Volume 3 Chapter 1 (2/2)
”Right. It is the movement of ”particles closely resembling the nature of light” that could be observed when the particles that crossed the speed of light were released from the experimental body. In addition, despite the radiation phenomenon occurring in this vibration state, the heat quant.i.ty emitted by the experimental body has not changed. In other words, radiation with no heat source......I won't know for sure until it's measured in detail, but I'm guessing this is a successive case of the possibility of releasing complex momentum exceeding the ”Definition of a Second” that we were aiming for. In other words, the faster-than-light-speed by using Astral.”
Suddenly the cigar fell from Edward's mouth.
This man, who was the personification of elusive ironist, was completely lost for words. It seems these results were unbelievable to that extent.
While thinking deep down that everything was going as he had hoped, Homura set aside the excessive explanation from before.
”That said, I don't expect a human body to be able to withstand such Particle Superfluidity.”
”Huh, so it's like that, huh?”
”Yeah. That's how it is with the current experiment. In reality, it only exceeded the speed of light for a mere instant. Immediately following that, the Particle Bodies along with the parasitized camphor tree have dissolved in the atmosphere, unable to retain their form.”
”Dissolved in the atmosphere? Then could those things s.h.i.+ning inside the laboratory room be Particle Bodies?”
”That's right. Here, please take a look at the atmosphere composition. The radioactive materials and fallout in the vicinity can't be confirmed. Instead, when we measured the atmospheric concentration around it, it turned out that the ”Star Particle Bodies” occupied 12% of the atmosphere. The ”Genome Tree” project that is underlying the ”Environmental Control Tower” is looking good. Given this atmospheric state, it's also possible to reproduce the ”Bull of Heaven” even if only on a small scale by using the Ether Accelerator – E.R.A. that changed the structure of the aforementioned B.D.A. Do you want to try it?”
”No need. I want to first finish up the report for now. I have to contact Director Weser about this explosion matter.”
When he mentioned Weser, which was the name of the manager of this German Laboratory, Homura started collecting the data in slight enjoyment.
”That's necessary indeed. It won't be a wise move to anger that hard-faced director. Are you also having difficulty in dealing with him, Chief Edward?”
”Not so much difficulty, rather he's my old subordinate. Moreover, he seems to be convinced that I died. It seems he's in quite a good mood in his own way now after having met with the pleasant mistress from ”Everything Company” Keiretsu. That being the case, it doesn't seem like a snake would come out to poke the bushes.”
”Hahah. Seems like your relations.h.i.+p is more complicated that I imagined.”
”Indeed. Now before I report, I want to ask one more thing first.”
”What is it?”
”About what you stated before. Can I hear what are the conditions for a human body to withstand the B.D.A?”
Hearing that question, Homura raised his eyebrows from surprise.
Because if you broke down the current conversation, using B.D.A on a human would be out of the question.
”......What are you even asking? With the current progress of Particle Body completion, using B.D.A. on a human body couldn't even be considered. It would only end up with body fusion just like it did now. The progress of the B.D.A. research may be too low, though.”
”I'm simply talking with the a.s.sumption that everything was cleared up. I have to write the report as detailed as possible. All the more if it's necessary for the planning including the future budget. And rumors say that by combining B.D.A and Particle Bodies, the human lifespan could also be greatly increased. That's a good message for drawing in the sponsors. Don't you think so, Your Highness.”
While knitting his brows from Edward's speech, Kalki still nodded his head slightly in agreement.
At this point, Homura finally understood the meaning behind Kalki, who was the son of an investor, being present here.
”.........”
The Head of Development, Edward's voice, despite being calm, gave off a strong will that gave no room for argument. But it was only natural. It wasn't like the research and development was being performed as a philanthropic work.
Longevity. Prolonging of Life. Perpetual Youth. He didn't know where he sniffed that info from, but it was actually partly truth.
The Star Particle Bodies that can interfere with the ”Definition of a Second” wouldn't simply stop at sustaining the youth of cells, but by s.h.i.+fting the pa.s.sage between outer and inner s.p.a.ce they could even remarkably slow down the aging itself, or so he hypothesized.
No matter the times, there would always be hedonists baited by this kind of experiment.
They would probably laughed scornfully be it some average results, but if they heard about the removal of the virus last time, and this time's results of the research, there would be a lot of researchers from major companies who would try to move.
What's more, a lot of funds were invested in the research of ”Star Particle Bodies”.
It was undoubtedly ”Everything Company's” biggest project that had their fortune at stake. Succeeding in the development of these Particle Bodies makes it simple to cross the corporate barrier and stand at the top of the world..
It was a matter of course to request a detailed explanation in order to draw in the investors, however, at present the B.D.A. shouldn't be used on human bodies no matter what.
”.........Edward-san. Also, Your Highness. If my conjecture is necessary no matter what, then please write this in the report. ”Using B.D.A. on the current human generation is absolutely impossible.””
”Oh? Impossible to be used on humans you say?”
”No. I'm saying, on the current human generation.”
From the way Homura said it, even Kalki, who was listening in silence, clapped his hands and nodded.
”Ah, I see. So you are saying that it's necessary to raise humans who would be compatible with Particle Bodies during the alteration of generations, is it?”
”Yes. To begin with, in order to prolong the life of a human body, at the bare minimum it's necessary for the blood pa.s.sageways necessary for the Star Particle Bodies to be able approach the speed of light; in other words, it's impossible unless at least 10% of the blood vessels inside the body are transformed by Star Particle Bodies.”
”I see. And so?”
”The ”Star Particle Bodies” have the ability to match the cells of the parasitized body with the Particle Bodies and proceed to alter them, and it can be conjectured that the false Smallpox from the last event was something that came from abusing that fact. Though the overwriting of cells accelerates with each successive generation, it would still be no more than a one percent variance. Therefore, the 10% barrier that reaches the speed of light is absolutely unreachable within one generation. Using B.D.A. within the next thousand years is unrealistic.”
The 10% barrier that reaches the speed of light.
Homura strengthened his voice to emphasize it. Even if the ”Environmental Control Tower” plan goes smoothly and it starts spreading the Particle Bodies, there would be an extremely few who would actually cross this 10% barrier..
For him, this was one line he wouldn't yield at any cost. Because were he to concede on this point, then not only ”Everything Company” but some other organization might also start doing human experiments.
Their opinions clashed, giving off sparks between them.
Among the heavy silence, Highness raised his hands.
”Homura. I hate to say this, but isn't that a bit too late?”
”.........Why is that, Your Highness?”
”Try giving it a thought. Even though they don't possess the ”Origin”, the enemy organization has progressed farther than the Particle Bodies that you created, right? In that case, I believe it would be logical to think that they used some kind of shortcut. If human experiments were done, the Particle Body research would progress rapidly, am I wrong?”
”T-That's......”
From Highness' advice, Homura received a blow as if he was. .h.i.t by a blunt weapon. He tried to argue back reflexively, but he managed to hold back seeing as there were no points he could straight up deny.
It was highly likely that this organization that created the ”Bull of Heaven” was performing human experiments.
Unlike E.R.A. that acted on the Star Particle Bodies in the atmosphere, the B.D.A. that acted on the Star Particle Bodies inside the bloodstream would yield far better data when tested on living humans. Normally, such inhuman experiments were unthinkable, but the organization in question was one that caused calamities and Smallpox without giving it another thought. It was quite unlikely that they weren't involved in human experiments. Setting the morality aside, for Homura's side to overtake this organization that was researching it, they would also need to perform the human experiments and keep inspecting and verifying things.
However, something in Homura screamed that crossing that line was one thing that he absolutely must not do.
”.........Kh......No, even so, I can't. I can't permit using living humans for experiments!”
”Why? At this rate, would we not be technologically left behind by those terrorists? You can't dispose of the threat just by sticking through with the morals and justice as a human being.”
”No, we will compensate the shortcoming in technology by strengthening the facility! We can just complement the wisdom we lack with numbers! I thought it was supposed to be the way of modern researchers to achieve that by gaining the support of the world, gathering a lot of cooperation and walking along the path of mutual prosperity!”
Homura, with his hand on his chest, appealed to Edward and Highness.
Behind his driven up impatience, there were traces of that dream of a world in flames.
”.........Edward-san. Highness. I'm not saying to share Particle Bodies with the world before they produce results. But it is also the truth that in Star Particle Bodies, in this research, the whole of mankind’s potential lies dormant. It is that future potential that opens up the possibilities of reforming the desertified lands, preventing calamities by controlling the weather, removing radioactivity, and even s.p.a.ce development. If a single wrong step is taken, I'm certain that humanity will come to regret it one day.........!!!”
Urged by the heat and emotion that was similar to conviction, Homura spoke those words.
Success that didn't follow justice. Ruin that lay at the end of blindness and compromise.
The original sin to be done for the sake of new generations, would one day become an obstacle that would threaten the survival of humanity.
”.........I see. If you are going that far, there's nothing else I can say. I won't spread today's matter either.”
Highness took a step back and withdrew his opinion.
Rather than being convinced of Homura's words, it was more probably because he saw some kind of reason below his desperation. Or perhaps he judged that it was disadvantageous as an investor to let go of these favorable terms, now that the Star Particle Bodies have earned international status with the ”Bull of Heaven” incident.
Moving his gaze from Highness to Edward, Homura asked for his opinion.
Edward Grímnir produced a ferocious smile and narrowed his eyes as if appraising him.
”Heh......To think a day would come when a researcher would talk about the original sin. Is this the so-called ethical evolution? I remember when you spoke sharply to me. If I'm not mistaken...”
”Please stop, thinking about it now, it was quite an embarra.s.sing speech!”
Edward held down his laughter; it seemed he didn't immediately deny his determination. After walking towards the storage where the crystallized bodies of Star Particle Bodies were stored, he took out one vacuum capsule and displayed it as if proposing an alternate plan.
”I don't think they were that embarra.s.sing though. At the very least, those words of yours definitely marked a hit on my diaphragm. I hadn't laughed like that in three years. Right, you came at the frontline of research because of that ”Human Stubbornness”. Those were quite the brilliantly thought up greenhorn words that we adults can't easily say. However, if you are going to yell about that, I want you to fulfill that responsibility. Won’t you agree?”
”.........”
”Now, let's have an engaging chat. The ”Star Particle Bodies” stored inside this are the very first ones that Mikado Tokuteru brought to ”Everything Company”. Did you know that?”
Suddenly, Homura jumped up as if he didn't believe his ears.
”Huh? .........Eh, what!? Tokuteru brought them here!!?”
Homura’s voice raised in disarray. Looking at his reaction, it seems he thought his deceased father left them in the custody of ”Everything Company”.
But if he recalled how Tokuteru acted, such behavior wasn't surprising from him.
The one who recommended Saigou Homura to ”Everything Company” was no other than Tokuteru as well.
It was probably because of that recommendation that they made an absurd choice of letting the young Homura join the laboratory.
”I-I see. Thinking about it now, it makes sense. No matter how big of a client he was for ”Everything Company”, there was no way his recommendation towards me would've turned out so simply. .........Ugh, what to do. I feel depressed being indebted to him more.”
”Now, it seems you don't mind it that much. Even that man should be making good things out of this. You are too hasty with giving him a favor. And so, to the main question. Do you know what is the source of these Particle Bodies?”
He threw at Homura the vacuum capsule containing Particle Bodies. By default, they were stored inside the special amino-acids that make up the protein, but these particular Crystallized Bodies appeared to have been preserved as is.
Homura caught it in fl.u.s.ter, but became strangely confused as he confirmed the contents of it.
”Red Crystallized Bodies.........Is this material the ”Origin”?”
”That's not it. Those aren't Crystallized Bodies but a blood clot. It's part of a cell sample a.s.similated from a Human that concealed the “Origin” Particle Bodies inside their body.”
That fact made Homura widen his eyes and hold his breath.
Raising the capsule and holding it up to the light, Homura observed that red crystallized body, the clot of blood taken from a mysterious person, as if he was seeing something unbelievable.
If this was indeed a blood clot, it would overturn all current hypothesis.
With current research, the parasitically multiplied Particle Bodies were only accompanied by half degraded abilities.
This was the law that was taken as absolute in the Star Particle Body research. And yet, if there existed an idiosyncratic human who could carry the non-degraded ”Origin” within their body, then it would solve all problems.
”A human who carried ”Origin” inside them, and the Particle Bodies flowed as far as to even reach the internal organs......? No, that can't be! If that really is the case, not just 10% of their blood vessels, even part of their heart would be altered by the Particle Bodies in high likelihood, and such transformation in the current generation is...”
”Then, what if they were experimented on ever since they were an embryo? Or, there's even the possibility that the person themselves are the second generation Particle Body carrier. That way everything would fit, right?”
For a moment, Homura was speechless from the inhumane words Edward spoke.
”T-That.........might indeed be possible. If the fertilized egg was parasitized with Particle Bodies......No, it's still impossible! It's only been a few years since the research on Particle Bodies began, even for the outside organizations, it would be no more than ten years if you count back from the leak of the thesis! Even if such a inhumane method was used, it would still be impossible to gain the results of it if the research wasn't started at least twenty years before that! Someone who could research alteration of genetics or embryos twenty years back, someone like that-”
Shouldn't even exist, When he was about to say that, he suddenly swallowed his words.
This was the first time he arrived at that possibility.
It was because he remembered someone like that. Someone who was able to observe the process from the fetus after generation modification of the Star Particle Body carrier, and started researching more than 20 years ago.
Edward smiled in full amus.e.m.e.nt towards Homura, who got reminded of the one and only person that fit that.
”That's right, there is only one such person in the world. Only a single person who could do that. Would you not agree, Dr. Saigou?”
”.......... But still, please wait. That person is supposed to be dead.”
”And he is indeed dead. That fact is definite, Saigou Homura. Your father is dead. Even if there was an almighty existence in this world, even they wouldn't overturn that single fact. But what if even now, those experimental results remain within the son, no, two sons that leading person had left behind?”
Edward with a snake-like glint in his eyes, looking as if he was about to hunt for his prey, had directed a gaze at the speechless Homura. Edward sat as if he knew everything of this world, just like a storyteller that narrated legends.
After lighting the second cigar, he spoke to Homura as if giving him a warning.
”Let me tell you a little story from the past. The story of a man who dedicated his whole life to the Particle Body research, and two of his sons who were raised in a certain orphanage after his death.”
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