628 Prototype Part 1 (1/2)

Half a month later in a huge underground space that should not have existed below the sixth basement floor of the Royal Institute of Research, all was dim, illuminated only by the pale lights.

There were cracks all over the floor, making it look like some sort of dilapidated building. There were still traces of spiders and insect eggs in the corners.

”What kind of godforsaken place is this?”

Ye Qingxuan pointed at the spiderweb on his clothes. ”We'd better install a ventilation system. Aren't you afraid of suffocating?”

”Actually we already installed one and incorporated it into the Royal Institute of Research's circulatory system. I had only ever considered my own breathing requirements, but fortunately we have a bit of a power surplus. You'd better thank God for the fact that you can breath right now.”

Newton answered without the least bit of courtesy. Ye Qingxuan rolled his eyes.

It seemed like this guy had set his heart on the plan, even to the point where had contributed his secret base as a testing ground.

He reckoned that this was the place where Newton performed his forbidden research.

From what he could see, many of the sets of equipment here were a rare commodity among all the nations. In fact, Newton had to have built many of them himself.

It was clear that there were many good things still to be had from Newton, he had just to think of a way to get them out of him...

No matter who was in charge, they would have to quickly learn some underhanded techniques. They would teach themselves all kinds of ways to put pressure on their employees. Especially if that employee was Newton, that gold mine that had not stopped producing.

”This is the research data.”

Newton placed a document into his hands and motioned for the workers to quickly prepare the testing site. Ye Qingxuan browsed the document casually, and could not help but raise his eyebrows.

”Zebra? Not a bad codename. Where did you find him?”

”Prison,” Newton said casually. ”That guy fought in the first Indian Colonization War. After he retired, he laid low for a while. They say that when he was captured, he had already killed sixteen active duty marines with his bare hands. Keep reading, he is a demon in human form...”

Ye Qingxuan turned the page over and sighed, ”Two hearts? Four times the adrenaline? Natural regeneration? It's no good, it's no good. If he was taken by the Dark Musicians, he'd make for an awful test subject.”

Newton rolled his eyes. ”Do you think you're so so different from the Dark Musicians now?”

Ye Qingxuan thought of those insane Dark Musicians, always running around kidnapping children and trying to recruit him to join in their schemes.

”I'm still very different,” he answered seriously.

”Shut up, the experiment is starting. Prepare all departments.”

Newton ignored him, walking up the steps and shouting for everybody to make ready with all haste. Afterwards he waved his finger at Ye Qingxuan, ”Don't stand in the middle, move over, right, a little more, stop. Right there, don't move.”

He moved Ye Qingxuan into the corner and then slipped behind him, as if using him as a shield.

He picked up the microphone and said, ”All departments confirmed, begin the experiment.”

Scrape!

The sound of chains dragging came from behind the iron gate.

Amidst this ear piercing noise, the several hundred kilogram gate started to slowly lift. When it reached the halfway point, it started to resist. But finally it was lifted to the top with a roar.

A giant so burly that he did not resemble a human walked out of the darkness. His bare shoulders were covered in layer upon layer of tattoos. Some were his own original tattoos: demons, snakes and churches, but the rest were new: musical notes and array movements.

His knotted muscles heaved in time with his breaths under the pale lights. He slowly crept forward.

He walked barefoot across the floor, dragging heavy shackles behind him that seemed to weigh him down no more than an empty can would.

Even his forehead seemed abnormal. It arched out, as if there was something sharp hidden underneath the skin.

Neither in his character nor in his appearance did he seem like a law abiding citizen.

Looking all around the testing site, Zebra was shocked. He did not see the strict security measures he had expected. Instead it was all empty.

Finally, his line of set came across the completely unprotected Newton, and his face began to change.

”Test Subject A1, don't just stand there, our time is precious,” Newton said impatiently.

”I am not A1, call me Zebra!”

A fierce light flashed in Zebra's eyes. He began to slowly walk closer. ”Perhaps we should discuss some...problems with my treatment.”

Newton sneered disdainfully and waved at him impatiently. ”I don't care if you used to be called Zebra or Cow, right now we're in the middle of an experiment.”

Ye Qingxuan shook his head and laughed softly. ”Looks like we're having trouble before the experiment even starts.”

Newton looked a bit embarrassed. ”There wasn't enough time,” he answered awkwardly, ”we had to dispense with the formalities. Where could we have found so many volunteers? We had to make do with prisoners on death row.”

Ye Qingxuan sighed and tapped his cane on the ground.

”Let's begin the experiment, gentlemen, after all our time is precious. I have a 'wonderful' tryst waiting for me this afternoon that I can't be late for.”

It was only now that Zebra noticed the thin young man standing beside Newton, similarly undefended. That bag of bones was not even thick enough for him to poke his finger through.

He could kill both of them at once.