As soon as Gray Serpent entered the conference room, he saw Jackal lying face down on the table.
Her thick brown curly hair was wrapped around her voluptuous body, but her motionless appearance made her look like a large canine that had lost its soul.
"Lord Shamash, what happened to Jackal?"
"She has been studying the information on MANTIS Soldiers without sleep, so when you entered the room just now, she was barely standing."
"She overworked herself."
Gray Serpent looked at Jackal lying down, his tone softening a bit.
Who wouldn't appreciate a colleague who works hard for a great cause?
Shamash lifted her chubby legs in a noble and cold manner and spoke calmly, "Maybe I shouldn't have given her so much information at once. I see a familiar and disturbing fanaticism in her."
"Uh, you mean... Our Lord?"
Gray Serpent touched the chin of his mask thoughtfully.
The core information on MANTIS is actually confidential. It has long been stored in Gray Serpent's data network and has never been shared with Jackal.
It's not that they don't trust her, but the MANTIS experiment is extremely radical and its results highly unpredictable.
The excessive consumption and the experimental results that can easily go awry do not align with the guidelines that World Serpent has always followed.
If it weren't for ELF Shamash's return which provided the absolute force needed to suppress any experimental changes and Taixuan's request to treat Fu Hua, these data might have remained sealed in Gray Serpent's database forever.
Gray Serpent has no objection to sharing the data, but he is somewhat opposed to Lord Shamash's insinuation.
"I think you're overthinking it. There's no comparison between Jackal and the Doctor."
In his affirmative tone, Gray Serpent revealed his absolute respect for Mobius, the founder of the MANTIS program.
He admitted that while Jackal was a good colleague with scientific research abilities barely reaching the level of a civilization's treasure, she was far behind the doctor in every sense.
Then Jackal raised her head, and her golden eyes looked at Gray Serpent coldly. "Did I hear you looking down on me?"
"Jackal, your eyes?"
"Oh, nothing. I just made some small changes to myself on a whim. Don't worry about it."
"Are you crazy? You've only been exposed to these materials for a few days and haven't even conducted relevant human experiments, but you added the Honkai Beast gene to your body. You're threading thin ice!"
Gray Serpent scolded harshly. With the appearance of the Herrschers one by one, the window period for Project Stigma is approaching. At this time, a talent with good scientific research ability is crucial. Gray Serpent cannot accept that Jackal would risk her life now.
Then he realized the meaning of Shamash's words. If nothing else, this kind of madness that others cannot understand is truly similar to Mobius' shadow.
Jackal leaned back slowly, twisted her neck and shoulders, and relaxed the heavy burden on her chest, speaking nonchalantly, "MANTIS technology and Meta-morpth surgery are mature technologies of the previous era. They are not unverified theories starting from scratch. What's the big deal? Besides, I'm fine, right? Not only did I not go out of control, but my physical fitness has also improved significantly. I'll have more time to think and study in the future. It's really a good thing!"
Jackal admired her crystal-clear and beautiful nails, knowing that these delicate fingers, which looked like works of art, now had the power to tear soulium apart. She smiled with satisfaction.
Gray Serpent suppressed the shock in his heart, and after his scarlet electronic eyes flashed for a while, he said coldly, "This will not happen again. Your self-transformation experiment is temporarily listed as a taboo behavior."
"Hey! We're at the same level, right? What right do you have to boss me around? In terms of merit and hard work, am I any worse than you?"
"But you're gone awry now! Before the successful implementation of Project Stigma, your body and brain are not allowed to have any accidents. You're not allowed to mess around!"
"Damn! I didn't humiliate you, right!?"
Jackal slammed the table and stood up. Her sharp nails penetrated the steel plate, leaving five holes on the table, staring at Gray Serpent fiercely.
The situation was tense, and the two World Serpent agents were about to fight on the spot.
Suddenly, a flash of fire passed by carelessly, piercing through the gunpowder-filled air, leaving a blood mark on Jackal's face.
"Have you quarreled enough?"
Shamash slowly put down the little hand holding the burning sword and sat on the mini throne with a cold expression.
The amazing heat and terrifying pressure spread in the room.
After a while, Gray Serpent and Jackal bowed their heads at the same time.
"Excuse me, I was impulsive, Lord Shamash."
"Tsk! I know!"
They made different sounds, but both looked submissive.
Shamash's expression softened a little, "Gray Serpent's worries are not unreasonable. Jackal, I respect your professional level, but you still have to be cautious. I don't want the experimental accident I have to deal with one day to come from you."
"Okay, okay, I'll restrain myself in the future, okay?" Jackal sat down with a grumble.
Gray Serpent also breathed a sigh of relief silently.
This smart and capable but difficult-to-control colleague sometimes gave him a headache, but fortunately, there was Lord Shamash to suppress her!
As expected of Lord Kevin's ELF unit, it's so reassuring!
After strengthening his belief in Kevin and Shamash, Gray Serpent coughed and got down to business.
"Mount Taixu asked again about the treatment of Lord Hua. Jackal, how is your research progress on the information? Are you sure?"
"No!"
"Huh? Didn't you transform yourself?"
Gray Serpent loudly disagreed with Jackal's righteous words.
Then Jackal knocked on the table impatiently, crossed her arms, "If you read a little more, you'd know that every MANTIS Soldier is different and unique! Especially for a MANTIS Soldier like Lord Hua, who has survived for 50,000 years and is also involved in the spiritual realm, her physical condition and the trauma she has suffered are extremely complex. Besides, I haven't even examined her body yet, so how can I be sure?"
"I...you...you can't be without any progress, right?"
In Jackal's well-reasoned rebuttal, Gray Serpent's momentum weakened, but he still asked unwillingly.
Jackal paused, then sighed, "Well, if I have to say, I should be able to heal the physical trauma...but that's as far as I can go. I suspect her real dangerous injury isn't in the body. That's the most difficult part!"
"In the spiritual realm is it, is the only possible way is to ask Lord Su for help?" Gray Serpent subconsciously looked at Shamash.
Shamash was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, "No need to specifically seek out Su. He can see everything in the Cosmic Juggernaut, and he will act if he can. If he doesn't act, it's either because he is powerless or because he has already seen something and doesn't need to intervene. So, we can focus on the physical injuries."
"In other words, we can accept Mount Taixu's request, at least to a relatively satisfactory degree. Then the next question is... should we agree to it?"
Gray Serpent looked at Shamash hesitantly.
From an emotional perspective, serving th Flamechasers is a matter of course. The Lords have been friends for 50,000 years, and it's no problem for them to help each other.
But from a rational perspective, Project Stigma ultimately conflicts Project Ember.
The former aims to forcibly devour the entire civilization, while the latter seeks to protect the free development of civilization.
As the Project Stigma progresses, whether the executors of Project Ember will abandon their mission and follow Kevin or resolutely stand against him remains a big question mark.
Gray Serpent cannot make an accurate judgment and felt unqualified to make this kind of decision, so he can only look at the only qualified person on the scene, Shamash.
"What to choose is Hua's freedom, and Kevin will make his own choice. But in any case, some things will not change, so go and prepare for reception and treatment."
Shamash waved her hand without changing her expression, without any confusion or hesitation.
Gray Serpent was stunned for a moment, then finally nodded in satisfaction.
Yes, no matter whether the paths chosen by the lords are the same, they are all fellow travelers who trust each other with their lives. This friendship will never change.
As for whether there will be war or peace in the future, those are problems for Lord Kevin to face and solve. Gray Serpent is not qualified to worry about it.
There's no need. After all, Lord Kevin is invincible, and whether Project Stigma will be implemented actually depends only on his will. It's enough to know this.
Lord Shamash still sees things clearly. She is worthy of being Lord Shamash!