The corridor was bottomless, with cold metal walls on both sides and overhead lights every five meters. It was so quiet here that only the footsteps of two people could be heard.
One was steady, the other was deliberately feigned in its nervousness.
At the end was another, heavier door. When Brink pressed his fingerprint again and the door slid open to both sides, a huge space, resembling an underground hangar, revealed itself before Lucian.
Dozens of staff members wearing white research coats were busily at work in an orderly fashion at their respective stations, and all kinds of unnameable precision instruments flickered with deep blue data light.
Seeing Brink and Lucian enter, everyone stopped what they were doing, straightened their bodies all at once, and cast gazes mixed with curiosity and scrutiny.
This battle array was even bigger than Lucian had anticipated.
He was equally curious whether Vought International's top-tier technology could actually pry into the secrets hidden within his body-such as the Heat Vision that could be fired at any moment, a thermonuclear capability sufficient to melt steel.
"Don't be nervous, kid." Brink wrapped an arm around his shoulders, introducing him to this group of researchers with a posture bordering on exhibition: "This is Lucian. Starting today, he will be our most important project."
A supervisor with graying hair and gold-rimmed glasses walked up and respectfully handed Brink a tablet.
"Professor, all equipment has finished preheating; testing can begin at any time."
"Good," Brink waved a hand, "start with the new ability."
Lucian was led in front of a 100-meter running track paved with special cushioning material.
"Lucian, run a round to the best of your ability." The supervisor adjusted his glasses, and his assistants had already aimed at the various monitoring points along the track.
Lucian moved his ankles slightly. He lowered his body slightly and assumed the starting posture.
Going all out.
The next second, he rushed out.
"Boom-!"
The researcher by the track only felt a gust of fierce wind sweep toward his face and subconsciously closed his eyes. By the time he opened them again, Lucian was once again standing at the starting line of the track.
On the screen, a number was dazzlingly glaring.
Peak speed: 200m/s.
The smile on Brink's face bloomed completely; he was almost about to applaud for this perfect number.
Next was the Super Physique test.
A robotic arm applied tons of pressure to Lucian. He merely let out a muffled grunt, his muscles bulging, and stubbornly carried it through. The data analyst looked at the continuously soaring feedback on the screen, cold sweat seeping from his forehead.
"Professor... his body strength... compared to the data tested last week, has increased by another... another fifteen percent."
Brink merely nodded in satisfaction, as if everything was within expectations.
Shockwave's intensity hadn't changed, and its might was virtually indistinguishable from when he had blown away his opponent in the previous match.
The performance segment was over.
The real good show was just beginning.
Lucian lay on the testing bed as a huge annular scanner slowly moved across the top of his head. Several researchers holding syringes cautiously drew blood samples from the veins in his arm.
The moment the needle pierced his skin, Lucian's body had no reaction, but his spirit had tightened to the limit.
A sliver of faint electrical energy was flowing along his fingertips and into his body.
As long as there was any mistake...
As long as that report about to come out contained any wording regarding "thermal energy," "high temperature," or "multiple energy sources"...
This testing base, along with everyone and all the data inside it, would be erased by himself.
Time passed second by second.
The researchers gathered in front of a core computer, where Lucian's physical data refreshed like a waterfall on the screen. Sometimes they discussed in low voices, sometimes they frowned, and sometimes they let out incredulous gasps.
Brink also walked over, standing behind them with his hands behind his back, staring intently at the screen.
Lucian lay quietly; he could clearly hear the sound of his own heartbeat, and he could also hear the lowered, confused conversations of those researchers.
Finally, the gold-rimmed glasses supervisor holding a freshly printed report hurried over.
He first handed the report to Brink and then turned to Lucian.
Lucian sat up and took the other copy. His gaze swept rapidly over every single word on the report.
[Physiological structure: Normal supe category]
[Comprehensive conclusion: The test subject has previously been injected with multiple different iterated versions of Compound V. These compounds, which usually conflict with one another and lead to the collapse of test subjects, underwent a miraculous benign fusion within the subject's body and activated different superpowers in an unprecedented manner. The test subject's body possesses extremely high compatibility and evolutionary potential.]
Lucian lowered his hand holding the report, his tense body finally relaxing.
The ability he had copied had perfectly bypassed the technological detection of this world.
Brink finished reading the report. He paced back and forth excitedly, finally stopping in front of Lucian. He looked at Lucian, and that gaze of scrutinizing a commodity had completely vanished, replaced by an enthusiasm bordering on mania.
"Kid, you know who your situation reminds me of?"
Lucian raised his head and asked cooperatively, "Who?"
"Homelander." Brink's voice was trembling. "He is the only person in this world, to my knowledge, confirmed to possess multiple 'different' superpowers. Flight, Heat Vision, Super Hearing, X-Ray Vision... That's not different usages of a single ability; those are several completely independent abilities! And you... you have now embarked on this path too!"
Brink smiled from ear to ear, patting Lucian's shoulder and offering repeated assurances.
"Publicity! I'll give you the highest level of promotion! The whole of New York-no, the whole world-will know your name!"
As he spoke, he took a black card holder from the inside pocket of his suit, pulled out a plain black credit card, and put it straight into Lucian's hand.
"I didn't know your background before. Living alone in Queens, you must have had a hard time." Brink's voice grew extraordinarily warm. "Here, take this card. There's no PIN. It has a monthly limit of a hundred thousand dollars. Spend whatever you like, and tell me anytime if it isn't enough!"
Lucian lowered his gaze to the card in his hand, his face suitably showing an overwhelmed, flattered expression.
By the time he walked out of the testing facility, the sky was just beginning to brighten.
"Professor," Lucian suddenly said, "I think I need a suit of my own."
"Of course! Of course you do!" Brink readily agreed, almost excessively enthusiastic. "How can you call yourself a superhero without a suit? I'll contact Vought's best designers right away and have one custom-made for you! Tell me anything you want!"
He personally escorted Lucian to the dormitory building and thoughtfully reminded him to get some rest and not feel any psychological burden.
Lucian nodded and turned to walk into the dormitory building.
Behind him, Brink stood in the morning light, watching Lucian's back as he went upstairs. In just one night, Lucian's worth in Brink's eyes had gone from "a valuable commodity" to "a priceless asset," and now to-an invaluable treasure.
A rough diamond with potential on par with Homelander.
As long as he secured Lucian's loyalty with money, status, and "the bond between teacher and student" before he truly rose to prominence...
Brink turned and got into his private car, the smile on his face no longer containable.
He picked up the phone and dialed the number of an executive at Vought International.
"It's me, Brink. About the list of candidates recommended by Godolkin University to join The Seven... Yes, I'd like to make a small adjustment."
Before you continue