The Problems Sakura Faces and a New Examination / Ifrit's Choice

Therefore, Sakura's situation becomes quite important at this time.

"I'm not just passing through Trimount. I'm going to find a job here and settle down." Sakura shook her head gently and answered seriously in response to Muelsyse's question.

Sakura had no intention of deceiving Muelsyse about this matter.

After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, she should be joining Rhine Lab Defense Division. While she won't be constantly running into Muelsyse, the chances of them bumping into each other aren't small.

So if you lie at this point, it will not only be very awkward when you meet later, but it may even cause distrust because of this small lie.

"So you were planning to settle down here! That's great! Now I can ask you to go shopping every now and then! Although we bought a lot of things, let me treat you next time."

Sakura's words made Muelsyse's eyes light up, and she smiled happily as she said, "..."

"Good."

Looking at the happy elf girl in front of her, Sakura nodded gently and agreed.

But to be honest, she was starting to wonder Muelsyse's expression would be like when he saw her inside Rhine Lab. It was going to be quite interesting.

After parting ways with Muelsyse that evening, Sakura promptly found herself a place to stay.

However, unlike ordinary people who find a place to rest, for Sakura, the arrival of night is just the beginning.

After disguising herself and making sure no one had noticed, she easily and quietly slipped out of her residence to gather information.

After all, unlike the Great Knight's Territory, which was almost completely explored, the news about the city of Trimount was almost entirely unknown to Sakura.

Therefore, whether it's for joining the company or for preparing for what happens after joining, Sakura felt it was necessary for her to have some information.

P. S.: The author sent this message because she's on her period and has a sore mouth, resulting in severe stomach and mouth pain. She can't take it anymore, so she's asking me to rest a bit. She'll guarantee at least one update a day for the next few days, and two updates if she feels better.

Everyone, please relax.

Chapter 72: Sakura's Problems and New Examination

After several days of investigation, Sakura finally became quite familiar with Trimount, a city she knew nothing about. She learned a little bit about everything, both what she should and shouldn't know.

However, compared to those random and temporarily useless pieces of information, Sakura values the information about Rhine Lab that she has recently collected more.

For example, there are the numerous scandals surrounding Rhine Lab, and the current situation regarding the recruitment of personnel by various departments.

The results of the investigation were not too surprising to Sakura. Compared to other departments that required geniuses and elite researchers, the Security Department was much easier to get into in a sense.

After all, while other departments require diplomas and technical skills, the Security Department requires competence and the ability to handle various emergency situations.

However, the fact that things are much easier here only applies to Sakura.

It's important to know that Rhine Lab's interviews are extremely rigorous. Leaving aside other departments, as far as Sakura knows, the final step of the Security Department's interview process involves Saria going through her as well.

Just think about Saria's personality and her extremely serious attitude towards work, and you'll know how high the rejection rate is in the interview... You agree, right, Jesselton?

"Well..."

Thinking of this, Sakura, sitting in her temporary residence, sighed helplessly.

In terms of strength, she naturally has no problem. Not to mention passing Saria's test, it wouldn't be impossible for her to defeat the one known as Terra Superman.

However, Sakura was a little worried that something might be noticed and she would be eliminated immediately. After all... Saria's straightforward and blunt personality was undeniable.

Despite her concerns, Sakura still submitted her application beforehand.

She wasn't the type to hesitate because of worries. Since she had already made a plan, she was determined to try it no matter how difficult it was.

As the sun slowly set, large swaths of clouds turned a fiery red, displaying magnificent colors.

Meanwhile, in the Mobius Laboratory—

"Call--"

With a slightly heavy breath, Mobius stopped what he was doing precisely. After blinking his sore eyes, he calmly placed the newly prepared potion on the shelf beside him.

"The new medicine is ready; now we just need to see how it works."

Mobius, whose face already showed signs of fatigue, showed no intention of stopping. Instead, he turned his gaze to the cage containing the experimental mice, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Several days have passed since his first meeting with Ifrit, and the next "treatment" is about to take place. Mobius hopes to fulfill his promise to the "guinea pig" before then.

Because of this promise she made to reassure the mice, Mobius hadn't slept for several days. It could be said that since returning from outside, she had been working on experiments against the clock, with almost no downtime.

As a result, many people within the Structural Department are now secretly discussing Mobius, even giving her various nicknames such as "workaholic" and "work maniac."

After all, the other researchers work regular hours, and even if they work overtime, it won't be too late, but... Mobius is different.

These days they've noticed that someone's office and laboratory are practically lit 24/7 without interruption, it's outrageous.

"Squeak--"

"..."

Looking at the mouse in front of him, which remained unharmed and lively after the injection and a series of experiments and observations, Mobius breathed a slight sigh of relief, and his tense nerves slowly relaxed.

After hastily tidying up the mess in the laboratory, Mobius left and headed towards her room at Rhine Lab.

Even though Mobius was Fusion Warrior, the intense concentration experiments that had kept her awake for several days had left her mentally exhausted.

So now that the drug is successfully developed, all that's needed is a break between clinical trials. Mobius plans to take a good rest and recover from his exhaustion.

Nighttime, Ifrit's room--

Ifrit, lying in bed, tossed and turned, feeling restless and unable to fall asleep.

As for why this is the case, it's because tomorrow is the treatment time that Silence mentioned.

Although Ifrit could tough it out with Silence and Saria by her side, no one likes pain.

Even now, the little dragon trembles uncontrollably whenever he recalls the excruciating pain he experienced during his previous treatment.

Previously, Ifrit was able to persevere only because she didn't want to disappoint Saria or worry Silence, and she wanted to be the strong, obedient child they described.

But no matter how hard she tries, she's still just a child... and she's afraid of pain.

"Mobius..."

As if she had thought of something, Ifrit stopped rolling around on the bed, propped herself up on her arms, and muttered to herself as she looked at the dark room.

To be honest, as the sweet taste in her mouth from that night completely disappeared, coupled with the calm and uneventful nights of the past few days, Ifrit couldn't help but start to doubt Mobius's authenticity again.

I suspect that everything that happened that night was just a dream, or perhaps just an illusion.

After all, Charmander currently has nothing to prove the existence of "Mobius".

"Heh~ Little lab rat, still not resting so late? Are you waiting for me to come and study you?"

Just as Ifrit was sitting on the bed, lost in thought, Mobius's distinctive, childlike voice quietly rang in her ears.

"!"

Mobius's sudden words startled Ifrit at first, but she quickly recovered, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, and she hurriedly turned her head to look in the direction from which the voice came.

"Mobius!"

"Honestly, I told you not to call me by that name."

Hearing Ifrit's surprised voice, Mobius paused slightly in his fiddling with the finger guards, then said with some displeasure.

"I thought you weren't coming."

Ifrit ignored Mobius's correction of her form of address and continued speaking to her with barely concealed excitement.

"You're my guinea pig~ We've already made a deal, how could I possibly let you go before that deal is done?"

Looking at the excited child in front of him, Mobius narrowed his gradient-colored eyes slightly, and then continued:

"Alright, let's not waste any more time. Let's begin tonight's checks."

P. S.: I'm feeling really tired, everyone. See you tomorrow. Time to wake up!

Chapter 73 Ifrit's Choice

After a series of meticulous examinations of Ifrit and a review of the existing data in the laboratory, Mobius found no major problems; everything was still under her control.

However, this routine check-up wasn't her main purpose for coming here tonight. After all, she could have done this any night; there was no need to choose tonight.

"..."

Thinking this, Mobius stopped what he was doing and silently stared at Ifrit with his gradient-colored snake eyes that glowed with an eerie light.

"?"

Noticing Mobius's gaze, Ifrit tilted her head slightly, looking at her with a puzzled expression, and said, "What's wrong, Mobius?"

"Heh~"

Looking at the girl gazing at him with innocent, bewildered eyes, Mobius chuckled softly, seemingly lost in thought. He no longer minded the disliked nickname, and instead, after gently touching his lips, he spoke seductively:

"Little lab rat, I disdain to deceive you, so I will grant you the right to choose."

"I have a medicine here that can make you feel less pain, or even painless, when you receive [treatment] from those people, but..."

At this crucial point, Mobius paused slightly, a flicker of light in his beautiful eyes, before continuing:

"This drug has only been successfully tested on adorable white mice; it hasn't undergone clinical trials. After all, samples like yours are extremely rare."

"So, will you choose to inject this newly effective medication tonight, or wait a while longer while you're in pain?"

After speaking, Mobius narrowed his eyes slightly, then took out the potion he had prepared and placed it in front of Ifrit, quietly awaiting her decision.

In fact, Mobius originally intended to conduct clinical trials, but unfortunately, he couldn't find suitable candidates. This was because Ifrit's condition and individual circumstances were quite unique.

After all, without similar cases and circumstances, clinical trials of the injected drug simply cannot achieve the effects that Mobius wanted.

Although in a sense she could create an identical individual, she didn't want to do something so "meaningless," nor did she bother to do it.

Finally, given that there wasn't enough time, she simply gave up on this step and handed the choice directly to Ifrit.

"Huh...?"

After listening to Mobius's "long-winded speech," Ifrit was slightly taken aback, looking as if she hadn't quite grasped what was happening.

Clearly, she hadn't expected Mobius to suddenly utter such a long and information-packed statement.

"Hmm... hmm... let me think about it."

After a while, Ifrit came to her senses and didn't rush to answer. Instead, she reached out a hand to touch her chin, furrowed her brow, and looked like she was thinking hard.

However, this state didn't last long, because soon Charmander's gaze involuntarily drifted back to Mobius.

"..."

Mobius, noticing Ifrit's gaze, raised an eyebrow slightly, but ultimately said nothing. This wasn't the first time this little brat had looked at her like that that evening.

At first, she was interested in teasing the little dragon, but after being seen doing it so many times, she's gotten used to it now.

"Hmm..."

With a meaningless murmur, Ifrit slowly withdrew her gaze from Mobius and looked down at the potion in front of her, which shimmered with a ghostly blue light in the dim room light.

Actually, even after the excitement of seeing Mobius faded tonight, Ifrit had noticed... noticed the hint of weariness hidden deep in Mobius's eyes.

Although the Mobius, just like last time, kept teasing him as soon as it arrived, the little dragon still noticed something, noticed the difference between her and last time.

However, although she had noticed it, Ifrit hadn't quite understood why before, but now... looking at the vial of potion in front of her, she realized that she seemed to understand.

It turned out that the night before wasn't a dream after all; she really did make a promise with a "strange" guy... And while she was keeping her promise, she was also trying her best to fulfill it.

"..."

To be honest, this realization gave Ifrit a strange feeling. A warm feeling...

Finally, Charmander raised his head again, looked at Mobius intently for a moment, and then announced his choice.

"I believe in Mobius!"

"..."

This brief statement made Mobius understand Ifrit's choice, while also plunging her into a brief silence.