After speaking, Gao Renli fell silent. Ethan didn't rush him.
Instead of pressuring him, he refocused on what was important: the experiment.
The second subject, another bandit, was next on the list. The administration of the D-Serum went smoothly, and for a moment, everything seemed to follow the same pattern.
The man's eyes became bloodshot, glowing with an unnatural intensity, and the same invisible pressure they had already experienced filled the room. The air became heavy. A beastly presence emanated from the subject's body as his breathing became erratic.
Then, like an echo, the agonizing howl echoed through the entire lab.
But, just like the previous time, it was fleeting.
Once the effect wore off, everything returned to calm. Vital signs dropped, and the body fell into a deep state of exhaustion.
But the next subject, a condemned fraudster, showed no abnormal effects. His response was almost what they had initially expected.
In the end, his red eyes still created a feeling in the others, but it wasn't as deep, and the howl they were expecting didn't happen.
Ethan squinted, thoughtful.
"There should be a trigger," he murmured, quickly ordering.
Something that activated or amplified the effects of the compound… but it still eluded him. AION needed more data, more samples.
"AION, add a note: need for comparative genetic analysis and review of emotional state during serum activation. Possible link between adrenaline, prior trauma, or psychological disposition," he ordered softly.
[Logged] AION responded immediately.
Three subjects. Two Anomalies. One Standard response.
The D-Serum worked… but it was still a mystery on too many levels.
And without knowing the long-term effects, Ethan knew he was walking a tightrope.
During that time, the first subject began to regain consciousness. AION performed a full scan of his vital signs. The results were… promising. No physiological anomalies, except for what was expected: extreme fatigue, overload of the nervous system, and evident signs of metabolic stress. Nothing lethal.
Everything seemed within the calculated parameters.
[Stable], AION confirmed in its mental interface. [Recommendation: immediate rest. Functional capacity: 32%. Collapse risk: low.]
That was enough.
At least for now, the D-Serum seemed safe for use with the Vespers. Sure, not as a permanent enhancement… but as a trump card. An emergency resource. Its power was evident, but its limits and consequences were yet to be defined.
"This isn't a solution… it's insurance," Ethan murmured to himself, as he wrote down the results. "And like all insurance, it should only be used when everything else fails."
AION agreed with that assessment, but there was one variable that still unsettled him.
A key piece was missing: a trigger.
"It needs deeper investigation… for now, I'll let them rest."
Ethan murmured these words with a cold calm, but at the same time, his mind continued to work at a frantic pace, processing every data point, every second that passed.
Finally, directing his gaze to Shen Bao, who was standing in a corner, watching everything attentively. "Keep them under surveillance until the new experiment. I don't want surprises."
Shen Bao nodded without saying a word, as always. He turned quickly, ready to follow the orders without hesitation.
Ethan remained still for a moment, lost in thought.
What he needed was more data. More understanding. And for that, he had to go back to the beginning. The D Compound present in the samples from the lizard… he had to create a D-Serum with the lizard's compound and see the differences.
Gao Renli, who had been silently observing, finally looked up.
Ethan looked at him steadily.
"Have you decided?" Ethan asked.
Gao Renli took a deep breath, letting out a sigh.
"I'm a man condemned to death… I have no right to decide. But…" His voice stopped for a moment, "If what you say is true… if there really is a chance to create such a world… I would like to use my life to make that world a reality."
A heavy silence filled the room. Ethan watched him, his eyes revealing no emotion, but inside, a spark of satisfaction shone.
Ethan smiled faintly, and without wasting time, he gestured to a Vesper, who approached and untied the chains still binding Gao Renli. A small gesture, but full of meaning. A symbol of acceptance.
"Welcome to Astralis," Ethan said, his words firm, almost ceremonial.
The future was in motion.
Everything seemed to be going in the right direction. Days passed without the black iron mine suffering any further attacks. The Xuan family seemed to have withdrawn to seclusion.
After this confirmation, he focused on his next step: continuing with the mining.
Ethan organized the hiring of a group of workers.
The plan was simple: get the black iron mine up and running, but he needed a group of people capable of handling the workload, willing to commit for an extended period. However, as expected, many of the workers did not show enthusiasm at the idea. The requirement to be away from home for so long made many hesitate. The uncertainty about the work conditions and the inherent danger of a mine made doubts take hold of many, and it wasn't hard to understand why.
But Ethan knew how to play with incentives. He had promised high wages, enough to tempt the men and women. For those with families, Ethan went even further. He decided to pay three months of salary in advance, which would ensure their loved ones could be supported during their absence. That promise, that financial security, proved to be a decisive factor. Many workers who had originally hesitated changed their minds and accepted the offer. Even those who had initially been distrustful of the idea fell for the appeal of such a generous salary.
Within a few days, the group was formed, and the operations of the black iron mine began. However, not everything was as straightforward as Ethan had anticipated. The extraction of iron turned out to be more difficult than expected.
The extraction rate wasn't as anticipated. Traditional mining tools were inadequate. The difficulty of extracting the ore in the quantities Ethan wanted was nearly impossible.
After some reflection and analysis, Ethan realized he couldn't remain stuck with current methods. Mining technology was still beyond his reach due to the materials at hand, and the current tools couldn't achieve the desired results.
He needed a more effective and faster solution. That's when he recalled the idea that had been forming in his mind for some time: nitroglycerin.
Dynamite, primarily composed of nitroglycerin, had been one of the most revolutionary inventions of its time. Although highly unstable and dangerous, dynamite had been widely used in mining due to its ability to break large volumes of earth with relative ease. Over the years, the danger posed by nitroglycerin had been controlled by mixing it with absorbent materials, making it safer to handle.
In the history of dynamite, Alfred Nobel, its inventor, mixed nitroglycerin with diatomaceous earth to stabilize it. But Ethan knew that other equally effective absorbent materials existed, such as cellulose, wood dust, charcoal, or even bamboo fibers.
Ethan knew that dynamite could be the answer he so desperately needed. Despite its instability, controlled explosions could greatly accelerate the extraction of ore. Safety was paramount, not only for the workers who would be handling the material but also for the underground workshop team that would manage the mixture.
Dynamite, although powerful, couldn't be used lightly, and he knew that, which was why he had put it aside before. But for non-combat uses, it was a good idea. With the necessary precautions, the reward outweighed the risks. If he could stabilize the mixture effectively, it could drastically change the pace of the mine's operations.
In the following days, Ethan worked on creating a prototype using nitroglycerin and available absorbent materials in his underground workshop. Each mix, each combination of materials, was carefully evaluated. Fortunately, with the help of AION and its knowledge, he managed to stabilize the mixture enough to use it in a controlled manner in the mine.
The first experiment with dynamite was a success. The explosion, contained in the proper space, allowed the workers to extract a much greater amount of ore, significantly increasing the mine's output. Although the risks were still present, the control over the dynamite made it more manageable. As the days passed, safety protocols were established, and dynamite became an essential part of the mining operation.
Note: I sincerely apologize for the delay in uploading the chapter and for my absence since Wednesday. I've been busy this week dealing with some paperwork at the tax office and haven't had time to write. However, today I'm bringing you four chapters, the two from Wednesday and the two for today. Once again, sorry for the delay, and thank you for your patience.