Inside a three-meter-tall glass chamber, naked human figures floated, their bodies riddled with thin tubes, their faces twisted in agony, limbs twitching uncontrollably.
The geneticists, long accustomed to such scenes, coldly injected the gene potions they had concocted through the IV lines into the subjects, then meticulously monitored their reactions with instruments to assess the drugs' effects. These gene potions were experimental, their properties highly unstable, with unpredictable side effects. The fate of those who drank these test potions was grim, to say the least.
These "lab rats" writhed in pain, their bodies contorting like twisted ropes. Some had veins bulging across their skin like spiderwebs, a horrifying sight; others turned red all over, blood seeping from their seven orifices; still others rotted and blackened, oozing foul-smelling pus... It was a scene straight out of hell.
Yet the geneticists paid no heed; instead, they leaned in eagerly, like research fanatics, their excitement palpable, breathing quickened as if on the verge of ecstasy.
Bang!
Suddenly, one test subject in the glass chamber expanded rapidly, exploding from the inside out.
Yes, it burst open!
Blood and fragments of internal organs scattered like confetti, splattering everywhere inside the chamber.
Feng Lin felt a tightness in his chest, nauseated to the point of wanting to vomit.
But those people had long grown numb to such scenes. They pressed a switch, and a powerful stream of water surged through the chamber, washing it clean before blasting it with high-temperature steam for sterilization.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Get another lab rat right now! If you delay the project's progress, none of you will get off easy—I'll deduct all your bonuses!" A sinister-looking man, seemingly the team leader of the research department, barked furiously.
The geneticists trembled in fear, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Nearby, a smart robot walked through the research department, dragging a naked, corpse-like figure into the sterilized glass chamber and connecting it to various IV lines.
"Is this what you call a lab rat? This is clearly human experimentation!" Feng Lin said angrily, confronting Isabella.
A human being, yet referred to as a "lab rat," treated as less than human, like a commodity to be manipulated at will—it was infuriating.
Isabella replied matter-of-factly, "Of course! Gene potions are an incredibly precise science. Animals and humans have different genes. To fully test the effects of a gene potion, it must be tested on humans. We just call them lab rats as a research convention!"
This woman, a stunningly beautiful seductress, spoke as if human life meant nothing, discarding it like trash, her soul so ugly it was appalling.
Feng Lin couldn't accept it. He said firmly, "But they're human beings! How can they be treated like lab rats?"
Isabella seemed unfazed, surprised by his reaction. "These are just death row inmates from the Solar System United Government, stripped of their political rights. They've lost all human rights and are going to die anyway. They might as well contribute to science. It's a worthy end for them! Even garbage can be recycled—they should be grateful."
Feng Lin felt a bit better.
Death row inmates who had harmed others deserved no pity.
But he wasn't naive enough to believe everything he was told.
Giant Pharmaceuticals might be using death row inmates for human experiments now, but who knew if they'd eventually turn to ordinary humans?
A sense of regret began to creep into his heart.
Isabella, sharp as a tack, noticed his change in expression and said with a sly smile, "You're not backing out, are you? You've already signed the labor contract. Backing out now means paying the penalty!"
Feng Lin's face turned grim as stone. He thought of the contract terms: a penalty of 500,000!
Such a high penalty—he had assumed Giant Pharmaceuticals, a major corporation in the Solar System, was legitimate, so he signed without a second thought.
He never expected things to turn out like this. Where would he find 500,000 star coins to pay the fine?
He felt like he'd fallen into a trap, caught between a rock and a hard place, standing frozen with Isabella.
Just then, the sinister team leader of the research project found Feng Lin an eyesore. He sneered sarcastically, "Oh! Where did this righteous hero come from? What's wrong with human experiments? Do you think Giant Pharmaceuticals is some back-alley joint anyone can waltz into? Getting in here is the luckiest thing that'll ever happen to you. If you want to stay with our company, forget the useless thoughts and do as you're told. Otherwise, get the hell out! Now, immediately, right this second..."
Feng Lin had just escaped his family's control to join Giant Pharmaceuticals, seeking a way to strengthen himself, not to be pushed around.
His face darkened instantly, and he was ready to leave without another word.
The sinister man watched coldly, sneering.
As the tension grew to an unbearable point, a calm voice broke the silence.
A middle-aged man with a gentle demeanor walked over, tall and exuding an academic air.
"Director Frank!" The sinister man immediately bowed respectfully.
Feng Lin looked over and recognized him as the lead interviewer from the virtual interview.
The director, Frank, approached. "Everyone, get back to work. Isabella, you can go now."
Isabella shot Feng Lin a look that said "good luck," then swayed her snake-like hips away, drawing howls from the research staff, starved for female company.
The sinister man snapped, "What are you staring at? Never seen a woman before? Get back to your research!"
The crowd scattered like birds.
Director Frank locked eyes with Feng Lin and said with a light smile, "Feng Lin, if you have doubts, come with me. I'll give you all the answers."
With that, he turned and walked away. Feng Lin hesitated for a moment, then followed.
The door slid open silently, leading into a sealed office that shut out all the noise.
Director Frank stared into Feng Lin's eyes and said solemnly, word by word, "Feng Lin, I understand your concerns. In fact, everyone who first comes to the research department finds this practice hard to accept. But let me tell you, Giant Corporation is a fully compliant and legal enterprise. Everything we do is approved by the Solar System United Government—there's nothing illegal about it!"
"Human experimentation is legal and compliant?" Feng Lin couldn't comprehend it. "How could the Solar System United Government possibly agree to that?"
"In fact, they did." Director Frank paused, glanced at Feng Lin, and said with a knowing smile, "Surely you know that the Solar System is a chaotic star region, don't you?"