Five or six minutes passed.
The automatic door at the back of the examination room slid open, revealing Luo Shu dressed in blue-and-white striped hospital pyjamas, rolling his neck as he entered:
"Is this really enough to get results? No blood tests or anything? Couldn't this be inaccurate?"
Hearing Luo Shu's scepticism, Dr Verde - seated in a specially designed chair - immediately adjusted his glasses and retorted:
"Don't compare my technology with those mediocre fools from outside."
Luo Shu glanced at Verde before turning to Kirika Tachibana, whose expression had turned peculiar:
"And this is?"
Kirika Tachibana looked Luo Shu up and down as if observing some rare specimen while explaining:
"This is Dr Verde, head of the SDS Research Lab."
"Verde, huh!"
Seeing the spiky-haired infant-like figure of Verde, Luo Shu's mind immediately jumped to the Children of the Rainbow.
This was a term from a mafia-themed anime referring to a group of seven individuals - all world-class talents whose bodies had been forcibly cursed into infant forms, hence their nickname.
If even characters like this exist, what kind of world is this? A sieve?
Luo Shu internally complained, yet simultaneously noticed the subtle shift in Kirika Tachibana's expression. Noticing this, he couldn't resist teasing:
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue after seeing my big secret?"
"Actually, yes."
Kirika Tachibana bit her cigarette, her expression complicated as she admitted:
"Now I understand why you've been so secretive and paranoid. Turns out you really do have reason to be!"
If nothing else, should governments worldwide learn about Luo Shu's physical condition, the consequences would be obvious.
Being locked away somewhere as breeding stock would be the mildest outcome. As for dangerous clandestine organisations? Well... permanent formaldehyde preservation with daily tissue extraction would be the standard procedure.
Hadn't Verde himself immediately suggested that Lacus keep him firmly within the Clyne Faction's control?
For this mad scientist to make such a proposal spoke volumes about Luo Shu's uniqueness.
From Kirika Tachibana's perspective, Luo Shu's caution was entirely justified.
Hearing this, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow, giving Verde a surprised look:
"I retract my earlier statement. Your equipment really is accurate."
Without waiting for Verde's response, Luo Shu immediately asked:
"So what do the test results say?"
As he spoke, his gaze had already shifted to Lacus's face.
"Please wait a moment."
Lacus took a deep breath before turning to Verde:
"Doctor, provide the complete dataset."
"Understood. Although I should warn you, some terminology is my own invention. Ask if you don't understand. Of course, if you doubt my explanations, that's your problem."
Verde tapped his keyboard several times. The instrument's display screen slowly rose, revealing a printing mechanism beneath.
Immediately, sheet after sheet of documentation began spitting out at astonishing speed - within breaths forming a stack already palm-thick and rapidly growing taller.
Seeing Verde like this, Lacus spoke with a hint of helplessness in her tone:
"Doctor, please provide the core data version without any errors or omissions."
Hearing this, Verde adjusted his glasses and said:
"Hmm? The fake version or the real data?"
"The real data." Lacus emphasised, then quickly added, "Also prepare a fake version to serve as the normal test results."
"Simple." Verde operated the machine again, and the printer ejected three more sheets of paper.
He handed these documents to Luo Shu while reminding him:
"Though I suspect you're already aware of your condition, I'll offer some unsolicited advice anyway."
"Stop masturbating from now on. If you have urgent needs, let me know and I'll arrange a professional for you. Though it's hardly worth mentioning, I do control several yakuza organisations in Japan. I can arrange some popular AV actresses for you."
Hearing Verde's words, Luo Shu's expression froze just as he was about to take the documents.
'Is this really something you should be saying here?'
Beside them, Lacus also seemed surprised by Verde's sudden remark. After a brief pause, she raised her voice slightly and said sharply:
"Doctor!"
"My apologies, Madam Chairwoman. This is merely a researcher's earnest desire to preserve valuable research material."
Verde pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting light to appear completely blank.
Hearing this, Luo Shu snatched the documents from Verde's hand and said expressionlessly:
"While I admire the dedication of researchers, you've chosen the worst possible timing."
Never mind Kirika Tachibana, but suggesting he visit prostitutes in front of Lacus? Even if he were interested, he couldn't possibly agree now.
"Oh? I see."
Verde chuckled quietly, his stubby fingers typing on the custom keyboard as he blatantly created Luo Shu's personal file right in front of him.
Luo Shu glanced at it, seeing nothing inappropriate written, and decided not to intervene further. Instead, he secretly focused his mind on the system, using a fragment of the Authority of Knowledge to implant a piece of information into Verde's mind as a contingency.
"Hmm?" Verde clearly noticed something unusual. He paused and turned to look at Luo Shu.
As a researcher, how could he not have modified himself?
Especially his memory - that was of utmost importance.
Thus, Verde detected the anomaly immediately.
As Verde looked over, Luo Shu met his gaze and curled his lips into a smile.
After a moment of eye contact, Verde said with complete seriousness:
"I heard you're pursuing the Chairwoman?"
At these words, Kirika Tachibana couldn't help but glance at Lacus.
Though the pink-haired beauty maintained her smile, as an old acquaintance, Kirika knew this was merely her mask for awkward situations.
'She's probably wishing she could shut Verde's mouth right now, isn't she?'
While Kirika was muttering to herself, Luo Shu was momentarily stunned by the sudden question. But he quickly countered:
"Is there a problem with that?"
"No problem at all. In fact, I was planning to cast my vote for you with Mr. Siegel."
Verde adjusted his glasses again and gave a kindly smile.
"After all, someone as decisive as you is perfectly suited for our naive Chairwoman."
Though Lacus wasn't opposed to using force, compared to Luo Shu, who would strike immediately upon sensing danger, she was still too naive.
In contrast, someone like Luo Shu was ruthless and cunning enough to stand behind Lacus and support her, which Verde considered ideal.
As for Luo Shu's underhanded methods, Verde had never concerned himself with such things. He had at least four self-destruct mechanisms implanted in his own body.
If anything, Luo Shu adding one more only sparked Verde's research curiosity.
Though... the recent scheduling did seem rather packed lately.
Hearing Verde's words, Luo Shu smiled:
"That's quite the compliment."
With that, he lowered his head to examine the data report in his hands.
After all, Luo Shu was also curious about his current physical condition...