I grow stronger by making my wife happy.

Chapter 166: 166:Poison.

Silver took a slow breath before turning the next page. The atmosphere of the journal changed immediately; the handwriting was no longer as elegant as before, several words had been scratched out, ink stains covered portions of the page, as though the author had been writing in a hurry, and even the letters themselves appeared slightly uneven.

Day 124

{Subject 001 has become increasingly aggressive.

Violent tendencies have appeared during routine examinations.

When approached by unfamiliar personnel, his heart rate increases dramatically.

He has attempted to attack the observation glass on three separate occasions; fortunately, the reinforced barrier held.

Some members of the team believe prolonged isolation is affecting his emotional stability.

Others argue the beast instincts are gradually overpowering his humanity.

Personally... I no longer know which explanation frightens me more.}

The archive fell silent once again. Silver slowly closed his eyes for a moment. The optimism that had filled the earlier pages had vanished completely. Every new entry carried a growing sense of dread.

Ravenna quietly folded her arms.

”They still believed they could control him.”

Silver nodded.

”They’d invested too much. They wanted him to succeed.”

He turned another page.

Day 129

{Today’s incident nearly became a tragedy.

During a routine blood collection, Subject 001 suddenly attacked without warning.

Three security personnel were seriously injured before emergency restraints were activated.

Subject 001 repeatedly displayed abilities that should not have been possible.

His adaptability continues exceeding every prediction.

Despite today’s violence... The council has ordered research to continue.

Project 001 remains humanity’s greatest hope.}

Silver frowned.

”They ignored the warning signs.”

”They couldn’t let go,” Ravenna answered quietly. ”They were already too close to success.”

Silver couldn’t disagree. After dedicating years of work, countless resources, and lives, stopping would have been almost impossible.

He continued reading.

The next few pages became shorter, and the handwriting grew increasingly frantic.

Day 136

{Subject refuses verbal communication.}

Day 141

{Displays territorial behaviour.}

Day 145

{Sedatives becoming less effective.}

Day 148

{Additional security approved.}

Every entry became more unsettling than the last. Finally, Silver reached another dated page. Unlike the previous ones, the writing was hurried, and the ink had smeared across several lines.

{Containment failure.

I don’t know how he escaped. One moment everything was normal... The next... The alarms were sounding.}

Silver unconsciously tightened his grip on the journal.

{Subject 001 attacked Laboratory Three.

Two researchers confirmed dead.}

The next sentence had been written with such force that the pen had nearly torn through the paper.

{He... He consumed them.}

The words hung heavily inside the silent archive. Even Silver stopped breathing for a moment. Ravenna’s face had completely lost its color.

”...He...”

She couldn’t finish the sentence. Silver slowly continued.

{Nothing in twenty-seven years of research prepared us for what we witnessed.

He no longer behaves like either man or beast.

He is both and neither.

Something entirely new.}

Silver swallowed quietly.

The researcher had stopped referring to Subject 001 as ”he” in a sympathetic sense. Now, the words carried fear. The next page was noticeably cleaner, almost clinical.

{Emergency sedation successful.

Subject 001 has been rendered unconscious.

Current condition stable.

Transfer preparations underway.}

Silver frowned slightly.

”Transfer?”

Ravenna leaned closer.

”Read the next page.”

He nodded. The following page appeared to have been written by someone else. The handwriting was sharper, more authoritative.

{Termination Request: Denied.

Reason: Subject compatibility exceeds every previous specimen.

Further research deemed invaluable.

Deep Containment has been approved beneath Research Station Seventeen until a final decision is reached by the Joint Alpha Council.

No unauthorized personnel are permitted access.

All records concerning Project 001 are hereby classified at the highest security level.}

Silver slowly lowered the diary.

”...Deep Containment.”

Ravenna stared at him.

”Underneath...”

Silver nodded.

”This station.”

Neither of them spoke for several seconds. Everything suddenly fit together. Research Station Seventeen had never merely been abandoned; something had been sealed beneath it.

Silver carefully turned to the final page. Only one short entry remained. The handwriting was neat once more as though the writer had finally accepted reality.

{Subject 001 remains unconscious.

Construction of the permanent containment chamber has been completed.

May history never remember what we created here.}

That was it. There was no signature or final explanation. Silver slowly closed the journal. The soft thud echoed throughout the archive. Neither he nor Ravenna spoke immediately.

”So...” Ravenna finally whispered. ”They never destroyed him.”

Silver shook his head.

”They couldn’t, not after everything they’d sacrificed.”

He looked toward the shelves surrounding them.

”This place wasn’t abandoned; it was turned into a prison.”

Ravenna’s thoughts drifted back to the earlier document bearing her mother’s name.

”My mother...”

Silver gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

”We still don’t know exactly what her role was. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

She nodded quietly.

”I know. But if she came here, she knew.”

Silver couldn’t deny that. Selena Serenity had visited Project 001 personally. Whether she had supported it or opposed it, they simply didn’t know.

He looked at Ravenna seriously.

”Like I said before. We don’t remove anything mentioning your mother. If these records are discovered missing, whoever buried this secret might realize someone found them.”

Ravenna took one last look at the diary before nodding.

”We leave everything exactly as it was.”

Silver carefully returned the journal to the same place beneath the fallen shelf. He even brushed a thin layer of dust back across the cover to make it appear untouched. Only then did he step back.

Just as he did, footsteps echoed from outside the archive. A moment later, Dillian appeared in the doorway, followed by Cruella, Maya, Selene and Iris.

Dillian immediately noticed their unusually serious expressions.

”...You found something.”

It wasn’t a question. Silver nodded once.

”We did.”

He walked over and handed Dillian the journal.

”We’re fairly certain some pages are missing, but this should explain why the station was sealed.”

Dillian accepted it carefully. His expression grew more serious with every passing second as he glanced over the first few pages. Behind him, the others leaned closer.

”What is it?” Maya asked.

”Research records,” Dillian answered quietly. ”Classified ones.”

Before anyone could say another word, a voice suddenly echoed from somewhere outside the archive.

”Dillian!”

Everyone instantly looked toward the corridor. It was one of the two Association contractors they had left behind to guard the hallway. His voice sounded much tenser than before.

”The footsteps...”

A brief silence followed, then his shout became louder.

”...They’re getting closer!”

Every contractor in the archive instinctively reached for their weapons. The atmosphere that had been heavy with mystery only moments ago transformed into one of immediate danger.

Someone or something was approaching.