Chapter 128: Wakatsuki’s Invitation (Requesting Subscriptions)

First came the handguns. The projectiles, capable of snuffing out human life in an instant, merely sparked harmlessly against the creature’s hide. It did not even exhibit the tension one might expect from a creature facing danger.

Then came the rifles. Thanks to the robust facilities of Guhai Pharmaceutical Laboratory, the gunfire—which would have shattered human eardrums in such a cramped, enclosed space—sounded muffled from behind the glass. Yet, the surging tongues of flame erupting from the barrels and the golden casings piling up on the floor were enough to make those unaccustomed to weaponry feel their hearts race and cold sweat bead on their brows.

But even with bullets firing at supersonic muzzle velocities, the immense kinetic energy only forced the monster to tense its body and emit a low growl. As for injuries? If the white scuff marks on its skin counted, then perhaps.

It wasn't until the various models of sniper rifles were brought into play that things changed.

"Bang!"

The creature’s body was knocked backward by the sheer force of the impact, slamming against the iron cage. It seemed finally provoked by a genuine life-or-death crisis. Roaring, it began to thrash madly, battering the cage with its sharp limbs and tail. The cage, bolted to the floor, transmitted this ferocious power through the structure, and even the most oblivious visitor could feel the tremor beneath their feet.

The monster erupted with a startling ferocity. Under its desperate struggle, it managed to bend the bars of the cage—the same bars that had withstood rifle fire without a scratch. The cage, forged from aerospace titanium, gradually deformed under the repeated impacts. Its tail whipped outside the bars, screeching against the metal.

At this moment, Guhai, looking portly and composed, appeared quite experienced. He said calmly, "Experiment concluded."

No sooner had he spoken than a gunshot rang out, so deafening that even those outside the glass had to cover their ears. The monster’s body was blown off the ground like a ragdoll before crashing uselessly back down. It twitched for a long while before finally falling still.

"That was..." the representative of the arms conglomerate stammered.

"Indeed, the XM-109 anti-materiel sniper rifle. Operated by a top-tier sniper, it is a guaranteed headshot at this distance. Yet, even so, it struggled for a full two minutes after being struck before dying," Guhai said placidly. "This is the result of the crudest fusion of Godzilla cells with human biology."

After the viewing, Guhai did not lead the crowd deeper into the facility. Instead, he began soliciting investments right there on the spot. Everyone present either represented companies with technical reserves rivaling national laboratories or organizations with immense operational power across the globe. Some were even the benefactors behind sovereign regimes.

Soliciting investment required more than just capital; it required the resources they held. If it were merely a shortage of funds, the United States—the patron of this research—could simply fire up the printing presses. There would be no need to share the spoils with others.

In truth, Guhai did not need to oversell. Beyond the specimen's ability to withstand sniper fire, the mere promise of eradicating all diseases and extending human lifespan by 150 years was enough to make the pharmaceutical representatives want to press their faces against the glass.

Following a brief sales pitch, the group exchanged pleasantries and dispersed. Several elderly representatives even had to quicken their pace to return to their cars for their medication. Since Godzilla’s emergence, the world had changed too drastically for these pampered old men.

As Shirado Kyo walked out of the main entrance with his master and Saeko, his phone buzzed. A text message from Wakatsuki Takeshi appeared on the screen.

"Oh?" Shirado Kyo gave a playful smile. "I knew something that could make Wakatsuki say 'interesting' wouldn't be this boring."

"Kyo, aren't you leaving?" Saeko, already standing by the car, opened the door and tilted her head, her curiosity evident. The grandeur of her chest inadvertently left two alluring imprints against the car window.

Shirado Kyo wiped the corner of his mouth unnoticed and put on a serious expression. "Go ahead with Master. Wakatsuki wants to see me."

With that, he turned and headed back toward the laboratory entrance. Takeumoto Hisayasu, who had already settled into the car, climbed back out with a strange expression.

"Uncle Takeumoto?"

"Well, Saeko. I think now that the disaster has subsided for a month, it’s time for me to return to the Takeumoto-style dojo."

Saeko was stunned for a moment before her beautiful phoenix eyes crinkled into a smile. "Your sudden sense of duty is a great help."

The burly old man laughed heartily to cover his awkwardness, then hitched a ride with the Katahara convoy and vanished in a flash.

Re-entering the laboratory, Shirado Kyo found Wakatsuki waiting for him.

"Yo! It’s been a month, hasn't it, Wakatsuki?"

"It has been quite a while. Come with me."

The calm, blond giant offered a friendly smile. He led Shirado Kyo past the corridor they had just exited and headed deeper into the facility.

"Is this okay? Bringing an outsider like me in here?" Shirado Kyo walked with his hands in his pockets, looking entirely at ease. There was no sign of the tension one might expect while walking through a human experimentation lab.

"No, it’s fine," Wakatsuki replied, leading the way with a shake of his head. "Even if you hadn't come in today, we would have invited you in a few days' time."

A sharp, handsome smile curled the corners of Shirado Kyo’s mouth. Inviting him? What did a sixteen-year-old, non-enrolled Tokyo University student have that was worth noting? He ruled out assets first. Although he had agreed with Katahara Metsudo and Nogi Hideki to consolidate the logistics and warehousing industries in Japan, that hadn't even materialized yet—and even if it had, what would that be to the powers behind this lab?

Was it the skill he displayed during the Kengan Annihilation Tournament?

It seemed their experiments required human fighters of exceptional caliber. But they were "inviting" him, not forcing him. That meant they weren't desperate—at least, not desperate enough to move against him while he held a position as a Vice Chairman of the Kengan Association.

This was getting interesting. The young man nodded to himself.

Soon, they reached the end of the corridor—the exact location of the observation window Guhai had kept the crowd away from earlier. Shirado Kyo glanced over, and his footsteps faltered.

He saw Dr. Hanafusa, who had also participated in the Kengan Annihilation Tournament, standing before an operating table. A delicate-looking girl was strapped down. Her face was tear-streaked, and she watched Hanafusa approach with despair. As she struggled, the leather straps binding her pulled her body into elegant curves.

She was screaming with all her might. She didn't look like a beautiful woman so much as a live fish struggling on a cutting board. The glass provided excellent soundproofing, but the sheer, concentrated despair and panic of the scene were enough to strike the heart of any observer.

As the lead surgeon, Hanafusa showed no hesitation despite his patient being a fragile woman. Instead, his eyes glinted with eager excitement. With a solemn and reverent expression, he picked up a large glass jar from the side, as if it were a sacred idol. Inside the yellowish liquid within the jar lay a piece of tissue resembling reptile skin. It appeared thin, yet it rested heavily at the bottom of the vessel.

"Let's go."

Wakatsuki swiped a card against what looked like a blank wall at the end of the corridor and called for the elevator. Shirado Kyo followed in silence.