Chapter 1194: Result
Hesta briefly recounted what had happened to her in District 14 last year. She still remembered many details: how she had used a business card and ballpoint pen as a distraction, thrown that red pen into the Chelated Being's eye socket, then used the force of a running start to stir its prefrontal cortex to pieces with the pen.
As for the monster's other eye, Hesta had caught a fleeting glimpse of it. It bore the silver rim that appeared only after a Quicksilver Needle entered Bullet Time.
Victoria's body briefly went rigid—she had not yet had time to bring Hesta to see the Quicksilver Needle-infected patients imprisoned beneath Awad Prison, yet Hesta had already described the most important identifying feature...
The two fell silent again. At that moment, Hesta finally sensed that Victoria had become nervous as well.
"...Since then, have you come into contact with any Chelated Beings?"
"No," Hesta said.
"Let's... let's go out first." Victoria headed for the exit. "Get your blood drawn first. I'll handle the rest—"
"Wait. I have one last question. Are the consequences caused by this virus curable? Or—"
"Blood draw first!" Victoria cut Hesta off. "First... don't think about anything else."
Hesta steadied her breathing.
Victoria had not answered her question... but that response itself pointed to the answer.
The two left the S-class laboratory and entered the chemical shower room in positive-pressure suits. Victoria sternly instructed Hesta to devote her full attention to every step that followed—in all past records, ninety percent of laboratory infections had occurred during doffing.
To prevent cross-contamination, each person had a separate doffing room. Hesta therefore had to complete every movement alone, but Victoria monitored her doffing process through video in real time to ensure each step complied with protocol.
Hesta tried