Columbia, Friga State, Saint Foucault City.
8:00 AM
Weather: Sunny
In the sky, there wasn't a single cloud, and the brilliant, warm sunlight streamed through the glass, illuminating a narrow corridor.
Drip, drip, drip, hiss—
After three crisp sounds, white, misty liquid sprayed out into the small space.
This was a special compound disinfectant, capable of eliminating outdoor germs and viruses, while its adsorbent properties could also absorb Originium dust from the air, ensuring no other influencing factors were brought indoors.
Olivia Hermer covered her mouth and nose, narrowing her golden eyes; although she had worked in this environment for years, she didn't particularly like the smell of this disinfectant.
"Cough, cough."
She tugged at her sleeve, tucking the few brown feathers growing on her left arm into her white lab coat, and used the white notepad in her hand to fan away the disinfectant in the air.
After a good while of disinfecting, all the white mist finally dispersed.
On the pure white walls around them, black and yellow signs indicating "Radiation Hazard" were posted.
This meant that the room Hermer was about to enter posed a risk of Originium radiation.
Although the actual dosage wasn't large and wouldn't cause oripathy to manifest, people generally still put on protective suits diligently when they saw this sign.
However, Hermer skillfully unbuttoned her chest, took off her usual white uniform, and changed into a light brown, radiation-proof cloak.
The child she was about to see didn't like people wearing white lab coats.
"Welcome to the Special Biological Laboratory, Ms. Olivia Hermer, Advanced Researcher of the Structure Department, Level 3 clearance. May you come closer to the truth today."
The disinfectant spray gradually dissipated, accompanied by the somewhat mechanical female voice from the electronic door's loudspeaker.
Hermer adjusted her glasses on her nose, turned her head, and looked out through a sealed small window at the scene outside.
Here was a concrete jungle of towering buildings, with drones occasionally flying swiftly between them.
On the ground three floors below, countless hurried figures scurried back and forth, entering and exiting the building where Hermer was located.
They were mostly researchers in white uniforms, but also workers transporting goods, and security personnel in neat formations, carrying firearms, patrolling back and forth.
Columbia, the youngest nation in the world, was also the most developed and Advanced.
And now, where Hermer was located was the high-tech development zone that gathered the most talent in all of Columbia.
—Takela Valley, which had nothing to do with valleys, housed the most and densest research institutions in all of Columbia.
Rhine Lab, or rather, Rhine Lab Co., Ltd., was the most powerful organization among them.
During her student days, Hermer was captivated by the new medical equipment and profound explanations of life science when she visited the Rhine Lab Technology Exhibition with her doctoral supervisor. After graduation, she successfully joined the company as she wished.
Hermer's talent and abilities were well displayed at Rhine Lab; she progressed rapidly, had a smooth career, and repeatedly received company commendations.
But even so, Hermer never forgot her initial wish—to participate in the "Application of Originium Technology in Life Sciences" project.
And Hermer didn't expect the opportunity to come so quickly.
Not long ago, Hermer's leader at Rhine Lab, and also her mentor, the Head of the Structure Department, Mr. Parvis, recommended her to the Director.
Hermer was to succeed him and become the head of one of Rhine Lab's core projects, a privilege only granted to researchers at the Head level.
"Ah, that's the Structure Department's convoy; they're back."
Looking at the several mud-splattered, somewhat dilapidated Originium vehicles at the entrance of the research institute, and the familiar, somewhat disheartened colleagues disembarking from them, Hermer shook her head.
Not long ago, Hermer learned of the death of Head Parvis.
Although Head Parvis usually kept to himself, and Hermer wasn't really familiar with him outside of academic exchanges, she was still somewhat saddened to learn that such a scientist had died in Sargon's primeval Rainforest.
This was a significant loss for both the Structure Department and the field of Originium life sciences.
In front of her, the door to the room opened, and Hermer collected her thoughts, walking into the laboratory, or rather, the ward.
It was a large yet crowded room, with numerous valuable and precise monitoring instruments around, their digital content constantly running and recording.
And in the center of the room, there was a large, neat, and clean hospital bed.
A small, only twelve or thirteen-year-old blonde girl was lying on the hospital bed in a patient gown, with two small, backward-curving black horns like a sheep on her head, looking particularly cute.
Her somewhat frail arms were pricked with many needles, connected to the IV pole beside the bed, and numerous electrode pads were attached to her body, connected to the surrounding instruments.
This Sarkaz girl was the most important character in the project Hermer was currently undertaking.
Others liked to call her "Experimental Subject 1," but Hermer preferred to call her by her name.
Looking at the other figure standing beside the hospital bed, Hermer's calm expression softened into a slight smile.
"Ifrit is asleep? Head Saria."
Hearing Hermer's words, a woman with long silver-white hair, dressed in a protective uniform and a black skirt, immediately turned her head and nodded to Hermer.
"Hermer, you're here—yes, she was quite rowdy for a while, but now she's finally tired. She has even more energy than a Wyvern child."
This woman was considerably taller and more robust than Hermer, and she had fiery red horns and a tail growing from her head and behind her, indicating her identity—a naturally strong Wyvern, no different from a Superman compared to a Liberi.
She was Hermer's colleague, Saria, Head of the Rhine Lab Defense Department, and also a collaborator in this project.
Of course, the Defense Department's task wasn't research, but to prevent major accidents and safety incidents during experiments, but Saria was indeed an excellent talent with extensive knowledge.
Their academic views differed, but Hermer still admired her.
They were good friends; although both were quiet and reserved, they occasionally enjoyed joking around Ifrit.
"You've worked hard, Head Saria. Don't you think you and Ifrit are a bit alike, like mother and daughter?"
"Just call me Saria, Hermer—why can't it be sisters?"
The two looked at Ifrit lying on the hospital bed and smiled at each other.
They had been taking care of this little girl together for quite some time, and all three had a good relationship, as harmonious as a family.
Hermer picked up her notepad and began to transcribe the data from the surrounding instruments, while also telling Saria about her upcoming plans.
"By the way, the Structure Department's convoy is back. They didn't find any ancient Spell models in Sargon, but they recorded a lot of useful experimental data. Once they're settled, our experimental plan will continue."
And Saria also put away her smile, returning to her usual serious expression, her face stern.
"So soon? I haven't… Hermer, I think the Ifrit Project should undergo more experiments outside the human body. We don't know what results this experiment might lead to."
Saria was the Head of the Defense Department, not just a security guard, but the chief person responsible for preventing and handling all experimental safety incidents. She had always been cautious about the Ifrit Project.
And hearing her words, Hermer's face also darkened.
"You're still the same. Head Parvis is dead. If I don't continue to push the experiment forward, how long do you think those people who only care about power will fight over the Head's position? Can Ifrit afford to wait?"
Reaching out, she gently stroked the little girl's face on the bed, looking at the Originium crystals on her shoulder and horns. In Hermer's opinion, Saria was too conservatively old-fashioned.
"But we don't know what it is. The structure of the Originium samples provided by Sargon is beyond comprehension. The experimental animals all self-destructed and died in the end. We can't even deduce what will happen to Ifrit, let alone those blood samples of unknown origin—"
"That's enough, Head Saria, I will be careful—I also cherish Ifrit."
Hermer's voice instantly rose quite a bit, but seeing Ifrit still sleeping nearby, she lowered her voice again.
Although her tone wasn't strict, Saria knew that this topic could no longer continue.
"I just hope you think more… No matter what happens, I will protect you and Ifrit. I'm leaving. Call me if you need anything."
Hermer thought Saria was too conservative, while Saria thought Hermer was too radical. They had argued about this many times, but they both knew that the other was one of the few normal people who held onto the original intention and kindness of a researcher, without being excessively fanatical.
After their argument today, they were still friends.
Sighing softly, Saria turned around and silently left the room.
And Hermer, watching the electronic door slowly close, sighed helplessly.
"Hermer… you two are arguing again."
Meanwhile, a strong yet somewhat worried voice suddenly sounded from the side.
"You were pretending to be asleep again, Ifrit?"
Looking at the Sarkaz girl next to her, who had opened her orange eyes, Hermer smiled again and gently patted Ifrit's little head.
"Don't worry, Saria and I were just discussing a problem—we are both working hard for you."
"Hmm, that's good. Don't argue, arguing is bad."
Hearing this, Ifrit grinned and laughed happily, then yawned and fell deeply asleep.
Hermer, meanwhile, pursed her lips—Ifrit was suffering from oripathy, and Hermer was searching for a solution.
Hermer was looking for a new way for the human body to coexist with Originium.
If successful, humans could not only improve their physical fitness but also overcome their fear of oripathy.
Hermer firmly believed that the relationship between Originium and the human body was definitely not just limited to the terrifying oripathy.
Looking at Ifrit, this "Experimental Subject" and the child she intended to protect, Hermer turned around and flipped through a few pages of her notepad.
On it was the action report that the Rhine Lab Sargon expedition team had submitted to her in advance.
"Two hunters, Goki and Skadi, one with powerful vitality capable of instant regeneration through blood, the other with physical strength almost beyond the Laws of physics, and an Originium creation called a divine Incarnation by the locals, but ultimately defeated… Never mind, I won't think about these for now, the surgery is urgent."
Looking out the window at the blazing sun in the blue sky, Hermer decided not to dwell on these ethereal matters and instead opened two boxes with the Rhine Lab logo on the lab bench.
Two different glass tubes were placed inside, containing liquids of various colors.
One glass tube contained a golden-orange liquid, constantly surging, hot and full of vitality, as if still alive.
The other glass tube contained a black-red liquid, like a pool of stagnant water, but with tiny, star-like sparkling blood.
This tube of blood was calm and steady. Hermer gently held it in her hand, and simply looking at it gave her a feeling of being drawn in.
Moreover, after bringing the two glass tubes closer, the formerly active and hot one suddenly became quiet and cold.
"There are still many unsolved mysteries, but Ifrit, I will make sure you live a healthy life."
Hermer's resolve had never been so firm.
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