Chapter 508: First Contact
Although Ryo's forged identity information could not withstand top-tier, transnational, in-depth background checks, it was more than sufficient to handle routine verifications against the backdrop of the severely damaged global information network and poorly functioning regional management agencies following the Second Impact.
More importantly, the papers he published regarding environmental restoration and LCL purification contained genuine theoretical depth and displayed a unique technological path. This was enough to pique the interest of any organization with corresponding technological discernment capabilities.
Sure enough, it didn't take long before the anonymous contact channels he set up on several academic platforms received a probing email from NERV.
The email was carefully worded, claiming to be from a "multinational technology assessment agency" expressing interest in his research direction and hoping to conduct a more in-depth "technological exchange."
Ryo knew the bait had been sniffed out.
He needed to make this "Ryo" persona more fleshed out and credible to pass any potential face-to-face verifications that would follow.
First, he found an abandoned warehouse located on the outskirts of the city, close to the polluted coastline.
It was far from the city center and the environment was cluttered, fitting the profile of a location a chronically underfunded independent researcher might choose.
He personally conducted a simple cleanup, scraping together a "marine ecology laboratory" that looked operational but was in extremely harsh conditions, using collected second-hand equipment, recycled electronic components, and bottles and jars that vaguely resembled experimental vessels.
The interior of the laboratory deliberately cultivated an atmosphere of an all-or-nothing, desperate research endeavor. Scattered notes were covered in complex formulas and observational data regarding the red ocean.
The biggest challenge lay with himself.
His Space Marine-augmented physique was far too burly. A height exceeding two meters and muscles that were extraordinarily developed even without wearing power armor were simply too conspicuous, severely clashing with the image of a scholar who spent his days hunched over a desk researching.
He had to create a disguise for himself that could be maintained long-term.
This was no simple illusion; it required genuinely altering his morphological traits.
He stripped off the massive Terminator power armor and mobilized his psychic power, compressing his physical form from a burly giant over two meters tall down to a normal stature appearing to be around 1.8 meters.
Maintaining this disguise required continuous and precise energy output, akin to sustaining a low-intensity psychic spell long-term. Fortunately, this avatar's psychic reserves were sufficient to support it.
He deliberately retained some traces of weathering and a slightly exhausted expression on this disguised image. This made "Ryo"—a resilient yet somewhat down-and-out scientist persisting in his research under harsh conditions—appear even more authentic and credible.
Once the preparations were complete, he replied to NERV's email, agreeing to an informal meeting scheduled right at his "laboratory."
He predicted that NERV would definitely send personnel to conduct an on-site inspection to evaluate the authenticity of him and his research.
A few days later, an inconspicuous black sedan parked outside the warehouse.
Two people stepped out of the car. They were exactly who Ryo had seen in his observational data: Misato Katsuragi, along with another woman wearing glasses who exuded a calm and capable aura—the head of NERV's Technology Development Department, Ritsuko Akagi.
Misato Katsuragi walked into the warehouse, her gaze rapidly sweeping over the laboratory that was so spartan it bordered on shabby, before finally landing on Ryo.
A fleeting trace of scrutiny flashed through her eyes, but it was quickly covered up by a professional smile.
Ritsuko Akagi followed behind her, the gaze behind her lenses like a precision scanner, calmly evaluating every detail of the laboratory and Ryo himself.
"Dr. Ryo?" Misato Katsuragi extended her hand. "I am Misato Katsuragi, and this is my colleague, Dr. Ritsuko Akagi. We are very interested in your papers on marine environmental restoration. I must say, persisting in research under such conditions is truly admirable."
Ryo shook hands with her, deliberately ensuring his palm carried the thin calluses left by long-term contact with chemical reagents and rough labware. Simultaneously, he precisely controlled his grip strength to match the expected power of his current disguised persona.
"The conditions are limited, please forgive the mess," his voice was also deliberately adjusted to sound slightly hoarse, carrying the blandness of someone who focused long-term on technology and neglected socializing.
The ensuing conversation was primarily led by Ritsuko Akagi.
She posed several extremely professional and technical questions involving the physical and chemical properties of LCL fluids, the stability of high-activity particle catalysis theory within complex ecosystems, and the mathematical foundations of the several key catalytic models mentioned in Ryo's papers.
Her questions hit the nail on the head. She had clearly come prepared, intending to thoroughly probe the authenticity and depth of his theories.
Ryo answered fluently. Not only did he explain the core concepts in his papers, but he also expanded upon deeper hypotheses regarding LCL particle activity regulation and ecological sequence reshaping. He even casually pointed out several theoretical blind spots in current mainstream environmental restoration technologies during the discussion.
The technological insight and breadth of knowledge he displayed clearly exceeded Ritsuko Akagi's expectations. Her originally rigorous, even slightly scrutinizing expression gradually became focused as the conversation progressed, occasionally even falling into brief contemplation.
During the conversation, Misato Katsuragi was responsible for guiding the topic. She seemingly inadvertently brought up NERV, describing it as a "technological organization possessing resources and dedicated to handling various global issues post-Impact," hinting that if his research was indeed valuable, he might be able to secure support.
At the same time, she was observing Ryo's reactions, evaluating his personality and motives as a potential collaborator.
Ryo feigned a moderate level of interest while also revealing a cautious apprehension toward the bureaucracy of large organizations, emphasizing that he cared more about whether his research could truly be applied to environmental restoration.
This performance perfectly fit the image of an independent scientist completely engrossed in research yet wary of the establishment.
The meeting lasted for about an hour.
After seeing off Misato Katsuragi and Ritsuko Akagi, Ryo knew he had passed the first hurdle.
His image and research had drawn sufficient interest from NERV, especially earning the preliminary approval of the core technical figure, Ritsuko Akagi. However, the other party obviously would not trust him completely right away.
What would follow would likely be deeper background investigations, or the proposal of some form of "cooperative test."
He maintained his disguised form, feeling the faint burden of the continuous psychic output.
This would become his new normal until this identity was no longer needed; patience was a virtue shared by both hunters and researchers.
He had successfully handed the thread he spun into NERV's hands. Next, he only needed to wait for them to slowly pull, and he could ride the momentum to infiltrate the depths of that fortress hiding countless secrets.
And his primary target—Rei Ayanami—seemed one step closer to him at this moment.