As the elevator platform continued to descend, Killua saw more and more things, and they increasingly filled him with trepidation.
Within this military base in the mountains, each floor, in addition to amenities like rest areas, gyms, bars, and libraries, also had experimental grounds, office spaces, and soldier training areas.
There was even a weapon testing ground, and some of the weapons there he had never seen, let alone heard of.
And as the elevator descended, Amedeo continued to introduce him to the base's origins, construction process, and the manpower and resources expended.
What shocked Killua the most was that they had spent trillions of Jennies in total to build this military base, and after its completion, they still had to continuously spend money on maintenance, with annual maintenance costs across various aspects being an astronomical figure.
Killua secretly calculated in his mind that if he were to earn this much money, it would probably take him over a thousand years.
And he would have to do so without eating or drinking, constantly taking on commissions.
"Click~"
Suddenly, the elevator platform stopped. Killua looked up; they had arrived at Zone A, 40F.
Illumi and Killua, led by Amedeo, finally arrived before a thick metal door after a ten-minute walk. This was the high-level conference room on 40F.
Amedeo stood before the door, looking up. A scanning device was installed at the top of the door. After a flash of white light, a faint blue light shone onto Amedeo's face.
Amedeo's facial model data and iris were transmitted to the database via the scanner for matching.
The faint blue light scanned for less than a second. The metal door "clicked~" open. Amedeo stood at the doorway, turning to look at Illumi.
"Killua, this is as far as you go."
Before entering, he looked down at Killua and said softly.
He felt there were some things that Killua's current strength was not sufficient to know.
"Mm."
Killua didn't care, just lightly nodding his head.
Actually, Killua very much wanted to know the secrets hidden within Illumi, and how he managed to possess such astonishing organizational power in just seven years.
But only upon seeing all this with his own eyes did Killua truly understand.
His current self was not yet strong enough to step into Illumi's world, nor strong enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him.
"You can move freely on 40F."
Illumi's face broke into a smile, then he turned and stepped through the metal door.
Amedeo glanced at Killua, then followed closely.
"Click~!"
As the two entered, the metal door closed again.
And upon entering the metal door, what appeared before them was not a spacious conference hall, but a passage tens of meters long.
At this time, the conference hall on 40F of Zone A.
Dozens of high-ranking executives in different attire were seated.
Their postures varied, and their aura was extraordinary.
Dozens of people sat formally around a huge oval conference table.
A transparent globe, radiating a faint blue light, floated in the center of the conference table, slowly rotating.
Unlike ordinary globes, the volume of this transparent globe model was somewhat too large, at least ten times larger than a normal globe model.
Over 90% of the map on it was completely black, representing unexplored territories by humans.
On the left side of the oval conference table, King Bradley led, sitting with Pride, Greed, and seven Nen Beasts, along with Julius, Caesar, Andres, and others.
On the right, Ballard, Baldwin, and Boyce, three biomedical Ph.D.s, led, sitting with Helen, Kypsil, Conrad, Celeste, and other Ph.D.s.
And besides these seven Ph.D.s whose names Illumi could recall, there were also many Ph.D.s aged over fifty, or even in their seventies, seated there.
These people were once global academic sensations. Each of them had reached the pinnacle in their respective fields, making important contributions to humanity.
Now, they were the respective heads of various research institutes at the SCP Headquarters Base.
"Tap... tap..."
In the passage outside the conference hall, two slightly heavy footsteps echoed, reverberating through the deep, quiet corridor, slowly approaching the faint blue door standing at the end of the corridor.
"Click~"
The technologically advanced faint blue door slowly opened, revealing an extremely vast space. The floor was made of exquisite special alloy tiles, and under the faint blue light, the entire room exuded a hazy, futuristic feel.
"Good afternoon, everyone."
Illumi came and took the principal seat, his left arm resting on the chair's armrest, his right hand resting on the table in front of him, lightly tapping it twice. Ripples spread across the tabletop.
And on the giant transparent globe in the middle of the conference table, a video immediately appeared, playing the previously sent video of the unknown sea monster that Ickshonpe had sent to Illumi.
"This is...!?"
Except for King Bradley and Pride, who already knew the content,
everyone else, whether they were the Ph.D.s over fifty or people like Julius and Andres, all watched the video playing with shocked expressions.
However, the video was very short, less than a minute long.
"All of you present should have already reviewed the Dark Continent data prepared by the organization."
Illumi looked around. Everyone present, whether they were the Ph.D.s or Julius, Amedeo, and others, all nodded in succession.
"Then, you should all already know about the dangerous creature evaluation table formulated by the V5 based on the creatures of the Dark Continent."
Everyone present exchanged glances, unsure of the meaning in Illumi's words.
"As early as before the organization was founded, I had already formulated five danger levels based on the dangerous creature levels issued by the V5 Special Dangerous Creature Management Agency."
Five levels!?
Everyone present was startled upon hearing this.
The four levels on the dangerous creature evaluation table were categorized into A, B, C, and D based on "ferocity," "quantity," "reproductive capacity," and "destructive power."
Now Illumi was actually saying that he had formulated a fifth level.
Doesn't that mean there are creatures even more terrifying than A-class dangerous creatures?
Illumi looked at everyone present. Julius and others were fine; they weren't too familiar with these creatures yet.
But the Ph.D.s whispered among themselves, continuously exchanging glances, clearly showing considerable shock.
"Everyone."
Illumi suddenly spoke, interrupting the Ph.D.s' discussion. He pointed at the unknown monster frozen in the video, his voice calm.
"According to Beyond, this unknown monster came from the Dark Continent, its motive unknown."
"Judging from the content of the video, this sea monster is incredibly strong, not inferior to the world's top Nen users."
"Even in terms of physical body, it's far beyond human comparison, even for Enhancement-type Nen users."
As Illumi spoke, he zoomed in on the monster's image in the video, allowing everyone to observe it more closely.
"What's that thing on the monster's head?"
Andres asked, grinning, clearly very interested in the black giant on the monster's head.
"That is a manifestation of the world's top Nen user's ability," Illumi glanced at him and said.
"The world's top Nen user?" Andres's eyes gleamed. "That giant is at least thirty or forty meters tall, right? Is that his Nen Beast?"
"That's too exaggerated, it's practically breaking the rules!"
Although he said this, Andres's expression was in a state of excitement.
Julius, Caesar, Amedeo, and others were the same, their eyes filled with excitement as they looked at the gigantic Nen Beast in the video.
"But even the world's top Nen user can't do anything against it."
A deep voice sounded. Illumi and everyone else's gazes converged on the source of the sound.
White uniform, glasses, thick black hair, and that noticeable sideburns—it was Dr. Kypsil, the head of the Weapon Research Institute.
"This shows that pure individual power has its limits."
"But, if Nen, this kind of power, is used in human weapons, on a large scale..."
Dr. Kypsil said this, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth. His meaning was clear.
"Then, Dr. Kypsil, what progress has your research made?"
Illumi bent his index finger and lightly tapped the table, questioning Dr. Kypsil.
Kypsil turned his gaze to Illumi, his expression solemn, and lightly tapped the table in front of him.
"Sizzle~"
The monster video on the transparent globe disappeared, replaced by a video of a single-person powered exoskeleton armor. As Dr. Kypsil's finger slid, the video slowly rotated.
"Five years ago, Instructor Amedeo's Nen ability inspired me."
"From mid-1982 to the end of 1987, for five years, I have been researching, developing, and practicing based on the data provided by Instructor Amedeo."
"Finally, after spending a large amount of funds, manpower, and resources, with hundreds of researchers working day and night, we have achieved our final result."
Dr. Kypsil lightly tapped his finger. The powered exoskeleton armor in the video began to move, walking, jogging, punching, kicking, gradually increasing its speed step by step, until it was sprinting through the forest at a speed far exceeding human limits.
When it encountered a river, it leaped several meters high from the ground, easily crossing the river.
When it encountered a cliff over ten meters high, it directly leaped off, drawing an arc in mid-air, landing with a crash, and continued to sprint without any abnormality.
The scene changed. The powered exoskeleton armor appeared in a weapon training ground. A soldier used various firearms and bombs to test it. Even a Gatling gun couldn't penetrate its armor.
"This is the single-person powered exoskeleton armor representing the future of humanity. The one in the video is the prototype alpha-J1 model."
Dr. Kypsil introduced it to everyone, looking at Illumi, his eyes filled with excitement.
"Boss, as long as you agree, this groundbreaking single-person weapon can be mass-produced immediately."
"By then, even the V5 will have no choice but to surrender."
Dr. Kypsil's tone was full of excitement. Everyone in the conference room also fixed their gaze on Illumi.
But at this moment, Illumi had closed his eyes, his right index finger lightly tapping the table.
As time passed, the atmosphere in the conference room grew heavier. Even Dr. Kypsil's heart shifted from excitement to solemnity.
"I ask you, how did you solve the energy problem?"
Suddenly, Illumi's cold voice resonated in the conference hall. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at Kypsil.
"Nen. The Nen of Nen users."
Someone provided an answer, but that person was not Dr. Kypsil.
"Nen?"
Illumi turned his questioning gaze to the speaker. This person wore a white uniform exclusive to researchers, with thinning hair, glasses, and slightly graying temples. He appeared to be in his fifties.
It was Dr. Celeste, the head of the Energy Research Institute.
And sitting beside him was his former friend and colleague, now the副所長 (fù suǒ zhǎng - deputy director), Dr. Conrad.
Dr. Conrad lightly tapped the table. The monster video on the transparent globe disappeared, replaced by a photo of a large circular device, and another identical device, tens of times smaller.
The device looked like a metallic glowing disc, but if Illumi were to describe it, it was more like a nuclear reactor from a sci-fi movie in his previous life.
"This is 'Origin,' used to store Nen users' Nen and convert it into the energy needed for the powered exoskeleton armor's operation."
Dr. Celeste adjusted his glasses. Unlike the excited Dr. Kypsil, he was very calm.
"New energy technology..."
"Doesn't that mean this technology can also be applied to other fields besides energy?"
"For example, aircraft, firearms, automobiles, or even directly changing the future of humanity, promoting the development of human society and civilization."
At this moment, Julius spoke. His identity as a businessman made him instantly see the terrifying future prospects of this technology.
"Promote social development?"
Illumi's knuckles tapped the table. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the two doctors.
"No."
And just as Illumi was about to ask a question, Dr. Celeste spoke again.
"Oh~ why not?"
Illumi became interested. What Julius said gave him a sense of unreality.
A technology developed by hundreds of researchers over five years, if it could promote human social development just like that, it would be a bit too simple.
"Because it has a drawback, a very big drawback."
"And right now, we are still completely clueless about this drawback."
Dr. Conrad chimed in, making everyone present frown.
"Storing the Nen within Nen users and converting it into energy has a very strict requirement."
"That is, this Nen must not contain impurities."
"Impurities?" Illumi frowned slightly.
"That's right."
Dr. Conrad continued.
"In our research, we found that Nen users' Nen is not all the same."
"After long periods of research, we discovered that Nen, this mysterious energy, comes in many varieties."
"We tested 50 Nen users within the base and found that Nen, this mysterious energy, possesses different characteristics depending on each Nen user's personality."
"Not only that, even changes in a Nen user's emotions can affect the change in Nen, this energy."
"And all these characteristics and changes are impurities. They are unstable."
"Only a very small number of people can possess pure Nen."
"And according to our research, the Nen of Enhancement-type Nen users is the most stable."
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