Whether Wendy had any news or not, he no longer had enough time.
Since the simulation scenario could affect Wendy's fate, he was willing to use his own abilities to help her.
Even if she might not need it.
Theresa took the blueprint. It was filled with a series of parameters she could not understand.
Only at the end did it include instructions for use.
[Stigmata Gene Activation Agent.] Warning: The current simulation has reached the upper limit of the host's mental capacity. Continuing the simulation will lead to mental confusion. The system is temporarily ending the simulation scenario. Congratulations, host, on obtaining the corresponding rewards. Congratulations, host, on clearing the first simulation scenario. The system has rewarded you with the Authority of the Herrscher of Wind, as well as knowledge related to fluids. Special note: The system has not granted the host the ability to become a Herrscher. The Herrscher Authority used by the host is a pseudo-Herrscher Core simulated by the system based on data. The host may regard it as having obtained a special Stigmata. This ability cannot replace the Herrscher of this era. The next optimal simulation time is in eight hours.
When Chen Ran returned to the real world once more, he did not feel happy at having gained the power of Authority. Instead, he felt somewhat lost.
"It was a very long dream."
He murmured as he synchronized with No. 666's memories.
While Chen Ran was carrying out the simulation, No. 666 had not been idle either.
It had inherited all the biological knowledge the system had rewarded Chen Ran with. On top of that, No. 666 had actively studied the knowledge of this era—not only in biology, but in other fields as well.
No. 666 had even considered copying Durandal and creating a learning module for itself. Unfortunately, implanted chips in carbon-based organisms were far too dangerous. It was not that the technology was immature, but that they could easily damage the nerves. Furthermore, any implanted chip would inevitably be corroded by bodily fluids, so No. 666 gave up on the idea.
Besides that, No. 666 was still Mobius's capable assistant at the time.
The knowledge granted by the system was enough to make it a qualified assistant to Mobius, though most of the work Mobius assigned him involved things like "hand me the forceps," "move this," and "process the data"—tasks that perhaps even a high school graduate could handle.
Mobius had already begun trying to integrate anti-Honkai memories into genes.
The Stigmata Project could not be completed overnight. It required a large number of preliminary experiments to lay down a theoretical foundation. Only after the theory proved feasible could the relevant plan finally be proposed.
A plan succeeding immediately after being proposed would not conform to objective laws.
The Fusion Warrior experiments were the same. According to No. 666's memories, Mobius had already designed cultivation experiments involving Honkai genes and mammals.
Experiments had to first pass tests on mice, monkeys, and pigs before they could finally be carried out on humans.
Rather than using humans directly from the very beginning.
He took a deep breath, his head feeling heavy and muddled.
Taking in so much knowledge at once was still a little too much for him.
Fortunately, he should be resting now. Chen Ran still had time to slowly adjust.
Flame-Chaser, First Research Institute.
Mobius had not left the institute for three days. Blanca looked at her with concern in her eyes.
"Doctor, you should rest first. You always say that impatience makes experiments impossible."
Another white mouse died on Mobius's operating table.
The anti-Honkai memories could not be integrated into the mouse. Not long after the implantation succeeded, a peculiar Honkai reaction appeared in its body.
Though the reaction was faint, the data monitoring still detected it.
The Honkai Energy inside its body directly snuffed out the mouse's life. According to the data revealed by the experiment, using anti-Honkai memories implanted into genes to induce Honkai adaptability also seemed unworkable.
Mobius felt that something had to be wrong somewhere, so she continued experimenting without sleep or rest.
"There is nothing wrong with the experimental design, and the theory has a basis for success as well. Then the problem must lie with the materials."
She looked at the dead mouse, contemplation flickering in her eyes.
"Blanca, contact the higher-ups for me."
"Doctor, you intend to...?"
"There are still differences between mouse and human genes, so I need a pig and a gorilla."
Blanca breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been afraid Mobius would directly ask for human test subjects.
At this point, Mobius still had certain bottom lines. Or rather, her experimental bottom lines had not yet become flexible. That was also why the Flame-Chaser higher-ups were willing to fully support her.
"Oh, and buy me some bubble wrap. I've finished popping all of it."
Blanca glanced aside and saw a corner of the laboratory piled with crushed bubble wrap.
"Understood, Doctor."
As Blanca walked out, she happened to run into Chen Ran, who had come to the First Research Institute.
"Hmm, if I remember correctly, today should be your day off. Is something the matter?" Blanca asked doubtfully.
Chen Ran smiled. "Senior Blanca, I actually love working. If I go a day without working, I feel uncomfortable all over. So I came to see whether there was anything I could help with."
He was not in any hurry to simulate the next scenario.
To Chen Ran, if he merely simulated one scenario after another without thinking for himself, then he would most likely never find a way to resist the Honkai.
The rewards he obtained through simulations had never escaped the shadow of the Honkai. He had to combine them with his current advantages and magnify them.
At the same time, he needed to settle his emotions for a while.
Blanca blinked. "Someone as conscientious as you is sure to please the Doctor."
"Haha, Senior, don't give me unrealistic ideas."
Over this period, Blanca and Chen Ran had gradually become acquainted enough to exchange simple jokes.
The people within the Flame-Chaser might each have their own thoughts, but Blanca was definitely a pure-hearted person.
After parting ways with Blanca, Chen Ran entered the First Research Institute.
The number of temporary staff he had seen before had been cut in half again.
Mobius did not care how many temporary staff there were. Blanca was responsible for recruiting most of them. Unfortunately, because of Mobius's personality, almost none of them stayed.
That was probably why Blanca treated Chen Ran somewhat differently.
After all, everyone liked obedient employees.
However, the moment Chen Ran stepped into the institute, he saw Mobius sitting in a chair with a thoughtful expression.
When she saw Chen Ran, she beckoned to him directly. "You came at the perfect time. I happen to have an experiment that requires your cooperation."
Chen Ran asked instinctively, "What experiment?"
He had come to the First Research Institute to learn more knowledge, not to hand Mobius forceps.
"Don't worry. This time, it isn't some simple task. I'll make sure you learn something."
Mobius smiled sweetly.
Chen Ran suddenly felt that something was dangerous.
"Then, as my assistant, please lie down on the operating table."
Fifty thousand years later, above the Atlantic Ocean.
Wendy finally made up her mind to secretly take one more look at Chen Ran.
Just one more time. Just one more time...
The girl could not suppress the longing in her heart. She wanted to use this method to fill the emptiness within.
She waited for a night as dark as ink, stirred up fierce winds over the Pacific Ocean, crossed the sea, and arrived at the Far East Branch.
After being attacked once, the Far East Branch had established multiple layers of defense systems, but Wendy easily bypassed them using the knowledge she possessed.
Yet a piece of news struck her heart like a heavy blow.
Chen Ran... was gone.
Throughout the vast St. Freya, there was no trace of him at all.
When Chen Ran heard Mobius's request, he shuddered instinctively.
It was said that Mobius's operating table was a terrifying place. Anyone who survived it would ultimately become unlucky.
Of course, that saying had no real basis. However, it was true that many accidents had occurred on Mobius's operating table.
In Chen Ran's understanding, although Mobius was extraordinarily talented, her experiments were radical and bold. She simply did not know how to spell the word "conservative."
A typical example was the Fusion Warrior creation experiment.
With only two successful cases, Mobius had performed Fusion Warrior modification surgery on herself.
Could anyone expect someone so radical even toward herself to cherish her test subjects?
Naturally not.
No. 666's strategy for dealing with Mobius was to quietly learn knowledge and keep a low profile.
Yet even so, Chen Ran had caught Mobius's attention.
He instinctively shrank his neck. "If I refuse, what will happen?"
"Nothing will happen. I've always been very refined and easygoing," Mobius said.
Chen Ran fell silent.
If Mobius were truly refined and easygoing, the First Research Institute would not have been reduced to just these few people.
Durandal had already been returned to Mei. Otherwise, he could have said he wanted to use Durandal to design simulation experiments.
He asked timidly, "May I ask what this experiment involves?"
"It's only a simple gene observation experiment. Don't worry, it won't hurt at all."
Clearly, what Mobius intended to perform on Chen Ran was a preliminary experiment for the Stigmata Project.
At present, Stigmata was merely a religious symbol. The precise name of this experiment was "the anti-Honkai memory and gene integration experiment."
Chen Ran weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
"I'm not worried about the pain. I'm worried about side effects. Doctor, if I'm finished, you won't find a more obedient assistant than me."
"Don't worry. I'll be very gentle."
Mobius paused before adding, "I'm merely using your body for a little observation."
In the end, Chen Ran did not refuse.
Mobius had always preferred to use death row inmates for her experiments. Only after she ran out of them would she "seek" the consent of others before conducting experiments.
Sooner or later, he would have to undergo the experiment to fuse Honkai Beast genes with his own. He could treat this as getting used to it in advance.
He just did not know whether Mobius would detect the Authority granted by the system.
Before you continue