A Vengeful Retribution

Chapter 40: Novastra

3rd POV

The coastal facility had never seemed quieter.

The week of reprieve—filled with drones, pastries, light sparring, and harmless arguments—was drawing to a close.

Morning sunlight reflected off the shuttle's polished hull as the students boarded, their chatter a mix of exhaustion, complaints about how fast time had passed, and promises to meet again during the next free week.

Haruto carried his personal belongings quietly, mostly tucked under his arm, while Laura kept an eye on him, exhaling softly whenever he lingered too long near some minor piece of scenery he found "strategically interesting."

Ichika, Rin, Charlotte, Cecilia, and the others filled the shuttle with more boisterous energy, trading stories of drone crashes, beach sand fights, and the never-ending debates over what pastries were objectively best.

Haruto didn't speak much. He simply observed. Checked wind patterns as the shuttle lifted. Noting signal interference in the navigation system. Quietly planning contingencies for what he already knew awaited at the academy.

Heliobsidivion Corps — Design & Testing Division

Far away, in black-stone corridors lit by harsh fluorescent lights, the XR successors and alternative model proposals were now the center of attention.

Viremont sat behind a large console, his coat's collar raised, fingers steepled in thought. Around him, the testing division—armored specialists, tactical analysts, and field engineers—examined the newly submitted blueprints. Each file projected in 3D, each prototype digitally animated for stress and combat simulations.

A murmured comment drifted through the room.

"This one's too rough..."

Another voice, quieter, added, "...and this one doesn't look like it can sell. Not that it matters much, but still."

Not all of it came from Viremont. The testing personnel weren't simply passive—they were running virtual load simulations, armor penetration tests, countermeasure efficiency evaluations, and tactical integration scenarios. Every frame, every shield module, every weapon system was being analyzed down to the microsecond.

The engineers who had submitted the blueprints stood near the side of the room, quietly observing reactions. Nervous, of course—but they hid it well. Years of protocol and the unspoken lesson from XRA had drilled restraint into them. Every breath measured. Every twitch of worry suppressed.

Viremont finally spoke, voice calm but carrying weight:

"Explain why these passed your internal filters, yet fail in multiple environmental scenarios."

One of the senior test analysts stepped forward, gesturing to a 3D simulation of a sleek, angular frame equipped with modular shields.

"Sir, structurally it performs, but the reaction latency of its adaptive countermeasures is still too high for high-density combat. The energy redistribution on shield impact is uneven across multiple stress points. Pilot integration will suffer."

A second analyst added, "And the weapons array doesn't provide the tactical flexibility we want. If it's sold or deployed as-is, a trained variable like Haruto could exploit it immediately."

Viremont's gaze scanned the group, calm, precise, and cutting.

"So," he said, tone even but final, "we refine. No assumptions. No shortcuts. Every proposed design will be tested, both theoretically and in simulated engagement. If the blueprint is not viable, it fails—period. I don't care if the engineers invested months of work. They will adapt. Or they will not have a career here."