230: Stepping into the territory of the male beast

The Emperor walked in front, leading his Silver Armored Knights.

Tu Nan followed, with Shou behind her.

James and Lance were there too.

She hadn't even appeared at the Imperial Palace's Grand Court Assembly yet, but here she was, participating in a military strategy meeting.

Incredible.

Your Majesty's flagship was like an aerial fortress; soldiers holding weapons saluted him all along the way.

They were all elite frontline warriors. Compared to the proper posture of the Imperial Guard in the palace, these guards appeared more fierce, their entire bodies exuding a cold light tempered on the battlefield.

Layers of doors opened before Tu Nan's eyes.

Until they reached the end of the corridor, where the silver-white door slid open to both sides in front of her.

The noisy discussion inside fell silent in that instant.

The Emperor turned back a moment before stepping through the door, scrutinizing Tu Nan and revealing a satisfied, imperceptible smile.

"Are you ready?"

Tu Nan took a deep breath and gave him an affirmative smile.

Although it was impossible to be ready in such a short time, but... whatever!

A new world was opening up to her.

Here she comes!

"Your Majesty!"

Everyone stood up in unison to welcome The Emperor's arrival.

"Sit."

The Emperor walked to the head seat and sat down. Looking at Tu Nan who followed him in, he casually pointed to a seat in the back row on his right side, signaling to her.

"Go there."

Everyone's gaze fell upon this special attendee, and a wave of whispers inevitably broke out in the meeting hall.

Kong Jiamu sat in the first row of the long table, to The Emperor's left. Tu Nan and her group were walking to the side opposite him.

An older colleague beside him nudged him with an elbow, smiling.

"What's going on?" the colleague inquired in a low voice.

Those of sufficient rank all knew that he had been saved by Your Majesty and a confidante, and had even been promoted to fatherhood.

Kong Jiamu turned his head coldly. "It has nothing to do with me." Yet, the corner of his eye betrayed a hint of hesitation.

The man shook his head in amusement, thinking he was just avoiding suspicion.

But since this was under Your Majesty's nose, he didn't speak again.

"Your Majesty, this is a strategy meeting. May I ask who this is?"

As a Legion Commander, Leon asked the question in everyone's hearts.

"Tu Nan, Third-Class Female Official, working in the Medical Institute on special research. James, Imperial Chief Medical Officer. Lance, Researcher. They are attending today's meeting."

"Let's begin."

He gave no further opportunity for others to inquire. After introducing the three, he directly opened the meeting.

Leon frowned.

Your Majesty had put forward their official titles. True, why would he think Your Majesty would bring Kong Jiamu's 'lover'?

Although it wasn't quite appropriate, it was barely justifiable.

Offering no further advice, Leon sat back down.

One by one, the agenda items for the meeting were presented, discussed, and decided.

They talked about the gains and losses, battle casualties, and subsequent arrangements of many recent battles.

But Tu Nan could hear that, more importantly, through the analysis of these small-scale battles, they were rehearsing and advancing the direction of the entire war against the Star Worms.

This was strategy.

"Don't be eager for quick success. Don't worry about why the Star Worms have gathered in such large numbers; just try your best to wipe out their effective strength this time."

The Emperor's voice was steady.

"Don't lose the big picture for small gains. This won't end in the short term."

"Be prepared. It could be one year, but more likely three. We must fight even if it takes ten years."

As he spoke, his tone turned cold.

"I have come here personally not to watch you engage in seeking grand achievements. I can endure, and you must remain even more calm."

"Hit them hard enough this time that it lasts for ten, twenty, or preferably thirty years."

Everyone grasped Your Majesty's intention.

He was determined to eliminate as many of these Star Worms as possible—creatures that usually scurried everywhere but had unexpectedly gathered in large numbers this time.

Regardless of the cost, regardless of the time.

But Tu Nan thought to herself that everyone, starting from The Emperor, took it for granted that it was impossible to completely solve the Star Worm problem.

The best possibility Your Majesty proposed was thirty years of stability.

Why?

"Yes, Your Majesty! We have that resolve."

Legion Commander Leon, as the highest-ranking officer present besides The Emperor, accepted the order.

"Orders received!" "Orders received!"

Several other voices rang out, with the figures of different people on the tabletop screens speaking simultaneously.

So all seven Legion Commanders were present; this was a remote synchronized meeting.

"Your Majesty, regarding the topic I raised with you last time, since everyone is here today, shall we discuss it together?" Legion Commander Leon asked sincerely.

The Emperor glanced at Tu Nan.

Her? This topic was related to her? Was that why Your Majesty had her attend the meeting?

Tu Nan pricked up her ears to listen carefully to Leon's report.

"Regardless of whether we seek stability, the casualties of soldiers in a war of this scale are very high," Leon said with great distress.

Moreover, reinforcements from other legions hadn't fully arrived yet. Currently, it was his Seventh Legion's personnel being depleted.

"In this kind of war of attrition, personnel are reduced very quickly. I've learned that some research institutes have made Breakthroughs in Artificial Human technology, and adult beastmen can be produced directly in three months."

"You see, I have the confidence to train them in three months so they can go directly to the battlefield. As a weapon, this can greatly reduce soldier casualties!"

Leon's tone was fanatical. He had been ecstatic after learning about this technology.

Such great technology; he had originally wanted Your Majesty to grant him special permission to use it first. Not only would it strengthen his Seventh Military District, but it would also allow him to better earn military merits and advance further.

But after reporting to Your Majesty last time, he was nonchalantly told by Your Majesty to discuss it publicly at this meeting.

Artificial Humans?

Tu Nan hadn't expected that this was what The Emperor wanted her to hear.

Her and Hain's investigation had gradually pointed toward a core figure in the military, but she hadn't expected Legion Commander Leon to jump out at this moment.

To throw everything out in the open.

Exclamations erupted throughout the venue; most hadn't expected to hear such a "strategy."

Tu Nan stood up directly.

"Legion Commander Leon, sorry to interrupt you. Are the Artificial Humans you mentioned clones?"

They had found two types.

One type was clones, whose genes would quickly collapse; the other was Artificial Humans with edited genes, like the doll Sophia, but they had an uncontrollable risk of mutation.

Leon was displeased that his report was interrupted, but he noticed The Emperor looking at the Female Official with a smile, clearly intending to let her speak.

He had no choice but to hear what this Female Beast had to say.

"clones? Yes, your term is very accurate. Indeed, these Artificial Humans are indeed taken from existing genetic samples; otherwise, the cultivation time would be too long and not cost-effective."

"Are you sure they can be used? This technology isn't new. If I may remind you, the Foster Mother is the biggest application of this technology. But even if the Foster Mother only cultivates embryos and spends almost the same amount of time being raised in the Nursery, their genes still collapse easily."

"Their only function is reproduction, and their bodies are very weak. Can this be considered a success?"

"This technology has been around for two hundred years, and it's only reached this level."

"How can you be sure that cloning technology is mature now?"

Leon was surprised that Tu Nan actually knew quite a bit about this field.

But... "So what if the technology isn't completely mature?"

"They're just consumables anyway."

"If they collapse, they collapse. Just produce more."

Many generals nodded.

That's right. Although not exactly the same, it's just like weapons—if the yield rate isn't high, as long as you keep using and investing...

Stable production would naturally follow.

Tu Nan's smile was very cold.

Her heart, which hadn't been excited for a long time, was once again filled with anger.

Look at these arrogant people.

Always like this, treating the creation of life so flippantly.

Tu Nan looked at those joyful Male Beasts and heard Lance's heavy breathing behind her... She slowly turned her head and looked at The Emperor again.

Your Majesty's expression hadn't changed at all since a moment ago.