Chapter 126: Professor of Demonology, Richard Dawkins
"Sir, the experimental equipment needed for the research institute has all been procured. Here's the list for your review."
Yvette came down the stairs, handing a list to Alexander.
Alexander smiled faintly.
"You can handle this entirely on your own."
Yvette was always exceedingly cautious when dealing with Alexander. Every task she completed, she would present for his approval.
Alexander, however, was not like Yvette, who had attended university. He couldn't make sense of the laboratory equipment even if he looked at the list.
Though the equipment was expensive—any single instrument could cost as much as two years of income for an average family in the new city district—it was trivial for Alexander in his current position.
Alexander raised his eyes and asked, "Any difficulties recently?"
Yvette hesitated for a moment before sitting across from Alexander.
"Finding researchers for demonology has been a bit challenging.
The headhunting company I hired could only locate some basic-level researchers.
I believe we need a seasoned expert in demonology."
Alexander leaned back on the sofa, lightly tapping his fingers on the table, his gaze distant.
After the demon invasion, there had been a significant gap in intellectual resources.
When universities finally reestablished themselves in society, they became accessible only to wealthy families.
The average person in this world typically had a high school education.
Those who awakened combat talents upon graduation could achieve great success.
Those who failed the awakening often ended up in the most menial jobs.
For Yvette to have found even basic researchers in demonology was already impressive.
However, expecting groundbreaking discoveries about demons with only basic researchers was clearly insufficient.
Alexander's finger stopped tapping the table, and he asked, "Have you heard of someone named Richard Dawkins?"
Yvette sat up straighter, her expression turning serious.
"Professor Dawkins?
An expert in virology, immunology, and demonology.
He's practically a living textbook."
Alexander fell silent for a moment.
This Richard Dawkins was indeed extraordinary.
Not long ago, mysterious individuals had visited Bluewater Medical University. Each of them exuded an intense spiritual aura.
These visitors came without alarming anyone, not even the Security Bureau.
Only the National Safety Administration could manage such a feat.
The purpose of their visit was to treat someone named Richard Dawkins.
Alexander had learned of this through a certain mercenary.
"Scalpel" Levi, a doctor who had obtained the Surgical Fruit, had been personally requested by these mysterious individuals to perform surgery on Richard Dawkins.
Unfortunately, while Levi could treat diseases, he couldn't extend life.
Professor Richard Dawkins wasn't ill—he was simply at the end of his lifespan, having lived to the age of 105.
According to Dr. Levi, Professor Dawkins was a scholar of immense stature.
Alexander had once tasked Rosie with investigating Richard Dawkins's background, but her efforts yielded nothing.
On the internet, it was as if Richard Dawkins had never existed.
Someone had deliberately erased all traces of him—even a single article by him could not be found.
This absence only deepened Alexander's suspicions about the man.
The ability to completely erase a person from the digital memory of the internet was something only a nation could accomplish.
This was a man of utmost importance to the state.
Alexander's usually calm expression turned solemn.
"Tell me more," he said.
Yvette explained,
"When we were in middle and high school, Professor Dawkins was often mentioned in our textbooks."
There was a slight generational gap between Yvette and Alexander—when she was in high school, Alexander was just starting elementary school.
"Much of the current exploration in demonology relies on the foundation of his theories.
However, at some point, Professor Dawkins disappeared without a trace.
I was fortunate enough to attend one of his lectures."
Yvette continued to share numerous anecdotes about Richard Dawkins.
This Professor Dawkins was undoubtedly a legendary figure, a true national treasure.
Alexander's mind churned with thoughts.
He firmly believed that if the Mercenary Guild remained solely a group of combat-ready awakened individuals, it would never achieve true prominence.
A solid foundation couldn't consist merely of brawn.
Alexander sighed softly.
"Such a great scientist nearing his end is truly a loss for humanity."
In a world where demons still ran rampant, human cities were constantly under threat of attack.
Top-tier scientists like Richard Dawkins were invaluable in humanity's resistance against these invaders.
Yvette, hearing Alexander's words, exclaimed in surprise, "Professor Dawkins is dying?"
Alexander explained the situation at Bluewater Medical University, where the National Safety Administration was attempting to prolong Professor Dawkins's life as he reached the end of his natural lifespan.
Yvette expressed her regret.
"Professor Dawkins is the leading figure in demonology. Losing him would indeed be a great pity."
Alexander seemed to make up his mind.
"Professor Dawkins's condition is beyond treatment, and the National Safety Administration will soon cease to keep his critical state a secret.
Once the news of his failing health spreads, I want you to visit him.
On behalf of the Mercenary Guild, invite him to join us."
Yvette froze for a moment.
"But isn't it said that Professor Dawkins is beyond saving?
Would inviting him to join the guild still hold any meaning?"
Alexander rose and joked, "Even if he dies, I can bring him back from the underworld."
Yvette watched Alexander's retreating figure, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.
Could the guild leader truly have such earth-shattering abilities?
Could he bring someone back to life?
In Alexander's traditional Eastern-style residence in the old district, he entered his room and retrieved the Soul Soul Fruit.
The fruit had long been like Pandora's box to him, constantly tempting him with its alluring possibilities.
[The Soul Soul Fruit's abilities:]
Consumes spiritual energy: Causes high-intelligence beings to lose lifespan when they experience fear.
Consumes spiritual energy: Enhances physical organs with soul energy, enabling healing.
Consumes spiritual energy: Allows the user to split off a part of their soul as an independent lifeform.
Consumes spiritual energy: Infuses objects with souls to create humanoid beings—Homunculi.
Consumes spiritual energy: Sacrifices one's lifespan to significantly enhance oneself.
Each of these powers alone could drive any awakened individual mad with desire.
"I've been delivering Super Fruits for months without ever tasting one myself," Alexander murmured with a self-deprecating smile.
Picking up the Soul Soul Fruit, he bit into it.
His brow furrowed immediately.
The fruit tasted as awful as he'd heard—like boiled rubber mixed with rotting sludge.
Moments later, a surge of profound information flooded Alexander's mind.
Experiencing the Soul Soul Fruit's powers firsthand revealed its true nature.
Previously, he'd only known that stronger spiritual energy made it easier to utilize a Super Fruit's abilities.
In truth, stronger spiritual energy allowed for deeper exploration of a Super Fruit's potential.
The fruit's rank indicated the difficulty of developing its combat potential.
Moreover, this process relied heavily on the compatibility between the user and the fruit.
For example, Evan of North Sea City had awakened the talent "Sculpting," and when paired with the Wax Wax Fruit, he could immediately devise numerous creative applications for its power.
The Soul Soul Fruit, Alexander realized, was highly compatible with him—likely due to his status as a transmigrator.
Having transmigrated to this world as a wandering soul, Alexander acquiring the Soul Soul Fruit was as natural as Evan obtaining the Wax Wax Fruit.
His compatibility was even higher than Evan's.
However, the Soul Soul Fruit consumed spiritual energy at an astonishing rate.
With Alexander's current spiritual energy at level seven, he could only steal lifespan and use soul energy to heal himself.
Alexander muttered, "Since awakening, I've focused on building the Mercenary Guild and neglected my practice.
It's time to enhance my spiritual energy.
I hope Professor Dawkins can eventually research a way to seal demons within the human body.
That would significantly boost my spiritual energy, allowing me to better utilize the Soul Soul Fruit."
The Soul Soul Fruit's combat applications might not compare to the Azure Lotus Heartfire, but its versatility in other areas was undeniably extraordinary.
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