"Very good."
Lü Yongchang nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Mao Zhengzhi beside him. "Prepare to begin the experiment."
"W-wait!" Freeman's voice came through again. "Are you... are you Professor Lü Yongchang?"
"And if I am?" Lü Yongchang replied coldly.
"Then can you guarantee it?" Unlike before, Freeman's voice now held a pleading note. "Academician Mao Zhengzhi promised me that as long as I completed the tests, I would be pardoned."
Lü Yongchang looked at the Holographic Image before him again and spoke with deliberate emphasis. "Remember, you currently enjoy none of the rights a human being should have."
"Nor are you important enough for me to go out of my way to deceive you."
"Once the tests are complete, I will consider it."
On the screen, Freeman lowered his head and fell silent.
Judging by his clenched fists, he was clearly far from calm.
"Begin the test."
Lü Yongchang ignored him and gave the order without hesitation.
"Professor..." Mao Zhengzhi switched off the microphone and looked at the Holographic Projection with concern. "If you do this, won't Freeman..."
"Quite the opposite." Lü Yongchang shook his head. "Only if I put it that way will he cooperate with the tests."
Seeing the confusion in Mao Zhengzhi's eyes, Lü Yongchang explained quietly.
"Didn't you notice? He never believed he could be released without charges."
"In that case, there's no need for me to lie to him."
"I might as well lay everything out."
"Look. Compared with earlier, his desire to survive is clearly much stronger now."
Lü Yongchang shook his head ruefully. "That's human nature."
"I made him no promises, but he'll subconsciously deceive himself."
Watching Freeman's mental state gradually improve on the screen, Mao Zhengzhi gave a slight shudder.
The Gravity Chamber began to accelerate slowly.
The equivalent gravity reading