Wizard: Unlimited Profession Slots Chapter 733 - 339: Fusion and Transformation (2)

The seventh-floor corridor within Zone C remained eerily silent, with the atmosphere permeated by a faint scent of ozone.

This distinct smell served as a clear indicator that the high-tier purification systems were functioning at peak capacity.

Densely packed surveillance gear covered the walls, while stringent verification locks stood guard at every entrance.

Positioned at the very end of the hall lay his personal laboratory, his name and rank proudly displayed upon the door.

As he laid his palm against the scanner, a soft emerald radiance rippled over his hand, immediately followed by an automated tone:

Identity verified: Ron Ralph—Deputy of the New Star Project—Independent access granted. Welcome to Laboratory C-7-18.

With a noiseless glide, the door parted to reveal an area significantly larger than he had anticipated.

The interior was appointed with opulent precision.

Not only were the latest spectrometry tools present, but tucked into the corner sat a Consciousness Layering Device—a machine he had previously encountered only in written texts.

It consisted of an intricate framework of translucent crystalline structures and pulsing conduits, holding dozens of spherical vials of varying dimensions.

Inside each vessel, mysterious neural tissues thrived within a nutrient-rich fluid, pulsating with subtle electrical charges.

The fruits of being recognized as a genius, he mused.

Ron ran his fingers lightly over the warm exterior of the device, sensing the rhythmic thrum of life traveling through the tubing.

Such machinery offered the capability to meticulously map the architecture of biological sentience, providing invaluable data for the experiments he planned to undertake.

Nonetheless, he was fully aware that such specialized privileges walked hand-in-hand with heavy expectations.

Cassandra was no philanthropist, and every advantage she provided carried a hidden cost.

Approaching the window, Ron stared through the reinforced pane at the distant, looming outline of the Abyss.

Along the Abyss Edge, small, flickering points of light signaled the presence of an exploration squad.

The gargantuan, jagged rift in the earth appeared like a gaping wound, endlessly inhaling and exhaling.

Even from such a vast expanse, he could detect a faint, beckoning pull.

The Abyss seemed to whisper toward every breath of life that dared to draw near.

Steadying his focus, he tucked Franka’s blood samples away in secure storage.

Suddenly, a familiar sensation of heavy dread pressed into the room.

It felt as though he were under the crushing gaze of eternal mountains, heavy and imposing.

His newly obtained Premonition Star trait allowed him to perceive this disturbance several seconds before it manifested.

A Great Wizard was arriving.

Silver light manifested in the center of the lab, cascading downwards like falling starlight.

Space warped and folded, and Uther’s spectral projection flickered into existence, his features etched with profound exhaustion.

It appears you have settled into this environment quite rapidly, the old professor remarked, his voice resonating with the depth of an ancient well.

His silver eyes scanned the various high-end apparatuses, eventually coming to a rest upon the Consciousness Layering Device.

A Consciousness Layering Device, eh? Cassandra is feeling rather generous; that equipment is truly a rare find.

Ron offered a respectful bow and said, Good afternoon, Professor. I am surprised to encounter you here at the Observatory Station.

Uther rarely showed himself unless a matter of great significant weight necessitated his presence.

The professor opted to start with a casual observation: In truth, I sensed shifts in the workplace dynamics the moment I stepped back into the station.

Ron waited as Uther’s projection leaned in and ventured, Let me guess, Wayne and his cohorts have begun keeping their distance from you?

You are correct.

Ron outlined the events that had transpired in the hall, explaining how the researchers had suddenly turned icy and polite, treating him like a contagion, while the explorers had showered him with enough enthusiasm to pledge their lives to him on the spot.

Uther let out a soft, mocking laugh upon hearing this.

The response from Wayne and his lot is exactly as I predicted. Those researchers prioritize their political survival far above their academic integrity.

The projection drifted slowly across the room, casting ghost-like, silver shadows across the experimental machinery.

They harbor the delusion that by avoiding you, they can dodge the fallout of factional conflict, yet they fail to realize that during such volatile times, remaining neutral is a statement in itself.

And as for Miller and those roughnecks? Uther’s tone held a flicker of amusement. They act with at least a semblance of honesty. In a society masked by artifice, blunt opportunists are far more reliable than hypocrites. They grasp the essence of fear, and fear is the bedrock of survival.

He trailed off, a razor-like glint appearing in his silver eyes. Aside from Wayne’s Moon Level power and the minor value of his research, the remaining researchers have been little more than disposable tools since this facility was founded. They vanish into the void of spiritual contamination or experimental failure, inevitably discarded and swapped for new, fresh faces.

Ron gave a small nod, acknowledging the brutal reality of their existence.

However, the shifting opinions of these insignificant pawns are of no real consequence, Uther stated, his tone shifting to something more serene. Your primary concern is utilizing these high-grade resources to push your research forward. Ultimately, your worth is defined by your creations, not by how these individuals view you.

You have been preoccupied as of late, Ron observed, shifting the conversation while quietly triggering his Hermit’s Knowledge to analyze the subtle tells in the projection. I hear there is quite a bit of turbulence within the Court of Truth?

Indeed, Uther replied, his projection dimming somewhat as the subject clearly touched upon sensitive ground.