"Proceed according to the plan. If the people from Rhine Lab become too troublesome, send them to the afterlife." Fujino said to the person on the other end of the phone. "Wait, Silence isn't there, right?"
"Yes. Miss Ptilopsis said that Miss Silence and Miss Saria chose different paths. Miss Silence chose to go to Rhodes Island," A2 replied over the phone.
"Rhodes Island, huh? It seems that fellow is still wary of me, the petty thing." Fujino said helplessly. "In that case, we don't need to worry about it. Ifrit's condition can only be fundamentally cured here at Umbrella anyway. Even that old hag Kal'tsit can only stabilize it. We can ignore them for now. Silence and the others will eventually have to come begging to Umbrella. For now, just bring Saria over."
"Understood." A2 replied. "Is there anything else you need me to do?"
"No need. Once this is done, A2, you can take a few days off."
"Okay."
Hanging up the communication, Fujino turned and looked at the training room behind her. Through the glass of the training room, she could see the active figures of Texas, Exusiai, and Croissant.
The three members of Penguin Logistics were currently very excited. Not long ago, they had all received custom weapons from Umbrella's technical staff, and rushed enthusiastically to the training ground to test their performance.
"Are the data ready?" Fujino asked D11, a YoRHa Unit member in the distance.
All of Umbrella's scientific researchers are composed of D-series YoRHa Unit Members, produced later by the YoRHa Unit and specialized in research. These androids, dedicated to scientific research, possess powerful computing and thinking capabilities, making them supreme in the field of R&D. However, they are not just researchers; although the D-series YoRHa Unit was specifically developed for research, their inherent strength is not weak. Judging by the combat capabilities of the Terra Continent, they all possess abilities comparable to Texas, and with various high-tech equipment, they are even stronger.
"What has changed?" Fujino asked, looking at the tablet in D11's hand. Her gaze swept across the lines of data on the tablet, and she quickly understood what D11 meant by the changes.
First is Exusiai. As a member of the Laterano race, Exusiai is naturally skilled with firearms, which in this world are called 'Guns' (Chong). This is an interesting point about the Arknights world: the existence of Guns on the Terra Continent was first discovered by the Laterano race, who then took control of them. Yes, although they were discovered and not invented by the Laterano, while the ownership of Guns cannot be entirely attributed to the Laterano race, they are still strictly controlled by them. Most Guns circulating outside are either relics left behind by deceased Laterano members or purchased at high prices from the Laterano. In this world, only Laterano, Umbrella, and a few extremely small entities are close to manufacturing Guns.
Returning to the main topic, Exusiai's problem is actually very simple. What is the main reason Guns are effective? Bullets!
Bullets are the core of Exusiai's problem. Guns are money-burning items, and the bullets used on the Terra Continent are not ordinary ones, but Special Bullets made from originium.
Every bullet represents a considerable expense, especially for someone like Exusiai who consumes large quantities of them at once. Fujino remembered Exusiai complaining to her once when she visited Umbrella that if Umbrella hadn't been so generous, the cost of bullets for that mission would have forced her to live on instant noodles for the foreseeable future.
Based on the Grape Bullets Exusiai is currently consuming in the training ground, if all were converted to the cheapest originium bullets, she would have already spent approximately 100,000 lungmen coin this month.
This shows just how much money using a Gun burns.
"Have D2 modify Exusiai's firearms. I remember she already researched an Energy Conversion Device. Just install that." Fujino said, then looked down. The last issue was Texas's problem.
Compared to Exusiai's issue, Texas's was very simple: just weapon damage.
Texas's weapon is made of composite metal composed of various metals. In terms of hardness, almost no other weapon can compare, except for the Staff Sword customized by SilverAsh of Kjerag for two hundred million, and the weapon acquired by a certain Dragon Girl through a PY Transaction.
However, Texas's weapon has a Heating Function, allowing the blade to reach a terrifying temperature, making it easier to slice through enemies' bodies.
However, using this function causes the blade temperature to become too high, leading to slight deformations in the weapon with every use. Initially, this was hard to detect, but after using it many times—around ten thousand times—it becomes noticeable.
"Add some Memory Metal to Texas's weapon, the highest grade." Fujino said. The highest grade Memory Metal is extremely expensive and powerful. Weapons incorporating the highest grade Memory Metal can recover to their original state, looking brand new, given enough time, provided they weren't utterly destroyed. It was only because Fujino greatly appreciated Texas that she decided to use such expensive metal on her weapon. Otherwise, based on the hundred million lungmen coin provided by Penguin Logistics, she wouldn't receive such treatment. After all, so far, only the weapons belonging to SilverAsh and that Dragon Girl possess the highest grade Memory Metal.
You must know that although the money Penguin Logistics provided was one hundred million, it was for three people, meaning it was only a little over thirty million when split evenly.
"That settles it." Withdrawing her gaze, Fujino glanced at the three people in the training room again and said to D11, "I'll leave these three to you for now. Once their weapons are upgraded, have the three of them come to my office."
After speaking, Fujino reached out and stroked D11's hair. The texture felt nice.
Satisfied with the touch, Fujino turned and walked away, leaving the blushing D11 standing rooted to the spot, unsure what to do.
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