Chapter 9, Underground Headquarters
Descending to a depth of sixty floors, this vast entity buried underground is the true location of the Kinsen Group's research headquarters, while the forty-story building above ground is merely a deceptive facade.
Du Zifeng was taken aback to see a slightly overweight middle-aged man sitting at the desk in front of him. The sparse hair and the shiny face indicated that this person's status was clearly higher than that of Lu Xiu. This person was none other than Director Zhang, the head of the Research Headquarters of the Jin Sen Group. Du Zifeng had seen him in the image projected by Heidi that night and had also heard Heidi mention this person's identity.
Currently, Du Zifeng's brain development has reached 25%, yet he has not fundamentally realized this fact, and thus he naturally does not understand what 25% signifies. In his view, he perceives no change at all. However, after recovering his memories, Du Zifeng discovers that his physical condition and various functions have significantly surpassed those of the past.
Seeing your expression, I can tell this is not a good place. Your brother-in-law, how dare you look at me with such eyes, you fatso. This was naturally what Du Zifeng thought in his heart, but he said, I really haven't noticed anything, however, I feel like this place is somewhat like a hospital
9527, this is Director Zhang, the head of our research headquarters. From now on, all your matters will be arranged by him. " Lu Xiu made a brief introduction and then exited the office
The entire hall's floor unexpectedly began to sink slowly, and then Du Zifeng looked at the road repairman in front of him, who was looking at him with a smug expression. This made Du Zifeng suddenly feel as if he had become a rat in a cage
Then Du Zifeng was brought to the center of the hall by Lu Xiu. As he looked at Lu Xiu, who stood still without any movement, Du Zifeng was about to speak when a sudden change occurred.
Hospital? Hahaha! Director Zhang suddenly burst into laughter, then he abruptly turned around and pushed open the large door behind him
In other words, the 25% of Du Zifeng's brain now comes from these individuals. Reflecting on this, Du Zifeng suddenly felt a sense of guilt, a feeling he could not even explain to himself.
Du Zifeng spotted two staff members and then followed them onto the hoverboard, arriving at the entrance of a laboratory on the twentieth floor. As soon as he got there, Du Zifeng saw several staff members hurriedly running in and out of the laboratory, as if something significant had occurred.
"Your brother-in-law, looking at you, this fatso with a greasy face, I can tell you are not a good person. I will hold back for now, but when I drive the most powerful mech in the universe and crush that so-called 'Qiang Sen' family into dust, I will definitely pay you a visit as well." Du Zifeng thought viciously as he saw Director Zhang, but on the surface, he remained completely unfazed.
This wicked Jinsen Group actually uses so many people for experiments. If someone exposes all these matters, I wonder how they can continue to exist in the human star domain. Du Zifeng looked at those who had lost their self-awareness, and his heart was suddenly filled with a sense of justice
Ah! A heart-wrenching scream suddenly echoed from a certain point above Du Zifeng's head, and he could clearly feel the pain that accompanied that cry. As Du Zifeng anxiously searched for the source of the sound, he noticed that the others showed no reaction at all, continuing to busy themselves with their own tasks, as if they had long been accustomed to such situations
Director Zhang walked ahead without looking back, not speaking to Du Zifeng, merely moving at an extremely slow pace, while Du Zifeng followed behind, glancing around restlessly.
For example, he now feels energetic all day long, with abundant physical strength, and his entire body is filled with power, which has never happened before.
"Alright, follow me," said Lu Xiu as he led Du Zifeng into a vast office after feeling the ground stop sinking.
Du Zifeng suddenly recalled some science fiction horror films, where mad scientists conducted experiments on living people, subsequently creating monsters one after another. However, this was merely a fleeting thought. Regarding the conversion system, Heidi had already informed Du Zifeng that in the initial month, the Jinsen Group utilized those lying in the "coffins" to copy all their brains, then reformatted them before directly implanting them into Du Zifeng's brain. Yet, this was just a sudden idea, as Heidi had already explained the conversion system to Du Zifeng, detailing how in the first month, the Jinsen Group used those lying in the "coffins" to copy all their brains, reformatted them, and then directly transplanted them into Du Zifeng's brain.
Duzifeng, now dressed, wandered alone in the research headquarters, where not a single ray of sunlight could be seen; the entire headquarters was illuminated solely by artificial lighting
In the center of this vast room stands a gigantic spherical device, which is hollow in the middle and connected to numerous external circuits. As the circuits extend, Du Feng sees many... coffins. No, perhaps it cannot be called coffins and *books*, because those lying within are clearly still alive, though they appear to have lost consciousness, a state reminiscent of Du Zifeng's own condition at that time
"Illusion, sigh, how wonderful it would be if all of this were just an illusion!" Du Zifeng suddenly expressed his feelings, but was soon interrupted by another scream that broke his train of thought. This time, Du Zifeng clearly heard the source of the sound, and driven by a strong sense of curiosity, he walked towards the direction from which the sound came.
Compared to the research headquarters, Du Zifeng felt that this place resembled a medical research institute more, as the staff here were all wearing white coats, and there were patients in hospital gowns visible everywhere. Additionally, many rooms contained numerous human organs and surgical instruments that could only be seen in a hospital.
Looking at this scene, one might mistakenly believe that it is a humane execution of a particularly heinous criminal. However, at this moment, Du Zifeng was deeply captivated, straining his eyes to observe everything in the laboratory, especially the person bound to the metal recliner.
Lu Xiu has reappeared, and this time he did not assign any new tasks to Du Zifeng. He merely informed Du Zifeng that he had passed all the tests and is now officially a member of the Jinsen Group
As Du Zifeng continued downward, he discovered that the structures below were remarkably similar to those above. The difference was that the layers below were more numerous, and one could see the staff coming and going at each level. This was a completely different concept from the empty ground above, giving the impression of a vast building buried underground
Director Zhang was just about to make arrangements for Du Zifeng when a staff member rushed over, seemingly with something that required his attention to resolve. Thus, Director Zhang gave Du Zifeng a few instructions and ordered him to change into a pure white jumpsuit, the same type of hospital gown that Du Zifeng had seen earlier, and hurriedly followed the staff member out.
After looking around for a long time, Du Zifeng still could not determine the source of the sound, and after it appeared once, it vanished without a trace, as if it were merely a figment of Du Zifeng's imagination
This is the conversion system, and it is also the primary experimental site of our research headquarters. Do you know what experiments it is used for? Director Zhang looked at Du Zifeng with a mysterious expression
The scene that appeared before Du Zifeng was somewhat hard for him to believe
Upon reaching the front of the large room in the very center, Director Zhang finally stopped and turned to look at Du Zifeng. Du Zifeng stood at the entrance of this room, suddenly feeling a very bad premonition. "Alright, after taking a tour with me, have you noticed anything?" Director Zhang looked at Du Zifeng with a beaming smile, and his gaze made Du Zifeng feel a tingling sensation on his scalp.
"Come with me, I will show you around," Director Zhang said as he stood up, then placed his hands behind his back. Du Zifeng followed him out of the office. Like Lu Xiu, Director Zhang also did not look at Du Zifeng directly, and his words came out in a nasal tone. However, Du Zifeng had long since grown accustomed to these mannerisms.
Hello, may I ask what work I need to do? Du Zifeng felt that Director Zhang's gaze upon him was like that of a cat fixated on its prey, ready to pounce at any moment, yet he remained completely still and composed.
Driven by curiosity, Du Zifeng cautiously approached the door of the laboratory. Through the transparent tempered glass door, Du Zifeng saw a brightly lit laboratory where a person dressed in the same attire as him was lying on a fully metallic recliner. This individual appeared to be another research subject, and at that moment, he was wearing a full metal helmet that obscured his face, and his hands and feet were bound.
However, Du Zifeng is currently unable to take any action; he can only disguise himself as 9527 in order to protect himself. Given the status of the Jinsen Group in the human star domain, even if they were to kill a minor character like Du Zifeng without any reason, no one would say anything. Therefore, in their eyes, Du Zifeng is merely a small mouse.
Now, Du Zifeng appears to be much stronger and more spirited than before, giving the impression that he has become a different person. Initially, Du Zifeng found it very difficult to adapt, but only after Heidi repeatedly explained these matters did he gradually come to accept it. Although the enhancement in mental capacity is not perceptible, Du Zifeng has a profound awareness of the improvement in physical strength
It turned out that the hall on the first floor was actually a gigantic elevator, and as Du Zifeng and Lu Xiu completely sank below the ground, a new circular hall mysteriously appeared on the first floor of the research headquarters, as if nothing had ever happened.
All the "coffins" are connected by a fiber optic cable to a spherical device in the center of the room. Surprisingly, dozens of "coffins" are placed throughout the room, each containing a robust male body. Surrounding the upper level of the room are glass windows, through which one can faintly see people engaged in various tasks.