Mirabe gave Zane a long, hard look, feeling a twinge of irritation. "Zane, it seems like you''ve changed."


    He used to be so down-to-earth, but now he couldn''t stop talking about bonuses, which was starting to get on her nerves.


    Zane brushed off herment. "So, are you in or out?"


    Mirabe sighed dramatically, as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. "Yeah, I''m in."


    The mention of a bonus had pretty much made the decision for her.


    "Great. Head over to the university admin office at one this afternoon and find Dr. King-you know, the guy who went with us to the tech institutest time. He''ll guide you from there," Zane instructed.


    Mirabe shed an OK sign but hesitated. "Just me?"


    Zane cleared his throat. "Mr. Calvin will be going too."


    "Oh," Mirabe replied, pressing her lips together.


    Zane noticed her reaction and felt a bit stuck himself. "The department needs someone to represent us."


    Mirabe nodded with a detached air. "Sure."


    Zane was left with a sense of unfinished business. "..."


    "Alright, if that''s all, I''ll be off," Mirabe said, ready to leave.


    Zane watched her go, aware she was bothered but unable to challenge Mr. Belcher''s orders. He sighed and waved her off without furtherment.


    That afternoon, Mirabe arrived at the admin office right on the dot.


    Calvin was already there, chatting with Dr. King. He nced at his watch as she walked in.


    Perfect timing, he thought with a slight frown, but he kept quiet in front of Dr. King. Instead, he said, "She''s here. Let''s get moving."


    Dr. King nodded, and soon they were all in the car.


    Mirabe popped on her headphones, diving into a game, tuning out the conversation between Dr. King and Calvin.


    A notification popped up on her phone after she finished a game. It was from Adler:


    Adler: "Heard some inside scoop-the medical research institute might start mass-producing a solution for experiments."


    Mass production meant they''d need a lot of test subjects. If it were for a standard drug, it wouldn''t be rming, but this was meant to mess with human physiology...


    Mirabe frowned and quickly typed back: "Are you guys out of your minds?"


    Adler, who was munching on something, quickly replied, "No, no, it''s them, not me! I''m not involved!"


    He already knew how much she despised that drug.


    Mirabe: "Hahaha."


    Adler winced, "Boss, are you... upset?"


    Mirabe gazed out the window, her eyes cold and distant. She only turned back when Adler''s message pinged again.


    Adler: "There are always sacrifices in medical trials; you get used to it over time."


    Adler, although working in a virologyb, couldn''t avoid the harsh realities of experiments either.


    From starting with animal testing to moving onto humans... He had seen the agony and desperation in patients who suffered from the drug''s effects.


    Mirabe: "Is this project backed by international medical groups?"


    Adler, usually engrossed in his research, wasn''t too clued in on the institute''s politics but replied, "Probably. Such drug developments usually involve coborations to steer clear of pitfalls."


    After sending that, Adler switched topics. "Oh, by the way, have you heard about this unique physiology? Supposedly stronger than a regr person''s, almost like an evolved being-rumored to be perfect for trials..."