Chapter 33
Those scholars who experienced the effects of the genetic sphere firsthand couldn’t contain their excitement and rushed at me. To them, my lack of a doctorate was no longer important.
“Just how did you create this!?”
“Was it Eight? I’m a professor at Baphomet University…”
“Did you say you don’t have a doctorate? Then maybe we could do some research in our lab—”
Avoiding the horrifying suggestions from the scholars, I set up a blackboard in the middle of the conference and started my group lecture. Now that I had shown the experiment, it was time to convince them with theory.
Fortunately, this was my field of expertise. Scribbling annoying formulas on the board and explaining them to the clueless? That was second nature to me!
“─If you influence the 42nd chromosome in beastkin, it will react and grant superpowers.”
“Ooooh—! So, the 42nd chromosome is the secret to superpowers!?”
“Given that it applies to humans as well, it seems that the act of stimulating this chromosome itself—”
Honestly, explaining the genetic sphere to society members was incredibly enjoyable. Even first-rate university students often couldn’t hide their boredom in class, but these folks? They were different.
They were ravenous for knowledge. If there was something they didn’t know, they needed to learn it ASAP, and ideally, know more than anyone else!
It was truly rewarding to teach them. I finally understood why some professors’ eyes sparkled with joy when they had promising students to teach.
‘No, no, that’s not it.’
Shaking my head to clear those distracting thoughts, I continued the lecture. The members memorized parts they didn’t understand lightly while bombarding me with questions about the parts they did grasp.
After a while, the atmosphere got too heated, and the chairman cleared his throat a few times before stepping forward.
“Uh-hum— everyone. I think that’s enough for the lecture.”
“Chairman! We still have much to learn!”
“For what’s unclear, I’ll ask Dr. Eight to publish a paper later. Is that alright, Doctor?”
“As I said before, I’m not a doctor yet…”
“It’s fine! At this level of knowledge, it’s just a matter of time!”
The chairman smiled brightly as he said this. Once he calmed the excited members down, he smoothly brought up the main topic.
“Alright! Everyone. We plan to invite Dr. Eight to join our Superpower Research Society. Does anyone object?”
Naturally, there were no objections. Every member at the scene raised their hands in agreement, looking at me with intense expectant eyes. The same gaze that professors gave promising students, filled with determination not to let me slip away.
I wasn’t someone with superpowers like Regalia, but I felt slightly overwhelmed by their intensity. It was an instinctive reaction, after all…
*
“Finding little information about superpowers on the internet… Well, that’s understandable.”
“Why is that?”
“Superpowers are essentially military resources. Posting blueprints of tanks from decades ago on the internet is illegal, isn’t it?”
Hearing the chairman’s explanation, I nodded my head in understanding. In a world where an individual’s strength could surpass modern weaponry, it made sense that disseminating ways to enhance that strength would be illegal.
After all, uncontrollable power is a major headache for any government. What if knowledge about superpowers was casually released, and villain organizations with enhanced abilities started popping up everywhere? That would be a serious problem.
A society where villains disguised as regular citizens could unleash powers greater than tanks or fighter jets at any moment wouldn’t function properly.
“Anyway—now that you’re a member of our Superpower Research Society, you’ll have access to information that isn’t available online. Of course, leaking this information is illegal. You understand what that means, right?”
“Yes. That means it’s illegal.”
It meant I didn’t have to worry too much as a villain. More specifically, it meant that using this information within my organization would be overlooked. Posting it online could lead to trouble, but I had no intentions of sharing what I learned here on the internet.
“I’m glad to see you understand.”
“I have data I want to see right now.”
“Most of our resources can easily be accessed through our intranet. Before you leave, I’ll give you a member ID and password so you can access them comfortably…”
After that, I had a private chat with the chairman in his office. Secrets that couldn’t leave the room—discussions meant only for those at the cutting edge of intellect.
After we wrapped up our discussion, the chairman chuckled, looking satisfied.
“Excellent. Very excellent. Dr. Eight? You’ve exceeded my expectations.”
“Thank you. I didn’t expect to meet someone like you, Chairman.”
“With Dr. Eight, I believe you are qualified.”
“─Qualified, you say?”
“Yes. Qualified.”
The chairman smiled and began fiddling with something in his office. The next moment, the whole room started to darken. Thinking he might be scheming something, I instinctively reached for my watch, but the chairman started waving his hands apologetically.
“Oh—Did I scare you? I’m sorry. I’m doing this because we’re about to discuss something that can’t leave this room…”
“…Are you blocking light and sound?”
“That’s correct. It also blocks electromagnetic waves. No one will know what happens in this room.”
The chairman’s determination to ensure no information leaked from this room was clear. It made me wonder what kinds of secrets were hidden here.
I shrugged, signaling him to continue, all while keeping my hand on my watch.
“Dr. Eight. Have you ever heard of the name Scholar?”
“Scholar…? That’s the first time I’m hearing about it.”
“Scholar is a global research organization. That is to say, it’s a group of renowned scholars from around the world. The number of members is so low you could count them on your fingers.”
Hearing the chairman’s explanation, I finally understood why Regalia risked revealing her identity to send me here.
Of course, taking the risk of exposing her identity to join an organization with hundreds, maybe even thousands, of superpower researchers was far too dangerous.
But what if there was an even greater secret hidden behind this? Then it might make some sense.
“Our organization, Scholar, provides the following benefits to its members: an annual stipend of one million dollars. Up to a billion dollars in research support per year. If requested, we can provide any research materials.”
“…Any research materials—really?”
There was a hint of madness in his voice when he promised to provide any material. The other conditions were significant as well. Even I, who received an absurd salary and research funding from the boss, was astonished by the level of support offered.
There was no way they would offer such support without conditions. There must be some kind of requirements. I stiffened my expression and spoke.
“─What’s the catch?”
“There isn’t one. If I had to say… accepting the invitation is the condition.”
“What kind of…”
“We only send invitations to scholars who can contribute to humanity. In other words, it means we support those who are likely to leave a significant impact in the field of science or superpowers.”
In that sense—
“Dr. Eight has already passed that condition. You’ve uncovered the origin of superpowers, something no one else has figured out yet. And you did it at such a young age.”
“…I’m not that young.”
“You’re still in your twenties, aren’t you? Achieving such accomplishments at that age… just imagining how many more achievements you will unleash in the future is exhilarating!”
The chairman began to tremble with excitement.
“Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.”
“It wasn’t that impressive, though.”
“That’s even more surprising! If the achievements you describe aren’t impressive, I can only imagine what level of accomplishments you consider to be extraordinary…”
I cut him off and fell silent.
And then I pondered.
Do I really have to join this mysterious organization called Scholar?
‘The fact that Regalia sent me here likely means she wants me to join—’
If that’s the case, there’s really no reason to decline.
Why would I refuse an offer of a million dollars just for breathing, with research support going up to a billion dollars? Refusing would be foolish.
When I nodded and extended my hand, the chairman’s face blossomed with a huge smile as he took my hand.
“Welcome, Dr. Eight. You are the eighth member of Scholar.”
“…Ah, here as well.”
“Speaking of which, your name is Eight. What a coincidence.”
The chairman burst into laughter as he realized my name.
It seemed like I had some odd connection with the number eight.
*
After becoming a member of Scholar, I was introduced to a secret lab.
There, I encountered Dr. Kuroid, who immediately recognized my identity and knelt before me.
“O God of Science─!”
“…Huh?”
I had no idea why he was acting like this all of a sudden.
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