The inspection team from Anti-Entropy's headquarters consisted of three young girls.
Naturally, no one underestimated them.
In a world with Valkyries, three girls from headquarters couldn't be ordinary.
No one believed otherwise!
"How's the progress on the pre-civilization ruins research?"
"We've found some technological remnants, and the research department has made some progress. The conversion rate of the military 'Moonlight Throne' technology has improved by 0.3%, the stability of the civilian version has significantly increased; the performance of standard armor has seen some improvement; and we've discovered something new with Honkai inscription artillery, though it's still in the experimental stage. We hope Sigurd can come personally, as we can't solve it in the short term."
Despite expressing a desire for Sigurd's visit, Chen Tianwu's expression twisted slightly, out of sight of the others.
Bronya nodded as she walked, responding, "The gains are not insignificant, but not enough to warrant Sigurd's presence. What about the construction progress of various combat facilities?"
Chen Tianwu swallowed his heartfelt relief and continued, "Overall, it's smooth. I'll show you the construction progress model stored in the core confidential library later. After that, you can select points to inspect, and we'll arrange the tours for you."
"What if we want to inspect everything?"
"Well, as you can see, the buildings on the surface are vast, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. Most of the main facilities are underground. To personally inspect each one—pardon my frankness—unless you plan to stay on the moon, it's better to give up."
"No problem, I have the swarm."
Bronya said emotionlessly.
The distance between Earth and the Moon was vast.
The swarm Sigurd deployed on the moon expanded independently, using subroutines in case of emergency.
Before Bronya's arrival, the swarm here only exchanged evolutionary signals with the hive on Earth periodically.
The moon base staff knew nothing about them.
But with Bronya now on the moon and real-time network connectivity restored, the swarm could become active, assisting in base inspection.
"I see, we'll follow your plan then."
Chen Tianwu scratched his hair, yawning uncontrollably.
He hadn't slept for three days.
His body was fine, having been transformed into a male equivalent of a Valkyrie, but his spirit was struggling.
He stole a glance at the serious trio, mainly observing Bronya, feeling a bit uneasy.
No offense intended, he simply saw a shadow of Sigurd in her.
"Hiss—"
Chen Tianwu rubbed his arm, habitually feeling a bit anxious.
Years ago, Chen Tianwu was a lazy, carefree young man who reluctantly took the entrance exam for the so-called "Anti-Entropy Youth Elite Class" due to family expectations.
Then he passed.
Quickly, he skipped grades, graduating with top honors alongside many older students.
Then, Anti-Entropy's three tech giants—Sigurd, Einstein, and Tesla—came to recruit students and assistants.
As everyone expected, Sigurd picked him out immediately.
Chen Tianwu didn't want to recall the years that followed.
Thinking of Sigurd's name now made his heart chill instinctively.
From then on, Chen Tianwu, who always had at least eight hours of high-quality sleep daily, began developing dark circles, worsening year by year.
Truth be told, when assigned to the moon base as the person in charge, Chen Tianwu almost cried with relief while boarding the rocket.
"What's wrong? Your steps are faltering."
Bronya looked up, asking calmly.
"Nothing, probably just too tired. Please follow me."
Chen Tianwu wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, unsure if it was from those tough youthful years or the current overtime work.
Forget it, it's all over.
When Chen Tianwu heard about the headquarters sending an inspection team, he felt a moment of dread.
Fortunately, he quickly learned that Sigurd himself wouldn't be coming.
As long as the great First Executor, his respected mentor Sigurd, didn't come to the moon, even a few more days of overtime wouldn't dampen Chen Tianwu's mood.
The skies would remain clear.
...
On the moon's hilly surface, surrounded by the swarm, Sigurd suddenly looked up.
The swarm, like a dark storm around him, scattered and sank into the lunar soil, clearing his line of sight and exposing the clear, starry backdrop of the dark universe.
Seeing Sigurd gazing into the distance, Fu Hua, adjusting to the low gravity, gently jumped to his side and asked telepathically, "What's wrong? Is there an unexpected situation?"
"No, not really. I just remembered that the person in charge of the lunar base is one of my students," Sigurd replied casually, summoning another worker bee and bringing up a series of data windows that dazzled Fu Hua.
Fu Hua's expression turned exasperated.
With a few strands of helplessness on her elegant face, she said, "Your student? Shouldn't this be something you wouldn't suddenly remember?"
"His name is Chen Tianwu. In all respects... he barely makes the cut. Though he's called a student, he's really just a very useful tool."
"It's not very nice to say that behind his back."
"I say it to his face, too. Even if Welt were here, I'd say the same. By the way, you're also a very useful tool. I have high hopes for you, Immortal."
Sigurd patted Fu Hua on the shoulder, speaking coldly and bluntly.
Fu Hua glanced at the hand on her shoulder, her clear eyes rolling before she brushed his hand away and said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Typical of you, not holding back at all. Speaking of which, since he's your student and will meet Bronya and the others, won't he be happy to see you too?"
"In fact, because he's so useful, I've been ordering him around without him formally meeting Bronya and the others. They don't know each other. As for me... I could tell he was overjoyed the last time we parted, like a husky finally freed from its leash."
So, meeting Sigurd again probably wouldn't make him happy; it might even make him cry.
And what kind of metaphor is a leash and a husky?
Are you a demon?
Fu Hua facepalmed and sighed silently.
"Typical of you. Never mind, let's change the subject. What have you been doing since earlier?"
"First, checking the swarm's proliferation. Second, inspecting the lunar base. Although it's officially Bronya and the others' task, I feel better seeing it myself. Lastly, I need to verify some data."
"Summoning the swarm so ostentatiously, won't it be noticed? Won't Kiana find out about our presence?"
"Who do you think I am?" Sigurd retorted nonchalantly, as if it were obvious, and turned back to his work.
Fu Hua nodded in agreement.
Indeed, overlooking the possibility of being discovered or lacking the ability to hide such activities were not things that could happen to Sigurd.
In recent years, the outside world had come to view Sigurd as an omnipotent individual, excelling in technology, politics, civil affairs, economics, military affairs, and even philosophy and art.
Fu Hua found this evaluation very accurate—except for his understanding of human hearts, which was even worse than hers.
She stopped questioning further, instead turning her gaze to the magnificent blue Earth.
A complex and profound emotion rippled in her usually calm mind.
"This is... home."
Beautiful but fragile.
Without enough effort and strength from people like them, under the threat of the Honkai, such beauty could turn into desolation, just like the moon beneath their feet, leaving nothing behind.
Standing with her hands behind her back, facing away from Sigurd, Fu Hua's calm eyes revealed determination and fearlessness.
Everything remained unchanged.
As long as she continued walking down the long path she had tread for fifty thousand years, everything would be fine.
And this time, she was not alone.
<+>
Tn: If you want to see more chapter of this story, please go to my Ko-Fi[1], just for $5 each month, you can read till the latest chapter.
Latest Chapter in Ko-Fi: Chapter 251: Transformation[2]
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[3] https://ko-fi.com/post/Chapter-251-Transformation-Z8Z41B2VD4
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