After assigning Shuji Matsuzaki his new task, Selene walked leisurely through the halls, pulling up Aoki Youichi's latest progress report from her storage space—the one detailing the "Military Individual Equipment" project. As she made her way toward the project's experimental center, she skimmed through the document.
According to the report, which listed Aoki as a consulting engineer, the project had made significant progress. One particular item quickly caught Selene's attention.
"Combat robot test report?" she murmured, intrigued.
The word "robot" immediately brought to mind the mecha anime she'd watched as a child in the orphanage of her previous life—towering war machines, heroic pilots, and grand battles. The image of Gundams in particular still burned brightly in her memory.
But in Academy City, "robots" meant something else entirely. The first image that came to Selene's mind was that of those round, dumpy, almost comical machines. Service robots like cleaners were one thing, but why did the security robots look like that too? And worse, they were usually used only for defense or suppression, rarely engaging offensively.
Sure, police-grade robots weren't supposed to match military ones—but still, their design and use were laughable. No wonder the city was full of delinquents and street punks. With law enforcement tech like this, how could they maintain order? Wait—Selene suddenly realized something.
Aside from accumulating wealth and expanding her influence, a new sense of purpose welled up within her: These ridiculous security robots won't do! My research institute must produce a true military combat robot—to help clean up the city's streets!
"Alright then," she muttered to herself, excitement rising. "Let's see how far your research has gotten." Tossing the report back into her storage space, Selene quickened her pace and arrived at the "Military Individual Equipment" project's experimental center. She slid her ID card into the access slot.
Beep!
The electronic doors slid open, and almost instantly, Aoki Youichi's voice greeted her.
"Boss! What brings you here today?" he called out. Since she had entered via keycard this time, Aoki had been alerted immediately and came to meet her at the door.
"I came to see how your robot prototypes are progressing," Selene said, nodding slightly. "You sent me a report, right? I heard there's been a breakthrough?"
"Yes, Boss," Aoki replied, eyes gleaming with pride. "We've made considerable headway." His tone carried that spark of excitement only true engineers had when discussing their creations. He motioned for an assistant to bring over the blueprints. "Please take a look—these are the current prototype models."
"Good. Let me see." Selene accepted the documents with genuine curiosity and began flipping through them.
"Ugh..." The first design made her sigh. Another round, squat model—was everyone in Academy City obsessed with cute aesthetics? She immediately dismissed it.
"Tracked tank model... animal-type design... humanoid type..." Selene pressed her fingers against her temple, suppressing a sigh. "While I admire your creativity, maybe we could change the appearance a little?"
The designs themselves weren't particularly groundbreaking. Most of them were just improved versions of the city's standard security bots. There were some interesting auxiliary functions—like a portable refrigerator, a freshwater recycling unit, and even an ice cream maker—but in combat terms, they were practically useless.
"Not that logistics robots aren't valuable," Selene muttered under her breath, frowning slightly. "They might sell well enough... fine. We'll keep that in mind as another product line." For now, she decided to stop nitpicking. As long as it made money, it was fine. There was no need to fixate solely on battle units for the first production run.
"This humanoid model," she asked, pointing to one of the blueprints, "has it been completed yet?" Her gaze drifted past Aoki, toward the assembly platform inside the lab—and her eyes lit up.
There, a team of researchers was busy working around several prototypes. Among them stood one that immediately captured her attention: a two-meter-tall metallic humanoid.
It wasn't the largest, nor the most heavily armed model, but the moment Selene saw it, she knew—this was the one she had envisioned.
Selene approached the platform, examining the humanoid robot closely. It was, indeed, impressively lifelike—too lifelike, in fact. The level of detail in its metallic facial features bordered on uncanny. Even for an experimental model, there was no reason to design such an intricate imitation of human facial structure.
"Aoki! Did you really need to make the facial details this realistic?" Selene asked incredulously. "It's just a combat robot—a mass-production unit, not a 'sex doll'! Why waste resources like this?"
"Uh... because it's the institute's first robotic product, we wanted to make it a little more refined—"
"Change it! I only asked for a humanoid, not a bionic robot. Get rid of all these polished curves and replace them with cost-efficient angular plating! And the head—lose the synthetic hair! What were you even thinking?"
After an entire afternoon of Selene's personal supervision, the robot finally began to look like a proper military unit. Its functions weren't yet complete, but even so, its new, rugged appearance was enough to satisfy her.
Looking at the robot's sturdy and intimidating frame, Selene nodded approvingly. Compared to the earlier soft designs, this one radiated security and strength. "Can it be replicated?" she asked.
"Yes. With the Schicksal Research Institute's current manufacturing capabilities, mass production won't be a problem," Aoki replied confidently. He hesitated, though. "However... due to limitations in our programming technology, its movement is still sluggish. The existing operating systems in Academy City were all designed for cylindrical service robots."
"I see. That's fine for now," Selene said with a nod. "Activate it—I want to see how it performs."
"No problem." Aoki gestured toward his team. "Activate it! Let the Boss see what we've achieved so far!"
A glimmer of anticipation lit Selene's eyes. Once a production line for these machines was established, funding would no longer be an issue. Her influence would expand to a whole new level.
As for fears of a robot uprising? Selene couldn't have cared less. No matter how many machines they produced, she could wipe them all out with a single hand. The project was, at its core, just her indulging in a technological "romance." The robots were primarily meant for profit and for protecting her growing organization—not herself.
Besides, with these machines, the institute could automate most physical labor and guard duties. Human security forces wouldn't be replaced—just refined into a more elite unit.
Perhaps sensing Selene's idealistic thoughts, Aoki cleared his throat and said carefully, "Boss, you should know—the real challenge in military robotics isn't building the shell, but crafting its 'soul'—the intelligent operating system."
As a few researchers inserted a chip into the back of the robot's head, a mechanical click echoed through the lab. Its eyes flickered to life, glowing faintly as it took its first step forward—then immediately lost balance and crashed face-first onto the floor.
The robot twitched and spasmed, its limbs jerking wildly as it kept repeating its walking motion despite being flat on its back. Due to friction, it started spinning in place like a hamster on a wheel.
Selene stood there in silence, completely speechless.
"The frame's complete," Aoki said awkwardly, "but the rest is the real challenge. Power isn't the issue—I'm sure that's trivial for you, Boss. But the operating system... that's a different matter."
His expression shifted into excitement as he spoke. Having worked as a mercenary in the Middle East, Aoki knew all too well how terrifying a high-intelligence combat robot powered by virtually limitless energy could be.
"If we can successfully develop the operating system, combined with the high-efficiency energy source you provide, it could handle security, policing, patrols... even warfare."
No hunger, no fatigue, no emotions—just raw efficiency. Greater strength, heavier payloads, adaptable weapon modules... a perfect soldier built for the battlefield.
Generally speaking, military robot production faced three main bottlenecks: power, programming, and materials. Of these, materials were the easiest to solve.
"What do you need to complete it?" Selene asked, tapping her finger on the table, her tone serious.
"As for the core programming..." Aoki paused thoughtfully. "Academy City already has compatible systems. The frameworks aren't designed for humanoids, but their base architecture could be repurposed with enough reprogramming."
He hesitated, then added, "That would require a large number of programmers and electronic engineering specialists. I'll need your permission to recruit them. As for a timeline... I can't give you an exact estimate yet."
Once he finished, Aoki stood respectfully at attention, awaiting her command.
"Understood. You'll have full funding authorization. Handle recruitment yourself," Selene replied after a brief pause. Then, falling silent, she began to think.
With Academy City's technology—fifty years ahead of the rest of the world—there was no doubt they could design a functioning military-grade AI system.
The only question was—how long would it take?
Maybe she should seek Aleister's help again. Given his title as the 'King of Science,' Selene had every reason to believe he would have the necessary expertise.