SDIWD - Chapter 119

Chapter 119

The two continued forward, and the surrounding scenery gradually changed. The rock walls gave way to metal ones, and faint lights even began to flicker from the strips on the ceiling. After so many years, some of the base's facilities were still operational. Before long, a hydraulic metal door blocked their path. To the right of the door was an identity verification interface, which they would clearly have to pass to get inside.

"Oh dear, what do we do now?"

Hua Mu hadn't thought that far ahead and was momentarily stunned by the situation, but Bai Zhen was prepared. The power facilities on an island like this were clearly self-contained. Ever since the spirit animals had appeared, she had suspected that the base's backup power could at least keep some of the equipment running. The security system was a fundamental part of the infrastructure, so of course it would be among the first systems to be powered. Getting inside wouldn't be so simple.

"Miss, please step back. I'll destroy the circuitry first, then open it manually."

In the past, she would have carried specialized tools and could have simply hacked her way in. But now, she had to resort to the simplest, most brutish method. She could only hope the security system from thirty years ago wasn't too advanced.

Hua Mu watched her crack her knuckles, utterly astonished. The hydraulic door in front of them had to weigh several tons at least. Opening it manually from the outside would require sheer brute force.

"Can you do it by yourself?"

She was well aware of Bai Zhen's strength, but still, this door seemed far too heavy.

"I can try."

The old Bai Zhen would never have thought herself capable of such a feat, but now, she felt a strange sense of confidence.

Hua Mu swallowed, suddenly feeling a little impressed with her own physical constitution. Was she actually quite strong now too? Otherwise, how had she not been broken by this Sentinel after all this time?

As Bai Zhen walked toward the identity verification machine, she said to Hua Mu, "Miss, please step back as far as you can—"

Her words were cut off by a staticky female voice as a sensor probe detected her presence.

"Hello... The base is currently at the highest alert level... Please proceed with DNA identity verification for supervisor level or above... After the tone, please select the corresponding verification level."

"For supervisor level, please select one. For sub-base director, please select two. For project director, please select three. For royal family member, please select four..."

Hua Mu couldn't help but quip, "I can't tell if this system is advanced or outdated. Why does identity verification need options? Can't it identify you automatically?"

Bai Zhen, however, knew why. This usually happened because the genetic algorithms for verification were different. Some genetic verifications were tailored to individuals, while others targeted specific gene fragments unique to a family. The latter had been very popular over a century ago. Before their regimes were overthrown, some royal families would hastily construct such secret bases to leave fortunes for their descendants.

"The genetic algorithm for royal family members is probably different, which is why it's a separate option..."

"Royal family members were involved in this project? Which royal family was so shameless?"

"...Royal family member selected."

The system seemed to have an automatic recognition function for certain words and had mistaken their conversation for a selection.

Bai Zhen paid it no mind and explained to Hua Mu, "This was initially a legitimate project supported by several royal families. It was only later that..."

"Esteemed member of the Sheng Chao Empire's royal family, welcome to the Frankenstein Base. Please place your hair and blood samples in the sample slot."

The originally somewhat robotic female voice suddenly became sweet, as if it had switched to customer service mode.

Hua Mu was utterly stunned, and Bai Zhen was also taken aback.

"Did I just hear that right... Sheng Chao?"

Hua Mu involuntarily stepped forward. Gazing at the sample slot that had spiraled open beside the verification interface, she hesitated. "Do you think... it would work if I put a sample in?"

"I don't know..." The news was a surprise to Bai Zhen as well. She might not have been so shocked if there had been multiple options under the royal family category, but there was only one. This was clearly the result of the settings being changed at a later date.

It was rumored that a royal family had continued to support the project in secret during its later stages, but there was never any conclusive evidence as to who it was.

Hua Mu decisively plucked a strand of hair and tossed it in, then took out her dagger and made a small cut on her fingertip. It wasn't just Bai Zhen; she too was growing increasingly curious about this base.

"Miss!"

"Bai Zhen, it looks like this isn't just about you anymore."

After Hua Mu dripped her blood into the slot, it closed swiftly. A minute or two passed in silence before the female AI's voice sounded again.

"Verification successful. Opening the base door for you now. I am Xiao Hua, the Frankenstein Base artificial intelligence, and I am at your service. If you require assistance, please call 'Xiao Hua' to summon me. Thank you again for your visit."

Xiao Hua...

Hua Mu barely managed to suppress the urge to make a sarcastic comment.

"...It seems my clearance level is pretty high?"

The hydraulic door began to open slowly. Probably because it hadn't been activated in years and the base was now low on power, the process was accompanied by a tremendous grinding sound, and the door even stopped halfway.

But the scene behind the door was still revealed to them.

Under the dim lights, the first thing that came into view was a parking area for personal transporters. About a dozen small vehicles were parked there. Hua Mu hadn't seen modern technology—albeit thirty-year-old technology—in a long time, and she ran over excitedly to take a look.

Unfortunately, the transporters had long since lost their charge and were unusable.

Hua Mu sighed in disappointment. "And here I thought we could take a shortcut."

"If you're tired, I can carry you."

"No, it's fine. I can still walk."

Hua Mu got off the transporter, and together with Bai Zhen, they followed a stationary moving walkway up to a platform. On either side of the platform was an elevator entrance, though it was unclear where they led.

Further ahead was the entrance to a laboratory. This time, the door slid open automatically as they approached.

It was a vast, empty hall. Aside from a massive, transparent cultivation tank standing in the center, there was almost nothing else.

Hua Mu saw what was inside the tank and felt so nauseous she nearly threw up what she had just eaten. It was a brain, and it was unbelievably huge.

The brain floated in a nutrient solution, emitting a faint blue glow. It seemed to still be alive.

"Wh-what is that..."

Although she could tell it was a brain at a glance, its sheer size was shocking. Even a whale's brain only weighed about nine kilograms, but the one before her was as large as a person.

"Miss, are you all right?"

A sour taste filled Hua Mu's mouth. She managed a weak wave of her hand. "I'm fine..."

"I want to get a closer look at that brain. Do you want to wait here?"

"...I'll go with you. It's... it's not that big a deal."

Despite her words, Hua Mu turned her back as she neared the tank. The closer she got, the greater the visual impact. The brain's convolutions and texture sent another wave of nausea through her stomach.

"This might be the brain of a sapient cetacean species. I've heard of individuals over a hundred meters long being captured before."

"Why would they leave just the brain? That's just sick..."

Hua Mu felt her skin crawl. Remembering "Xiao Hua," she quickly called upon the AI for an explanation.

"Xiao Hua, what is this thing?"

A small light on the nutrient tank flickered, and the artificial intelligence's voice sounded.

"Hello. This is the brain of a sapient creature of the blue whale genus, belonging to an individual named Leviathan. Leviathan was a pregnant female captured in October of 2101, at a depth of three thousand meters in the sea near Nils. Her total length was 145 meters, and she weighed approximately 30,000 tons. Her skeleton played a vital role as a foundational material in the construction of this base. The rest of her body was used as valuable experimental material in various fields of the project. The brain is currently being used as the terminal for the base's intelligent system. Do you have any further questions?"

"Wait, you're saying it's still ali—no, don't you mean that you... you are..."

"I am unable to answer that question."

Hua Mu was horrified. She clung to Bai Zhen's arm, wishing she could burrow right into her embrace.

"Bai Zhen..."

Seeing her tremble, Bai Zhen simply scooped her into her arms.

"It's all right. Even though it's being used as a terminal, it probably doesn't possess self-awareness."

This time, Hua Mu didn't try to act tough. She felt very secure in Bai Zhen's arms.

"So, what do we do now?"

Without the artificial intelligence, Bai Zhen would have conducted a thorough search of the facility, but now, that wouldn't be necessary.

"Xiao Hua, how many living test subjects are still in the facility?"

"Searching... Search complete. Most test subjects were transferred in March of 2143. There are currently thirty-seven test subjects in the base, with one still alive."

"Where is it?"

"It is located on Sub-level B. Would you like me to find a route for you?"

"Where is the data room?"

"Data is stored in Room 306 on Level A. Would you like me to find a route for you?"

"Find a route."

"Searching... Insufficient power to activate the elevators. Please use the emergency stairwell. Activating real-time navigation. The stairwell is located fifty meters to your right. Please proceed directly upstairs."

Just as the artificial intelligence began navigation, the rusty-spotted cat, which had been hiding in the basket on Bai Zhen's back, climbed out and snuggled into Hua Mu's arms.

"This little guy hid away partway through and refused to come out. I almost forgot about him." Seeing its timid expression, Hua Mu found it rather amusing. "He insisted on following us in, and now he's acting so scared."

"Mrow~"

Bai Zhen's brow twitched. She suddenly asked, "Xiao Hua, were there any projects in this base that used felines as test subjects?"

"Searching... Hello. Three such projects have been found, using materials from the subgenera of tigers, lions, and leopard cats, respectively."

"Which experiment involved rusty-spotted cats?"

"Hello. The rusty-spotted cat was part of a sub-project under the HELA project, classified as an emergency countermeasure. Its purpose was to detect and suppress the spirit animal of the HELA individual. The project produced six successful test subjects. Four were transferred, one died, and one escaped."

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