Chapter 505: Chapter 506 Future Plans_1
Deep into the night, in a suburban bungalow, an officer with glasses stood under a tree alongside Professor Dodge, discussing the final details.
"According to the schedule, the last batch of experiments is nearly over, with only stability observations remaining," the officer with glasses glanced at his pocket watch and then confirmed with Professor Dodge, "Do we need to keep the last group of refugees in the restricted area continuously?"
"The Watcher may also possess some divine power, probably the source of invisibility and phase-shifting magic power, even inside the Anti-Magic Barrier. He can still sneak in when you are changing the experimental subjects and escape safely. This suggests that he may have always been inside your base," Professor Dodge said with a serious face.
"I see, so the people who have recently disappeared were assassinated by him," the officer nodded.
"But his power is probably not enough to break through the Balance Space. As long as the restricted area is kept full, we can prevent the enemy from sneaking in again," Professor Dodge stated, "And during the surgery, we must maintain this state as well."
"There will still be risks, though. Is there any way to find him?"
"I’m afraid not," Professor Dodge stated with certainty, "After the project ends, find an opportunity to secretly transfer the materials out—of course, this is your business, I’m just making a suggestion."
"The only thing left on the agenda is the surgery you requested, we will prepare for it as soon as possible," the officer said as he adjusted his glasses and nodded, "So, Professor, the divine power of invisibility you mentioned earlier also seems quite valuable for research, how much do you know about it?"
Professor Dodge fell silent for a moment: "The Kingdom’s Intelligence Agency definitely knows about the authority of power; the fact that you know so little only implies..."
"That my rank isn’t high enough, all right, all right. Indeed, I’m just a low-level technical operative," the officer said with a resigned smile.
"Trust me, knowing too much is not a good thing," Professor Dodge remarked.
He had never revealed to the Kingdom’s Intelligence Agency the fact that he possessed the Hand of Eradication, as it would be like drawing fire onto himself.
The conversation came to a halt at this point, and silence ensued for a while before the officer picked up a casual topic, "The higher-ups asked me to inquire, after your son is cured, what do you plan to do?"
"Retire, completely retire," Professor Dodge replied without hesitation, "I will leave this place with my son and settle in the Netherlands."
"The higher-ups actually hope that you will stay," the officer said bluntly, "You are a rare talent. It’s the Empire’s loss for not valuing you, but we are different..."
"The Empire did not undervalue me, it was my choice to leave," Professor Dodge said softly, "My work in research is already enough for me. With the time remaining, I plan to spend it with my family—of course, that is if the surgery is successful."
"Is that so..." the officer made no further comment.
"Are you worried that I might leak information?" Professor Dodge asked bluntly.
The "Infection" plan was one of the dirtiest secrets of the country’s military, trampling on ethics and morals for the possibility of new military strength and technological development.
And Professor Dodge was one of those who knew the entire truth, and he was a foreigner to boot.
In the past, to warn him, the Empire had thrown him into jail and then put conditions on him again. The Kingdom of Gistas might not have the same patience.
"The Empire serves as a lesson for us. We will not make the same mistakes," the officer said with a smile, "The success of the ’Infection’ plan is the biggest gain; we will not force you into anything. You are a participant in the project, and we trust you will not talk irresponsibly."
"Let’s hope the heads of the intelligence agency are really that enlightened," Professor Dodge replied.
He had not disclosed another reason for keeping the hand of obliteration intelligence to himself, which was that he did not fully trust the Gistas Empire. Withdrawal from the plan as soon as Tony’s illness was cured had been part of the plan from the beginning. If the Kingdom pursued him relentlessly, the hand of obliteration would be their last card to ensure their own survival.
"I hope your child recovers soon," the officer said in a perfunctory farewell, "I will arrange for the carriage to come earlier tomorrow."
"Hmm," Professor Dodge calmly responded.
Suddenly, the sound of a heavy object falling to the floor came from the bungalow, causing Professor Dodge’s face to change color instantly.
The officer also sharply halted in his tracks, and as he turned his head, he saw Professor Dodge sprinting towards the bungalow, with no hesitation to follow closely behind.
The door was smashed open, and Professor Dodge, who burst into the room in a panic, urgently raised his lantern. Before him was the image of old dog Hans lying lifeless on the bed and his son Tony, trying to turn over with difficulty on the floor.
"Tony! What’s wrong with you!?" Professor Dodge rushed forward to pick up his son.
"Dad?" Tony said, half-opening his eyes and looking unfocused.
Professor Dodge felt as though the blood in his body turned cold—his son did not recognize his voice, and his eyes did not look towards him. Either his consciousness was unclear, or he could no longer hear or see clearly.
Either situation was not encouraging.
The officer walked into the room as well, calmly approached the bed after a quick survey of the scene, and checked the shepherd dog.
"Hans... Hans is..." Tony Dodge said in a barely audible whisper.
"Your beloved dog is dead," he told Professor Dodge calmly, "I’m afraid the host’s organs started failing a few hours ago. The demon possessing him instinctively prevents the host’s death, but this consumes the demon, and since they were both asleep, it dragged on until now."
As one of the technical executors involved in the "infection" plan, he had a deep understanding of demonology.
"Why now of all times!?" Professor Dodge was starting to panic, finding it hard to keep his calm when his child was involved.
Old dog Hans had suddenly passed away at this critical moment, affecting Tony who had been residing in it. Without realizing it, Tony weakened in his sleep, awakening alarmed as he faced life-threatening danger and instinctively detaching himself from the host.
"Son, can you hear me? Parasitize me for now," Professor Dodge urged, shaking his son, but Tony was unresponsive, with only weak gasps for breath—he no longer even had the strength to parasitize.
"You need to calm down," the officer reminded Professor Dodge, "use the demonic contract to let him absorb magic power for emergency action first."
Professor Dodge forced himself to calm down. After thinking for a moment, he immediately began emergency treatment and instructed, "I’ll handle the emergency, you go arrange the carriage immediately!"
"What do you mean?" the officer was momentarily stunned.
"Just in case, we’ll transfer to the base ahead of schedule," Professor Dodge glared at him, "Perhaps, we need to move up the surgery!"
