"So it's because of this brat that I had to sign that level of confidentiality agreement?"
In a room filled with instruments.
A child with dark green spiky hair and an infantile physique—oversized head on a tiny body—let out a disdainful snort.
Before Verde, on the massive transparent screen, Luo Shu—now dressed in blue-and-white hospital garb—was casually approaching the enormous testing apparatus.
"Tch, I don't see anything special about this kid at all."
Hearing the spiky-haired infant's remark, Kirika Tachibana, who had just entered the room, immediately teased:
"Well, well, if it isn't our child prodigy Dr. Verde conducting the tests personally!"
"If I'd known, I'd have brought a tin of baby formula as a gift~"
Verde—standing at 40cm tall, with the complete appearance of an infant—was the mad scientist heading SDS's Research Division.
A talent with a 10-billion-dollar bounty on the dark web (alive only), yet never captured.
Though in Kirika's view, the dark web's bounty—knowing only a name without any details of Verde's true form—was clearly just a hopeless trap.
At Kirika's mocking words, Verde merely adjusted his glasses calmly and said:
"A rude girl remains a rude girl. No matter how mature the exterior, the interior remains rotten, unresearchable garbage."
After snapping at Kirika Tachibana, Dr. Verde turned to Lacus, who had just entered the room and said irritably:
"While I don't understand the chairman's reasoning for this arrangement, interrupting my research on neutron jammers and specifically summoning my team to Japan for testing a new recruit is nothing short of resource wastage."
"Such basic genetic testing could be handled by research teams ranked in the double digits."
"First activating a grade 3 Abyss Artefact to ensure post-event memory clarity, then mobilising me - the head of Laboratory Zero - at such great cost, just to study some common..."
"Though I did confirm through test reports that our Abyss Artefact can safely erase human memories, that might simply be an 'harmless' verdict under current equipment limitations, not actual confirmation of safety."
"So this operation is clearly using Laboratory Zero members as bargaining chips."
"Hmph. This level of resource expenditure..."
Pushing up his glasses, Verde continued with a somewhat threatening tone:
"Not even you, Chairwoman, can stop me from reporting this to Mr. Siegel afterwards."
Siegel Clyne - Lacus Clyne's biological father and SDS's true primary backer.
Knowing this, Kirika Tachibana couldn't help but snicker.
Because Verde's statement sounded exactly like 'I'm telling your dad'.
Hearing Verde's protest, Lacus merely smiled and said:
"Doctor, I don't believe this operation will be a waste of resources."
"Oh? And your reasoning?" Verde raised an eyebrow, his chubby infant-like arms crossed in a 'I'm listening' pose.
Kirika, seeming unable to bear seeing Lacus being challenged, interjected:
"The reason is this boy is a wild ability awakener - mentally resilient while possessing Wind Arts manipulation and exceptional healing capabilities."
"As an Abyss Artefact researcher, you should understand the significance of such composite abilities, shouldn't you?"
Inheritance-type blessings that grant abilities to regular people are at minimum grade 3 Abyss Artefacts, possibly higher.
Since Abyss Artefacts below Level 3 automatically disintegrate after bestowing abilities upon others, they lack the capacity for proliferation.
Thus, every Level 3 hereditary Abyss Artefact represents an extremely valuable foundational asset for any organisation.
"...A powerful hereditary blessing? Bestowing seemingly unrelated composite abilities upon an individual? A hazardous item above Level 3... at least Level 4?" Verde adjusted his glasses, comprehending both Kirika Tachibana's implication and the reason behind Lacus's forceful measures this time.
"That would indeed warrant activating Laboratory Zero."
Verde had to admit that if this concerned the ownership of a Level 4 Abyss Artefact, such measures were justified.
Once Luo Shu's ability fluctuations were detected, Verde's methods would eventually identify the unique wavelength of that Level 4 Abyss Artefact given enough time. Then, SDS would acquire a new Level 4 Abyss Artefact.
As for its ownership? Lacus could give it to whoever she pleased. Verde only wanted research opportunities anyway - he never concerned himself with such matters.
"It's good that you understand, Doctor." Lacus visibly relaxed.
She knew her personality wasn't suited to coercion. Had Verde stubbornly refused testing, she'd have been powerless.
Instinct told her Luo Shu possessed qualities worthy of her trust, hence she often arranged matters according to his temperament. But while she might be willing, others might not - hence her concern about Verde potentially protesting.
"Incidentally, the testing equipment represents our latest stabilised research. Trying it on this special young man might prove beneficial - at least we'd obtain unique data."
To Verde, whose true age exceeded forty, Luo Shu's appearance placed him firmly in the 'son' generation; hence, the casual 'young man' address.
Verde snorted, extending his short arm to press a button on the remote before him. "Lie in the centre of the apparatus. Flat on your back will suffice. Don't worry about consequences - if my creations still had severe side effects, I'd be the first casualty."
Through the one-way glass, Verde clearly saw Luo Shu seemingly look directly at him through the window before obediently lying down in the massive CT-like machine's centre.
Verde frowned. His specially designed window blocked psychic energy. Could he really have looked straight at him? Coincidence? Or was there something unusual about him?
With these doubts, Verde glanced at Lacus. Receiving her nod, he activated the machine.
Watching Luo Shu being scanned inside the apparatus, Verde narrowed his eyes at the desktop monitor.
Kirika Tachibana sighed after glancing at the incomprehensible instrument displays. "Feels more advanced than last time. Honestly, do you scientists even have limits?"
Lacus could only smile at the indirect jab that included her.
Then suddenly, an exclamation rang out:
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! These aren't human readings!!"