Chapter 183
Translator’s Notes: Outdoors. Busy. Apologies if delay.
Chapter 183: The ‘Parasite Code’ Left Behind by Chamonidine [Part 1]
Falvey led Cillin to a low-rise semi circular building. Without a word, he started the ID inspection process and caused a scanner display to pop out of the door. After the duo was scanned and their IDs were confirmed, they entered the building and took the lift straight up to the fifth floor. They arrived beside a door.
"Father, I’ve brought him over." Falvey said.
The door opened with a beep after Falvey’s voice.
An old man sat inside the room. In reality he wasn’t that old, he just had a full head of white hair and looked like he had gone through a lot in his life. Judging from Falvey’s hair color, Nata should not have a head filled with white hair, so it could only be an acquired change.
Age wise, Nata might not necessary be much older than Barthus or Songba Leruo. However, it would seem that fifty years in prison were an ordeal to Nata.
"Father." Falvey’s face grew much gentler when he was facing Nata. The feeling of estrangement from before was gone.
Nata gave a smile that was completely different from Falvey’s. Nata’s smile was very cordial, although for some reason his current smile had a very vague hint of sadness in it. Perhaps it was because he had just returned from Sector S.
Nata was holding a book when Cillin and Falvey had come in. It was a printed book that looked rather old.
"Take a seat, Cillin." Nata pointed at a chair at the side and turned to Falvey, "You may leave first. I will call you later."
Falvey opened his mouth, but chose to say nothing in the end. He left in silence, but there was a shred of reluctance in his eyes.
After Falvey left, Nata examined Cillin closely once more. He looked like he was looking at a junior he valued greatly.
"I never thought that the Sixth B Squadron could produce someone like you." Nata sighed.
Cillin was puzzled. A person like me? What kind of person are we talking about exactly?
Nata smiled again when he saw Cillin’s puzzlement. He asked, "You’ve read some of Chamonidine’s notebooks in Enji’s possession, haven’t you?"
Cillin nodded.
Enji was brought up by Chamonidine, and Chamonidine was originally a member of the Third B Squadron.
Nata felt like sighing a little. He had taken it pretty hard when he heard of Enji’s death earlier. The original group was almost all gone. Back then Chamonidine was even relieved by the fact that he had transferred Enji to the Sixth B Squadron, but in the end they weren’t able to meet each other after he came out of Sector S.
Nata stood up and said to Cillin, "Come with me."
This place was probably Nata’s private property. After going through a few doors, Nata had led Cillin into a study. Yes, it was a study.
Many of the books here were printed, and most of them were notebooks, diaries and pertinent records.
Some of them looked almost just the same as the few books Cillin had in his possession. They were probably Chamonidine’s belongings.
"Most of the books in Enji’s possession are duplicates and incomplete. All of Chamonidine’s records on the research of parasites are here. Right, there’s also that." Nata took out a thick notebook from a closet. The notebook was half electronic and half paper, different from the other normal printed books. It was similar to some published newspapers where the images on the paper were movable.
Cillin carefully accepted the thick notebook from Nata for a look after he saw the cheris.h.i.+ng look on his face. Cillin did not open the book and look at its contents immediately, and instead looked at Nata with puzzlement.
Nata explained, "This is the opus Chamonidine was never able to complete. We call it ‘Parasite Code’. There are many kinds of parasites recorded inside the book, and almost all of them were seen with his own eyes while Chamonidine was performing missions with the squad everywhere in the galaxy. The records are incomplete however, and many in-depth researches to be conducted were cut short. One reason was that there wasn’t much idle time to research a particular parasite, and the other reason was that he was working with limited resources. Back then, there were many people including the original members of the Third B Squadron who had doubts about Chamonidine’s parasite research. Then the incident happened fifty years ago, and everything came to a stop."
"Then, you mean&h.e.l.lip;"
"Cillin, whenever you think to research anything in this respect, you may pay this place a visit whenever you want. Although some of these doc.u.ments were considered cla.s.sified by the regiment and should not be given access to non-key researchers, most of the A Squadron’s research personnel are not working on a project in this respect. In order to keep Chamonidine’s research findings from being wasted, I’ve decided to share these data with you."
"Although I am very glad to be given access to these materials and to read senior Chamonidine’s research findings, but can you please explain your intentions a little clearer to me, senior Nata?" even now Cillin still did not understand where Nata was going with this. Was he planning to have him take over Chamonidine’s research project and continue his research? But Cillin was the Sixth B Squadron’s lieutenant commander right now. While he couldn’t claim to be swamped by work on a daily basis, but he definitely did not have much free time to research this specifically either.
Nata shook his head, "I simply did not wish to see Chamonidine’s research go to waste. In reality, there are very few people who truly understands the value of ‘Parasite Code’, and I am one of them. Perhaps it is because I don’t understand these things. However, when the incident was over the admiral* cla.s.sified ‘Parasite Code’ as a secret doc.u.ment, and no one knew about this record’s existence barring some key research personnel. Most of the people who knew about it had died fifty years ago." Nata’s voice sank a little when he said this. He had obviously recalled the bad memories of the past.
*or colonel-in-chief. Army wise, the head of a regiment should be a colonel, but Vanguard is not the army and the highest rank of a fleet is admiral, hence the choice. I am happy to correct my mistake if someone believes that I’ve made a mistake here.
"You think too highly of me." Cillin wasn’t really overjoyed by Nata’s words. Nata was a person who had just returned from Sector S. On what basis did he think so highly of Cillin’s abilities? There was no way it was because of Enji. From Enji’s diary, Cillin knew that Enji wasn’t all too important in Nata’s eyes. If it wasn’t for Chamonidine, Enji would not have entered Nata’s eyes at all.
While caressing a notebook, Nata said slowly, "After I came back, I was no longer commander of the Third B Squadron and had entered the A Squadron straight away. Logically speaking, I should not be bothering myself with these things any longer. However, Chamonidine was a good friend, and before he pa.s.sed away, he transferred all of his research findings to me. I have a right to decide what to do with these data; it is the responsibility I have chosen to bear after all. I believe that these things that he valued so much must be of incredible value. Even during the time I was in prison, I would often think: what should I do to make them s.h.i.+ne?
After I came back, I learned about Vanguard’s current situation, and came to realise your achievements, Cillin. Barthus and Songba Leruo had communicated with me, and they both knew that I am rather concerned in news related to parasites. That is why they’ve recommended you to me, Cillin. That being said, it wasn’t until I checked your data that I realise just how far your abilities had exceeded my expectations."
While saying this, Nata brought up a piece of information. Cillin was very familiar with the data flas.h.i.+ng across the screen. It was the data on the two parasites he used to eliminate ‘Poison Fang’ back then.
"According to the explanation provided by the research inst.i.tute, both kinds of parasites had been purposely implanted with a series of death inducing genes. The parasite would perish as long as a segment of the series of death inducing genes was activated, and the deciding factor of this trigger was time&h.e.l.lip;"
It was true. Although that planet was filled with the parasites Cillin and the gray cat had unleashed at the time, there was a decline point in the life cycles of both parasites. This decline point was the time when the death inducing genes were activated, and once triggered the parasites and its colony would slowly decline and die out. Cillin had no wish for the entire planet to become the parasites’ nest, because if that happened Vanguard would be hardpressed to bring the planet fully under control. Not everyone had a const.i.tution like Cillin’s, and a rare species of s.p.a.ce like the gray cat was difficult to come by even in ten thousand years.
Nata couldn’t help but grin after he said that, "You don’t know this, but your former commander, Seru was bursting with joy when he talked about you."
This time Cillin was truly surprised. This was the first time he heard of their former commander, Seru’s opinion about him. He didn’t think that their former commander was still paying attention to them.
"Oh, I guess you probably don’t know much about Seru. He just doesn’t like to brag about, that’s all. I heard that Seru was the one who escorted the military spy who went undercover in Poison Fang, Emmus, to negotiate his release with the military. He was so happy he could die back then."
In reality, those who had been promoted to the A Squadron would often pay attention to the news of their former B Squadron. When they met up with one another, they would compare their B Squadrons like a parent talking about their own children. After all, who wouldn’t want to talk about the glorious achievements of their own children? They couldn’t wait to boast even their slightest achievements. However, Seru was gloomy for a few years, and during the low times of the Sixth B Squadron, Seru had the impulse to kick down the Sixth B Squadron’s door and beat the s.h.i.+t out of those disappointing brats every time he talked about the squad with Barthus and the others.
However, Seru had gotten increasingly c.o.c.ky ever since the Sixth B Squadron had gotten out of Sector Z. When Cillin was added into the mix, forget Seru, even Barthus and Songba Leruo praised Cillin a lot.
Talents and abilities weren’t something that could be gotten just because you wanted too.
"Do whatever you want. Seru had said that you are the only one who had some drive in you in the entire Sixth B Squadron right now. Back then, Seru had led the Sixth B Squadron in a way that did not promote much independence. They were completely reliant on him, the commander. As a consequence, those who were left behind immediately lost drive the moment Seru was promoted to the A Squad." Nata said sincerely and earnestly.
Nata told Cillin that he could come over and check the data anytime he had a need. Everything in the study was taken over from Chamonidine, and the average person might not even have the privilege to read the duplicate copies of these doc.u.ments, much less the original. Naturally, Cillin knew about this. There was no chance that he was letting a boon like the right to read Chamonidine’s research findings and relevant records slip by him.
Chapter 183: The ‘Parasite Code’ Left Behind by Chamonidine [Part 2]
Cillin stayed back inside the study and flipped through the handwritten notebooks. He knew that there were definitely security cameras in the study, but he paid them no heed. Right now, the important thing to do was to memorise what he could as quickly as possible. With Cillin’s faculty of memory, he did not need to photocopy any doc.u.ments. He simply needed to read through the original doc.u.ments once. In the future, he would not be returning here often since there was no telling when he would have the chance to return to the base once he went out on a mission with his squad.
Cillin discovered that Chamonidine enjoyed writing down his information on many occasions. Moreover, he especially enjoyed using the most common paper notebooks that were considered washed out goods in certain places.
Right now, the handwritten notebook Cillin was holding in his hand was one such object. When he flipped through the notebook, he could see that Chamonidine had jotted down plenty of records whom Chamonidine by pen. He even drew drawn many kinds of parasites personally in his notebooks. The sketches looked incredibly lifelike. Chamonidine once mentioned in a notebook that one could only understand these life forms better when they drew them with their own hands, thereby putting themselves in the parasite’s shoes and understanding their potential weaknesses and relevant ecological characteristics.
While Cillin knew that there were surveillance monitoring in the study, he could never have imagined who was monitoring him right now.
"How much do you think he can memorise?" a person asked.
"I don’t know." Nata shook his head.
"This kid is extraordinary!" While speaking, the person could not help but smile, "He is a budding young Hunter; a rare one no less!"
"It is rare that you will give such an a.s.sessment, boss."
The man who was addressed as ‘boss’ by Nata was none other than Vanguard’s number one leader and one of the Six Stars of Hunt – Ji Feng!
Cillin flipped through the notebooks really quickly even when he was reading the book known as the essence of Chamonidine’s research, ‘Parasite Code’. While he looked like he was skimming through the books absentmindedly, in reality Cillin had memorised everything inside them.
Cillin stayed inside the study for three days, and during this period Nata had sent his men over to bring Cillin food. Other than eating, Cillin spent the rest of his time flipping through the records inside the study. Nata did not try to advise Cillin against his actions and just let him be.
Three days later, Cillin finally stood up from his chair, stretching his somewhat stiff limbs and moving his muscles. After three days of high concentration reading without stopping to sleep or rest, he had exhausted a huge amount of brainpower and could feel a wave of exhaustion rolling his way clearly.
He rubbed his eyes. Cillin walked out of the study, thanked and bid Nata goodbye before leaving.
Just like before, Falvey piloted Nata’s airplane and sent Cillin back home. However, Falvey was now looking at Cillin in a different light. Cillin didn’t know exactly what Nata had told him, but Falvey had actually taken the initiative to speak a few words with him. This turn of events greatly surprised Cillin.
The first thing Cillin did after returning to Sixth B Squadron was to tuck himself in bed. He paid no heed to Rikulab’s progress in medicinal research. He had given it a rough look and saw no problems that he could find at that moment. Rikulab would eventually resolve all present complications given a bit more time.
Cillin paid no heed to Eudy researching the data on the prison defense system he stole from Sector S either. The paper Eudy had slipped him earlier prior to his departure was a request for Cillin to steal the prison’s defense system programs and relevant data for research purposes.
Right now Cillin’s brain was completely filled with dense packs of parasites, and flying molecular formulas and DNAs. He needed to digest them properly.
Before Cillin could return to his room and begin his ‘seclusion and great cultivation’, Dias told him that he and Asiya were going to hold their wedding in ten days. He told him that he must wake up before the day no matter what, or he would drag him to wakefulness one way or another.
In actuality, the ‘digestion’ process took less than ten days. Cillin had awakened after sleeping for eight days straight.
There were many little things that had happened during these eight days. For instance, Tico had officially joined Vanguard, the Sixth B Squadron’s animal corps had raided Cary’s storage cabinet once more, and Tico’s accommodation was now publicly known as the scariest place to exist in the Sixth B Squadron&h.e.l.lip;
Regardless, Shawton was very satisfied with the current Sixth B Squadron. The squad had been blessed with a continuous stream of new and excellent talents all this time, and his former commander Seru had even taken great care of him when he was at the A Squad previously. Shawton was overwhelmed by the favor shown by his former superior, since Seru was itching to drag him to a corner and give him a punch or two every time he saw him before.
As of late, Dias was radiating with happiness. To quote Cary’s words, "A family man or woman is just not the same!"
When Dias’ old or new friends heard that the man was about to get wedded, even those who could not attend the wedding had purposely sent him their congratulations. The wedding venue was none other than the Sixth B Squadron’s big a.s.sembly hall.
Cillin had gifted Dias a huge red packet, requested by none other than Dias himself. Dias had said earlier that he wanted his gift to be a little more practical and pragmatic, which was why Cillin sent him a debit card with six figures in it. Dias was so elated that his eyebrows nearly flew off his face.
On the day of the wedding, Dias dressed himself very formally. As the saying goes, people are in high spirits when involved in joyous occasions. Dias wore a smile on his face all the way as he walked into the big a.s.sembly hall and held the bride’s hands in his own.
Before them, the two little fellows Scarlet Wind and Tang Qiuqiu held a flower basket each and showered the floor with flowers all the way.
Scarlet Wind worked hard not to wag his tail, but it was a difficult reaction to control when he was in a happy mood. His smile was so wide that even his canine teeth was showing. This was the first time he encountered such a thing, and this was the first time he was joined with so many people. He was very happy to experience such a joyous atmosphere.
There was a period of time that was dedicated to performance, and plenty of people went up stage to present their congratulatory speeches or performances. Among them, the most dazzling performance of them all was the PK between the gray cat and Rikulab – a funk dance off.
When Cary heard that Rikulab was going to challenge the gray into a funk dance off, he had looked at the guy with a pitying look on his face. While the others might not know about the gray cat’s secrets, he was at least educated in some of them, especially the gray cat’s machine form. Challenge that bizarre life form into a funk dance off? What’s the difference between that and making one’s life harder?
As it turned out, the only people who had seen the two ‘demons’ dancing off in ‘Dance Night’ at Sector F’s Acallela were Cillin, Udoze and Tang Qiuqiu. There were many people who never knew about the atmosphere these two people oozed into existence the second they started dancing. Therefore, when Rikulab and the gray cat merged with the rhythm and took the first step, everyone’s att.i.tude had changed.
Again, Rikulab presented his aura as Dance Night’s ‘Wolf King’ on stage to the crowd. Although he was incomparable to the gray cat who already had an advantage in the first place, the two dancers absolutely detonated the pa.s.sion of everyone present in the wedding. Even the commanders of other squadrons who showed up only to go through the motions could not help but praise the Sixth B Squadron for obtaining a few demon level characters this time. Nata and others wore pondering looks on their faces as well.
There was no need for proof of arms. The a.s.sembly hall had boiled up under the unique atmosphere alone.
Dias said that this wedding hadn’t just made Asiya and him whole, but also spread Rikulab’s and the gray cat’s dancing fame throughout the entire Vanguard.
When the two dancing fellows were done, it took a long time before the people finally came back to themselves and realise that they were humans and not robots*.
*this confused even my own editor, but this is referring to the people themselves. They’re dancing the robot dance, and they were carried away to the point they forgot that they’re human for a time.
While robots could express and move identically or even more fluently than humans these days with current technology, the illusion of executing a series of programmed instructions had stayed in the crowd’s hearts for a very long time.
There could not be a wedding without a banquet, and the Sixth B Squadron was not lacking in gluttons. This was especially true for a certain white fatso who was running around happily.
Tico’s Little White continued to nibble and chew at its carrots quietly at a corner with relish. However, its eyes would stray to the gray cat, s...o...b..ll and others in the venue from time to time.
Not long after the wedding had ended, the A Squad reported that the disturbance in Sector S had officially subsided.
The end of the disturbance in Sector S did not mean that it was the beginning of a period of tranquility. Perhaps, an even bigger tide was gradually approaching.