Asura in Arknights

She thought for a moment, carefully considering her words, and then said, "I think... Rhine Lab is being a bit too radical right now..."

"I don't know how to evaluate the cooperation with the military, but human experimentation... at least in Colombian society today, such experiments would absolutely not be allowed to exist."

"Radical? I think they've all gone mad."

Elena's answer barely satisfied Ferdinand. He glanced at Elena and then burst into a tirade, "These arrogant idiots! Rhine Life will be destroyed by these guys one day!"

He was just dabbling in weaponry, and power armor was already considered quite excessive; he didn't expect those guys to be playing with such extravagance.

"That old bastard Palvis, the defense department spends nine out of ten days cleaning up his messes, and the remaining day is spent helping the mayor investigate the dirty tricks he's been up to."

"Franks is an idiot too. I just don't understand what she's hesitating about. She's already killed several people in her experiments, and she's still putting on this act for who she's trying to impress. Stop being disgusting."

"What's most infuriating is Christensen... Sitting in the head office, can't she think about the whole company? She only thinks about herself..."

"Horizon arc? Convergence generator? Ha... You really think everyone's an idiot, that nobody can figure out what you're up to? Well... those guys at the Department of Defense are a bunch of idiots."

After hurling insults for a few minutes, Ferdinand returned to his seat.

Taking a few deep breaths, Ferdinand regained his composure. "Parvis went too far and has already attracted public attention... The matter that Seria is investigating is what he did."

"Once Saria has investigated the matter thoroughly, given her personality, she will definitely clash with Palvis and Christen."

"We can't let them run rampant any longer, or Rhine Life will be ruined by them sooner or later."

"Therefore, I want to overthrow that idiot Christensen; she no longer deserves to sit in the position of governor."

Looking at Elena, who was standing there in a daze, Ferdinand said,

“I need your help, Elena.”

"Huh?"

After a long pause, Elena replied blankly.

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P.S. This is really bad... My Synology NAS crashed, and I can't get over 30TB of data out. I've been going crazy these past two days.

Chapter 16

The sudden idea of ​​overthrowing the governor-general... Elena felt very surprised.

She wiped non-existent sweat from her forehead and said somewhat reluctantly, "Professor, you're not joking, are you?"

Elena thought it would be better to call her over to work overtime... at least overtime was something she could handle, while overthrowing the governor... sounded like something that had nothing to do with a nobody like her.

Do you think I was joking at all just now?

Ferdinand clasped his hands together and looked calmly at Elena.

Seeing her mentor's expression, Elena shook herself frantically and quickly explained, "I know you never joke, I was just so nervous..."

"Although I'd love to help my advisor... but... but I feel like I can't really be of any help..."

Although Elena is the most outstanding researcher in the Energy Department and Ferdinand's capable assistant, she is actually just a 'student' under Ferdinand.

Even Ferdinand couldn't do it, so Elena didn't think she could help her mentor in any way.

Upon hearing Elena's explanation, Ferdinand's gaze softened as he looked at her.

This adventure was indeed meaningful; he hadn't misjudged the student he had personally mentored... Of course, Ferdinand was well aware that his arms dealing was simply beneath his dignity compared to what those other directors had done, which was why Elena was behaving this way.

If Rhine Life is, as it claims, a legitimate high-tech company that has not ventured into any illegal industries, then given Elena's personality, she doesn't think she'll let it go so easily.

After returning from Casimir, Ferdinand secretly investigated the matter and almost believed he was a good person.

It can only be said that there is no harm without comparison.

"Don't worry, what I value is not ability, but whether you can gain my trust... Of course, Ubika, your personal abilities are also very strong."

Ferdinand explained, "Overthrowing that woman Christensen is not something that can be done in a day or two... Given her level of control over the General Construction Department, outsiders simply cannot get involved."

"And the most fatal thing is... I don't know how many other people in Rhine Life are that woman's accomplices. There are very few people I can trust."

Muirsey is undoubtedly on Christensen's side. The two of them may have reached some kind of secret agreement, or some deeper relationship. The people in the Ecology Department are simply not trustworthy.

While there is no explicit relationship between Palvis and Kristen from the Structural Department, there is a certain tacit understanding between them, and they can be regarded as one side.

And then there's Mariana from the personnel department... she's actually Christensen's adoptive mother.

These three departments are those that Ferdinand can confirm are definitely part of Christensen's side.

Because of the existence of the personnel department, and because Ferdinand doesn't usually manage the energy department, he couldn't tell exactly how many people in the energy department were spies planted by Mariana.

After much thought, Ferdinand realized that the only person he could truly trust was his student...

Ferdinand felt as if, after waking up, the entire Rhineland had become his enemy.

“Elena, I need you to help me probe Franks’ thoughts. I… can’t quite figure out that woman,” Ferdinand said.

The woman's behavior was so contradictory that Ferdinand suspected she might have some kind of mental problem.

However, as the last person to join Rhine Lab, Dorothy Franks was undoubtedly the 'cleanest' one.

Moreover, her experiments on neurotransmitters were stuck in an awkward position, even being overtaken by the progress of other departments' sub-projects, which is also evidence that she did not receive much help from Christensen.

Among the other departments whose stances are unclear, the Defense Department and the Originium Arts Application Department are the most likely to stand up against Christen.

Dorothy joined Rhine Lab only to use the platform to conduct her research; she would never be willing to be buried with Christensen's Madness Project.

Even if Dorothy might have some mental issues, Ferdinand accepted it, since he didn't want to fight the entire Rhine Lab alone.

As for the other potential candidate... Ferdinand felt it would be better to put it on hold for a while.

Seria, the head of the defense department, is one of the two founders of Rhine Lab, just like Christen.

However, Saria is the kind of person who doesn't tolerate injustice, and the reason her conflict with Christensen didn't erupt was simply because she had been deceived.

Seria had no idea how many of the numerous reports she processed daily were deliberately smuggled in to help Rhine Life cover up its crimes.

Take, for example, the illegal human experimentation that Saria is currently investigating. It was clearly the work of the Structural Department; many of the traces were personally ordered to be disposed of by her...

No one remembers that Seria, like Kristen, was a top student who graduated from Trimont University. Now, all people remember is Seria's iron fists, the head of the defense department.

Ferdinand couldn't quite imagine what kind of conflict would erupt between Saria and Christen when the truth was revealed... In any case, it was best not to provoke Saria and let her continue her investigation for now.

"In short, Elena, if you get access to Franks' core plan, remember to warn her to get rid of those homeless people as soon as possible, whether by treating them or whatever! If all else fails, stop the experiments and hide those people. Saria is almost at the top of her radar!"

If it really can't be kept secret any longer, then Franks, as an outsider... will be the first one pushed out to take the blame.

Moreover, it was very likely a conflict between only two possible allies, and Ferdinand felt it was necessary to prevent such a thing from happening.

Hearing that all she had to do was this, Elena breathed a sigh of relief, but a question also arose in her mind.

"But Professor... Director Franks should be at Experiment Base 359 right now... What reason can I use to get there?"

She couldn't just walk straight there, could she? Experiment Base 359 was built on a mobile platform outside the city, and apart from Director Franks, only a very small number of people had been granted permission to enter that base.

“You don’t need to worry about that. Director Franks is currently short-staffed, and she has already requested an internal transfer. I plan to send you there,” Ferdinand said.

Elena nodded, then asked, "So... what exactly do you need me to do?"

"Let's wait and see what Franks decides. That guy seems to have some new ideas about neurotransmitters... otherwise he wouldn't have asked the Energy Department for people directly."

Ferdinand chuckled dismissively, then said to Elena with utmost seriousness, “Listen carefully, Elena, if that woman Franks doesn’t listen to reason, just let her fend for herself. But… whatever you do, don’t touch the transdermal agent! That’s not something you can handle right now.”

Seeing Ferdinand's serious expression, Elena nodded nervously.

"I...I've got it."

“Then you should go and prepare,” Ferdinand waved his hand. “I will let you know when the formalities on Franks’ side are ready.”

After Elena walked out looking dizzy, Ferdinand once again fell into deep thought in the empty office.

Ferdinand was somewhat uneasy about Christensen's recent big moves. He was unsure whether this was Christensen's real purpose or something she was deliberately putting on a show for others.

The personnel department helped her manage the main component section like an impenetrable iron barrel; almost no one knew what was happening inside...

Ferdinand knew they were conducting gravity simulation experiments internally because he had helped design the energy system for that gravity well.

Several years have passed since then, and Christensen has made almost no moves. Why would she announce a high-profile collaboration with the military at this time? Neither the energy well nor the focusing generator is a project that can be carried out in secret.

Moreover... the military bypassed him as an intermediary and cooperated directly with Christensen, which made Ferdinand feel a little anxious.

He needs to find some allies as soon as possible to deal with the upcoming changes at Rhine Lab; in a sense, success or failure depends entirely on how well Elena performs...

If Elena fails, Ferdinand will have to consider whether he should seek refuge with Saria.

Given what he's done before, he'll at least take a solid punch from Saria... but just one punch shouldn't be enough to kill him, right?

Ferdinand subconsciously touched his cheek.

Just as Ferdinand was considering the possibility of doing so, a strange noise coming from the adjacent restroom suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

The sound... was like the gurgling sound of water flowing out when a faucet is turned on by itself.

Ferdinand's face immediately turned ugly.

That sound just now... almost anyone who stays in Rhine Lab for a while will have the chance to hear it.

An elf, relying on the magic inherited from her bloodline, brazenly spied on others' privacy all day long. Even though Ferdinand took specific measures in his office, the woman still managed to break through his defenses with violence...

Even Ferdinand, who didn't have much talent, felt the Originium energy reaction that had just erupted.

Has that woman, Muirsay, finally gone mad?

The next moment, the flaxen-green-haired elf stormed out of the washroom.

"Ferdinand! What's the deal with that guy who handed Trevor over?"

"Ok?"

Ferdinand made a questioning nasal sound.

He hadn't expected Muirsay to come rushing over so aggressively, just to ask this question.

He had just thought that his purpose had been exposed, and that Muirsey was the one sent to silence him.

Is that all there is to it?

Where did you hear that name from?

He was somewhat unsure of Muirsay's purpose, so after a moment's consideration, Ferdinand asked this question.

"...None of your business."

After a moment's hesitation, Muirsay refused curtly, "You just need to tell me what's going on with this guy named Trevor."

"I see... But the question is... why should I tell you?"

Judging from Muirsay's reaction, Ferdinand roughly guessed what was going on.

His body immediately relaxed, and he leaned back in his chair, saying dismissively, "It seems Christensen doesn't trust you that much, elf."

It seems that Trevor's status is indeed special; even Kristen doesn't believe Muirsey anymore.

Muirsey clearly didn't hear the news from Christensen. The man named Trevor was very likely connected to the Melander Foundation, which meant that Muirsey's access to information was quite limited.

Could it be... that guy also came to Trimont City?

Ferdinand's lips curled into a smile; things seemed to be getting interesting.

"How could someone like me possibly know what the Grand Commander is busy with? I think you should ask Christen yourself about this."

"what do you mean?"

Noticing Ferdinand's somewhat strange attitude, Muirsay frowned.

"What do you mean... Of course, it means I don't know anything."

Ferdinand smiled and shrugged.

Seeing his noncommittal expression, Muirsey knew that she had definitely made a wasted trip.

Ferdinand clearly knew something, but since he wouldn't budge, there was nothing Muirsay could do about it.

Enraged, Muels stomped his foot, and his entire water clone exploded into a spray of water.

Besides Ferdinand himself, even the surrounding floor was damaged.

"Tsk..."

Ferdinand wiped his face, looked at the large water stains on the floor and the wet books and documents on his desk, and muttered with a somewhat unpleasant expression,

"I really want to stuff that damn elf inside my power armor..."

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