The past few days were fruitful to Aleph. Not only was he able to duct four successful MANTIS surgeries in a row, he was also able to gain signifit achievements. These were the achievements that gave out far better rewards than the usual.

  From Mobius’ surgery up until now, he has a lot of uncimed rewards.

  [Heromaker: Successfully finish the MANTIS surgery on someone else for the first time.]

  [Evolver: plete a w evolution system for the first time.]

  [Past Mirage: plete the first step into being a civilization's spearhead.]

  [Storymaker: Aplish the MANTIS surgery on three Fme Chasers.]

  These four achievements gave out equally huge rewards.

  Coupled with Elysia's achievement now…

  [Diary of a Magus: Oime use item. Grants the insight of the Hero Maker, Merlin, for thirty minutes.]

  [Sanctuary Key: Oime use item. Grants the set of knowledge required by the user into the form of books. Limited to Level B Clearand below (See More).]

  [Dark Energy Reactor (Remnant, Prototype): A palm-sized dark energy reactor abandoned for several hundred years. Its external damages and ck of proper maintenance caused it to stop w.]

  [Ability Evolution (Seven Swords): Upon usage, the ability (Seven Swords) will have the ability to eto one's mind.]

  [Major Energy Box]

  ‘These first time rewards… As expected, they're all good.’

  Although Aleph's gain during the past five months wasn't that bad, it couldn't pare to this.

  Things reted to knowledge are extremely valuable, more so in their current situation.

  Sihe inal Fmechasers couldn't save the world despite their smarts, bringing iernal variables is one gold way out.

  These thoughts flew past his mind swiftly.

  “Ahem. I didn't expect that.”

  Sensing the atmosphere turning strange, Elysia let out a simir awkward smile.

  “There's o think much about that. I may have been too tough during their practice.”

  Aleph looked at Sakura who didn't react to her injuries. The tter was thinking something seriously as of now, to the point even Elysia couldn't properly tease her. She knew better not to tease an injured girl, hence allowing Sakura to focus on what's on her mind.

  “That's right!” Elysia o his side ents. “But I uand. It's better to be hurt now than in a real battle, no?”

  “You're right.”

  Slowly, Aleph saw more about the enigmatic Miss Pink Fairy.

  ******

  “They left. We finally deal with that room.”

  “Eh, there's no helping it. You also wanted data on people who were impnted with emperor-css genome.” Aleph replied to Mobius' musings.

  A few days had passed sihen. Everyo back to their usual work, though Aleph was still left behind in Mobius’ fifth institute to deal with some effects of the aftermath, namely: the destru of their impromptu training room.

  It was already filled with small dents on the first day. Aleph sparred on a daily basis with Kevin and Sakura.

  It was fortunate Elysia chose not to join them, else the expenses incurred will be more astronomical.

  “You don't have to pay for it. Our funds will take care of it.”

  “I insist. I don't want to see you and Kleiing instant ramen on a daily basis again.”

  “You're exaggerating.”

  “Maybe.”

  The usual banter between him and Mobius happened once again. It has always been s his two weeks of stay ihe fifth institute.

  “You don't o see me off, you know? If there are still people capable of ing for me, you'd know what will happe.”

  “I won't disagree with that.”

  Surprisingly, Mobius ceded for this time. She came up with a demand, however.

  “You better e here again.”

  “Yeah, sure. Just remember not to rashly experiment with the emperor-css genomes. I don't want to see you go crazy.”

  Time and time, Aleph reminded her that their huge success this time was due to the individuals’ extremely high patibility to honkai. Honkai resistance was a factor to look at Project Soldier, though there are still other factors present.

  If it wasn't for that alone, Mobius wouldn't have suffered secutive failures in the inal story. There was external pressure due to the seventh herrscher's destru of Australia in one week. She was defeated, yes, but the pressure remained.

  That was the reason h focused on giving them suggestions as well as strengthening their mental forte—by being a reliable ally, that is.

  “Who do you think I am?”

  “Yes, yes. You're doobius, one of the most brilliant prodigies humanity has ever produced.”

  That way, his departure ended in a joking manner.

  *****

  “You finally decided to e back. I thought you would have fotten to do so by now.”

  “I have no excuses.”

  Aleph ceded at Einstein's first strike. He was at fault for being oe on their accepted schedule.

  “So, how was it?”

  “Everythi surprisingly well. Aside from me and Mobius, there are four others who were successfully impnted with emperor-css genomes.”

  “Emperor-css…”

  For a momeei into a daze. Her sigh showed hints of reminisce.

  “Humanity is at this stage… it's more the reason we shouldn't mess things up.”

  “Don't worry much. Mei's there to deal with things. If needed, I also help.”

  She looked at Aleph with a plicated gaze.

  “Back then, I thought you were a talent simir to doobius.” She said. “It should be apt to say you went beyond my expectations.”

  As one of the older geion within the institutes, Einstein saw the numerous ges within Fire MOTH.

  As if marking all the drastic ges, Aleph's appearance subverted Fire MOTH. Mei's transition, for example, wouldn't have been smooth if not for the intimidation he did using three cilors’ lives.

  “Maybe, iure…”

  In the eein didn't plete her words. She didn't want to py more burden on him.

  heless, Aleph's senses were sharp enough to hear her low murmurs.

  “There wasn't much work while you were gone. You only o catch up with that projebsp;for now.

  “How's its progress?”

  “The nuclear reactor worked wonders. Only the program is left to be worked on.”

  Einstein's thesis that spanned for half a decade roject that employed autonomous 'robots' to fight for the honkai. They were to be deployed in pces deemed too dangerous for most humans.

  With the energy side solved, all that was left was to create a w program for its sentien evolving artificial intelligence, so as to speak.

  ‘We o aplish Prometheus before that. I use it to open up some issues with the honkai…’

  For a while, the two talked about some important matters.