In fact, Ding Meng had been curious about this strange Health Town ever since he arrived on Planet McGrady. Why was this town built?
What was the purpose of this town?
Yang Wei and Zeng Kang had stayed in this town for more than 20 years. What were they researching?
At this moment, Yang Wei's figure finally appeared in the hall of the research institute. In addition to Yang Wei, who was in a suit, there was a man and a woman standing next to him. They were both able-bodied Origin Ability users, and they were definitely unfamiliar faces. They might have come down from the three starships.
Behind Yang Wei was a group of strong people. Many of them were the disabled people that Ding Meng had seen on the Butcher. However, they were no longer disabled. Their limbs were as good as new, and there was no difference at all.
Ding Meng was curious. "Did Yang Wei really repair them?"
Xiao Ai said, "No, they're not normal."
Ding Meng sensed a little. These people's limbs were indeed the same as before, as if they had been reborn after using the medical pod. However, the aura of these people was very different. They had something in common with Jun Ling's group, and that was that each of them exuded a fierce, fierce, and ruthless killing intent. The difference was that although Jun Ling's group was fierce, they exuded a trace of primitive and wild vitality. However, this group of people did not have any vitality on them, and they were living people.
Ding Meng concluded that there must be something wrong with this.
At this time, Yang Wei elegantly walked to the workbench and knocked on the table. "Old Zeng, the fleet of the Golden Shield Alliance is here. They're picking up another batch of people this year. This time, there are 1,500 people. You decide how to split the quota between our two families."
This was what the people living in Health Town were most concerned about, so when he said this, everyone fell silent and looked at the workbench anxiously.
Zeng Kang put down his work and looked up at the man and woman. "Old Du is the one picking them up every year. Why is it different this year?
And they're so young? "
This implied that he did not trust these two young people.
Although they were called young, they were not young at all. The man was about 60 years old, and the woman looked about 45 years old. Both of them were wearing uniforms unique to the starship. There was a golden shield symbol on their chests, which was probably the symbol of their sect.
The beautiful woman took two steps forward with a smile. "Professor Zeng, my name is Zeng Jia. I'm the first officer of the fleet. The man beside me is Ming Bang. He's the vice-captain of the fleet. We're here on orders. The Alliance hopes to send back a group of people who have been rescued."
Ceng Kang looked at her again and said unhurriedly, "You can just go back. Why are you looking for me?"
Ming Bang also stepped forward and said, "Professor, according to the rules, the candidates will be recommended by you and Professor Yang."
Zeng Kang smiled disdainfully. "I believe that both of you have seen it. The people who received help from me were all disabled people with prosthetics. The disabled people who were repaired by Professor Yang are now normal people. If they are to be repatriated, they will prioritize the repatriation of normal people who can fight. Professor Yang can make the decision on this kind of matter. There is no need to ask for my opinion."
"Cough cough!"
Yang Wei coughed twice, "Old Zeng, we've lived here for more than twenty years. Although there are some small conflicts between us, there are no big conflicts."
Zeng Kang's eyelids drooped and he did not answer.
Yang Wei said, "I can understand your good intentions, but you should also know that the Endless Forest has been expanding over the years. The people who have the real combat power are always the people from Lighthouse. Even so, the casualties are still high. The bone armor and bone spurs that you developed can obviously reduce the casualties. Why don't you share it?
Isn't the purpose of you installing prosthetics for everyone to become normal people? "
His words were reasonable, but Ding Meng could tell that Yang Wei was very envious of Zeng Kang's bone armor manufacturing technology. That was his purpose for coming down from Lighthouse.
Yang Wei continued, "The annual Big Hunt is about to begin. Old Zeng, to be honest, I don't want the casualties to be too high. Let's cooperate. What do you think?
1500 people. You have the priority to finalize the list of the first 1000 people. What do you think? "
Zeng Kang could not help but say, "1000 people?
Is human life worthless, or is my technology worthless? You want to send me away with 1000 people? "
Yang Wei's expression changed. "Don't tell me you want all the people?"
Zeng Kang said, "I'm not that arrogant. Don't even think about the bone armor technology. It's more suitable for those who need it. If you really learn it, how can the people above ground survive?"
Yang Wei was about to persuade him again, but he was stopped by Ming Bang. Ming Bang cupped his hands slightly at Zeng Kang. "Professor, we can only come once a year. I hope you can consider the big picture."
Zeng Kang replied calmly, "Alright, then we'll follow the old rules. Go into the mountains to hunt. Those who collect the most materials, have the most glorious results, and come back alive will have the priority to board the ship and be repatriated. This is the fairest way."
"What does the Big Hunt mean?" Ding Meng asked Mei Ling this time.
Mei Ling whispered, "Every year at this time, people will be mobilized to hunt monsters in the Endless Forest. Those who have excellent results and come back safely will be the priority to be repatriated. However, the locals are not eligible to participate."
The locals were naturally referring to Jun Ling and the others. Ding Meng still did not understand. "Why can't the locals?"
Mei Ling said helplessly, "Sister Jun Ling and Professor Yang have had many conflicts. Moreover, Jun Ling and the others have always only dealt with Professor Zeng. The bones they hunt are usually sent here, so everyone is very unhappy. Professor Yang's research field is to conduct experiments on the locals."
Ding Meng said in a low voice, "What exactly is he researching?"
Mei Ling whispered, "He's researching in the field of genetics."
Xiao Ai suddenly said, "It's very likely to be genetic modification!"
Her words immediately woke Ding Meng up. Previously, when they landed on Madison, Ceng Kang had said, "Those who are able-bodied can come to me and follow that Yang guy. If you fail in his experiments, you'll be disposed of like trash …"
The Federal Empire had long mastered the technology of genetic modification, but the topic of genetic modification had always been controversial.
First of all, no one could deny the power of this technology.
Secondly, the reason why it was controversial was because of the uncertainty. If a human's genes were modified, it would be fine if it was benign, but if it was malignant, it would lead to countless serious consequences. A typical example would be the development of two or even more races.
In the higher academic circles of the Holy Grail Federation, there was even a speculation that the Devourer World was a new race that had appeared after genetic modification failed.
Therefore, the Federal Empire had extremely strict control over genetic modification. The targets of modification were usually the remnants of soldiers on the battlefield who were almost nothing more than spirit bodies. They were implanted with biological and mechanical technology to modify them into half-human, half-metal "reborn soldiers". These reborn people were not allowed to have the right to reproduce, and all their actions had to be under the command of the military.
Based on Ding Meng's current knowledge of the Divine Battlefield, he judged that the genetic modification technology here was not as advanced as the Holy Grail Federation's. It probably had not even formed a specialized system. It was not difficult to explain why Yang Wei had come to such a remote planet to research this. This guy's technology was probably not mature enough, so he used these disabled people as experimental subjects.
As for why he had put a bounty on Jun Ling and the others, it was nothing more than the powerful combat genes of the local race on Madison. No wonder Jun Ling had a preliminary understanding of the terms "bloodline" and "genes". It was obvious that he had learned about them from his dealings with Yang Wei.
Of course, no matter how limited Jun Ling and the others' knowledge was, they should at least know that they could not be used as experimental subjects.
"Where will they be sent to?" Ding Meng asked calmly.
Mei Ling immediately showed a yearning expression. "Near the Divine Battlefield Starfield. If they are lucky, they can enter the Divine Battlefield Starfield. My wish is to go to the Divine Battlefield Starfield."
After asking for more detailed information about the big hunt, Ding Meng quietly retreated to the side.
At present, it seemed that the entire Health Town had a population of around 80,000. Excluding the young children and artificial bodies like Mei Ling, there were close to 60,000 Origin Ability users with combat ability. If these 60,000 Origin Ability users worked together to sweep through the Forest of Infinity, they would be able to put up a fight against the monster army.
Ding Meng spread out his telekinesis vision and carefully scanned the area for a while. He immediately had a new understanding of the fleet sent by the Golden Shield Alliance. The three starships' firepower was not weak. They were equipped with cannons, energy cluster cannons, particle laser cannons, interception pulse matrices, and other weapon systems. The three starships carried a total of 4000 people, all of whom were at least at the warrior level. Bang and Ceng Jia in front of him should be at the warrior level.
Through various signals and Origin Ability fluctuations, Ding Meng sensed that there were experts above the warrior level on the starships. According to the database, the Golden Shield Alliance was not a mainstream sect in the Divine Battlefield Starfield. He did not expect that they could casually send out such an armed force. They really could not be underestimated.
Of course, these could all be used. Right now, it would be best if he could sneak onto the starships.
Just as Ding Meng was about to sneak out to contact Makoto Fuuma, Meiling called out to him, "Oh right, the professor has already repaired your combat suit. He wants you to go to the workshop to retrieve it."
"Oh?" Ding Meng was a little surprised. "Didn't he say that I have to get the bones for the professor to repair it?"
Actually, there was no other way. When Ding Meng and the others retreated in the forest, the attack of the God Slayer's pulse gun and energy bomb had blown the Devourer into ashes. There was no way Ding Meng could bring the ashes back, right?
Mei Ling smiled. "The Great Hunt is about to begin in two days. You don't have to worry about the materials. If you're lucky, you can just bring back some skeletons and hand them over here. The professor repaired your battle suit for your safety."
"Is that so …" Ding Meng was a little embarrassed. "Then, thank you in advance!"