Due to deal restructure text to speech player is currently unavailable. Will find a solution soon.

Chapter 328: 328

The Black Knight stepped out after stashing the image into the drawer of the table .

After that, another four Basilisk patterns were printed . They were the “Reaper”, “Shaker”, “Filth”, and “Flame” .

Each one of these images was put away into their respective drawers in the table, each drawer contained only one image .

“X, we can begin the experiment now . ”

Inside the laboratory, Chen Chen stood outside the quarantine zone with his arms folded and silently gazed inside the observation window .

“Copy that, dispatching research staff now . Grade Delta researcher codename ‘D00189’ has arrived at the experimental base . ”

X-111’s (Spire Experimental Base artificial intelligence, one of the copies of Little X) voice was that of a little girl that carried an icy and mechanical quality . Immediately after X-111’s quick announcement, the side entrance to the quarantine zone suddenly shuffled open . A black man in his mid-thirties stepped in with a puzzled expression on his face .

As he was one of the Delta level researchers of God’s Forbidden Zone, he wore a research uniform of Delta level researchers . It was overall made with special-crafted fiber which kept the wearer warm and absorbed sweat . Its structure was also extremely resilient .

It was a gray uniform with many white stripes laid out horizontally across it and a large alphabet “D” was placed on the chest section of the uniform .

There was a metal hoop crafted with tungsten alloy strapped around the man’s neck . The width of the hoop was less than two centimeters, but its toughness and hardness were several times higher than that of titanium alloy .

The hoop was wrapped with a layer of velvet, which allowed the researchers to make any movements without feeling hindered by the device .

These metal hoops were the rightful badge of Delta level researchers . There was a liquid-crystal display on the ring displaying the codename of its wearer . It was also fitted with an electric shock device and anesthesia device . If the researcher disobeyed orders given, the electric shock device would force the researcher .

The anesthesia device made it possible to easily subdue researchers without hurting them .

There was also a GPS built into the metal hoop so even if a researcher went missing from the Spire laboratory, it would be easy to locate the missing member .

Finally, there was a self-destruct mechanism in the metal hoop . It would be triggered in the event that the metal hoop became damaged, whether it was done at high temperature, with a water jet or other forced methods . Its self-destruction would effectively kill the researcher wearing it as well .

At the present, the Ovambo[1] man surveyed the laboratory curiously . He was slightly restless, but not to the point of being in a state of panic . After all, members like him had been well treated for their entire stay here . In addition to the routine physical examinations, there was also a gym set up for them .

Compared to the outside world, this place was almost heaven on Earth, only minus the access to women and freedom .

At last, the man fixed his eyes onto the observation window toward Chen Chen’s direction .

This was not his first time being questioned . He approached the observation window and gently grazed it with his hand . From where he stood, he could only see the reflection on the clear mirror, unable to see Chen Chen standing behind the window .

“Excuse me, can I know what department this is? Am I going to be questioned here?”

After inspecting the mirror for a brief moment, the black man suddenly spoke .

“It’s not any department . Our company signed a Convict Reallocation Act with the Namibian government, so you’re now participating as an experiment subject . ”

Chen Chen held the voice button to transmit his voice into the quarantine zone through the microphone . “It’s the contract that you signed previously . If you cooperate with us in this experiment, you have a chance to receive a reduced sentence . ”

When the man heard this, he nodded half-suspiciously and moved to the only table in the quarantine zone . “In that case, officer, in what way can I cooperate with you guys?”

“There’s a picture in the rightmost drawer . I need you to take it out . ”

Chen Chen gave a short reminder . “Please note that the picture is positioned upside down . You must make sure it stays that way when you pick it up, no peeking . I’ll give you further instructions after you do this . ”

“Got it . ”

The man shrugged and proceeded to yank open the drawer . After he placed the upside-down picture on the table, he put his hands in the air . “Officer, I’ve done as you asked . ”

“Great job . ”

Chen Chen said contentedly, “Next, I need you to answer several questions . First question, 189, has there been any genetic history of epilepsy or mental illness in your family?”

“No . ”

“Have you ever experienced brain trauma or performed craniotomy?”

“Never . ”

“Do you have any heart, liver or other kidney-related diseases?”

“None at all . ”

The man frowned a little and stretched his hands out . “I swear, my body is very healthy and I have no underlying illnesses!”

“Alright . Next, I need you to flip over the picture on the table . ”

Upon hearing this, the man flipped it over with mild irritation while also instinctively stealing a glance at its contents .

With just a glance, his pupils suddenly expanded rapidly like he had a spell cast on him, holding him in place .

“189?”

Chen Chen asked, “Can you hear me?”

However, this did not generate a response from the man . His head slowly dropped downward until he eventually lost his balance and fell on his back on the cold hard floor .

“His pulse has stopped . ”

Little X informed . At the same time, a Black Knight stepped into the quarantine zone and squatted to feel for the person’s breath . The Black Knight only felt a tiny whiff of air flowing out of the man’s nasal cavity, which was followed by what was eternal stillness .

There was only air pouring out of the Ovambo man, but none flowing the other way around .

“He’s dead . ”

After performing a series of routine inspections, Little X informed, “The brain wave activity in D00189 has been terminated along with his brain functionality . His heart has ceased to function as well . Even if we try to rescue him now, he can only be sustained in a vegetative state at best . In medical terms, he can be proclaimed as dead . ”

“It seems like there’s no problem with the Basilisk picture itself . ”

Chen Chen nodded . “Then, let’s begin the next experiment . Get the fire extinguishers ready . We’re going to try with ‘Flame’…”

After that, the Black Knight promptly got rid of the body of the first Delta grade research member before bringing in the next one .

Chen Chen performed experiments on each Basilisk picture .

The outcome of the experiments went just as they were expected to . After the research member looked at the picture named “Flame”, he immediately burst into flames . Furthermore, Chen Chen realized that the flames stemmed from inside the body of the subject . No matter how quickly they tried to put out the flames, there was no way for them to save the subject .

“Shaker” went just about as he expected as well . The subject who looked at the shaker image immediately suffered a symptom similar to being electrocuted . His body was trembling all over and he would shriek horribly in between his trembling .

The rate of this trembling effect was so volatile that it caused the subject to quickly experience symptoms of dehydration . Even after he was strapped onto a stretcher and had tranquilizers injected, the trembling still refused to stop . The nature of this symptom was a completely physical one . The subject died in the end due to exhaustion .

The subject who saw the “Reaper” image did not display any visible symptoms initially . It was only after Chen Chen asked what it was that he saw when the effect was triggered, which resulted in the subject dying immediately . It was an effect similar to the “Eye” .

The strangest one had to be the picture known as “Filth” .

[1] A South-African ethnic group