Omega Zero.
In the main warehouse, a group of Vespers was unloading goods under Zhao Ren's supervision. Ethan observed silently from the side, arms crossed. Most of the cargo consisted of minerals, metals, and other materials he had personally requested.
Among them, however, stood out a carefully sealed batch marked with the emblem of the Blue Lotus Chamber of Commerce.
As he approached, Ethan untied one of the sacks. It was filled with reddish, shiny grains with a faint, almost metallic aroma.
"It's Dragonblood Rice, provided by Manager Lan, master," Zhao Ren reported respectfully.
Ethan nodded, taking a handful of grains between his fingers. The rice emitted a soft, barely perceptible warmth, and its iron-like smell seemed ideal for a more aggressive liquor.
Upon checking the rest of the shipment, he found complementary materials carefully sorted into boxes. Alongside them, a list detailed potential effects.
"Crimson Lotus Flower, Green Copper Root, Moon Mist Leaf"
and more unidentified ingredients, wrapped in cloth, with seals and handwritten notes.
"I also found new materials. Please, take a look, master," Zhao Ren said, gesturing.
A Vesper stepped forward and placed several boxes in front of Ethan. Some were wooden, others metallic.
One of the tasks Ethan had assigned Zhao Ren, in addition to the regular supply of resources, was the acquisition of strange materials: herbs, minerals, etc. Anything that, in a world still anchored in antiquity, might go unnoticed.
It was like fishing without bait. Casting the net and seeing what luck brought in.
Inside the first box was a handful of herbs withered from transport. Some barely retained their original color. Ethan examined them with disinterest.
"Useless... useless..." he murmured, sliding them through his fingers.
He continued checking the contents, but beyond dry weeds and common leaves, he found nothing of value.
The next box contained ordinary minerals: pebbles with metallic veins, opaque quartz, rock fragments. Interesting, but of no strategic value, at least for now.
But it was the last box that caught his attention.
Inside were several plants clearly from tropical climates. Although most were irrelevant, something at the bottom of the box made him pause. Wrapped in rough cloth, he found a small bundle of long leaves, dull green in color. Their texture was flexible, almost like damp leather. Bringing them close to his face, he detected a peculiar scent: earthy, slightly sweet, with a bitter undertone.
Ethan frowned.
"Seems familiar..." Ethan murmured, turning a leaf between his fingers with a thoughtful expression. "AION, confirm match in database."
[Analysis in progress...]
[Identified – Botanical name: Nicotiana tabacum. Classification: herbaceous plant. Active compounds: nicotine, secondary alkaloids. Registered uses: smoke inhalation for neurological stimulation. Addictive potential. Mild toxicity from prolonged exposure.]
"Tobacco?" Ethan murmured, raising an eyebrow as he examined the leaves. His gaze lingered on them for a moment, as if trying to match the image with his memories. "Of course... I'd only seen it dry, ready to use. Never like this."
He stroked the rough surface of one of the leaves, examining its texture.
Then he turned to Zhao Ren.
"Where did you get it?"
Zhao Ren looked at the box intently, frowning, as he flipped through a stack of papers. He leafed through several pages before stopping.
"It was acquired from a merchant from the southwest of the Yun Dynasty. He claims this leaf grows on one of the islands beyond the sea. He also warned that the route is extremely dangerous."
Ethan nodded slowly. If the mainland was infested with demonic beasts, the sea must be even worse. Unstable climate, sea monsters, lack of resupply points... a chaotic environment.
"For now, stay in contact with the merchant. Try to get more shipments. If you can acquire it in large quantities, it could be useful."
He didn't rule out cultivating it, but he knew tobacco only thrived in specific climates. If he obtained enough samples, he could analyze its life cycle or assign the experiment to someone else. But for now, trade was the efficient path.
Ethan glanced southwest. The sea... unexplored, vast, dangerous, but inevitable.
"A wild environment full of resources. If we manage to extend our influence, the coast will be a key point. High mobility, maritime access, raw materials. Its strategic value is unquestionable."
Without adding more, he turned around and headed toward the tunnel leading to the underground laboratory.
Ethan returned to the lab. Without wasting time, he took his coat from the rack, put on black gloves, and headed to the observation cells. In recent days, he had been monitoring the condition of the experimental subjects. Although they were all still alive, the side effects were worsening.
At first, some managed to articulate incoherent words, fragments of thoughts suggesting partial awareness. But that stage passed quickly. What followed were growls, howls, and distorted sounds, with no trace of language. It was as if animal instinct had completely taken over their minds.
Upon reaching the entrance, a pair of Vespers on guard snapped to attention and saluted in unison.
"Sir!"
Ethan nodded without stopping.
The soldiers, with impeccable discipline, opened the door without question and escorted him inside. The hallway was long, dimly lit by oil lamps.
Ethan frowned.
"I need to get started on electricity as soon as possible," he muttered, displeased with the faint lighting.
He continued walking until he found another Vesper standing before a reinforced door.
The soldier saluted and opened it without a word. As soon as the door slid open, a chorus of growls and howls echoed off the walls, like a pack of beasts trapped inside.
To the right, lined up against the stone wall, were several cells. Inside, the subjects remained chained with multiple restraints. Some struggled, others only breathed heavily.
None spoke. None seemed human.
Ethan stopped in front of one of the cells. The subject inside was tugging at the chains with unnatural strength. His bloodshot eyes moved erratically, as if searching for prey.
When Ethan approached, the man let out a growl.
"Enhanced reflexes, elevated aggression, no trace of rationality..." Ethan murmured, activating AION's interface in his vision.
[Confirmed. Chaotic brain activity. Spikes in the limbic system. Almost no cortical inhibition.]
"They've turned into animals," he concluded, emotionless.
He observed two more cells.
Ethan gave one last glance at the subjects.
"Too much instability. A way to anchor it to human biology is needed."
He turned without saying more. As the growls continued to echo through the stone walls, Ethan made his way down the hallway back to his lab.
Upon arrival, one of the Vespers approached.
"Sir, report. Captain Gao and his squad have returned. Good news: they managed to hunt a group of demonic beasts. Five corpses."
Ethan nodded, a faint spark of interest in his eyes. New samples meant fresh blood. And with that, more Compound D to continue the Blood Baptism experiment. Even if success remained unstable, each batch brought useful data.
"Tell Captain Gao I want him here immediately. And have the corpses transferred to my lab."
"Yes, sir," the Vesper replied, offering a brief salute before leaving.
Ethan walked to one of the steel tables, removed some tubes filled with dry sediment, and began preparing the reagents.
NOTE: Smoking is harmful to health. Tobacco was included solely as part of the worldbuilding and Ethan's character development. This does not promote or glorify its consumption. Smoking kills. Do not smoke. Do not smoke. Do not smoke.