They traveled through time at the same time, but the villainous scientist

Chapter 170 Acceptance
Zhang Qi put down his coffee cup and walked to his terminal.

On the screen, the complex decryption process flowed like a waterfall.

Finally, an encrypted document from NERV's German branch appeared before him.

The document was written in a rigorous bilingual style in German and English, with formal and earnest wording.

[Invitation for Technical Guidance Regarding the Experiment of EVA-04, the Fourth General-Purpose Humanoid Decisive Weapon, Equipped with the S2 Mechanism]

"...Based on the reverse engineering analysis of the remains of the Fourth Angel, NERV Branch 2 (Nevada, USA) and Branch 3 (Germany) have successfully restored the theoretical model of the 'S2 Agency' and created an experimental prototype."

To completely resolve the energy limitations and operational duration issues of general-purpose humanoid combat weapons, the two branches decided to jointly conduct a live-action test of the S2 unit. The experimental unit was EVA Unit-04, built in Germany…

"...In view of Dr. Zhang Qi's outstanding contributions to the EVA system architecture, biological core synchronization rate and energy conduction, he is recognized as the world's leading researcher who understands EVA the most."

To ensure the success of this experiment, we sincerely invite you to serve as our chief technical advisor and immediately travel to Germany to provide full guidance and supervision for this S2 machine-mounted experiment…”

At the end of the document were preliminary experimental data, the parameters of Unit 4, and data on the artificial S2 engine, each item exuding a deadly allure.

At first glance, the transfer order seems perfectly reasonable.

This is the highest recognition of his technical ability, a beacon of hope for solving EVA's biggest weakness, and a major step forward in humanity's understanding of super life forms like the Angels.

However, Zhang Qi's eyes grew colder and colder.

Unconsciously, fingertips tapped lightly on the cold tabletop, producing a rhythmic and suppressed "tap, tap" sound.

something wrong.

This is a huge problem.

The S2 mechanism, the miraculous organ known as the "Fruit of Life," is a perpetual motion machine capable of drawing almost infinite energy from the zero-point energy of the vacuum at the quantum level.

Its essence has long transcended the scope of traditional physics.

Even considering the characteristics of its biological tissue, analyzing this thing is not an easy task.

He had only had the apostle sample for a few months, and even he had only gotten this far thanks to the advanced technology from another world.

In this world, apart from him, an "anomaly" who possesses a knowledge base of cutting-edge technology from another world, only one force truly grasps the secrets of the S2 organization—that is SEELE.

Those behind the scenes obtained the body of the First Apostle, Adam, more than a decade before the Second Impact.

It's impossible to say there was no research involved; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to produce nine mass-produced machines equipped with the artificial S2 mechanism.

Therefore, the true initiator of this experiment can only be SEELE.

Because of its unique political system and deeply entrenched capital structure, the United States has long been SEELE's most deeply penetrated and firmly controlled stronghold.

SEELE would never be so "generous" as to share such a crucial technology as the S2 mechanism at this time.

Especially now that Kaji Ryoji has smuggled "Adam" out of their sight and handed it over to Ikari Gendo.

The honeymoon period between the two parties is long over, and the foundation of trust has collapsed.

SEELE knew perfectly well that Gendo Ikari had his own agenda, but he held back for the time being because he still needed NERV to deal with the Angels.

Once the last Angel is destroyed, just like in the movie, SEELE will likely mobilize global forces without hesitation to launch a full-scale attack on NERV headquarters.

At this tense moment, should we proactively offer our opponent the fruit of life?

Unless they've gone mad.

Therefore, this is most likely a deadly poison disguised as honey.

Moreover, they specifically named him and asked him to come over...

From SEELE's perspective, he himself, the "variable" who repeatedly broke their script and helped Gendo Ikari gain prestige, was undoubtedly the core technical pillar of Gendo Ikari's camp.

I see……

A thought flashed through my mind like lightning, connecting all the doubts.

Zhang Qi's pupils contracted slightly as he recalled the plot of the original novel.

EVA Unit-04, an experiment conducted by the S2 Engine... accident.

A massive "accident" caused NERV's second branch in the United States, along with everything within a 96-kilometer radius, to evaporate instantly, completely erasing it from the face of the earth. If he wasn't mistaken, this was also intentional on SEELE's part, with two main purposes.

Firstly, it serves as a deterrent.

As EVA successively defeated the Angels, its mythical power ignited the ambitions of the entire world.

Even now, countless countries and research institutions are still trying to contact NERV, hoping to get a share and request biological samples of the Apostles for independent research.

Against this backdrop, SEELE needs a dramatic "accident" to tell the world the bloody truth:

See, this is the price you will pay for trying to encroach on the realm of God.

In this way, Seele could use this as an excuse to refuse research requests from other countries and keep the biological samples of the Apostles in its own hands.

Secondly, it involves using someone else to do one's dirty work.

A perfect "accident" could not only conveniently destroy Unit-04 as evidence, but also serve as an excuse to "conveniently" hand over Unit-03, which was like a time bomb, to NERV headquarters.

As for the original objective, it might have been to take this opportunity to eliminate one or more EVA pilots and severely damage NERV's core combat capabilities.

And now, this invitation indicates that another name has been added to their kill list.

That's him...

"What a twisted sense of humor..."

Zhang Qi shook his head. The creativity and ruthlessness that humans displayed in killing each other were sometimes far more chilling than the apostles.

Well, the problem is coming.

To go or not to go?

This is a dilemma.

If you refuse, you must find a flawless reason.

But for a true scholar, what reason could be more compelling than witnessing the birth of the S2 agency firsthand?

Any excuse, in the eyes of the old foxes at SEELE, is tantamount to saying on their faces, "I know this is a trap."

This will only make them more vigilant, and may even cause them to change their plans...

But if you accept... that would be like knowingly walking into a tiger's den.

He will enter the enemy's carefully prepared hunting ground alone.

Everything there, from the people to the equipment, could be a pawn in SEELE's game, and he was the prey lured into the cage.

"Heh~ But perhaps this is also an opportunity..."

Thinking of this, Zhang Qi leaned back in his chair, his tense shoulders slowly relaxing.

His eyes didn't gleam with the light a hunter has when he spots his prey.

SEELE believed they had laid a deadly trap, an open conspiracy that was impossible to break.

They accurately predicted the "scholars'" curiosity, the force majeure of the "accident," and the interconnectedness of the subsequent plans.

But they didn't expect that someone at the poker table had seen their hole cards beforehand.

Little did anyone expect that he had other trump cards up his sleeve...

Thinking of this, Zhang Qi stopped tapping.

He picked up the terminal, pulled up his contacts, but didn't contact Gendo Ikari or Misato Katsuragi.

His finger lingered on Ritsuko Akagi's name for a moment before finally moving on.

Some cards must be played by yourself.

He reopened the transfer order from Germany and gave his reply...

【accept】……

(End of this chapter)