episode_0360

Phoebe fiddled with the device around her neck and asked from in front of the cell.

“A bomb collar!” It was actually a bluff. The device was equipped with electric shock and location tracking functions, and even a potent drug injection system to prevent those Awakened researchers from trying anything foolish. But the slight tremor in her pupils was visible as she tried to smile bravely. Her attempt to hide her fear was evident.

“Alright! Get in!” After watching the Nano Lab researchers enter the cell, the heavy steel door was closed. Just as some of the individuals captured from Magnabyss were sent to Helios to turn Irene’s father into a super-robot, these people would also prove useful someday.

“Looking at it this way, what we’re doing is similar to the Foundation.” A Violet’s uncomfortable murmur was immediately met with a torrent of rebuttals.

“No! We treat prisoners democratically! And we don’t make them work for free.” “Is that so?”

That’s right. We Violets consistently provide our prisoners with three meals a day, as well as a certain amount of entertainment for their enlightenment. However, we can’t feed and imprison them for free forever, as we did with Yurik Ahjussi. Let’s see, Phoebe’s major was…

“Nanochemistry, wasn’t it?” It was unknown how skilled she would be, or how well she would understand current technology, having been captured and sealed decades ago. But it was better than nothing. Come to think of it, we happened to have something called nano-enhancer. It seemed like we could conduct some interesting experiments with it.

“Anyway, Yurik Ahjussi is quite naive.” The topic of conversation suddenly shifted to the resident guest of the Violet barracks.

“Right! He’s a bit out of touch with the world! Is it because he only studied in the lab?” The Ahjussi harbored a pure dream of scientific passion and human advancement, but he had a fatal flaw. Aside from being obedient to us, he was someone who easily trusted others. If someone shared even a slightly pitiable story, his heart would quickly soften. This made him an easy target for swindlers. Moreover, his spirit was weak. The fact that he was swayed by that wicked white-haired ponytail Ajumma was another example.

“He’s a weakling!” Perhaps this was just a fundamental weakness of non-Awakened individuals. It seemed obvious that he might easily be swayed by the Ajumma who had just entered, disguised as a beautiful young girl.

What was needed at such a time was the unyielding spirit of clone democracy. “Indeed, a strong and righteous leader is needed!”

That’s right. For the kind yet naive, the leadership of the free clone democratic spirit, one that could stand boldly against injustice, was desperately needed. However, the world was teeming with potential enemies of clone democracy and the free Violets. They had to subjugate the Foundation as quickly as possible before children and innocent people were harmed.

The Violets gathered in front of a large strategic map, choosing their next attack target. Their expressions were serious, as if selecting the next dish from a buffet menu.

“There are still a few more places where we planted rats, right?” “Yep!” It was unknown how many Saber-wielders there were, but it was time to officially begin their disruption operations. Just then, the scholarship officer gave them a rather interesting target.

“It’s pirate time!”

**

With the number of Violets now surpassing nine thousand, securing space had become the top priority. The Violet barracks, which began as a single abandoned factory, had now grown into a vast complex, having purchased and occupied several factory buildings. Through indiscriminate renovation and expansion, and basement construction, the interiors of the buildings had lost their original appearance.

Most of the space was used either as storage for hibernating Violets meticulously packaged in plastic and bags, or as warehouses for massive equipment that couldn’t fit into multidimensional bags. Well-maintained and spacious areas were converted into Violet dormitories, indoor training grounds and shooting ranges, or workshops for maintaining various weapons and vehicles.

The use of the remaining space varied from time to time. It could become a guest room, or an temporary prison. And at this very moment, if one were to accidentally open a door somewhere in the Violet barracks, they would witness an unbelievable sight. Past several rooms filled with various clutter and foodstuffs, at the end of a corridor, was one particular room.

Something unimaginable was happening there. Animals were drawing magic circles.

“It’s complete!” As a monkey raised its hands with a triumphant roar, Professor Albert, who had been watching, approached and meticulously inspected the magic circle.

“The arrangement of the aether circulation circuit, according to Dyne-Curen’s heat circulation formula, is accurate. The resonance frequency is also appropriate. However, the circuit in this part needs to be drawn a bit thinner.” “Thinner?”

“If it’s too thick, the mana supply will be delayed. Yes! If you don’t know, it’s good to just measure it with a ruler. And if there’s anything you don’t understand, you must always ask.” Inside the room, as the professor watched with his arms crossed, large and small beasts stood in a line beside him. The V-animals each held chalk and endlessly drew something on the walls and floor as if they were blackboards. They drew large circles and squares, filling them with complex shapes and mysterious formulas.

“Squeak… This is too hard…!” A mouse, moving the chalk with its two front paws, squeaked in a desperate voice. Although it had gained human intelligence, for a mouse with a tiny brain, the magical techniques for manipulating aether were too difficult. Seeing this, a crow flapped its wings and advised.

“You can just memorize it. There are a lot of mice! Just memorize it like the Boss does!” “I am! There’s just too much to memorize!”

The V-animals tirelessly repeated memorization while drawing magic circles. Having gained intelligence only a month or two ago, it was difficult for them to grasp complex concepts, but simple memorization was possible. The professor believed that at least at their current level, simple application through memorization was feasible. That was all the animals wanted as well: magic that would work if drawn accurately and infused with mana. All of this began with a simple remark made by a Violet passing by.

-It would be super cool if you guys could use complex magic yourselves! -Wow! Really?

The V-animals had perceived their Boss’s thoughtless remark as an absolute, must-do plan.

The monkey that finished its work raised its hand. “Done! Professor, I want to try it in practice this time!”

“Hey, you rascal. Learn to speak politely… Typical animal, honestly.” Despite chiding the monkey for its impolite tone, a smile lingered on Albert’s lips. He had never imagined he would spend his life teaching beasts, but the learning abilities of these special magical creatures, commanded as familiars by Polaris’s last disciple, were truly astonishing. Some species even had individual intelligence surpassing that of Violets.

“How can an animal be more than its master…” “Huh? What about the Boss?” “No, never mind.” Albert shook his head, changing the subject.

“Cocoa, Caramel, Almond. Since you’ve memorized it the fastest, let’s practice with real aether catalysts now. All memorization is done, so let’s begin.” The monkeys and crows slowly but steadily completed the massive magic circle under the careful guidance of the old mage. Now, it would activate once mana was poured into it.

“Done! Now let’s calculate and add the components here! And sprinkle the catalyst too!” “Let’s see.” Albert checked the ingredients one by one.

“Carbon, water, silicon, salt, and ammonia, etcetera…” Once all preparations were complete, the animals simultaneously infused mana. The magic circle began to glow with a blue light.

-Crackle! With an ominous sound, gray smoke rose from the magic circle. It was a complete failure. The disheartened monkeys whimpered and hung their heads.

“We, we failed. Boo-hoo…” “Why are you already so disheartened over something like that, you rascals!” Albert snapped.

“If it doesn’t work once, you try ten times. If it doesn’t work ten times, you try a hundred more. You’ve only just begun. There will be so many failures ahead, there’s no need to get down already!” “Is that so?”

“‘Is that so,’ my foot.” Albert made a displeased expression.

“Your Boss learned how to manipulate spells from me in the same way. Do you know how many times Violet failed? She developed a method for creating ‘vision memory’ by literally making her head explode. And you, who haven’t even had human intelligence for half a year, are acting like this. Other academy students would want to die if they saw you. Do you understand what I mean?” “Squeak… I don’t know…”

“I assure you, you are smart enough. As smart as humans, or perhaps even more so. This isn’t praise. It’s a fact.” Suddenly, the animals’ eyes sparkled.

“That’s right! We’re genius animals!” “Then let’s try again!” Watching the V-animals quickly regain their vitality after a brief encouragement, the professor let out a small laugh.

‘Well, they’re quick to recover, just like their master.’

**

Three medium-sized Foundation airships were flying unstably across the horizon towards Lustrum. As black smoke billowed from their anti-gravity engines, Ariel Group fighter jets, approaching at low altitude, ruthlessly attacked and overwhelmed the airships that were being escorted by drones.

But the danger of crashing wasn’t the only problem they faced.

“They’re flying in! Human projectiles! It’s wingsuits!” “Oh, they’re coming! They’re coming! They’re sticking to us!”

A black wave, parting the blue sky, appeared. The Ariel wingsuit swarm, deeply etched into the minds of the Academy City residents since the midnight air raid, had appeared once again. The wingsuit units, generated from and detaching from the fighter jets, leisurely clung to the airships like predators.

-Rip! “Argh! They’re! They’re inside!” “This airship is ours!”

The airship, engulfed by the black wave, staggered and lost altitude, eventually making a helpless landing on the sea.