The atmosphere in the laboratory was very strange. It was a mixture of helplessness, sadness, suspicion, and anger.
Old Huo muttered, "You're also suspecting him, right?"
President Fu was obviously the man in the suit from before. The person who asked the question was a young man. He smiled bitterly and shrugged.
"Teacher Huo, I'm just a biochemical fusion technician. I don't know much about anything other than technology. I've been here for seven or eight years now, and I just feel very bored. I can understand Xiao Xiang. Sometimes, I miss home too, but President Fu won't let us go. He'll only let us go after we finish modifying a hundred targets. I have a feeling that the modified soldiers won't necessarily serve the empire's army as they promised. Of course, this is just my feeling …"
Old Huo's face was a bit gloomy. "Xiao Guan, Xiao Xiang, you've been with me for so many years. I'm sorry that you've been dragged into this."
Xiao Xiang hurriedly said, "What are you talking about?
Teacher Huo, please don't say that. Without your leadership, how could we have developed this biochemical fusion technology?
This is a great research project, a great technology dedicated to our empire … "
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Old Huo was silent for a long time. Then, he said, "Regardless of whether we modify it or not, let's open the medical pod first and get this person out. Let's see if we can save him. If we can't, we'll modify him. Then, we'll go home and reunite with our families. What do you think?"
His words were undoubtedly a change of heart. Everyone was happy. Xiao Xiang couldn't wait to press the switch on the medical pod.
As soon as the oval-shaped crystal dome opened, before anyone could react, Ding Meng suddenly opened his eyes. He suddenly reached out and grabbed Old Huo by the throat. He sat up and lifted Old Huo up.
"Ugh —"
Old Huo's face instantly turned red. He couldn't breathe under Ding Meng's grip.
"Let go of Teacher Huo!" someone immediately shouted.
This group of people wasn't just a technician. Someone picked up a polished drill from the workbench and rushed forward to smash Ding Meng's head.
Ding Meng didn't even bother to look at the man. He just let the drill hit his head.
This kind of drill was similar to a hockey stick. The drill bit at the top was sharp and thin. If it hit a person, even if they didn't die, they would still poke a bloody hole.
However, as soon as the drill bit came into contact with Ding Meng's head, it immediately turned red and melted into molten steel. On the other hand, the young man who was holding the drill scalded his hands instead. He was sent flying and smashed into a shelf. After he landed, he spread out his hands and trembled non-stop. His palms had been scalded into a purplish black steamed bun.
Everyone was frightened. No matter how blind they were, they should be able to see that the living target this time was definitely not an ordinary origin ability user. To be able to directly melt an alloy drill bit, the energy in this person's body was extremely terrifying.
Seeing that his student was injured, Old Huo struggled in the air. "Don't … hurt … my … student … come … at me …"
When his life was hanging by a thread, he didn't think about himself but his students. Ding Meng let go of Old Huo in time, and Old Huo fell to the ground. His students didn't let him down and rushed forward to help him up.
"Cough, cough, cough …" Old Huo coughed violently. He had almost been crushed to death by Ding Meng.
"Who are you?" Xiao Xiang looked at Ding Meng in horror.
The image of "Xu Weimin" changed smoothly, and Ding Meng revealed his real body. "I'm here to save you."
This kind of godly skill was something these ordinary origin ability users didn't even dare to think about. One by one, they supported Old Huo and desperately retreated.
"My name is Ding Meng!
An investigator from the Norse Empire's military's Special Operations Department! "
Ding Meng turned on his wristwatch and raised a mirror image of the Empire's "dagger ring" logo. It had the military's authorization stamp on it, and it flashed with seven-colored light. This was an official logo and definitely not a fake.
"Special Operations Department?"
Everyone's fear grew. They had obviously heard of this organization, but they didn't expect it to come knocking on their door.
Old Huo, on the other hand, calmed down. "Sir, my business has nothing to do with my students. If you want to arrest someone, you can arrest me."
Ding Meng laughed. "I haven't even said why I'm here, and you already think you're guilty?"
Based on what had just happened, Ding Meng's intuition told him that this old man wasn't the kind of evil and crazy scientist he had imagined. On the contrary, this Old Huo wasn't a bad person. He had his own conscience.
When he said this, Old Huo was stunned. "Then, sir, what are you …"
Ding Meng took two steps forward. "Let me ask you, is this place the fifth-generation warrior's laboratory?"
Old Huo explained, "This is my studio, Huo Ming Studio. It's named after me."
This time, it was Ding Meng's turn to be stunned. "Studio?
Your private studio?
Isn't it a place to modify a base or something? "
Xiao Xiang plucked up her courage and carefully explained, "Sir, this is a studio sponsored by Xingwu City's China Ocean Company."
Ding Meng's heart sank. "You're saying that this studio is a private studio sponsored by this company?"
Xiao Xiang nodded and said, "Yes!"
Ding Meng said, "Is the man in the suit the boss of this company?"
Xiao Xiang said, "His name is Fu Mingyu. He's the general manager of the company."
Ding Meng said, "Can I understand it this way? Is this Huo Ming Studio a non-profit private studio?"
Huo Ming blushed a little. "It's not completely free. China Ocean Company sponsored us to do research and development and also paid a large sum of money to ensure the living expenses of the few of us, including our families …"
Under Ding Meng's questioning, this group of people quickly revealed the truth. It turned out that Huo Ming came from Xingwu University and was an expert in the field of biology and mechanization. He had been leading these few students in academic research, and their research was on the fusion of the side branches of the fifth-generation Recreated Warriors.
The reason was simple. The current situation in the Fertile Chalk System was very tense, and the Empire's frontlines had suffered a lot of casualties. Huo Ming and the others discovered a problem. If the frogmen could successfully combine biotechnology and mechanical armor, why couldn't they combine biochemical materials with human technology?
When it came to professional knowledge, Huo Ming and the others were not so afraid. They even demonstrated the results on the control panel. Ding Meng also saw some clues. It turned out that Huo Ming and the others' so-called modification was to combine the modeling and mechanical equipment of the Recreated Warriors with the high-end materials of the frogmen.
To put it simply, this thing was actually the "Prototype Prototype" that Yao Manrou had researched. It wasn't even as sophisticated as the Prototype Prototype.
This wasn't right!
This was because Huo Ming and the others' research was far from reaching the level where they could perfectly combine the two lifeforms of the frogmen and humans. This meant that this workshop was not the end of this mission. There might be more hidden existences beyond this workshop.
Ding Meng suddenly said, "Aren't you guys doing research in Xingwu University?
What are you doing out here? "
Huo Ming revealed a bitter smile. "The resources of the university are not for us to use."
He didn't explain the reason, and Ding Meng didn't ask. It seemed that these people were not successful or were ostracized, and were forced to accept the funding of social enterprises. The funding was definitely not for free. There must be a return.
Xiao Guan also spoke up. "President Fu wants us to modify the Recreated Warriors. If we can modify a hundred of them, we will be allowed to go back. These Recreated Warriors will be used on the Empire's frontlines."
Ding Meng sneered. "I am a member of the military. Why haven't I heard of this?
Over at Fertile Chalk System, those strange fifth-generation Recreated Warriors are hunting down our soldiers. "
"This …" Everyone was flabbergasted.
Obviously, this group of people had been deceived. China Cosmos was definitely not a patriotic company. This place was probably a stronghold of the Hidden Front in the name of a company.
Ding Meng said, "You are free. I hereby announce that you can go back."
However, Huo Ming and the others didn't move. Ding Meng wondered, "What's wrong with you guys?"
Xiao Xiang said hesitantly, "President Fu usually says that he won't force us to modify, but he has threatened our families. If we don't do as he says, we won't be able to see our families again."
Ding Meng understood what she meant. "Are you all locals of Xingwu City?"
Everyone nodded in unison.
Ding Meng nodded and said, "Good. Follow me. Let's go up. Which floor is Fu Tianyu on?"
Xiao Xiang said, "On the top floor, the fortieth floor."
Ding Meng waved his hand and said, "Let's go. At the very least, we need to let you know if your families are safe."
This last sentence dispelled everyone's doubts. Everyone had been cooped up here for seven or eight years. Wasn't it all for a handsome reward?
Wasn't it all for their families to live a better life?
If Ding Meng wanted to go to the top floor, no one could stop him.
This group of people followed behind Ding Meng. Wherever Ding Meng passed, all the armed personnel fell unconscious to the ground. The AI robot guards in the building couldn't even get close to them. As soon as they saw Ding Meng, they all burst into flames and self-destructed. For a moment, the alarms in China Cosmos Building rang everywhere, but no one could stop them.
On the top floor of the building, the alloy door of the general manager's office was completely shut. Fu Tianyu seemed to have noticed something was wrong through the surveillance and immediately closed the door to protect himself.
This alloy door was more than 50 centimeters thick. Normally, even the robot guards wouldn't be able to break through it. However, in front of Ding Meng, it was like a piece of paper. As soon as he kicked it, the door immediately melted into molten steel.
Huo Ming and the others' eyes were wide open. They had seen many military personnel in the past, but they had never seen a military officer as simple and violent as Ding Meng. He was the kind that was completely unreasonable.
In the luxurious office, Fu Mingyu stood behind a large desk with both hands on the table. He was staring at the group of people who had suddenly barged in. He had predicted that Ding Meng would come looking for him.
"Go!" Fu Mingyu coldly spat out this word.
The two burly men in front of the desk immediately moved. Ding Meng decisively called out to everyone, "Everyone, back off. Be careful of accidental injuries!"