"Seryu, there are some things you only learn once you're in this position, and the truth is far graver than we imagined."
Seryu realized that things seemed to have turned serious and began listening intently to what Lin Feng had to say next.
"According to my investigation, that so-called 'aptitude assessment' doesn't test whether someone's body meets a Teigu's requirements. It checks whether there are traces of modification inside their body-the electromagnetic signals of a chip."
"A chip?"
Seryu had the closest connection to the Teigu assessments, and she couldn't help crying out.
"Seryu, think about it. Don't you find it strange? Why would such an advanced, precise instrument for testing whether a person's body is compatible with a Teigu be placed specifically in our Thirteenth District's poorest police station? Why wouldn't something so complicated and expensive be in a district with more Teigu users?"
At Lin Feng's words, Seryu was puzzled too, but as she carefully recalled the details of her past, she seemed to think of something.
"Seryu, tell me now. Have you ever undergone anything like an experiment? If you have, who told you to do it?"
Determination and resolve shone in Lin Feng's eyes. He was absolutely not joking.
"Well... I..."
Seryu pondered silently for a long time, seemingly remembering something at last.
"A few years ago, Master Ogre... no! That bastard Ogre took me into the Empire to see a strange doctor."
"A strange doctor?"
"Yes..."
Seryu continued:
"I think that doctor was called... Dr. Stylish. Everyone called him Dr. Stylish. It seemed Master Ogre had some dealings with him. Each time, they would have me lie under his equipment for some strange examinations, but it didn't happen many times..."
"I remember now! Dr. Stylish-for some reason, he seemed to be a Teigu user too. His hands had a completely different degree of precision from an ordinary person's. He could even slip instruments beneath my skin without the slightest effort, and I wouldn't feel any pain at all..."
"A Teigu user, then..."
"Yes! Only a Teigu could achieve that kind of precision, right? Master Ogre later said it was the power of a Teigu too. That's why I became so fascinated with Teigu."
After hearing Seryu's words, Lin Feng merely gave two cold chuckles.
"Heh, heh... Dr. Stylish. It looks like everyone besides you probably died in agony after he experimented on them."
"Is that true?!!"
Seryu was shocked at first, then her face filled with conflicting emotions.
"During the experiments, Dr. Stylish said it was like surgery, with a chance of success or failure, and everyone volunteered..."
"That's not how it was. In truth, you were all just pitiful test subjects. You could say Ogre sold you off as tools for his own profit!"
"How could that..."
Lin Feng's tone was utterly resolute.
"Your Hundred-Handed Giant, Koro, probably came from that doctor in the Empire too, didn't he?"
"Yes... he was indeed issued by the Empire, but the first time I saw him was in the doctor's office. And the doctor seemed... to know him particularly well."
"When I saw you last month-that was the last time I went to take part in the doctor's experiments. Apparently, I was the only one who passed. I thought the experiment wasn't all that complicated..."
A shadow fell over Seryu's face.
"I investigated the whole story in detail and asked people who used to do business with Ogre to help put me in touch with someone who understood this equipment. I'd originally intended to open up this room to improve the combat strength of everyone in our Imperial Guard. I never expected to uncover so much background."
By this point, a trace of scarlet had flashed through Lin Feng's eyes.
"Dr. Stylish... you beast, treating human lives like dirt while enjoying fame and fortune. I'll tear you to pieces..."
The more Lin Feng's heart ached for Seryu, this girl whose parents had been murdered and whose life had been toyed with by others, the more he wanted to flay alive those beasts of the Empire who had played with her fate.
But it was still too early for Lin Feng to infiltrate the Empire.
Of course, Lin Feng wouldn't conduct all the shady dealings Captain Ogre once had. As a mere Imperial Guard captain, it would be difficult for him to make contact with people inside the imperial palace.
Even if he forced his way in, his battle with Koro had made Lin Feng feel that victory might not be assured that way. And with his template experience below ten percent, he might drag Seryu down.
It seemed the best course was to keep carrying out missions and look for an opportunity.
"Lin Feng, I've wanted to ask for a long time. Why are you so strong?"
Seryu asked. Earlier, when she had been in a state of collapse, Lin Feng had completely restrained her. Even her Teigu, Koro, had been unable to move.
Moreover, Lin Feng had killed Captain Ogre almost effortlessly. Afterward, Captain Ogre had vanished from the world without even a corpse or a drop of blood to be seen.
"Why can you use abilities like shadows... and I vaguely heard hounds that day. Are those all your abilities?"
"With your strength, rather than an Imperial Guard captain, I think you'd be more than qualified to be a lieutenant general in the palace... maybe even a general!"
Seryu spoke excitedly. In fact, Sheele had once asked the same questions as Seryu.
But Lin Feng's answer had been very simple too-he was born with it.
This time, faced with her questions, Lin Feng had no intention of hiding it either.
"I have these abilities, so just think of me as a Teigu user. These abilities seem to be something I was born with, including those shadows and hounds. They're all my abilities..."
"So you're a Teigu user too, Lin Feng? No wonder you're so powerful..."
"To think that you, who grew up with me all these years, are actually one of those legendary Teigu users..."
"Oh, not at all. I haven't had this 'Teigu power' for very long either."
After explaining, Lin Feng returned to their earlier topic.
"You haven't taken a good look through the weapons issued earlier, have you? Take a closer look now and see which ones suit you!"
Seryu was a true weapons enthusiast. Having been taught by Ogre all along, she had grown up surrounded by the imperial capital's military, and Ogre had taken an immense interest in arms dealing.
As a result, Seryu had learned quite a lot about the subject from childhood.
"This miniature torpedo actually works on both land and water! This Mount Tai cannon's bore is longer than all my cannons! And this miniature missile launcher..."
"There's that much? I thought they were all guns..."
Seryu could recognize what all this equipment was at a glance, while Lin Feng, who hadn't seen many modern weapon systems, felt he had no use for these things.