Kintovar exclaimed, “What is the meaning of this?"

  Juliana stepped forward towards the figure and gestured towards them. "This is Rosarune. She's the culmination of an initial attempt at research that was never completed. She was the intended final form— a representation of the union of Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle.

  You see, your father did inadvertently stole the schematics that led to the creation of your creations, but the plan was always to create a singular being embodying all their combined power and abilities."

  Kintovar looked awed. Juliana continued. "Rosarune contains the coding of Project Mage, the system of Project ZAB, and the energy conversion framework of Project Rune, but she lacks the one thing that your creations possess: a soul."

  Kintovar was left speechless. The mere thought of the absence of a soul within Rosarune was interesting. The creations she had engineered carried a crucial element—something intangible, yet inherently fundamental. It was the soul that had granted her initial designs the essence of life. It was something that made them more than mere machines.

  Juliana placed her hands behind her back. "Rosarune is a prototype. While she embodies the combined skills and abilities of the three, she lacks the essence that makes your creations unique."

  "Juliana, why is it that I do not possess a soul," Rosearune questioned in an innocent-like manner of speech.

  "SHUT UP!" Juliana's sharpness cut through Rosarune's query with frustration.

  Rosarune responded in a robotic tone. "Understood. Acknowledging your command.”

  Turning to Kintovar, Juliana raised her hands up. "Do you see now? Rosarune is a pinnacle of my research, but no matter how I've tried to infuse her with emotional programming, there are lingering bugs. The synthesis of elements, systems, and abilities are there, but the essence, the soul, is elusive."

  "There's something else you need to know," Juliana explained further. "The truth is, the Suxena Nexus isn't held captive by the Western Kingdom. The Nexus, however, lies within a Domain, specifically under the ownership of someone known as 'Crazy Hina.'"

  Juliana paused for a moment before continuing. "Crazy Hina, despite her name, isn't particularly powerful herself, but her Guardians are. It's a domain owned by a girl who's, well, quite erratic. Also, the West sees these Domains as part of their Jailhouse, and any intrusion is met with extreme hostility."

  She glanced at Kintovar. "If we get caught down here, it won't simply be a matter of being detained. The soldiers try to kill us, especially considering the aggression they hold against intruders in these realms."

  While Kintovar mulled over the complexities of the situation, Rosarune picked up on her unease. Sensing the concern, she turned to Kintovar and said, "Do not worry. I won't replace your creations. I'm just a different project, Kintovar. It's not about substituting them; it's about furthering the research."

  Juliana interjected, "The Doppelganger project that my company used was put to a halt a long time ago. Remember, it was me and your mother who worked to stop the evil that was going on there. I have no intentions of pursuing that line of work. The focus has shifted to more relevant ventures."

  Kintovar's thoughts raced. She tried to make sense of this situation. “Let’s focus on the matter at hand. This ‘Crazy Hina' and her guardians, it's where the Suxena Nexus is held. But how do we even begin to approach it without causing a conflict with the Western Kingdom?"

  Juliana glanced around the lab. "Down here, the Western Kingdom's guards aren't exactly the brightest. They tend to send the trigger-happy fellows down here, and they've caused problems with domain owners before. Sometimes they stir up conflicts with Crazy Hina's Guardians. But they're ignorant about my domain. If they knew I owned a domain, they definitely wouldn’t have let me out on bail.”

  She turned to Kintovar with a firm look. "Kintovar, I need your expertise. We have to navigate through this without them realizing the true nature of my domain."

  Kintovar nodded. "So, we need to devise a plan that doesn't attract the attention of the Western Kingdom's guards but gets us to Crazy Hina's domain without raising any red flags."

  Juliana gave a curt nod.

  Kintovar focused on Rosarune in contemplation. "Juliana, what about Rosarune's strength? Can she stand up in combat?"

  Juliana's face softened. "She's had combat training, but she's not nearly as powerful as Roselle, Risebelle, or Runebelle. What she lacks in strength, she makes up for with versatility. She's capable of utilizing all their powers, which gives her a unique edge."

  Rosarune stood composed, almost stoic in her demeanor.

  "Rosarune," Juliana said firmly, "once this mission is over, you'll have to return to this lab. Until I can complete the next phase, you can't accompany us into the outside world."

  Rosarune nodded solemnly, understanding her limitations. "I will comply, Juliana."

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Three Western guards stationed near the Eastern Domain were discussing their lunch menu. One of them, a younger guard shook his head and sighed. "I should've tried the meat pie today. Last time I had it, it was like a slice of heaven."

  Another guard chuckled. "Don't worry, Martin, there's always tomorrow. Meat pies aren't going anywhere."

  Their chatter swiftly shifted, and the older guard leaned in with a hushed tone. "Did you hear about that scientist's release? Crazy, right? I heard she's back to her old tricks."

  Martin's eyebrows shot up. "Seriously? That's insane! I mean, how did she—"

  Before they could finish, an unsettling sensation of a presence caught their attention. The guards swiftly reaching for their weapons, but their faces shifted from aggression to surprise. Their target was a young hybrid boy. His appearance was an amalgamation of a fox and a human.

  "Who goes there?" the older guard demanded.

  The boy asked with a touch of urgency, "Where's Hina? I need to see her."

  The guards exchanged looks. They then turned back to the boy with narrowed eyes. "She's not here. Now scram before we get serious."

  The boy fled with an urgent cry for Hina down the corridor. The Western guards, momentarily thrown off balance, exchanged dubious glances.

  "Did you see that?" the older guard muttered. "This kid's not lost. He should know where Hina's domain is if he's been around."

  Martin nodded, shifting toward the direction the boy had vanished. "We should report this."

  The guards, now wary, started moving to investigate further. With the guards distracted, Kintovar, Juliana, and Rosarune silently slipped past them.

  The trio moved swiftly and quietly through the deserted corridors of the castle’s lower levels. The oppressive air of the Domain pressed down on them while navigating the passage way.

  Juliana led the way towards the concealed entrance of Crazy Hina’s domain. They reached a set of heavy, ironbound doors marked with peculiar symbols that seemed to pulse with a subtle energy.

  Standing vigil was one of Hina's Guardians, a hybrid Catgirl. The Guardian was a hybrid Catgirl with a lithe, agile build. Her ears, perched atop her head, twitched occasionally while typing on a flip-phone looking device. Her fur was a soft gray with dark stripes. Her eyes were emerald green. She wore a form-fitting outfit adorned with subtle patterns.

  The girl meowed while speaking playfully. "Oh, it looks like Lisa’s going to make it to the party tonight. I hope she doesn't mess it all up again. And if Mia doesn’t get her date sorted, she’s going to be so disappointed. Omiya... well, they’re just going to have to wait until next time."

  Kintovar signaled the others to keep low. "Let's make it to the door while she's distracted."

  Kintovar, Juliana, and Rosarune cautiously slipped past the Guardian. Inside the domain was a a social gathering. Tables and counters displayed an array of appetizing foods and refreshing drinks. Laughter and chatter filled the air. The space buzzed with the animated rhythm of dancing patrons.

  The attendees were a mosaic of varied races and hybrids, but the dominant presence was the abundance of catgirls engaging in the lively celebration. They moved gracefully to the music.

  Rosarune initiated a scan. Her senses expanded to search the area. Moments later, Rosarune stated, "I have detected Crazy Hina upstairs.”

  The three of them proceeded cautiously through the festivities, but suddenly, a woman with long cerulean hair and a striking black dress, greeted them warmly.

  "Hello and welcome," she said with a smile, "I see new faces here. How about becoming members?"

  Kintovar, Juliana, and Rosarune exchanged glances. The woman extended three membership cards which bore the emblem of the domain.

  "This is Crazy Hina," Rosarune identified.

  Hina giggled. "I'm Hina. Pleasure to have you here. Feel free to enjoy yourselves. Remember, the theme changes every three minutes!"

  After the brief introduction, Hina gracefully departed, leaving them to explore the domain. While moving, a brown crystal shined from her back which caught Juliana's eye.

  "There it is," Juliana remarked quietly. "The Suxena Nexus."

  Rosarune wandered off. She found herself fixated on a particular dessert. Juliana trailed her. She was about to say something, but she noticed Rosarune standing over a platter of cake.

  "What are you doing," Juliana asked.

  "I smelled a different scent this way," Rosarune explained with a focus on the array of pastries. "I wanted to understand this detection."

  "Ah, that's cake," Juliana stated with a small grin touching her lips. "It's a sweet dessert. Usually, people eat it as a treat. It's a part of celebrations or just to satisfy a craving."

  "I understand," Rosarune replied.

  Juliana scanned the room. She came to realize that Kintovar went off on her own. "I wonder where my baby bird wandered off to.”

  Meanwhile, Kintovar made her way through the crowd, deftly navigating toward Hina. Kintovar took a moment to herself, strategizing internally. ‘Okay, now iv’e got a read on Hina's magical energy and scanned her without her noticing... time to find her.’

  She ascended the stairs where Hina just headed back up to, but a man with navy blue hair, stood in her way. Clad in a casual blue dress shirt and jeans, he wore a stern gaze. “Sorry. Hina doesn't allow anyone upstairs,"

  Kintovar eyed the Guardian with a neutral look. "I have my reasons for needing to see her now, not later."

  The Guardian shook his head. "Nope. I won’t be breaking any rules. You'll just have to wait for her to come down again like everyone else when the theme changes again."

  "What if I refuse?" Kintovar inquired with a smirk playing on her lips.

  The Guardian' remained composed, but an edge came to his tone. "You don't want to make that move."

  Kintovar’s smirk widened slightly. "Very well, in that case, give this to Hina.” Kintovar produced a small, seemingly innocuous object.

  The Guardian regarded the item with suspicion. He extending one hand toward it. While reaching for it, he generated a protective energy field around the object. “I have to get this examined before I could even put my hands on it.”

  Kintovar's lips curved into a knowing smile. "You thought you had some sort of power to stop whatever I might try, didn't you? That's why I planned for this."

  In one fluid motion, Kintovar pulled out a small, sleek gun and fired a dart that struck the Guardian. It’s effects settled in almost immediately. The Guardian's formidable magical energy proved no defense against the potent sleeping agent.

  "See, this isn't your usual tranquilizer," Kintovar murmured to the Guardian while he was dropping to the floor. "It's a little something I cooked up. Works on all sorts of magical energy, even high ones like yours. Your boss might be impressive, but you're a bit out of your league compared to us."

  The Guardian's shouted, "damn" before succumbing to the effects of the dart. He fell to the ground, now asleep.

  "Nobody's going to stand in my way of getting the Suxena Nexus," Kintovar asserted to the motionless figure. She looked around and saw no immediate threat. She then hurried toward the upper level where Crazy Hina awaited.