Wizard: Unlimited Profession Slots Chapter 1194 - 487: Retreat in the Face of Danger (Part 2)

The data in the star map updated in real-time as she spoke.

"Our time window is less than a year."

The atmosphere in the room became heavy.

Cassandra turned to Cedric and nodded in satisfaction:

"Your plan is aggressive, but it meets our current time requirements. The project’s main resources will be allocated to your team."

Cedric’s face showed uncontrollable excitement:

"I will ensure the final version of the cognitive virus is completed within two months, Tower Master.

This timeline takes into account all possible technical risks and debugging cycles."

Then Cassandra looked at Ron, her expression softening somewhat:

"Obviously, Ron’s technical route holds more value for long-term development. I will not let any promising research direction be buried."

She paused for a moment, seemingly carefully weighing her words:

"I will reserve necessary resources and personnel for your research.

Once the immediate crisis is resolved, we can simultaneously pursue research in both directions.

After all, a true wise person never puts all their magic stones in the same storage bag."

This statement appears fair and reasonable on the surface, but Ron keenly realized the subtext within.

In a situation of scarce resources, so-called "reserving" often means nominal support and actual marginalization.

.........

The specifics of this arrangement became clear the next day.

Ron was assigned a small laboratory on the underground third floor, which was less than one-tenth the size of the main research area.

Although the equipment was complete, it was clearly second-hand goods allocated from other projects.

The three assistants assigned to him were also fresh graduates:

A young alchemist from the Elemental Garden, specializing in fundamental element transformation;

A junior rune master from the Dark House, responsible for simple array construction;

And an apprentice engineer from the Tower of Vibrations, focused on mechanical structure maintenance.

"Although they lack experience, they are at least eager to learn."

Ron consoled himself inwardly while starting to readjust his research plan.

In contrast, Cedric received permission to use the entire seventh floor.

There, not only did he have access to the most advanced equipment of the Crystal Tower, but also to over twenty professional researchers from various schools.

Each of them had extensive experience in their respective fields.

More importantly, Cassandra also granted "special material procurement permission" for Cedric’s project.

This meant he could apply to use dangerous substances that were usually strictly controlled, including active samples from the Abyss and certain forbidden reagents.

In the following two weeks, the entire research center was infected with the excitement of Cedric’s team.

Every day brought new groundbreaking progress from the seventh floor:

"The cognitive virus’s basic framework is complete, with its propagation efficiency exceeding theoretical expectations by 30%!"

"We’ve successfully solved the technical issue of racial recognition; the virus can now accurately distinguish the neural features of Vital people from other races!"

"The stability tests of the self-replication module have all passed, with the mutation rate controlled within an acceptable range!"

These messages spread through the internal notification system, making the upper echelons of the Crystal Tower full of expectations for the project’s prospects.

However, the feeling of unease within Ron was growing.

He noticed that whenever Cedric reported these advancements, he intentionally or unintentionally avoided some critical details.

For example, what exactly was the "acceptable mutation rate," what was the error range for "accurate distinction," and what state were those Vital captives in now?

.........

One night, Ron returned alone to his private research room.

He took out the Paradox Dice, which he had carefully preserved.

This room was one of the few completely private spaces in the research base, with walls arrayed with anti-snooping arrays he had personally engraved.

Though not as professional as the facilities at the Abyssal Observation Station, it was sufficient to ensure the divination process wouldn’t be detected by outsiders.

In the center of the room, he laid out a divination blanket.

Then, he skillfully lit the "True Sight Incense."

But once everything was ready, Ron began simulating the divination spell:

"Veritas per nebulam penetret" (Let the truth penetrate the fog)

"sapientia tenebras illuminet..." (Let wisdom illuminate the darkness)

Then, he lightly tossed the Paradox Dice to the center of the blanket.

The dice drew a strange arc in the air, as if manipulated by some invisible force.

The face number began to change wildly, as if quickly flicked by an invisible hand.

At times it was "1," at times "6," sometimes even displaying multiple numbers simultaneously, as if multiple probabilities existed in the same reality.

The air started to become thick, and the flow of time seemed to slow down.

The flames of twelve candles in the room began to sway in unison, as if directed by some mysterious rhythm.

When the dice finally settled, it displayed a special symbol again.

It was an eyeball bound by iron chains, with blood-like red liquid flowing from it.

The next moment, the reality within the divination room began to distort.

Ron was already very familiar with the illusions produced by this divination, so he immediately entered observer mode:

In the first scene, he stood in a laboratory surrounded by distorted reality.

Cedric, in the center of the room, was laughing madly.

But it was no longer a normal human laugh; it was an eerie metallic, grating sound.

Silver liquid like a virus flowed from his eyes.