The mechanical tracks in the observation area slowly ground to a halt.
Serena locked her eyes on the enclosure. "Here it is."
As the silver-gray stasis pod locked into the central display mount under the blazing surgical lights, the Living Asset within was finally revealed in all its grotesque glory.
Specimen Seven was strapped to a heavily customized restraint platform.
Its physique was so unnaturally massive it bordered on a horrifying mutation.
Thick, blackish-blue veins bulged violently against pale, lifeless skin as its massive chest rose and fell in a slow, labored rhythm.
Thick life-support cables were drilled directly into its flesh.
At the base of its neck, the metallic outline of a subdermal control chip was clearly visible beneath the skin.
Specimen Seven was no longer thrashing with the violent rage it had shown earlier, but its eyes weren't fully closed either.
Those bloodshot, vacant eyes stared out from beneath half-lidded eyelids, harboring the faintest, most agonizing flicker of consciousness.
It was the last fragile remnant of the human it used to be.
Nicholas finally shifted his gaze to Specimen Seven. After a few seconds, he raised an eyebrow. "Is this what Project Zero-Transit considers its crowning achievement? Your grand finale Living Asset?"
Director Kaelen stepped forward, his tone eager and deferential. "Yes, Mr. Sterling Sovereign. Specimen Seven is currently our most stable Semi-Finished Asset. Its biological metrics vastly outperform standard augments. Its cellular regeneration, explosive physical power, and sheer damage resistance are all off the charts."
"Once we pair it with the finalized neural-control chips and issue-based conditioning, it will become the ultimate private vanguard. It can execute... tasks that ordinary humans could never dream of completing."
Kaelen chose his words carefully.
But everyone in the room knew exactly what those "tasks" entailed—massacres, assassinations, urban warfare, and off-the-grid wetwork.
Moreover, it would be an asset that obeyed commands with absolute loyalty, unable to betray its master, unable to feel pain, and practically impossible to kill. A flawless engine of slaughter.
Nicholas listened, a faint smirk playing on his lips. He looked back at Specimen Seven. "When I make a purchase, I don't buy defective goods. I assume you're familiar with my standards."
Specimen Seven might have been their most stable Living Asset.
But this specific asset had already been claimed by another buyer. Showing it off now was pointless; even if he wanted it, it wasn't for sale. The Sterling Sovereign's underlying threat was impossible to miss.
Director Kaelen quickly backpedaled. "Rest assured, sir. The Syndicate only presents a Living Asset as our grand finale when we can guarantee zero flaws. We would never put a defective product on the auction block."
He nervously glanced at Serena.
"Furthermore, to ensure absolute perfection, we retained Your
Excellency The Panacea as oUR
medical consultant to guarantee the
asset's structural stability
"Your Excellency, isn't that right? Specimen Seven's current vitals are optimal, correct?"
Serena barely glanced at the telemetry before giving a lukewarm reply. "Like I said, it's temporarily stable. If it starts breaking down, I'll let you know before it detonates."
Director Kaelen wanted to scream.
Could she possibly have phrased that any worse?!
Nicholas, however, narrowed his dark eyes. He chewed on the word with a cold, mocking smile. "Temporarily?"
The word slipped from his lips, steeped in a sudden, suffocating wave of danger.
Kaelen scrambled to formulate an excuse.
But Serena was already shooting a lazy, sideways glance at Nicholas, her lips curling upward. "Would you prefer the truth, Mr. Sterling Sovereign, or the sales pitch the ship wants you to hear
Kaelen's face turned ashen. "Your Excellency..."
Nicholas cut him off effortlessly. "The truth."
Serena turned to Kaelen and shrugged. "Look, your most elite VIP asked a direct
question. As his dedicated consultant, I can't exactly lie to him, can I?"