Ironclad: How can hand-crafted knight belts not be considered genius?

Jiang Ning wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and looked at Ruan Mei with suspicion.

"Is the situation special?"

Ruan Mei sighed helplessly, and Chong Jiangning waved.

"Come in first. Seeing it for yourself is much more authoritative than a verbal explanation."

Jiang Ning finally stepped into the laboratory.

To be fair, Nguyen Mai's laboratory was very clean, exuding order and rationality in every aspect.

The room was spotless, all the instruments were arranged in a neat and orderly manner, and countless fine blue data streams floated in mid-air, intertwining to form a spiral stacked gene map.

On the metal lab table in the center of the laboratory, a dark red glass tube lay quietly in the middle, its eerie and mysterious light flashing rhythmically as if it were alive.

It was calm, yet it gave one a sense of danger.

Jiang Ning frowned, staring at the test tube with a complicated expression.

He knew Ebert's genetic material all too well.

After all, this disgusting thing had been inside his body for almost a month without him noticing, until now when he thinks about it…

Ugh... I'm getting goosebumps...

"Did you spot the problem?"

Ruan Mei brought out a beautifully arranged plate of pastries from somewhere and slowly walked out from behind Jiang Ning.

"Anyone can see there's a big problem, right?"

"Great genius, could you elaborate on what indescribable experiments you conducted on him to transform him from half-dead to this 'promising future'?"

Nguyen Mai placed the tray of pastries on the table and remained silent for a moment.

"...You seem quite afraid of him?"

"Tsk... So you have absolutely no idea how serious the problem is...?"

Jiang Ning looked ashen-faced and slumped down on a stool like a coward.

"Global locust plague, are you familiar with that?"

Nguyen Mai nodded and responded softly.

"Yes, this is one of my research topics."

My research on this genetic material is also aimed at advancing my research on "reproduction," as the two have a strong commonality.

"Didn't you ever consider that your antics might trigger a second cosmic catastrophe, no less devastating than a global locust plague?"

Jiang Ning was speechless. He simply took a piece of pastry from the plate, stuffed it into his mouth, and started tearing it into pieces.

Yes, the pastries are sweet, but my heart is bitter.

Upon hearing this, Nguyen Mai shook her head slightly.

"I didn't do it. I've considered what you said, so I've been very careful during the research process and haven't disturbed it."

"? Then how come he..."

"That's what I wanted to ask you."

Before Jiang Ning could finish speaking, Ruan Mei interrupted.

Under Jiang Ning's bewildered gaze, Ruan Mei slowly walked to the table and picked up the test tube that was lying quietly.

"I was stuck in the research and making no progress, during which time he was in a deep sleep."

But a few days ago he suddenly showed signs of recovery, completely without warning.

I tried using a gene-modifying agent that stops the awakening of true hibernating insects to suppress their regeneration process, but the effect was minimal, which is why I thought of contacting you.

What are your thoughts on this matter...?

Jiang Ning stood up from his chair, walked to Ruan Mei, took the test tube, and examined it closely.

"Recovered on its own...?"

Jiang Ning's mind raced as he searched for information about the Ebert race.

"That shouldn't be the case... Normally, without external interference, a sleeping vampire wouldn't easily awaken."

Ms. Nguyen Mai, could you please specify the exact time...?

Upon hearing this, Ruan Mei pondered for a moment.

"About five days ago, after leaving the Black Tower space station, I found a nearby planet to stay and conduct research for a short period of time."

"...Five days ago?"

A certain string in Jiang Ning's mind suddenly tightened, and a bold conjecture surfaced in his mind.

"Holy crap... wasn't that the day the Star Core Spirit was born...?!"

Could it be that the "destructive" energy overflowing from the stellar core lured this snake-skinned monster?

Jiang Ning muttered to himself, feeling increasingly uneasy.

To verify his conjecture, Jiang Ning took off the "Destruction" energy bottle from his waist and slowly approached the test tube.

Under the tense gazes of the two, the previously calm "Destruction" energy bottle and Eberlite factor began to flicker rapidly at the same time.

Jiang Ning swiftly pulled the energy bottle back and flung it away into the distance.

"Damn, this is really weird..."

A fine layer of cold sweat seeped from Jiang Ning's forehead, making every hair on his forehead stand on end.

For the first time, Ruan Mei's expression lost its usual composure; her cool brows furrowed slightly, her gaze fixed intently on the test tube, and her voice carried a barely perceptible hint of seriousness:

"The energy that destroys destiny...resonates with vampire genetic factors?"

Jiang Ning's fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the test tube, her fingertips even able to feel the aggressively warm and restless heat emanating from within, through the glass tube.

His face darkened completely, and he raised his hand to his forehead, feeling a sudden headache.

"The two most troublesome things have come together, what a stroke of luck..."

I roughly understand what happened, Ms. Nguyen Mai. This is not your fault.

I also have to thank you for getting this thing out of my body before, otherwise you wouldn't be standing in front of you today, having this pointless, rambling conversation.

Ruan Mei did not speak, but simply crossed her arms and quietly looked at Jiang Ning.

"What do you plan to do with this?"

After all, you said yourself that this thing is as dangerous as a global locust plague, and it should be destroyed as soon as possible.

Jiang Ning slammed the test tube onto the table and spoke helplessly.

"It's not as simple as you think."

This thing is just as disgusting as a real cricket, yet its vitality rivals that of a breeding worm.

Even though it's still in a weakened state, it won't be easy to eradicate.

"I'll leave it in your custody for now. After all, it's your area of ​​expertise. Could you suppress his awakening process as much as possible without provoking any resistance?"

Nguyen Mai pondered for a moment, nodded slightly, and then shook her head.

I can't give you a definite answer.

But knowing the reason for his awakening, I can do my best to ensure he is not disturbed by external forces and is isolated from other energies of destiny.

"In your opinion, how long until he fully awakens?"

Jiang Ning finally asked the question that had been weighing on his mind.

After all, he hadn't fully developed yet, and if all his previous efforts were wasted because of Ebert, that would be a huge mess.

"Conservatively speaking, within two months."

Nguyen Mai gave her answer.

"That's enough."

Jiang Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

He had much more time than he had expected, which was good news.

Seeing Jiang Ning's reaction, Ruan Mei raised an eyebrow.

"It seems you already have a solution to this?"

"Ah, I have a general idea."

Jiang Ning picked up the last piece of pastry from the plate and put it in his mouth. His gaze suddenly sharpened as he swept it toward the test tube containing the Eberl factor.

"Two months later, take advantage of his weakened state after his resurrection, strike while the iron is hot, and knock him into a deep sleep again."

Jiang Ning bit into the walnut pastry in his mouth, a resolute look appearing in his eyes.

"I brought him here, so I'll deal with him."

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