Chapter 597: Biological Body Production
Death World base, Dimensional Communication Room.
Ryo (second avatar)'s crimson optical lenses on his helmet focused on the communication interface that had lit up once again.
Misato Katsuragi's holographic image appeared. Her expression was even more resolute than last time, carrying a sense of relief and solemnity that came after making a major decision.
"Dr. Ryo," Misato went straight to the point. "After review by WILLE's highest decision-making echelon, we agree in principle to your proposed cooperation plan."
Ryo responded steadily, "A wise choice, Commander Katsuragi."
"However," Misato emphasized, "the cooperation must be built on clear rules and mutual trust. We have the following conditions: First, the cooperation is strictly limited to providing 'blank' biological skeletons and will not involve top-secret EVA technologies such as the S^2 Engine or core soul encoding."
"Second, your side must guarantee that no biotechnology originating from WILLE will be used in any hostile actions against this world (referring to the EVA world)."
"Third, regarding the specific details and timelines of technical support and material delivery, a detailed, binding agreement must be signed."
"Fourth, we require regular updates on the status of those three 'guests'. This is a prerequisite for our cooperation."
These conditions were within Ryo's expectations, and he quickly evaluated them.
Not involving the S^2 Engine and core soul encoding meant WILLE retained its core technological barriers, which was acceptable.
Not using it against the EVA world was outside his plans anyway.
A detailed agreement was a standard part of commercial cooperation.
As for knowing the status of the three pilots, this was not difficult and could even serve as a bond to maintain the cooperative relationship.
"Acceptable," Ryo agreed simply. "I will draft an agreement covering your proposed conditions and supplement it with details regarding technical security, material handover procedures, and intellectual property ownership. The agreement will be sent to you via a secure channel for review."
He paused slightly before asking the core question, "Regarding the first batch of samples, when can they be delivered?"
Misato glanced at Ritsuko Akagi beside her, and Ritsuko nodded.
Misato replied, "The technical team has completed the preliminary evaluation. Utilizing existing clone cultivation technology and some EVA Unit-01 cell samples recovered from the NERV ruins, we are confident that we can cultivate an EVA Unit-01 biological skeleton test body without a soul mark, meeting the basic parameter requirements, within twenty standard days."
"But this requires your side to first provide a portion of the promised energy and rare materials to initiate and sustain the high-intensity biological cultivation process."
She proposed a prerequisite, which was both a practical necessity and a probe to see if the other party was willing to invest upfront.
"Acceptable," Ryo agreed once again. "The initial batch of supplies, including fifty units of standard high-energy batteries, three tons of the specified high-strength titanium alloy, and a multi-functional medical testing platform, will be ready within two standard days and sent to your designated secure coordinates via the dimensional teleporter."
"Please ensure the receiving area is secure and concealed."
His prompt and straightforward response made both Misato and Ritsuko sigh in slight relief.
This at least showed that the other party was sincere in the initial stages of cooperation.
"We will make preparations for reception," Misato nodded. "Simultaneously, our technical team will immediately begin cultivating the test body. Once the draft agreement arrives, we will organize a review as soon as possible."
"A pleasure cooperating with you, Commander Katsuragi," Ryo's voice remained flat, but the sentence itself represented the formal establishment of a relationship.
"A pleasure cooperating with you, Dr. Ryo," Misato replied, her tone complex. She knew that from this moment on, WILLE's fate was more tightly bound to that distant, war-torn world.
The communication ended.
Without any delay, Ryo (second avatar) packaged the negotiation records and preliminary analysis containing all the details and instantly sent them to the main body via the encrypted consciousness link.
In the laboratory deep within Necromunda, surrounded by precision instruments and flashing data streams, Ryo's main body synchronously received and processed the data stream.
The process status representing "Biological Core Supply" updated from [Pending] to [Preliminary Agreement Reached] within his logic core.
WILLE's in-principle agreement cleared one of the biggest uncertainties in his plan.
Without a moment's pause, he immediately activated the pre-structured draft agreement generation program, ensuring the clauses would satisfy his own needs while leaving necessary leeway for WILLE to maintain the stability of the cooperation.
Simultaneously, commands were issued to the core systems of the Death World base and Night City.
In the warehouse district of the Death World, the lights in the cargo area marked "WILLE-01" lit up one by one. Automated loading equipment began packing uniformly specified high-energy batteries and initially processed alloy ingots into specially made dimensionally stable cargo crates.
Meanwhile, in Night City, the production lines under the Administrator's control also began prioritizing the production of the medical equipment and precision sensors specified in the agreement.
The preparation of the first batch of exchange materials unfolded efficiently and silently, like the gears within a precise clock beginning to mesh.
On Nexxam, the forge complex belonging to Ryo's faction had long since entered a pre-production state.
At this moment, with the arrival of the final confirmation command, the production level was further elevated.
The glow of the massive furnaces grew more intense, and the roar of the forging hammers became more rhythmic, like the heartbeat of a steel behemoth.
The first batch of leg load-bearing skeletons built according to the EVA-Titan blueprints was slowly rising from the cooling vats. Steam filled the air, and the metal surfaces gleamed with a cold luster under the lights.
Far away in the EVA world, in the deep biological laboratory of WILLE's flagship, the atmosphere was a mix of rigor and an indescribable solemnity.
Based on the partial technology decoded by Ritsuko's team, combined with the "blank body" parameters provided by Ryo, a new type of massive cultivation vat had been activated.
Fluorescent green nutrient fluid poured in with tiny bubbles, vaguely reflecting the massive, humanoid silhouette being artificially catalyzed within.
It floated silently within, possessing no consciousness and no soul. It was merely a biological substrate waiting to be given form and function, an "empty shell" about to be sent to another world to become a weapon of war.
In stark contrast to this was the relative tranquility of the Death World.
Shinji Ikari, Asuka, and Rei Ayanami had just completed a round of coordinated simulation training and were detaching from their entry plugs.
They might feel a trace of exhaustion, or perhaps they were reviewing their recent tactical coordination. Occasionally, they would look toward the three giant gods in the hangar, whose fates were linked to theirs, with familiarity and a sense of belonging in their eyes.
They knew nothing of the massive manufacturing plan unfolding across multiple dimensions, modeled after the mechs they piloted. Much less could they foresee that in the future, more "EVA-Titans" wearing similar skins would be mass-produced and thrown into a war system far larger and more ruthless than anything they had ever seen.
Driven by demand, resources, and calculation, the cross-dimensional cooperation chain was emitting a low, powerful initial hum as it slowly began to mesh and operate.
Archmagos Dominus Zoor's order of ten units acted as a powerful core engine, driving the accelerated expansion of Ryo's power network with unprecedented output.
This was not just about the delivery of ten war weapons; it was a complex game of technology, resources, influence, and even the right to survival.
More variables and deeper uncertainties were being injected into the already turbulent multiverse landscape along with this newborn power.