Reborn as the Darling of the Delta.

Claire was slightly surprised to hear that Rometheus actually wanted to see her; she hadn't expected to attract the attention of the leader of the Tower of Babel.

Claire had long heard of this renowned doctor, who was also involved in the development of the artificial spine she was using.

"Okay, let's go then."

The two of them went to Rometheus's office one after the other, but before Claire could even step inside, she heard... a little boy crying.

"No!!! Uncle Rometheus, you can't do this! Aren't you Russian? Why do you make me learn English? I finally don't have to do those annoying homework assignments anymore, this is a betrayal of me!!!"

"Hehehe, Xiao Hao, just give up struggling! Since you've already called me Uncle Rometheus, as your good uncle, it shouldn't be a problem for me to supervise your studies, right? Besides, even if I'm Russian, it won't stop me from teaching you English. Come on, we won't be too tired. See these words on this side? We'll just memorize a little bit today."

Zhang Hao stared in disbelief at the densely packed page of words. Good heavens! When he was memorizing with Sister Xiaowen before, the highest he could memorize in a day was only 50 words. After that, Zhang Hao was completely exhausted. Now, looking at the paper in Romeshius's hand, he was afraid that Romeshius was going to kill him!

Zhang Hao: Rometheus, you betrayed me! You'll never see your precious son [Zero] again! You'll regret it! (;'??Д??`)

Seeing Rometheus approaching him step by step, Zhang Hao could only helplessly lean against the sofa and scream.

"Ahem, someone's here. You'd better behave yourselves. We still need to maintain some decorum here."

Just then, Ella walked in like a savior, coughed twice at Rometheus and Zhang Hao, and then brought Claire in as well.

Claire, who walked in, was also greeted with the highest form of courtesy among men—a stare.

"Hello, you must be Miss Claire. I'm Dr. Rometheus. Um... if it's convenient, would you mind if I removed your artificial spine for research?"

But no sooner had Rometheus finished speaking than he received Ella's Raging Iron Fist x1.

“He did too many experiments and dealt with dead people too much, which caused some brain problems. Please understand. Look over there, that’s what’s happened in the last two months.”

But when Ella finished speaking and looked over, she found that Claire's eyes were already glued to Zhang Hao.

Zhang Hao, under Claire's "ardent" gaze, weakly greeted her:

"Um, hello sister, I'm Zhang Hao. Nice to meet you."

Upon hearing that the little boy's name was Zhang Hao, Claire unconsciously frowned.

"Zhang Hao? You look a lot like the Zero who escaped before, really... really like him."

Hearing Claire's words, Zhang Hao was also surprised. Since he had greatly increased his charm value last time, very few people would think that he and the previous [Zero] were the same person. Most people would just think that he and [Zero] both had silver-white hair.

I didn't expect that this would be Claire's first meeting with me, and she already thinks I'm "zero"? She seemed quite certain about it.

"Oh, Miss Claire, you're mistaken! My Zero isn't as cute as Xiao Hao. Although I initially wondered if they were the same person, after comparing photos from the past two days, I realized Xiao Hao is definitely cuter!"

Fully recovered, Rometheus got up from the ground, carefully took out two photos from his pocket, and handed them to Claire so she could take a good look.

Claire took the photo and carefully compared the two people's appearances. After looking at it for a while, she gave an awkward laugh.

"Hehe, to be honest, I've had face blindness since I was a child. In my eyes, as long as the hairstyle and face shape are similar, I will treat them as the same person. There was a pair of twins that I couldn't tell who was who even after three years."

Zhang Hao: Holy crap, you almost scared me to death! I thought you had some kind of special ability to see right through me! Turns out you're telling me you're face-blind.

"But, Zhang Hao does seem cuter. That [Zero] has no expression at all, he's not fun."

After speaking, Claire walked up to Zhang Hao, leaned closer to examine him carefully, and finally...

"Oh, a child's face feels so good! It's so fragrant and soft, it's so comfortable."

Rometheus and Ella were speechless for a while, then they both expressed their understanding. After all, the only way to resist pinching Zhang Hao's cheeks was to say that they had overcome their addiction.

Ella: Even someone as determined as me could only resist pinching Xiao Hao's little face on the first day. You, on the other hand, are like that greasy, perverted old man, Rometheus, who started touching Xiao Hao's little face on the very first day.

Chapter 230 You...you're cheating!

After pinching Zhang Hao's cheek, Claire remembered the real reason for her visit and followed Ella to a table covered with information about the Hafk Group's involvement in the past two months.

"Then you can stay here and watch for now. We won't bother you anymore. Let's go, Xiao Hao, let's continue our hehehehe."

"No!!! Uncle Rometheus, how about we play Dou Dizhu instead!"

"Hmm...it's not impossible. Hey Ella, come quick, we're one short for mahjong!"

Seeing Rometheus chasing Zhang Hao into the laboratory, Ella smiled helplessly at Claire.

Claire had unknowingly grown quite fond of Zhang Hao, this adorable kid, and he seemed... rather interesting.

Seeing that it was getting late, Claire sat down and began to peruse the large stack of files in front of her, while the three people in Zhang Hao's room began their "battle" (Rometheus being unilaterally tortured to death).

"I'm not playing anymore. I keep losing. How are you guys playing? Are you cheating behind my back?"

After losing the 26th round, Rometheus, unable to bear it any longer, said he didn't want to play anymore. He had calculated the probability for himself beforehand, and even if he played badly, he would at least win one or two rounds, right? He didn't expect that he couldn't win a single round. It was as if the two opponents were cheating.

Sitting opposite her, Zhang Hao also whistled awkwardly, while Ella's gaze began to wander.

Zhang Hao: Wow, is this what it feels like to be cheating? It's really addictive! Roy is a true friend; he taught me the real stuff. Looks like this is the power of my God of Gamblers skills!!!

Ella: Cough cough, I never thought what Senior Zoya taught me back then was actually true! I thought she just learned a little bit online and then taught me! I never expected that she could so easily beat Rometheus!

When Rometheus saw the two people in front of him whose expressions were obviously off, he realized that he seemed to have been set up by capital. No wonder he hadn't won a single game when he played against Xiao Hao and the others before.

"You...you people, are you even human?! You bullied an old woman like me who'd never played cards before! Oh, you've broken my heart!!!"

Rometheus looked heartbroken. He couldn't believe that the seemingly honest and cute Xiao Hao had cheated on him while playing cards. He... he wasn't honest!

And then there's Ella. Rometheus thought he knew his student very well, but he never expected her to have such a trick up her sleeve. This backstab came so suddenly and the damage was so great that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that every strike was a critical hit.

"Heh...hehe, Uncle Rometheus, you'll have to get used to it. I was so angry with him that I cried when I fought with others before. I only learned it by practicing more, right? Besides...Sister Ella cheated too, didn't she?"

Ella's eyes widened in surprise at Zhang Hao's sudden backstab. Who did this Xiao Hao learn backstabbing from? How... even she fell for it.

The few people at the Special Operations Unit: Hehehe, we learned it from Hamk, it has nothing to do with us, yeah, that's right, that's how it is.

Hamk: I'm the king of backstabbing, not the king of scapegoating. Don't try to pin this on me.

Later, it was only with the combined comfort of Zhang Hao and Ella that Rometheus, whose Dao heart was shattered, was finally coaxed back to health. Zhang Hao suggested that Rometheus just tell him what he wanted to eat for lunch, while Ella said that she would teach him everything she knew before they finally managed to coax him back to health.

The group checked the time and realized it was almost lunchtime, so they quickly tidied up and came out. Zhang Hao decided to show Rometheus and the others some Chinese cuisine! (Roy was very impressed!)

"Oh? Miss Claire, are you still here looking around? Why don't you come with us for a meal first, rest a bit, and then come back to look around?"

When Ella came out, she found Claire still in the same spot, flipping through the files. She looked like she had read quite a few, but there was still a huge pile on the table. It seemed like she wouldn't be able to finish reading them all in one go today.

"Look at Xiao Hao, how can you not like to study? It's probably because you don't have a study buddy. Once I find [Zero], I'll give you guys special tutoring! I'll teach you personally."

Zhang Hao: Thank you, but there won't be a next time. Because of your dangerous idea, I've decided not to come again. You should just go eat in the cafeteria!

[Zero]: I don't want to go to class. I've seen what happened to Xiao Hao when he studied with Mai Xiaowen. Going to class is a complete torture. If I have to go to class, I'd rather go to the Special Operations Department with Xiao Hao.

Claire's stomach began to rumble with hunger, so she nodded and followed the others to Rometheus's private kitchen.

"Hey Claire, why is your back glowing?!"

Zhang Hao then noticed that Claire's back seemed to be glowing, giving it a high-tech feel. Compared to that, Uncle Red Wolf's exoskeleton seemed a bit lacking.

"This is the artificial spine that Hafk Group installed for me. Without it, I would probably still be lying in bed unable to move."

Claire also briefly explained the function of the artificial spine developed by the Hafk Group to Zhang Hao.

"What would you like to eat? Just tell me, there's nothing I can't make, just order whatever you like."

Once in the kitchen, Zhang Hao patted his chest and said that they could just tell him, the chef, what they wanted to eat. The group casually mentioned a few relatively famous dishes, and then the three of them sat down at the table to wait.

"Claire, you'll probably experience some side effects after the procedure, right? Did you take your painkillers?"

Upon hearing Rometheus's question, Byers did not hide anything:

“Yes, phantom pain in the middle of the night is unavoidable, but I didn’t take the painkiller. I felt I should actively accept and process the pain on my own. And Dr. Rometheus, is there something wrong with the painkiller the corporation gave me?”

After listening to Claire's words, Rometheus raised an eyebrow and asked in return:

"Oh? So you've already spoken to Demulan, right? I think she also told you not to take painkillers!"

Chapter 231 Eating melon seeds (Bonus chapter)

(Thanks to Zorroya for his great health care, who loves Shouzhou gongs and drums; one more chapter is still being written.)

After listening to Rometheus's words, Claire nodded. When Ms. Demulan specifically told her to try not to take the painkiller provided by the Hafk Group, Byers had some guesses as to why she specifically asked her if she had taken it.

"Don't worry about that. Your situation is different from Demulan's. Hers was caused by a rejection reaction to the Relink brain-computer interface, which is different from yours. But if you can tolerate it, you don't have to take it. After all, taking too many painkillers is not good."

Rometheus comforted Claire, knowing that the painkillers Demulan had taken were specially made, and combined with the Relink brain-computer interface that the board members had prepared for Demulan, they had the effect of brainwashing him without him even realizing it.

Rometheus guessed that even Claire's attending physician was unsure of the extent of the side effects after the artificial spine was installed, and the painkiller was probably just for Claire's insurance purposes.

"Speaking of which, I remember you didn't choose this option before! Why did you think of using this newly developed artificial spine? You don't seem like the kind of person who would take such a risk."

Upon hearing this, Claire gave a wry smile and said calmly:

"Indeed, this is not the plan I chose before. I originally planned to have conservative treatment, but... when I was preparing to undergo surgery, people from GTI broke into the building where I was and paralyzed the power system. At that moment, my surgeon told me that there was only one option left. Since the surgery was already halfway through, the only option was to connect this still unstable artificial spine. Otherwise, I would be bedridden for the rest of my life."

Zhang Hao, who was cooking in the kitchen, overheard these words. Hearing that Claire had been fitted with this unstable and risky artificial spine because of the GTI, Zhang Hao recalled what Deep Blue had told him before.

"Aren't all the people in GTI good people?"

"Oh? It's those people from GTI again? Looks like you're lucky. I didn't expect this artificial spine to be so compatible with you. I've seen countless volunteers die from this artificial spine."

Rometheus also lamented that behind every new medical product that the Hafk Group is about to launch, countless lives have been sacrificed.

"So you don't want to continue being an athlete, and instead want to join Hafk? Forgive my bluntness, but in my opinion, your choice is... somewhat foolish."

Rometheus couldn't understand why, after finally managing to get back on his feet, he wouldn't continue pursuing his ideals but instead join the Hafk Group, which had been constantly embroiled in controversy.

"This... is an agreement between me and someone, I'm sorry, I can't tell you."

Claire thought that after she spoke so earnestly, Rometheus would understand with the same seriousness as she did, but when she looked up, she found Rometheus staring at her with a gossipy expression, Ella was also secretly looking in her direction, and... why was even the white fluffy ball in the kitchen crowding over?

Zhang Hao: Hehehe, I learned it from Brother Weilong and Roy.

"Hehehe, does that mean Claire has a boyfriend? Wow, youth is great! Back in my day, I was... a real hero! Tell us where that guy works? If he's in the Tower of Babel, just tell me, and I'll definitely help you make your dream come true."

Ella and Zhang Hao remained silent, but their bright, sparkling eyes were fixed on Claire. Ella, who had read countless romance novels, was already imagining a story in her mind about two people who were separated by life and death, but finally overcame many hardships to live happily ever after.

Claire stared at the three people in front of her with a dark expression. These seemed to be the highest-ranking members of the Tower of Babel, but they all looked... somewhat unreliable.

"Stop your imaginations, okay? She's just a friend, and she's a girl."

"Wow!!!" ×3

Rometheus: I smell it! It's a melon! It's the smell of a huge, earth-shattering melon!

Ella: Waaaaah, sister, don't explain anymore, I understand, I understand everything! This is love that transcends gender! This is true love! I'm so touched, you two should lock each other up!

Zhang Hao: Woohoo! Although I think it's a bit outrageous, seeing Uncle Rometheus and Sister Ella's expressions must be quite a sight! I'm going to memorize it and tell it to everyone when I get back.