Everyone was gathered in the dining hall on the sixth day. They shared a meal together, and Slacovich took it as an opportunity to bring up everyone's opinion about the project—whether they had all come to a decision. They ate and chatted, building a light mood before the serious talk to follow. Once dinner was done, Slacovich opened the conversation with a firm question.
"I guess it's time to dwell on the matter. What are your decisions?" he asked in a serious tone.
"Let me answer first," Sofie said, raising her hand. "For me, I'm very open to proceeding with this project—no matter the cost. It's a great chance to do something greater. We may be under the General's command, but I believe I'll still have the chance to fulfill my own goals. Missions are inevitable, and I find that challenging. As long as I don't harm innocent people, I will serve my country willingly and according to the rules set by the General. But hear me out—those rules must not go against my principles. If they do, the General above me will have a hard time."
Princess Sofie giggled teasingly and winked at the CCTV. General Prius, familiar with how stubborn the princess could be, took it as a fair warning for the future.
"You've got quite the plan ahead of you, Princess Sofie," Slacovich said with a smile. Everyone was stunned to learn Sofie's true identity.
"Sofie's enough. Drop the 'Princess,'" she said. Their eyes met, a sudden flush washing over them, and they quickly looked away to shrug it off.
"I'll openly say what's on my mind," Ara spoke next.
"Go ahead, Ara," Sofie encouraged with a smile.
"Well... I'm not really sold on this whole thing. I just want a simple life. I came here because the General promised a better future for the kids I've been taking care of. Also, to escape the forced marriages my mother kept pushing on me. When I think about it, those reasons aren't really enough to sacrifice my humanity. How will I cope after the transformation? Will I become the General's puppet? I'm seeking freedom, yet I'll still be bound by rules. I don't want to force myself into something with an uncertain outcome. Will everything end well? Will I even survive the process? These questions keep haunting me..."
She paused. "But after talking to Tyler, I realized—I'm not hesitant. I'm just afraid. Afraid of doing it alone. Tyler helped me find the courage to move forward. Like Sofie, I see this as the change I've been searching for."
Tyler reached under the table and held Ara's hand. They looked at each other, and tears welled in her eyes. Tyler pulled her into a hug and comforted her.
"We'll do this together. You're not alone—not anymore. I promise you that," he said, kissing her forehead as she smiled through the tears.
"So Sofie and Ara are both in favor of the project. What about you, Tyler?" Slacovich asked. "Aside from being General Johanssen's son and being willing to proceed—what else is there to your story?"
There was a slight edge in his tone, hinting at doubt—possibly suspicion of conspiracy, given Tyler's status.
"I don't like your tone," Tyler replied firmly. "But one thing's for sure—I'm here for myself, not because my father told me to. I've had a weak heart since birth. I underwent a transplant, but it failed. Even with a new heart, things only got worse. I had already given up... until my father told me about this. If the procedure kills me, I'm ready for that. But if it works—it's a second chance I'm willing to risk everything for. My body may be fragile, but my will isn't. My heart may be weak, but my determination is stronger. I won't back down just because I'm scared. I'll even volunteer to go first. That's how ready I am."
Tyler looked relieved after speaking his truth. Slacovich, feeling the sincerity in his words, let go of his earlier doubt.
"Diego, what about you?" he asked, turning to the quiet man at the table.
Diego looked down. "There's not much to say. I'm here for my father. The General placed him in the finest hospital. He's been sick for a while, and I couldn't do anything for him. This is all I can offer. I'll think about my own worth later. Right now, he's all I have."
Sofie slid beside Diego and wrapped him in a gentle hug out of compassion. For Diego, it meant more than she knew—he had liked her from the start.
"I guess that's it for you," Slacovich said, raising a brow as he glanced at Sofie hugging another man. "So, Li—what's your take?"
"I don't have a say in this," Li said coldly. "I'll just go with the flow. What choice do I have? The moment we stepped into this facility, our fate was sealed. Even if we all refused, they'd have another plan. I'd rather go along with it than have my memory forcibly erased. Sad but true, right, General?"
Everyone noticed the bitterness in her voice.
"Brainwashing, huh?" Slacovich growled. "They really see us as puppets. Lab rats for their experiments!"
"Keep it down, Slaco," Sofie moved to sit beside him. "If what Li said is true, then we never had a choice to begin with."
"They just gave us time to breathe in the poisonous air of this place," Li added. "They already decided our end. Say goodbye to your human self. Might as well have some fun before we turn into bloodsucking pests."
"This feels like a one-sided matter," Slacovich muttered. "All this talk is meaningless if we don't have the final say. Still... hearing everyone's reasons does bring some clarity. I'll share mine too."
Everyone listened as Slacovich leaned back in his chair.
"Truth is, I'm here on a mission—to assassinate Dr. Spencer. General Nushka tricked me with a fake deal. I may be an assassin, but I don't kill my targets. I cripple them, make them useless. After this mission, I planned to leave the underground world and start anew. Maybe this project is the answer. But I still owe that General a beating for pulling me into this."
He paused, looking around.
"Let's hope all six of us stay true to ourselves. Let's not lose our humanity to whatever creature we become. And if our country falls into conflict—we don't become anyone's pawn. I'd hate that more than anything."
Everyone agreed. No matter what happened, they wouldn't let the project turn them into weapons used to destroy each other or their beliefs. Their friendship was only beginning, and they wouldn't let anything taint it.
Suddenly, a monitor flickered on, revealing the faces of all the Generals and doctors. They were smiling—pleased by what they saw as the future. The candidates, however, didn't share the sentiment.
"General Nushka, how dare you not tell me about this?" Dr. Spencer barked. "You brought an assassin!"
"Now, now, Dr. Spencer," Nushka smirked. "He's after me now, not you. So relax."
"Oh, I'd gladly take both of you at once," Slacovich replied, smirking. "Just stay out of my sight when this is all over. There'll be hell to pay."
"I'll make sure I'm nowhere near you," Dr. Spencer said, taking the threat seriously.
"Relax. I won't kill you," Slacovich added. "But I'll be talking to my client soon. I've already received half the payment. Maybe they'd be interested in what happened to your last patient before you came here."
"That's not for me to disclose," Dr. Spencer replied. "All patient records are confidential—even I don't know everything."
She then left the room and disappeared from the screen.
The Generals and doctors were now fully prepared to initiate Project HumanMutation-BatBlood. With all six candidates on board, the plan was in motion. They would begin first thing in the morning. The candidates, though shaken by how soon it would start, agreed.
They asked the General and Dr. Brischt if they could undergo the procedure together. For Dr. Brischt, it was ideal—one round of operations, six different reactions to study. His moment had arrived.
This would mark the beginning of a new era—one where vampires would rise to power, replace the corrupt, and, if controlled, become the ultimate force. In Dr. Brischt's mind, if he could harness them… he would become the most powerful man in the world.