Chapter 517: Xia Xiu's Decision
07:30 PM.
Hell's Kitchen.
Hell's Kitchen Tower, Research and Development Floor.
Inside the Research and Development Floor, the lights of the scientific research department were bright and calm, illuminating every corner.
This was where the Administration conducted its core research into the nature of anomalous phenomena and developed technologies and equipment to combat the Honkai Impact. The walls were covered with charts and data analysis diagrams, and several large transparent display screens vibrantly displayed the latest research data and the progress of simulation experiments.
In the center of the floor was an open laboratory area, dotted with dozens of lab benches. Various high-tech equipment and instruments sat quietly, emitting a low hum of operation.
Xia Xiu led the mole through the research department of the Hell's Tower until they reached a special floor, unlike the others—it was operated almost entirely by automated equipment and robotic arms. A few researchers stood at the entrance, but once inside, a world dominated by highly automated robotic arms emerged.
The mole seemed deeply curious about everything before him. His gaze lingered on each robotic arm for a moment, as if trying to understand its workings.
These robotic arms were able to accurately complete complex scientific research tasks without human intervention. The data and graphs scrolling across the display screens attested to their high efficiency.
"These machines are all operated by [Adam]. You will be one of the people in charge here from now on," Xia Xiu's words reached the mole's ears.
"Me?" The mole's voice was filled with surprise.
"Yes," Xia Xiu nodded affirmatively.
Trust a man when you employ him; don't employ him when you doubt him.
Now that the right scientific operator has been found, it's natural to place him directly in the appropriate position and put him to work.
"In addition to serving as a special operator on the task force I'm organizing, you'll also be responsible for research and development on the research floor."
As he spoke, he summoned several genealogy interfaces from the void and presented them to the Mole.
Mole's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the floating interfaces in the air. He couldn't help but lean forward to get a clearer view of the information.
—Administration Research Progress Report—
Project Name: Capsule Series
Current Progress: 47%
Current Difficulties: Insufficient material stability; more advanced materials are needed to ensure the capsule remains stable in all environments. Furthermore, there are technical obstacles to precisely controlling the capsule's payload.
***
Special Project: Capsule Plan B (Aristocratic Plan)
Current Progress: 0%
Project Description: This plan was established to address the [Finance-Forbidden Laws-Capsules] system, which is formed by [Forbidden Laws], capsule technology, and financial slavery. Currently, the triangular trade in Beast Tamers' slavery is becoming increasingly rampant in the New World. Major financial consortiums, corporations, and governments of various realms have formed capture teams, using [Finance-Forbidden Laws-Capsules] to recklessly capture powerful or rare Beast Tamers, hoping to leverage them to seize global influence.
Capsule Plan B's primary purpose is to address the vicious conflicts and Beast Tide crises brought about by this system. The Administration hopes to guide the nascent Beast Taming system towards healthy and mutually beneficial development, rather than exhausting resources.
Currently, the Administration hopes to establish an initial healthy Beast Taming system. This system will provide three stable capsule Beast Taming systems, transforming [Finance-Forbidden Laws-Capsules] into [Oath-Principled Forbidden Laws-Capsules], a sustainable Beast Taming path.
Current Difficulties: Shortage of manpower, lack of appropriate capture teams, beast guides, and talent training...
(Special Note: This plan is part of the Heavenly Kingdom's reserve force resolution plan.)
Current Maximum Expected Response Score: E (Ineffective Response)
Score Range: 0-39
Description: The intervention measures failed to achieve any of their intended goals, with near-zero effectiveness and possibly negative consequences. Potential risks are extremely high.
Current Execution Module: Observing
Referred Member: Hugh Abraham - I hope that the initial family system's beasts will begin with grass, fire, and water-attributed beasts.)
***
Project Name: Special Support Machinery
Current Progress: 27%
Current Difficulties: The development of the advanced intelligent control system has reached a bottleneck, requiring further algorithm optimization to enhance the machinery's autonomous decision-making capabilities and operational flexibility.
***
Project Name: Gun Combat System
Current Progress: 23%
Current Difficulties: The integration of the Gun Combat System into existing weapon platforms presents significant compatibility issues, requiring the redesign of some interfaces and modules to achieve higher system integration and operational efficiency.
***
Project Name: Exoskeleton System
Current Progress: 5.5%
Current Difficulties: The power system's efficiency and endurance are insufficient, particularly regarding energy consumption during prolonged load-bearing operations. Furthermore, user comfort and intuitive operation require further improvement.
***
Project Name: Prosthetics
Current Progress: 1%
Current Difficulties: This project has just begun, and the biggest challenge is seamlessly integrating advanced neural interfaces with human tissue while ensuring the prosthetic's biocompatibility and long-term safety.
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"This is the relevant work that the Administration and I are currently handling."
Xia Xiu addressed the Mole, rubbing his brow as he spoke.
He currently carries a considerable number of resolutions and plans.
The Administration's control represents the resolutions and plans of his administrative body. The cleanup of Hell's Kitchen and the formation of the task force are all about advancing the plan's completion and increasing its maximum expected response value.
The Fire Thief Project and the Prometheus's Holy Gospel Machine Project are long-term endeavors that must be gradually advanced.
The Five-Year Plan represents the Kingdom of Heaven's guiding principles, requiring the cooperation of all members.
Eliminating the Messiah is his political bargaining chip in exchange for antagonism with the Utopian faction.
And the current Aristocratic Family Project represents his bet on a new type of Beast Taming system.
"The Aristocratic Family Plan is a resolution plan, and its unique nature compels my attention. With the new supernatural system being developed in the New World, most forces are eager to capitalize on the initial gains. While the angels of Heaven certainly don't need to carry a capsule beastmaster, the secular administration may not necessarily be the same," Xia Xiu continued, addressing the mole.
As his future direct troops, he didn't mind sharing some resolution plans and general directions directly, sparing his subordinates from wasting time trying to guess their intentions.
After briefly outlining his blueprint and plan, Xia Xiu paused and gently changed the subject. "I asked you to come here to see the special support machinery. In my blueprint, I'll manufacture four different types of support machinery at the Administration, and I've already ignited the spark for one of them. Next, I'll give you the machinery and the capsule containing it. While you're at the junction, complete your mission and upload the experimental parameters to your robotic steward."
After Xia Xiu finished speaking, the Mole fell into deep thought.
From his slightly parted mouth and slightly dilated pupils, it was clear that he was both surprised and excited by the immense responsibility and trust implied in Xia Xiu's words.
His heartbeat accelerated unconsciously, and an unprecedented sense of responsibility and mission slowly brewed within him.
"I will complete the mission."
The Mole's voice was firm and powerful, and his gaze fixed on Xia Xiu, his deep eyes filled with unquestionable determination and courage.
"Very good."
Xia Xiu's satisfaction was expressed in his subtle nod.
It was a good thing for his subordinates to be motivated. He knew that to make the horse run, he needed incentives that gave it a clear goal.
So, he needed to offer the mole a more long-term plan... oh, no, more motivation.
Xia Xiu waved his right hand gently, as if drawing back the curtain of another world.
Ripples rippled through the air, like the surface of water being gently touched, serene and mysterious.
Then, a unique object slowly emerged from the void, capturing everyone's attention.
It was a key, but far from ordinary.
The entire key was composed of an intricate network of gears and spokes, each component exquisitely crafted, as if painstakingly crafted by a master craftsman. A faint glow shone through the gaps between the gears. The spokes were as thin as spider silk, yet as strong as steel, emanating a steampunk, futuristic, and retro allure.
The handle of the key was a spiral tube, seemingly filled with endless energy. Upon closer inspection, one could see tiny clouds of steam slowly swirling through it, like a miniature industrial revolution.
The Mole stared in stunned silence at the key, a steampunk-inspired work of art, suspended in Xia Xiu's hand.
His transcendent spirit seemed to be activated by some mysterious force, awakening from its slumber and beginning to leap and swirl within him. An intense longing surged from the depths of his heart like a tide, threatening to overwhelm his sanity. It was more than a curiosity about the unknown; it was a yearning to control one's own destiny, a calling from the depths of his soul.
"Barbatos..." the Mole said dryly, gazing at the key suspended in Xia Xiu's hand with disbelief.
[Seventy-Two Keys of Solomon: Barbatos]
Xia Xiu smiled, gazing at the eager Mole, his eyes gleaming with a hint of meaning.
"This is a souvenir I brought back from a business trip to a central world," he said softly, a touch of lightness in his voice. "According to Orthodoxy, it seems only the [Holy Builder] is worthy of possessing it."
"If your [Key Slot] is unlocked, I will give you this key."
Xia Xiu's voice reached the Mole, causing him to smile with surprise.
"Really?!" the Mole replied immediately, a hint of excitement and anticipation in his voice.
"Of course it's true." Xia Xiu put away the Solomon Key in his hand, a faint smile etched in his voice.
The Mole watched this scene eagerly, his heart filled with excitement and anticipation.
"The prerequisite is that you can open the [Secret Key Slot]."
Xia Xiu narrowed his golden eyes and gazed at the mole's entire body. He could see its thaumatic structure.
Through the mole's body, he saw the shimmering [thaumatic entries] and [thaumatic modules], like fine threads weaving together a vast and complex network.
Within this network, Xia Xiu could sense a faint flow of energy. It was the mole's non-genealogical structure, a unique and personalized energy system.
Compared to those controlled genealogical networks and think tanks, this non-genealogical structure was far more free and flexible. It was unfettered and unrestricted, driven entirely by the will and ability of the individual.
However, precisely because of this freedom, the entries and modules within it were riddled with obvious flaws and loopholes.
"Tsk." Xia Xiu stared at the thaumaturgic structure on the mole, feeling as if he'd lose his sight if he continued.
In his sight, the mole's complex thaumaturgic network was riddled with countless gaps and loopholes, like a mountain of feces, supporting the entire system's operation.
These loopholes were like endless openings, seemingly leading to another unknown world, unpredictable and uncontrollable.
But for the mole, although these gaps and loopholes seemed tiny, they were the key to the operation of the entire thaumaturgic system, the foundation for countless bugs.
This was because individuals didn't fully understand how thaumaturgy worked. They only knew how to combine thaumaturgic entries and modules, then activate them through a mysterious and inexplicable force.
For them, in the world of thaumaturgy, details were unimportant; as long as the system functioned properly, it was sufficient to meet their needs.
Therefore, many people paid little attention to the principles and mechanisms of thaumaturgy, simply pursuing power and effectiveness while ignoring the inherent risks and dangers.
However, over time, this crude operating method became increasingly dangerous.
Those overlooked details and loopholes began to reveal themselves, becoming the fatal weaknesses of the entire system. As bugs multiplied and problems accumulated, the stability and reliability of the thaumaturgy system became increasingly threatened. Should an accident occur, the consequences would be disastrous.
Furthermore, the opponent's [thaumaturgy module] suffered from numerous underlying issues due to the presence of the temporal virus. Although he had used his authority to halt the virus, resolving a large portion of the problem, there were still some minor minor issues that Mole had to address himself.
Xia Xiu couldn't help but take a deep breath, and said solemnly to the opponent, "You still have many problems that require careful attention."
Mole raised his head, his eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety. He knew he had many hidden dangers and problems that could affect his future development and growth.
Xia Xiu's words made his heart tighten, but at the same time, he felt a glimmer of hope, because he knew Xia Xiu would help him resolve these difficulties.
"You need to fully integrate into the Administration's lineage." Xia Xiu's voice remained steady. "Only under the lineage's management can you be better developed and protected. [Adam] will be responsible for sorting out your problems and ensuring your smooth integration into the peripheral lineage."
"And, your problems are more than just these..." he whispered to himself.
As a [Crown], he could sense that while he was containing the [Chronovirus], something was heading towards Hell's Kitchen.
Of course, he also knew that the other party wasn't coming for him; they didn't have the courage or strength.