Chapter 957: Raw Materials
The parasitized and the immune?
So Byron was indeed taken by them. When Byron was captured, he should have already realized these people were from the Stargate Council, otherwise he wouldn’t have offered no resistance at all and told Agu to hide, Saul thought.
Actually, what Meurich said made some sense.
Saul thought of the Prismatic World. There, if he hadn’t also been a tangle of twisted fate lines, he should have been burst into fragments by the complex and unabsorbable knowledge the moment he saw the Prismatic World’s true form.
Pei’er was actually in this situation, but the Death Demon seemed to give her a place to stay out of consideration for Saul.
Pei’er’s life form should have completely transformed by now—whether this was good or bad was unclear. Anyway, Saul could sense she had lost some emotions and humanity.
After digesting this for a moment, Saul asked Meurich, “The parasitized die, while the immune seem to have mental problems too. What does the Stargate Council plan to do next?”
But Meurich didn’t explain further, only retracting his eyes and bowing his head slightly. “I’m very sorry, Lord Saul. The subsequent intelligence is classified stargate information. Without Lord Alick’s permission, I cannot disclose it. If you’re willing to join the stargate migration experiment, I think Lord Alick would be willing to share all internal materials with you.”
Saul stood up. “Sorry, I’m currently lacking energy and don’t have spare time to participate in your experiments. Since it’s classified, I won’t pry further. But you should return Senior Byron to me, right? Although he’s immune, I think he wouldn’t want to participate in your migration experiments. Or let me see him in person—if he says he wants to participate in your experiments himself, I won’t stop him.”
Seeing Saul stand, Agu immediately stood too, and naturally Meurich couldn’t remain seated.Meurich stood and spread his hands toward Saul. “I’m very sorry, Lord Saul. Wizard Byron has now been transferred to the experimental base. For the accuracy of experimental data, we temporarily cannot let him out.”
“How long do I need to wait?”
“I don’t know that either.”
“I’ll go find Chairman Alick.”
“The Chairman is also at the secret base now and won’t come out easily. Otherwise he would have personally received you this time.”
“Heh.” Saul snorted coldly. “Negotiations failed. I’m leaving then.”
Saul got up and headed outside. Meurich pursed his lips, not daring to stop him.
After leaving Meurich’s room, Saul walked outside with Agu.
This underground base didn’t have many people. It seemed captured people were either disposed of or quickly sent to the secret base for experiments.
When the two left this secret base, they encountered Fiona again at the passage entrance.
Saul directly stopped and nudged the hesitating Agu. “Since you’ve met, say hello properly. You crossed continents to find her—surely not just to meet without acknowledging each other?”
But before Agu could approach, Fiona came forward first.
“Lord Saul, though it’s presumptuous, I really hope you can join our experiment.”
It seemed someone had already told her Saul’s identity.
“I have very important matters to handle right now and temporarily don’t have energy to spare for your experiments. But I think with Chairman Alick and Wizard Meurich present, you completely don’t need my help.”
Saul stepped aside, letting Agu face Fiona. “You two chat first. I’ll wait for you ahead.”
After speaking, Saul walked directly to the end of the passage.
Fiona didn’t understand why Saul left but kept his subordinate behind. After thinking, she believed this might be an opportunity to persuade him.
“This wizard, I hope you can help me convince Lord Saul. Lord Saul’s research on pollution is top-tier in the entire wizard world. If he could join the stargate experiment, it would definitely accelerate our research progress.”
“Fiona,” Agu interrupted her, looking down at this daughter who was no longer young. “How much do you understand about this experiment?”
Fiona looked at Agu puzzledly, not understanding why his gaze seemed strange. Normally, she wouldn’t bother with Agu, but since he was Saul’s subordinate and willing to listen to her, she wanted to gain his favor.
“I currently don’t have clearance to participate in the core research. But I know that understanding red worms thoroughly will be very useful for our future departure from this dying world. It can give us a protective shield.”
“Yes. But how much danger can this shield withstand? And although you’re researching red worms, you haven’t truly suppressed their spread, right? You even let them roam freely outside to conveniently find the immune.”
Fiona already understood Agu’s view of the experiment. The enthusiasm faded from her face as she barely maintained calm.
“I understand your meaning. You think we’re using many people’s lives to save a few lives, so you’re unwilling to participate, right? But Lord Agu, between everyone dying and a small portion surviving, which outcome would you choose?”
Agu shook his head. “That’s an overly beautified outcome. The future might also be that those who stayed didn’t die, while those who left all died.”
“So you lack confidence in our experiment?”
Fiona thought she knew the reason for Saul’s refusal and was quite pleased. She glanced at Saul standing in the distance and explained to Agu in a low voice, though she knew at this distance Saul could hear if he wanted to.
“Actually, our methods aren’t limited to red worms. I’ll tell you directly—we’ve already developed special protective measures using Faceless Ones and red worms as raw materials. Besides defending against starlight pollution, it also provides strong concealment. This is why we dare to bring so many people through the stargate!”
Agu froze, shaking his head with difficulty and stiffness. “What did you say?”
Fiona was momentarily stunned, completely unable to understand why Agu suddenly became agitated.
Agu grabbed Fiona’s collar like an angry father. “What did you say you use as raw materials? Faceless Ones? Are you insane?”
Fiona was lifted onto her tiptoes by Agu and suddenly understood what he was angry about.
Her eyes constantly shifted, various complex emotions appearing and disappearing, finally becoming mocking.
“Why so agitated? Are you also a Faceless One?”
Agu’s hands released as if burned by a branding iron, even stepping back.
Fiona’s face showed a cold smile as she leaned in to whisper, “Whose existence have you devoured? Aren’t you also sacrificing others for your own survival?”
Agu opened his mouth, then pressed it tightly shut, refusing to say a word.
Fiona glanced again at Saul waiting in the distance. In the end, she didn’t say anything more cruel, turning to leave without the mood to continue trying to persuade Agu.
Saul saw Agu walking over expressionlessly and knew their conversation hadn’t gone well. He hadn’t eavesdropped on Agu and Fiona’s dialogue, so when Agu approached, he asked.
“Why did it end unhappily?”
Agu looked at Saul, his tightly closed lips finally showing a crack. “She, they’re hunting Faceless Ones. Using Faceless Ones as protective materials for leaving through the stargate.”
Saul was stunned, realizing that Faceless Ones were probably treated like the “mermaid race” raised by the Stargate Council.
However, the mermaid race was kept alive, but Faceless Ones, judging from Agu’s tone, were killed upon capture.
(End of Chapter)