Chapter 99: The Sacred Ritual
Western Europe, at the mouth of the Ems River.
Emden, this proud city of German industry is one of the centers of automobile manufacturing and one of the largest automobile import and export ports in Europe.
In a tall building not far from the town hall, overlooking the Ems River, a large red ship is clearly visible.
Inside the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, the avant-garde interior design features luxurious and comfortable desks, facing a gigantic electronic screen where a tall young man with blonde hair is happily watching the familiar figure of Miss Emma on the screen.
“The Wang family has heavily intervened in the Liang family’s internal strife? Good, have Zhuang Jianfei hurry up. Even if it has nothing to do with grandma, it’s still a good opportunity to weaken the Wang family.”
Elvin pressed a button on his desk, ending the remote communication, and lifted a glass of red wine, sipping it slowly.
After relaxing for a moment, Elvin picked up a document from his desk, glanced at it, and tossed it aside with a cold smile. But a few seconds later, his expression returned to its elegant brightness, as he activated a new communication at the desk.
On the screen is an elderly man with graying hair, his face contorted with anger, emotions ready to explode.
“Mr. Engel, over the past twenty years, the board has invested more than six hundred billion euros. You must understand, many board members can no longer wait, and most of them are nearing eighty years old!”
The elderly man glared with his piercing blue eyes, his mouth twitching. Despite being filled with rage, Elvin saw beneath the anger a hint of weakness, fear, and a plea.
“Mr. Barry, this is a global cooperative project that requires patience, luck, and inspiration. The ancestor is currently waiting for the return of the new grandmother, and all progress is on schedule. If anyone cannot wait, they can consider my backup plan to conduct a technical dormancy, which should still allow us to wait another ten years.”
Elvin toyed with his wine glass, the smile on his face unchanging.
“My God, are you talking about that kind of bullshit dormancy with a forty percent chance of never waking up? No, that’s not safe!”
“Mr. Engel, we are not a blood clan; we have no room for error, and we cannot be absent from the world. Otherwise, the European Parliament will lose many voices supporting us!”
“Since my grandfather’s time, the vast majority have dedicated over a hundred years to support you… The board expects you to accelerate progress, no more than ten years, not any longer! I’m not forcing you, but I believe North America will also agree with our opinion!”
The remote video communication was actively disconnected by the other party, and the smile on Elvin’s face began to freeze, gradually turning gloomy.
With a snap, the wine glass in his hand was crushed, crystal shards and remnants of red wine splattered everywhere.
He licked his bleeding fingers, took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window to gaze at the distant red ancient ship.
“Lord Elvin, Eden Base has sent a confidential message.” A well-dressed bodyguard pushed the door open and lowered his voice. “The analysis results from the last sample have come out, and the detailed documents have been sent to your email.”
“Alright… Frank, prepare the plane. Tomorrow morning, I need to make a trip to North America.”
Elvin returned to his seat, opened his laptop, and quickly found a new email, along with an encrypted attachment.
Light novels
Entering the password, the file opened, and Elvin scanned through it, his displeasure gradually settling. The sunny smile returned to his face.
“It’s a little unfortunate that if it were a blood sample after boiling it would be perfect, to be more comprehensive… but the basic situation still meets expectations.”
Elvin unbuttoned his suit, tossed it aside, and tapped his feet against the desk at an angle, one hand resting on his chin, his gaze moving back and forth across several key data points in the document, mumbling to himself, the smile on his face growing more radiant.
“The growth rate is even faster than I expected. This round of bloodline purification has already reached the standard. How exciting… It’s a pity that we cannot detect the bloodline data.”
After reconfirming all the content in the file, Elvin finally shook his head slightly in regret. Closing the file gently, he chose to permanently delete it, including the original email.
Feeling in good spirits, he opened the drawer, took out a vial of the most luxurious earl-class rare blood in the world, and drank it in one go, savoring the aftertaste.
November 12, Tuesday.
Beijing, West Peak National Forest Park, a certain underground secret base under the dark arrow central monitoring zone.
A vast underground laboratory of at least five hundred square meters, filled with experimental stations and equipment that dazzled the eye.
In the center of the laboratory was a massive cylindrical transparent glass culture tank. However, upon observing carefully from the angle of light refraction, the cylindrical tank was actually very thick glass, and the internal volume was limited.
From time to time, a stream of bright red blood would gush out from the nozzle at the bottom of the culture tank, gradually diluting in the liquid. On a vertical needle-like alloy rod extending from the base, a clump of granuloma tissue about a few millimeters in diameter swayed gently in the culture solution.
A dozen experimenters, fully equipped with the highest safety specifications, walked around the laboratory, or cautiously checked data at various instruments.
On one side of the laboratory, behind a massive glass wall, a dozen men and women were gathered, including several elderly men dressed as soldiers, all holding the rank of at least major general.
“Chief Wu, after several months of testing, we have successfully enabled Sample One to autonomously ingest external nutrients and proliferate normally. The size of the sample has now doubled!”
With the introduction by a gray-haired scientist, Wu Zhongxian, the third-in-command of the dark arrow headquarters, hurriedly took the research data provided by the laboratory.
After flipping through it for several dozen seconds, Wu Zhongxian could not help but lean against the glass wall, staring intently at the massive culture tank as if trying to capture the tiny tissue culture sample with his naked eye from an impossible distance.
The normal renewal cycle of human muscle cells is about four to five months. Even for blood clans with stronger metabolic functions, it takes about a month. However, according to the analysis calculations of Sample One, its renewal cycle is as short as ten days! Unfortunately, this is just a muscle tissue sample and cannot complete a comprehensive evaluation of the true body of Sample One.
“Indeed, it already allows for endless speculation. If we can unlock the secrets of Sample One, human life medicine will achieve an epic breakthrough! I’ve never seen a blood lineage ancestor from the lineage have such miraculous performance.”
Another scientist from the Chinese nation was even trembling with excitement: “This may just be the key for humanity to achieve anti-aging or even super longevity. Once we find the password to this key, even if it’s just to double human life expectancy, it will have a huge impact on human society!”
The millennium-long yearning of humanity burst forth, a greater achievement than dozens or hundreds of Nobel Prizes combined!
While the scientists were exhilarated, the soldiers present did not share the same excitement, instead furrowing their brows, revealing expressions of seriousness and unease intertwined.
“Old Han, what’s your opinion?”
Wu Zhongxian put down the research data in his hand and turned to look at Han Kwang-woo: “This is the limit of what the technical headquarters experimental center can achieve. To continue exploring the secrets within, we cannot rely solely on our own efforts; we must engage in international cooperation. Otherwise, the time required will be measured in decades…”
“In this regard, we started late. As far as I know, countries like Europe, America, and Japan possess many top secret research results of the blood clan, which may be used for exchange.”
“This is a devil; destroy it…” Han Kwang-woo turned his gaze away from the glass wall and said indifferently, “It should have been completely destroyed underground in City D with incendiary bombs.”
“No way!”
“Absolutely not!”
Even though I am a member of the technical headquarters, I am also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. I firmly oppose it! If we are not willing to let other countries know, I believe with our capability, we can find the answer one day. If ten years doesn’t work, then twenty years, thirty years!
Several older scientists were immediately alarmed, as if trying to protect their child, each opening their arms and uselessly leaning against the glass wall.
“Old Han… as long as the experiment process is safe, we can continue observing. Destroying it now would truly be a great waste for our academic community.”
Wu Zhongxian pulled Han Kwang-woo to the side and glanced back at those agitated scientists, lowering his voice: “Academician Zhang means that even the current partial experimental analysis data, combined with existing life medical achievements, if we continue to invest in scientific research, the next ten years would be enough to yield several Nobel Prizes.”
“Wu Zhongxian, have you lost your mind, or have you been bewitched by this devil!? Are we lacking in Nobel Prizes?”
Han Kwang-woo’s face was so dark it seemed ready to ooze water, nearly grinding his teeth as he spoke: “The breakthrough of super longevity—you think it benefits all humanity apart from vampires? In front of aging, sickness, and death, wealth and status make no difference. This devil has the potential to obliterate humanity’s only principle of fairness!”
“Are you really willing to spare no effort to restore a monster for research? Just think about it, in these few months, we have invested tens of billions into Sample One! Even if one day we produce a longevity drug, will it let the rich live longer, or leave the ordinary people more despondent? This could trigger a civil war among all mankind!”
“Our special confidential operation group has been established for seventy years, precisely to uncover the biggest conspiracy of the behind-the-scenes enemies. How many comrades have we sacrificed for this? The Goebbels family’s legacy, the ancestor project, we’ve been guessing in the dark, and now part of it is right in front of us!”
“Living forever is thieving! Whenever the method for immortality is found, it will be the collapse of human ethics and lead to self-destruction. Don’t you understand that? Such things absolutely cannot appear on this planet! The great rejuvenation of our nation does not rely on such things!”
Han Kwang-woo, as he thought of a certain brutal scenario in the future, felt a chill run down his spine, his tone becoming exceptionally severe.
Han Kwang-woo’s words made the other several generals present thoughtful, and even some scientists’ faces grew solemn.
“Old Han, we are merely members of the special confidential operation group. Such significant matters cannot be decided solely based on your or my opinion. How about this, we shall report back and vote together for an opinion.”
“And do you really think destroying this will leave you without worries? The crux of the problem lies with Xia Yan and Gu Yao, the ones whose blood was invaded by the body of Sample One; they are the true danger! The longer we take to find them, the greater the risks!”
After hearing Wu Zhongxian’s words, Han Kwang-woo wore an ironic smile and then fell into contemplation. He probably could foresee another kinds of terrifying future without needing reminders.
After all, this kind of discussion is not something that can be definitively concluded from a social ethics or philosophical perspective. Particularly, the threat level and importance of Sample One in the current laboratory far pale in comparison to the still-escaped Xia Yan and Gu Yao.
In the eyes of the dark arrow headquarters’ special confidential operation group, they are two walking time bombs.
“Yes, you are right; I have been a bit obsessed… Let’s do as you say and leave it to the higher-ups to vote.”
“Also, I don’t intend to wait any longer. Today we will initiate the task process for Meng Huai; the final authorization document also requires your signature confirmation. I’ll be off now.”
Han Kwang-woo brushed past Wu Zhongxian, leaving the underground laboratory without looking back, while the latter shook his head and sighed slightly.
…
In Beijing, at a military hospital, in a special severe critical care unit.
At this moment, Meng Huai was entirely connected to intravenous infusion tubes and densely layered monitoring wires. Although he had lost weight significantly, he still lay quietly in bed, eyes closed, breathing evenly, as if in a deep sleep.
“Deputy Chief!”
“Sir!”
Han Kwang-woo, accompanied by several male and female officers, all looking serious, entered. The entire room of military doctors and nurses saluted and made space next to the bed.
“Third Uncle… is it about to begin?”
Standing at the bedside, Han Jie-li slowly rose. His expression lacked the anxiety or solemnity of the military doctors or nurses present and held instead a hint of inexplicable excitement, as if he had been waiting for this day for a long time.
“Hmm… starting today, you’ll stay with Meng Huai at all times. Your substitute status in the Western Inspection Area remains in place for the convenience of your future work.”
As he spoke, Han Kwang-woo sat by the bedside and turned to the elderly director of the medical logistics department. “Old Yu, can Comrade Meng Huai still respond to external stimuli?”
“Hmm. Although he currently appears to be in a vegetative state, his brain activity is, in fact, quite normal, allowing him to respond to external information in simple ways.”
The old director nodded, glanced at the instruments, saw that some of the numbers were normal, then sat by the bedside, leaned down close to Meng Huai’s ear, and whispered gently: “Comrade Meng Huai, if you can hear what I say, please move your thumb, and then tap the bed surface once with your index finger.”
All eyes focused on a seemingly insignificant spot on the bed, on Meng Huai’s hand that was exposed outside the covers.
Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds…
After a full two minutes, Meng Huai’s large hand finally moved, then slightly bent his index finger joint, slowly tapping three times on the bed.
Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief, especially Han Kwang-woo, whose clenched fist finally relaxed.
As long as Meng Huai can accurately respond to the communication content, then the following matters will be much easier.
“Xiao Feng, Xiao Li, start the on-site video and audio recording. I will conduct the final procedural inquiry with Comrade Meng Huai. Han Jie-li, you are responsible for the transcription; others, please leave the room.”
The several accompanying male and female officers quickly took their positions, while the remaining military doctors and nurses exited the room.
“Comrade Meng Huai, I am Han Kwang-woo, Deputy Chief of the Dark Arrow Headquarters’ Special Confidential Operation Group. Due to your physical condition, you cannot hold out until the final day of the reconsideration period, so I am directly conducting the final confirmation with you. Do you regret it? If yes, please move your thumb once; if no, please move your index finger two times or more.”
The scene was silent, save for the faint sounds of medical equipment operating.
Minutes passed, and Meng Huai’s index finger slowly tapped twice, as Han Kwang-woo exhaled deeply.
“Alright, next, I announce the first phase of the task. We will administer a technical blood invasion agent for you, lasting up to one month, which will convert you into a blood clan. The process will be very slow and may even be quite painful, but it can completely avoid the initial immune collapse risk of blood invasion.”
“Do you understand? If you need me to repeat, please move your thumb once; if you do not need me to repeat, please move your index finger two times or more.”
Still silence, this time, Meng Huai seemed to be asleep. Over fifty minutes later, when Han Kwang-woo thought he was refusing to respond, Meng Huai’s finger finally moved, again, tapping twice with his index finger.
“Received your reply; good child, thank you for your sacrifice…”
Han Kwang-woo wiped the liquid from the corner of his eye, firmly clasping Meng Huai’s exposed hand, repeatedly caressing the other’s slightly dry skin, his heart aching.
“Initiate the first phase of the technical blood invasion process; the authorization document will be sent shortly! Han Jie-li, you are responsible for full supervision!”
Minutes later, Han Kwang-woo regained his composure, slowly stood up, donned his military cap, and saluted the sleeping young man forcefully before striding out of the ward.
Whether it was the digital signals in the confidential communication or the paper documents, they were all produced in the subsequent hour and flooded into a certain special office at the dark arrow headquarters.
An hour later, a group of solemn-faced soldiers and doctors encircled Meng Huai’s hospital bed, collectively rendering a military salute.
Excess medical monitoring equipment was systematically removed, and one piece after another was pushed out of the ward. Then, a middle-aged nurse wheeled a treatment cart beside the bed.
Handing over the operational documents, Han Jie-li’s hand trembled as he carefully examined it multiple times before pulling out a pen and earnestly signing his name.
The room’s lights were dimmed to the lowest setting. The middle-aged nurse opened a black box labeled with a tag and slowly retrieved a small syringe, injecting it into Meng Huai’s body.
Han Jie-li fixed his gaze on the black box; in the dim light, he saw a small label stuck to its surface.
Slowly taking the box into his hands, his eyes scanned the label, printed with a series of small letters: Apennines – 1996 – D2 Type (Mid-Level Baron) Blood Invasion Agent – Donor: Meng Xiang.
(End of Volume Three)
