Great, we're doomed now!

If such a thing were found, humanity could easily be corrupted, while AI would be far better off.

"But why the rush? We already have five Ultramen. Although there are many monsters, we can handle them. Captain, you've formed three teams all at once. It's like you're preparing for a war..."

Ye Shou did not answer immediately. He shifted his gaze from Daigo to the deep blue seabed on the holographic projection.

"Just consider me worrying unnecessarily, but I am the captain of the Victory Team, and what I need to do is plan ahead."

His voice echoed for a moment in the empty dock before being drowned out by the distant sounds of welding.

Daigo stood there, looking at Ye Shou's profile, and suddenly realized that the captain had brought him here today not to explain anything, but simply to find someone to talk to.

Kuze Yoshimori... does this man who has everything also harbor some unspeakable troubles in his heart?

Daigo followed Ye Shou's gaze to the deep blue seabed projection, seemingly trying to find some hidden answer from the contour lines and red dots.

...After that, there was no further conversation. After making their rounds, the two turned and headed toward the elevator, the sounds of welding and machinery in the dock gradually fading away.

Before entering the elevator, Daigo looked back one last time. The unfinished submersible skeletons, illuminated by the fire rain, resembled sharp blades... But if so many "swords" were needed, the prey must be an unparalleled behemoth in the world!

Chapter 464: Fujiwara Moeha's Astounding Wisdom (Two Chapters Combined in 8K)

The Fujiwara family's garden was exceptionally quiet under the afternoon sun at three o'clock.

Perhaps because the homeowner frequently travels abroad for business, this place is not the kind of exquisite, secluded Japanese-style garden that only pursues a small, enclosed space. Instead, it has a strong French style, and the pink roses adorning the green plant wall look particularly beautiful.

It's clear that the hostess takes great care of this place; the scenery is elegant and relaxing, making people feel at ease as soon as they are there.

Chika sat upright on a white chair under a parasol, her back straight, her legs together and knees slightly turned to the side, her hands folded on her knees, and her smile perfectly timed.

Today she was wearing a light blue dress, and her hair was unusually styled in an updo, covered by an elegant and fluffy wide-brimmed hat, making her look like a princess who had stepped out of an oil painting.

—It would be even better if we could ignore the restlessness and barely suppressed agitation in her eyes.

Carmilla sat opposite her, her short silver hair gleaming coolly in the sunlight, a stark contrast to the elegant scenery of the garden, like a stark white knight's sword stuck into a cream cake.

Today she was wearing a casual outfit that Qianhua had insisted on giving her during their last shopping trip: a white shirt paired with dark blue trousers, simple and neat. Even sitting still, her rebellious spirit was undeniable.

—Moe-ye next to her had been secretly observing Carmilla ever since she sat down.

Chika's younger sister is just as carefree and fearless as her older sister. She wasn't intimidated by Carmilla's aloof demeanor at all... Looking at her little face, one might think of a young antelope darting wildly in front of a lion.

A maid came over with a tray, placed three cups of black tea and several plates of pastries on it, and then quietly withdrew. Instantly, Chika, like a French doll whose spring had been unwound, completely relaxed.

"Ugh, I'm so tired!"

She leaned back in her chair, turned her neck, and then reached out to massage her shoulders: "My back is so sore from holding that position, I feel like my spine is cracking, and my shoulders... ouch!"

Shoulder?

Carmilla lowered her gaze slightly, her brow furrowing, and she subconsciously glanced at herself as well:

This guy's shoulder pain must be due to something else, right?

Of course, Carmilla didn't care about this small difference. Her figure was already perfect for a woman, and any part that was too prominent would become a weakness on the battlefield. A warrior cannot have too many "features".

Furthermore, this is a curve that only mortals need... She is a dark giant who transcends ordinary life forms and has no need for that to nurture her offspring.

It's just excess fat!

"That's an exaggeration."

Mengye rolled her eyes beside her: "Sister, you've shown your true colors, and it hasn't even been twenty minutes."

"Twenty minutes is a long time! Go and try it. Keep smiling and don't speak loudly—" Chika picked up her teacup again, took a graceful sip, and continued to complain in a manner befitting a "young lady."

Carmilla frowned slightly as she looked at her completely different appearance.

"Why?" she asked. "Why be afraid of a maid?"

“It’s not that I’m afraid! Aunt Mina (the maid) and my mother have a very good relationship, and I don’t want to be nagged again.” Chika explained, “Because our family situation is a bit special, ever since my father joined the cabinet and became a candidate for the next prime minister, my mother has become particularly strict with the three of us sisters. We have to pay attention to our image outside, and we also have to pay attention at home... The rules have accumulated without us even realizing it.”

"Because public figures don't have the right to privacy, and those annoying reporters are so shameless, they don't even know what offense is," Mengye added with a complaint.

For "democratic" countries, elections are like a "sports meet" in which the entire population can participate.

It was actually just for fun, but everyone was happy.

It's unclear when it started, but modern politicians are paying more and more attention to their image, cherishing their reputation even more than idols do, because only in this way can they win over voters as much as possible.

Besides themselves, family is also an important part of a man's image. Therefore, politicians who are married, have children, and have happy families have a much higher win rate than those who are young or divorced, especially in more traditional countries.

(Interestingly, contrary to popular belief, Americans are actually quite "conservative" when it comes to choosing candidates. Past presidents have all been those with "happy families," even Clinton... So those two female candidates were no match for Trump based on their basic profiles.)

Japan is known for being at the forefront of subcultures, giving people a very trendy and open feeling, but if you really understand the country, you will know that the opposite is true - this place is repressive and conservative, the worst in East Asia in this respect.

Even in the most youth-oriented anime, there are often scenes where the parents are politicians (landlords/bourgeoisie), so the children must manage their image and not embarrass their parents... This kind of thing really happens, it's not just wishful thinking!

The Fujiwara family is already very free and open-minded!

Although the three sisters were also restrained by their parents, they were basically only bound by some established family rules, which were not specifically targeted at the children. More importantly, their elders doted on them, so Chika and the others developed a rather cheerful (carefree) personality.

The main problem is with people like Chika; if left completely unchecked, they'll become utterly lawless... so it's definitely time to regulate them.

“Mengye, you are the youngest child, and your family spoils you. My older sister and I don’t get such good treatment.”

She picked up her teacup and took another sip, her voice tinged with helplessness: "Especially for me, my mother said that I am going to be a matriarch of a family in the future, and I absolutely cannot be as indulgent as before. I must become more mature."

"...Is this showing off?"

Meng Ye's eyes twitched slightly: "If you're provoking me, then I'll accept it!"

"Madam?"

Ignoring the swordplay between the two sisters, Carmilla repeated herself. Although she had learned a lot of common sense, she was still somewhat unfamiliar with such terms.

"What do you mean? Do you mean you want to take over the reins of the family from Mother?"

"Well……"

Chika blushed slightly, her fingers gently tracing the rim of the teacup. Her lips twitched as if she wanted to say something but swallowed it back. In the end, she simply lowered her head, her voice becoming much softer than before.

"It's still...it's still nothing. Xiaoshou hasn't said it himself...Mom is just planning for the future."

Moeha angrily shoved a cookie into her mouth, mumbling, "Planning for the future? Sister, you're clearly secretly pleased! If you don't want to, then I'll just accept it without hesitation. Anyway, the Fujiwara family is destined to have a daughter change her surname to Kuse, so I don't mind sacrificing myself~"

Chika suddenly looked up: "Moe-ye!"

“That’s just how it is.” Moeha rolled her eyes. “Why is it that we’re both daughters of the Fujiwara family, but my older sister can marry the eldest brother of the Hise family? He’s handsome and gentle, and he’s been my prince charming since the beginning…”

As a result, just because I was born two years late, I never get any good things!

"You're going too far... Did you add alcohol to this chocolate filling?"

Chika quickly told her to shut up and not to speak recklessly, and secretly glanced at Carmilla's reaction.

Fortunately, Carmilla didn't pay attention to the sisters' bickering; she picked up her cup of black tea and savored it.

She brought the rim of the cup to her lips, paused slightly, and the steam carrying the aroma of tea entered her nostrils and spread throughout her mouth... She closed her eyes and revealed a relaxed smile.

After a month, she was able to distinguish between Darjeeling and Ceylon tea, smell the refreshing aroma of Earl Grey tea, and even became a tea expert herself.

“I don’t understand,” Carmilla said calmly, setting down her teacup. “Human family relationships are really complicated.”

Chika and Moeha looked at her at the same time. Carmilla raised her eyes and said, "You... your power and status are higher than the maids and your mother. Why are you afraid of them? If you have any objections, just suppress them."

These words stunned both sisters.

Chika opened her mouth, her first reaction was to laugh... but Carmilla's eyes were serious.

“You are very strong,” she said in her usual calm tone. “You don’t need to submit to anyone, especially not on your own territory, or in a home, where they should be the ones respecting you.”

Chika and Moeha exchanged a glance, and the younger sister muttered, "So cool... Foreigners really do think differently from Japanese people."

“Moe, I don’t think it’s because of the ‘foreigner’.”

The Giantess's thought process is too simplistic:

She could see that Chika's life energy was higher than that of ordinary people, which was due to her cultivation of Ripple and the awakening of her Stand. Although she couldn't compare to professional combatants, she could definitely roam freely at home.

Chika, who is relatively strong, actually has to bow down to the "weak," which is something Carmilla cannot understand.

"I'm a little curious... Miss Carmilla, if you have a child in the future, how will you raise him/her? What if he/she is stronger than you?"

"Ok?"

Speaking of this, Carmilla's mind flashed with the image of Trigger Boy—

"If the child misbehaves, just whip him!"

"..."

What a strict mother, so traditional!

It looks very dangerous for her child!

Chika cleared her throat and said with the seriousness of answering a question in class, "First of all, Miss Carmilla, you may have some misunderstandings about family relationships."

In human society, children generally have no right to defy their parents, especially in traditional families like ours, where filial piety is fundamentally the most basic requirement. Although my mother's rules were indeed a bit annoying, she meant well for us, and I know that in my heart.

She held up her finger: "As for the maids, it's not a matter of status. Aunt Mina has worked in our family for over twenty years, and her status is extraordinary."

"Maid" is a more modern term, since the law prohibits keeping retainers.

The biggest difference between families like the Fujiwara, Kamakura, and Kuze, and those newly rich who suddenly rise to prominence, lies in their "connections."

It's not just about exchanging benefits—that kind of thing can be done with money and status. Snobbish people are like strippers in bars, always putting on a fawning smile for everyone. Can you really rely on someone like that when it matters?

The reason why these old-money families, Chinese, and aristocratic families have been able to survive for generations and even rise again after a change of national rule is that the biggest reliance is the community of interests built up by generations of people.

This is an invisible but real closed society that still follows the relationship between "master" and "vassal" even in modern times, and this is not uncommon.

Like that maid auntie just now, her parents and grandparents may have also worked for the Fujiwara family, or even the whole family. Their children will also have the same job in the future. It's an iron rice bowl that's even more secure than the system itself... Kaguya, the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family next door, and her maid, Hayasaka Ai, have this kind of relationship.

The host family won't put on airs with such people; on the contrary, they'll try to be as friendly as possible with them.

Chika lowered her hand and smiled: "Besides, if I'm going to stand by Koshou's side in the future, I should learn these things anyway~ Hehe~"

Carmilla was silent for a few seconds, then shook her head.

"I still don't understand."

Mengye whispered to Qianhua, "Sister, where did you meet her?"

"They came from a very far place."

"What a hassle!"

Carmilla picked up her teacup again, took a sip, and then put it down: "It doesn't matter, it has nothing to do with me anyway, I don't have a family."