Lin Wei didn't know when it started, but he found himself in a bizarrely peculiar relationship with several major organizations. With Schicksal, despite sharing much common ground and no animosity, they were inexplicably incompatible, and every encounter inevitably led to cataclysmic conflicts.
As for World Serpent, Lin Wei couldn't agree with their ideals. They had schemed against each other and even directly clashed countless times.
Logically, their relationship, if not one of fire and water, should at least be one of mutual dislike. Yet, it was precisely them who, so far, were the organization most capable of sitting down with Lin Wei for friendly exchanges—or rather, mutual exploitation.
And Anti-Entropy?
The friendliness of their relationship was probably inversely proportional to their physical distance...
"What a twisted, chaotic, and strange mess this is..."
Lin Wei thought with some helplessness, wondering why things had turned out in such an absurd yet reasonable way.
But precisely because of this, when Lin Wei saw the person waiting for him in this laboratory, he surprisingly didn't feel even a hint of astonishment...
"Alright, my task is complete. Please excuse my departure."
After leading Lin Wei into the laboratory, Gray Serpent bowed elegantly, then nodded slightly to the person waiting inside, before turning and slowly disappearing into the shadows of the corner.
"I thought you'd exchange a few pleasantries with him. Looks like I was overthinking it."
Lin Wei walked past the woman without a care, reached out to touch the spotless control console, and examined the various instruments displayed in the laboratory—whose technological level far surpassed the imagination of the general world—with great interest. Then, he somewhat nonchalantly turned his gaze to her face and smiled.
"Also, I don't recall requesting a lab assistant, esteemed Ms. Jackal."
Yes, this tall, well-proportioned woman beside him, dressed in a magnificent priestly robe, was none other than Jackal, whom he had met once before!
"...Heh, to want me as your assistant, aren't you a bit too arrogant, Lin Wei!"
Jackal had already felt a surge of anger when Lin Wei's face appeared before her. Now, hearing Lin Wei's nonchalant provocation, she was instantly startled. After forcibly suppressing her anger, she retorted with a sneer laced with lingering anger and sarcasm,
"As one of the main cadres of World Serpent, the sectors related to scientific research, especially biological sciences, are under my full responsibility. Since you want to apply to me for the right to use the laboratory, then to avoid unnecessary damage to the organization's precious experimental instruments, I naturally have to carefully review whether you have this qualification!"
When it came to her area of expertise, Jackal's slender neck couldn't help but lift proudly, like a black and gold swan, as if disdaining Lin Wei's posturing and showing off in front of her.
But in the next second, she was easily disarmed by Lin Wei again.
"Alright, time is limited. Let's begin directly."
Lin Wei solemnly took out a sealed box emitting a low temperature from his pocket and said to himself,
"This laboratory is very good. It's arranged according to my requirements. I'm very satisfied—Alright, help me prepare the culture tank first."
His attitude was so casual, so natural, that even Lin Wei himself felt a bit surprised. If Mobius were by his side right now, she would definitely be laughing uncontrollably at his current appearance.
"You!"
Lin Wei's completely dismissive attitude instantly enraged Jackal. Yet, just a second before she was about to erupt, her eyes met Lin Wei's, which were filled with seriousness and indifference, for a fleeting moment. It made her instantly freeze, a chill running down her spine.
"Don't waste my time, Ms. Jackal."
Lin Wei had no interest or patience to waste time with her. He merely glanced at her casually before retracting his gaze.
"If you don't want to help, at least please keep quiet."
As he spoke, his other empty hand gently flicked, and a black box that appeared out of thin air was lightly pressed onto the laboratory's main control console. Then, the lights of all screens and instruments flickered rapidly before instantly returning to calm.
Lin Wei had directly used Pandora to forcibly take over all control of the entire laboratory.
Actually, it didn't need to be this troublesome. Lin Wei could have silently taken over everything with just a thought—the reason for creating such a flashy light effect was merely to slightly intimidate this arrogant woman beside him with a direct visual impact.
"You scoundrel..."
This is clearly my laboratory! How dare you be so presumptuous?
Jackal was impotently furious but didn't dare to actually speak out.
She had come today to avenge a past grievance—although she no longer dared to have any improper thoughts about Lin Wei, since that fellow had stumbled into her area of expertise, how could she possibly miss such an opportunity to vent her anger fiercely?
For this, she had specially put aside her work in ARC City and excitedly came to this place, putting on an air of disdain, waiting for that fellow to walk into her trap. Yet, she hadn't expected Lin Wei to truly not take her seriously at all.
For a moment, Jackal actually felt a sense of self-inflicted humiliation...
"Hmph, Gray Serpent did tell me about the purpose of your laboratory application. It's somewhat interesting."
Jackal, of course, refused to give up. She spoke to herself, deliberately emphasizing the word "application."
"What, your main experimental subject, that little fellow covered in thorns, didn't she come with you?"
As she spoke, she even glanced towards the door, as if very surprised that Lin Wei had come alone.
"No need. Some things, it's not good for her to see."
Lin Wei answered calmly, waving the small box in his hand.
"I've already prepared what I need."
Saying that, he walked into the disinfection room on his own, changed into a white lab coat, and then, as if he truly were the master here, pushed open several isolation doors and walked into the interior of the laboratory.
"Heh, putting on an act."
Jackal sneered and followed unhurriedly.
Although she had been quite angered by Lin Wei just now, she wasn't in a hurry at all. As one of the world's top biologists, she looked at Lin Wei, who was showing off in front of her, with a playful and superior gaze, as if watching a monkey seriously playing with building blocks.
She was waiting for that fellow to make a mistake, to embarrass himself, and then to come to her for help with a dejected look—at that time, she would definitely laugh loudly at this ignorant and arrogant fellow, making him clearly recognize his place!
But unfortunately, that didn't happen...
When Jackal caught up with Lin Wei, she was surprised to find that fellow working like a precise and cold machine. From a small piece of body tissue stored in the already opened box, he was using a scalpel to separate strand after strand, as thin as a hair, then sorting them into culture tanks no larger than incubators.
Jackal narrowed her eyes and looked. In such a short time, more than a dozen pieces of equipment had already been activated.
"What on earth are you doing?"
Jackal's brows furrowed instantly, as if she were a university professor seeing a mischievous student messing around in her lab.
Of course, for students like that, Jackal usually wouldn't give them a second chance to make a mistake. The feeling of easily controlling others' lives and deaths meant Jackal wouldn't be so easily genuinely angered. But Lin Wei was different.
That fellow had, in turn, controlled her life and death—more than once.
Therefore, only by seeing Lin Wei acting so recklessly could she be so easily enraged.
"Nothing, just trying to induce and culture some embryonic tissue."
Lin Wei continued to operate with his hands without stopping, speaking unhurriedly.
"Fortunately, the technology of the Previous Era is advanced enough, even allowing for the targeted cultivation of individual body organs or even limbs. Otherwise, I really wouldn't dare to be so rash..."
Remembering the wild operation of "replaceable arms" in Mobius's lab back then, Lin Wei felt a wave of shame.
He also remembered when he proposed to Yuno before leaving that he needed to take some body tissue from her. Before he could even say how he planned to do it, he watched as Yuno, without batting an eyelid, cut off a large piece of flesh from her own arm. While handing it to him, dripping with blood, she even thoughtfully asked, "Is it enough?" Another wave of shame washed over him.
Good heavens, I initially just wanted her to extract a wisdom tooth...
And when Lin Wei, hurriedly saying "Enough, enough," fumbled to bandage her, and then watched as Yuno's arm, which was missing a large piece of muscle tissue, regenerated and repaired itself at a visible speed, watching those newborn muscle fibers extend and entangle like tiny tentacles, Lin Wei felt even more ashamed.
"Don't do this again in the future."
Lin Wei warned seriously.
"Your strong regeneration ability is indeed your advantage, but it doesn't mean you can neglect yourself."
Yuno said nothing, just nodded.
Although the process was somewhat different from what he had envisioned, since Yuno had already done it, Lin Wei could only reluctantly accept it. Then, he rushed to World Serpent's laboratory without stopping to begin the important business he had long prepared for.
"Inducing embryos? Are you planning to create new organs and limbs?"
Jackal, like a teacher checking a student's homework, examined each of the culture tanks through their windows. She was surprised to find that Lin Wei's operating method was actually quite standard.
"These samples you've made can only be used for such simple things. They can't become anything too complex."
She was still waiting for Lin Wei to ask her for help, although she still hadn't figured out what Lin Wei was trying to do. That kind of thing could be manufactured automatically using the equipment's own functions; why go to such great lengths?
"No need, it's enough."
Lin Wei answered irrelevantly. Then, he quickly filled all one hundred culture tanks with the samples he had made, waited for a moment, and watched as the lights on the tank walls lit up rapidly one by one.
Lin Wei called up the data for each one in turn, frowning as he reviewed them.
It really is a mature process. The originally scarce stem cells began to rapidly divide, regenerate, and expand under the catalysis of the equipment. This step proceeded without any surprises, Lin Wei thought silently.
"Can you understand this data?"
Jackal was somewhat surprised. This fellow better not be putting on an act.
She knew that this Lin Wei fellow was an excellent actor.
"Can't understand it."
Lin Wei said truthfully.
"But when Mobius taught me these things in the Elysian Realm, she didn't expect me to learn them. She just made me memorize these key steps and key data by rote—unfortunately, I'm actually quite good at this kind of thing."
"Elysian Realm? Mobius?"
Jackal was stunned for a moment.
"You said she taught you? How is that possible? How could she possibly teach an outsider like you?"
This time, she was truly caught off guard.
"Moreover, learning from such an adult, you actually dare to say 'rote memorization'? Do you even know what you're blaspheming?"
"Blasphemy? It's alright. You said it yourself, I'm an outsider. Cramming is like this."
Lin Wei shrugged and said nonchalantly.
"But fortunately, Mobius was quite good to me. Apart from liking to laugh at me a few times, she didn't skimp on teaching me these things."
"...Heh, next time you want to brag, I suggest you change the name."
Hearing Lin Wei say this, Jackal, who had been furious, instantly calmed down and sneered.
"Mobius? Good to you? Hahaha, do you even know how ridiculous what you're saying is?"
She had personally dealt with how difficult Mobius was to get along with!
Lin Wei, you can't fool me at all! Jackal thought sarcastically, feeling a certain intellectual superiority.
"Mm, yes, you're right."
Lin Wei couldn't be bothered to explain anything. He took the tablet and checked it one last time, then summoned Pandora again, stroking it lovingly before gently tossing it up. Pandora slowly flew to the top of the laboratory, emitting a faint black light that enveloped all one hundred experimental tanks, and the entire laboratory's light dimmed accordingly.
"Key of Corruption? What are you trying to do now?"
Jackal was startled and rather awkwardly escaped from the black light's coverage, questioning him angrily. She was all too familiar with this black box.
"Nothing. Pandora stores Yuno's complete genetic data. I'm linking it to these devices for the next stage of the experiment."
Lin Wei told the truth.
"Using it for interference induction, to allow these incomplete embryonic tissues to develop into truly complete embryos."
Directly copying Mobius's successful experiment in the Elysian Realm saved Lin Wei a lot of trouble in reality. And with World Serpent's technology, directly inherited from the Previous Era, this process should proceed very quickly.
Just as Lin Wei was thinking this, among the hundred culture tanks shrouded in black light, several suddenly flashed red lights within a short period, and the data on the screens also began to change drastically.
"Gene mutation in sample A-015."
"Cell lesion in sample B-022."
"Embryo in sample A-051 beginning necrosis."
...
The left row was Group A, the right row was Group B. Several lines of numbers and reasons for accidents scrolled across the screen like a waterfall, informing Lin Wei of the causes of the accidents. At the same time, red lights continued to light up in both rows.
Lin Wei, expressionless, put down the tablet in his hand. He took out the abnormal embryo samples from the instruments one by one and threw them into the incinerator to be burned. Then, he cut another small piece from that body tissue, put it into a culture tank, and started again, repeating this cycle.
Error reports sounded continuously, and Lin Wei's figure constantly shuttled back and forth between the culture tanks, replacing samples—the reason for setting up a hundred culture tanks was precisely to deal with such situations.
"How did Mobius succeed in one go?"
Lin Wei was puzzled. He was clearly following the method she taught—albeit a simplified version, or rather, a fool-proof version.
This rigid, mechanized repetition, he didn't know how many times it had been performed, but finally, a culture tank lit up, and the black light from Pandora that had originally enveloped it timely retracted.
Lin Wei was overjoyed at the sight and hurried over. Looking through the observation window, he saw that what was originally just ordinary body tissue had now become a small "seahorse" the size of an apple seed. It had truly become a human embryo that looked to be three to four weeks developed.
Seeing the experiment progressing smoothly, Lin Wei couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He glanced at the equipment number and said,
"Record, sample B-071..."
Suddenly, Lin Wei's words stopped. He felt an inexplicable sense of incongruity.
"Hehe, so that's how it is. This is really interesting..."
Seeing Lin Wei's expression, Jackal, who had been watching coldly from the side, also walked over with interest. She glanced through the observation window, then looked at Lin Wei's hesitant expression. How could she not understand why Lin Wei had faltered?
Seeing an opportunity for revenge finally present itself, how could Jackal let it go so easily?
"A hundred culture tanks, a hundred embryos, a hundred clones, a hundred newborns..."
She scanned the laboratory and then said sarcastically,
"Sacrificing a hundred lives to save one person—esteemed Mr. Lin Wei, so you're this cold-blooded too?"
She had been annoyed with Lin Wei for a long time and really wanted to see how ugly he would look after his composure broke.
"Heh, Jackal, you're not qualified to say that to me yet."
Lin Wei merely glanced at this arrogant woman with a sarcastic look and said calmly,
"Record, induction experiment for sample B-071 successful. Can proceed to the next stage of experiment..."
---||---
Schicksal Headquarters, Floating Island.
The Second Divine Key was already in hand, and the corresponding experimental site was under intensive construction. In addition, more manpower could finally be allocated for more extensive and detailed search work—the search for a certain person who had disappeared without a trace.
And Otto, having arranged everything properly, found himself idle once again—or rather, he had found something that interested him even more.
"Ana Schariac, the surprises you bring me are truly increasing. Indeed, how could a beautiful young girl as pure, kind, and full of a sense of justice as you not attract that person's attention?"
Otto toyed with a golden feather in his hand, muttering to the beautiful, dazed-looking young girl before him with great interest.
"These memories of yours related to him are truly unique pieces of information that can only be found with you!"
Ever since seeing that figure of Lin Wei in Ana's memories, Otto had become very interested in her memories of him.
How did they meet? What did they experience?
What kind of person was that Lin Wei fellow in private? What would he say, what would he do?
Otto was very interested in these things. This was information he could never obtain on his own, yet it could give him a more comprehensive understanding of him.
"Fu Hua always likes to quote an old Shenzhou saying: know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles."
Otto was in a good mood at the moment, his voice sounding quite gentle.
"Ana, Otto Apocalypse will remember your contributions to Schicksal."
Of course, whether Ana could actually hear his thanks was unknown...
Just like that, using "Simulacrum: Fenghuang Down," Otto went through Ana's memories in almost meticulous detail...
Coral Island. A disheveled, reckless girl and a furtive young man met by chance, and thus the story began:
In World Serpent's underground base, that fellow who had long seen through everything, despicably hid himself, contentedly enjoying the protection of this naive Valkyrie, while he himself played the role of a false "life guide," coaxing Ana into a daze with various worthless principles.
Only at the last moment did he reveal his true power as if with a stunning revelation, yet from then on, his shadow was deeply imprinted in her heart.
In Manila, he, already exhausted and at his wit's end, was saved by her, descending like a divine soldier. This most cliché trope from the most cliché stories, yet it left Otto speechless for the longest time, momentarily falling into a long silence.
Then, he had to reveal all the truth to her, throwing her completely into disarray. Then, a larger-scale Honkai Eruption completely terminated everything.
A heaven-and-earth-destroying tsunami, carrying countless Honkai monsters, mercilessly struck. That fellow, like that man from years ago, recklessly stepped forward, both quelling the impending disaster and putting himself on the brink of death.
Then, a story that hadn't even had a chance to begin ended just like that—she, mustering her last bit of strength, was easily defeated by the belatedly arriving Durandal. Since then, she had never seen him again.
Until now...
"Hehe, so something like this actually happened?"
Otto chuckled to himself.
"Bianka actually didn't report this to me truthfully. That's really not right!"
Although he spoke words of blame, there was no hint of blame in his tone.
"Tsk tsk tsk..."
The Void Archives's voice sounded timely.
"To even use such a thing, you fellow are truly beyond saving."
"Hehe, Void Archives, how could that be? I've always enjoyed helping others fulfill their wishes."
Hearing such sarcasm, Otto just chuckled lightly.
"Look, since this memory is so important to Miss Ana, wasn't I very understanding in not taking any measures against it?"
"Ha!"
The Void Archives finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"You saw it too! That fellow was willing to take such a big risk for this little girl by your side! If you dare to do anything improper to her, aren't you afraid that fellow will find out and come to fight you to the death?"
"Of course, I worry about this day and night, which is why I'm so careful."
Otto said.
"It's just a pity that fellow has always hidden himself carefully, not appreciating my kindness and goodwill at all. Isn't this truly a heartbreaking and regrettable matter?"
"Kindness? Goodwill? From you? Ha, forget it!"
The Void Archives hadn't laughed so heartily at Otto for who knows how many years.
"Don't think I don't know, you're already calculating over ten thousand ways to put that person to death in your mind right now! If we're talking about heartache and regret, this is the real deal!"
"Yes, it's truly regrettable..."
Otto, however, didn't refute. Instead, he sighed softly.
"If time could go back five hundred years, I really wouldn't mind making a friend like this."
"It's not too late even five hundred years later!"
The Void Archives fanned the flames and said insinuatingly.
"You also saw it in that girl's memories just now. That fellow has ideas of snatching your position as Schicksal Overseer—if that's true, I wouldn't get tired of watching such a good show even after another five hundred years!"
"Schicksal Overseer? Heh..."
Otto also remembered the utterly absurd nonsense Lin Wei had spouted in the memory he had seen. His gaze turned slightly cold.
"He won't have the chance."