Philip's Alchemy Laboratory (Part 2)

Du Chen was also amused by his mother's playful retort from years ago, yet his mind raced with calculations. A maternal grandfather? Damn it all. The intel from the Saint Sigurd Cain Estate had stated that Phil's parents were mere minor nobles on the Aethelgard Continent, owning a small fiefdom, and had both passed away before Steve's birth. That territory had since been integrated into the Saint Sigurd Cain family holdings, managed by designated personnel. Such a background was unremarkable among the countless noble families of the Aethelgard Continent, but now, if Du Chen were to believe such utter nonsense, his brain would be duller than a pig's.

Thinking this, Du Chen inquired, "Mentor, could you tell me more about my mother? You know, I was only three when she passed away."

Philip settled into a high-backed chair before the alchemy desk, his eyes distant, clearly lost in memories from years past. "I don't know much about her life after graduation, but during her student days, she was an exceptionally mischievous little imp. Once, your father, Arges, stood resolutely outside her dormitory in a torrential downpour to declare his sincerity. The result? Phil later sent Arges some cold medicine… Can you guess the outcome?"

Du Chen shook his head.

"Your mother laced the cold medicine with a powerful laxative!"

Poor Arges! To think that the Imperial Vice-Commander-in-Chief, Grand Duke Lanning, once endured such an embarrassing ordeal.

Philip recounted tales from back then, but to Du Chen, none of them were 'proper' — they were all about Phil's pranks and antics.

"Francis's experimental subject has arrived!" Lewis's chilling voice cut through the air as he led a blond youth in a white robe into the tenth-floor laboratory.

Damn it, it was Arthur! *He* was his experimental subject!?

Seeing Du Chen, Arthur's surprise gave way to delight. "Francis, you're here too?" His gaze swept over the other occupants of the lab before he chuckled, correcting himself, "I saw you once during a run last time. Didn't expect to meet again."

"Indeed, what a coincidence!" Du Chen's smile was strained. "Mentor, am I to conduct live experiments?"

"Yes!" Philip nodded with a smile, and Arthur showed no surprise.

Noticing Du Chen's discomfort, Philip explained, "Don't worry, these are just basic experiments. We won't have you dissecting Arthur. He's the Lionheart King's grandson, after all!"

Du Chen let out a sigh of relief. He had been thoroughly startled when Arthur first entered, thinking he was about to vivisect a living person.

"Alright, let's get to work!" Philip rose, his expression solemn. "Francis, for this period, your task is to analyze Arthur's physical changes. Specifically… Oh, right. Your experiments can only be conducted between 7 PM and 10 PM on Saturdays. Arthur has other projects during the rest of the time." He glanced at Du Chen and added, "Furthermore, Francis, you will also serve as an experimental subject yourself. You need to write a report on the alteration of your physical talent, especially focusing on the moment your talent changed – your blood, muscles, bones…"

As he gave his instructions, a tapping sound suddenly echoed from the metal speaking tube on the wall. "Vice Dean Philip, Subject Number One has arrived. You are needed for the reception."

Du Chen's heart skipped a beat. According to the experimental numbering, he was Subject Number Seven and an assistant. More importantly, Arthur was Subject Number Two. What could Subject Number One, ranked before them both, possibly be?

"Hmm, Francis, Arthur will explain the rest to you. I must go now."

Philip and Lewis left the room, leaving the two who had once shared hardships to exchange awkward smiles. "To think *you're* my experimental subject."

"Nor did I expect *you* to be the experimenter." Arthur removed his robe. "Let's begin. I recall last time we did a blood test here." As Du Chen started the experiment, Arthur chuckled, "My apologies, I concealed a lot from you last time. Er, I can tell you now: I came to Battle God Isle specifically to be an experimental subject. In exchange, I will be the first to benefit once Vice Dean Philip's experiment succeeds."

"Benefit? Is it the alteration of talent?"

"That's just one aspect, but Vice Dean Philip isn't willing to reveal more. However, this one aspect is already enough." Arthur glanced at the metal speaking tube, implying he couldn't say more.

Du Chen asked no further questions and diligently continued with the experiment. As he drew a small tube of fresh blood from Arthur's arm, Arthur suddenly stopped his hand. Using a tiny test tube from the workbench, he dipped it into some dye and wrote on the white medical drape, concealed from direct view: "Why are you here as an assistant?"

He was clearly wary of surveillance.

Du Chen, likewise, used the opportunity of the blood test to write on the drape: "What's wrong? Is something amiss?"

"From what I've observed, this experiment is highly dangerous; many powerful eyes are fixed upon it!"

"I already know that."

"Then do you know what the laboratories below the thirteenth floor are for? That place is a slaughterhouse, conducting vivisections on live subjects!" He maintained a calm demeanor, cooperating with the experiment, but his hand wrote words that shocked Du Chen to his core. "If I weren't the Lionheart King's grandson, I would surely have been vivisected! Philip said you're also an experimental subject. Be extra careful; I suspect he might have ill intentions towards you!"

Du Chen's expression subtly shifted as he looked at Arthur with a puzzled gaze.

"What? Is there something wrong with my blood?" Arthur feigned inquiry.

"Hmm, it's a bit strange. From what I know, normal blood…" Du Chen muttered a casual fabrication, then watched Arthur write another message: "Philip is a madman! He'd do anything for alchemy!" He paused, seemingly having made a decision, and then wrote, "He doesn't know we're companions in adversity, which is why he's confident in letting me be your experimental subject. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I understand! I'll continue to act unfamiliar with you, so you can provide me with more information!"

Arthur gazed at his freshly drawn blood and smiled, as if he saw the hope of altering his talent. But only Du Chen understood the true meaning behind his smile.

Arthur wrote again: "In the very bottom level, I accidentally saw your data files bundled with those of a woman named Phil – both kept within the experimental subjects' dossiers!"

Phil was one of Philip's experimental subjects!? Du Chen nearly lost control of his expression. He quickly wrote, "Phil is my mother. Did you see anything else? Any information about some kind of ritual?"

"Yes! Philip seems to worship some religion. There's another iron door below the lowest-level lab. I don't know what's inside, but…"

Arthur stopped writing as footsteps suddenly echoed from outside. He quickly wiped away all the text.

Lewis knocked and entered, saying coldly, "Tenth-Floor Assistant, a certain experimental subject is quite dangerous, highly likely to cause an upheaval on Hot Spring Mountain. Mentor Philip instructs you to secure the instruments and experimental materials! Also, Subject Number Two's allotted time is up for today; he needs to proceed to his next project's test."

"Understood! Eleventh-Floor Assistant!" The titles within Philip's Alchemy Laboratory were peculiar; assistants referred to each other by their floor numbers.

Arthur was led away, and Du Chen pondered as he tidied the experimental apparatus.

Just then, a loud shout came from the stairwell outside: "He's yours now! Don't bother me, get lost! I don't have time to help you suppress him; there's an idiot kid at home waiting for me to teach him a lesson!"

It was Roland's voice.