The final step was both the breakthrough and the confirmation. As long as the energy could flow through it completely, it would prove this weapon wasn't just for show.
But just then, the system prompt, which had been silent all this time, suddenly popped up in front of Andrew:
[New weapon acquired. Equip now?]
[Equip as main weapon]
[Equip as secondary weapon]
[No]
?
I've never gotten a prompt like this when changing equipment before. I thought it didn't exist. Turns out I had to craft it myself?
I'm a hunter, yet only self-crafted gear triggers the replacement prompt upon acquisition? Seriously, System? Is there even a shred of logic in that design?
Too bad the system had never shown any signs of consciousness over the years, otherwise Andrew would have given its family a piece of his mind.
This system might be useless, but it was at least somewhat useful for judging the quality of equipment.
With the system's acknowledgment, Andrew no longer had to worry about the blade snapping into three pieces from being unable to handle the energy during a Spirit Helm Breaker with a red gauge.
In that battle, because the sword broke, Andrew, having lost his main weapon, ended up beating Ann Ethereal to death with his bare fists.
Having finally taken that solid first step, he cheerfully checked his warehouse inventory, only to find that both forging and ammo materials were nearly depleted.
The ammo he'd just given Nicole was the last of his stock. It was time to head into the Hollows to find new and valuable materials.
After all, the pressure of his mortgage was still a huge mountain weighing on Andrew's shoulders. Better to keep working hard until it was paid off.
Thinking of this, Andrew pulled out his phone and opened a pinned group chat in Knock-Knock.
[New Eridu Legendary Squad]
[MeowscularAreCutestInTheWorld: This afternoon, Crete Hollow. You in?]
[MyBroNeedsAPunching: Let's go!]
[MySisPunchedMeAgain: I'll just provide support from the side, then.]
[MyBroNeedsAPunching: Wait, didn't you say you were forging a weapon? Did you succeed?]
[MeowscularAreCutestInTheWorld: Of course! You know who you're talking to.]
[MyBroNeedsAPunching: That's what you said the time before last, and look what happened... (≖_≖ )]
[MeowscularAreCutestInTheWorld: This sword is different, okay! I'm completely confident in this one!]
[MyBroNeedsAPunching: But the problem is, that's exactly what you said last time too... (◦`~´◦)]
[MeowscularAreCutestInTheWorld: What are you saying! What's that supposed to mean! I absolutely succeeded this time! It's guaranteed!]
[MySisPunchedMeAgain: ...Never mind. I'll bring that tachi Andrew bought before, just in case.]
[MeowscularAreCutestInTheWorld: You guys!]
[MyBroNeedsAPunching: By the way, if we're all going out, what about the video store?]
[MySisPunchedMeAgain: Don't worry, hardly anyone comes by anyway. We can just leave it to Little 18.]
[MyBroNeedsAPunching: Speaking of which, we're both in the same workshop room, so why are we chatting on our phones?]
[MeowscularAreCutestInTheWorld: No idea]
[MySisPunchedMeAgain: No idea]
[MyBroNeedsAPunching: No idea]
[MyBroNeedsAPunching: This damned +1 is so sweet ('w`)]
[MeowscularAreCutestInTheWorld: No more chatting, I'm gonna go prep my gear and supplies. We leaving this afternoon?]
[Okay]×2
——————
In the lightless conference room, the only illumination came from the faint indicator lights of the instruments and the azure glow of the display screen, which cast Ann upward light on the attendees' faces.
The windowless room was silent save for the hum of the ventilation system and the extremely rhythmic beeping of machinery. Even for a conference room, the smell of disinfectant hung heavy in the air, refusing to dissipate.
Every researcher from the institute inside wore a grim expression, saying nothing. They stared at the screens before them as if they could magically discern something new from the data they had already reviewed countless times.
Seeing the researchers below, unable to utter a single word, the Director slammed his fist on the table in a rage.
'All of you! You were all so eager to make promises before. What happened?! Why is it so long past the deadline, and still not one has reached the level of No. 0?! Give me Ann explanation! Speak!!'
As the Director raged, the researchers, who were already hanging their heads, buried them even lower, wishing they could hide them inside the table.
The few in the front row exchanged glances until finally, a woman named Ann, with long pink hair, a thin ponytail tied on her right side hanging over her chest, and round glasses, was pushed forward. She adjusted her glasses and said calmly:
'My apologies, Director. However, the latest model of clones we've produced is already quite close to No. 0 in terms of combat ability. If you give us a little more time, we can definitely reduce the mass-production cost of the
Silver Squad.'
But the Director, unsatisfied with this explanation, grew even angrier. He slammed the desk twice more with great force and roared:
'What good is 'quite close'?! We're using the same blueprint, producing them at such Ann exorbitant cost, and yet the final results are so unstable!'
He swept his gaze across the room. No one dared to look up and meet his eyes.
'We are supposed to be creating mass-producible super-soldiers who can change the tide of battle! But right now, to achieve that goal, the cost is already comparable to the entire expense of training Ann elite general, plus their death benefits!'
He took two heavy, ragged breaths. The institute was already on the brink of collapse due to lack of funding; their last saving grace was a complete technological breakthrough.
If they failed, he couldn't help but shudder at the thought of the consequences he would face for having no more value.
'I'll give you two cycles at most! If you can't produce better results in two cycles, the military high command will completely abandon our current project. And you should know what happens to researchers like us when we are completely abandoned!'
He looked around, his gaze sweeping over each person's face, lingering for a few seconds on each before finally resting on Ann's.
'When that time comes, everyone in this room, every single one of us, including those clones, will all disappear from this world!'
As the meeting concluded, most of the researchers left dejectedly, while a few had already begun to despair.
As everyone filed out, only Ann, who had been pushed forward earlier, and the institute Director remained in the conference room.
-
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