I am a female swordsman.

They know something but find it hard to say it.

But Huang Quan knew that Tamos was definitely pretending not to know. If it weren't for his conversation with his adoptive mother, Tiana, in the Arad Apartment World, Huang Quan didn't know how long Tamos would have kept this from him.

Huang Quan was just being childish with Tamos, and Tamos had been silently tolerating his contractor's temper. This led Puno to occasionally use this to mock Tamos, teasing him for losing his Demon King's authority in front of Huang Quan.

"You saw that, didn't you?" Huang Quan, having retracted her long, beautiful legs, suddenly threw out a deadly question.

"No," Tamos replied calmly.

'I really don't know what she saw in you in the first place. You look honest on the outside, but you're not.' Huang Quan, never one to back down, glared at Tamos, her teeth itching with anger. They say women love to bring up the past, and Huang Quan was definitely going to do just that. She remembered what happened when Tamos first met her.

Tamos probably already knew at that time, but he deliberately acted so scary to frighten her!

"Contractor, there's a misunderstanding between us." Tamos, not yet mentally prepared, could only resort to a roundabout tactic. Even as a demon, this was a first for him, and since no one had experience, they could only discuss and proceed step by step. His training philosophy was completely different from Puno's.

Speaking of which, Puno has always been a single dog.

Thinking of this, Tamos suddenly felt a strange sense of satisfaction. "Hmph, Puno, you piece of trash, no matter how tough your temper is, you still have to obediently serve your contractors."

"Alright, let's stop wasting time." The crimson queen's playful mood had faded, and her mischievous pleasure in watching others struggle had temporarily subsided. "I risked my life to deal with that guy outside. Don't think you can just sit back and watch. Regarding the God-Creating Diagram, you all need to cooperate with me to find the flaws in the diagrams concerning the path for [Demon Contractors] to advance to [Sword Demons]."

The ultimate goal of the Psionic Organ Project is to connect with the collective wisdom of this world and successfully advance from [Demon Contractor] to [Sword Demon].

And advancement inevitably involves the demon dwelling within one's body.

Before the arrival of the supreme god [Daqian], Huangquan needs to ensure that all classes reach the awakening stage to have the confidence to challenge Daqian. Even if they can't win, they can strategically retreat to other worlds.

This sword of Damocles hangs over his head; if it isn't dealt with, Huang Quan won't be able to sleep soundly.

Chapter Seventy-One Rain

The flower blooms at two ends, each telling its own story.

While Sakura Yomi used her brief free time to enhance her strength in preparation for the World Martial Arts Tournament, on the other side, the headstrong Zack, seemingly not content with causing enough trouble, continued his quest to find research data on Shinra's psionic organ project.

But how difficult it is.

Shinra's internal secrecy system is loose on the outside but tight on the inside. It's fine within the same department, but once it involves overlapping departments, there will be absolutely no chance for anyone to make a mistake.

For example, Cloud was re-tested just a few days after his data showed anomalies. Among those who came to test him were two Shinra Investigations Department personnel who had concealed their identities. If Sisne hadn't informed them beforehand, Cloud might have given himself away through his words and expressions.

You could say it was a blessing in disguise!

Having successfully deceived Shinra's first security mechanism, Cloud behaved normally and received a research invitation from Shinra's research department a few days later. When not on important missions, Shinra warriors, in order to maintain their mental and physical health, naturally refused reasonable invitations from the research department.

And so, with a nervous heart, the taciturn Claude was recruited into an obscure group.

Zack, as Angel's highly regarded disciple.

They also began preparing for the First-Class Shinra Warrior exam. The exam involved many aspects and required a lot of effort. Zack could only say that he kept in touch with Cloud in private, but the help he could provide was almost non-existent.

The only thing to do is to comfort Claude with words and let him decide what to do next.

'This place is so scary...'

If Claude is aloof and not good at talking to others, then the members of his current nameless group are practically mute. They would never add a single extra word to what can be said in a few words, and each of them carries a cold aura, seemingly calculating or writing something.

Depressing, cold.

If it weren't for the fact that this was an order from the higher-ups in the Armed Forces, Claude would have thought he'd been tricked. Fortunately, he was usually aloof and quiet, so he didn't seem too uncomfortable in the new environment.

Moreover, Claude always felt that someone was watching him while he worked, somewhere he couldn't see it...

This feeling came and went.

"Claude, help me process these documents." The sudden voice startled Claude, who was helping out. He stiffly looked back and saw a handsome, cold face.

"Yes, Lord Sephiroth."

Cloud respectfully accepted the documents from the dazzling man, his respect genuine. Because the man named Sephiroth was simply too outstanding. He possessed a powerful self-confidence that commanded genuine respect, as cold and aloof as a god seated high above the heavens.

Of all the people Cloud knows, no one compares to Team Leader Sephiroth.

Even Zack can't compare, because the two are completely different types of beings, so there's no point in comparing them. If Cloud had to choose, he would still want to be like Zack, because Mr. Sephiroth is simply too far out of reach no matter which direction you look at him from.

"Are you free after get off work today, Claude?"

Sephiroth looked down at Cloud calmly, his eyes lacking the condescending arrogance or the rumored coldness and unapproachability.

“Yes…” Standing up straight and bowing his head, Claude suddenly felt that something was about to happen.

"I'm going to show you some things, it's settled then." Sephiroth looked at the respectful and polite Cloud and nodded with satisfaction. There was a slight problem with the blond boy's place on the company's roster, but in Sephiroth's eyes, Cloud was no different from the ordinary people who worshipped him.

Even if there are any problems, Sephiroth can instantly dismantle all his resistance.

Claude was visibly confused by Sephiroth's decision on what to do after get off work, and unconsciously clenched the documents in his hand that were to be destroyed.

Is it coming?

………………

Generally speaking, communication requires skill. A pleasant and gentle conversation can better achieve the desired outcome, while a rude or aggressive approach can turn a good thing into a bad one.

Sephiroth's communication was neither good nor bad.

With overwhelming military strength as a guarantee, few would allow Sephiroth to fail in his mission. Clearly, Cloud's current strength is not yet sufficient to rival Sephiroth, and faced with Mr. Sephiroth's invitation, Cloud has no choice but to accept.

Following Sephiroth's instructions, Cloud waited patiently for the other party after get off work.

Because he was honest, he avoided some unnecessary problems.

While concealed, Cloud briefly described his situation and sent it to Zack. Zack might not be able to save him, but at least it was a lifeline that might just work. Besides, Sephiroth didn't seem like he was going to be dragged to the operating table and dismembered.

Claude, comforting himself, didn't have to wait long.

Sephiroth was very punctual and extremely trustworthy. After get off work, he drove a silver-gray sedan, taking Claude with him, in another direction of the city.

The city is especially beautiful at night.

A cyberpunk-style vibe, brightly lit and bustling with activity, the magical smoke in the sky shimmering with iridescent colors under the diffused light. Unable to see the stars, yet witnessing a spectacle more radiant and beautiful than the stars themselves—whether this is fortune or misfortune is hard to say.

"Claude, do you like the sky?"

Amid the deep rumble of the engine, Sephiroth suddenly asked Cloud this question, his tone as if he were asking if he had eaten today.

"Hmm? It's alright. But in Shinra, I rarely see the sky." "Rarely" means practically zero, unless it's clear weather after a downpour. The sky shrouded in Mako smoke always has an eerie color.

"Since you prayed for rain, you must endure the mud."

Sephiroth's words surprised Cloud; such didactic remarks were unlike anything he would say.

These words came from Yomi, the Shinra Chairman; Sephiroth merely remembered them and spoke them aloud. She truly possessed wisdom and power; even a casual remark could evoke profound insights. Of course, Sephiroth would never explain the origin of these words to Cloud; his gaze became unfathomable.

"It might rain, Claude."

Chapter 72 Even a monkey could understand it

Deterioration phenomenon.

When this term first appeared in the history of the Holy Roman Empire, it represented the challenges humanity faced in its attempt to take further steps on the path of evolution.

The human body is actually a very fragile and delicate thing.

In the long process of evolution and adaptation, the path of human evolution has been one of using collective wisdom and passing on the torch from generation to generation to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks, thanks to the liberation of our hands.

The difficulty of drawing parallels and following the path of individual to collective evolution is unimaginable.

But this opportunity was presented to Shinra.

"arrive."

In short, Sephiroth's silver-gray sports car, marked by burnt tire tracks, came to a stop in front of a large underground laboratory within the Shinra Biological Research Department. Nearby stood several large Mako Reactors, their burning smoke billowing into the sky like some terrifying, elongated monster.

Cloud was unaware that such a place existed within Shinra City.

Within Shinra, there's a generally accepted fact: the more Mako reactors a facility has, the more important its research facilities are. This is related to energy consumption; most Shinra experiments rely on Mako energy, and higher energy consumption indicates more frequent and larger-scale experiments. Of course, no matter how high the energy consumption, the Mako energy consumed by the research department can't compare to the Mako energy burned by the armed forces department.

Project location!

A sudden flash of insight struck Claude; he realized this was definitely the location chosen for one of the company's major projects. While not as advanced as a Martian outpost, a lunar laboratory, or a space experimental city, it was still an extraordinary place.

Perhaps sensing the shock deep in Cloud's eyes, Sephiroth casually mentioned it.

"The contents inside are very important. If you're not determined, you'd better leave now."

"I will absolutely not back down!"

If he missed this opportunity, Cloud really didn't know what kind of arrangements the company would make for him. Lately, the pressure in his heart had been mounting, and Cloud's initial admiration for Shinra, the organization he once deeply admired as everyone's protector, had turned into a complex mix of emotions.

"Your expression is good."

Sephiroth didn't say anything more, led Cloud through the security check, and headed towards the entrance of the underground laboratory.

………………

Cloud's impression of underground environments was that they were dark, damp, and stuffy. For example, the sewers of Shinra City, where many strange people lurked, trying to escape Shinra's pursuit. Cloud had also participated in the regular patrols and inspections of the safe zone, and that oppressive, dark environment was particularly torturous.

But it's different here.

The enormous lifting platform was nearly half the size of a football field! The scattered lights around it seemed dim and weak in the vast space, yet they reminded Claude of the stars in the night sky!

As the electric lift slowly descended, Claude saw the vast underground space.

The area beneath had been almost completely hollowed out, with a honeycomb-like structure used to support and distribute the underground space. But what sent chills down Claude's spine was the overwhelming, chilling madness that washed over him! It was as if countless mutilated beasts, drooling and greedily eyeing the outside world, lurked within this underground realm!

A powerful yet fragmented spiritual impact!

It nearly made Claude faint on the spot, but he managed to pull through despite his deathly pale face. Ordinary people couldn't perceive this fragmented will, but Claude was naturally more sensitive than others. The Mako liquid had catalyzed this ability, and he felt as if he were walking step by step into a demon's lair.

From some perspectives, this place really is no different from a den of demons...

The large-scale experimental site for the Psionic Organs Project.

To cultivate suitable psionic organs, clones and combat beasts are kept in captivity at this facility. Both methods are being used in parallel, with the hope of harvesting truly transplantable psionic organs as soon as possible. Furthermore, these psionic organs, while ensuring compatibility, do not simply consider flesh and blood, but rather take into account the body tissues of monsters and demons.

While progress in cloning has been slow, this large testing ground has created many terrifying things in the realm of combat beasts.

Along the way, even if it was just by chance, Claude saw some unusual monsters.

For example, there were unidentified birds whose entire bodies seemed to be burning with flames, giant pythons large enough to swallow an adult male whole, and fluorescent butterflies floating in the air like jellyfish. Each of them brought Claude an indescribable sense of danger, yet these dangerous monsters were restrained and controlled by various devices, obediently letting the researchers do as they pleased.

Claude, so engrossed in watching Sephiroth, didn't even notice when he stopped and nearly bumped into him on the back.

"Good evening, Dr. Genus."