Alan flew all the way while carrying the elk, arriving at the laboratory inside the lakeside mountain.
He casually tossed the elk to several trolls who came forward to meet him.
"Lock him up first. Wait for Lord Orochimaru's inspection."
"Yes." The trolls answered, grabbed the elk, and headed into one of the tunnels.
Both sides of the tunnel were lined with cave cells, each sealed behind iron bars.
There were already more than a dozen beast-like humanoid creatures here, much like the elk.
The trolls opened a brand-new cell, threw the elk inside, then locked it with chains.
Clang!!!
The elk, having just hit the ground, suddenly charged at the bars. A fierce storm erupted from his sharp antlers, seeking to slice through the iron grating.
Yet when he reached the bars, the blade-like storm at the forefront vanished the instant it struck them.
When he slammed headfirst into the bars, his entire body suddenly went weak, and he collapsed limply inside the cell.
Seeing this, the trolls burst into laughter and mocked, "Stop struggling for nothing. These are cells specially made by the lords. You can't break out."
With that, they turned and left amid more laughter, leaving behind the still-unwilling elk as he continued trying again and again.
After handing the elk over to the trolls, Alan continued deeper inside.
Before long, he arrived at a vast cave.
All sorts of instruments filled the cave, while at its center stood a broad platform resembling both an operating table and an experimental bench.
A massive yellow giant bear lay atop the platform, utterly unable to move.
Orochimaru, Andreyevich, and Caesar stood around the platform, studying the giant bear as they discussed it without pause.
Caesar asked Orochimaru, "Has the bloodline within this bear been chosen?"
"It has. It