While Monique was speaking, a highly advanced Originium vehicle drove toward the location of the Shadow Guards. The plumes of dust kicked up around it made the immense power of the vehicle's engine clear to see. On the side of the car was a logo resembling an infinity symbol, yet right where the lines would normally merge, there was a gap; within the two hollows of the symbol sat a plus and a minus sign.
"Representing that they are just a hair's breadth away from infinity? Interesting," Roy muttered to himself. He watched the symbol, his hand instinctively aiming his bow toward the driver's cabin.
Unfortunately, the glass of the vehicle had undergone special treatment. From such a distance, they couldn't see the driver's face at all. However, the two of them weren't in a hurry; they simply couldn't see the face for the moment. Once the actual meeting began, they would find out exactly what kind of "sacred figure" was inside. They watched as the car passed their position and drove straight toward the soldiers. It seemed the driver hadn't noticed the two individuals hiding on the cliffside.
"They've arrived, then?"
Standing in the center of the Shadow Guards, Wei Yenwu watched the approaching vehicle and murmured to himself. He was somewhat curious: what kind of person would Rhine Lab send? Would it be another individual of the same ilk as this researcher?
As the vehicle neared them, it slowed down significantly, seemingly out of concern that the dust it kicked up might blow into their faces.
"It looks like I can finally go back."
A look of relief appeared on the researcher Donald's face. He could finally leave this sinister city and escape those irritating voices. Ever since that abnormal noise appeared in his head, he had checked his mental state more than once to see if something was wrong with his brain. Although the L.G.D. wouldn't let him go to a hospital, their infirmary equipment was incredibly advanced—some devices were even better than those in Lungmen's public hospitals!
This was thanks to Officer Swire's incredible connections. She had managed to secure investment from a medical enterprise under the Beatrice Foundation, the kind of investment that required absolutely nothing in return. With a wave of her hand, she had replaced all the discarded equipment and provided systematic training for the L.G.D. doctors, significantly lowering the casualty rate of injured officers.
Under the watch of Ch'en and other officers, the researcher had spent nearly three days in the infirmary, almost wanting to "slice himself up" for study. Yet, every result showed he was perfectly healthy—healthier than most ordinary people! There was no reason for those noises to be in his head. Later, he heard the Shadow Guards say it was the vengeful spirits of the Infected he had killed.
To him, "vengeful spirits" were unscientific—nothing more than unconfirmed rumors spread by the Lungmen peasantry! But now, on the verge of returning to Columbia's embrace, he felt immensely comfortable. Even the noise in his brain had diminished. He felt this was the protection of his country; under the "Halo of Science" that was Columbia, those ghosts of Yan could not harm him.
The person who stepped out of the vehicle was a stern, unsmiling Vouivre woman. One hand held a large suitcase, while the other carried a shield emblazoned with the Rhine Lab logo. Aside from her combat uniform, she wore no other decorations, giving the impression that Rhine Lab had paid a high price just to have her act as a walking advertisement. Standing there, she radiated a sense of power and a steadfastness like mountain rock.
This Vouivre gave off an impression of being "hard" just by standing there—as if even her blood were composed of earth and stone. It was clear she was an expert in the secure transport of personnel. The Kazimierzians were likely in for a headache.
"Ms. Saria?" Wei Yenwu displayed a warm attitude. "Though now is perhaps not the time, I still welcome you to Lungmen. When you have time, feel free to visit as a guest."
"I will consider it if I have time. But given my meager vacation days, I'll likely need to save up some annual leave first." Saria exchanged a few pleasantries, though her expression remained unchanged. "Let's stick to business. This is what the company entrusted me to transport. I haven't opened it. You may inspect the contents."
Saria handed the suitcase to Wei Yenwu. It was still sealed with the Rhine Lab company stamp, proving the contents were undamaged. A Shadow Guard took the case and brought it to Wei Yenwu. He personally tore the seal, revealing the true face of the cargo.
Inside were paper documents, a data storage device, and several vacuum-sealed test tubes containing an unknown dark red liquid. This was the price Rhine Lab was willing to pay to get the researcher back. The documents and data were investment contracts and technological data requested by Lungmen—items valuable enough to trade for countless Infected in smaller mobile cities.
However, Wei Yenwu's gaze didn't linger on the trade items; instead, he looked at the "bonus" gift Rhine Lab sent to maintain friendly relations:
Rhine Lab Produced: Fourth-Generation Originium Suppressant.
This was an extremely expensive substance restricted for export by Columbia. It was Rhine Lab's latest research achievement in the field of Oripathy prevention and suppression. It could lower the activity of Originium crystals in an Infected person's body to better suppress the disease. More importantly, it could help non-Infected increase their resistance to contracting Oripathy after blood contact.
Its preciousness came from the import of raw materials. Even Rhine Lab couldn't mass-import one of the specific ingredients—a miraculous medicinal herb said to grow only on the soil of Laterano, with a very low yield. Even the people of Laterano had never heard of such a drug.
The Colombians didn't realize that these twenty gift vials were the core reason Wei Yenwu finally agreed. He needed them to alleviate the illness of a certain person—or perhaps more than one person. Far away, there was another patient who also needed this medicine and held special meaning to him.
"No problem. I trust that as a Columbian company, you wouldn't deceive me over such small matters."
Wei Yenwu didn't inspect the medicine too closely; he didn't want the Vouivre to see how much he valued it. He flipped through the contracts and checked the data device. Though some things were beyond his knowledge, the quantities matched the manifest.
"Then, according to the agreement, I must take the researcher back to Columbia... for trial."
Saria felt a twinge of guilt saying those words. How could a company spend such a fortune to redeem a researcher only to let him go to prison before squeezing every bit of value out of him? But the man should face legal judgment. He had escaped Columbian law once before; could she stand by and watch it happen again?
Saria remembered the last time he caused trouble in Columbia, leading to that riot of weirdly acting Infected. She hadn't been a Director yet, but she had been the one to resolve it. Back then, in her youthful hot-headedness, she had punched him so hard she broke his teeth—and maybe his jaw, too. She couldn't quite remember.