Chapter 62 Establishment of the Research Institute
The next day, after breakfast, Ruan Ning went out to the information hall to find Lao Dao.
When Lao Dao saw Ruan Ning, he immediately walked over, his face plastered with his usual shrewd smile: "Miss Ruan, you're finally back! Did the mission go smoothly?" As he spoke, he eagerly led Ruan Ning into a trading room.
Ruan Ning nodded slightly, went inside, pulled up a chair, sat down, and used her mental energy to create a barrier. Without exchanging pleasantries, she went straight to the point: "Any new developments at the base recently?"
Old Dao's smile faded slightly. He leaned forward, lowered his voice, and his expression became serious: "The base has been making quite a few moves lately, officially establishing a research institute under the military, but its composition is very complex." He held up his rough fingers, listing the various elements one by one:
"First, there's the research on mutant plants. This is the most glamorous and popular project on the surface. The official explanation is that we need to find crops that can grow in this terrible weather and polluted soil, and that are non-toxic and high-yielding, to solve the fundamental food source problem. I heard that several mutant potatoes and sweet potatoes have been screened out, and the yield seems to be good, but it will take time to promote their cultivation, and the taste... well, it's said to be indescribable."
"The base has also recruited plant-type ability users to stimulate the growth of various seeds to see if non-toxic food can be grown in the soil that has been altered by the apocalypse. I heard there has been great progress."
He paused, then continued, "Secondly, there's the research on mutated animals. This is more subtle. The research institute discovered that the meat of some mutated beasts, after specific processing and long-term high-temperature steaming, can be consumed by people with superpowers. Moreover, the meat contains energy, which is beneficial for the recovery of superpowers and the enhancement of physical fitness."
At this point, his voice carried a hint of warning: "But ordinary people absolutely cannot touch it! They simply cannot withstand the violent energy inside. At best, they will fall seriously ill; at worst... their bodies will collapse or trigger even more terrifying mutations. Therefore, the base now has a clear regulation that mutated beast meat is a controlled resource, exclusively for those with superpowers, and in limited quantities."
"Finally, and most urgently, is water." Old Dao sighed, a genuine worry on his face. "The clean drinking water reserves from before the apocalypse are almost empty in all the reservoirs. Now we mainly rely on water-elemental ability users to gather energy and treat polluted rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. But even the treated water can barely be used for washing and cleaning; it has a strange taste, and the treatment cost is extremely high, making it completely undrinkable. Drinking water now mainly depends on ability users and a small amount of reserves. In the base, a bottle of clean water is more precious than its weight in food. Therefore, the base requires water-elemental ability users to go and release water for the base every day."
Ruan Ning: "What stage has the research institute reached in its study of crystal nuclei?"
Seeing her interest, Lao Dao perked up, leaned forward, and lowered his voice as if afraid of being overheard by the neighbors: "Crystal cores... this is the main event, and one of the areas where the research institute is currently investing the most effort. They're working on it both openly and secretly."
He licked his slightly chapped lips and continued, "There are two obvious goals, both quite attractive. One is to find a way to extract the pure energy from the crystal core and see if we can make something like an energy replenishment solution. Just imagine, if your superpower is almost depleted in the middle of a battle, taking a vial of this would instantly restore most of it. How amazing would that be? This is a great thing that can directly improve combat power and survivability! After all, directly absorbing the crystal core still requires time to convert the energy."
“The other goal is even more ambitious,” Old Knife’s eyes flashed with a glint of brilliance, which was then replaced by worry. “They want to study how to use crystal cores as a new energy source. They hope it can replace the oil and electricity from before the apocalypse, powering the base’s defense facilities, important production lines, and even future transportation. If they really succeed, we won’t have to rely entirely on those nearly obsolete generators and the fuel we’ve scavenged.”
"It sounds great. But... is there progress? Or are there hidden dangers?"
"Progress? I've heard there's a glimmer of hope, but there are too many difficulties! The energy properties of crystal cores with different attributes are different, violent and unstable, making the extraction process extremely dangerous. I've heard that the lab has been blown up several times already. Moreover, the extraction efficiency is pitifully low; consuming ten crystal cores might not yield even one unit of usable energy, making the cost too high!" Old Knife said bluntly.
After introducing these publicly known projects, Lao Dao's expression became somewhat strange. He almost whispered, "But these... are just what's on the surface. I've received some pieced-together rumors that there might be some 'special projects' hidden beneath the research institute... involving... human experimentation."
He observed Ruan Ning's reaction, and when he saw her eyes sharpen, he continued, "The base explicitly forbids this, but some people are so ruthless, especially... in their pursuit of exploring the mysteries and limits of superpowers. It is said that some superpowered individuals have mysteriously disappeared."
A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips: "It's perfectly normal for one or two people to die when you're out on a mission, so most people wouldn't even think about it. As for those helpless ordinary people in the slums? A few of them might disappear without a trace every day. Nobody investigates, and nobody cares."
Ruan Ning remained silent for a moment. In her previous life, she was just an ordinary person struggling to survive and had no idea whether the base's research institute conducted human experiments. "What is the base's attitude?"
Old Knife sarcastically remarked, "On the surface, it's strictly prohibited, emphasizing ethics and safety. But the research institute has a complex background, involving the military, the remnants of major conglomerates, and a suddenly rising powerful group of superhumans... There are too many entangled interests. Some people turn a blind eye, while others are probably the driving force behind it all. After all, whoever can master the secrets of crystal core energy may control the future apocalypse."
Ruan Ning listened in silence, her fingers tapping unconsciously on her knees. The information provided by Lao Dao painted a complex picture of the base's outward struggle for survival, beneath which lurked a filthy underworld.
She nodded and pushed the agreed-upon payment towards Old Dao. She stood up, ready to leave.
“Miss Ruan,” Old Dao added from behind her, “you are strong and young…be careful. Some people can be ruthless when it comes to ‘researching materials’.”
Ruan Ning did not stop walking; she merely turned her head slightly to indicate that she had heard.
Stepping out of the exchange, the cold air hit her face. Looking at the people scrambling and arguing on the street for a sip of clean water or a bite of food, and then thinking about the dark activities the research institute might be involved in, Ruan Ning's eyes grew even colder.
The rumors of human experimentation were like a thorn in her side, reminding her that she had to be more careful in hiding her secrets.
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