The desktop was a touchscreen computer with a magnetic microphone. On the small platform beside it were various electronically controlled devices of unclear purpose. After fiddling with them for a few moments, Vill-V figured out their functions. They included meal and beverage delivery, seat movement, gaming, and more.
The gaming feature had just been newly added by Vill-V. She hoped that whoever used this seat in the future would discover the surprise.
After tapping a few times, a panel on the desk slid open, and a steaming cup of milk tea rose up from within the device. All beverages were freshly prepared and delivered to each person through a transmission mechanism beneath the seats, sent in from outside the venue.
It was just that the position where the milk tea rose was somewhat awkward. The cup emerged directly against the underside of Vill-V's breasts...
Uh... what was that supposed to mean? Were they implying that MOTH's researchers weren't worthy of large chests? No wonder Dr. Mobius didn't like attending meetings...
Vill-V thought for a moment, then ultimately decided to rest the milk tea against her chest.
After all, both of her hands were busy operating the computer panel.
And placing it on top of the screen would interfere with her gaming controls.
...
A well-dressed researcher passing by happened to notice Vill-V enthusiastically gaming. His brows furrowed. "Are you new here?"
Like a student caught playing games in class, Vill-V stopped her agile hand movements and looked toward the man speaking.
The man continued scolding her without waiting for a response. "No—even if you're new, you should know what kind of people are qualified to participate in a meeting of this level."
"Everyone who enters here is an elite from around the world—the elite among elites."
"Everyone understands how difficult it is to gain entry. Not only must one possess lofty ideals, but one must also have genuine ability to step into this sacred venue."
"All who come here are entitled to this supreme honor."
"Not to amuse themselves."
"You must be from social media. Pack up and move to the media section in the back. These seats are for researchers and state officials, not for you."
Vill-V, who had been attempting the hands-free pearl milk tea challenge, set the cup back on the table and retorted, "I'm also a bona fide world-class scientific expert. Why can't I sit here?"
Yes—a perfectly serious world-class scientific expert who gamed while doing a hands-free pearl milk tea challenge.
"A world-class scientific expert would dress in something so gaudy and theatrical?" The researcher looked Vill-V up and down, then let out a mocking laugh.
"According to regulations, researchers attending meetings must wear the standard blue lab coat. The Business Department should wear suits. The Combat Department must wear black combat uniforms. G-level administrative personnel are not even qualified to enter this venue. If there are special circumstances, they must still wear a suit and sash."
As he spoke, a man in a white lab coat with an imposing presence walked past behind him.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Edison!" The researcher's expression flipped completely, bowing and scraping with extreme respect as he watched the man head toward the central platform.
The arrogant Dr. Edison offered no response. From beginning to end, he did not look at either the researcher or Vill-V, as though they were merely two small pebbles by the roadside—unworthy of notice.
The researcher could not help but sigh in admiration. "Now that is what a scientific expert should look like."
"Imposing and properly dressed. Lofty in gaze, looking down upon all."
"Additionally, only doctors of deputy minister rank or above are qualified to wear white lab coats here. Of course, that's meaningless to you. You're not qualified to interact with minister-level figures. Being able to brush past them is already your good fortune."
After hearing the introduction, Vill-V could not help muttering, "What is this, some kind of Gotei 13...?"
"Hmph. You media people don't have to worry about such things. I suggest you head to the back—"
Before he could finish, another doctor in a white lab coat approached. Since Vill-V had casually chosen a seat beside the main aisle, anyone heading to the central platform would pass by here.
The researcher quickly stood at attention and bowed. "Good afternoon, Dr. Newton!"
She was one of MOTH's rising stars and the dream goddess of all researchers—not merely a goddess in appearance, but one who guided the lost in the realm of science. There was no researcher who did not admire Dr. Newton, including the very one who had been lecturing Vill-V.
If one could establish even the slightest connection with Dr. Newton, the benefits would be endless. It was said that some of her former colleagues had been promoted to department chiefs simply because she had casually revealed a fragment of technical insight.
"Mm. Good afternoon."
Dr. Newton smiled in response, sending the researcher into ecstasy. He would be able to boast about this to his lab colleagues for an entire year. Dr. Newton smiled at me. Does that mean she's interested in me?
But the next scene left him utterly stunned. Dr. Newton began conversing with the oddly dressed "media person."
"Vill-V, you're here."
Newton very much wanted to call her Teacher, but in public she had to keep up appearances. She absolutely could not let the cow's hoof slip.
"Mm-hm. Since it's a request from the adorable Elysia and Newton, how could I possibly refuse? A prison, you say? My design drafts have long been prepared. I've been waiting for this day."
Vill-V could not conjure black technology out of thin air. All that black tech used to deal with Herrschers was bought with real money. The more money she had, the greater her power.
As the saying went, "The rich rely on technology, the poor rely on mutation."
Without joining MOTH and without becoming a MANTIS, Vill-V was both poor and unmutated. In the face of a Honkai Eruption and a Herrscher, she was nothing but a weakling...
Though some prince from some country had gifted her five billion, that money was hardly enough.
After repaying previous debts and allocating substantial development funds to HoMu Company—which had no intention of going public or issuing shares in the short term—Vill-V had already spent 350 million just constructing a combat operations building to prepare for the Fourth Honkai Eruption. That did not even include the funds required to manufacture the anti-Fourth Herrscher armaments afterward.
Facing the Fourth Honkai Eruption this time, she would likely end up drowning in debt again.
Originally, Vill-V had planned to build something halfheartedly and muddle through. But just as one grows sleepy, a disciple brings a pillow. With MOTH providing funding and support, Vill-V would no longer need to cut into her own flesh to repay debts. She could even continue investing in HoMu Company.
Of course, this was funding MOTH ought to provide in the first place. If the current MOTH were to handle the Honkai Eruption with that budget, who knew how many layers of wool would be sheared off along the way.
That plump, well-fed sheep devoted to combating the Honkai would probably be left as nothing but a skeleton by the time it faced the Fourth Herrscher.