"Really? Thank you, Teacher!" Artoria's eyes lit up instantly, as if filled with stars.
She knew that the "little gadgets" and "interesting little things" Teacher Hexi spoke of were definitely no small matter; there must have been a major breakthrough!
As for the "more special body" that her teacher had vaguely mentioned, while curious, she felt more trust and anticipation.
Watching her disciple's expression turn from cloudy to sunny in an instant, filled with reliance and adoration, Hexi felt secretly pleased, but on the surface, she just waved her hand casually: "It's a small matter."
"By the way, besides tinkering with Minerva's body, what else have you been researching lately? I saw that the resource requests you submitted contain quite a few rare minerals and energy crystals, and the quantity is not small. What big project are you working on again?"
Speaking of this, a trace of hesitation and embarrassment appeared on Artoria's face. She twisted the corner of her clothes with her fingers, and her voice quieted down: "Teacher... I, I am trying to build some basic industrial modules and energy cores within my own knowledge system... It's, um... that set of things belonging to the technology tree of my hometown."
She raised her head and gathered her courage to look at Hexi: "Teacher, I know that Angel technology is extremely powerful and has always been helping me."
"But... the knowledge system I brought, its development model... is a bit special. It focuses more on large-scale, standardized, modular production and rapid iteration, requiring massive amounts of basic resources and energy for initial investment to build a complete 'assembly line' and 'technology tree foundation.' Simply put... it's a bit 'resource-hungry'..."
Artoria's voice grew quieter as she spoke, and her head lowered: "Always using Angel resources... isn't very good. So, so I was thinking... Teacher, do you know of any... uninhabited, resource-rich, desolate galaxies or Planets that wouldn't affect the ecosystem of the Known Universe? I want to apply for one... to use as a Base for my own research and development, so I won't take up too much of the Celestial City's..."
Before she could finish speaking, she felt her forehead being lightly flicked by something. It didn't hurt, but it was very sudden.
"Ouch!" Artoria covered her forehead, looked up blankly, and saw Hexi's projection "glaring" fiercely at her, her finger still maintaining the flicking posture.
"Little idiot! Little blockhead!" Hexi said "pouting," but the smile in her eyes was about to overflow. "Still being formal with me? Asking for a Planet? Worried about using resources?"
She reached out, and although it was just a projection, she made a very realistic gesture of ruffling Artoria's hair across the void: "Listen to me, little Artoria! Your research is your business, but it's also the Angel Civilization's business! Do you realize how valuable the knowledge you brought is to the Angels? Never mind just using some resources, even if we emptied half of the Celestial City's warehouses for you to mess around with, as long as you can produce results, it's worth it! What's more..."
Hexi's tone softened, carrying an unquestionable gentleness and dominance: "You are now the wielder of the 'star dome,' my student, the most honorable guest of the Angel Civilization, and more importantly... our family. Family research using family resources—what's wrong with that? It's only natural! Don't ever say such formal things again! Whatever you need, go directly to the logistics department and ask for it! Use my name! If anyone dares not to give it to you, or dares to nag, just watch how I deal with them!"
She paused and added: "Forget about just research, even if you want to use those resources to build the most magnificent and powerful body in the World for your Minerva, or build a fleet for yourself to play with, that's fine! Do you understand?"
Artoria was left dizzy by Hexi's series of "domineering declarations" and "head-ruffling attacks." Her heart felt as warm as if she were soaking in a hot spring, and her nose felt a bit sore. She nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion: "Mm! I understand, Teacher! Thank you..."
"What are you thanking me for!" Hexi hummed "dissatisfiedly," rubbing her non-existent sleeves as if she had just "severely" lectured her disobedient disciple, looking very satisfied. She skillfully changed the subject, returning to her usual lazy and gossipy tone:
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about that. Have you been bored staying in the Celestial City lately? The Silver Moon Observatory is nice, but it gets boring after a while, right? Do you want to go out with Teacher for a stroll?"
"Go out? Where to?" Artoria was indeed attracted by the attention and asked, blinking her eyes.
"Earth!" Hexi said with a smile, like a big bad wolf tempting Little Red Riding Hood. "I remember you said before that your hometown is very similar to Earth—both are blue Planets with oceans, land, and all kinds of life and civilizations... And you seemed to have mentioned a delicacy called 'hot pot'? You said it was especially delicious, steaming hot, with all kinds of ingredients dipped into it..."
She deliberately sniffed and showed a yearning expression: "I've been curious for a long time! How about it, do you want to go back and take a look? By the way, take Teacher to taste that 'hot pot'? My treat!"
"Earth... hot pot..." Artoria's eyes instantly became brighter, like two little stars. She had been in this World for so long, and although she had integrated into the Angel Civilization, deep down, she always had a special homesickness for that similar blue Planet. Not to mention, she could take Teacher Hexi to taste the delicacy she had missed for so long...
Watching her little face instantly filled with the words "want to go," Hexi was overjoyed inside, but on her face, she wore an "I knew it" expression. She extended a slender finger and tapped the tip of Artoria's nose: "Little glutton, your eyes light up as soon as food is mentioned. I knew you wanted to go!"
Artoria blushed with some embarrassment, but then she thought of something and asked with some concern: "But Teacher, isn't Earth... heard to be very chaotic? Demons, Taotie... and the Super Seminary, the God of Death Karl... If we go... will there be danger? Or will we interfere with something?"
Watching her disciple, who obviously wanted to go but was trying hard to restrain herself and think of her, Hexi's heart softened even more. She put away her playful expression, her tone calm but carrying unparalleled confidence:
"Chaotic? There are some clowns making trouble. But don't worry. The Angels have their own plans and ways of dealing with things. Karl likes to hide behind the scenes and write scripts, so let him write. Morgana likes to act, so let her act. The Super Seminary likes to watch from the sidelines, so let them watch. We are going this time mainly to see, to stroll around, and by the way... to remind some actors who don't follow the rules, or rather..."
Hexi's mouth curved into a meaningful, somewhat cunning, and domineering smile: "Add some 'plot' that we Angels like to this play. As for danger?"
She looked at Artoria, her eyes gentle but firm: "With Teacher here, with the Angels here, let alone a small Earth, even if you want to visit the Death Song Academy in the Styx Galaxy, Teacher can take you in swaggeringly and make that pervert Karl brew good tea to entertain you. However..."
Hexi changed the subject and revealed that little fox expression of having successfully "schemed": "Since we are going, we can't go empty-handed, or go so 'plainly.' Although there is no need to worry about safety, when people from our Angel family go out, they still need some style. Whatever equipment, weapons, or fun little gadgets you need, feel free to go to the logistics department and pick them out, just say I said so. As it happens, I have also prepared a little 'gift' for you, which I will give you on the way, as a 'Earth Travel Set' from your master... um."
"Also," Hexi's smile became more mysterious and teasing, "the 'little thing' I mentioned earlier about building a more special body for your Minerva will also be given to you. For this body, I have slightly improved the design concept and added some new modules regarding 'deep simulation and feedback of sensory information'..."
She deliberately paused, and seeing Artoria curiously perk up her ears, she said slowly: "Simply put, it will allow Minerva to better perceive this World. Not just the basics like vision, hearing, and touch, but also... um... more delicate 'chemical perception' and 'pheromone interaction simulation.' For example..."
Hexi leaned closer. Although it was a projection, it made Artoria feel as if the teacher's breath was right by her ear, carrying a warm smile and a hint of imperceptible teasing: "For example, in the future, when she eats hot pot with you, she will not only be able to'see' the color of the hot pot and'smell' the aroma of the hot pot, but also truly 'taste' the different layers of numbing, spicy, fresh, and fragrant! Even..."
She blinked, leaving a pause that invited infinite imagination: "She can also more truly feel... the unique 'taste' and 'touch' brought by certain more 'intimate' contacts. For example... certain ways of expressing joy and love?"
Artoria was listening carefully at first, happy that Minerva would be able to better experience the World, but when she heard the latter part, especially "more intimate contact" and "ways of expressing joy and love," she was blank at first, then suddenly thought of something. Her little face "popped" and turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye, like a ripe apple, and even the tips of her ears were dyed pink.
"Te... Teacher! You! What are you saying!" She stammered, her eyes drifting, not daring to look at Hexi's teasing smile at all. What "tasting the flavor," what "intimate contact"... Could the teacher be referring to... is... that? Oh my god! How could the teacher research this! And, and specifically add it in?!
Watching her disciple's adorable appearance, so shy she was about to smoke and at a loss, Hexi finally couldn't help but "pfft" and laughed out loud, her laughter like flowing clear springs, full of joy.
"Hahaha... Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore." Hexi wiped away non-existent tears of laughter. "Anyway, the things are given to you; how to use them is up to you and Minerva. Master just provided the 'possibilities'! Alright, the data and permissions have all been sent to you; take a look yourself. When things are arranged on Earth, I'll call you. Remember, whatever you want to buy, whatever you want to bring, just go to the logistics department, don't be polite! Otherwise, Teacher will be angry!"
After finishing, without waiting for Artoria to react from her shame and anger, Hexi's projection disappeared with a "biu" and a mischievous smile of success, leaving behind her stunned, adorable disciple, whose face was bright red and whose head was almost emitting steam, alone in the laboratory, feeling flustered.
After a long while, Artoria slowly recovered, covering her burning cheeks, and stamped her feet in shame and annoyance: "Teacher is really! Too... too bad!"
But when she opened the file sent by Hexi, marked "Minerva Body Upgrade Module (Sensory Enhancement Specialized Type)" and "Warm Tips and Equipment List for Earth Travel," the corners of her mouth couldn't help but slowly lift into a sweet and helpless, warm smile—the smile of a happy little disciple who was completely controlled by her own eccentric master.
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