OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 256: Chekhov's Gun

Chapter 256: Chekhov's Gun

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[Sounds tough...]

Emir chuckled at Ragnar's comment while following behind Amon.

"Alright, next, I need you three to connect your neural networks to that link point over there..."

Amon said while pointing at the internal elevator that connected the Freezer to the Farm below it.

"You can check its contents for yourself, but it will basically update your knowledge of monsters to all that we currently know."

"Also, install the lab coveralls design that we'll be using."

"How though?" Ragnar and Morgiana asked in unison.

"Oh, you only need to connect it to your augmented suit, and the rest will be done automatically."

"Roger!"

The trio approached the Aether Ring elevator and stopped at the handcuff-like object that protruded out of the wall next to it.

Unlike the normal scanners often used in the Academy, this could both receive and give data.

It was known as a 'Link Point.'

Emir was the first to go, putting his right arm under the cup-holder-shaped object. Then he slightly raised his arm until the outline of his bracelet made contact with it.

The influx of information wasn't sudden-no, not at all.

It hadn't even started; Emir needed to allow it access first.

He closed his eyes and commanded his neural network to accept the 'Link.'

Then a screen of files appeared before his mind's eye.

Emir transferred the data of all the monsters to his database.

Although he knew most of them already through Lyra and the novel, it couldn't hurt him to make sure.

Then the coveralls design was sent as well.

It connected to his augmented suit through his neural network and changed how it looked.

What once was an immaculate black suit turned into a plain white coverall.

Ragnar was the first to laugh at Emir's transformation:

"Fucking hell, you look ridiculous!"

Morgiana shared his mood as she joined Ragnar in laughter.

But soon, the tables turned, and the two of them became Emir's and Amon's laughing stock.

Ragnar had to have his beard covered, so if anything, he looked the most ridiculous out of the three.

Meanwhile, Morgiana's forehead showed its full might as her hair was spread to the side.

If she wasn't dark-skinned, her blushed face would've been pronounced, even through the hands that hid her face.

"Alright, alright, stop laughing; you win!"

The old man grinned at Morgiana's surrender and jumped in the elevator, still in his academy uniform.

'So his control over Aether is that good, huh.'

Emir followed right after, and his body wobbled at first, only to stabilize a moment later.

'It feels weird...'

He didn't know how else to describe what he currently felt.

'Squirmish... maybe?'

His body felt squirmish as he cut through what he could only sense as very thick gas, almost to the level of being liquid.

It was slightly disorientating, but he got used to that feeling quickly.

"Ughhh... this feels weird, guys."

Morgiana complained from above, while Ragnar commented:

"Kinda like molasses, am I right?"

"That's liquid you-"

Emir paused his words as his body stopped going down, and was pushed forward out of the elevator.

It wasn't forceful, however, as his balance wasn't affected.

'Damn... hopefully they get that good one day.'

The more he saw of the Academy, the more his excitement grew over the future of his Arcanist

and Technomancer companions.

"What did you say?"

Ragnar asked as his body floated to Emir's right.

"He called you an idiot."

Morgiana answered as she arrived to his left.

"Ha?! You can't be dissing me like that man... We're brothers!"

Emir ignored them and lightly jogged after Amon, as he was already walking ahead.

"Quite down, you two! And put on the masks."

They heeded Amon's words and grabbed the mask that dangled on each of their necks.

After a moment, they strapped them to their ears and pulled them to their mouth.

"I feel important for some reason."

Emir chuckled at Ragnar's joke while asking:

"So this is the breeding room, right?"

"Yep, here is where we breed and experiment on monsters."

Amon answered while scanning his bracelet before a gate.

"Most of the monsters you guys fought in the test were birthed here."

[Access granted.]

He then clicked his tongue as the gate opened.

"Even that one Zerathar you killed... it was an expensive monster, one that we've used for tens

of years you know!"

Emir shrugged his shoulders.

"I had to show your friend my capabilities; ain't got much else to say about that."

The principal, who feigned anger, quickly returned to his relaxed state.

"We'll talk about that later, but for now, look at this."

Before they could proceed further, some 'lab rats' came by and offered to tour the group, but

Amon declined.

After a few more pleasantries and a few questions from Emir, they went on their way and left them to their devices.

While this place was known as the Farm, it mainly functioned as a lab, with a breeding ground

in conjunction with it.

And since the group didn't care for any details, they ignored the lab section and directly

headed to the farm.

Hundreds of monsters of all seven types were in incubators, and they appeared to be growing

at extremely fast rates compared to the norm.

This farm section before them was separated into three areas, with every kind of reproductive

strategy accounted for.

One was for Live Birth, another for Oviparity and Larviparity.

The environment of each helped in its success, as there were even pools and fish tanks.

This meant that everything from cocoons to eggs, and tadpoles dotted the place.

"Wow, just wow... It's a good thing this ain't public knowledge."

A giggling Morgiana nodded at Ragnar.

"Yeah, otherwise, some animal protection company will pop up and demand their lives be

saved or something."

Emir chuckled.

"Well... if they did, their lives would end by night."

...

...

Ting!

Amon led them into the elevator once again, but this time it was a normal one in the floor's

main lobby as they were going to the 'P' floor.

"Don't get too bored, guys; this will be the last one."

As they huddled in, Ragnar excitedly said:

"I'm actually excited about that one the most!"

"Same... but isn't it supposed to be B instead of P?"

Amon raised a brow at Morgiana while pressing the button.

"You mean B for basement?"

"Yes."

"Heh, if someone did make such a dumb mistake, then I would've never hired them, but no..."

"It's P for prison."

Both Ragnar and Morgiana had their bodies tremble in shock.

"What?!"

"A fucking prison right under the students? What fuck-Ahem."

Amon gestured for Ragnar to continue.

"Uhhh... it's nothing, sir. Don't mind me."

Emir sneered.

"You guys don't need to worry too much..."

"The academy is the safest place on the planet, so what other place would be more suited to

house criminals?"

"I guess..."

Ragnar quickly understood, but Morgiana appeared to have some doubts still.

"But Emir, why do we even have a prison in the first place? I say we kill them all and be done

with it."

Emir flinched for a moment, and his gaze immediately landed on his brother.

But the man appeared unaffected...

Much to his relief.

"I'm fine, bro; it's not something I care about anymore."

"...Good, and Mag-"

"MORG!"

"Mag."

"I SAID MORG!"

"Okay, Morg, now happy?"

Morgiana puffed her cheeks in victory.

"Yes, I am!"

"Whatever... now about your question, well, I guess you'll find out soon enough."

Just as Emir said that, the elevator reached the bottommost floor.

The Prison.

"Now let me welcome you for the final time..."

Amon exited the elevator and stepped onto the steel floor.

"Here's where we lock up rogue celestials and other criminals."

The place was relatively empty and dark, with tens of cameras even in the lobby around the

elevator.

"We experiment on those prisoners, but with what is something you can't know yet."

'Damn... the one thing that fucking novel didn't mention is a secret.'

Emir sighed in disappointment, as did the others behind him.

"But I can show-"

Amon's words took pause as he stopped walking.

After a second or two, he turned around to face them.

"The tests for SS students will begin in a few minutes, so we'll cut the tour short."

"Now let's go watch the show unfold..."

"It's their turn to entertain now."