The Sentry's health and research bases were one of the most important institutions in Euthopia.
As the name implies, they handle the health of sentries who had been made aberrants, the research on the abyssals, and information on the meteorite.
You might be wondering how normal people were able to possess abnormal strength, speed, and even abilities. That was all made possible through this institution.
Someone might think that the greatest gift given to them to fight the abyssals was the slaisten metal, but in actuality, it was the abyssals themselves.
The slaisten provided them with a means of killing the abyssals but to use this gift, one needs to be able to wield it properly.
If you give a gun to a normal six-year-old, to fight with an animal like a tiger, it was obvious who the winner would be.
That was how their situation became. They weren't strong and fast enough to kill these creatures and didn't have the stamina to continuously fight for an extended period.
So killing even a lower-grade abyssal back then was a difficult task, much more those of higher and above.
But the health and research labs made a great discovery using the genes of some special abyssals who were able to use abilities.
After countless failed experiments, they finally came up with a serum from the genes of the abyssals called the A-factor.
This serum was able to change the genes of humans into something between a human and an abyssal, which granted them abnormal strength, speed, endurance, and with this, they were finally able to put up a fight with the creatures.
This change was called aberration and the changed humans were called aberrants.
Although they had suspected something negative might occur, it still came as a shock when a sentry suddenly transformed into an abyssal.
After much research, the A-scale was introduced after the discovery that the A-gene (Abyssal gene) can override the human gene causing them to change into abyssals themselves.
This A-scale determined the number of A-genes in the body and the effect it has.
1.5 on the A-scale was the amount of A-genes needed for a human to possess enhanced physical traits like strength and speed.
2.8 was the amount needed to be able to manifest abilities and other things like faster healing and resistance to poison.
4.4 was the highest normal A-scale an aberrant should possess, and above that, becomes life-threatening.
Once an aberrant's A-scale hits 5.0, the aberrant changes into an abyssal.
This was termed a negative mutation.
The amount and concentration of A-genes could also determine the amount of power an aberrant can produce.
This didn't mean that someone of a higher A-scale could be more powerful than those in lower scales.
This was just on a personal level as someone with a 3.8 scale could produce more power than when he or she has a 3.5, and if the scale of the person later increases to 4.0, so would his powers.
But someone who has an A-scale of 3.4 could defeat someone else who has an A-scale of 3.7.
This might seem as a way to increase strength, but everyone avoided it as much as possible because it just drew you closer to death, as not everyone could even stay alive before reaching 5.0. The same way that not everyone could become aberrants.
So everyone strived to become stronger without having to increase their A-scale, and this was very possible.
It was expected that once in a while, an aberrant in the Sentry, mostly one who has abilities, should check their A-scales especially after a battle as over-usage of abilities was one of the greatest catalysts of rising scales.
They both walked into the building which had fewer people moving around than their base.
"Follow me," Ray said while walking towards one of the staircases which led up.
The building had multiple elevators so taking the staircase is almost useless. So it was quite surprising that someone would take the staircase when the elevator wasn't under repair and there wasn't a crowd.
"Why did we take the stairs?" Sylph asked as they proceeded upwards.
"Where we're going can not be accessed by the elevators," he replied.
"And why is that?" Her eyebrows furrowed finding it strange.
"The lady who we're headed to is really—special." Ray hadn't met her in a month but he was sure she hadn't changed. He didn't know how to describe her attitude.
"Special?" Sylph repeated in confusion.
"You'll understand when we get there. Don't take whatever she says seriously."
They walked 25 floors high, which was a little over half of the building's height. But there wasn't a slight sign of exhaustion in their faces.
"Here." Ray put his thumb on a fingerprint.
A door led out of the staircase into the 23rd floor.
"So this floor can't be accessed through the elevator? " Sylph asked looking around the hallway that they were walking through.
This floor had all the doors shut with just a straight large hallway. Sunlight wasn't let in.
It was only lightened up by fluorescent and neon light making it look a little bit mysterious and spooky.
Sylph had her guard up, whereas Ray had a casual look on his face as though he was strolling in the park.
"I believe this place needs special authorization to be able to access, how were you able to do it?"
Ray was silent for some time after hearing her question. Of course, even he would be suspicious if someone suddenly took him to a place like this.
"I was granted permission from the head of the special research department in this base.
Sylph's eyes widened in disbelief when she heard this.
The special research department was the core of the health and research base. They were the ones who studied the abyssals, aberrants and creates the A-factor.
There were other roles to play in the health and research base which other departments handled, as it wasn't just a research facility but also a hospital for aberrants, as normal hospitals couldn't handle them.
So there was an overall head in each of the health and research bases which were a total of three.
The one they were currently at, was in the southwest which covered activities for all of the southern regions which included the southwest, southeast and south regions.
The second covered the activities for all of the northern regions which included the northeast, northwest, and north region, where it was located at.
The third covered the eastern, western, and central regions, with the central region being its location.
Each region also had its smaller hospitals but no research facility.
That meant there were only three research department heads in Euthopia and they had equal power and influence with the HR (Health and Research) base heads themselves.
Because of the nature of their work, they usually stay in solitude and not even all the sentry base heads had met them all.
Now Ray was saying that he knew the Southern head of the research department, why wouldn't she react like she did, she still found it hard to believe him.
"Did you just say the head of the research department?"
"Yes, we're going to meet her right now."
"Huh!" She exclaimed in shock, not only did he know her but they were both headed to meet her.
With enough beauty, someone could go to places and meet people that others could only dream of without even willing it.
When it came to beauty, Sylph wasn't lacking in the slightest, but when it came down to people like this, 3 research department heads.
It would still be difficult as they dedicated their lives to their work without having time for others.
She wondered how he was able to get this close to one. The longer she stayed with him the more mysterious he became.
After walking for some time, they stopped in front of a door that had an electronic signboard that read.
[Do not disturb]
Ray glared at the watch in his hand before stretching his hand to knock.
"Are you sure you should be doing that?" She said gesturing toward the sign board.
Without answering her question, he proceeded with his action.
"Knock." "knock." "knock."
Seeing there was no answer, he spoke out. "Miss Felicity, I'm coming in." He pushed the door open as they walked into the large room.
Just by first glance, anyone could tell that this was the embodiment of science.
There wasn't any scientific equipment which wasn't present in this room and some things here haven't even been released to the world.
The figure of a woman with short messy brown hair could be seen scribbling some runes on a transparent board, which was what it seemed like to Ray.
After some seconds she stopped before spinning around.