Saiyan stowaways on the Ark

Their hands clasped together, but Himer looked worried.

The reason stems from a rumor about Rhine Lab.

—Have you heard the story of "Originium Journey"?

According to rumors, before raising her shield, Saria was a Rhine Lab martial arts researcher skilled in hand-to-hand combat.

The riot shield shattered in her hands, and the load-bearing wall was pierced through by her fist.

For her, there was little difference between smashing flesh and smashing a rock crab.

People even say that her mind, which shines with the brilliance of a diamond, leads researchers to tackle various technical problems, and is even more stubborn than a diamond, was forged by her fists gripping carbon bricks tightly.

Saria never clenches her fists, because she can crush her own hand bones.

Saria will not work in the Originium manufacturing industry because she can mold Originium raw materials into pure Originium by hand.

Of course, this is just an exaggeration.

However, as a colleague who had witnessed the power of Saria's punches more than once, Himer felt that even without exaggeration, there wasn't much difference.

And now, Tomat, whom she sees as an innocent victim, is about to feel Saria's grip.

"thump!"

However, a strange scene unfolded.

Saria maintained the handshake gesture, as if her arm and body had separated, and suddenly her body half-knelt on the ground, while her eyes widened.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you anemic?"

Tomat quickly released his hand—and Saria immediately withdrew her hand at the same moment.

Five finger marks have been left on it.

It wasn't something Tomat deliberately left behind; it was something Seria caused herself.

When an ordinary person grips a rock tightly, the rock will naturally leave its mark on their hand, even if the rock has not exerted any force.

Exerting too much force can actually hurt yourself.

Tomat didn't notice that the other party had increased the force—while Saria injured her shoulder because of the force she used.

If she doesn't relax her body immediately, she might actually break her bones.

Saria might be able to continue exerting herself, but her physical limits wouldn't allow her to keep going like that.

Since the strength of bones cannot keep up with the power exerted by muscles, theoretically, Saria could actually crush her own hand bones.

But none of that matters anymore.

Because regardless of whether she herself can do it, the person in front of her certainly can.

"...Indeed, just as Ifrit said, it's very interesting."

Before Himer could instinctively reach out to help her up, Saria stood up first.

He then spoke to Tomat, who didn't understand what had just happened, saying things that seemed incoherent to him.

[Main Text] Rhodes Island Walk Guide: Chapter 43 Let's Trade!

"A facility capable of creating artificial gravity?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean."

After shaking hands, the conversation got back on track, and the venue for their discussion shifted from the conference room to the road leading to Rhodes Island's technology development zone.

Ifrit was instructed by Himer to return to the medical ward, so it was just Himer, Saria, and Tomat talking along the way.

"It's not uncommon to put a human body, weapon, or other object into an abnormal gravity state through Originium Arts or miniaturized devices," said Himer, a Rhine Lab technician, after hearing Tomat's statement. "However, most of them achieve a floating effect by entering a microgravity or antigravity state. Regardless of whether there are any techniques that increase gravity, such a device is something I've never heard of before."

Wireless-guided flying weapons, magic staffs, or some drones generally only reduce gravity to meet usage requirements.

Even though increasing gravity is something that can be accomplished simply by reverse deduction, no one has studied it in depth because its specific uses are very limited. Even if it were used as a weapon to interfere with the enemy, its production cost and technology are not as practical as burying a few remotely controllable Originium explosives.

"You mean to use equipment that can create artificial gravity for training?" Saria is also a technician, but she is more skilled in medical research, although she is better at fighting enemies than treating others.

As for the technical feasibility of high-intensity artificial gravity, Saria was unsure and therefore wouldn't make any judgments, but she still stated:

"Activities in that environment can cause serious harm to the human body, far exceeding the muscle strain caused by regular training, and also..."

"Leaving those asides, so can it actually be built?"

Before Saria could explain the damage caused by the gravity training chamber, Tomat cut straight to the point.

"Technically, of course, it's possible, provided that it's allowed and there are suitable conditions."

Himer and Saria didn't come to Rhodes Island for nothing.

Although it is a collaborative relationship, their formal work is still in the field of medical research. Although Himer has already commissioned the technical staff on Rhodes Island to work with her to complete the manufacturing of medical drones, this is based on the premise that both parties have reached a consensus.

Therefore, such a private commission as Tomat's naturally requires Rhodes Island's permission and conditions acceptable to Rhine Lab personnel.

“I haven’t received written permission yet, but Amiya, as the leader of Rhodes Island, verbally said that I can ask you.” After leaving the cabin, Tomat rushed to the conference room, naturally without time to obtain any approval qualifications. Kal’tsit, who was also in a meeting, returned to her office after the meeting and was not approached by Tomat.

"As for the conditions..." Thomas pondered for a moment before saying, "I'll give you an extra month to freely study my combat suit."

"Combat suit?" Saria's expression seemed to only have two states: expressionless and frowning. When Tomat mentioned the word, she obviously did not understand what it meant and could only respond with a furrowed brow.

"You didn't know? Wasn't it said that Rhine Lab's people were researching it together with Rhodes Island's technicians?"

Thomas didn't know exactly who was conducting the research, but when he mentioned the collaborative project, Himer suddenly adjusted his glasses, as if remembering something, and said:

"You mean that project that Mel and the Rhodes Island materials engineering operator were working on? A suit of armor made from an unknown material?"

"Yes, that's the one. I allowed Rhodes Island to study it, since it's my personal property."

On one hand, there are commissions to produce physical devices based on technologies that already have theoretical support.

On the other hand, they provide high-tech materials for their research and analysis.

Although neither Saria nor Himer was directly involved in Mel's research on the combat suit, they had heard rumors about the armor.

With excellent ductility and outstanding resistance, it can almost perfectly isolate, disperse, or absorb all types of attacks—all of which naturally stem from the still unanalyzable material and microstructure.

This is an incredibly attractive offer for Rhine Lab, which is pursuing new technologies and even venturing into the manufacture of new types of weapons.

Although it only extends the research period by one month, any progress made during this time could be groundbreaking, just like their upcoming research on the unidentified organism.

"The conditions... are acceptable. We will arrange for technicians to start manufacturing once we obtain permission. But before that, let's also give Mel a heads-up."

Himer was quite surprised by the two collaborations related to Rhodes Island reached in one day, and this positive surprise made Saria feel that their stay on Rhodes Island would be extended again.

"Hemer, you take him to Mel's place. I'll go to the medical area first to find out about the plan."

Even though a collaboration seemed to be settled, Saria wouldn't deliberately stay by her colleagues' side, but instead immediately prepared to throw herself into another matter.

"Don't disturb Ifrit's rest."

Himer didn't even look up, as if Saria had never been around in the first place, and walked straight ahead with Tomat. Even Tomat, as an outsider, would deliberately turn his head to look at Saria, who was walking down another road, but she seemed to have no other reaction to Saria except for her concern for Ifrit.

"You two don't have a good relationship?"

Thomas asked casually.

His casual question resulted in Himer, who was leading the way, turning her head 180 degrees, giving Tomat a rather resentful look, before turning back and saying:

"They're just colleagues, how good can things be?"

As the two continued forward, the road became increasingly noisy as they approached the technology development zone.

It wasn't just the gradually clearing sounds of construction machinery that filled the air; there were also heavily armed construction workers carrying loads or pushing carts back and forth on the road.

The increasingly wide roads appear narrower due to the ubiquitous obstructions caused by piles of basic construction materials and shipping containers.

"This place is even more chaotic than the warehouses at the bottom of Rhodes Island."

"Hmm? As someone from Rhodes Island, this is your first time here?"

Hemer overheard Thomas's initial impressions of the place and, without turning her head, asked him again.

"I'm probably less familiar with this place than you people who come from other places."

The first time you see it, you might be a little surprised, but after seeing Himer perform the move a second time, Tomath is no longer surprised.

[Main Text] Rhodes Island Stroll Guide: Chapter 44 Get Some Combat Suit, Finely Chop it into Sauce

Rhode Island's technology development zone doesn't conjure up images of a group of engineers with thick glasses, engaging in refined and casual academic discussions and conducting experiments in well-prepared and safe environments, contrary to its name.

Rather than saying this place is like most operators' daily activity areas, it's full of personality.

Here you can see people occupying activity space on the public platform of the research area, assembling bipedal powered mechs with huge engineering machines that show no practical combat value.

You can also hear a scream that suddenly flashes by above your head. Looking closely, you see someone holding a rampaging drone with both hands, flying it around the entire area.

Even when passing by some research labs with their own private spaces, I heard huge explosions coming from inside, followed by curses.

Here, the ideas of every researcher collide without restriction, sometimes producing brilliant inspirations that create new items of great use, and sometimes causing a massive explosion that blows up a third of the research area—at least the latter is much less likely to happen after the infrastructure materials have been iterated.

Thomas and Himer stopped in front of a building that appeared more spacious than the nearby independent research labs. Himer swiped his ID card at the door and said to the display screen next to the door:

“Mel, it’s me, Himer. There’s someone who needs to see you.”

Halfway there, Himer had already introduced Thomas to information about Mel.

He is a member of RheinLife's engineering department and has participated in the design, construction, and building of the RheinLife Research Institute headquarters, as well as internal projects involving cutting-edge technology. He possesses outstanding talent in research and development and also runs a personal studio called "Rutra," where he has developed a series of new products under his own name.

After arriving at Rhodes Island, she maintained her enthusiasm for her work and simply applied for a larger area to expand her research lab, which she also used as her personal dormitory. This is why her personal research lab is much larger than others.

"Wait a moment, we're conducting materials testing here. Mibo III, go open the door."

The display screen showed a cluttered room full of cables and electronic devices, while simultaneously playing processed sounds.

“Mipo is a mechanical device that Mel made himself. It can not only help in daily life, but it is also equipped with a combat module and can be used on the battlefield, just like my medical drone. However, Mel treats them like his own children, so he always keeps them with him with a wired control device.”

While waiting for the door to open, Himer introduced Thomas to his colleague, who was extremely capable with his hands.

However, after more than half a minute, the door still hadn't opened. Just as Himer was about to urge them, Mel's voice rang out again:

"Ah, I forgot that Number Three hasn't been repaired yet after his self-destruction... Number Seven, go open the door."

Are you sure your colleague really loves them?

After seeing the door open and a four-legged mechanical device with cables attached behind it standing in front of them, Thomas asked Himer, who had just introduced Mel.