After learning that Prometheus couldn't replace Bronya's role, Lucius didn't stay in Mei's laboratory anymore.
He was preparing to implement his backup plan.
As for the newly born Prometheus, Lucius arranged for it to take over the engineering mechs built in advance. With its help, the construction cycle of St. Freya Academy City Cluster would be greatly shortened.
And as more mechs came out of the factory, under Prometheus's control, the construction speed would be even faster.
However, when Lucius was preparing to leave, Mei called out to him.
Looking at Mei's somewhat conflicted face, Lucius smiled and asked: "Mei, is there something else?"
"Uh... it's like this, Father." Mei struggled, but ultimately mustered the courage to say to Lucius: "Father, there's a parent-teacher meeting at school this weekend. Do you have time?"
"Huh?" Lucius was somewhat puzzled. "You guys still need parent-teacher meetings?"
He thought parent-teacher meetings were exclusive to elementary school students.
However, with Mei's explanation, Lucius understood what this so-called parent-teacher meeting was.
It was only called a parent-teacher meeting in name, but in essence it was more like a networking event for Nagazora City's upper-class society.
As everyone knew, Chiba Academy was a noble school. Basically all the students there were children from upper-class families in Nagazora City and the surrounding areas.
Therefore, using the relationship of their children being classmates, these upper-class people used parent-teacher meetings to network and expand their interpersonal networks.
Before Ryoma fell, as a rising star in the scientific research world, he had also stepped into the threshold of upper-class society.
But after Ryoma fell, Mei as his daughter was basically invisible at school.
No one would care about a person who had lost value, so Mei was alone at previous parent-teacher meetings.
But now, the situation had completely reversed. As MEI Corp's president, the current 'Ryoma's' identity was naturally completely different. There might even be quite a few people wanting to curry favor with him.
Thoughts flowed through his mind.
Looking at Mei, who clearly cared but pretended not to, Lucius thought she probably hadn't thought so much. She simply wanted him to accompany her to the parent-teacher meeting.
So under Mei's hopeful expression, Lucius smiled and nodded.
"No problem, I'll go when the time comes."
...
Mei continued to stay in the laboratory to feed data to Prometheus.
Lucius walked out of the laboratory alone.
Standing at the laboratory entrance, looking at the magnificent MEI Corp building in the distance, Lucius pondered.
In the system's judgment, Bronya and Prometheus were two different characters. This meant he couldn't use Prometheus to replace Bronya's character to complete the starter trio.
"So in the end, I still have to make a trip to Mobius's place?"
His backup plan required Mobius's help. At the same time, as a character from the middle and late stages of the script, he also needed to make arrangements for Mobius.
However, before that, he still needed to borrow another person's help.
So Lucius took out his communicator and sent a communication request to Vill-V.
Soon, Vill-V's figure appeared on the screen.
"Partner, long time no see. How have you been?"
This time Vill-V's tone was exceptionally gentle, even doting.
Good, it seemed this Vill-V personality was easy to talk to.
So, facing Vill-V, Lucius stated his pre-prepared request.
"Teacher V, can you teach me how to split personalities?"
Hearing Lucius's request, Vill-V on the screen showed great surprise.
"Partner, you also want to become mentally ill?"
So you know you're mentally ill, Lucius complained inwardly.
"I want to split a personality from myself."
Vill-V shook her head and said tactfully: "This is my personal talent. You probably can't learn it."
Hearing this, Lucius's face showed pleading.
"Help me, Teacher V. This is really important to me."
Hearing Lucius's words, Vill-V sighed softly, showing a trace of helplessness on her face.
"I really can't do anything with you..."
"Although you can't learn my personality splitting talent, I might be able to make a little invention to fulfill your request."
To this, Lucius immediately expressed gratitude.
"Thank you very much, Teacher V."
Vill-V raised her thumb, showing a refreshing smile on her face, and said:
"We're like-minded close friends! I'm very much looking forward to this drama you're directing."
"I'll complete the prop you need very soon, but this might take some time."
After getting Vill-V's promise, Lucius knew his goal had advanced a big step.
And next, he just needed to wait for her to create the personality-splitting prop and send it over.
"So what should I do next?"
After arranging these tasks, Lucius suddenly found himself free.
"Why not go find my good brother Kiana?"
Just as Lucius was thinking this, a familiar pink-haired figure walked toward him. It was Sakura, who was currently moonlighting as MEI Corp's Defense Department Director.
"Boss, I have something I need to report to you."
Looking at Sakura's serious expression, Lucius was curious.
"What is it?"
"As you know, Boss, I used to be an assassin affiliated with Poison Cocoon. A few days ago I received two tasks."
"One task was to kidnap Ryoma, and the other task..." Sakura looked at Lucius and said: "The other task might be related to you, Boss. Someone offered a price to find your whereabouts."
"Oh?"
Lucius frowned. Of course he knew the 'you' Sakura mentioned wasn't his current Ryoma disguise, but his real identity.
When he did bad things, he basically used other people's disguises. It was basically impossible to implicate his real identity.
Recalling his experiences during this period, it seemed only one person could do this.
"Mobius wants to expose my identity?"
After just a moment's thought, Lucius roughly guessed what Mobius wanted to do. It was nothing more than the knowledge about stigmata genes in his hands.
After figuring this out, Lucius smiled and shook his head, saying to Sakura: "This matter is ordinary. No need to worry about it."
However, after comforting Sakura, Lucius thought of another interesting question.
"Where did that poor person Mobius get the money to post a commission to Poison Cocoon? Don't tell me she misappropriated research funds?"
Thinking of this, Lucius's expression became strange, vaguely tinged with schadenfreude.
Corresponding to her exceptional intelligence, this woman's emotional intelligence wasn't very abundant. If Mobius really misappropriated research funds to post the task, then she probably dug a big pit for herself.
...
Just as Lucius was gloating, Mobius on the other side of the Earth was quite joyful.
For some reason, those tedious bureaucrats had been showing her care and concern during this period, basically granting every request.
Without these constraints, her progress in various experiments was advancing by leaps and bounds.
And today, there was even better news that made her extremely happy.
"Blanca, my dear Blanca, they actually approved my plan to verify stigmata genes."
Mobius waved the document in her hand. On it was approval from the United Government, along with an extremely large budget.
However, compared to Mobius's joy, Blanca's face showed some confusion.
"Doctor, why are these misers so generous this time? Last time I applied to buy a printer and they didn't approve it. I ended up paying out of pocket!"
"This time with such a large sum, they approved it after just asking two questions?"
Mobius's face also showed confusion. She also felt this matter revealed some strangeness.
However, thinking that with this money she could verify the stigmata gene project based on that partial knowledge, she temporarily set aside her doubts.
"Whatever. Since this money is in our hands, they won't have a chance to take it back."
She began planning the use of this money.
"I need to build a laboratory to verify stigmata genes. This requires many living Honkai beasts, the more powerful the better."
"So this laboratory must be strong enough, and the restraint devices must be foolproof."
"Besides that, I also need to purchase some other instruments..."
Seeing the excitement on Mobius's face, Blanca knew the doctor had gotten carried away. At this point, it was basically impossible to pull her back.
Soon, news spread from the United Government's First Laboratory that they wanted to build a huge laboratory and were soliciting bids.
And Lucius, who had long been paying attention to Mobius, naturally learned of this news.
And coincidentally, because of the ongoing land reclamation project, he had long since integrated a construction company under MEI Corp.
Cross-era engineering mechs, construction knowledge from the future, and the super AI Prometheus coordinating everything... not only possessing technological advantages, but also cost advantages.
Because he would need Mobius's help next, he didn't mind selling her a favor. So he directed his construction company to participate in the bidding at an extremely favorable price.
Lucius was confident that with both technological and cost advantages, as long as Mobius wasn't stupid, no one could compete with him.
However...
"Hontōni sumimasen!"
The competing team bowed deeply to Lucius sitting in the president's position, their faces showing deep apology.
"President, we failed to win the project."
This result surprised Lucius.
"The bid failed? This shouldn't happen..."
"We have better technology, lower costs, plus Prometheus the super AI's coordination can greatly reduce the construction period. What do other construction companies have to compete with us in the short term?"
Hearing this, the bidding team lowered their heads in shame.
"Extremely sorry, President. That construction company's quote was too low. We estimated it wouldn't even cover the material costs."
"We don't know how they dared to take on this project. Are they going to subsidize it with their own money?"
...
Just as Lucius was puzzled by this, another small group was beside themselves with joy.
"Hey! That stupid woman Mobius finally got smart. When asking superiors for money, of course you ask for more!"
"Every time she just applies to buy a printer or configure a few computers. Always being so stingy, how can we make money?"
Hearing this, another person in the small group glared at him.
"How can you say that? What do you mean 'make money'? We're clearly for progress!"
"Right, right! We're for progress. With so much money, it's definitely enough for us to progress further."
"I've long been tired of this place with no profit... but now that Mobius woman has gotten smart. Maybe this place will become a lucrative position in the future. Sigh... conflicted."
However, just as several people were celebrating, someone suddenly said:
"I heard the higher-ups attach great importance to this project. Even that Fire Moth organization is involved. I heard it concerns humanity's fight against Honkai... shouldn't we not go too far this time?"
"If something goes wrong, I'm afraid we all won't be able to escape."
Hearing his words, several people fell silent. After a while, they exchanged glances and nodded in agreement one after another.
"That makes sense. This time the higher-ups are watching closely, and it concerns humanity's future. We can't let our selfishness destroy humanity's future."
"So let's not take anything this time. Anyway, Mobius has gotten smart. We'll have plenty of opportunities to progress in the future. We can miss this once."
Several people looked at each other, regret showing in their eyes, and left one after another.
However, the moment they turned around, they all invariably showed cold smiles.
"Not take? Ridiculous! Whoever doesn't take is the fool!"
"We're all old foxes, not that fool Mobius. Who are we kidding?"
"If I don't take, you'll all take everything in the end!"
"Not only will I take, I'll take heavily!"
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