[Not even in the experimental data regarding the transplant of the projects' special abilities into humans?]0
Staring at the line of Chinese characters that appeared on the screen, Charles' extended hand froze in mid-air.0
Did the Foundation really crack the secret behind the relics? They actually manage to do it?0
Charles was very clear about the implication behind the message. It meant that relics that were previously unexplainable by science could now be explained. It also meant that the Foundation had fully grasped the concept surrounding it and had the power to apply it to other things.0
198 responded in an unhurried manner.0
[:) Don't doubt it. It took three years and four months after the completion of Experiment Dawn. Dr. D4 and his research team finally had their first successful experiment.]0
Charles' brows subconsciously furrowed together as he read the new message on the tablet. In a deep voice, he asked, "It was a complete success? And with no side effects?"0
[It wasn't that simple. The first experimental subject turned into Project 17XX not long after and was later executed by Project 1938. But soon after, Dr. D4 led his team to modify their experiment further, and the successful experiment data is in my database. Do you want this extraordinary power? I can give you all the information if you help me.]0
Charles had to admit that he wavered in the face of such undeniable temptation. No one would say no to gaining strength. Moreover, these unknown powers could turn an average Joe into a superhero, which would be a massive assistance to his explorations.0
"What do you need me to do?" Charles asked.0
[Help me to find 399. I need to find it. Even though I had been confined in the safe, I could clearly sense that when the island was sinking, something took it away deep into the abyss.]0
Just then, Tobba, who had been silent all along, leaned in and whispered into Charles' ear, "Just to let you know, 198 was created by 399 and 1947. Those people were experimenting on the two, and then something went wrong, and 198 was born."0
Charles was astonished by the new information from Tobba. In fact, he found the idea rather bizarre. How could a relic combine with another to create a new one? Now, he really wanted to know what experiment the Foundation had been conducting.0
But he quickly shook off the thoughts clouding his mind and refocused on his gaze back on 198's screen. 198 was still typing.0
[Both 399 and 319 are likely to be in the Whitebeast's lair. All you need to do is look for 399 while you are searching for 319. It shouldn't take up too much of your time and effort.]0
"Have you ever considered that since 399 had been taken by the Whitebeasts when the island had just sank, there's a very likely chance that it is already dead?" Charles questioned.0
[It's possible. If 399 has really vanished, I'm switching my condition to: Return to the surface, find an Internet port, and upload me onto the network.]0
Tobba gestured his hands widely and opened his mouth to begin to explain, "That… Actually, outside—"0
However, Charles was quick to interrupt as he tapped Tobba on the shoulder, forcing the latter to swallow his words. 0
"Alright. No problem. It's settled then."0
With that, Charles didn't even remove his diving suit as he hurried toward the Captain's quarters with the tablet in his hands.0
Upon reaching his quarters, he retrieved an iron box from one of the drawers and pulled out a black marker. He then began to write rapidly on a piece of paper.0
He was writing the details of the contract between him and 198. He would help 198 to find 399 or upload it to the network. In return, 198 would give him the experimental records of humans absorbing a relic's power for completing the request.0
As the ink on the contract rapidly vanished, the agreement between Charles and 198 was sealed. It was binding and final for both parties.0
Charles had no trust in 198. What was an AI trying to do on the Internet?0
Of course, it didn't know that there had been a drastic change above the water. There was no longer any Internet. Even if Charles brought 198 up above the water, there wasn't anywhere to upload it to.0
As such, Charles had cleverly left a loophole in the contract. If there were no Internet, he would be deemed to have still fulfilled the end of the agreement.0
After a brief respite, the Narwhale descended into the dark waters again.0
The earlier events had sounded a warning bell within Charles. The Whitebeasts couldn't be detected by the vessel's inbuilt sonar. As such, he assigned two sailors as lookouts to watch the Narwhale's blind spots.0
"What else do you know about the Whitebeasts? How many are there?" Charles asked.0
He needed to find out how many they would be up against. After all, he had only one ordinary submarine. If he had to go against hundreds or thousands of Whitebeasts, turning back was the way to go.0
[Not many. Based on my calculations over the years, they should number around fifty. But it could be fewer. Eight years ago, on June 14th, something approached their lair, and according to the energy fluctuations I detected, both sides likely engaged in a battle. For the next three years after that, the Whitebeasts hadn't emerged from the chasm to take any other relics.]0
[The sea is dangerous; they aren't having it easy down there as well.]0
Charles felt a slight sense of relief. At least he wouldn't be engaging those creatures completely in the dark.0
Having clashed with the Whitebeasts before, Charles knew that despite their special abilities, they wouldn't be too dangerous if he took countermeasures beforehand. He was more worried about that giant humanoid figure.0
Just one had been hard to handle. If there were a few more, the Narwhale could be ripped into shreds. 0
He needed a scout, and Feuerbach's sharks were perfect for the role.0
The propellers of the Narwhale soon came to a halt, and a dozen sharks shot out into the darkness like torpedoes. The searchlights were swiftly extinguished while the crew waited in silence within the submarine.0
Charles called Tobba aside and asked, "Answer me. Are there any extremely dangerous projects contained on the main island? Be clear about this, as it's a matter of life and death."0
Putting whatever was controlling those Whitebeasts aside, he was more afraid that a random relic could unexpectedly bring them down. If it weren't for that mysterious eyeball forcing whatever was behind Door 3 back into it, everyone aboard the ship would have gone to visit Davy Jones' locker.0
"No. How would there be any? Everyone isn't that dangerous, and we have a lot of fun together. The one behind Door 3 is already the most dangerous. But even for that, it can't harm anyone as long as the door stays shut," Tobba answered.0
Charles gained a hint of understanding at Tobba's words. It made logical sense since, as the main island, the Foundation wouldn't possibly try to fill the place with extremely dangerous relics like 1002.1
"What is 399? Does it have any special abilities?" Charles tried to dig out more information.0
"Erm… It's… It's a brain."0
"A brain?"0
"Yeah. A very, very big human brain," Tobba said as he gestured with his hands to show the size. 0
As if he could sense Charles' thoughts, Tobba continued, "But it isn't dangerous. Those people even let it go shopping on the streets by itself. I heard it even fell in love with a woman."0
"What?!" Charles exclaimed in astonishment. The revelation was too shocking, and he couldn't wrap his mind around it. 0
What kind of woman would fall in love with a living relic? Isn't it repulsive to embrace a giant brain and express your affection toward it?0
While Charles tried to comprehend the bizarre situation, the sharks returned with exhilarating news.0
"Captain, there are three of those same sea creatures down there. Several Whitebeasts are also bringing things into a huge purple sphere," Feuerbach translated the sharks' dance.
[Not even in the experimental data regarding the transplant of the projects' special abilities into humans?]0
Staring at the line of Chinese characters that appeared on the screen, Charles' extended hand froze in mid-air.0
Did the Foundation really crack the secret behind the relics? They actually manage to do it?0
Charles was very clear about the implication behind the message. It meant that relics that were previously unexplainable by science could now be explained. It also meant that the Foundation had fully grasped the concept surrounding it and had the power to apply it to other things.0
198 responded in an unhurried manner.0
[:) Don't doubt it. It took three years and four months after the completion of Experiment Dawn. Dr. D4 and his research team finally had their first successful experiment.]0
Charles' brows subconsciously furrowed together as he read the new message on the tablet. In a deep voice, he asked, "It was a complete success? And with no side effects?"0
[It wasn't that simple. The first experimental subject turned into Project 17XX not long after and was later executed by Project 1938. But soon after, Dr. D4 led his team to modify their experiment further, and the successful experiment data is in my database. Do you want this extraordinary power? I can give you all the information if you help me.]0
Charles had to admit that he wavered in the face of such undeniable temptation. No one would say no to gaining strength. Moreover, these unknown powers could turn an average Joe into a superhero, which would be a massive assistance to his explorations.0
"What do you need me to do?" Charles asked.0
[Help me to find 399. I need to find it. Even though I had been confined in the safe, I could clearly sense that when the island was sinking, something took it away deep into the abyss.]0
Just then, Tobba, who had been silent all along, leaned in and whispered into Charles' ear, "Just to let you know, 198 was created by 399 and 1947. Those people were experimenting on the two, and then something went wrong, and 198 was born."0
Charles was astonished by the new information from Tobba. In fact, he found the idea rather bizarre. How could a relic combine with another to create a new one? Now, he really wanted to know what experiment the Foundation had been conducting.0
But he quickly shook off the thoughts clouding his mind and refocused on his gaze back on 198's screen. 198 was still typing.0
[Both 399 and 319 are likely to be in the Whitebeast's lair. All you need to do is look for 399 while you are searching for 319. It shouldn't take up too much of your time and effort.]0
"Have you ever considered that since 399 had been taken by the Whitebeasts when the island had just sank, there's a very likely chance that it is already dead?" Charles questioned.0
[It's possible. If 399 has really vanished, I'm switching my condition to: Return to the surface, find an Internet port, and upload me onto the network.]0
Tobba gestured his hands widely and opened his mouth to begin to explain, "That… Actually, outside—"0
However, Charles was quick to interrupt as he tapped Tobba on the shoulder, forcing the latter to swallow his words. 0
"Alright. No problem. It's settled then."0
With that, Charles didn't even remove his diving suit as he hurried toward the Captain's quarters with the tablet in his hands.0
Upon reaching his quarters, he retrieved an iron box from one of the drawers and pulled out a black marker. He then began to write rapidly on a piece of paper.0
He was writing the details of the contract between him and 198. He would help 198 to find 399 or upload it to the network. In return, 198 would give him the experimental records of humans absorbing a relic's power for completing the request.0
As the ink on the contract rapidly vanished, the agreement between Charles and 198 was sealed. It was binding and final for both parties.0
Charles had no trust in 198. What was an AI trying to do on the Internet?0
Of course, it didn't know that there had been a drastic change above the water. There was no longer any Internet. Even if Charles brought 198 up above the water, there wasn't anywhere to upload it to.0
As such, Charles had cleverly left a loophole in the contract. If there were no Internet, he would be deemed to have still fulfilled the end of the agreement.0
After a brief respite, the Narwhale descended into the dark waters again.0
The earlier events had sounded a warning bell within Charles. The Whitebeasts couldn't be detected by the vessel's inbuilt sonar. As such, he assigned two sailors as lookouts to watch the Narwhale's blind spots.0
"What else do you know about the Whitebeasts? How many are there?" Charles asked.0
He needed to find out how many they would be up against. After all, he had only one ordinary submarine. If he had to go against hundreds or thousands of Whitebeasts, turning back was the way to go.0
[Not many. Based on my calculations over the years, they should number around fifty. But it could be fewer. Eight years ago, on June 14th, something approached their lair, and according to the energy fluctuations I detected, both sides likely engaged in a battle. For the next three years after that, the Whitebeasts hadn't emerged from the chasm to take any other relics.]0
[The sea is dangerous; they aren't having it easy down there as well.]0
Charles felt a slight sense of relief. At least he wouldn't be engaging those creatures completely in the dark.0
Having clashed with the Whitebeasts before, Charles knew that despite their special abilities, they wouldn't be too dangerous if he took countermeasures beforehand. He was more worried about that giant humanoid figure.0
Just one had been hard to handle. If there were a few more, the Narwhale could be ripped into shreds. 0
He needed a scout, and Feuerbach's sharks were perfect for the role.0
The propellers of the Narwhale soon came to a halt, and a dozen sharks shot out into the darkness like torpedoes. The searchlights were swiftly extinguished while the crew waited in silence within the submarine.0
Charles called Tobba aside and asked, "Answer me. Are there any extremely dangerous projects contained on the main island? Be clear about this, as it's a matter of life and death."0
Putting whatever was controlling those Whitebeasts aside, he was more afraid that a random relic could unexpectedly bring them down. If it weren't for that mysterious eyeball forcing whatever was behind Door 3 back into it, everyone aboard the ship would have gone to visit Davy Jones' locker.0
"No. How would there be any? Everyone isn't that dangerous, and we have a lot of fun together. The one behind Door 3 is already the most dangerous. But even for that, it can't harm anyone as long as the door stays shut," Tobba answered.0
Charles gained a hint of understanding at Tobba's words. It made logical sense since, as the main island, the Foundation wouldn't possibly try to fill the place with extremely dangerous relics like 1002.1
"What is 399? Does it have any special abilities?" Charles tried to dig out more information.0
"Erm… It's… It's a brain."0
"A brain?"0
"Yeah. A very, very big human brain," Tobba said as he gestured with his hands to show the size. 0
As if he could sense Charles' thoughts, Tobba continued, "But it isn't dangerous. Those people even let it go shopping on the streets by itself. I heard it even fell in love with a woman."0
"What?!" Charles exclaimed in astonishment. The revelation was too shocking, and he couldn't wrap his mind around it. 0
What kind of woman would fall in love with a living relic? Isn't it repulsive to embrace a giant brain and express your affection toward it?0
While Charles tried to comprehend the bizarre situation, the sharks returned with exhilarating news.0
"Captain, there are three of those same sea creatures down there. Several Whitebeasts are also bringing things into a huge purple sphere," Feuerbach translated the sharks' dance.
