"Master, Miss Alice has left, we should prepare."
Sitting in his office chair, Kyle was deep in thought, brainstorming ways to make quick money. He wondered when he'd be lucky enough to enter the lottery again. His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of the old housekeeper, who pushed the door open.
Looking at the schedule on his desk, Kyle quickly remembered that today was an important day. Without hesitation, he grabbed his coat and hurried out.
"Are you ready, Gasco?" he asked as he walked down the spacious hallway. The old housekeeper was the first to undergo the implantation of the No. 7 crystal.
Gasco, a veteran of both the Battle of Ardennes and the Battle of Kesselring Pass, was nearly seventy but still in peak physical condition. Kyle had witnessed Gasco practicing military boxing earlier that morning at the estate. He was an embodiment of the saying, "The old are still sharp."
"Master, I've been ready ever since I learned about such a miraculous item," Gasco replied after a brief silence, his voice steady with resolve. Due to post-war psychological trauma, Gasco had never married or had children, living a life of solitude.
Having worked at Water Manor for thirty years, he had grown attached to Kyle, almost as a surrogate father. However, Gasco's age and the toll his body had taken over the years made him eager to undergo the implantation.
Kyle sighed, reluctant to use the No. 7 crystal on his devoted old butler. This crystal was incredibly dangerous, a fact Kyle had stressed repeatedly, but Gasco insisted.
…
The elevator made a soft chime, signaling their arrival at the 28th floor of the building.
Kyle and Gasco stepped out and walked to the No. 7 Crystal Laboratory.
Originally, Kyle had planned for the research to take place 50 meters underground, but after considering the time and effort required, he decided to set up the lab on this floor instead. Once the underground research facility was complete, the lab would be relocated there and repurposed as a cosmetic research area to hide its true nature.
"Boss, the crystal has been tested and can be safely implanted," said the head scientist upon seeing Kyle enter the lab. He immediately led the two of them to the containment room.
To ensure that only trusted personnel worked with the No. 7 crystal, Kyle had used certain measures to safeguard the facility. Although these researchers were essential, he still couldn't completely trust them with sensitive information. A few necessary precautions were in place, but they were unaware of them.
Upon entering the containment room, Kyle saw the No. 7 crystal — about the size of a fist, glowing faintly with purple light, its surface covered in intricate gray lines. It was small, but the resources spent acquiring it were astronomical. In fact, Kyle had sold almost all of his luxury cars to fund the purchase, keeping only a single scooter worth $100,000 as his remaining asset.
"Alright, let's prepare for the implantation, Gasco," Kyle said, gesturing to the lab staff to begin the necessary steps for the procedure. He remained focused on the crystal.
The No. 7 crystal was irregularly shaped, with delicate lines etched across its surface. When implanted into a person's body, the crystal would start the process of gene evolution, enhancing the host's capabilities. At 5 cm in length and 1 cm in width, it wasn't large, but it was potent. The high mortality rate associated with its use made Kyle wary about using it too casually.
In the back of his mind, Kyle thought about the superhero IPs that had made huge profits in his past life. He remembered a company from a popular show that made billions from superhero franchises. The name of the company in the show matched his own business, Water Company, and Kyle began to consider the possibility of creating his own superhero team — perhaps even a group to rival the likes of the Avengers in the future.
"Boss, the implantation work is ready. Please move to the tempered glass area to observe," the head scientist said, breaking Kyle's thoughts.
As Kyle followed the staff to the designated viewing area, he noticed the setup: the room was enclosed by special tempered glass, and inside stood a towering, silver-white device that resembled something straight out of a sci-fi movie.
"How much did all this cost me?" Kyle asked, eyeing the futuristic apparatus.
"It's... it's fine, let's just focus on the implantation," the head scientist stammered, clearly nervous. He quickly changed the subject, wary of discussing the expensive equipment in front of Kyle.
Despite his youth, Kyle was known for his keen business mind, and it was no secret that he valued money above all else. The implanting device, which was made of titanium alloy on the outside and polymer materials on the inside, was just the beginning. Inside were even more costly precision tools that would ensure a successful implantation — if all went well.
"Make sure you send me a detailed expense report for this lab," Kyle said, giving the head scientist a stern look. He then turned his attention back to Gasco, who had already stripped down to his underwear, preparing for the procedure. Several researchers in white lab coats were adjusting the equipment, making sure everything was ready.
The side effects of a failed implantation with the No. 7 crystal were catastrophic, so the procedure had to be executed with the utmost precision.
"Human Experiment No. 087 is ready. Request to begin implantation," a voice called out as Gasco, now unconscious due to the anesthetic, was carefully positioned within the containment capsule.
"Proceed," Kyle ordered, his gaze fixed on the scene before him.
The first 86 test subjects, all animals, had failed to survive the gene induction process. Their bodies simply couldn't handle the strain, and they died before the crystal could take effect.
Now, the team was ready to try the implantation on a human. Gasco was the chosen subject, though the outcome was uncertain.
"Boss, things might get a little intense. Please brace yourself," the head scientist warned.
With a press of a button, the silver-white capsule began to enclose Gasco. A precise surgical incision was made on his chest, and the robotic arm carefully implanted the long No. 7 crystal inside. The wound was then stitched up.
As the procedure continued, time seemed to slow. Kyle stood quietly, watching the process unfold.
"BOSS, the implant capsule can now be opened," the head scientist said, his voice filled with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
Kyle nodded, his expression unreadable as the capsule slowly began to open, revealing what would hopefully be the birth of the first superhero.