Rhine Lab isn't as tightly organized as one might imagine.
Although initially, Researcher Goki and Kaltsit had approached Rhine Lab with the premise of infiltrating a military organization, Researcher Goki discovered, after two weeks of work, that while Rhine Lab had achieved remarkable results and created many advanced technologies, it was, at its core, just a research company with severe internal divisions.
After all, no matter how brilliant, these Researchers were merely scholars, not warriors, and aside from the Defense Department, their external vigilance was not high.
Because clients came from various factions, and the benefactors behind different departments might be hostile to each other, Rhine Lab could not allow external forces to intervene and provide protection.
The Defense Department, ostensibly responsible for Rhine Lab's security, spent a great deal of energy daily just haggling with other departments over experimental safety issues, not to mention also being responsible for personnel identity verification.
During his time infiltrating Rhine Lab, Researcher Goki's identity was never questioned by anyone.
The reality was that every department, including Muelsyse / Muir Sais's Ecology Department, had its own combat and security forces.
Although not as strictly trained as Blacksteel's mercenaries and few in number, there were no shortage of Originium Arts Great Masters like Muelsyse / Muir Sais and Saria.
Under the leadership of their department heads, the various departments of Rhine Lab maintained a delicate balance, with both competition and cooperation, and the Defense Department, due to Saria's neutral stance, managed to maintain relatively peaceful relations with most departments.
Much like the Choir and other Healing Church members, though their research directions differed and their interests sometimes clashed, it hadn't reached the point of outright hostility and war.
Of course, who knows if a psychotic gunman might appear—Columbia people love assassinations.
And after Parvis, who sought the power of Ifrit, died, the Structure Department—Rhine Lab's main research force focused on life sciences—fell into a brief period of internal chaos.
Without Director Parvis, the pillar of the department, external capital's confidence in the Structure Department decreased significantly, and internal Researchers began to make their own plans, considering whether to transfer to other departments.
Otherwise, the incident two weeks ago wouldn't have happened.
The Ifrit Project's valuable experimental subject walked out of an unlocked ward, passed through a laboratory with many dangerous items, and not a single person noticed the entire process!
It was precisely because of this that Director Parvis's proud student, Olivia Hermer, was furious.
As the project leader, she spoke individually with Researchers from each team, even directly suspending several of the duty personnel involved and sending them home, while also increasing the bonus for the project's success. With both carrots and sticks, she barely managed to stabilize the Structure Department.
Now, at Madam Director's behest, the cooperation between the Defense Department and the Structure Department could finally continue.
"Kaltsit, I'm going to the Structure Department—I might be home late tonight. Do you and Skadi want to eat out or wait for me to cook?"
Walking up the stairs, Researcher Goki lowered his voice, reporting on the day's work to Kaltsit, who was two large districts away, via WeChat microphone.
"Faster than expected. You are indeed better at earning others' trust—I have a minor surgery today, and it seems there's activity at the Loken Tank. I need to gather intelligence, so I probably won't have time to eat out. Just pick something up on your way back."
From the other end of the phone, Kaltsit's slightly cold voice came through, as indifferent and emotionless as ever.
However, from the content of Kaltsit's words, it was clear that during the past month of living together, she had accepted the fact that Researcher Goki cooked for her and rarely ate energy foods anymore.
Researcher Goki handled external matters, Kaltsit handled internal ones, and Skadi was responsible for doing nothing but acting cute, waiting for Researcher Goki to come home, just like a family of three.
"I haven't had time to come back and make lunch recently. Are you feeling a sense of loss? Doctor Kaltsit, if you make the request, once the Rhine Lab matter is finished, I can take care of all three meals a day for you and Skadi from then on, you know?"
With a light chuckle, Researcher Goki suggested this.
Wanting Kaltsit as a wife wasn't just talk; to open her heart, which had been closed for a millennium, understanding and companionship were essential.
As for Titi, Researcher Goki always brought her interesting new things, in various ways, to relieve her boredom caused by not having any fights.
...No need. I can eat energy bars. Find what you're looking for as quickly as possible, and the information I need. If you believe the Ifrit Project poses a risk of pollution disaster, then stop it."
Kaltsit didn't pay any attention to Researcher Goki's playful remark, coldly emphasizing Researcher Goki's mission.
"Also, Skadi broke one of my pentahydrate grinding stones today. Remember to compensate for its value—"
"I didn't! I was very gentle! Kaltsit deliberately scared me from behind, that's why I broke that stone. I just heard this thing could sharpen knives, but it's not durable at all!"
"This thing is a grinding stone for precision machining instrument parts, not for sharpening knives! And it's advanced Materials technology from Aegir; Terra's current technology can't even repair it!"
"You never said that, and you're totally looking forward to Researcher Goki's cooking, aren't you? You clearly haven't been able to eat those energy bars lately. I just saw you secretly reheat leftovers!"
"Absurd. I just don't want to waste food. Unlike the extravagant and pleasure-seeking Aegir, you and your race make me laugh!"
"Tch, I won't include my race. Other Feline are very cute, only Kaltsit, you are ridiculous! Twice as ridiculous as me! Hmph!"
Listening to the two ladies bickering like elementary school students in his earpiece, Researcher Goki sighed with a smile and hung up the phone.
"They have such a good relationship."
Although, like in the original work, the enigmatic Great Lynx, who was utterly exhausted and complex, and the straightforward, unthinking Little Orca, had terrible compatibility, even in fanfiction, few people paired them as an Evil Path CP.
However... Kaltsit was an elder, at least a thousand years old, clearly battle-hardened and experienced, disdaining to get too entangled with Skadi.
And Skadi was also a sensible, good child. When Researcher Goki wasn't around, even though they had many conflicts, they at least didn't fight.
Soon, the elevator arrived at the designated floor.
Entering the corridor, Researcher Goki saw a cleaner and more monotonous decoration style.
Compared to the Defense Department, the smell of disinfectant in Rhine Lab's Structure Department seemed particularly strong.
And... "Sure enough—"
Although he had no idea of the layout of this floor, Researcher Goki instinctively directed his gaze towards the depths of the floor.
There, he felt a familiar yet strange sensation.
It was several whispers, like a softly sung elegy, low and melodious.
That was... the power of a God.
However, soon, out of the corner of his eye, Researcher Goki saw a Liberi woman with long white hair and brilliant golden eyes approaching him quickly after noticing him.
"Researcher Goki of the Defense Department, Madam Saria recommended you to join this collaboration. Welcome to the Structure Department. I am the Data Maintenance Specialist for the Ifrit Project Department, codenamed Ptilopsis."
Although her voice was flat, this young woman in a white uniform dress had lively eyes and a tone not lacking in emotion, extending her slender hand to Researcher Goki openly.
Researcher Goki knew her, yet she felt exceptionally strange to him.
Ptilopsis, the future Rhodes Island Operator, a lousy programmer who would delete the database and run away at the slightest disagreement.
Because of oripathy, this Liberi girl, who had ample healing but not a large chest, possessed an almost mechanical mind. Her speech and movements were no different from Xiao Ai or Siri.
But now... although she still seemed somewhat mechanical, it was clear that Ptilopsis was simply naturally indifferent.
Dealing with Kaltsit and Skadi, two poker-faced girls whose mouth corners never curved more than 10 degrees, every day, Researcher Goki had adapted to all cold attitudes.
"Hello, Researcher Ptilopsis, I hope we have a pleasant collaboration."
Extending his hand, Researcher Goki shook Ptilopsis's hand, without any undue surprise.
Ptilopsis, six years before the main storyline, was perfectly healthy. The high concentration of liquid Originium in Researcher Goki's body did not detect any trace of oripathy on her.
Although she felt as if she lacked the distinct characteristics of the original characters, Researcher Goki thought this was quite good.
Nothing was better than good health—a healthy wife, of course, made one happy.
"Director Saria spoke highly of you. The laboratory and experimental ward for the collaborative project are at the very end of the corridor. Please follow me."
Ptilopsis nodded faintly at this "Researcher Goki," whom she was meeting for the first time, and began the identity registration process while leading Researcher Goki to the laboratory.
"Please look at the device in my hand. I will record your fingerprints, iris, and voiceprint key."
After capturing an iris image of Researcher Goki with a small camera, Ptilopsis handed him a key card.
"With this, you can freely enter and exit the experimental area, but if you wish to contact Ifrit, you will need Silence's permission—she's been in a very bad mood lately. If she says anything inappropriate, I apologize in advance for her."
Finally reaching the door marked with a radiation symbol, Ptilopsis led Researcher Goki into a narrow small room.
Hiss—
Accompanied by a burst of white mist, both of them were covered by disinfectant adsorbents.
At this moment, Ptilopsis hesitated for a moment, then suddenly looked up, staring earnestly at Researcher Goki.
"Ifrit said she met a very kind Big Brother... I hope you can bring her some comfort—"
The white mist dissipated, and the electronic door in front of them slowly opened with a mechanical transmission sound.
"Ah—it hurts, it hurts, stop it! You damned white coats! Let me go!"
The next second, the soundproofing disappeared, and a painful, shrill scream entered Researcher Goki's ears.
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