Chapter 541: Longinus and Cassius
The tacitly understood relationship established with Ryoji Kaji quickly brought substantial convenience to Ryo's plans.
Much of the information and resources that previously required more effort and higher risks to access became relatively easy to obtain through Kaji's covert and highly efficient channels.
Key updates regarding the internal power struggles of NERV, the latent intentions behind certain vague SEELE directives, and even the flow information of strictly controlled rare materials or bio-active samples began reaching Ryo's hands via encrypted paths or seemingly casual "chance" conversations.
This allowed Ryo to concurrently advance another more core process—gathering indispensable, critical resources for his main body to modulate a dedicated EVA in the Warhammer world—while continuing to spearhead the Unit-03 repair project and maintaining his public work focus.
Leveraging these channels, he successfully acquired small but highly purified samples of Lilith-derived cells, as well as segments of encrypted design schematics involving the EVA core skeleton structures and bio-mechanical neural interfaces.
This precious data was swiftly transmitted back to the main body via the dimensional communicator, vastly enriching the research database at the Death World base and providing a more solid foundation for physical modulation.
At the same time, Ryo obtained many highly valuable, concrete intelligence reports from Kaji.
For instance, background information on the newly arrived Fourth Child, Mari Makinami Illustrious: she had been the pilot of EVA Unit-05 at the European Branch, which was confirmed destroyed during its battle with the Third Angel. Mari herself was the lone survivor of that tragic, mutually destructive engagement.
Additionally, Kaji revealed SEELE's secret plan to construct EVA Unit-06 on the far side of the Moon.
This intelligence fundamentally aligned with the macro-plot trajectory Ryo knew through his main body's memories, confirming the accuracy of the main body's information on key nodes.
However, the information provided by Kaji contained far more vivid details and concrete correlations of time, place, and people, which the main body's summary-outline style memories could not match.
For example, while the main body's memories only noted that "Unit-05 was destroyed," Kaji could pinpoint the exact campaign against the Third Angel, the specific location where the explosion occurred, and even mention tactical details and subsequent impacts from that time.
These details were critical for Ryo to precisely judge the situation and grasp opportunities; they fleshed out the macro-framework, making the operational logic of the entire world much clearer and more predictable in his eyes.
Ryo handled this information from Kaji with caution, cross-referencing it with his own observations, data gathered by the AI virus, and his main body's memories, gradually constructing an intelligence network far more multi-dimensional and profound than what most high-ranking officials within NERV knew.
He realized Kaji's value lay not just in providing resource channels, but in his role as a deeply embedded "living sensor" within this world's intelligence net, capable of providing real-time, dynamic, and context-rich interpretations of the situation.
This cooperation, though fragile and filled with calculation on its foundation of trust, undoubtedly accelerated Ryo's progress.
On one hand, he steadily carved his technical imprint deeper into Unit-03, shaping it into a reliable backup plan; on the other hand, he utilized the convenience provided by Kaji to more rapidly assemble the "puzzle pieces" required to construct a brand-new EVA for the Warhammer world.
Time slipped away quietly amidst the seemingly stable repair work and covert resource exchanges, drawing ever closer to the occurrence of that critical node—"that event."
Ryo had to ensure that when that moment arrived, he held enough chips to influence the situation, whether it was the fully repaired Unit-03 left with a backdoor, or the dedicated giant far away in another universe, fully formed and merely awaiting activation.
Aside from the relatively "conventional" intelligence exchanges regarding the EVA series, SEELE's movements, and the status of various branches, Ryo introduced a far more ancient and mysterious topic during his hidden cooperation with Ryoji Kaji.
Drawing from the key terms in his main body's memories, he requested Kaji to investigate information related to the "Lance of Longinus" and the "Spear of Cassius."
When Ryo first brought up these two names in an encrypted communication, even the well-traveled Ryoji Kaji, who had delved into many secrets, visibly displayed surprise and gravity.
He admitted he had heard of the legend of the "Lance of Longinus," knowing it was the mythic entity piercing Lilith's chest and viewed as the key to her seal. However, as for its specific origin, operational principles, and deeper symbolic meaning, it belonged to the core of cores strictly locked away even within the highest security tiers of NERV and SEELE, and he knew very little.
The name "Spear of Cassius," on the other hand, was even more foreign to him, only occasionally mentioned in certain extremely obscure ancient documents or snippets from SEELE, appearing like a corresponding shadow shrouded in deeper mist against the Lance of Longinus.
Ryo did not reveal too much, only emphasizing that these two "spears" might play far more critical, or even opposing, roles in dealing with the Angels and the potential "ultimate state of affairs" than currently understood.
He implied that understanding their essence could be a vital part of seizing the initiative in future situations.
This information undoubtedly added two crucial and highly tempting fragments to Ryoji Kaji's puzzle of seeking the "truth."
He had always attempted to clarify the full picture of SEELE's "Human Instrumentality Project" and Gendo Ikari's personal plots, and these two legendary "spears" were clearly tightly bound to the final execution method of the plan.
The clues provided by Ryo pointed him in a completely new and highly potent direction of investigation.
"I understand," Kaji responded after a brief reflection, his tone carrying an unprecedented seriousness. "These two 'spears'... are indeed worth investing resources into. I will mobilize all my channels to pursue this, but it will take time, and I cannot guarantee reaching the core."
"Just do your best. Any fragmented information could hold value," Ryo replied calmly. He knew that even the memories transmitted by his main body harbored ambiguities regarding the specific details of these two spears, particularly the "Spear of Cassius."
Kaji's investigation was precisely meant to fill in these blanks.
From then on, another top-priority task was added to Ryoji Kaji's investigative network.
He began meticulously combing through the informants he had planted over the years within SEELE, various ancient organizations, and global secret projects, attempting to find traces of these two spears from myths, sealed archaeological records, and even ancient maxims inadvertently dropped by SEELE elders.
This was an extremely dangerous move—any overstepping probe could draw SEELE's vigilance and liquidation—but Kaji knew deeply how massive the potential return was.
Ryo continued to focus on his dual pathways.
While following Kaji's investigative progress regarding the "spears," he utilized Kaji's other conveniences to accelerate the repair and modification of Unit-03, continuously feeding nutrients to the EVA modulation project in the Warhammer world.
He recognized that whether it was to deal with the Angels, occupy a favorable position in a potential "Third Impact," or counter the unfathomable ultimate plans of SEELE and Gendo Ikari, the Lance of Longinus and the Spear of Cassius were unavoidable, critical variables.
Understanding them ahead of time—and even influencing or controlling them if possible—would become one of the deciding factors in the ultimate success of all his plans.