Asura in Arknights

Adele then looked slightly troubled, hesitated for a moment, and then stammered, "Well...actually, I think staying at home and reading is pretty good too..."

Upon hearing this, Li Ang was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled.

Slapping his forehead, Li Ang said apologetically, "Sorry, I was a bit presumptuous this time."

Although Adele is always traveling around the world because of her studies, aside from these external factors, Adele actually prefers to stay quietly at home, organizing experimental data, writing papers, and reading books in her spare time.

Just like the time they spent together in Brandenburg.

This time, it was Li Ang who, due to some inexplicable obsession, wanted to make up for the time he spent with Adele, but unexpectedly caused Adele some trouble instead.

“I’m not unhappy at all, it’s actually quite interesting,” Adele muttered softly.

"Okay, okay, let's listen to what Rhine Lab is planning to do."

Having decided to stay and listen to the exchange between Rhine Lab and Rhodes Island, the two, guided by PRTS, arrived at a lounge on Rhodes Island. Kal'tsit then granted them access to live stream her conversation with Elena.

Young Amiya was merely the nominal leader of Rhodes Island, spending most of her time playing the role of a mascot, while the real work was handled by Kal'tsit.

No wonder Kal'tsit always seems so busy. She is in charge of all the affairs of such a large organization. She is also the head of the medical department and has to take care of some difficult patients from time to time. She even has to rely on stimulants to stay sober. It is thanks to Kal'tsit's identity as an 'actor' that she has not died suddenly.

Now, in the live monitoring footage played on PRTS, Kal'tsit is sitting in her office, waiting for guests from Rhine Labs.

Li Ang was flipping through the information that Kal'tsit had provided. Apart from some treatment records about rosemary that he couldn't understand at all, he was most interested in the files about the two sisters, Astesia and Elena.

Although Leon and Kal'tsit tacitly avoided the topic of the starry sky, the two sisters' information still included a lot of information about the Astrological Research Association.

The Astrological Research Association... the Ubika family... two very ancient entities, with a history of over three hundred years.

The Terran calendar is only 1,100 years old, so 300 years is already quite ancient.

The Ubikka family originated in Victoria and moved to Colombia during the Great Opening-up period. Of course, the headquarters of the Astrological Research Association remained in Victoria, but the Ubikka family established a branch of the association in Colombia.

This family has inherited a unique Originium Arts, which seems to be a special spell woven according to the laws of 'celestial phenomena'.

This seemed rather strange to Li Ang. The starry sky above Terra was an illusion, a bunch of unidentified structures that could emit high-energy rays. What kind of thing could be woven from the operating rules of these things? Something just didn't feel right.

Moreover, the way the two sisters contracted Oripathy was very bizarre. Elena, the younger sister, came into contact with a high concentration of Originium in an experimental accident, and her infection was quite normal. However, her older sister Astesia and Astro Blade, did not come into contact with any Originium products. They only had indirect contact with Elena when she first fell ill, and then they inexplicably contracted Oripathy.

This mode of infection has baffled countless researchers of Oripathy, who have been unable to understand how it occurs.

Rhodes Island couldn't pinpoint the exact reason either, only speculating that it might be related to the sisters' blood relationship and their mastery of special Originium Arts.

Special Originium Arts...

Li Ang nodded thoughtfully.

Just then, Adele suddenly patted him on the shoulder.

“They’re here,” Adele said softly.

Li Ang subconsciously looked up and saw that the office door in the surveillance footage had just opened, and a Li Boli girl with a blue ponytail walked in.

The girl was wearing a somewhat bulky outfit, which looked familiar and was most likely a special uniform designed for outdoor activities, making the cute girl appear a bit rustic.

Elena looked a little nervous. She walked to Kal'tsit's desk, took a deep breath, and finally calmed down before speaking in a low voice.

“Kal'tsit... Doctor, I am here on behalf of Rhine Life Energy Department to make a request to your company.”

"We hope Rhodes Island can provide an experienced Originium contaminated area exploration team to assist us in finding a set of potentially important data from the abandoned Plot 21."

Chapter 43 Exploration Plan

Elena didn't keep them in suspense and got straight to the point, explaining her purpose.

Upon hearing this, Kal'tsit paused slightly, put down the documents she was working on, looked up at Elena, and said in a businesslike manner, "Although Plot 21 is abandoned, it still belongs to Pol Pharmaceuticals. If you want to enter there... do you have the authorization?"

"This……"

Elena was momentarily at a loss for words; how would she know if she had obtained authorization?

After Ferdinand gave her this task, he disappeared without a trace. Even Elena, his student, couldn't contact him. Who knows if the Energy Department actually reached an agreement with Pol Pharmaceuticals?

However, after a moment's thought, Elena quickly realized that she didn't need to worry about such things at all.

If Pol Pharmaceuticals doesn't want to pay a hefty penalty for breach of contract, then there's absolutely no reason to stop them from entering Plot 21.

“We have a contract with Pol Pharmaceuticals, and we will soon receive authorization from them,” Elena said solemnly. “So Dr. Kal’tsit, I hope Rhodes Island can prepare the necessary personnel as soon as possible, and we will head to Plot 21 immediately after we receive the authorization.”

Although she didn't know the specifics of the company's collaborative project, seeing her mentor so angry, Elena could more or less understand the importance of the matter.

On her way to Rhodes Island, Elena also found out the basic information about Plot 21.

That urban area suffered from the most common type of natural disaster, an abnormal weather event, but this was not good news.

Rainwater carrying Originium contamination is almost ubiquitous, dealing a devastating blow to fragile information storage devices. Even the most secure laboratories cannot guarantee that they will remain intact under such circumstances. Elena worries that if time drags on, they will eventually only find experimental data remnants that are completely beyond repair.

"Dr. Kal'tsit, this is the engagement agreement we have drafted. Please take a look."

Elena took the contract documents out of her backpack and respectfully handed them to Kal'tsit.

After glancing at the contract, Kal'tsit found no problems. There were no hidden clauses in the agreement, and the official seal of the Energy Department and the signature of Director Ferdinand were all present. The only slightly amiss was that the compensation for this commission was too generous. For Rhodes Island, which was not in a good economic situation, this one project alone would be enough to support them for several months.

However, considering the difficulty of surveying heavily polluted areas and the somewhat tight time constraints, this commission is still quite reasonable.

However, Kal'tsit did not rush to sign her name. Instead, she shook her head and said, "A week is too short. Your company has provided almost no useful information. You have also spent some time on Rhodes Island and know the difficulty of operating in contaminated areas, not to mention that this is an entire urban area."

Elena was also a little embarrassed by what she was told. A week was indeed asking too much, but if it dragged on for a month or two, then the commission would be meaningless.

“Dr. Kal'tsit, I think we can talk again.”

Elena took a deep breath and forced a smile.

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

Neither Rhodes Island nor Rhine Labs was willing to concede easily, and their negotiations had devolved into pointless banter.

Meanwhile, after overhearing their conversation, both Leon and Adele had new doubts.

"Their purpose doesn't seem to have anything to do with what we're investigating," Adele said, looking slightly confused.

They initially thought the riot at Plot Zero was caused by these two Colombians, but based on the clues revealed in the conversation, these two guests from the Energy Department seemed to have nothing to do with the riot; they were simply here to collect experimental data.

“I feel the same way.” Li Ang nodded.

The little girl named Elena was a typical scholar; you could tell from her behavior that she wasn't cunning.

The current argument is the same, except that Kal'tsit is using her life experience to bully the other party, and the silly little girl has revealed everything she should and shouldn't have said.

"It might just be a coincidence."

Li Ang recalled the scale of Rhine Life, and such a coincidence seemed unsurprising.

"Rhine Life is a very large organization, basically a combination of several large companies. The fact that the Energy Department and Pol Pharmaceuticals have a partnership does not prevent other departments of Rhine Life from doing things here."

"But... what kind of cooperation does Energy Science have with pharmaceutical companies?"

To be honest, that's true.

If it were the Structural Engineering Department, the Life Sciences Department, or even the Originium Arts Application Department and Pol Pharmaceuticals that had a collaboration, Li Ang wouldn't be surprised at all. So why was it the Energy Department?

The Energy Department mainly studies the storage and application of all sorts of random energies, such as Originium, sunlight, geothermal energy, and biological energy. Li Ang really couldn't guess what these two completely unrelated industries were up to in their experiments.

“…I’m not really sure.” Li Ang shook his head. “But there are indeed many things hidden in Plot 21. I only know about one of the secret laboratories.”

Previously, Plot 21 was entirely the private property of Pol Pharmaceuticals. Who knows how many holes Adams and Ayin drilled there? Li Ang originally planned to wait for the Originium contamination there to subside naturally before finding someone to slowly recover the secrets inside.

As for the experimental facilities that might be damaged during this period, Li Ang didn't care at all.

The main production data of Bohr Pharmaceuticals are well preserved. What is buried in Plot 21 now are some research materials that cannot be made public. Even if the complete experimental data can be recovered, there is a high probability that Li Ang will not continue those researches. So it is better to ignore them and pretend that they do not exist.

Not long ago, the secretary sent Li Ang several more messages, through which Li Ang learned the name of the project the two companies had previously collaborated on—

fantasy.

"Tsk, what a terrible name." Li Ang couldn't help but click his tongue.

The name brought back some very bad memories for him, such as what Adams had done... Could the 'Dream Project' refer to that? Literally, the two could be loosely connected.

However, the secretary also said that there was absolutely no trace of it in the company's database, and if you want to find out the truth, you have to go and see for yourself.

“Adele, I’ve decided to go with them to check out the ruins of Plot 21.”

"What about me? Do you need me to come along?"

"Let me check on your condition first."

As he spoke, Li Ang took Adele's wrist and began to examine her body closely, his senses traveling along the point of contact between them.

A moment later, under Adele's expectant gaze, Li Ang slowly shook his head.

"No, the density of Originium crystals in your blood has increased again. I can't let you go any deeper into the contaminated area."

Their trip to the Eastern Kingdom and the Yan Kingdom involved them spending several months in the wilderness, during which they came into contact with all sorts of strange things. It was only natural that Adele's condition would worsen.

Even if Li Ang can help Adele control the extent of the infection in her body, it doesn't mean she can ignore Oripathy.

The process of human organs becoming fossilized is irreversible. Adele's condition was already quite serious, and Li Ang couldn't guarantee what would happen if it worsened further.

Exploring abandoned urban areas is a very lengthy process, so it's best to be on the safe side and not let Adele enter the contaminated area.

Adele had wanted to argue her point, but when she saw Leon's determined expression, she knew it was pointless.

"OK then."

Adele turned her head to the other side, looking rather unhappy.

Li Ang scratched his head. Didn't he say he preferred staying at home? Why is he angry now?

That's really hard to understand...

"They seem to have finished talking, so I'll go over there now and make myself known."

At this moment, Li Ang already had a preliminary plan in mind.

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

"I'll leave the rest to you, Dr. Kal'tsit."

Seeing Kal'tsit sign her name on the contract and affix the official seal of Rhodes Island, Elena finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Elena had done many negotiations on behalf of the Energy Department, but the one she had just done was definitely the most tiring. She also felt even more awe for Kal'tsit.

In exchange for a 20% increase in the commission fee and an extension of two weeks, the Energy Department finally reached an agreement with Rhodes Island.

“Rhodes Island needs two days to prepare. If you can get authorization in two days, we can begin operations.”

Kal'tsit's voice remained calm; the heated argument hadn't affected her in the slightest. "However, I have a suggestion: you could ask Pol Pharmaceuticals to send someone to oversee this operation. Rhodes Island doesn't want to get into trouble because of your ownership dispute."

“I understand. I’ll tell the director later and have him contact the head of Pol Pharmaceuticals.” Elena nodded; this was indeed a point she had overlooked before.

After the business was finished, the atmosphere in the office became much more relaxed.

While organizing the documents in her hands, Kal'tsit casually asked, "How are you feeling now?"

"Eh... um... hahaha..."

Elena's expression froze instantly, and she stammered, unable to speak, finally managing only a few dry laughs.

Judging from Elena's behavior, Kal'tsit knew that she definitely hadn't taken the doctor's orders to heart. She kept saying "yes, yes, yes" in front of the doctor, but after going back home, she did the same thing as before. She had seen many people like that.

"There shouldn't be any problems..." Elena muttered softly.

Kal'tsit remained noncommittal, "Before you go see your sister, go to the medical department for a check-up."

"Huh? Isn't it unnecessary to go through all that trouble? I haven't been feeling anything unusual lately, and Rhine Lab also has regular check-ups."

Elena pouted, looking somewhat reluctant.

Now that the work was done, Elena couldn't wait to give her sister a surprise.

However, if I follow Kal'tsit's instructions to go for a medical check-up at the medical department, the whole process will take at least four or five hours, by which time the sun will probably have already set.

“If Rhine Lab’s tests were useful, they wouldn’t have sent you to Rhodes Island in the first place,” Kal’tsit said calmly.

Rhodes Island is the authority on Oripathy in Terra's medical community. No one or organization on this land dares to claim that they can compare to Rhodes Island in the study of Oripathy.

"Furthermore, don't forget the special circumstances of you two sisters. You don't want to affect Xingji any further, do you?"

Elena was completely unable to refute Kal'tsit's reasoning, and she wilted like a frostbitten eggplant.

Because of the special bond between the two sisters, Elena caused her sister to contract Oripathy. Although Astro herself didn't say anything, this incident remained a thorn in Elena's side.

Even if she doesn't cherish her own body, she should consider her sister's health. If she causes her sister's condition to worsen, Elena feels she might never have the face to see her sister again in her life.

"I understand, Dr. Kal'tsit."

Elena nodded obediently, preparing to go to the medical department for a full physical examination as Kal'tsit had instructed.