NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: Calamity Source
Lynn and Alice began searching through the hidden room, looking for anything that might explain the strange experiments happening at the hospital and the mysterious zombie outbreak. The amount of documents and files was staggering.
"These must be the confidential records Dr. Stein didn't want anyone finding," Lynn remarked as he sifted through a heavy folder stuffed with documents. Diagrams of the human body and detailed observational notes filled the pages.
Although these documents would certainly get anyone in trouble if made public, there was no obvious connection to extraordinary powers or a shadowy secret society, and certainly couldn’t explain the mysterious zombie outbreak.
Meanwhile, Alice sorted through a bunch of boxes in the corner. As she rifled through the chaotic contents, a thick metal safe buried at the back caught her eye. She pulled it out and set it in front of her.
"A safe?" noticed Lynn.
At first glance, it seemed to be a very important element. The safe was heavy, with a sturdy construction, suggesting its contents were highly valuable.
Before Lynn could say anything, he observed Alice take out a set of slender, hooked iron pieces. She pressed her ear against the safe's dial, and began tinkering with the lock, inserting the hooked pieces with practiced finesse.
"A homemade lock pick set," Lynn realized with surprise.
Alice nodded without looking up, continuing to manipulate the mechanisms inside the safe door.
"I made this previously, when I had some free time," she explained distractedly, her focus still on the task at hand.
Although this world seems to possess extraordinary powers, the lock of this safe was a normal mechanical locking device, and there was a way to open it, even if complicated.
Lynn observed the scene from the side and didn't bother her. His gaze fixed on the unfolding scene, The calmness emanating from Alice instilled a sense of reliability.
There was also no sense of urgency in the room, they were not in a hurry. The immediate vicinity and the entire floor had been meticulously cleared of any potential threats and dangers.
The hidden room remained serene, devoid of any disturbances, and the only sound that permeated the air was the faint mechanical noise of gears gradually shifting and turning as Alice meticulously worked on the safe.
Lynn stayed quietly in the corner, waiting patiently. He knew better than to disturb her concentration.
After a few minutes, he suddenly heard a metallic click.
Alice smiled slightly and whispered, "It's open."
"So quickly?" Lynn was a bit surprised.
Seeing her impressive skills in lock picking the safe, and thinking of her abilities to find this hidden space by looking at the walls, and the fact that she infiltrated this hospital, Lynn thought to himself:
"If she didn’t tell me she’s a detective, I would have thought she was some kind of thief."
Of course, he didn't say this out loud. Lynn knew better than to voice such careless words.
Alice turned and met his gaze, seeming to sense his unspoken thoughts.
"I'm a detective, this is just part of our training," she said simply, Lynn nodded without saying anything back.
She slowly opened the heavy door, the hinges creaking. Reaching inside, she carefully extracted a stack of documents filled with information and a bunch of letters stamped with a strange symbol - an inverted triangle enclosing a twisted ouroboros snake consuming its own tail.
"Lynn, look at this," Alice said sharply, holding up the letters. "This symbol is associated with the [Cursed Circle]."
"The [Cursed Circle]?" He muttered.
They began reading silently side-by-side, pouring over the documents and letters bearing the symbol of the Cursed Circle. Page after page revealed disturbing details of inhumane experiments conducted on human subjects.
"On November 3rd of the year 1821 in the new era, the calamity source [Distorted Flesh] was successfully obtained, and the research began."
…
"By transplanting a sample of the [Distorted Flesh], the experimental body started to weaken, and a mutation occurred to the transplanted flesh, it began to thrive, nourishing itself by absorbing nutrients from the experimental body until it eventually withered away.”
…
"In the experiment n°54, experimental body n°15 was injected with a Type-S mutation serum derived from the [Distorted Flesh], the serum induced a surge of strength, the body's attributes miraculously exceeded the ordinary limit, but the experimental body lost control within 3 days, the mutation was uncontrollable, causing death.
…
"In the experiment n°68, experimental body n°27 was injected with a Type-D mutation serum, the serum induced a surge of dexterity and agility, the experimental body also started to deform and distort, the arms started to transform into sharp bone blade, but the experimental body lost control within 7 days, the mutation was uncontrollable, causing death. “
…
“In the experimental n°84, a modified and diluted version of the [Distorted Flesh] sample was utilized to formulate a restorative injection. The injection had remarkable and exceptional recuperative outcomes, without any discernible side effects. A large-scale experiment is needed to continue further research.”
…
"In the experimental n°137, experimental body n°64 was injected with an enhanced serum, resulting in a mental mutation. Continuous observation is recommended.”
“Seven days later, the experimental body n°64 completed the mutation, and gained extreme mental attack ability. The mutation state of the experimental body tends to stabilize, and the fourth injection of the serum successfully induced a second mutation."
…
"1822.4.11, Synthesis Report: after merging with the [Distorted Flesh] samples, each experimental body awakens different ability. But the mutant created are prone to lose control and becoming uncontrollable, transforming into distorted undead creatures.
"Research Recommendation: the current probability of successful mutation in experimental subjects is low, and the uncontrollability risk is very high. Other secondary products like the restorative injection have more potential with less risk. It is recommended to upgrade the security level of the calamity source.”
Alice set down the final report with a deep exhale. "This is even worse than I imagined."