Was Asta's reaction exaggerated?
Not really.
Up until now, there had indeed been enemies capable of mass-producing powerful combatants.
For example, Heinrich's vampire-like abilities, or the Kheshig Army created by the Golden Family via the Eternal Heaven Pact.
However, regarding the former, the ability was an accidental result of consuming HTR-type modification drugs. Not only was it unreplicable, but the infected ghouls could only maintain their sanity for a short period.
The latter required learning an extremely difficult A-Rank technique and necessitated the Golden Family bloodline; furthermore, raising a Kheshig soldier who could activate their talents took years of time and resources.
But Light Cones? Stable, efficient, zero time cost, plug-and-play, reusable by different individuals, zero entry threshold, capable of multiple tag combinations, and highly liquid...
Take the Demon Sword Shiranui, which consumes lifespan to temporarily boost physical specs to the lower bounds of an A-Rank.
Embed it into an ordinary person, then pair it with Light Cones for skills like the 72 Shaolin Arts, Immobilization Spell, Earth Shrinking (teleportation), and Psychokinesis. In just a few minutes, a powerhouse capable of going toe-to-toe with an A-Rank Valkyrie is born.
Using Shiranui is just an example for understanding. In the skill category, there are plenty of skills that temporarily boost physical strength. Their effects might be slightly weaker than the Demon Sword, but the side effects aren't nearly as severe.
And this is just one of the many applications of Light Cones.
Consider a Berserker who dumped all his stats into physical strength. His fists can shatter the sky, his stomps crack the earth, but he is completely helpless against Xueyi, a psychic user of the same rank—one charm spell turns him into a loyal simp ready to die for her.
Until one day, he obtains a Light Cone embedded with Occlumency. This is a B-Rank spell that defends against external mental infiltration by closing off the mind to resist enemy invasion and influence.
So the next day, the Berserker shows up and punches Xueyi into a flatbread. Before she dies, the disbelief in her eyes seems to ask: You pig-brain, you clearly don't meet the prerequisites to learn Occlumency, so how did you learn it and master it to such a high level?
The Berserker laughs and says, "A moron like me definitely couldn't learn the spell, nor could I break it down using the Vill-V Model, but if I just slot in a Light Cone, I don't need to learn squat! Later, I'll just go sell the Light Cone again! Mad? Stay mad! Blehh!"
What is a surprise?
This is a surprise!
What is a qualitative change?
This is a qualitative change!
Aside from shoring up weaknesses like the Berserker, those high-ranking individuals who hold power but aren't personally strong would definitely not skimp on spending some spare cash to boost their combat power.
The law of the jungle is carved into DNA. No one can guarantee that a powerful subordinate won't have a brain aneurysm one day, shout "The Emperor is a dog, I'll be the Emperor!" and stage a coup.
Moreover, for ordinary people like Asta who possess vast resources but no talent, the appearance of Light Cones symbolizes a path of redemption where money can truly buy godhood. The emotional value is maxed out exponentially!
See that?
Just like that, four types of potential clients willing to spend big money have been listed.
And this was merely the first step in Asta's plan.
While the girl was secretly calculating over there, Fuli was on pins and needles over here.
Their thoughts were simple: I don't care about value or significance, and I don't care how the birth of Light Cones will shake the world. I just want to make money right the hell now!
SLAM!
Suddenly, unable to bear the heavy atmosphere any longer, Bronya slapped the table and stood up.
Oh, oh, oh! Go get her, Bronya! Teach this arrogant Young Miss who's keeping us in suspense a harsh lesson!
"Bronya is going to play the newly released Seal Seals Bumping Battle."
The Silver Wolf of the Urals fled the primary negotiation scene just like that.
This action snapped Asta back to reality. Her gaze swept over the three remaining people, and she gave a bright smile.
"Apologies, I forgot we were still discussing the price."
Between the life-saving grace and Fuli's heartwarming attempt to smooth things over earlier, the Young Miss no longer maintained the polite distance she had before.
Kiana steadied herself and slowly held up five fingers.
Five... five million Crystals for one Light Cone? Isn't that price a bit excessive?
Long-term trade certainly couldn't be equated to a one-off life-saving payment. Fuli was undoubtedly surprised by the Tuna's lion-like appetite.
The white-haired dumpling smiled slightly: "High five? No, Uzi."
What kind of ancient meme is that?! A pun on 'Five' (Wu) and 'Uzi'? Do you think that's humorous? Damn it! It seems I, the Great King of Hyperion, must step in personally!
Taking a deep breath, Old Man Fuli spoke with the resolve of facing death:
"We offer—"
He intended to say ten million for a set of finished Light Cones (a total of eight, mixed C and D class skills), preparing to ask for a high price and settle for a lower one.
He didn't get the words out.
"Fifty million per unit, right? No problem!"
Bang!
Her delicate hand slammed onto the coffee table, Asta's gaze burning: "But I want the exclusive sales rights for Light Cones for three years, and a promise that you will not unconditionally release the technology to the public during this period!"
She was avoiding repeating Vill-V's mistake. Back then, many suckers bought the patent for the Vill-V Model, only for that woman to publicly release the related technology shortly after.
Across from the girl—
"One unit... fifty million..."
Fuli's pupils suddenly dilated. For a moment, he felt as if his heartbeat had stopped, as if it were being gently cradled by something. Even his heavy breathing became faint.
His mind went blank, as if he were above the clouds, a soothing breeze brushing his face, gentle sunlight embracing him, and the whole world smiling at him.
—My ShuāNgzǐTǎ (Twin Towers) Of Life Philosophy And Values
—Have Finally Encountered Their Destined Aircraft Today
Whoosh! The boy vanished from his spot. Startled, Asta felt a pair of hands tightly hugging her thigh.
She looked down.
"Sugar Mommy! Rich Mommy, love me again!"
Fuli's face rubbed frantically against those smooth, snow-white thighs. The speed was so fast that red marks were appearing on her skin within minutes.
The flower language of the steel wool ball is endurance and pleasure. Is it wrong for a young man like Old Man Fuli to want to skip twenty years of struggle? No, it isn't!
"P-Please let go! If you keep doing this, I'm going to! I'm going to..."
Helplessly feeling the continuous stream of strange sensations, Asta, who had never been treated so rudely by the opposite sex in her life, immediately had her noble and elegant face covered in a red flush.
"Shut up!"
Fuli shouted angrily, "You rushed over and hugged me just now! Me hugging you back is just giving you a taste of your own medicine!"
T-That seems to make sense?
Wait, no! How are those two things comparable?!
Asta, having never seen such a battle formation, almost got wrapped up in his twisted logic. She hurriedly looked at the others, hoping the steady and reliable group would stop Mr. Li's persistent perverted behavior.
First was Bronya. A trace of confusion appeared on the girl's slightly tender face. She nudged the white-haired dumpling sitting next to her. "Idiot Kiana."
"What?"
"Fifty million a piece... Bronya seems to have been poisoned by hallucinations. Help check where the wound is, then suck the poison out."
"I won't suck it."
"Why?"
"Because doing drugs (sucking poison) is illegal."
Okay, those two were hopeless.
Asta laughed and cried at the same time, choosing to pin her hopes on Mei.
As the Young Miss of Massive Electric (ME Corp), surely she wouldn't embarrass herself over this amount of Crystals.
"Huh? Mm."
Mei, who was pondering her shopping list, looked up and gave the girl a heartwarming smile. "Please rest assured. After that sudden scene earlier (referring to Asta 'throwing herself' at Fuli), I have already plated a layer of repulsive force on the surface of your skin. No matter how presumptuous Yuan acts, the distance between him and you will only ever be infinitely approaching zero."
What kind of 'as long as it doesn't go inside, it's still a virgin' logic is that?! And are you sure this thing actually works? Then why do I feel so weird!
Obviously, it wasn't working. Fuli's Human Immortal Dao devours all phenomena he touches. The repulsive force Mei set up was essentially using magnetic levitation principles (attraction/repulsion). Since the Human Immortal Dao could even devour the Authority of Eternal Stasis residing in the Fragment of Finality, a magnetic field—a vector field with partial energy properties—was clearly within its 'dietary' range.
Did Mei not know this?
She probably knew.
Then why didn't she expose it?
For the development of Hyperion, for the budget of Massive Electric, to alleviate Father's financial pressure... I close my eyes and it's already dark~
Looking at the Lightning Empress's fake smile, Asta swallowed hard, forcing the question "Are you sure this thing works?" back into her stomach.
"Disgraceful!"
Seeing the Trio completely wiped out, Kallen, the Big Sister and the only adult on the Hyperion, finally took action.
The effect was immediate. Fuli, who refused to let go just moments ago, was instantly lifted up by her like a little chick and pressed back into his seat to sit obediently.
"Anyway, you all agree to my acquisition conditions, right?"
I've lost my composure far too many times today. It seems I'm not mature enough yet.
Asta patted her chest and sighed in relief, thinking to herself.
The girl knew her offer was heavily overpriced for a single Light Cone. But if she included the 'exclusive sales rights for Light Cones for three years' that she truly coveted, she felt this amount of Crystals was too little.
Scarcity breeds value. If Light Cones appeared on the market in batches within a short period, they would rapidly become cheap products, and the Hyperion, as the seller, would quickly lose pricing power.
Just imagining that scene made Asta's heart ache.
In the girl's view, this item didn't even need hype. Just writing the effects plainly in the description would cause countless people to flock to it, perhaps even taking risks and targeting the Hyperion with ambition.
But if she took charge and released it in the name of a new Corporation product, there would be no major issues.
As a massive organization and the currency issuer for the Honkai side, even the three giants—Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and the Taixu Front—had to give the Corporation some face.
Medium-sized organizations benchmark against S-Rank combat power. Large organizations benchmark against fully powered Sequence holders.
If you really want to tear up relations with them, you'd better be prepared to face the wrath of a Sequence-level power.
How dangerous exactly?
In the previous cycle, the [Herrscher of Sentience], occupying the body of the Celestial Immortal Phoenix, used the Immortal's five thousand years of martial arts realm and the Authority of Consciousness to force her way into the Sequence level through sheer brute force.
What did this guy do afterward?
Single-handedly swept through the Schicksal HQ floating islands above the Mediterranean, crushing Durandal (equipped with the 4th Generation Godsbane Battlesuit Bright Knight: Excelsis) and a swarm of mechs, delivering the classic line: "The sound of Otto's Soulium face crunching under my fist is just too beautiful!"
Then she rushed into World Serpent, caused a ruckus to draw out the Number One Flame-Chaser of the Previous Era, [Kevin Kaslana], fought him to a standstill using technique against his Might of An-Utu, snatched back the stolen Fenghuang Down, and awakened Fu Hua's own will within it.
And after that?
She unleashed a consciousness illusion to easily trap Bronya (who had become the Third Herrscher of Reason). During this, she flawlessly beat up the Herrscher of the Void, Kiana (who was being helped by Fu Hua).
If not for self-doubt causing a flaw in her state of mind—making her unable to maintain the Blade Heart of Taixu and forcing her to switch to a raw energy beam clash between her Spirit of Edge and Kiana's Edge of Taixu—victory would have undoubtedly been hers!
Of course, as a multi-person organization rather than an individual, the Interastral Peace Corporation couldn't maximize its power like a single Sequence holder.
The reason Schicksal's record was so pathetic was mainly because the Herrscher of Sentience appeared 'out of thin air' in the heart of their HQ; they had absolutely no time to prepare in the chaos.
Even so, tearing up relations with a massive organization was something only a moron would do.
In other words, Asta could even make herself the spokesperson for this era-defining invention, the Light Cone. As the daughter of a corporate director, she never feared exposure, and the promotional effect would be immediate.
As for internal strife, large organizations have their advantages as they develop.
Internal competition is usually a last resort when the cake can't be made bigger. The massive influence and profits brought by Light Cones were enough to make the major factions unite on the surface.
First, I'll buy ten sets. Melee, ranged, resistance, control, reconnaissance, spells—I need to cover everything. Ideally, reaching the level of an A-Rank Valkyrie.
Then I'll buy some specific reinforcements to scam those suck—I mean, those wealthy clients with fatal weaknesses.
In short, one word: Buy, buy, buy! If you don't buy, you're not human!
Thinking that she, an ordinary person, could possess combat power comparable to an A-Rank Valkyrie, Asta narrowed her eyes in happiness. Her toes unconsciously curled and uncurled in her sandals, and her slender, smooth calves swung cheerfully.
With the girl's status, as long as she could cross the initial 'threshold,' the road would immediately become unobstructed.
For example, those large mechas and individual armaments that possessed unparalleled performance but required specific Honkai adaptability to operate.
Meanwhile, under Kallen's 'Education of Love,' the calmed boy and girls exchanged glances.
"Three years exclusive sales rights, no problem. Keeping the technology private during this time, also no problem."
Mei pushed up the small glasses perched on her nose and raised her final question: "But I have one more thing to ask, Miss Asta. You—you aren't of Indian descent, are you?"
The abstract nature of the "Third Brother" (Indian slang) was internationally renowned. For instance, in 2012, they discovered two high-altitude UAVs deployed by Shenzhou at the border. After failing to shoot them down and protesting to Shenzhou multiple times, an investigation revealed the two UFOs were Venus and Jupiter.
Regarding trade, any poor soul who had done business with that group knew: First, never believe their line "Give me a discount on this first batch, if it's good I'll buy more later." This is just a standard tactic to drive down prices. Once you sell it to them at a bone-deep discount with minimal profit, you'll find out that the 'first batch' was 99.9% of everything they ever wanted.
Second, merchandise for Indian merchants must be paid in full upfront. Otherwise, prepare to never receive the final payment while being unable to retrieve the goods.
Yes, Asta had fair skin, beauty, and long legs, with a delicate face that looked like a perfect blend of Eastern and Western features.
But the highest castes in India are technically Caucasian! And she had a servant named Arlan—the boy had dark skin, who knows if he was a lower-caste slave!
"You're of Indian descent! Your whole family is of Indian descent!"
Hearing Mei say this, Asta turned red with rage visible to the naked eye.
She stomped her foot in anger, her clenched pink fists clearly wanting to smash something. "I am a descendant of the Ottoman Sultans who ruled over three continents—Europe, Asia, and Africa—for six centuries! The legal heir to the Roman Empire! And you dare lump me in with those lowly mudbloods from the South Asian subcontinent?! Bastard! Simply unreasonable!"
Normally, Asta didn't care about bloodlines at all; otherwise, she wouldn't have taken in Arlan, an Arab pauper whom her peers considered unworthy of the stage, as her butler.
The problem was that Mei's insult was just too dirty. It broke the target's defense instantly.
"Ottoman Sultan?"
Hearing this, Kiana was no longer sleepy.
She scrambled up. "The one who used despicable tactics to conquer Constantinople?"
"It's Istanbul!"
Asta pointed out solemnly: "And it wasn't despicable!"
"Constantinople!"
"Istanbul!"
Thud!
The girls' foreheads collided, flames burning in their azure and golden eyes.
"Alright."
Fuli facepalmed.
Few people knew that Kiana was actually a Spirit Roman (internet slang for someone obsessed with the Roman Empire).
After all, born in Europe and influenced by the modern internet, it wasn't strange.
As for the Spirit Roman community... Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays they rejoice; Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays they weep; and on Sundays, they hang the Doge of Venice.
And as if feeling the fire wasn't big enough, Bronya, sipping her milk tea, tugged at Fuli's sleeve:
"Bro."
"What?"
"Is a Green Luo (Pothos plant) considered a type of Rome?"
"Of course not!"
Kiana answered categorically.
Asta grinned evilly. "If you don't acknowledge the succession, then Rome is truly dead, you know?"
"You!"
The current Kiana faced the same dilemma as Zhu Yuanzhang when he established the Ming Dynasty. If he didn't acknowledge the legitimacy of the Yuan Dynasty, it would weaken the legal basis of the Ming Dynasty itself, affecting the legitimacy of his regime.
But to acknowledge it?
Why is it said that "Only the Han and Ming obtained the country righteously"?
Isn't it because their founding emperors received the least favor from the previous dynasties?
Liu Bang was at least a village chief and hung out on the streets with his scoundrel friends for forty years. Look at how miserable Zhu Chongba's childhood was?
'Brother Chongba, your dad died!'
'Nonsense! Dad was alive and kicking when I left!'
'Oh, I got it wrong, it was your mom who died.'
He goes back to look—Ha! Surprise!
Dad, Mom, Big Brother—none of them survived!
Asking him to acknowledge the Yuan Dynasty's legitimacy really had a flavor of a hellish joke.
Seeing the tears swirling in the white-haired dumpling's eyes, eventually, Mei, heartbroken for her best friend, stepped forward proactively. "The matter of the Light Cones is settled. Aside from that, we have some other products available for trade."
"Hmph."
Victorious, Asta crossed her legs, quitting while she was ahead and not launching a follow-up attack. "Let me see?"
"This. The Eternal Youth Pill."
Mei took out a pill and handed it over.
This item was a product of Fuli's previous ten-pull (Volume 3, Chapter 10). Back then, the girl said she would take it back to analyze the materials and find a way to mass-produce it.
This was difficult. Prometheus's sticky little fingers grabbed things from god-knows-what worlds.
Perhaps a certain material constituting the Eternal Youth Pill didn't exist in the Honkai World, necessitating the search for a substitute with similar effects.
"The microbial bacteria at the bottom of the Mariana Trench have an extremely slow metabolism, possessing a lifespan of tens of thousands to millions of years."
Mei seemed nonchalant, but her tone couldn't hide her pride. "I extracted them, combined them with other materials, and after tossing and turning for a long time, finally created a product with the same effect."
She thought she would receive everyone's amazement, until Kiana and Kallen exclaimed simultaneously:
"Holy crap! The Supreme Venerable Bacterium! (Tai Shang Lao Jun / Germ)"
...Expecting humans to remain rational was indeed a luxury.
Reflected in her pupils were Fuli laughing heartily, Bronya suppressing the corners of her mouth, and Asta turning her head away unable to hold back a smile. Miss Mei thought expressionlessly.
She took out another vial and handed it over. "To celebrate the conclusion of our trade, please accept this gift as well."
"This is?"
Asta took it curiously. Inside the transparent test tube, a pale blue crystalline liquid flowed, emitting a mystery and depth like the ocean.
"Primary Evolution Potion."
Mei said plainly, "After using this potion, the user will change at the cellular level. New super-cells will be born to replace the original ordinary cells. You will possess a metabolic rate four times that of an ordinary person, enhanced dopamine, adrenaline, various other endorphins and hormones, a strengthened body, healing capabilities, and stronger resistance to toxins and viruses."
"Simply put, the level of a C-Rank Valkyrie."
Fuli took over the topic. "However, because it forcibly boosts physical quality, it damages the foundation, leading to slow progress in physical quality in the future."
This Evolution Potion was also drawn by him in the last ten-pull and given to Mei for mass production attempts, just like the Eternal Youth Pill.
Mass-producing this was originally difficult, until recently when they obtained Ash Dall's remains.
By analyzing the residues of the advanced HTR-type modification drug in the remains, Mei, holding the Life Equation, finally completed the replication of the Evolution Potion.
Compared to the epoch-making product that was the Light Cone, Asta's reaction to the above two items was a bit lackluster.
Not that they weren't good. Before, the Evolution Potion would have been a treasure the girl dreamed of.
The only small problem was that it appeared too late. Having tasted a delicacy so good you'd swallow your own tongue, ordinary food could hardly stir waves in one's heart.
However, she still agreed to help contact sales channels. Only a bastard wouldn't earn money when they could.
After a round of discussion, evening had arrived.
...