"You are in pain, aren't you? Since anesthetics don't work on you, we can only use physical anesthesia. Don't worry, you won't die… probably."
Banner stood beside him, swinging an iron rod with a rather terrifying expression.
"Wait, Doctor! I can endure it!" The test subject's eyes widened in terror, immediately pleading for mercy.
"Really?" Banner looked at him, half-skeptical.
"Really, really!"
The test subject nodded repeatedly, sweat pouring down his forehead. If he hits me with that, my brains will splatter everywhere!
After a moment of hesitation, Banner put down the rod. The noise outside was still ongoing, irritating him. He angrily threw open the door and shouted,
"Shut up! Whoever is making noise, this is my last warning before I finish his treatment!"
Silence fell instantly. Everyone became so quiet that they didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.
But as Banner finished shouting, his gaze landed on an unexpected figure.
"Young Master, what brings you here?"
"I came to check on the progress of your research. But Banner… when was the last time you slept?"
Chino looked at the dark circles under Banner's eyes with concern.
"Sleep? I rested for two hours… thirty-eight hours ago. I feel fine. Even if I died, I would revive in perfect condition." Banner dismissed the concern indifferently.
No wonder he's been so irritable lately.
Chino shook his head helplessly and then glanced at the injured personnel beside him.
"What happened to them?"
"Young Master, these are the recruits Frank brought in. Since their bodies were too damaged for training, he sent them to me for experimentation."
Worried that Chino might disapprove of human experimentation, Banner quickly added,
"They all volunteered. Also, my experiments are completely safe. There is no risk of death."
The recruits hurried to confirm his words.
"Young Master, Dr. Banner is telling the truth. We volunteered!"
"Yes, Young Master! If there's a chance to regain our bodies, we're willing to take the risk!"
"We trust Dr. Banner, and we trust the organization to give us a new life!"
Their voices overlapped as they eagerly expressed their willingness. Their determined expressions showed that they had long made up their minds.
They knew exactly who they were working for. A Demon Lord? That didn't matter to them. If they could regain their bodies, they would do anything—even sell their souls.
They had suffered enough.
The betrayal of their wives—women who once swore eternal love, only to leave them after they became crippled, their backs cold and indifferent.
The sorrow of their parents—the pain and helplessness in their eyes cutting into their hearts like daggers.
The mockery of friends and relatives—the sharp voices of ridicule still echoing in their minds.
The disgust of their own children—once treasures in their eyes, now looking at them with fear and contempt.
What did their past achievements matter?
Medals and honors meant nothing when faced with the harsh reality of their ruined bodies. Life's struggles would not ease simply because they had once been heroes.
Chino pressed his palm down lightly, and the room instantly quieted. He smiled at them in a reassuring manner.
"Relax. I never said I was against human experimentation. I understand your pain."
His voice was calm yet firm.
"Believe me, you will find a new life here. As long as you serve me well, I will grant you power, longevity, wealth, and health—all of it."
Hope ignited in the recruits' eyes as they looked at Chino.
"Young Master, we will serve you with all our hearts! We won't disappoint you!"
Chino nodded in satisfaction. He wasn't particularly skilled in manipulative speech, but he didn't need to be—he could offer them something real.
"Alright. You may leave for now. I need to discuss something with Banner. This experiment was a success. Soon, everyone will be restored to their original state."
"Yes, Young Master!"
The recruits saluted him and turned to leave.
"Take that guy with you," Banner called after them. "Once his leg fully heals, have him come back to me."
At his words, a man with half his face burned and another missing an arm stepped into the lab. They picked up the injured test subject and carried him out.
"Garcia! Veran! Be gentle! Don't damage my precious little foot!"
"Why are you silent? Are you upset because I won the lottery draw against you?"
"Wait… where are you taking me? That's not the way to the dormitory!"
The test subject's panicked protests faded as he was dragged away.
Once everyone had left, Banner led Chino and Ra's al Ghul into the lab, eager to show off his success.
"Young Master, in these past few months, I have developed three different types of serums."
His eyes gleamed with excitement as he picked up a syringe.
"The first one is the Enhancement Serum. Theoretically, an injection should increase physical strength by two to three times. Beyond that, it causes side effects like aggression and bloodlust."
Banner picked up a small white mouse and skillfully injected a few drops of a red serum before placing it into a high-strength glass chamber.
Inside the chamber, another mouse sat quietly in the corner. This one was noticeably larger than the newly introduced mouse.
Chino watched closely. The injected mouse first appeared restless, scurrying around the chamber while scratching at the walls with tiny claws, producing faint squeaking sounds.
Then, its body gradually began to grow. The once-thin frame became noticeably bulkier.
Finally, it settled down, calmly occupying a separate corner from the original mouse without any conflict.
Banner then picked up another mouse and injected it with a slightly larger dose. This one was placed into a separate glass chamber.
At first, it seemed fine. But after a few seconds, its body began to expand at an alarming rate.
Then, its demeanor changed—it became aggressive. It dashed frantically around the chamber, slamming into the walls, gnawing at the glass with razor-sharp teeth, and emitting high-pitched, blood-curdling squeaks. Its eyes turned bloodshot, wild with fury.
"This mouse has achieved approximately four times its original strength," Banner explained with some regret. "Beyond this level, no further enhancements occur unless a new formula is introduced."
He grabbed an electric baton and carefully inserted it into the chamber.
The crazed mouse didn't notice the impending danger and continued its rampage.
The moment the baton made contact, a surge of electricity passed through the mouse. It convulsed violently before collapsing, lifeless.
"I will take care of the formula adjustments," Chino said. "But once injected, will future versions of the serum be compatible?"
"There won't be any issues," Banner assured him. "The main ingredient is extracted from the Lazarus Pit. As long as the core component remains unchanged, rejection reactions will be minimal."
"However, if the recipient's physique is too powerful, this serum won't be effective. It's only useful for ordinary people."
Quote of the Chapter:
"Power given freely is a gift; power earned is a weapon."
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