Nightmare Light

Chapter 263 Eternal Fortress 2
In the Eternal Fortress, at Experiment Field No. 4.

Through the glass of the laboratory, Tang Qianguan and Tuoba Shouan greeted the people inside, but the experiment was about to begin, so the two emperors were not in a hurry to go in.

Given their status, people would have to greet them once they entered, which would actually hinder the progress of the experiment.

Tuoba Shouan bent down, looking at the busy crowd inside.

The figure of the volunteer who served as the broadcast node was reflected in the eyes of the Northern Emperor.

Tuoba Shou'an watched the busy experimenters intently, then suddenly said, "Old Tang, do you think... this method can really make people forever loyal to the royal family?"

Tang Qianguan turned his head, glanced at his tall and burly old friend beside him, and shook his head with a smile: "Weren't the one-on-one experiments and the one-on-ten experiments successful before? You should have confidence... After all, this is the experimental plan that he personally helped us design."

In previous experiments, this faith broadcasting equipment did indeed instill in the subjects an extremely firm loyalty to the broadcaster—to the point that they were willing to sacrifice themselves for it without hesitation.

“I feel like something’s not quite right.” Tuoba Shou’an frowned. “My old friend, we are both well-versed in history, and we know very well that the people’s loyalty to the imperial power begins with the stability of their lives.”

“That’s true, but…” Tang Qianguan was interrupted by Tuoba Shou’an before he could finish speaking.

"You said, assuming this experiment succeeds," Tuoba Shou'an raised his hand and drew a circle in the air, a habitual gesture he made when using metaphors, "but in some future year, a hundred years after you and I, one of our descendants will be unscrupulous and cruel..."

"At that time, when people were living in misery, how could they have faith in him?"

Tang Qianguan opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to refute Tuoba Shouan's point of view, but the words just wouldn't come out.

The Mist Clan Emperor shook his head: "Old friend, don't think about these things. Let's focus on the experiment first—once the experiment is successful, you and I will have plenty of time, even many years, to think about these issues."

Tuoba Shouan remained silent for a moment, then nodded and continued to focus on the busy work in the experimental field.

A few minutes later, he suddenly said to Tang Qianguan, "Old Tang, don't you think these soldiers are acting strange today?"

Tang Qianguan's heart skipped a beat, and his expression turned serious.

Something is wrong.

Alarm bells were ringing in his mind.

If he's the only one who feels something's off, then it could be understood as a misperception, or that he's overthinking things.

But if both emperors sensed something was wrong, it meant their intuition was correct—there was something wrong with the Eternal Fortress!

Because they are emperors, those blessed by the goddess herself, and the strongest in the mortal world.

If both of the strongest individuals noticed the problem at the same time, it means that something must be wrong!

Tang Qianguan's mind raced with thoughts, but his face remained impassive. He gave Tuoba Shou'an a subtle wink, while casually asking, "What's wrong? You're overthinking it."

When Tuoba Shouan saw the look in the eyes of the Mist Clan Emperor, a knowing glint flashed in his own.

The Northern Emperor slowly narrowed his eyes and smiled casually, "Ah... I must be overthinking it."

The two fell silent, focusing intently on what was happening behind the glass, but more so on observing the people in the experimental field.

Upon closer inspection, they realized the problem—

In the experimental field, everyone involved in the experiment, including Ji Zhaohai, was not in a good state.

Their eyes were all fixed, and every now and then, everyone in the experimental field would scratch an itch.

This is very strange—those who can enter the experimental site must have undergone a strict and thorough disinfection process, and their bodies must be clean.

Why are they scratching themselves so frequently? And... what's with their eyes?

A sense of unease flashed through Tang Qianguan's mind. He recalled the strange looks in the eyes of the outermost Mist Clan guards and their adjutant when he passed through the airtight door and entered the experimental field.

And that one sentence he had overlooked before: "Why do I feel itchy all over?"

Something terrible is happening.

Tang Qianguan quickly pondered how to remind his old friend and save the entire fortress.

Just then, a voice came over the loudspeaker.

"Experimental Site A4 is ready to begin at any time."

Ji Zhaohai looked up, smiled and nodded at his two old friends outside the glass, then waved his hand vigorously: "Begin!"

The two emperors saw that after the Candle Clan emperor finished speaking, he scratched his neck.

The broadcast coil above the volunteers in the experimental field vibrated, producing a low hum.

A dozen seconds later, the broadcast ended.

The experimenter standing in the broadcasting station, following the original script, first walked silently toward the volunteers.

During this process, the blindfolded volunteers, despite being blindfolded, still collectively turned their heads and cast their "gaze" toward the experimenter.

Next, the experimenter tested several commands.

This includes basic behaviors, dangerous behaviors, self-harming behaviors, and violent behaviors.

The thirty volunteers who were tested all showed a high degree of obedience and did not hesitate at all.

Ji Zhaohai wore an extremely happy smile.

He nodded and smiled at the lab technicians and soldiers, saying, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone. Please record the experimental data—the next experiment is scheduled for three days from now."

After saying that, he bowed to Lord Longshou and said, "Thank you, Lord Longshou. You can go and rest now."

The immortal, sitting in the enormous chair, seemed a little tired, and merely raised his hand slightly to indicate that he had heard.

Ji Zhaohai walked out of the experimental field, and the two emperors greeted the Candle Clan members. The latter smiled at his two old friends: "Let's go, we should have a meeting to discuss the next experiments."

Meeting?
This wasn't in the plan!
The two emperors exchanged a glance, both sensing something strange in the words of the Candle Clan emperor.

Without making a sound, the two men flanked Ji Zhaohai, forming a pincer movement, and followed him into Laboratory C3.

This is a very small, enclosed laboratory with more than a dozen layers of protection around it—it was originally set up to prevent accidental leaks caused by broadcast failure.

Here, not only is there no sound, but even prayers for one's mother go unanswered.

After leading the two emperors into the laboratory, Ji Zhaohai closed all the protective doors, then turned to Tuoba Shouan and gave him a wry smile: "Old friend, put down your sword—I brought you here not to deal with you."

Tuoba Shou'an was taken aback: "How did you know I was planning to attack you?"

“We’ve been friends for over a decade, and I know your habits inside and out… Besides, only people from the North would consider hiding a knife weighing over forty pounds in their sleeve as an assassination—your knife is almost big enough to be used as a door panel by the Candle Clan.”

"..."

Tuoba Shou'an's face twitched, and he silently put away the knife hidden in his sleeve: "Old friend, what do you want with us here?"

Ji Zhaohai glanced at the tight security around him, and finally turned to his two old friends with a serious expression: "My two old friends, I have been infected."

After saying that, he pulled open his protective suit, revealing the skin underneath.

On his skin, black, swollen sores were clearly visible, with eyeballs rolling and writhing on them.

(End of this chapter)