Chapter 168: Taboo Experiment
Chapter 168: Taboo Experiment
“Yes, but evolution is merely one direction.”
“What we’re discussing now should be considered an upgrade and enhancement of abilities.”
Han Bing, speaking over the phone, remained unaware of the faint emotional shift in Lu Xin. From his tone, she only sensed mild surprise. Her voice gentle and soft, she continued explaining:
“Enhancing Ability Users’ powers through various methods, even helping them push past their limits to safely and stably unleash their abilities, has always been the primary focus of the major Highwall Cities and the Research Institute. Significant progress has already been made.”
“If the first stage centered on guidance, then the second stage is about breakthrough.”
“Researchers have long observed that though currently discovered Ability Users possess varied abilities, those who are stable generally maintain a Psychic Magnitude below 1,000. Whereas unstable ones—those exhibiting signs of madness—often undergo certain mutations in their Psychic Magnitude. Some far exceed 1,000, others… remain unpredictable.”
“…”
Lu Xin’s mind suddenly recalled the Queen of Happy Town. How high must her Psychic Magnitude have been?
Under normal circumstances, even while dormant, her Psychic Magnitude could steadily blanket the entire small town, distorting the fifty-square-kilometer area into a Forbidden Zone. Post-analysis led Lu Xin to suspect she might even twist daylight into night—when he entered the town, it should have been day, yet it felt like night.
And if the Happy Town Queen possessed such immense Psychic Magnitude, what about his own family…
…
…
“So, the earliest experiment involved elevating the Psychic Magnitude of stable Ability Users beyond 1,000…”
Here, Han Bing paused slightly. “Mr. Lone Soldier, what I’m about to share next concerns highly classified and controversial matters. I request your confidentiality. Also… please steady your emotions.”
Lu Xin understood her implication and remained silent for a while.
After a long pause, he chuckled lightly. “I’ve steadied myself.”
His response surprised her, but she continued: “This kind of enhancement experiment is now classified as a Taboo Experiment by Alliance law and expressly forbidden. Yet, it’s undeniable that these experiments were widespread during a certain period in the past…”
“In that era of Chaos and lawlessness, many with the means launched such experiments—even…”
“…without an ounce of restraint!”
“…”
Lu Xin nodded mutely, his face expressionless.
Han Bing hesitated before adding, “The outcomes for those enhanced subjects varied widely.”
“Some who were once stable lost control post-enhancement, becoming Sources of Contamination.”
“Others showed no adverse changes; their abilities simply improved steadily.”
“And there was another kind…”
Han Bing’s tone grew heavier: “Those who, upon breaking through their limit, ascended to an entirely new stratum. Not only did their original abilities amplify dramatically, but they also gained entirely new powers. Their might diverged completely from other users in their system—like a Spider-Type ordinarily maxing at B-grade, yet leaping straight to S-grade after enhancement…”
“These are the earliest recorded details of the ‘Second Stage’ research experiments.”
“…”
After Han Bing finished, Lu Xin remained quiet for a very long time.
It was a bright afternoon; sunlight streamed through the window.
But Lu Xin felt a faint headache.
Only after quite a while did he ask, “What about the current ‘Second Stage’?”
“Through collating research data, theoretical modeling, and extensive experimentation, this enhancement approach has now spread across major Highwall Cities. Even though the Alliance repeatedly warned against it and sought to halt the research… the actual outcome was negligible…”
Han Bing spoke slowly. “I can now tell you, Mr. Lone Soldier—such experimentation has even matured.”
“Here in Qinggang, we possess the means to perform such enhancements.”
“…”
The sunlight spilled across the conference table, appearing grainy and murky—not bright, yet disturbingly harsh.
Lu Xin furrowed his brows, asking quietly, “Also… using human subjects?”
“No.”
At this point, Han Bing’s voice gained a trace of confidence. “Qinggang City’s overall research on Ability Users and Sources of Contamination is led by Professor Bai. He arrived in Qinggang when the city was founded and set key ethical boundaries from the outset. Therefore, Qinggang never engaged in those reckless Taboo Experiments…”
Here, she seemed to catch her firm tone, softening as she added, “Of course, I’m just a junior staff member. Higher-level matters may exist beyond my knowledge. But at least… this is codified in Qinggang law.”
“…”
“So you mean…” Lu Xin responded deliberately slowly, “… if they did conduct such experiments… it would be illegal?”
“Yes. Illegal. And punishable.”
Han Bing spoke evenly. “To my knowledge, the concept of the ‘Second Stage’ in Qinggang was introduced by Professor Bai from an Alliance symposium. Relevant data was primarily salvaged from Forbidden Laboratories destroyed during the time of the chaotic experiments. Those Taboo Experiments are detested, yet many valuable findings did emerge from them…”
“It can’t be denied that Qinggang has conducted certain experiments… but always adhering to principles of voluntariness and non-aggression…”
“…and again, I stress this based on my limited access as a junior member.”
“…”
Listening to Han Bing’s soft yet earnest voice, Lu Xin gradually felt himself relax a bit.
He turned in his chair, deliberately avoiding the view outside the window.
Then he quietly asked, “So how exactly is Qinggang City’s Second Stage being carried out?”
“First, attaining sufficient rank is essential.”
Han Bing replied, “Only Ability Users who have reached the level of Tier-Three Special Talent are eligible to apply for the Second Stage enhancement. It’s designed to augment their abilities and shore up weaknesses. But merely applying isn’t enough; the Research Institute must also screen the applicants.”
“Truthfully, enhancing psychic abilities is like building with blocks.”
“Simply increasing the Psychic Magnitude isn’t the primary focus. The real point of advancement is ensuring the Ability User’s stability even as their Psychic Magnitude grows, just like building blocks—no matter how high you stack them, it all becomes pointless if they tumble down!”
“Therefore, we assess an Ability User’s Risk of Loss of Control. Stability is the most critical screening criterion.”
“…”
“Stability?”
Lu Xin listened, furrowing his brows slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
Reaching this point, Han Bing appeared to relax a bit, her voice lightening as she smiled, “Actually, although we’ve mastered the Second Stage ability enhancement technology for some time now, in Qinggang City, the number of Ability Users who’ve undergone the enhancement is less than one hand can count. And among those Mr. Lone Soldier personally knows, really only one person currently meets the qualifications for the Second Stage enhancement…”
“That is Mr. Gecko.”
“…”
“Him?”
This time, Lu Xin was genuinely surprised.
“Yes.”
Han Bing chuckled softly, “Mr. Gecko is recognized by the entire research department as the most stable Ability User they have ever encountered.”
“Stable abilities can be interpreted as offering immense room for growth.”
“…”
Lu Xin pondered for a moment and found himself nodding in agreement, “He is quite stable… Then why hasn’t he undergone the enhancement?”
“Because Mr. Gecko is very cautious…”
Han Bing’s voice held unmasked amusement, “He’s stated more than once that he’s perfectly content as he is now—living well, enjoying the privileges he always dreamed of, and handling Sources of Contamination with relative ease. So he absolutely refuses to consider any enhancement… He even threatens to report to The Alliance if the city tries to pressure him…”
“…”
“That sounds just like him…”
Lu Xin inwardly nodded slightly and let out a soft sigh.
The vague sense of annoyance and revulsion he’d felt earlier had quietly faded.
Thinking it over carefully, he wasn’t entirely sure himself—was his disgust aimed at the “Second Stage,” or the “Taboo Experiment”?
Regardless, he now understood the concept of the Second Stage and Qinggang City’s stance towards it.
This reminded him of what Mother had told him at home.
She’d said he could only look at the file locked in the cabinet after reaching the Second Stage.
Was that because she knew he would inevitably reach it… or because she hoped he would never look at that file?
And as for himself…
…should he just continue like this… or should he figure out his own current state?
…
…
Tap, tap, tap…
Lu Xin was silent, his fingers unconsciously drumming a slow rhythm on the desktop.
After a long period of careful thought, he finally reached an extremely important decision. His expression turned resolute:
“Please apply for the Second Stage enhancement for me.”
“…”
There was a moment of silence on the phone.
Han Bing didn’t speak, and Lu Xin, on this end, remained quiet too, utterly serious in this moment.
“Well…”
It felt like quite a while passed before Han Bing’s voice, tinged with a smile, finally broke the silence, “I’m sorry, Mr. Lone Soldier… but no, you can’t.”
“Huh?”
Her refusal was unexpected, completely taking Lu Xin by surprise.
“Because Mr. Lone Soldier hasn’t reached the required rank…”
A hint of mischief was audible in Han Bing’s voice as she explained, “Applying for the Second Stage enhancement requires being a Tier-Three Special Talent.”
“You are only Tier-Two right now…oh…”