“Mechanist, you didn't go to Rhodes Island.”

In the Meland Foundation’s secret warehouse in Trimounts, Xing Chen saw a familiar figure.

“Rhodes Island, that pharmaceutical company, what would I go there for? Can they offer me a project like this weapon guidance system?”

For Xing Chen’s anti-ship nuclear missile research, Columbia had almost mobilized the nation's most brilliant scholars, whose research fields spanned various aspects.

As for secrecy, once these scholars touched the plan, they would be controlled by the military.

For scholars living in a country like Columbia, which champions technological innovation, being able to participate in a groundbreaking project, things like freedom didn't seem so important.

“I heard that you and Ms. Theresa were the initial proposers of this project…” The Mechanist suddenly stepped forward, and other scientists followed.

“What's wrong?” Xing Chen involuntarily took a step back, wondering if they opposed the use of this weapon.

There were many such geniuses on his side.

“Could you sign for us?” The giraffe reverently offered a pen and paper. “Your ideas transcend this era; we have all gained so many advanced concepts from them.”

Xing Chen hadn't expected the other party wanted his autograph, so he turned to ask Theresa's opinion.

If he signed, Theresa would certainly follow suit.

He was still somewhat wary of signing things; the last time he submitted an expense report for his mentor, the clerk wrote his name, and he received several calls asking questions.

Theresa naturally agreed; being approachable, she wasn't so aloof.

“Mr. Xing Chen, Ms. Theresa, we have one more question: do you two have any other vertical or horizontal research projects coming up?”

“Of course, there are countless such projects,” Xing Chen said, pointing upwards, “but this is the ultimate goal.”

“Are you referring to Ms. Kristen’s aerospace program?”

“No, it’s about bringing all of Terra into the interstellar age.”

...After the scientists left, only Xing Chen and Theresa remained in the secret warehouse, along with enough cruise anti-ship nuclear missiles to completely wipe out Victoria's high-speed fleet.

Not all of these missiles would be used at once, as Kazdel currently lacked production capabilities and a portion had to be retained as a deterrent.

So, how many to fire, and at whom, was a very important topic.

Xing Chen already had an idea for this.

“Alright, it’s almost time,” Theresa said to Xing Chen after glancing at her watch, then linked her arm through his. “She’s here.”

The descending elevator stopped smoothly. After a “ding,” several women in long dresses and black veils emerged.

“Theresa, you really found a boyfriend!”

“Shh, don’t shout so loudly, Lama Lien.”

At this, Lama Lien’s image of being mature and steady completely collapsed in Xing Chen’s mind.

The Arch-Banshee quickly approached Xing Chen. Looking at the approaching giant, Xing Chen tried to maintain distance out of politeness, but his arm was clamped by Theresa and he couldn't move.

“Oh, what a nice feel,” Lama Lien directly pinched Xing Chen’s face. “I thought you were teasing me when you said you had a boyfriend.”

“Didn’t I send you a picture?” With a forceful pull from Theresa, Xing Chen escaped the Arch-Banshee’s clutches.

“That picture really looked like the Doctor after dyeing his hair,” Lama Lien said, and at the mention of the Doctor, she seemed to recall something. “By the way, Theresa, how is the Doctor doing now?”

“Xing Chen and I lived with him for a while; he’s doing very well and is currently working for the Reunion Movement.”

Lama Lien made an exaggerated “Oh” expression.

“So Bozdcasti was telling the truth,” the Arch-Banshee said, covering her mouth with her hand and smiling mischievously.

Theresa seemed a bit impatient and gently tapped the workbench with her other hand.

Seeing this, Lama Lien also dropped her un-serious demeanor.

She truly was the mother of the Wheelchair Racing Champion; when serious, she had immense gravitas, but when not, she was a total goofball.

“Theresa, what exactly happened to you? That day, all of us heard the declaration of the collective souls.”

“If I told you I was set up and sent to another world, would you believe me?”

“There are many things in this world that we still don’t know,” Lama Lien said, then turned to glance at Xing Chen. “What do we do next?”

“It’s simple, just like two hundred years ago: give the allied forces a beating and save our Kazdel.”

The Theresa of two hundred years later always wore a compassionate and benevolent expression, and other short-lived races might have forgotten her ruthlessness two hundred years ago when she turned Kazdel into a sorcery altar, killing a large number of allied soldiers in one fell swoop.

“Just with this?” Lama Lien caressed the casing of the anti-ship missile.

“The power of the Shard is still uncertain, and the technological iteration of Victoria’s high-speed warships is also unknown. I am very worried about whether artificial catastrophes can truly destroy the latest landships.”

“Yes, we have fallen behind the other nations for too long. The era of confronting other nations with sorcery is almost over.”

Some light landships were still relatively fragile against catastrophes or large-scale sorcery, like Duke Chester’s flagship, which survived a catastrophe and could even hold out against the siege of the Carrion Eaters until reinforcements arrived.

If development continued, armored vehicles capable of withstanding catastrophes would eventually emerge.

By then, the Sarkaz’s last advantage would be completely lost.

“But this time, we have him.” Theresa embraced Xing Chen, intimately pressing close to him.

“I heard Bozdcasti mention him,” Lama Lien said, extending her hand to Xing Chen. “Hello, let me formally introduce myself. I am Lama Lien, Mistress of the Banshee River Valley, and former Lord of the Royal Court of the Death Knell Court.”

“Hello, I’m Xing Chen,” Xing Chen also extended his hand. He tried to focus his gaze on Lama Lien’s veil, but the gravity was too strong.

Perhaps even bigger than Xiao Te.

“You really are very similar to the Doctor,” Lama Lien said with a smile.

Xing Chen had previously been told he was somewhat neutral in appearance, and he thought those people were talking nonsense.

“But Theresis and the Military Commission might not trust him.”

“Did you forget how we established the Military Commission, Lama Lien?”

“Hahaha, no wonder you’re bringing in both the Wendigo and the Revenant.”

“Actually, there are also the Cyclops, but their Royal Court hasn’t been in contact with Kazdel for too long, so I only found one representative.”

The birth of a Demon King had nothing to do with strength, but every Demon King whose name was etched in history was undoubtedly among the strongest of the Sarkaz.

And Theresa was one of the strongest sorcerers among the contemporary Sarkaz. Her achievements were hard-won through battle.

“By the way, Lama Lien, have you arranged the route to the Military Commission?”

After Xiao Te asked, the accompanying elite Banshee sorcerers immediately produced two Banshee-style long dresses and cloaks imbued with incantations.

“Hmm, not bad, a classic River Valley design. What about Xing Chen’s?”

“We don’t have men’s clothing over there. I thought you would only bring at most one handmaiden, so I…” Lama Lien said, staring at Xing Chen’s face.

“With some dressing up, it might not be impossible…”