"You already know this world has kaiju," Hermann said.
He yanked off the gas mask and limped with his cane toward the blackboards, talking as he walked.
"In 2013, the first kaiju broke into the human world."
He positioned himself in front of the blackboards, turned around, and pointed his cane at a kaiju diagram, speaking at breakneck speed. The micro-movements accompanying his lecture made him look mildly epileptic—perhaps the price of genius.
"From analyzing the first kaiju and subsequent specimens, we learned these creatures are toxic. The acidic compounds in their blood cause irreversible harm to humans once released into the air."
"Based on the kaiju's size, strength, and toxicity, we created a simple classification system."
"From Category One to the current Category Four—the higher the number, the more dangerous."
"The two kaiju that appeared in Sydney and Sitka yesterday—Virus and Knifehead—were both Category Four."
"They all emerge from the Breach at the bottom of the Pacific, then move toward land to wreak havoc."
Hermann pulled over another blackboard covered in dense formulas that made one's head spin just looking at them.
"This is the formula I derived based on kaiju appearance frequency."
"From the beginning in 2013 to now in 2025, kaiju appearances have been accelerating."
"From yearly intervals... to monthly... to seven-day cycles. At this rate, they'll soon pour through the Breach non-stop, like ants swarming from a nest!"
"Furthermore!"
His speech finally slowed to normal speed, his expression turning puzzled.
"According to my formula, only one kaiju should have appeared yesterday. But we actually had a double event. This makes no sense."
"Human language can deceive, but numbers never lie. They're something we can trust unconditionally."
"So I suspect something changed with whoever's controlling the kaiju on the other side of the Breach."
"We need to move faster, or more unexpected events may occur."
He moved to a piece of equipment.
Pressing a button, a blue holographic projection materialized.
"Look here." He pointed at a crimson spiral passage in the projection. "This is the channel the aliens use to deploy kaiju to Earth—the Breach. My plan is to have a Jaeger carry a sufficiently powerful nuclear warhead and drop it through the Breach into the aliens' home base."
"Then... Boom!" He made an exaggerated gesture. "Best case scenario, the nuke kills all the aliens. Minimum expectation—it destroys the Breach so they can't send more kaiju through."
After hearing him out, Natsuki nodded.
The plan sounded rough, but he thought it more reasonable than just building walls.
Then he looked at Newton.
"Tell me your insights on the kaiju, Mr. Newton."
Given how much this guy fiddled with kaiju organs, he must have unique perspectives. Natsuki needed to understand everything related to the kaiju—after all, it determined whether he could successfully return home to retire.
At the mention of kaiju insights, Newton perked up.
He ran to the examination table, pulled on gloves, and grabbed two square-cut pieces of kaiju subcutaneous tissue—one in each hand—displaying them to Natsuki. His lips curved into a smile. "Look identical, right?"
The two samples appeared virtually indistinguishable from the outside, as if stamped from the same mold.
"You'd never guess—the left piece came from a kaiju killed in 2019, while the right one... came from yesterday's kill."
"Every kaiju has superficial differences, but internally... they're completely identical."
"Their DNA is the same."
"They're cloned products. Biological weapons."
"According to Albert, behind the Breach, the aliens we call the Precursors possess technology beyond our imagination."
"They mass-produce kaiju using cloning technology—probably have some kind of super kaiju factory."
"At first their kaiju manufacturing might have been unfamiliar, or maybe limited by conditions, but over time, their production skills have become increasingly sophisticated."
"Yesterday's kaiju were both Category Four, but soon we might see Category Five, even Category Six."
Finished, he put away the two tissue samples.
He looked at Hermann. "So even though I think this plan is rash, it still needs to happen."
"From every angle, delaying further works against us."
Initially Newton had completely opposed Hermann's plan, but after learning more from the other doctor, he reluctantly accepted that they were in dire straits.
Just then, the laboratory door opened again.
A man in a white lab coat and silver-rimmed glasses walked in, his black hair impeccably groomed. He looked under thirty, with Eurasian features and an elegant bearing.
"That's the situation." He picked up the conversation immediately, speaking in a steady voice. "Our current circumstances are extremely unfavorable. This plan must proceed."
"Additionally, the Breach the Precursors use to transport kaiju cannot transport nuclear weapons. It only activates its transport function when it detects kaiju DNA."
"Meaning we need a Jaeger to capture a kaiju and bring both the kaiju and the warhead through the Breach together."
The man's gaze swept over the other two doctors before settling on Natsuki in his floral shirt. His sharp eyes harbored something ineffable.
"This is Dr. Connie Albert, our foremost expert on kaiju and the Precursors," Marshal Stacker introduced.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Natsuki." Albert smiled politely and extended a hand. "I believe your participation will double this plan's success rate."
Natsuki looked at him, his expression gradually growing serious.
Something about this man felt off. Over ten thousand years of warrior experience told him this guy definitely wasn't as polite as he appeared.
Still, he didn't let his suspicion show. No point in being rude to someone being courteous.
"Hello."
The two shook hands briefly.
But after releasing his grip, Dr. Albert asked a very strange question.
"Mr. Natsuki, to finalize the specific details of our plan, I'd like to ask you something."
"Your time operating as a giant on Earth should be limited, correct?"
"What exactly... is that time limit?" Albert asked, still wearing his polite smile.