So What if I Transmigrated into a Honkai Beast? Chapter 43 - 43 - The Coming Storm

Pseudo-Herrscher.

An individual whose Honkai energy intensity approaches that of a Herrscher, but who does not possess a Herrscher Core.

There are two reasons for their ergence: either a human with strong Honkai energy adaptability transforms after being infected with an ultra-high concentration of Honkai energy, or a powerful Honkai Beast evolves further after being given a "Pseudo-Core."

Within a Pseudo-Herrscher lies a crystalline Honkai core, a "Pseudo-Core," that is close to a Herrscher Core.

Of course, what was inside Xiū was not the original, high-grade version.

The [Counterfeit Pseudo-Core] within her body was a "prototype unstable high-density Honkai energy crystal aggregate," artificially manufactured by the Biological Research Institute, using the Herrscher Core of the Herrscher of Wind—which had already been made into the Fourth Key of God—as a template.

The initial purpose of creating this thing.

Was to study the weaknesses of Herrscher Cores, and incidentally, to satisfy a certain lady's minor regret at not having obtained the authority to produce a Key of God.

But later.

After Mobius deed it to have "lost its research value," this [Counterfeit Pseudo-Core] found its way into "Ra's" hands, and he, in turn, placed it inside his daughter, who was "working" at the Biological Research Institute.

"I thought…"

"This thing's purpose wouldn't be so simple."

The man said in a deep voice.

"In fact."

"Apart from research, the 'stone' isn't particularly powerful."

"The higher-ups' ideas are unrealistic; trying to create a 'Herrscher controllable by humans' with this is simply a pipe dream."

"It's already a blessing that Miss Xiū's body could be preserved."

Klein waved her hand.

"...You should have protected her."

"We fulfilled our duty of disclosure," Klein retorted.

"The danger of this mission was clearly pointed out to Miss Xiū from the beginning, but she insisted on participating—we are not children, no one needs to cater to another's whims, and the Institute is not so relaxed as to be able to run a nursery."

Klein wasn't old.

However, for various reasons, when she spoke angrily, she did indeed give off an air of being old and stuffy... or perhaps, a sense of having lost all hope in life.

"So. You. Are. Saying."

"The Biological Research Institute doesn't intend to take any responsibility for this incident at all?"

Even the usually well-composed Mr. "Ra" finally spoke through gritted teeth.

"No, we will issue a pension to the 'family mbers' according to Miss Xiū's position."

"This is a considerable sum, likely to satisfy you... Considering your identity, Mr. 'Ra,' if you don't need it, this money can be placed into the research fund—most colleagues at the Biological Research Institute have signed a 'Posthumous Pension Donation Agreent.' Even if their lives are lost, they will 'voluntarily' contribute their strength to the developnt of research... Your daughter is no exception."

It wasn't that Klein couldn't read the atmosphere.

She was rely dissatisfied with being suddenly pulled away to handle trivial matters when she was at her busiest, and the fact that the other party had mistaken her gender…

Though people often made that mistake.

The target of her dissatisfaction certainly couldn't be her own direct supervisor, so she could only vent a little on these "Muggles."

However, the "Muggle's" emotions also needed so soothing, for example—

"If you insist on saving Miss Xiū."

Klein put down the paper docunts in her hand—one look at the dium told you these files, discarded every three months, weren't particularly important—and instead opened the master computer on her wrist.

A three-dinsional projection appeared between the two of them.

"A certain 'outsourced' project from the Biological Research Institute might be able to help you."

Klein reconfird her wording.

"Might."

————

"Outsourced?"

"Outsourced."

"After all, the higher-ups always assign so worthless, trashy projects—those aren't my words—due to funding issues, we usually outsource these research projects, especially experintal ones, under a different identity."

Projects ant funding.

As long as funding was allocated, the Biological Research Institute was open to almost any research.

However, those parts with lower technical content, or those with obvious flaws in terms of ethics and social reputation—even if humanity were to perish tomorrow, there would still be people standing on their perceived moral high ground to criticize—would be outsourced by the Biological Research Institute under the guise of a "wealthy, mysterious client" after "collecting a 50% brokerage fee."

Even with such deductions.

The remaining outsourcing fees were enough to make many organizations and groups green with envy.

"You intend to fob off with sothing outsourced!?"

"No, the experintal procedure itself is quite complete—the early and mid-stage work of this project has already been completed by the Institute. The final drug testing part was listed for outsourcing only because it involved human rights issues."

"Please wait a mont…"

Klein swiped a few tis at the image in mid-air.

"Oh, this is it."

"During the period when the target is infected by Honkai energy, by applying a 'special suggestion thod,' it is hoped to obtain Deadn who stand on the side of humanity, to be used to counter the Honkai or for experintal analysis of individual Deadn."

The information on the entire projection screen was quickly summarized by Klein into three short lines.

"As for the executor of the outsourced project…"

Klein swiped the light screen a few more tis.

"The 'Cyclops' Special Operations Regint, affiliated with the Australian war zone. Judging from the last submitted experintal progress report, this project should be 71.4% complete."

"If the Institute were to take over now, the follow-up research could be completed within two months."

"Considering security issues, and the commotion caused not long ago… there might be quite a few factions keeping an eye on the Biological Research Institute."

"My personal suggestion is: you can dispatch your private forces to Central Australia to retrieve this data. The Institute will give you a suitable…"

"Central Australia?"

"What a coincidence, I seem to have an outsourced task going on over there too. How about you leave it to ?"

Gradient pupils, dual hair color.

Split-personality, big-breasted, original designer and builder of the Keys of God, The Great chanist, The Great Magician, Mystic Scholar, Chef, Villain... etcetera, etcetera.

Bearer of the Insignia of [Helix], the future fifth of the Thirteen Fla-Chasers—

Vill-V!

Like a scene from a magic show, Vill-V, white all over, dressed in gear-patterned attire and a high top hat, phased directly through the thick alloy wall!

"Hello, Klein!"

"I've co to play with Mobius!"

"…"

Klein, who had firmly held the upper hand in front of "Ra," fell noticeably silent after Vill-V appeared—given her boss's relationship with Vill-V, Klein would have to be a fool to believe her.

"If it's inconvenient for you guys."

"The research data… I can help retrieve it, you know?"

"If I rember correctly, I still have several toys being tested there. They should be almost complete."

"And… consciousness, and stuff."

Vill-V pointed to her own head—she truly had a split personality—and said to "Ra," who was not far away.

"I might very well be able to help!"

Vill-V raised her index finger and tapped her lips.

"Soone should be back from the Sea Abyss soon. When that ti cos, we can just 'whoosh' to the site in my locomotive."

"It won't take much ti at all."

Vill-V didn't sound like she was making a suggestion; her tone was clearly telling the two people present: This lady is taking this job.