Homo Sapiens

After passing through layers of checkpoints, the three of them finally entered the core area of the research base.

To ensure security and prepare for any eventuality, Li Qingye was already planning to open a second secret research base and was currently looking for a suitable location.

After all, the research base on Kalaqua Island had been built by Xinhai Company, and its existence wasn’t much of a secret in Luzon. Once Homo Sapiens Company became famous, all sorts of unsavory characters would surely target it.

Preparations for the second secret base could not be delayed. This time, he planned to use the pretext of an upgrade and expansion to acquire enough research equipment, then have his own people build the second secret base to reduce the possibility of leaks.

And Chen Jianxiong was a suitable candidate to take charge. After all, the Soldiers’ management skills were too poor; they could only handle simple, crude tasks.

Expecting a Soldier to lead the creation of a secret base from scratch was obviously too much to ask.

Take the Soldier, Jose, for example. Li Qingye had assigned him to the finance department, updating his database beforehand and adding numerous program functions related to finance, economics, and mathematics.

Even so, Jose could only manage the finance department rigidly, following the framework left behind by Fang Xincheng.

Fortunately, Li Qingye didn’t need him to cook the books or evade taxes. With the assistance of the other natural human employees, things could keep running. It was just that Jose only ever followed procedures and was incapable of flexible thinking.

This was also why Li Qingye wanted to recruit a natural human like Chen Jianxiong, as the adaptability of natural humans was something the Soldiers were currently incapable of.

As they walked, they passed a room labeled [Training Room].

Chen Jianxiong noticed two staff members with stiff expressions, rigidly practicing their etiquette.

’These people are so strange. Why do they feel so lifeless?’ Chen Jianxiong thought to himself.

Suddenly, a man in a security uniform approached. After saluting the boss, he brushed past Chen Jianxiong and entered the training room.

’Huh? Why does this person look so familiar?’ Chen Jianxiong quickly racked his brain. Suddenly, his pupils contracted. ’It’s him. I think he was among the East Japanese who visited Li Jinglan. But why is he here? And the way he looks is just too strange. Could it be...’

Another thought quickly surfaced.

Li Jinglan’s death...

The appearance of the East Japanese...

The biological research...

”You saw him, I take it. That guy met with Manager Li before. He’s one of East Japan’s corporate spies. He’s lucky, though. He was modified a bit, but at least he’s still alive, isn’t he?”

Li Qingye, walking ahead, explained this nonchalantly, as if discussing something utterly trivial.

Chen Jianxiong, however, trembled as a chill shot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

They arrived outside another room.

Li Qingye gently pushed open the door. On hospital beds lay three people with vacant stares. Their heads had been shaved, revealing a faint circular scar on each.

”A while ago, Manager Li was working with the East Japanese to attract investment for Homo Sapiens Company, so I just played along.”

”What happened to them?” Chen Jianxiong asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Li Qingye smiled, but his answer was indirect. ”In America, a type of surgery was popular last century called a prefrontal lobotomy. It could treat mental illness, but of course, the side effect was the loss of all emotion and desire.”

GULP! Chen Jianxiong’s fear intensified. He was starting to regret his decision. But now that he had seen all this, he knew Li Qingye would never allow him to leave Homo Sapiens Company.

”Don’t worry, I wouldn’t use such methods on my own people.”

Even so, Chen Jianxiong was still terrified.

”However, for the sake of trust, it will be necessary to install a little security measure. I assume you won’t refuse?”

Looking at Phil standing by with a pistol, Chen Jianxiong felt utterly hopeless and nodded. ”Boss, I... I agree.”

Li Qingye patted his shoulder. ”I knew you were a smart man.”

Soon, Chen Jianxiong was anesthetized and taken into an operating room.

First, a craniotomy was performed to embed a bio-chip into his skull. It was then connected to various biological functional units and his neurons.

This bio-chip was largely the same as those used in the Soldiers. The main difference was its core program, which was named [Manager].

In reality, the Manager program was primarily for assistance, but it had hidden functions: monitoring the host, forcibly paralyzing the host, and even killing the host.

In addition to implanting the bio-chip, Li Qingye also injected Chen Jianxiong with [Gu Insect - Malaria Parasite Type 2]. This parasite could lie dormant in a human body for ten years.

It could be activated by a special pheromone. As soon as the host’s body came into contact with this specific pheromone, the genetically modified Malaria Parasite would rapidly destroy the host’s brain.

This pheromone could be transmitted through the air and enter the human body via cutaneous respiration, with an effective radius of about 3,000 meters.

Paired with a Pheromone Hive model bio-computer, it could essentially achieve control within a small radius.

Even if Chen Jianxiong managed to disable the overt bio-chip and its Manager program, the genetically modified Malaria Parasite in his body would still serve as a backup, ready to deliver a fatal blow.

「Two days later.」

When Chen Jianxiong woke up on the hospital bed, he found that his head had been shaved and there were some barely perceptible wounds on his scalp.

He knew his brain had been tampered with, but what could he do? He felt utterly hopeless and could only grit his teeth and accept reality.

Li Qingye, holding a test report, said, ”Awake? You can now mentally recite the numbers 866721. That’s the activation password for your Manager program. You’re going to love it.”

866721?

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, and an interface resembling a computer screen materialized in his vision.

This was neural virtual imaging technology. The bio-chip connected to the optic nerve cells and sent simulated signals, tricking the brain into thinking the eyes were seeing something.

In reality, there was no virtual screen in the air before Chen Jianxiong; it was all just the bio-chip deceiving his brain.

After fiddling with the interface, Chen Jianxiong was stunned. This technology was clearly beyond anything he could have imagined.

The Manager program’s auxiliary functions were extensive, including abilities like [Photographic Memory], [Assisted Calculation], [Data Retrieval], [Data Entry], [Combat Avatar], [Sensory Block], and [Engineer].

With the Manager program augmenting his natural human flexibility, Chen Jianxiong’s overall capabilities would become exceptionally versatile.

However, this was not without its drawbacks.

For instance, the moment the thought of taking Li Qingye hostage crossed his mind, his body instantly went rigid.

Li Qingye, who was standing nearby, saw Chen Jianxiong stiffen and offered a meaningful reminder, ”Don’t get any funny ideas. Like I said, I don’t move against my own people. You wouldn’t want to become one of the mindless Soldiers, would you?”

”Thank you for the reminder, Boss.” Chen Jianxiong immediately backed down.

In truth, he had just gotten a bit carried away after gaining his new abilities. Now, he was completely clear-headed and recognized the reality of his situation.

Besides, with Li Qingye possessing such powerful technology, his future was practically limitless. By following him, his own prospects wouldn’t be too shabby either.

Once he thought it through, the world suddenly seemed full of possibilities.