For someone like Scarface—a Level 2 Ability User and an insignificant minor character—Truth Serum was the fastest and most effective method.
“Dr. Chen, the side effects of Truth Serum...” a researcher in a white lab coat spoke up cautiously.
Chen Shijie glanced at him, a look that made the researcher swallow the rest of his words.
“This man's physical foundation is decent,” Chen Shijie said, his voice calm as he withdrew his gaze.
“After we're finished, his mind will be gone, but his body will remain intact.”
“He can be used for basic experiments—drug testing, organ transplants, tissue regeneration research, and the like.”
“These projects don't require the test subject to be conscious; as long as his bodily functions remain normal, it won't be a waste.”
The researcher nodded, not daring to say more, and turned to prepare.
Chen Shijie took one last look at Scarface before turning to leave the interrogation room.
Minutes later, an assistant in a white coat entered, pushing a small cart.
There were several items on the cart.
A syringe containing a pale yellow liquid that shimmered slightly under the lights.
A palm-sized metal device with several buttons and indicator lights—a Brainwave Synchronizer used to monitor the subject's brain activity after the injection.
And a headband covered in fine electrodes, used to stabilize the subject's brainwaves during the process to prevent instant death from overstimulation.
The assistant pushed the cart to Scarface's bedside, parked it, and picked up the syringe.
He inserted the needle into the vein in Scarface's neck with precise, practiced movements.
As the pale yellow liquid was slowly pushed into the bloodstream, Scarface's body twitched slightly but soon settled back into stillness.
The assistant released the syringe, his eyes fixed on the screen of the metal device.
The brainwave patterns began to shift violently, changing from gentle waves to sharp spikes. The frequency increased, and the amplitude grew larger.
That was the signal that the drug was taking effect.
The assistant's expression remained unchanged as he waited quietly.
He had done this many times. Every time followed the same process and led to the same result.
Drug injection, brainwave disruption, loss of consciousness, and then the subject would begin to answer questions uncontrollably.
By the time all the questions were answered, the subject's brain would be completely destroyed, never to recover.
He picked up a prepared clipboard, waiting for Scarface to speak.
“Who sent you?”
“Land... Landlord...”
“What Landlord?”
“Terminal... Station... Landlord...”
“Where is the Terminal Station?”
“Ruin... Zone... Area A7...”
“What is the Landlord's name?”
“Su... Su Wan...”
Under the dual influence of the Truth Serum and energy waves, Scarface couldn't resist at all. He spilled almost everything he knew.
Piece by piece, the information came together, gradually sketching out a complete picture.
After listening, Chen Shijie stood up, walked to the wall, and pulled up a program on the console.
It was the latest Portrait Generation System developed by the Deep Blue Research Institute, capable of automatically generating an image based on a textual description.
“Su Wan, female, early twenties, about 1.65 meters tall, long hair, delicate features...”
A researcher nearby entered the description word for word, based on what Lei Lie and Scarface had said.
On the screen, a face gradually took shape.
First the outline, then the features, then the details.
Minutes later, a clear portrait appeared on the screen.
It was a young woman with long hair draped over her shoulders, delicate features, and eyes that were calm and profound.
Chen Shijie stared at the portrait for a long time.
“Su Wan...” he whispered the name, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful smile.
A Level 3 Late Stage Ability User, a woman running a shelter of over two thousand people in the Ruin Zone.
She had sent scouts to probe the Deep Blue Research Institute, wanting to know what they were studying and to find their weaknesses.
“Quite bold,” Chen Shijie muttered to himself, his voice unreadable—it could have been admiration or mockery.
He stood up and paced slowly around the office, his leather shoes clicking rhythmically against the floor.
Chen Shijie stopped, his gaze falling back on the portrait.
No.
He shook his head.
A Level 3 Late Stage Ability User didn't have the power to actively provoke their institute.
Even if their Deep Blue Research Institute was only at the lowest tier of the Dawn Federation Bio-Research Institute, the name “Research Institute” carried a weight that no ordinary person or organization could touch.
Even the major factions—Holy Shield, the Deep Space Society, the Remnant Mansion...
Even they would have to weigh the consequences before making a move against the institute.
Much less a tiny shelter.
“She must have someone behind her!” Chen Shijie murmured.
A woman who could run a shelter of over two thousand people in the Ruin Zone, a woman who dared to send scouts to probe the Deep Blue Research Institute, a woman who could make a Level 3 Ability User willing to die for her...
Such a person couldn't possibly be without a background.
Several names flashed through Chen Shijie's mind.
Holy Shield? Their sphere of influence wasn't here.
The Deep Space Society? Those lunatics obsessed with Old Era ruins certainly had a great interest in the institute, but this wasn't their style.
The Remnant Mansion? That mysterious organization never showed its face easily, let alone sending a Level 3 Late Stage woman to act as a scout.
Chen Shijie truly couldn't think of which faction would be so bold as to reach their hands into the Deep Blue Research Institute.
But he soon stopped thinking about it.
When strengths were equal, he could use his brain to outwit them, set traps, or play the game.
But against an existence that could be crushed with a flick of his finger, he didn't bother thinking of a strategy.
He would simply send men to bring that woman back. Once she was interrogated, everything would be clear.
The most important thing was that shelter, with over two thousand vagrants...
Chen Shijie's eyes lit up slightly.
They were a massive batch of ready-made experimental materials!
Those pariahs in the Ruin Zone were like rats, difficult to catch one by one. Now that they were gathered together, they could be wiped out in one go—it was practically a gift from the heavens!
He had been worried about the lack of test subjects, and now it seemed the problem was solved in an instant.
The elderly, young adults, women, children, infants...
There were test subjects of every kind, whatever they needed!
With over two thousand people, even if most were ordinary, the sheer number meant they could filter out those with superior physical constitutions.
The weak, the elderly, and the disabled wouldn't be wasted either; they could be used for drug testing, organ transplants, and tissue regeneration research. These projects didn't require strong physiques, only that the subjects were alive.
As for the strong and healthy ones, and those few Ability Users...
Rate on N.U.
