Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Slapping the Face

“You still haven’t explained why you’re so certain I wouldn’t be interested. Maybe I’ll find it fascinating?” Lu Xiao said, watching Ban Lun with a playful glint in her eyes. It made her stand out from the crowd.

Her words made Ban Lun’s expression turn serious, and his gaze grew intent. He stared at Lu Xiao, as if trying to read something on her face.

But there was nothing. He couldn’t be sure if the female before him was genuinely unafraid or just putting on a brave face. If it was an act, there wasn’t the slightest trace of it.

He stared at Lu Xiao for a long moment, and she let him scrutinize her without a care.

After a long while, Ban Lun spoke again. “If you insist, I’ll let you see. I just hope you’ll be able to maintain this same relaxed attitude then.”

“That’s not something you need to worry about.” Lu Xiao smiled at him, then turned to look through the glass. The test subject was now officially being injected with the agent.

The vital signs displayed on the visible monitors were still stable.

Five minutes later, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration had all risen significantly, approaching dangerous levels.

Lu Xiao’s arms, crossed over her chest, unconsciously tightened into fists, but not a hint of tension showed on her face.

The researchers before the operating table were unfazed by the data and continued injecting the test subject.

The 20mL of the agent in the container was now gone.

Ten minutes later, the test subject on the operating table began to convulse, and the various instruments connected to it blared with alarms.

The researchers manually disconnected the data cables. At the same time, mechanical arms emerged from the operating table, locking the test subject firmly in place.

Fifteen minutes later, the test subject awoke and became aggressive. All the researchers evacuated.

Inside the lab, only the test subject remained.

Lu Xiao watched the now half-beastified test subject. Half of its body was covered in scales, making it look like a lizard.

It thrashed wildly against the mechanical arms restraining it. Its occasional glances toward the glass observation room were filled with cold, murderous intent.

Its blood-red eyes held not a shred of humanity.

For the first time, Lu Xiao’s heart leaped into her throat. But Ban Lun, beside her, was growing more and more fanatical. He clasped his hands before his chest, his thick lips moving constantly as he muttered, “Hold on, hold on, hold on!”

Twenty minutes later, the half-beastified lizard-man had dismantled half of the thick mechanical arms. At the same time, its beastly transformation was becoming even more complete.

Its original legs had been replaced by a long, massive tail.

A researcher finally reacted. “We can’t wait any longer! Activate the purge system!”

“No! Wait a little longer! There’s still hope!” Ban Lun refused without hesitation, his fanatical gaze fixed on the rampaging Beastman behind the glass.

Lu Xiao’s brow furrowed unconsciously. The Beastman’s veins were bulging all over its body. If there was no intervention, the result would be…

Just as Lu Xiao had that thought, there was a sudden BANG. Red blood and shattered body parts sprayed across the entire laboratory.

The scene could only be described as gruesome and bloody.

The scene was so shocking that many had a visceral reaction; the sound of vomiting soon rose from all around.

Only Ban Lun was screaming in disbelief. “How could this happen? How could it have failed?!”

Lu Xiao blinked hard, suppressing the discomfort welling up inside her. She turned to the furious Ban Lun. “So this is the miracle you wanted to show me. How spectacular.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this! This was a mistake! This shouldn’t have been the outcome!” Ban Lun bellowed, looking just like an out-of-control wild boar. He even reached out, grabbed a nearby researcher, and demanded, “You! Tell me why it failed! Didn’t you say there was a good chance this time?!”

The researcher, whose collar was being held by him, had a deathly pale face. “I only said there was hope! I never guaranteed it was foolproof!”

“Useless!” Ban Lun released his grip and growled, “Bring me another test subject, right now! Continue the experiment!”

While Ban Lun was ranting and raving, C Luo, who had been standing aside without getting involved, came to Lu Xiao’s side and said softly, “Shall I escort you back?”

Lu Xiao lifted her gaze to him, her eyes no longer gentle as before. She spoke coolly, “Is this the ’side effect’ you mentioned?”

Hearing this, C Luo’s expression stiffened for a moment before he replied, “Yes.”

A small smile touched the corners of Lu Xiao’s lips. She then moved past C Luo to the side of the raving Ban Lun. “I want to see the agent’s development process. Right here, right now!”

“Who do you think you’re ordering around? Don’t think you can boss me around just because I showed you a little courtesy!” Ban Lun’s previous attitude toward Lu Xiao vanished, replaced by a ferocious glare.

Seeing this, C Luo immediately stepped forward. “Lord Ban Lun, please…”

Before he could finish, Lu Xiao, catching him off guard, suddenly reached out and slapped Ban Lun across the face. The crisp sound echoed throughout the entire observation room.

Even the researchers who had been vomiting stopped, staring at Lu Xiao in astonishment.

The single slap had knocked Ban Lun’s large, fat face to the side, a testament to how much strength the small female possessed.

“Have you calmed down now? Do you know who you’re talking to?” Lu Xiao’s tone was still calm, but her presence had intensified immensely.

Ban Lun turned his head in disbelief to look at the small female before him. “You… you dare hit me?”

“Heh. So what if I hit you? Did it hurt?” Lu Xiao sneered. “The experiment failed, and instead of analyzing what went wrong, you’re just here screaming. What do you take the test subject’s sacrifice for? Or maybe we should strap you to the operating table and treat that brain of yours?”

“You’re asking to die!” Ban Lun seemed completely enraged. He raised his hand to strike Lu Xiao, but in the next second, C Luo was standing in front of her, grabbing Ban Lun’s arm. He said in a low voice, “Lord Ban Lun, please calm yourself. Lady Lu Xiao is here at our invitation to solve this problem!”

His voice was filled with warning, and at the same time, he squeezed, the pain causing the out-of-control Ban Lun to gradually regain his composure. “I… I understand! Let go!”

C Luo shoved his flabby arm away with a look of disgust.

Ban Lun rubbed the wrist C Luo had squeezed, glaring at Lu Xiao. “Didn’t you want to see the agent’s development process? I’ll take you. I just hope you don’t end up crying in fear!”

With that, he was the first to walk to the door. Just as he was about to open it, he turned to the researchers and said, “Clean this place up!”

C Luo shielded Lu Xiao as they left the observation room, thoughtfully blocking her view of the most horrific sights.

’Of course, Lu Xiao had noticed C Luo’s actions. In fact, it was only because C Luo was by her side that she’d dared to slap Ban Lun; she had been tolerating that fat bastard for a long time. This was exactly why she had to win C Luo over. When you’re isolated and helpless in a dangerous environment, what do you do? You play to your strengths and win over an ally, of course.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep