ck Hand Organisation, Secret Underground Lab Facility, Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica
The cold, sterile light of theb cast an eerie glow on the rows of ss pods lining the walls, each containing a struggling figure locked in a gruesome metamorphosis. Benjamin paced in front of one such pod, his brow knitted in frustration, watching as flesh and blood sluggishly adhered to the ss like remnants of some half-formed creature.
"It worked with Daniel," he muttered, the frustration boiling over as he mmed his hand against theb table beside him.
"Why won''t it work with the others? I did everything the same. I followed the exact procedure. Why the hell can''t they justplete the transformation?"
The room fell silent save for the low hum of machinery and the rhythmic beeping of monitors tracking the failing vitals of the subjects in their pods.
Benjamin forced himself to breathe deeply, his hands clenched into fists as he fought to suppress his growing rage. Losing his temper wouldn''t solve anything, but the pressure from above was mounting.
His superiors were hungry for results, and each failed experiment brought fresh scrutiny, more whispered questions about hispetence.
After the sess with Daniel, the organization had decided to expand the project, pouring resources and funds into theb.
They''d called Daniel the prototype, the ideal soldier—enhanced physically and mentally, the first of a new breed. But Daniel''s transformation had been a stroke of rare, inexplicable luck.
Despite Benjamin''s meticulous replication of the process, no other subject had survived the first phase without rejecting the enhancements and breaking down in horrifying ways.
Benjamin''s mind reyed the image of Daniel''s transformation. Unlike the others, Daniel had embraced the changes, adapting to the serum as if it were a natural part of him.
His cellr structure had thrived under the strain, integrating the enhancements perfectly. Now, standing in front of another failed subject, Benjamin felt that sess slipping further from his grasp with each passing day.
He turned to his assistant, Reba, who stood nearby, her eyes fixed on the ground. She had been assigned to him when the project expanded and had proven herself invaluable.
Still, Benjamin sensed her unease as she nced up, catching the hardness in his gaze.
"Reba," he barked, his voice harsher than he intended. She jumped, visibly shaken, but quickly masked her fear with aposed nod.
"Run the diagnostics on batch 10 again. I want everyst detail. Maybe we missed something in the protein-binding analysis or the cellr repair markers."
"Yes, Dr. Benjamin," she replied, doing her best to keep her voice steady. She moved swiftly to the control panel, her fingers flying over the interface as she pulled up the data.
Benjamin resumed pacing, muttering to himself. "It''s not the serum—the dosage was perfect. It''s not the gic profile either; we screened them all forpatibility. So why the hell does this keep failing?"
A thought flickered in the back of his mind, elusive but insistent. He turned to Reba, his eyes narrowing. "Could it be something… environmental?"
Reba looked up, surprised. "Environmental? But Dr. Benjamin, they''re all kept under the same controlledb conditions. We''ve monitored everything—humidity, temperature, nutrient levels… nothing''s changed."
"Yes, I know!" he snapped, though his frustration was directed more at himself than her. "But maybe we''re overlooking something fundamental. Maybe it''s not about what''s in theb.
Maybe it''s about the subjects themselves—their resilience, their mental toughness. Daniel… Daniel had something unique, something that can''t be measured in numbers or charts. He was… different." Discover hidden content at m,v l''e-NovelBin
Reba nodded cautiously, understanding dawning on her face. "If that''s the case, then maybe we need a new approach. Perhaps psychological conditioning, resilience training?"
A dark smile crept onto Benjamin''s face as his mind began to race with possibilities. "Yes. Mental resilience training, heightened stress exposure… we need to find a way to push them, to force them to adapt, to make them desperate to survive."
Reba shifted ufortably, hesitating before she spoke. "But Dr. Benjamin, if we go down that path, it could have unpredictable consequences. Some of the subjects are already showing signs of severe psychological strain."
Benjamin waved her concerns away. "That''s precisely the point, Reba. If they can''t handle the pressure, they''re useless to us. We''re not here to coddle them; we''re here to forge soldiers who can withstand anything."
He turned back to the pod, his gaze hardening. "Daniel was the first, but he won''t be thest. We''ll find a way to force their evolution… whatever it takes."
Reba swallowed, a sense of unease settling over her as she watched the determination in Benjamin''s expression.
She knew he was willing to push the limits of ethics and science alike, but a part of her wondered how far he''d go—and what kind of creatures they might unleash if he seeded.
***
Oil Field, Venezu
The destendscape of the Venezun oil field stretched before Ss, a rusted skeleton of machinery and idle rigs standing as monuments to a once-thriving industry.
The cold wind carried the scent of crude oil, mingling with the dust and decay—a reminder of the country''s neglected potential. Ss''s gaze swept over the field, his mind calcting the resources and effort required to bring the ce back to life.
Luna''s voice, soft and steady, echoed in his head, breaking his train of thought.
[The field''s current state is symptomatic of broader issues within the country. Maintenance has been neglected for over a decade, and most of the equipment here is obsolete, outdated by at least twenty years.]
"That''s about what I expected," Ss muttered, his gaze hardening as he considered the task ahead.
"But with the right infrastructure and retraining programs, this ce could be a massive revenue generator. Venezu has one of thergest oil reserves in the world—it''s time to use that potential wisely."
Beyond the oil sector, he knew that Venezu''s issues ran far deeper. The healthcare and education systems were in shambles, virtually inessible to the poor.
Medical care was so scarce that even minor health conditions required patients to fly out of the country—if they could afford it. Schools had fallen into disrepair, and the value of Venezun educational credentials had plummeted, making it nearly impossible for graduates to find employment outside the country.
A few workers in the vicinity nced curiously in his direction, wondering what a young man like him was doing here. Ss ignored the stares, gesturing for the site manager, a weathered man with a face carved by years of hardship, to join him.
"What''s your assessment of the field''s viability?" Ss asked, his tone firm but respectful.
The manager scratched his head, eyeing the rusted equipment. "To be honest, sir, most of the rigs here haven''t seen real use in years.
We don''t have the parts or the technology to make them work smoothly again. Even when we do get them running, the yields are unpredictable."
Ss nodded thoughtfully. "That''s all going to change. I''m bringing in new equipment and a team of engineers who specialize in revitalizing fields like this. But I''ll need your team''s support on the ground."
The manager''s eyes widened slightly, a spark of hope flickering in his expression. "Of course, sir. It''ll be good to see this ce back in action."
As the manager walked away, Ss tapped his earpiece, speaking to Luna. "Luna, pull up the specs for the equipment we''ll need. I want everything set up here as soon as possible."
[The advanced extraction equipment has already been inputted into the Atomic Printer, and it''s in production.
However, upgrading the refineries will require more time and a skilled workforce. Most of the current personnelck training in modern techniques.] Luna responded.
Ss nodded. "We''ll handle the retraining. If we don''t have enough local expertise, I''ll figure something out.
Worst case, I can create an AGI to handle operations. But I want Venezuns leading this effort wherever possible."
A faint beep signaled an iing call. Ss answered, his gaze still fixed on the field.
President Yusmaorobis''s voice crackled through. "Mr. Ss, I wanted to let you know the paperwork for the oil fields is finalized. Full operational control has been transferred to your newpany."
"Thank you, Mr Yusmaorobis."
After the call, Ss took a long look at the barren expanse. This was more than an oil field—it was the foundation of his vision to help Venezu rise from economic ruin.
He knew the path ahead wouldn''t be easy, but he was determined. This was about more than profit; it was about creating a legacy for himself, his family, and the country.
"Luna, I want ns drafted for upgrading not only this field but also surrounding infrastructure. Roads, power, water supply—I want everything ounted for."
[On it.] Luna replied.
Ss felt a surge of purpose as he watched the workers begin their preparations, guided by his vision.
Soon, this ce would be unrecognizable, transformed into a bustling hub of productivity. It was only the first step in a muchrger journey—one that would see Venezu rebuilt, one sector at a time.
"Let''s get to work," he murmured, his eyes gleaming with determination. The task ahead was immense, but Ss knew he was ready to meet it head on
"Luna," he said, his voice quieter now, "I want you to start gathering data on the healthcare and education systems. We''ll need aprehensive strategy to address those sectors once we''ve stabilized the oil industry."
[Understood,] Luna replied. [Would you like me to prepare a preliminary report?]
"Yes, start with an overview of the biggest gaps—facilities, funding, personnel shortages, anything that contributes to the current state. I want to know exactly what we''re up against."