Chapter 347: He'll Tell You

Although Saul had long known that these artificially synthesized soul vessels couldn’t possibly be as stable as naturally formed bodies…

If they were producing this much “rust,” didn’t that mean every single test subject actually had a very limited lifespan?

“What are you spacing out for? Get to work,” Kaz’s hoarse voice came from the side.

Saul quickly lowered his head, suppressing the sigh in his heart, and began carefully picking out the “rust.”

Kaz stared at Saul for a while. Once he was sure the latter was doing it correctly, a look of satisfaction flickered in his eyes, and only then did he continue inspecting the rest of the body.

“Kaz, look at Saul. He’s just as efficient as you now,” Rum stretched his neck and watched Saul’s rust-picking, while still taking the chance to poke fun at Kaz.

“Hmph! Then why aren’t you working? There are four to handle today — this is only the second one.”

Rum wasn’t offended. He extended his triple-jointed arm, with two elbow joints and ten nimble, slender fingers, gently placing them on top of the male apprentice’s head.

Saul’s gaze was immediately drawn over.

He then saw Mentor Rum — whether he had touched something or activated something, it wasn’t clear — but the next moment, Rum lightly… lifted off the experiment subject’s skull cap!

The powerful sense of déjà vu made Saul instantly recall that scene he had once witnessed on Little Algae.

Back then, Lady Yura had also had her skull cap gently sliced off by Gorsa from behind.

Saul’s hands paused mid-motion. This time, Mentor Kaz didn’t urge him to continue.

Saul’s eyes landed on the exposed edge of the experiment subject’s skull — and he saw that there was no brain inside, but rather a clump of whipped cream-like foam.

After the skull was lifted, that “cream foam” inside continued to change. Old bubbles were constantly bursting, and new ones kept forming.

When Rum saw the cluster of white foam, the smile on his face gradually disappeared.

“Hmm… even less now. Should be usable for three or four more times,” Mentor Rum dripped a few drops of potion into the male apprentice’s “brain” using his nimble fingers, ran some other checks with different tools, and finally reassembled the skull with precision.

“Too bad the Tower Master no longer trades with the Land Drifters. Otherwise, the thousand-eyed banshee’s eyes would’ve been a better substitute for brain matter.”

Kaz didn’t even look up. “But it also loses control more easily.”

Hearing this, Saul, who was focused on his work, suddenly blinked.

He thought of someone.

After quickly checking the skull and limbs, the mentors didn’t touch the torso.

That part held the experiment subject’s soul, sealed by a sorcerous formation — not something they’d casually interfere with.

Rum only briefly checked the formation’s stability and then withdrew his hand.

At that point, Saul and Kaz had just finished cleaning one arm and one leg each.

“Not bad, your efficiency really has improved,” Rum nodded, his cheerful expression returning.

Once the body’s external wounds were repaired, the male apprentice lying on the experimental table was awakened.

He stood up with a dazed expression, as if he had only taken a short nap.

Mentor Rum tested a few movements and then waved for him to leave.

Just as the apprentice bowed his head in salute and prepared to leave, Rum suddenly said in a low voice, “Today is your last regular inspection. You don’t have to come back anymore.”

The male apprentice, just having bent into a deep bow, froze on the spot.

After a full five seconds, he raised his head in disbelief. “Mentor, Mentor Rum, but… this is only my third inspection.”

His disbelieving expression was formed by slightly widened eyes and trembling lips.

That was the emotional limit of a test subject with facial paralysis.

But Rum didn’t offer much explanation. He just waved his hand. “Go. From now on, you can inspect yourself.”

Inspect himself? Self-dissection?

The male apprentice seemed like he wanted to ask something more, but Mentor Rum clearly didn’t want to hear another word.

The apprentice could only walk out filled with reluctance and confusion. Now he finally understood why the first female apprentice had looked so grim when she left.

But as soul infusion test subjects, they were First Rank apprentices who had no hope of advancement. They had no power to resist — not even the freedom to choose their future path.

The male apprentice moved more stiffly than when he had arrived. As he left, Mentor Rum loudly called out, “Next.”

Hayden, bearing the outer shell of Vessel 147, quickly walked in.

Although she also had a paralyzed face, Saul — having spent more time with her — could detect a hint of confusion in her slightly flickering eyes.

Next, Hayden went through the full regular inspection process. Once her body was treated and she stood up again from the table, she heard the “bad news” personally spoken by Mentor Rum.

But unlike the others, Hayden instinctively looked at Saul.

Saul gave a subtle nod but said nothing.

Hayden looked slightly uneasy, but her expression was clearly not as grim as the previous two apprentices.

She didn’t even plead. When Mentor Rum first motioned for her to leave, she turned and walked out of the room.

After the final apprentice of the day left Rum’s room with a disappointed look, Rum casually tossed aside the various instruments, turned his head, and said to Saul, “Looks like your experiment’s going pretty well. 147 trusts you so much that she didn’t even panic after hearing about the inspection termination.”

When Mentor Rum stopped the regular inspection of a vessel, it basically meant abandoning the soul infusion experiment. And right now, Saul had little confidence that he could continue Hayden’s progress alone.

Hayden had probably assumed Saul could independently carry out the soul infusion experiments after seeing him create new test subjects — but she didn’t know that Saul’s situation with Herman was completely different.

Still, Saul remained calm. If he truly had no other options, he could consider converting Hayden into a book page.

Of course, unlike the others, Saul would give Hayden a choice.

This matter could wait until they got back. Saul shook his head, not acknowledging that he had the ability to protect Hayden.

“She’s just fearless because she’s ignorant.”

“Ignorant and fearless?” Rum laughed when he heard this. The fat on his face visibly jiggled with amusement.

Even Kaz, who had been quietly tidying up, couldn’t help glancing up at Saul.

“I’ve heard you’re good at saying some interesting things.”

Kaz finished packing. With a flick of his wrist into his sleeve, the big bundle of tools vanished — clearly a space-compression item.

Saul had bought a similar one on the airship recently, so he wasn’t surprised.

“Anyone can say things like that. But how many truly realize their own ignorance?”

Used to Mentor Kaz’s sarcasm, Saul simply gave a slight bow.

Then he looked toward Rum. “Mentor Rum, why terminate the regular inspections so suddenly… Does this mean the soul infusion experiments are being stopped?”

“Not stopped but ended,” Mentor Rum replied cheerfully. “Right now, the resurrection experiment has a new breakthrough. The Tower Master wants us to focus all our energy on the new experiment. Since soul infusion has had no progress, it naturally has to end.”

Mentor Rum didn’t tell Saul what the new breakthrough was. Mentor Kaz didn’t mention it either.

It was as if they were deliberately trying to pique Saul’s curiosity, dropping a small hint, then sealing their lips.

Seeing Saul, for once, show a flustered expression befitting a fifteen-year-old boy, Mentor Rum laughed heartily.

“Haha, don’t worry. Even if we don’t tell you, you can always ask your Tower Master!” But when he got to that part, Rum’s voice suddenly dropped an octave, becoming solemn:

“If… your Tower Master thinks it’s something you should know…

He’ll tell you.”

(End of Chapter)

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