Erik's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, an empty vial that once held Brain Stimulating Serum sitting next to him.
"What did you conclude about the serum?" He mentally asked the biological supercomputer. After a brief silence, the supercomputer's answer thickened in Erik's mind.
[I HAVE IDENTIFIED MOST OF THE INGREDIENTS IN THE SERUM. HOWEVER, SOME ELEMENTS ARE BEYOND THE CURRENT DATABASE'S COMPREHENSION. THEY ARE NEITHER FROM ETRIUM NOR FRANT. I ADVISE "INJECTING" ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FLORA FROM VARIOUS REGIONS FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS.]
A furrow appeared on Erik's brow as he pondered the information. "And the effects on the brain?"
[THE SERUM'S INGREDIENTS WORK IN HARMONY TO BOOST NEURAL ACTIVITY. PRIMARY EFFECT: STIMULATION OF NEURONS' ACTIVITY FOR ENHANCED MANAGEMENT OF THE BRAIN CRYSTAL. INCREASING OF THE NEURAL LINKS GIRTH FOR BETTER MANA FLOW. THEY ENHANCE PERCEPTION, REACTION TIME, AND COGNITIVE ABILITY BY STIMULATING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE BRAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE FUNCTIONS. HOWEVER, I MUST CAUTION THAT THE EFFECTS CAN'T BE REPLICATED THROUGH A NEW TECHNIQUE; IT IS THE UNIQUE COMPOSITION OF THE INGREDIENTS MAKING UP THE SERUM THAT CREATES SUCH A RESPONSE. IF YOU WISH TO GAIN A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SERUM, YOU WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VARIOUS FLORA AND DRINK ANOTHER DOSE.]
Erik's eyes narrowed in contemplation. "And what about the risks you previously mentioned? Are there risks involved?" Without missing a beat, the biological supercomputer replied.
[THERE ARE ALWAYS RISKS WITH SUCH POTENT SUBSTANCES. CONSUMING THIS SERUM IN QUICK SUCCESSION COULD LEAD TO PERMANENT SIDE EFFECTS, WHICH COULD ALSO LEAD TO THE INABILITY TO CHANNEL MANA. IN THE SHORT TERM, IF THE CONSUMPTION IS NOT EXCESSIVE, THERE ARE ONLY SOME TEMPORARY SIDE EFFECTS, SUCH AS NEUROLOGICAL OVERLOAD, DIZZINESS, OR FATIGUE. THESE EFFECTS ARE TEMPORARY ONLY IF THE SERUM IS TAKEN AT LONGER INTERVALS, ALLOWING THE BRAIN TIME TO RECOVER AND ASSIMILATE THE BOOST.]
Erik reclined in his chair, weighing the pros and cons. The allure of untapped knowledge was tempting, but the potential dangers held him back. "How long would it take for you to assimilate and understand the complete data if I provided it?"
[IF YOU INJECT THE REQUIRED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLORA AND COMBINE IT WITH ANOTHER DOSE, I ESTIMATE A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS WITHIN HOURS. BUT I ADVISE CAUTION AND ADEQUATE RECOVERY TIME BEFORE CONSUMING ANOTHER DOSE.]
His eyes settled on the other vial he owned, which was still resting inside the container Olivia gave him at the Haven's Market, its silvery contents seemingly glowing with untapped potential as the light reflected on it. It was a momentous decision.
The promise of unlocking the serum's secrets beckoned, and he was eager to download as much information as possible and to let the system try again. However, recklessness risks loomed large. Erik then took a deep breath; he had already decided what to do.
"Thank you for the insights. I'll proceed with caution," he said. The supercomputer's ensuing silence served as its tacit understanding. Then Erik began to map out his next moves, invigorated by a renewed sense of purpose.
He leaned back, taking a few moments to reflect on his advancements. Two new neural links marked a substantial step in his self-improvement journey.
As the serum's effects diminished, he shifted his attention to these new links. The first was a link to the Chameleon Veil brain crystal power. This link would enable Erik to blend into his environment more efficiently, making him nearly undetectable to the untrained eye.
While exploring his newfound capability, he felt a cloak had been draped over him, separating him from the world around him.
The second neural link was connected to the Plant Master's brain crystal power. After some moments playing with it, the young man stopped.
Even as he reveled in the day's progress, another task loomed large in his mind. He still had to sift through the data he'd gathered from Haven Market about Doran Stedman.
Erik began to sort through the files he'd acquired by accessing the biological supercomputer. A flurry of images, texts, and videos scrolled by, each one a potential key to unlocking the enigma that was Doran.
This man wasn't just anyone; he was deeply entrenched in a world of affluence, influence, and authority. But what drove him? What alliances did he have? What weaknesses could Erik exploit? Where was he?
Erik's eyes flicked from one piece of data to the next; the digital terrain before him resembled a complex web, with Doran Stedman at its core. As he delved deeper, Erik's pulse quickened.
Timestamps indicated that Doran had visited Haven Market shortly after the guild had initiated their search for him. Even more unsettling was what Erik discovered as he decrypted classified data: Haven Market was involved in some genuinely sinister activities.
A chill ran down his spine. This wasn't just a marketplace for luxury items; it was a marketplace for human lives.
The transaction logs were deliberately ambiguous, a tactic those in illicit trades used to obscure their true dealings. But this information came from the company's hidden servers, and he was sure these dealings were true.
But Erik's keen eye, enhanced by the biological supercomputer's algorithms, saw through the subterfuge. The language used, the sums exchanged, and the specifics of the deals all led to a horrifying conclusion: Doran was involved in human trafficking.
Images flashed on Erik's interface, revealing the faces of the people Doran had "acquired."
They were young, their expressions a mix of confusion and fear. Some were foreign, likely naive vagabonds who'd been ensnared, while others were locals, making the revelation even more gut-wrenching.
Erik's fist clenched involuntarily, his blood boiling with anger. "How can anyone stoop so low?" he muttered, his voice quivering with fury and disbelief.
"Trading lives like they're mere trinkets. And Haven Market, this so-called reputable establishment, is nothing more than a hotbed of greed and inhumanity."
The realization that such horrors were happening right under the noses of Etrium's authorities was infuriating. Clearly, the guild's quest to find Doran was more than justified.
"But why is he doing all of this?" Erik pondered. He had been instructed to locate Doran and report back to the guild, not intervene. This in itself was very weird. Was that because they thought he wasn't strong enough?
As much as the situation revolted him, Erik knew there were limits to what he could do. Just as he had turned a blind eye to similar atrocities in Frant, he had no plans to act differently in Etrium. His own survival was the priority.
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