Inside the laboratory, the air grew exceptionally heavy.
"So that's how it is..."
Vegapunk murmured softly, his gaze falling on the box carefully placed on the floor.
"Click—click—"
The mechanical clasps sprang open.
Kuma moved with extreme care as the lid slowly opened.
Inside lay a woman.
Her breathing was shallow, her skin pale.
Most glaring of all were the blue, scale-like scars that spread from her neck to her collarbone, gleaming with an eerie sheen beneath the lights.
Vegapunk crouched down, his fingers hovering above Ginny's neck as his pupils gradually narrowed.
Under the lights, those blue, scale-like scars were not simply attached to the surface of her skin.
They seemed to have "grown" from deep within her flesh and blood, dense and intertwined.
"It's actually Azure Jade Scales..."
He murmured under his breath.
Kuma's breathing noticeably grew heavier as he stepped forward.
"Doctor... you know about this?!"
Though he kept his voice low, he could not hide the urgency within it.
"Yes."
He nodded.
"I do."
Vegapunk looked at Ginny, his tone softening.
"Two years ago."
"The World Government carried out an operation to wipe out the Revolutionary Army."
He paused, seemingly recalling a certain file.
"In the eastern district... a commander was captured."
Kuma's knuckles slowly turned white as Vegapunk continued.
"During that time, Saint Saturn happened to be conducting a secret drug experiment."
As he said this, his voice sank slightly.
"The original goal was to force the human body to adapt to certain 'inhuman-level powers.'"
"The result..."
He gently shook his head.
"Every experiment failed."
"All the test subjects developed blue scars in a short time—the Azure Jade Scales."
He raised a hand in explanation.
"Then their organs gradually lost balance, and their nervous systems fell into disorder."
"In the end..."
"They all died."
The