Main Objectives:
Obtain dominion over the world.
Advance the level of civilization.
Side Objectives:
Secure a territory. (Depending on circumstance and timing, it could be an empire—or merely a legion.)
Establish an industrial base.
Develop productive capacity.
Join an official faction or rebel to create an independent one.
...
It was, after all, a self-made checklist that Selene had written for herself—a list of goals to guide her actions. After all, one needed objectives and structure to move forward. Wandering aimlessly was never her style.
Moreover, as a veteran Age of Empires player and a devoted fan of development-style gameplay, Selene's head was overflowing with ideas for construction and expansion.
Thus, while waiting for Sebas to return, Selene busied herself refining her grand plans, polishing every little detail.
...
The next morning, Selene remained unconcerned about Sebas's situation. She slept soundly and deeply through the night.
In the underground garage of her manor, she stood before her collection of luxury cars, pondering whether or not to bring along a few of her favorites...
Suddenly, she sensed a spatial fluctuation emanating from the living room. Selene's lips curved into a pleased smile. "Looks like Sebas has succeeded."
Locking onto the source of the fluctuation, Selene's figure vanished instantly.
There, in the living room, stood Sebas—tall, sharply dressed in his black butler's uniform, posture immaculate. The moment he felt his mistress's presence, the stern look on his face softened.
"Sebas!" The air shimmered with spatial ripples, her voice arriving before her figure did—brimming with excitement.
"Milady." Seeing Selene appear, Sebas allowed a faint smile but maintained his composure, bowing respectfully with one hand over his chest.
"Well? How much did you manage to get?" Selene asked eagerly as she approached, gesturing for him to rise. Her impatience was impossible to hide.
One couldn't really blame her—who wouldn't be thrilled when faced with humanity's most powerful weapon, and now, one that belonged to her?
"They're all secured within my storage space, Milady. Please, this way." Opening a rift into his dimensional vault, Sebas led her inside.
"You didn't leave any traces, did you?" Selene asked.
"Rest assured, Milady. I've handled everything. After the cover-up incident, the current chaos ensures that even they don't know what's missing—how could they possibly notice?" Sebas replied with disdain.
Selene couldn't fault his scorn. After all, Russia had earned its reputation for disorder.
After inheriting the USSR's vast arsenal, Russia's territory had become the second largest in Europe, with one of the richest black soil regions on the planet—earning it the title Granary of Europe.
More impressively, after the USSR's collapse, it inherited 35% of the USSR's military-industrial complex—some 3,600 defense enterprises capable of producing cutting-edge warships, military aircraft, engines, and highly advanced missile systems. Truly, an arsenal any superpower would envy.
Before the USSR's dissolution, the region had served as its main weapons manufacturing hub, and its front-line defense against NATO. Dozens of nuclear silos were constructed there.
Thus, upon gaining independence, Russia instantly became one of the world's foremost nuclear powers. Incomplete records estimate it inherited nearly 3,000 nuclear warheads, including 176 nuclear cruise missiles, 2,500 tactical nukes, 1,200 ICBM warheads, and 170 nuclear silos, along with full ICBM design and production capabilities.
At that time, it stood as the world's third-largest nuclear power. Even today, by sheer numbers, it would still rank third globally.
But due to its own internal chaos, self-destructive policies, and deep economic collapse, it had long since fallen from power. No wonder Selene had set her sights on it.
Better them than me, she thought. If someone's going to take the fall, might as well not be me.
As she stepped into the vast, violet-lit expanse of the Imaginary Space, Selene's gaze fell immediately upon a row of nuclear warheads laid neatly across the shimmering purple "floor."
Unlike the colossal weapons seen on TV, each of these was surprisingly compact—cone-shaped, olive-gray, and eerily quiet in their destructive promise.
At that moment, Sebas's calm, steady voice filled the violet-lit chamber. "These nuclear warheads come in three models:
SS-N-18 missile — MIRV[1] warheads, 3 units, each with a yield of 500 kilotons TNT, totaling 1.5 megatons.
SS-N-19 missile — MIRV warheads, 4 units, each with a yield of 100 kilotons TNT, totaling 400 kilotons.
SS-N-20 missile — MIRV warheads, 10 units, each with a yield of 200 kilotons TNT, totaling 2 megatons."
"My apologies, Milady," Sebas continued. "Due to official disarmament efforts, the majority of the warheads were destroyed. Even they themselves likely have no idea how many remain. These I managed to locate only through fragmented records, inference, and deduction." His tone shifted to one of faint contempt as he muttered about their incompetence and corruption.
Still, it was precisely that incompetence and corruption that had made this operation possible. Without such chaos, Sebas could never have retrieved these doomsday weapons unnoticed.
"...A bit disappointing, though," Selene said softly, eyeing the sleek, deadly forms. "Only these 'small toys'—no ICBMs or the real 'big ones'?"
Sebas nodded. "Indeed. Acquiring these alone was already pushing the limits. As for the strategic-class ICBMs... regardless of corruption, those are guarded far too tightly. Impossible to touch."
"It's fine," Selene replied with a smile, shaking her head. "Being able to secure this much is already more than enough." Truthfully, she had only expected a single warhead—Sebas's success had far exceeded her expectations.
"But still," she added with a curious tilt of her head, "how exactly did you manage to obtain them?"
Sebas chuckled faintly. "Oh, nothing complicated—illusion, hypnosis, suggestion. I read and altered the memories of key personnel, cross-referenced whatever documents remained, then conducted a personal retrieval. As for whether they'll notice... heh. With their level of administrative chaos, they wouldn't know even if their entire stockpile vanished."
Selene could only shake her head, half amused, half helpless. Sebas clearly held nothing but disdain for Russia.
With a casual wave of her hand, Selene transferred the deadly payload into her own Imaginary Space, watching as each warhead dissolved into violet light.
"Alright, that's done," she said, brushing her hands off lightly. "Let's head back."
Tomorrow would mark the beginning of their departure. Tonight, Selene still had matters to settle. Since she planned to bring Sebas with her, she needed to appoint someone trustworthy to fill his role.
Her chosen candidate: Shuji Matsuzaki. As for the position of research deputy, Kiyama Harumi seemed a logical choice—especially with her weak points under control, compliance wouldn't be an issue. Aoki Youichi would oversee the Schicksal Research Institute.
At the same time, Selene needed to begin manufacturing a sufficient supply of low-grade Honkai Cubes—and inform Aleister of her plans.
"...A new journey begins," she murmured, violet eyes gleaming with anticipation.
[1] Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle