"Shit, what is this place? These..."
The floor was empty, blinding fluorescent lights shone overhead, and below were dozens of rows of orderly placed, human-height Green Solution Tanks. Rows of pipelines extended from beneath these tanks to a Control Room supported by an iron frame against the rock wall.
The Control Room was entirely made of transparent bulletproof glass, containing instruments that emitted various lights and data patterns.
Moritz, whom they were chasing, was panting heavily as he grabbed the overlapping iron staircase, struggling to rush into the Control Room. The heavy security door closed, locking itself completely in an instant.
"Damn it, that old bastard ran up high!"
Jessica pointed at Moritz, who was hunched over the control panel inside the Control Room, shouted, took a step, and prepared to rush over.
"Calm down!"
But V stopped Jessica's reckless action.
Frowning, she looked at the dense array of glass tanks filled with green solution before her, unable to relax even slightly.
She recognized this green solution, and she also recognized what was inside the solution.
In the dense tanks, most contained humans submerged and connected to various tubes, but some emitted an extremely dangerous aura.
Those were the "Raiders" who had previously attacked the Hive Tower.
Humanoid monsters covered in tentacles.
Their hairless heads had closed eyes, and their mouths were fitted with respirators connected to tubes, occasionally bubbling faintly.
These things were undoubtedly alive.
V instantly became extremely wary.
"Welcome to my territory, guests!"
A loud broadcast voice echoed; it was Moritz in the control room.
He had fled to a safe place and was now standing behind the console, looking down at the three of them with a gloomy gaze.
"You have committed an unforgivable sin. You almost destroyed the crystallization of my wisdom, do you know that!"
"You ignorant fools, filled with prejudice against knowledge. Damn you!"
The gloomy, raspy voice came over the broadcast. His high-and-mighty tone, as if he had the three of them completely cornered, was grating to the ears.
"Shut up, you old geezer!" Moer snapped irritably, pointing her finger at Moritz behind the bulletproof glass above and cursing him.
"When I catch you, I'll make you wish you were dead!"
"Heh, if you can do it, then come and try!"
Once inside the control room, Moritz had shed his earlier panic and become calm and composed. It was unclear what gave him such confidence.
He turned his head and spoke to V, who was standing at the front of the trio.
"I believe I know you. Ms. V, is it?"
"..."
Hearing these sudden words, V furrowed her brows, wondering how he knew her identity.
"No need to be surprised. Although you don't know it, I have witnessed your combat."
Looking down at the three people who were as small as ants, Moritz wore a wicked smile.
"The gift I sent you, do you like it?"
Seeing Moritz's evil smile, V immediately clenched her fists.
"The test subject in the bar, you were the one who sent it."
It wasn't a question. Looking at his expression, V was certain that the attack on Hive Tower was the work of this man in front of her, who looked like a vulture.
"That was just a gift, a return for you destroying the materials I collected. Heh."
"And you are indeed strong, having eliminated the test subject I sent."
"But now, perhaps you can take a look at the new gift I have prepared for you. I ensure you will like it."
Saying this, Moritz pressed a button on the console.
"Enjoy it."
As his raspy voice finished speaking, a low humming sound echoed in the empty clearing, and the liquid in the solution tanks began to churn as if boiling.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"