About the time I was picked up and adopted by Tallulah

"This is just one of the sarcophagus's functions. Even this so-called function is merely the excess energy needed to keep the sarcophagus on standby. The sarcophagus's true purpose is to serve as a medical device for 'races' like yours."

Kal'tsit walked up to Orson and shook his hand without saying a word.

"Kai, Doctor Kelsey?"

"Come, touch here."

Kal'tsit took Orson's hand and placed it on a panel on the sarcophagus.

"Genetic testing match, welcome, Dr. Orson."

The mechanically synthesized female electronic voice appeared again, and at the same time, many visual panels that Orson did not understand appeared around the sarcophagus.

"You mean [medical equipment]? How is this thing supposed to provide medical treatment?"

Orson looked at the sarcophagus curiously, but he couldn't connect it with medical supplies.

"I won't go into the details. I don't like to argue about unconfirmed conjectures. Anyway, what do you think such a machine would be useful for?"

Kal'tsit asked Orson while operating something on the panel.

"Didn't you say it was a medical device before? In that case, it's for saving lives and curing illnesses, right?"

If Kal'tsit hadn't said it was a medical device before, Orson would probably have guessed that this thing was an electric bathtub.

"There are many types of medical equipment, including those for temporary wound treatment, slow blood seepage, and auxiliary recovery. However, these are beyond the capabilities of the sarcophagus. This machine—its method of treatment is 'reverse regression.'"

Kal'tsit leaned against the sarcophagus, her hands clasped across her chest, seemingly looking at Orson, as if recalling something.

"Reverse regression...?"

It's a term I've never heard of, and I can't imagine the operating mechanism from these few words.

"This machine was designed from the outset to only allow humans to heal injuries. As long as the subject's physiological functions haven't completely ceased, it can heal injuries."

"You really know a lot, Dr. Kelsey."

"Because I used to be the leader of the sarcophagus research laboratory—Lyudmila's father was one of my students. I joined Ilya's research team with the goal of analyzing and exploring the operating mechanism of this machine."

——Is that why Kal'tsit is so familiar with the sarcophagus and the surrounding environment?

Information that he had never known before was revealed by Kal'tsit.

"Of course, you should have heard the results of the lab from Lyudmila. All those involved were killed, including their families and children. And I am the traitor, the mastermind behind all this destruction."

"Is that really the case? Dr. Kelsey, when you feel the time is right, perhaps you can tell Lyudmila and me the truth about the incident. I believe you are not that kind of person."

Orson interrupted Kal'tsit's self-cursing narration, which made the green cat head stunned for a moment.

"...You never trust anyone, but thank you for your trust."

Kelsey sighed and skipped the topic.

"I never thought I would meet you in this way, in this capacity, Doctor—no, you don't even have the concept of 'Doctor' now, right? But to me, you are her continuation. No matter what method is used, I will not change this observation."

Kal'tsit spoke calmly. She knew that others would not understand why she regarded Orson as the "Doctor", but she would not change her mind.

Because of this, Kal'tsit could never separate the young man with a particularly gentle personality from the Doctor, and this sense of difference always made Kal'tsit feel uncomfortable.

"You can be a doctor, as long as you don't suddenly use that monster to pin me to the ground..."

Orson rubbed his hair. After all, for him, he had been the evil spirit of the Tower of Babel and the fool of Rhodes Island.

Of course, even so, Orson still doesn't know what happened between the "Doctor" and Kal'tsit, which is a part that is not mentioned in the original work.

"Three and a half years ago, I transported you, who was seriously injured, to this sarcophagus. This was your personal request, because only the sarcophagus could heal the injuries you suffered at the time."

Kal'tsit glanced at the empty sarcophagus. No matter what the outcome, the "disappearance" of the Doctor was now an established fact.

"As for the treatment method, I just mentioned it. This machine will use the human model as a basic blueprint for reverse regression. First of all—"

Kal'tsit stopped talking again in the middle of her speech, but Orson knew clearly that this time she was not talking because the topic involved top secret matters, but because she was shocked by some discovery.

"What's wrong, Dr. Kelsey?"

Orson approached and asked curiously, after all, he rarely saw Kal'tsit with a surprised expression.

"The sarcophagus is missing the modules that integrate the transcriptional process."

Kal'tsit placed her hands on the keyboard, searching for something. Then she called up a window that looked like an error log, and once again showed a surprised expression.

"The sarcophagus lost power three years ago, and the module was dismantled at that time—was it her doing...?"

"What module?"

"The latter part of the reverse regression process is the [Fusion Transcription] module. Reverse regression is the process of analyzing and extracting the user's consciousness and memories, retracing them back to the physical body, and then transcribing the extracted information back. The Fusion Transcription module, as the name suggests, stores the extracted consciousness and re-introduces it."

Kal'tsit looked at Orson, and the personal PAD terminal in her hand displayed a picture of a cube that looked like a Rubik's Cube and was covered with electronic patterns.

“…I think I’ve seen this thing before.”

Although it was extremely hazy, like recalling a dream after waking up, Orson still vaguely felt that he had seen this strange device somewhere.

"——As expected, Dr. Orson."

Kal'tsit looked at Orson, her emerald green pupils staring at him.

The doctor's disappearance, Orson's physical characteristics, his misidentified race - these questions seem to have found answers.

"You're not a doctor, but you did inherit everything from her. By now, I'm certain of your race."

"You are not Ursus, Ferrin, Luper, Vaifan, or any creature on Terra, but you are not a human either."

"You are—Chimera."

"Chimera...?"

[You will become a Chimera, Orson... I'm sorry, this was my last act of willfulness. I've been causing trouble for others until the very end. I really... can't redeem myself even if I want to.]

Certain memories that were locked away tightly and would never see the light of day seemed to loosen slightly for a moment as Kal'tsit spoke.

The dull life in the North is always a winter of blizzards, the covered race, and the tuneful song that always lingers in his mind.

And most importantly, the last words of the woman who called herself "Doctor."

83. Why do you in Rhode Island record the resumes of patients?

In a simply and elegantly decorated room, Orson sat on a chair, next to him was Kal'tsit with an expressionless face, and in front of him was an older sister sitting at a table, wearing fashionable and gorgeous clothes.

Orson is currently in the Human Resources Department of Rhodes Island, and the woman in front of him is the Director of Human Resources, codenamed [Zilan].

"Um, I'm not a patient, so why am I in the HR department...?"

Orson asked Kal'tsit in a low voice. This interview-like atmosphere accidentally gave Orson some PTSD. He was already unfamiliar with the place, and such a formal occasion made Orson even more restrained.

"Because the Human Resources Department will be responsible for handling all files, whether they are patients or operators."

Orson's doubts were still heard by Zilan. This woman, who looked like a girl on the cover of a fashion magazine, took out a form from the drawer and explained.

"Furthermore, in Rhodes Island, the line between Operators and patients is not that clear. Most people who are unable to repay their debts will compensate for their expenses by becoming Operators and serving Rhodes Island."

"Isn't this just squeezing the blood and sweat of the patients—"

“It’s a wise use of resources.”

Kal'tsit interrupted Orson. Although the latter wanted to refute something, he shut his mouth when he saw mon3tr sticking his head out from behind Kal'tsit.

"Anyway, the Human Resources Department will first create a file for you, entering the most basic information, such as your operator code name, birthplace, birthday, etc."

Zilan handed the form and a gel pen to Orson, and asked him to fill in the information on the form.

"Gender: Male, Name: Orson, Birthplace: Ursus, Combat Experience: Hmm... two years. Birthday? Just make one up, February 2th. As for race, uh..."

When filling in the [Race] column, Orson stopped writing. He recalled what Kal'tsit said to him in front of the sarcophagus.

"You are a Chimera—a species formed by a mixture of [Humans] and other races. This is not a simple hybrid, but a fusion that affects and overlays the soul. Now you have inherited everything of her within you."

"But... she didn't take the lead in the fusion, instead choosing to abandon the remnants of her consciousness and memories. She transferred everything about herself into your body, but chose not to take control of the individual named Orson—she could have done so."

"..."

Orson didn't understand what Kal'tsit said. He just felt an indescribable pain in his heart.

——I inherited everything from the Doctor?

"Let's skip this line for now. Your cognitive filter is still there. As long as the topic doesn't involve race, you won't pay attention."

Kel'tsit's voice woke Orson from his memories. He nodded, skipped the race, and then came to the 'height' column.

"Height—170… It hurts!"

Orson carefully tried to write 170, but was hit on the head by Kal'tsit with a file clip.

"165...?"

Orson changed a number and looked at Kal'tsit, but Kal'tsit pulled him off the chair and onto the measuring machine next to him.

"163."

Queen Mother Kai declared the facts without mercy.

"There must be something wrong with the machine...! Ino's score is almost 160! I'm requesting a retest— wuwuwu!"

"Drink more milk, Dr. Orson. The basic file entry is complete, let's go to the next place."

Orson, whose application was directly rejected, was dragged out of the Human Resources Department by Kal'tsit.

Looking at the scene of Kal'tsit dragging Orson away, Zilan sighed.

"Haha... Looks like Kal'tsit picked up another strange creature, and this time it looks quite interesting."

Zilan looked at the basic file in her hand. In the race column, the word "qi" was written, but it was quickly crossed out.

"Okay, then let's see what resumes we received today~ Six stars, no, six stars, no, five stars, no, six stars, no, four stars, accepted, four stars, accepted——"

"Hmm... there aren't enough of them. Never mind, I'll just throw in a few Crosses and Flame-Melting Hibiscus."

Zilan quickly sorted out ten resumes and stuffed them into a luggage bag with the Rhodes Island logo printed on it.

--------

After leaving the Human Resources Department, Orson came to the training ground under the leadership of Kal'tsit.

"This is a training base for new operators. Normally, you should be taken for a medical checkup first, but the infirmary was previously sabotaged by an... operator. Klucie is currently repairing the infirmary's power lines."

Kal'tsit explained, and at the same time, a Pelo woman wearing a dark blue uniform and a whip around her waist came up to the two of them.

"Doctor Kel'tsit, is he the new recruit who will be tested?"

"Yes, this is Instructor Dubin. You will be conducting a comprehensive combat fitness test under her guidance."

Kal'tsit handed the backup file to Doberman, who raised his eyebrows after taking it.

"Two years of combat experience? Then I'll conduct the test according to standard specifications."

"Please give me your guidance, Instructor Doberman."

"Uh, um."

Orson bowed to Doberman, which left a good impression on him.

Generally, the operators who come here for training have strange tempers, and ordinary and humble guys like Orson are rare.

"19-year-old, um... relatively well-developed Du Lin?"

Doberman looked at the file and then at Orson, asking uncertainly.

"I can't stay on this island anymore! I'm leaving now!!"

Orson ran away angrily, and then was brought back by mon3tr with a howl.

"Stop messing around, Dr. Orson."

Kal'tsit is intimidating without being angry, and her oppressive power is at its maximum.

"I understand... Well, in that case, I will let you witness the true power of the Tuner."

As the ancients said: Since you are here, you are here.

Now that I have been abducted onto this black ship by Queen Mother Kai, I'd better behave myself.

No matter what, you have to become a 6-star human rights limited operator, right?

Orson was ready to go and followed Doberman to a cubicle.