Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Current State of Tool People Development
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Winter passed, and autumn arrived.
In Siberia, there were no seasons of spring or summer; only extreme cold and slightly less frigid weather.
Now it was entering the slightly milder phase.
The children from the orphanage—Anti-Entropy's future stars and Zeke's designated tools—also became somewhat livelier due to this change.
For instance, Bronya began her ventures in modifying assault rifles and RPGs, adding many engaging new elements to the training camp for recruits.
And then there was Seele Vollerei, the delicate girl who shattered quantum gates with seven punches. She finally warmed up to Zeke, often trailing behind him and calling him "Zeke-nii"—especially when Bronya was out training new soldiers, leaving her feeling neglected.
Another example were the Vodka Sisters bursting into Zeke's atelier right now.
"Zeke, Zeke! Quick, check out this new song I composed—it's gonna be a hit!"
"That fool Rozaliya, despite your voice teacher constantly criticizing you, you still dare to bother Zeke... Zeke, if you need help disciplining her, Liliya is here to assist."
"Huh? Didn't you tell me to come get Zeke's opinion?"
"Liliya wouldn't do that! Rozaliya's trying to scapegoat her and avoid punishment by pinning the blame on Liliya. Zeke is too smart to fall for it, right?"
Zeke released another upgraded worker bee sub-unit from his hand, then watched as the two inexplicably rolled onto the floor, tearing at each other.
Hm, yes—Zeke had indeed hired them a voice teacher.
To be precise, he assembled an entire professional team dedicated to training aspiring idols, along with establishing Vodka Twins Entertainment Ltd., solely focused on supporting their dreams of stardom.
This was part of his psychological strategy.
Combined with unlimited supplies of gourmet snacks and fashionable clothes, Zeke has now surpassed Mother Cocolia, whom Rozaliya once considered the kindest person in the world, becoming the one who cares most for her.
Liliya never said so explicitly, but her attitude generally aligned with Rozaliya's sentiments.
The returns for Zeke included: firstly, receiving ninety percent of their income once they became idols, while the remaining ten percent, after deducting various operational costs, would constitute their wages; secondly, obtaining blood samples from them monthly, alongside Siegfried's and Kiana's, to contribute towards cracking Honkai Beast gene fusion technology.
"Liliya, Rozaliya, stop fooling around."
Entering with tea and snacks, Seele gently chided the twins wrestling on the floor.
"It's all Liliya's fault!"
"No way! Rozaliya started it first."
As the sisters continued their squabble, Seele set down the tray of treats.
Instantly, they separated, gathered around the snacks, and began munching harmoniously, taking turns between them.
"You two, don't always disturb Zeke while he's working."
"Yes," came two obedient responses—one lively, one expressionless—in unison.
But Seele knew that soon enough, they'd revert to their old ways. They were textbook examples of insincere apologies followed by no change whatsoever.
Shaking her head, she brought the refreshments over to Zeke, smiling softly as she said,
"Zeke, here are some pastries I just made. Please try them and let me know how they taste."
Zeke picked up a piece as instructed, popped it into his mouth, and chewed thoughtfully.
"Hmm... It's quite good for a kid's taste, but a bit too sweet for me. The texture is decent though; you've nailed the flour ratio and mixing process. However, the baking timing fell short, lacking crispness. On a scale of 10, I'll give it a 7.5. There's still room for improvement."
Zeke delivered his honest assessment, expressionless.
The smile on Seele's face grew warmer as she nodded obediently.
"Thank you, Seele will keep working hard."
"Yes, keep at it."
Zeke gently patted her dark blue hair, eliciting a delighted yet bashful grin from Seele.
Indeed, without realizing it, Bronya and Seele's yuri path had subtly deviated.
In Zeke's view, there were reasons behind the original emotional development trajectory.
For Bronya, living as the ruthless assassin queen amidst darkness and cold, she had never encountered such a fragile, harmless, and innocent girl evoking strong protective instincts. For Seele, feeling insecure herself, she had never met anyone like Bronya—a cool, dependable, and reassuringly secure protagonist-type character.
On one hand, their compatibility was simply too perfect; on the other, they had limited experience with relationships and spent every day inseparably together. It's no wonder that unusual feelings began to develop between them!
Now, Bronya has gained two new playmates, while Sin... unlike her original trajectory towards becoming Yandere and twisted, she now appears as a gentle and adorable little princess—similar to Seele. Even her clinginess serves as an effective tool for melting Bronya's icy exterior.
Don't be fooled by Bronya's constant disapproval; if she truly disliked it, she would have already unleashed her sharp tongue, driving Sin into self-isolation. The phrase "all bark, no bite" perfectly describes Bronya at this moment.
As for Seele, upon meeting Zeke—a cooler, more handsome, dependable, and seemingly invincible older boy—she found someone akin to Bronya in his reserved demeanor and minimal expressions. Yet when he dotes on others, his warmth is unmistakable and all-encompassing.
In short, their world is no longer confined solely to each other.
Although their initial bond remains strong, keeping their relationship intimate, it no longer hurtles like an unstoppable train towards that forbidden yet enchanting realm. Instead, it evolves with newfound possibilities.
Zeke carefully observed each of the three girls before him, silently strategizing in his mind.
Rozaliya and Liliya would serve as Zeke's future money-making tools and long-term sources for experimental subjects.
As he stepped into becoming an Enforcer, establishing his influence and faction, Zeke found himself somewhat strapped for cash. Theft and robbery were ultimately unreliable methods. To maintain a substantial financial flow, capitalist strategies were necessary—far more efficient and stable than petty crimes.
What? You're worried they might not become successful?
No one can resist the allure of tender, white thighs encased in sheer stockings! With their contrasting personalities—one emotionless, the other spirited—and their unique identity as red-blue twin sisters, even if they struggle with composing music, Zeke could temporarily adopt the role of a transmigrator plagiarist, providing them with quality songs and scripts. Unless all otaku suddenly vanish from existence, there's no way they won't skyrocket to fame!
As for Seele Vollerei, the Black Knight who shattered the Sea of Quanta with seven punches, suspected to be this era's candidate for Herrscher of Death... For now, let's nurture her as a little chef. After all, she enjoys it; we can explore her specific utility gradually over time.
"Crunch!"
Zeke munched on the snack, his eyes narrowing contentedly.
"Oh! These are Seele's pastries! Let go of that plate, I'll take care of it!" A white-haired whirlwind charged towards him at that moment.
Zeke sidestepped and raised his leg high. As the white-haired ball approached him, he swiftly stomped down.
"Thud!"
With impeccable precision, Zeke's foot landed squarely on Kiana's back, pressing her face to the floor.
"Bronya, Sin, why are you back so early? Did today's training end already, or do you have other plans?"
"Zeke?" Sin eagerly bounded over first, stepping right across Kiana's small rear and intentionally shoving Seele aside. Then, she casually draped herself around one of Zeke's arms, beaming sweetly.
"Oh, Seele, you're here too."
Noticing Seele's evident fear of Sin, Bronya offered her a gentle smile.
"Welcome back, Big Sister Bronya."
"Yes... It's not that the training ended for today; rather, it's time for them to graduate from the camp. Foolish Kiana wants a grand graduation ceremony—what's your take on this?" After acknowledging Seele, Bronya turned to Zeke, asking coolly.
Zeke glanced at the white head beneath his foot and those short legs weakly kicking against the ground—not quite accurate; they seemed slightly longer now, with a fuller, more rounded appearance. Watching them flail like this... was actually quite cute.
"Graduation ceremony?" Zeke pondered for a moment before glancing at Sin.
Sin responded with a sweet smile, "I'm up for anything as long as I'm with Zeke and Bronya."
Zeke considered it briefly; he had been quite busy lately, so finding an opportunity to bond with his tools and increase their intimacy wouldn't be amiss.
"Contact Cocolia and casually inquire if Dr. Tesla is available," Zeke instructed Bronya. "Tonight, let's have a barbecue party right here in the garden."
"Yes, Sir!" Bronya stood at attention, saluting—partly motivated by her newly acquired Homu plushie and rare DVD collection.
Zeke nodded inwardly.
In truth, such trivial matters could easily be handled by Icarus, but nurturing the professionalism of a capable assistant should indeed start from these small tasks. Look, she's already showing promising progress!
"Woo-hoo~"
From the ground, Kiana's strained voice echoed, accompanied by a shaky victory sign raised high.
Then Zeke moved his foot aside.
Honestly, always acting so boisterous—when will this child ever grow up?