The Android Experiment

Jiang Nan was taken back to the laboratory. This time, the assistant Fett roughly fastened a tracking ring around his neck.

In those few short minutes, Jiang Nan had already pieced together what had happened, but all he could do was hope Dr. Gero's teleportation experiment really succeeded so he could escape as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, things went against his wishes. Dr. Gero soon discovered that the teleporter would not work on Jiang Nan either!

Although he still had no idea why Jiang Nan could be transported from Central City, six thousand kilometers away, one thing was clear: if it could only bring people over at random, without any control, and could not send them to a specified destination, then this teleporter was yet another failure.

Could it really have something to do with his physique?

Jiang Nan noticed Dr. Gero's gaze growing increasingly vicious and could not help screaming inwardly, System! System! Save my sorry ass! Whatever tricks you have, use them now!

Please find a solution yourself, host.

Dr. Gero gave Fett a meaningful look and said, "Take Jiang Nan to Laboratory Three. I'll go get ready."

Bloodthirsty excitement flashed through Fett's eyes, and he ordered the researchers to escort Jiang Nan to Laboratory Three.

A few staff members stripped Jiang Nan naked in no time and secured him to a dissection table.

Dr. Gero walked in wearing medical protective clothing and took a pile of tools out of a sterilizing cabinet. Jiang Nan turned his head to look and saw scalpels, saws, tweezers, pliers, and other instruments gleaming silver. They were going to dissect him alive!

At this point, Jiang Nan could no longer worry about anything else. He started spilling his secret. "Dr. Gero, I have something to tell you! I'm actually not from this world. Your experiment succeeded! I came from another-mmph! Mmph!"

Fett stuffed a piece of gauze into Jiang Nan's mouth. Patting his face, he said with a smile, "Don't get so excited. Once Dr. Gero figures out your body, he'll be able to finish developing the teleporter. You're looking forward to it too, aren't you? You're sacrificing yourself for science!"

Looking forward to it, my ass! Jiang Nan let out a muffled roar. What kind of goddamn world is this? I just got here, and I'm already about to die!

What kind of garbage system are you? Other transmigrators get welcome packages and physical upgrades. If nothing else, you could at least give me Instant Transmission and get me out of here! Useless damn system.

Useless! Useless system!

Dr. Gero's scalpel was already pressing into his belly, and blood had begun seeping along the blade.

Just as his life hung by a thread, a gorgeous female researcher in a tight-fitting uniform walked in. She glanced at the naked Jiang Nan on the dissection table, then leaned close to Dr. Gero's ear and whispered something.

"Have them wait a while. I'll come over once I finish the experiment," Dr. Gero said.

But just as he was about to make the incision, Dr. Gero suddenly stopped again and muttered, "I'd better go take a look first."

Fett watched in surprise as Dr. Gero removed his gloves and protective clothing. "Doctor, what about the dissection experiment?"

"Put it on hold. I need to see a guest."

"Why don't I continue in your place?" Fett asked.

Dr. Gero refused outright. "No. There must be something unusual about this boy's body. I need to study him carefully and perform the dissection myself. Keep an eye on him. Don't let him die of fright."

Fett bowed and nodded his agreement, then watched Dr. Gero leave with the female researcher, Doris. His eyes hungrily raked over her swaying waist several times, and he swallowed hard.

Dr. Gero arrived in the reception room, where two people were waiting. The one standing was a tall young man with dark skin and thick lips. Beside him sat a short, stocky, red-haired middle-aged man holding a cigar.

"Major Black, it's a pleasure to see you. May I ask who this gentleman is?" Dr. Gero asked first.

Major Black was a Federal Soldier who had reportedly joined some organization. He had visited Dr. Gero several times before, extending offers of recruitment.

Major Black nodded in greeting. "Hello, Dr. Gero. This is General Red."

"Hahahaha! Dr. Gero!" General Red gave a deep laugh from his seat. "My name is Red, and I'm the leader of the Red Ribbon Army. I've come today to formally invite you to join us."

Dr. Gero had no interest in their organizations, alliances, or whatever they called them. As one of Earth's foremost scientists, he held himself in high regard and had no desire to associate too closely with people harboring political ambitions.

He politely declined. "Thank you for your kind offer, General Red. As you can see, I'm a science enthusiast. What I enjoy doing every day is researching and inventing. I don't have time to join your little hobby club."

"Hahahaha." General Red was not offended. He pulled a bank card from his pocket and slapped it onto the table, declaring grandly, "There's one billion on this card. As long as you're willing to join us, Doctor..."

The corner of Dr. Gero's eye twitched sharply. One billion! He did love science, but unlike a pure inventor, he pursued research and invention to make himself wealthier.

Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, General Red sweetened the offer. "As long as you're willing to work for me, Doctor, this billion is only an appetizer. Money, women, status-you can have whatever you want!"

Dr. Gero restrained his emotions and tore his gaze away from the bank card. "Could you tell me your objective?"

"My objective?" General Red chuckled. "To overthrow the Earth Federation and conquer the world, of course!"

"Those decision-makers in the Federation are complete fools. They actually take orders from that fellow who calls himself the king. Peace-loving? Without absolute power to enforce it, all this talk of peace is a joke!"

"In this world, the strong will always devour the weak. Wolves should eat meat, and dogs deserve nothing but shit. The strong should trample the weak underfoot!" General Red's tone was utterly arrogant.

"Then what would you like me to do for you?" Dr. Gero asked.

General Red slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke. "We met once before, Doctor, at an academic conference three years ago. I was very interested in the topic you presented."

"Three years ago... you mean the Android Warriors?" Dr. Gero realized.

He continued, "That was only a theoretical conjecture. So far, I've only tested it on laboratory mice. Human experimentation would require enormous funding, and I'm afraid producing results in a short time would be very difficult..."

"I have plenty of money and time!" General Red interrupted him. "If one year isn't enough, take five. If five years aren't enough, take ten. I'm not counting on Android Warriors to conquer the world."

Dr. Gero paused in surprise. "Then you...?"

General Red flicked the ash off his cigar. "If all I wanted was to conquer the world, I already have enough brave soldiers under my command.

"But you should know that the hardest part is keeping order after conquering the world. Other organizations might rise up later to overthrow my Red Ribbon Army. That's why I need an even more terrifying trump card, something that will rob all humanity of the courage to entertain even the slightest thought of resistance."

General Red's arrogant, confident words sent towering waves surging through Dr. Gero's heart. An ambition suddenly rose from deep within him. General Red had revealed his objective so readily. What an absolute fool.

If the day comes when the androids are successfully developed, the one who truly sits on the ruler's throne will be me, Dr. Gero. All General Red's contributions will only pave the way for someone else.

Suppressing his wild delight, Dr. Gero pretended to consider the matter before saying, "In that case, I'm willing to work with you, General."

"That's wonderful!" General Red rose excitedly. "Also, Doctor, I have another favor to ask. Before the androids, I'd like you to develop a batch of weapons of mass destruction for me. Naturally, I'll pay extra."

"Deal!"

General Red then asked Dr. Gero to move with him to North City and rebuild his research institute there. The area was vast and sparsely populated, making it less likely that the Federal Police would discover them.

When General Red generously produced another sum for relocation expenses, Dr. Gero happily agreed. They arranged to leave in two days, with General Red sending a transport plane to collect them.

General Red left behind two bank cards and departed. Overjoyed, Dr. Gero told his assistant Doris to summon several of his trusted staff to the conference room.

Once everyone had arrived, Dr. Gero briefly explained the move to North City. His trusted researchers all expressed their willingness to follow him. After all, with such an enormous amount of funding, everyone was eager to enjoy the good life alongside the doctor.

As for the danger of opposing the Earth Federation, the Federal Soldiers' pathetic weapons were hardly worth worrying about. Even if the Earth Federation Agencies caught them one day, they would serve a few years in prison at worst. The death penalty had been abolished long ago.

Take a gamble, and a bicycle could become a motorcycle.

Just as everyone's spirits were running high, Fett asked, "Doctor, what about our teleporter project?"

"Shut it down. We don't have time to waste on such small-scale projects anymore," Dr. Gero said dismissively.

"And Jiang Nan?"

"If you hadn't mentioned him, I would've almost forgotten. Keep the boy. His physique may really be special, and he might serve as a test subject for the android project. Until the human experiments begin, you'll be responsible-"

"I'll take responsibility for him!" The gorgeous female assistant Doris suddenly interjected.

"Oh?" Dr. Gero raised an eyebrow.

Doris gave a sultry smile. "I have quite a few things to bring along when we move to North City. I need someone to do the heavy lifting."

"All right, I'll leave him to you." Dr. Gero did not care either way, but Fett gritted his teeth in anger beside him.

That big-breasted, brainless woman Doris must have taken a fancy to Jiang Nan. Hasn't she noticed my charm? Apart from being a little more handsome, having a slightly better body, and being a bit bigger down there, what does Jiang Nan have that I don't?

Jiang Nan was still lying naked, locked to the dissection table. When he heard footsteps approaching, his heart started pounding again. I'm going to die! I'm going to die! God, somebody save me!

But the person who came in was the gorgeous researcher from earlier. Doris fastened a collar around Jiang Nan's neck, then unlocked the restraints around his hands and feet.

"With this collar on, you can't go more than a thousand meters away from me. Otherwise, it'll release an extremely powerful electric current and kill you. Now, put your clothes on," Doris explained.

He would not be dying for the moment. Jiang Nan climbed down from the dissection table, his legs feeling weak. Although he did not know what would happen next, the joy of surviving instinctively made him feel fond of this woman.

In psychology, this phenomenon was known as the suspension bridge effect. In tense or stimulating situations, people could mistake their physiological arousal for attraction to someone nearby, creating a temporary emotional illusion.

For example, when a guy wanted to pursue a woman, inviting her to go running, ride a roller coaster, or watch a horror movie together would greatly increase his chances of success (got that, you handsome devils?).

Doris continued, "From now on, you belong to me. Don't misunderstand. You're not enough to make me swoon over you. You'll be working under me. I don't care where you came from or what you went through before. None of that matters. From now on, you'll do whatever I tell you to do. Understand?"

Jiang Nan put on his jacket and adopted a meek posture. "Understood."

As long as I don't die. Keep my head down. I have to keep my head down. Only by staying alive will I have any hope!

He followed Doris to her lounge, where she told him to sort and pack all the documents on her workbench. Then she headed into the inner room to rest.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Don't do anything stupid, like trying to hurt me while I'm asleep." Doris tapped her pale neck with a finger. "That thing around your neck recognizes my voice. If I shout, or if I die, it'll kill you!"

When you were under someone else's roof, you had to bow your head. Jiang Nan understood when to yield and when to stand firm. He answered obediently, "I understand, Lady Doris."

Doris looked briefly startled by the form of address, then gave Jiang Nan a coquettish roll of her eyes and snorted softly. "Such a smooth talker."

But Jiang Nan could tell that Doris liked being addressed that way. After watching her return to her room, he began sorting and packing the documents as instructed.

As a science and engineering guy, and thanks to the system's automatic language and writing adaptation, Jiang Nan could read what the documents said, but understanding them was another matter entirely.

Even so, Jiang Nan could tell that Doris had genuine ability to back up her position as one of Dr. Gero's trusted aides. There were quite a few handwritten calculations on her desk. The formulas were complex and obscure, impossible to write without a solid foundation of knowledge.

Jiang Nan had also come to terms with things now. Since he had ended up in this world, he might as well settle in and focus on staying alive first. Perhaps he could use the Dragon Balls to return to his original world someday, or achieve dimensional travel once his combat power reached a certain level.

For now, he just had to stay alive!