"What? Who do you think you are?"
The boy's demand stunned all the scientists. Since Babylon Laboratory had been established, he was the first test subject who dared make demands of them twice.
"If you don't, I'll die for you to see."
Bai Ge expressionlessly patted the wall.
The meaning was clear. If they refused, he would smash his head into the wall. If he died, these bastards would be the ones suffering most.
The researchers' eyes twitched.
Thinking of yesterday's medical report and Bai Ge's forehead, which was still wrapped in bandages, they knew this little brat really dared to do it. In the end, they could only agree to his request.
They might have been beasts, but they were efficient. Before long, four soft beds and thick cotton quilts were delivered into the cell holding the five of them. Sirin and the others were dumbfounded.
Bai Ge clicked his tongue. "Damn, I forgot about myself."
So that night, he could only make do with Sirin again.
But that was only the beginning.
After that, every time an experiment ended, Bai Ge would make a few small requests of them.
"Starting tomorrow, prepare nutritious meals for us. Is that garbage you give us even fit for human consumption? Remember, it has to taste good, and it has to be hot."
"..."
"Prepare some warm clothes for us. Mm, two sets for each person. Actually, make it three."
"..."
"Buy us a nightlight. Galina is scared of the dark when she goes to the bathroom at night. She nearly twisted her ankle yesterday."
"..."
"Sirin seemed to have had a nightmare last night. Buy me a few storybooks, written in Shenzhou characters."
"..."
Although they were only small requests each time, fulfilling them was no trouble at all for Babylon Laboratory.
But being treated like servants by a child—an experiment in their eyes—was more than these arrogant people could bear. They finally exploded.
Otto had even specifically sent them a message today, asking, "Why has your Babylon Laboratory suddenly developed 'humanity'? Your recent purchase lists are completely unlike your usual style."
Wasn't that true?
They used to buy scalpels, prohibited drugs, Honkai Energy reagents, or simply more "lab rats."
Recently, though, it had been fairy-tale books, nightlights, children's padded coats, and thick fleece-lined quilts.
The shift in style was so drastic that even Otto could not help but wonder whether the mad scientists of Babylon Laboratory, people utterly unrelated to humanity, had decided to turn over a new leaf and become decent people.
Third update. Please send flowers, save it, and support it.
Image, Kiana: "Sirin, why are you wearing my clothes?!"
Sirin: I Can't Do Anything! (Please save the new book)
No matter what, these people could not accept being toyed with by a test subject in their eyes.
So when Bai Ge made another request, they firmly refused.
"You're nothing more than a test subject. You may be rare, but don't even think of defying us. Die? Don't even dream of it! If you've got the guts, smash your head into a wall again and let me see!"
"...You bunch of idiots."
Bai Ge was speechless.
He looked at his restrained limbs and could not help wondering where Otto had found such morons. With brains like these, could they really unravel the mysteries of Stigmata?
"You think holding down my head and tying up my hands and feet means you control whether I live or die? If so, then you really are stupid enough."
"Every form of power in this world can be stripped away, but the right to seek death alone cannot be controlled by anyone else."
"I can bite off my own tongue, snap my own neck, and even if I can't move my entire body, I can hold my breath until I suffocate myself to death."
Death had always been free. As long as one had the courage to pursue it, it would surely answer.
The next second, Bai Ge nearly bit off half his tongue. When they saw blood flowing from his mouth, those inhuman beasts could only yield again.
Bai Ge took the opportunity to make even more demands.
But in the end, those beasts still found a way to "take revenge on Bai Ge"—by intensifying the experiments.
So long as they did not endanger Bai Ge's life, they no longer restricted any methods. They ruthlessly conducted all kinds of human experiments on the boy's body, sometimes not even giving him the slightest bit of anesthetic.
"Damn beasts."
Even with Pain Insensitivity and Extreme Pain Insensitivity, Bai Ge still learned what pain truly was. Fortunately, it remained within the limits he could endure.
In fact, if not for those two traits, he was one thousand percent certain that his mind would have already collapsed.
But as the Honkai Energy within his body gradually increased, Bai Ge faintly felt that he was about to come into contact with something. His plan was proceeding smoothly.
And because of the deal he had made, Sirin, Avrora, Agata, and Galina were all alive and well now, unlike in the original story. No one had died.
That day, after the experiment ended and they returned to their cell.
"Agata, help me push the beds together."
"Avrora, take care of Galina."
"Sirin, if you hold my arm like this, I can't move."
After spending this time together, the four girls had completely grown close to Bai Ge, and Bai had come to understand each of their personalities.
Agata was an enthusiastic red-haired girl.
Avrora was a gentle girl, soft as the wind.
Galina was the most timid little crybaby.
As for Sirin, she was the strongest, the cutest, and the sharpest of the four.
The place the researchers had focused on today was Bai Ge's right arm.
The pain he endured was nothing much to him, but even so, the arm itself was nearly ruined. Bai Ge felt as though he could no longer sense its existence, making it difficult to move.
"Don't worry. I'm really fine."
"...Liar. How could you possibly be fine?"
"...Sorry."
"Bai Ge, you're not allowed to apologize! Those bad people did this! It's all their fault! They hurt you, and they made us... unable to go home."
Sirin spoke angrily and sadly.
She hated those people who experimented on Bai Ge. She wanted to go home, back to the land where everyone had once lived together.
Sirin was deeply worried about her mother. When she had been taken away, her mother had already been seriously ill. She had no idea how she was doing now.
"Don't worry. We'll be able to go back soon." Bai Ge estimated the Honkai Energy stored in his body and gently stroked the girl's purple hair.
"...Mm."
It was now mid-January in Siberia. Though the winter cold was kept out by the quilts and clothes, being in a place like this put even greater pressure on their hearts.
So they pushed the five soft beds together side by side. The five of them curled up together, feeling safer that way.
Bai Ge did not think much of it. They were all still children, anyway, and in this damned place, who cared about keeping boys and girls apart? Babylon Laboratory itself was a tower of hell without law or ethics.
The result was that every morning when he woke up, Bai Ge found himself tightly surrounded by the four girls.
Every time, Sirin would have her arms wrapped around his neck, her little face pressed against his chest. Avrora and Agata would cling to his arms, while the most timid one, Galina, could only hug his calf.
It was awkward at first, but Bai Ge soon gave up resisting and adapted. First of all, cuddling the little cuties was not a bad thing, and secondly, it was healing for him as well.
Though once the next day came, he would again be taken away early in the morning for experiments. Those beasts were becoming less and less human, only letting him return in the evening each time.
Every time they watched the boy being taken away, Sirin and the others felt powerless.
"Bai Ge was taken away again."
"What are these people trying to do?"
"It sounds like someone died next door again."
"I don't want him to go through experiments anymore!"
They might still have been girls, but that did not mean they were ignorant fools.
Sirin and the others knew very well that the reason they could still live peacefully here was entirely because Bai Ge was silently giving so much.
Their little cell had become a much better place. New things were delivered every day: first beds, then quilts, then clothes, and finally even storybooks and strange little toys.
They had not been hurt at all.
They had not suffered at all.
But...
"Aaaaaah! It hurts! No! Kill me! Kill me already! Aaaaaah—!!"
"I want to go home! Let me go home, please! I don't want to be experimented on anymore!"
Before you continue