I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

Having reaffirmed her resolve, Himer stopped agonizing and forced herself to rest by closing her eyes.

You see, before "treating" Ifrit tomorrow morning, there's a physical exam she needs to conceal as much as possible. After all, the test reports she submitted over the past few days had all been tampered with…

Therefore, she needs to have plenty of energy tomorrow.

----------------

Early morning of the second day—

"Drip-"

"Snapped-"

Awakened by the noise, Muirsey yawned and fumbled to turn off the alarm clock by her bedside.

"Ugh, why am I up so early... I don't want to go to work."

Slowly opening her misty eyes, Muirsey's somewhat bewildered face was filled with reluctance.

"Really, I must ask Christensen for a leave of absence in the future..." After being in a daze for a while, the elf girl finally came to her senses and muttered to herself.

Although somewhat reluctant to go to work, she was, after all, the director of the Ecology Department of Rhine Life Sciences. So, after fully waking up, Muirsey slowly got up and went to wash up.

After spending some time washing up and getting ready, Miss Elf decided to head out. After all, she needed to get breakfast at the cafeteria.

However, just as Muirsey was changing her shoes at the door, she seemed to suddenly remember something, paused slightly, then quickly changed her shoes, stood up, and looked at the box of candy on the cabinet by the door.

"Hmph~ What a child with a sense of ritual. In that case, I'll grant your wish!"

As she spoke, Muirsay reached out and took the box of assorted flavored candies from the cabinet. She then skillfully opened the box and poured out the candies.

However, a note that was poured out along with the candy caught her eye and attention.

"?"

Muirsey placed the candy and candy box she was holding on the table next to her with some curiosity, then picked up the folded note and unfolded it to read it.

To be honest, when Muirsey first saw the note, she thought it was some kind of promotion by the candy company, since the box of candy was intact and unopened.

However, when she saw the contents of the note, her pupils couldn't help but shrink slightly, and she was greatly alarmed.

"This……"

Although she was very surprised, Muirsey quickly composed herself. After stuffing the note into her pocket, she didn't linger in the room any longer, quickly opened the door and left, heading straight for the ecology department.

It looks like Miss Elf won't have time for breakfast this morning.

……

Just as Muirsey discovered the clues left by Gretchen early in the morning, Sakura was also nearing her usual time to leave work.

"Good morning, Miss Hermer. You look a little tired this morning. Did you not get enough rest?" Sakura greeted Hermer softly, noticing her slightly weary face.

"Yes, good morning. I just didn't sleep well last night, it's nothing serious." After hearing Sakura's words, Himer forced a smile and explained to her.

"So that's it."

Upon hearing this, Sakura nodded slightly without delving into the matter. Then, as if she had thought of something, she asked, "By the way, I heard that you are going to resume 'treatment' of Ifrit today. Do you need me to be there to help?"

This question was purely on Sakura's whim, and in the end, she didn't really care whether she needed to stay or not.

If she can stay, she will naturally keep a close eye on Himer while the plan is in progress, adding another layer of protection for her safety.

If they can't stay, it won't be a big deal, since the tyrant is still somewhat restrained under Gretsch's command.

"Ok?"

Faced with Sakura's sudden question, Hermes was momentarily stunned, then quickly waved his hand and said:

"No need. The dosage of medication injected today is not much. Besides, Miss Sakura, you haven't slept all night. You should go back and rest as soon as possible."

“Okay, you can call me if you need any help. I remember you have my contact information, Miss Himer.” After hearing Himer’s reply, Sakura nodded slightly and said.

"Yes, I will. Goodbye, Sakura-san."

"Goodbye."

Since she wasn't needed here, Sakura had no reason to stay. After saying goodbye, she left.

"..."

Hemer watched Sakura's departing figure with the sword in her hand, and after a moment, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

She had witnessed Sakura's strength before, and since the Serpent Lord was coming to "kidnap" her today, she dared not leave anyone here, lest something unexpected happen.

After calming herself down for a moment, Himeru resumed her steps and headed towards the laboratory. She still had many tasks to complete before the "treatment" began…

---------------

After leaving the Structural Engineering Department, Sakura did not choose to return to her dormitory to rest, but went directly to the Ecology Department because she wanted to check if Muirsey had found any clues.

Upon arriving at the ecological area, Sakura sensed Muirsey's presence as she walked in that direction.

At this moment, Miss Fox had to admit that sometimes chance encounters really are not coincidences.

……

Muirsey, who had been walking briskly towards the ecological database, instinctively said after encountering someone at the corner of the corridor, "Excuse me, I have..."

However, after she saw the person in front of her clearly, she swallowed the words she was about to say and changed the subject, saying, "Why is Sakura in the ecology department?"

"Just got off work and was thinking of trying my luck here in the cafeteria to see if I could run into you." As she spoke, a hint of helplessness appeared on her lips.

He smiled, and then continued:

"However, judging from how anxious you are, it seems impossible for us to have breakfast together. You go ahead and get busy, we'll meet up later."

"Ah, what a pity, Sakura invited me to breakfast! ...But I do have something to do right now, let's get together later."

After saying that, Muirsay waved to Sakura with a somewhat regretful expression, and then continued on his way to his goal without lingering.

"..."

Watching Muirses's hurried departure, a knowing glint flashed in Sakura's azure eyes. Although their exchange had been brief, she had already obtained what she wanted to know.

P.S.: Greetings everyone, please urge them to hurry up.

Chapter 142 Truth and Kidnapping

After saying goodbye to Sakura, Muirsays rushed straight to the Ecology Department's archives, opened the door with his director's badge, and went inside.

Although she had come here to investigate a few times before because of Sakura's reminder, this was the first time she had come with such a clear purpose...

Sitting in front of the computer containing all the data from the ecology department, Muirsay tremblingly gripped the mouse, searching through the various projects he had bid on, following the clues on the note…

As she searched, the elf lady kept looking for clues in her mind, but the more she thought about it, the more her hands trembled...

Because she suddenly remembered a highly anticipated project she had previously participated in bidding for, but which she hadn't looked into carefully because it wasn't a major area of ​​ecology...

"Gulu..."

Muirsey swallowed hard, then nervously moved the mouse to check the project she hadn't paid attention to since bidding for it...

"!"

After retrieving the project tender document and continuing to investigate it, Muirsey's face turned pale, and she was so frightened that she threw the mouse away.

"It's over! The Flame Demon Project really exists! And it really is related to Ifrit!! I'm doomed, I'm doomed, I'm doomed!!! The Ecology Department participated in the bidding, Saria will definitely kill me!"

Sitting in front of the computer, Muirsey stared at the project in front of her, clutching her head, her face filled with unconcealed panic.

What a joke! Others might not know, but doesn't she know her old friend well? If Saria knew she was involved in something like this, she'd definitely smash her head in!

However, as she carefully examined the details of the [Flame Demon Project], Muels's panic gradually faded, replaced by an increasingly grim expression.

"How could such a project exist... Christensen, what are you doing?!"

Muttering something under her breath, Muirsay didn't care about anything else and quickly contacted Saria.

"Hey……"

“Saria, I think I’ve learned the truth we’ve been searching for all this time…”

"what?"

"The matter is complicated. Please come to the Ecology Department's database..."

"it is good."

Hearing her friend's unusually cheerful voice and hearing the meeting place, Saria realized the seriousness of the matter and readily agreed.

"call……"

After hanging up the call, Muirsay seemed to have all her strength drained away, and slumped into her chair.

Then, Ifrit's radiant smile from that night involuntarily flashed into her mind... Thinking of her promise to that child, she felt a mix of emotions and a touch of sadness.

----------------

Rhine Life Structural Science

As time passed, the researchers in charge of this "treatment" arrived one after another, including Hermer's teacher, Ahrendts Parvis, the head of the Department of Structural Medicine.

After noticing her teacher's arrival, Himer took a deep look at Ifrit, who was sitting with her head down in the room, before "consciously" leaving the room and taking a backseat.

She had done all she could, and now all she could do was trust the Snake Lord.

After all preparations were complete, someone brought restraints into Ifrit's room to secure her.

However, before anyone could get close, Ifrit, who was sitting on the experimental bed with her head down, let out a low growl.

"Do not come near me!"

As she finished speaking, fiery red flames quickly rose around her body, forcing back anyone who approached and creating a large safe distance.

The male experimenter, forced to retreat, instantly turned pale. Then, through the scorching flames, he threatened in a low voice, "Behave yourself. If you keep causing trouble, the only one who will suffer is Himer."

"You don't want to put her in a difficult position, do you?"

"!"

Upon hearing these words from the person in front of her, Ifrit was startled. However, instead of extinguishing her flames and becoming docile as usual, the flames around her body became even hotter and spread even wider.

The male researcher, who had initially looked grim and tried to approach the area with threats, reluctantly retreated after nearly being burned by the rising flames.

Not long after he left, Ifrit's uncontrolled flames ignited the various instruments around him, and a violent explosion swept through the entire room in an instant, with the shockwave and flames shooting outwards.

As Charmander continued to use his abilities and energy, his eyes, which were originally normal, quietly transformed into vertical pupils that seemed to be burning with flames.