Uncle here isn't your average office worker!

Christen commented, "That's how I came here. Without a doubt, I believe I'm the right one."

She reached out and touched the window on the dark black door.

A series of ripples, like waves, appeared on the extinguished window. Then, the entire gate seemed to come alive, and the engraved patterns began to glow, like a forest of fireflies on a summer night. However, the delightful chirping of crickets did not appear; instead, a long and ancient sigh was heard.

"Who is coming?"

The sigh was a question uttered in a language Christensen couldn't understand at all. Then, it was repeated in several other languages:

"who are you?"

"Kristen Wright. Rhine Lab Director General, Colombian, a seeker."

Although he was certain that the language spoken by the voice was definitely not within the language range of Terra, Christen seemed to understand his meaning and introduced himself in Colombian.

"........."

The voice fell silent for a moment, then, after another sigh, responded in Colombian:

"Go back, little animal. This is not a place for you."

"Although I don't know why you walk upright and have a human-like appearance, you are ultimately not us. And you are not the one I'm waiting for."

Before Christen could even respond, the massive black doors and glowing windows dimmed again, returning to their timeless tranquility.

Seemingly surprised that her long-awaited meeting would end this way, Christen stood there stunned for a long time before lowering her head, biting her lip, and reaching out to touch the window again.

This time, the window remained undisturbed, but Christen didn't care and continued to ask:

"I don't know who you're waiting for, nor what your mission is. But I have questions I want to ask you. If you're willing to answer, please at least give me a condition for us to reach an agreement. If you're not willing to answer... I will continue to seek answers in my own way."

For example, the scientific research team could use explosives to forcibly blast open the door. Although it might be difficult, it's still a viable option.

Sometimes, the inability to solve a problem may be due to a communication issue or a problem of equivalence.

The voice in the window wasn't as aloof or difficult to communicate with as Christen had imagined. After the request for negotiation was made, the window responded shortly afterward.

"You can tell me about the current situation, the history of this world, and so on. In return, I can answer a few of your questions."

His tone was extremely confident, as if he were certain he could answer Christen's question. Normally, such a statement from a scientist who was arguably the most learned in Terra would be almost an insult and a provocation, but Christen believed this "sir's" confidence—judging from his titles like "small animal" and "world."

"in addition."

Just as Christensen agreed to the request, the voice sounded again, asking in a low voice,

Have you heard anything about other shelters and laboratories?

A shelter, a laboratory? Is this the true purpose of this building?

Christen suddenly realized, and shook her head at the same time:

"No. If you have their addresses, perhaps I can give it a try."

"Then forget it," the voice said curtly. "Other shelters may not have an administrator like me. Without certification, you'll never be able to get in."

"What is certification?" Christen pressed.

The voice made no attempt to conceal anything; perhaps it simply felt that this information was no longer worth hiding.

"In the final days, we have loosened the restrictions considerably. This includes laboratory researchers, certifiers who input blood samples, DNA relatives of think tank members from various countries, clones, and even anyone holding an ID verification card."

This is a very risky decision. Allowing entry simply by possessing an authentication card would undoubtedly pose a security risk.

Christen analyzed the situation in her mind, nodded, and didn't ask any further questions:

"I will do it."

After making her promise, she turned and left.

...........

RheinLife, Headquarters.

The Commander returned to her office much faster than Nasti had imagined. At least when the Commander left, her first thought was whether to prepare for his funeral in advance, and whether to play a little tune for him on her bone flute.

Before she could finalize the song selection, the commander-in-chief returned.

So fast?

Before the doubts could be voiced, Christen preemptively gave the order:

"Please call Miss Dorothy here."

“It’s time I had to have a talk with Mr. Roy.”

Volume One: Auspicious Beginnings, Taking a Leave of Absence

My brain has been burning up these past few days, and even the recent chapters I forced myself to write don't feel quite right. I need to rest for a day, sort out my thoughts, and recuperate. Hopefully, the fever will break soon.

.................................................. ...

Volume 1: Chapter 256 The Preserver Project Laboratory

Only now did Dorothy truly realize how right Roy's advice was to avoid provoking Christensen.

“Rhine Labs has a thorough understanding of every researcher, especially the director. Seria’s background check on you has never stopped. Without any commercialized research products on the market, the source of your funding is highly suspicious, and we have been aware of this for a long time.”

Christen rested her chin on her hands, looked at Dorothy sitting opposite her, and explained simply:

“Of course we have no intention of monitoring your privacy. In fact, Saria only found out that you have a source of funding and that Roy is behind you. Rhine Lab is unaware of this.”

"Then you are..." Dorothy was somewhat confused. She didn't think the Grand Master was lying to her; Saria's attitude towards her certainly didn't seem like she knew Roy was her investor.

Christen shrugged and replied, “I’m the one who knows. This is a bit of my private investigation.”

A private investigation?

Dorothy found it somewhat unbelievable, but upon reflection, it seemed to make perfect sense.

Christensen was a smart man and a true pragmatist. When Dorothy, inspired by Roy, used Ferdinand's power to halt the Balrog Project, she should have expected Christensen to investigate this clearly unusual matter.

While finding Roy through Dorothy wasn't easy, it wouldn't be too difficult if one was willing, given Christensen's connections within the Colombian military.

Account transaction records, fund flows, and even more aggressively, monitoring Dorothy's phone signal and call content—unless Roy deliberately tries to hide his identity, it's only a matter of time before it's exposed.

However, even Christensen was extremely surprised and puzzled when she learned that Dorothy's sponsor was the famous entertainment mogul Roy.

How did a knight suddenly get involved in the intrigue and backstabbing among us scientists? This inexplicable sense of incongruity has a kind of abstract beauty, reminiscent of a priest DJing.

After confirming several times that the investor was indeed Roy, Christensen had the idea of ​​having a formal talk with the Cavaliers.

The reason is simple: Roy's spell, Great Wilderness Meteor, which puzzled and amazed all Originium Arts researchers.

Never before had there been a spell that could launch oneself like a cannonball, traversing several kilometers, and landing precisely at another point. Many Originium Arts researchers were filled with curiosity and excitement, hoping to collaborate with Roy to study this spell. However, Roy never agreed.

Christine's perspective was slightly different. What she wanted to know was exactly how high Roy reached when he released the Great Wilderness Meteor. Did he reach the Star Pod's 6000-meter limit? If not, what was the highest altitude he could fly at? If so, what could a mortal with a physical body see and feel at that altitude?

Christen explained earnestly:

“I don’t care about your relationship with Roy, whether you continue to accept his assistance in the future, or even whether you joined Rhine Lab with ulterior motives. You are free to make these decisions yourself.”

"I'm asking you for Roy's contact information because it concerns an upcoming future. I hope you can understand. If you don't want it, I won't do anything to you. I'll get Roy's contact information through other means, but it might draw the attention of some unnecessary people to you and her."

Christen was naturally referring to the Colombian military. She had long harbored this plan. In her cooperation with the military, when her spaceflight project reached a certain stage, she would explain Roy's special status to the military and ask them to help obtain Roy's contact information.

The Colombian military could not pose a significant threat to the Knights of Casimir, but as long as Christen explained Roy's special status to them, it would not be difficult for them to obtain a way to contact him.

Dorothy clearly understood the threat Christensen had made; her delicate eyebrows furrowed, her displeasure written all over her face.

"Can I interpret this as a threat?"

“I’m just stating the facts. I never threaten anyone,” Christen replied earnestly.

Dorothy turned her face away and stood up to leave. She had no intention of giving out Roy's contact information, even if it might cost her her job or put her in danger of being registered with the Colombian military.

But at that very moment, the phone seemed to be summoned and rang at an inopportune time.

The crisp ringing of the bell echoed through the office, causing Dorothy and Christensen to both look somewhat embarrassed at the same time.

Dorothy was at a loss, because due to her bad living habits and narrow social circle, very few people knew her phone number. Apart from her mother, only Roy would contact her at times like this.

Christensen clearly noticed Dorothy's embarrassment and was certain that the caller was most likely Roy. He smiled and said, "Looks like this is luck. Luck is an essential factor for the success of an experiment."

Dorothy looked at her for a few seconds, then sighed helplessly and answered the phone:

"Mr. Roy?"

Roy's voice came from the other end, sounding a little breathless:

"It's me, Dorothy. I'm planning a trip to Colombia."

"Huh?" Dorothy was taken aback. She glanced at the Commander-in-Chief, but saw no sign of a successful plot on her face.

She didn't do it? Mr. Roy is coming to Colombia on business?

"So suddenly?" Dorothy asked. "Around when will they arrive?"

“Soon. I’m already on my way,” Roy replied, accompanied by the whooshing sound of the wind. “Where are you now?”

“Well, I was in the headquarters office when Christensen found me. She said she wanted to speak with you.” After thinking for a moment, Dorothy relayed Christensen’s request.

There was a brief silence on Roy's end. After a moment, he replied, "Let her come too, and bring Ferdinand along as well. It'll be payment for his help. Our meeting place is 3 kilometers west of Tremont."

Roy lowered his head as he spoke.

He was currently in mid-air, enveloped in the golden light of the Great Wilderness Starfall, trailing a long, fiery tail. The moment the call ended, his phone automatically resumed the music that had been cut off during the communication session. The rousing background music of a knightly arena began to play, causing the waning golden light to surge and churn once more, accelerating him directly westward.

In his hand was a thin card that had suddenly lit up after he had just killed the bounty hunter leader.