Enamel armor, another application of calcium, made Saria, with this armor, impervious to blades and bullets, truly the Rhine Lab Fist King.
In an instant, Goki felt a threat to his life more severe than facing the God of Burning Wind's full power in Sargon — after all, he had indeed deceived everyone at Rhine Lab.
"I did indeed falsify my identity to infiltrate Rhine Lab and my original purpose was to investigate some things but my feelings for you and Silence and Ifrit are completely genuine believe me!"
His previously cool entrance pose vanished. Goki, with the fastest speech of his life, faster than a certain little squirrel, A-Xiao, who was still in Lungmen and hadn't joined the fire department, sincerely explained himself to Saria.
"...Really?"
Saria's orange eyes narrowed into vertical slits, and her sharp gaze swept over Goki. The department heads around the room retreated a few more steps.
"Of course it's true — isn't our main problem Ifrit right now? Saria, we can talk about this later, for now, let's present a united front, okay?"
"I just think this look suits you better, Goki, you really don't look like a Researcher — I'll ask you about Muelsyse / Muir Sais later."
Saria was not a troublesome person. After glaring at Goki, she turned back to face the Director, while silver-gray mist simultaneously enveloped Goki — the primary and secondary contradictions still needed to be distinguished.
"Actually, the two papers I submitted for my job application were someone else's... But the key issue isn't that, Madam Director, I'm here to take Ifrit away. I just entered your secret warehouse, saw all your experiment records, and... those monsters. I must stop your experiment."
Goki wanted to continue his impassioned speech, telling the Director about the dangers of her experiment, but he didn't expect her to simply nod.
"Ah, I see. Actually, I just wanted to preserve some living samples... Alright, Mr. Goki, you stay, Ifrit can leave as you please — Silence, remember to dress the child properly. Ptilopsis, come help. I only have one key, and since he could enter the core warehouse, you must have helped him, so you are fired from Rhine Lab."
Pressing a button on the operating table, the Director released Ifrit's restraints, much to Silence's somewhat bewildered expression.
"...Eh?"
"Hmm?"
Inside and outside the operating room, Silence and Ptilopsis both tilted their heads in surprise — the Director was so agreeable?
No, actually, upon careful reflection, people in their positions didn't really have a say with the Director. Only Saria knew the Director's personality.
"I told you, Saria, my goal is only to prepare for future disasters. Saria, whether you want to escape or hide, you will all face this disaster in the future — I've seen too many people go mad and die because of these Great Ones. We must act."
The Director maintained her elegant smile and extended her hand to Goki.
"If I'm not mistaken, that power from the umbilical cord belongs to you, Mr. Goki, join me, we can fight for Terra together. My knowledge, and your unique power — we can avert this crisis."
For the Director, the experiment on the Sarkaz subject Ifrit was merely a last resort born of helplessness. Only Sarkaz could withstand the power of the moonlight; even the more powerful Dragon Clan and Draco could not.
"I remember, your Originium Arts unleash flames — just as I expected, your power can withstand the authority of other gods, because you hunted the Fire God in Sargon, which is why Ifrit successfully executed the Ifrit Project, is that right?"
And now... a stronger, more perfect sample had appeared before the Director. Ifrit... was no longer as important.
The Director lacked the compassion of Saria and Silence; she didn't care for her experimental subjects. She considered herself a cold and unempathetic person.
However, the words her teacher taught her, the Director still kept in mind, preventing her from allowing Saria, that stubborn diamond-head, into Rhine Lab.
All the other department heads hated her, so why not just fire them? Columbia's research companies were always ruthless, and forced dismissals had specialized lawyers to push compensation to the lowest possible amount.
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