Rhodes Island does not exist.

The professor muttered to himself as he stood up and left his desk.

But at that moment, he suddenly remembered what Provence had said before.

She has a kind gift to give herself.

And the gift was right under the floor tile on his desk.

Chapter 189, One Hundred and Eighty-Eight, Her Gift

When exactly did it start?

The professor thought to himself as he touched the loose floor tile beneath his feet.

The Doctor had known for a long time that things could be hidden under the floorboards in his room.

According to Kroos, she did this because she wanted to transform the Doctor's room into a paradise full of adventure and secrets with countless hidden compartments.

Unfortunately, it was later discovered by Kal'tsit, and the matter was eventually dropped, leaving only a few dug-out pits from the beginning.

However, this secret somehow reached the ears of some operators, and they eventually kept it a secret from each other without saying a word.

So, Provence must have learned about this through this channel as well.

"Click."

The doctor gently extended his fingers and gripped the gaps on either side of the floor tiles.

Although the floor tiles are made of sturdy material, they are surprisingly lightweight; they can be pried up even with the force of four fingers.

This conclusion is drawn even considering that the doctor is not a fighter but an intellectual.

"Kaka."

As the doctor applied force with his fingertips, the brick slowly lifted off the ground.

"Snapped."

He gently placed the floor tile on the ground to the side.

In that square recess, there was a medium-sized box that was just the right size to barely fit inside.

The box is printed with the Rhode Island logo.

"This box..."

He was very familiar with the appearance of the box.

It wasn't just because most of Rhodes Island's supply crates looked like this, but also because he used to deal with crates like this every day during his daily inspections of the warehouse.

At that moment, the doctor suddenly understood what Provence meant by his last words before saying goodbye.

"There were no supplies inside the observation tower to begin with... I see."

Why did Provence say there were no supplies inside the observation tower?

Because the supplies inside the observation tower were right in front of him at that moment.

"Such a gift... is so precious it's almost unbelievable." The doctor reached out and stroked the rough box, his eyes slightly closed.

He didn't know how Provence managed to move the box to her room during the logistical handover, nor did he know what she was thinking when she did it.

But there's no doubt that she may have already prepared for her own ending.

That's why she kept repeating that sentence over and over again.

"I hope you can live."

The so-called survival is not a driving force implied in words, but a reality buried in life.

She said it, and she did it.

The PhD student couldn't even repay this favor.

"To survive...is that it?"

The doctor sighed and put the tile back over the square groove.

"Since you have such high hopes, then I will do my best to fulfill your wish."

-

Rhode Island, eighth floor, communal ward.

When the Doctor stepped out of the elevator, he saw that the boys, girls and operators from before were still sitting together in the same positions he had left in.

Upon seeing the doctor reappear before them, they immediately cast curious and worried glances at him, appearing as if they wanted to say something but hesitated.

“You seem to have something to ask,” the doctor said as he approached them.

"Yes." One of the boys timidly raised his hand. "What was that loud noise just now...?"

The others sitting next to him nodded in agreement, indicating that he had asked the same question as them.

“There was an accident at the upper level,” the doctor said calmly, “but it’s been resolved—look, the power has been restored, hasn’t it? That’s the best proof.”

Although there is no direct connection between the two, they are unaware of it.

As a result, the listeners all showed expressions of conviction.

"Doctor, doctor."

A female voice, simulated by an electronic synthesizer, came through the sound of tires rolling.

It's Lancet-2.

When Kroos said she was going to send a robot, the Doctor was wondering if it would be one of those work robots with several mechanical arms, but in the end, she was sent anyway.

"Ah, hello Lancet-2. By the way, aren't you a medical robot?" The doctor frowned as he watched the robot slowly approaching him.

At the same time, he raised his hand and gave a silent greeting to Kal'tsit behind Lancet-2.

"Sister Kroos said that Rhodes Island is in a very special period, so most of the robots have been decommissioned and some of the robots' functional modules have been installed on me, sob sob..." Lancet-2 seemed somewhat unwilling about the changes to herself.

"Ah, there's nothing we can do about it." The doctor reached out and touched Lancet-2's broad body. "Try to understand her, because these are truly extraordinary times."

“I heard that everyone is going hungry,” lancet-2 said.

"It's not that we need food, it's that we're already starving." The doctor shook his head. "But you're a robot, so this isn't a problem for you."

“Sister Kroos said that if I use standby mode, I can continue to operate for about two to three years using Rhodes Island’s existing energy.” Lancet-2’s voice said, “She even imported the operating procedures and route map for piloting Rhodes Island into my memory.”

"It seems she had already thought of this." The doctor couldn't help but smile wryly.

“That’s something Kroos would do.” Kal’tsit nodded slightly.

"Anyway, let's get in the elevator first. We need to go to the second floor." Waving goodbye to the boys and girls, the Doctor walked ahead of Kal'tsit and Lancet-2.

"If it's a famine, they'll be the first to starve to death."

As they walked, Kal'tsit suddenly leaned close to the Doctor's ear and whispered something that wasn't so ordinary in a calm tone.

“…I know.” And the doctor understood this as well.

So-called benevolence is also based on material things.

Although he longed to use the supplies hidden under his room floor to help these ordinary patients and wounded, his reason also warned him that doing so was unrealistic.

After all, even if the supplies could sustain one person for a month, when divided among thirty people, they would only last for one day.

How many people are there on Rhodes Island?

Unrealistic.

Rather than making it public and stirring up another chaotic scramble, it's better to leave it there as a final safeguard for life.

Of course, in the doctor's mind, that security is not necessarily for himself.

“The food in the warehouse has long been eaten up… or more accurately, it has been distributed,” Kal’tsit said slowly. “A few operators still have their last supplies in their rooms, and Instructor Jenny’s underground snack network seems to have some left as well… but not much.”

"PhD."

Kal'tsit suddenly met his gaze.

"Rhodes Island is about to face its final test."

-

Thank you segment.

Thank you "mostmaa" for the razor blade and monthly pass, thank you.

Chapter 190, 189. The Wishes of the Living

Kal'tsit did not explain to the Doctor the exact meaning of her words.

But the doctor already understood.

After all, this has been their way of getting along from the beginning until now. They don't need to say too many words to understand each other's meaning and thoughts.

The two people and the machine stood side by side in the elevator car as it descended.

The numbers on the display jumped from 8 to 5, then from 5 to 3, and finally stopped at the number 2.

"Ding."

The doors slid open to both sides.

Everything was perfectly quiet.

The second floor, which was originally used as a reception center, was now completely empty.

"Do you smell it?"

Kal'tsit opened her medical bag, took out two protective face shields, and handed one of them to the Doctor.

"The smell of Originium dust." The Doctor took the mask and nodded. "Although the debris didn't cause too much damage, there's still some leakage."

"Oh, by the way, let me tell you something beforehand."

Kal'tsit looked at the Doctor, who was putting on his protective mask, and spoke in a serious tone.

"The wreckage of the fallen observation tower is basically no longer able to protect the people inside. Even a war avatar like Bozokaste would be riddled with Originium dust if he stayed inside for even a minute. So... don't have any expectations, and don't do anything foolish."

This is a word of advice.

Although she did not name names, the implication in her words was quite clear.

“…I know.”

The doctor nodded gently, tightened the last inch of the mask perfectly, and then stepped out the door.

One person and one car followed closely behind.

-

In a dim and murky light, the two stood before the ruins of the observation tower.

It was a semi-circular metal plate that was so badly damaged that it was hard to look at. Countless fragments of Originium were scattered on its once smooth surface like bullets from a gun, and the erosion of wind and sand left behind pale marks.

Incidentally, the light source was provided by Lancet-2.

“It’s not quite what you expected, is it?” Kal’tsit looked the tall and battered metal plate up and down and said to the Doctor, “You should have expected it to be more complete.”

“No, I never had that expectation.” The doctor shook his head, denying it.

“Even if it is, it doesn’t matter, I understand.” Kal’tsit pointed to the damaged part of the second-floor platform roof. “But that’s the fact. This piece of metal was able to break through the roof of the second-floor platform because it maintained its original integrity. The other parts were disintegrated by the Originium Dust Storm when it hit or during its fall.”

Kal'tsit never tries to conceal her words.

She will say whatever the facts are.

Even if it means hurting some people.

"I understand." But the doctor had known her for a long time and had a thorough understanding of her way of expressing herself, so he simply nodded and didn't say anything more.

"Then, lancet-2, you'll be responsible for repairing the parts damaged when this metal plate fell down." Seeing that the Doctor's spirit was not shaken by her words and the scene before her, Kal'tsit nodded slightly and began to give lancet-2 orders.

“Yes, Dr. Kal'tsit,” lancet-2 replied.

Immediately, two obviously additional robotic arms extended from under her shell and began repairing the damaged area with great professionalism.

"So that's how it is. This is the modification of Kroos." Seeing this, the Doctor could understand why Lancet-2's reaction had been so low.

After all, lancet-2 is still a young girl, and it's probably not a pleasant thing for a young girl's body to be manipulated like this.

...Well, maybe only the onlookers will find it enjoyable.

"Sizzle, sizzle sizzle..."