Chapter 18
Alex woke up to find himself slumped over a cold metal table, his head resting awkwardly on the surface, and a small puddle of drool forming beneath his mouth. Groggily, he blinked a few times, trying to piece together his surroundings.
Did I transmigrate again? he thought, scratching his head as he straightened up.
His gaze wandered around the room, landing on a man seated across from him. The man adjusted his glasses and smiled, sending a chill down Alex's spine.
What's with this guy? Alex thought, but then recognition hit him like a lightning bolt. Wait… isn't he the guy from the junkyard? The one I bit before getting dragged into this hellhole?!
The man sat calmly, flipping through a file. Alex strained his eyes to read it, managing to catch the name "Alex Summers" written at the top. His reading skills were still shaky despite weeks of practice, but he wasn't about to let all that effort go to waste.
The man's voice broke the silence. "No. 4271. Name: Alex Summers. Age: 10. Hmm…" He paused, then chuckled as he read further. "Now showing interest in studies. Very hardworking, it seems."
Alex's jaw tightened. Hypocrisy much? He knew they monitored everyone in the lab, but studying hardly seemed like something that would any draw attention. Despite the thoughts whirling in his head, Alex kept his expression neutral, his face a mask of indifference.
The man finally closed the file and looked directly at Alex. "No. 4271, I've been assigned as your overseeing scientist. From now on, you'll only answer to me. You won't have to deal with the others."
Alex's brows furrowed. The man's tone carried a weight that unsettled him.
"Any objections?" the man asked, his smile razor-sharp.
Alex shook his head. He wasn't foolish enough to protest—he had no choice in the matter anyway. His only hope was that this man wouldn't be as harsh as the others portrayed in the game.
The man leaned back in his chair, still smiling, though to Alex it looked more like the grin of a devil. "Good. If there's nothing else, you may leave."
Alex stood, walking toward the door. But as he reached for the handle, a thought struck him. If I leave now, I'll have to find my own way back… and after that marathon earlier, I don't trust this place not to mess with me again.
He hesitated, glancing back at the man.
"What's the matter?" the man asked, his smile never faltering.
Alex muttered under his breath, "Bastard," hoping the man wouldn't hear.
The man tilted his head, pretending not to notice. "Oh, one more thing," he said, as though remembering something. "You could've taken the shorter route here just going straight and on the left side there would be my lab, but who would've guessed you'd be so… diligent? Taking the long way around the lab must've been quite the workout, hmm ?"
Alex clenched his fists, a vein twitching on his forehead. Despite his frustration, he nodded silently and closed the door gently behind him. He couldn't afford to anger that man.....more like...he don't dare....who would want to jump into the hellhole by their self. I still have some questions unanswered but I think it would stay a mystery for a while.
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As the door clicked shut, the man's smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, stoic expression. A figure emerged from the shadows nearby—the staff member who had escorted Alex earlier.
"He seems peculiar," the staff member said, crossing his arms. "Now I see why you're so interested in him."
The man adjusted his glasses. "So, he lasted two hours?"
"Yep," the staff confirmed. "Surprised me, honestly. He's tougher than he looks."
The man smirked. "I underestimated him. His strength has improved since the first time we tested him. And those eyes…" He paused, his gaze distant. "They don't belong to someone who grew up in the slums. They see the world… differently. As if everything is fake."
The staff member chuckled, slapping his knee. "You're getting poetic, Four Eyes. Never thought I'd hear you talk like that!"
The man shot him a glare, silencing the laughter instantly.
"Keep observing him," the man ordered. "He's showing interest in studying. I want to know how far that curiosity goes."
"Got it, sir," the staff member said, though his playful tone earned him another sharp look.
The man leaned back in his chair, his mind wandering to the first time he'd encountered Alex. He had been supervising operations at the junkyard when he saw the boy kicking aimlessly at a pile of scrap. By sheer luck—or perhaps something more— that scrap hit that staff from the lab perfectly. It is as if he have a skill of landing perfect hits.
Alex's courage had been intriguing, and his defiance—even biting him—had only cemented the man's decision to make the boy his personal subject.
"Don't disappoint me, No. 4271," the man murmured to himself, a rare chuckle escaping his lips. "Or should I say… Alex?"
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End of Chapter 18