organ allowing it to advance underwater undetected—granting it extreme stealth."
"Its somatic cells can generate ultra-high-output electromagnetic fields…"
At this point, even Mobius was stunned.
This wasn't a mere creature.
It was a mountain of gold and silver—a virgin land of science yet to be developed!
After all, Mobius was not like Dr. Stylish, one of the old retainers who had followed Selene since before her rise. The position of chief was out of reach for her, and besides, the projects she currently oversaw did not involve giant organisms. She truly knew nothing about Godzilla until now.
All she had heard was that the First Legion's transport fleet had delivered some rare new specimen, prompting Dr. Stylish—who had been working on optimizing the next-generation reinforced standard explosive bolt project—to abandon it immediately.
When he returned from the test site, Dr. Stylish rushed straight to Selene.
Naturally, Mobius' curiosity was piqued.
"Your Majesty, Godzilla should remain in the Science Bureau. Only there can its value be fully realized."
Dr. Stylish pleaded with bitter anguish.
And he wasn't without reason. The First Legion's justification had been: 'Check it over, try to repair its injuries. Soon, this creature named Godzilla will be sent to Her Majesty's menagerie.'
What a waste!
The menagerie—what was it for? It was Selene's place for "petting cats and dogs," her private zoo, a place for relaxation and amusement.
And to throw Godzilla—a rare beast of such immense scientific value—into the menagerie as a pet… If there were several, perhaps one could say so. But the problem was—this Planetary Godzilla was the only one!
Yes, the Empire revolves around its Empress, and the Emperor's needs are always first priority. But still… what extravagance!
Of course, Dr. Stylish dared not say this aloud.
Selene might not kill him, true—but she would definitely cut him down. And then piece him back together.
Thus—"My beloved Empress, I beg you, in your wisdom high as the heavens, give due consideration to the humble advice of your small servant."
How to Advise Her Majesty
Preface: The following rules are written with the blood-earned lessons of countless ministers. Be cautious, cautious, always cautious!
Rule One (marked with a red star): Remember—Her Majesty yields to gentleness, never to force.
...
"Your servant is incompetent. The new standard auxiliary military equipment remains undecided. Development of the electronic muscle bundles lining the Astartes' power armor, and the Tyranid neuron-cell carapace upgrade, has failed to meet expectations."
"The appearance of Godzilla gives me hope. Its cellulose, the atomic structure of its tissues, its somatic cells…"
Dr. Stylish grew ever more impassioned, nearly in tears.
Selene: "..."
Fine. She had seen the reports on Godzilla, and an old, dusty memory had stirred. Her collector's obsession had flared—she simply wanted to collect it.
Truly, at the time Selene hadn't thought much at all. She merely wanted to bring it back and pet it a few times. That there was so much research value in Godzilla—who would have guessed?
Very well, very well. So he wanted this "little beast" reserved for the menagerie?
As for Dr. Stylish's tricks—Selene saw through them at once. But still… was this necessary?
Dr. Stylish, in his heart: Heaven bear witness, Your Majesty! I've followed you since the era of generals. Knowing your gluttonous nature of never letting go once you seize something, I fear that if Godzilla truly enters your menagerie, there will be no getting it back!
"Thank you, my good doctor. Let your sweet jester's words end here." Yet Selene, after all, was not one to blush.
Really, I thought you had come because you learned of the Flügel and Ex-Machina, demanding a few specimens to dissect. I was ready to throw you out… cough.
With smiling eyes, Selene rose gracefully. Her coronation gown trailed along the floor as she walked softly.
"Wise as ever, Your Majesty!" Lowering his head, Dr. Stylish smiled faintly. Whether Selene agreed or not, the flattery must be spoken first.
This was the experience of Selene's ministers—using her terrifying rationality and clear self-awareness, drowning her in endless praise until she grew too self-conscious to ignore the problem.
Never underestimate bureaucrats.
"Ahem."
Noticing a new arrival in the study, Selene gave a slight cough, signaling Dr. Stylish to compose himself. He was, after all, a high official.
"Dr. Mobius."
The light fell upon her face, the same dual-colored vertical pupils of green fading to pink. Yet compared to the last time they had met, when she had the form of a child, she now appeared much more grown.
Yes—in every sense of the word.
"Your Majesty."
Casting a glance at Dr. Stylish, her lips curved suddenly as she offered a bow, neither humble nor arrogant: "Regarding research on Godzilla, I believe I am more suited than Dr. Stylish."
"The chief is far too busy. And in research, divided focus is the gravest taboo."
Her voice was calm and measured. Only Mobius' sharp, serpent-like eyes still gleamed faintly in the light of the crystal chandelier.
Yes. She was here to reap the prize.
—
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