55: Experimental modification of superhuman power

"Master."

Several hours later, the two A-Class Transcendent subjects who had completed their modification slowly opened their eyes.

After a momentary daze, they seemed to realize something, hurriedly kneeling on the ground, looking at Zhang Huaiyuan with reverent eyes, the fierce glint completely gone.

"How do you feel?"

Zhang Huaiyuan asked with a smile.

This kind of thorough memory modification was absolute; it wouldn't be like in third-rate movies where one remembers things due to idealistic forces like "love" or "family affection."

It was just like a completely formatted computer; the old data could never be recovered.

"We have fully recovered, and you have saved us once again."

Tarian clenched his fist, a wisp of electric light surging in his palm, and said gratefully.

"Me too, Master." Finn, who was standing to the side, echoed.

"Hmm..."

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded.

This was the memory he had implanted in them: the Wind and Waves Pirate Group had accidentally entered a special danger zone while traveling through space, leaving everyone seriously injured, but fortunately, he had arrived in time to save them. It was used to cover up the blank period.

After all, taking down Wind and Waves did not mean he could rest easy.

This place belonged to the territory of the Jifeng Pirate Group; if the members of Wind and Waves disappeared for a long time, it would easily arouse suspicion.

This was also the reason why he was in such a rush to build the "Carbon-Based Life Modification Laboratory."

On one hand, it could increase the cutting-edge power in his hands.

On the other hand, he could use these people from Wind and Waves to continue contacting other Pirate Groups, or even Jifeng, and then wait for an opportunity to gradually encroach upon those forces.

"First, deal with the other forces; I have things to ask you later."

As Zhang Huaiyuan spoke, he ordered a robot to deliver the repaired communication devices and combat suits to them.

Upon hearing this, the two quickly finished putting them on and began processing the legacy information on the communications.

The first message was from three days ago, noted as 'Greedy Pig'; the message was very simple, containing only a date and a coordinate.

"Mr. Torde, apologies. We were unlucky and hit a gravity reef area while returning recently, almost wiping out the entire group. Both Old Ta and I are recovering from our injuries. Don't worry, I will add an extra 10% to your share and deliver it to the designated location on time."

While replying, Finn looked at Zhang Huaiyuan and explained: "Master, Torde is one of the seven vice-leaders of the Jifeng Pirate Group. He occasionally provides us with the coordinates of merchant fleets or forces that haven't paid tribute, but he charges a high commission."

"Hmm... what is your relationship with him?"

"Probably... he treats us like a relatively obedient dog."

The two looked at each other and smiled bitterly: "And that's only because we hand over 70% of our earnings to him."

"Truly a greedy pig."

Zhang Huaiyuan shook his head and instructed: "Keep maintaining contact on this line."

His desire to swallow up these Pirate Groups was becoming stronger and stronger. If just one vice-leader could accumulate wealth like this, he couldn't imagine how rich the entire Jifeng group must be.

"Understood, Master."

The two acknowledged and continued to process the remaining missed communications.

Most of them were invitations to gatherings from other Pirate Group leaders, or reminders of new arrivals at some luxury venues on Sea Tree Island.

"Master, sorry to have kept you waiting."

About an hour later, the two put away their communicators and saluted again.

"It's fine. Do you know where in this Golden Star Sea one can exchange these things?"

Zhang Huaiyuan opened his spatial storage device and pointed to the pile of precious jewelry and seventeen anonymous credit cards he had scavenged.

These were useless to him; it would be more useful to exchange them for various resources as soon as possible.

"The Jifeng Pirate Group has a department dedicated to recycling these, but the prices are kept quite low. Some of these are rare goods from the Star Dome Empire, which are very popular in the Free Star Alliance. If you want to maximize profits, Master, I suggest going to the 'Conscience Firm' on Sea Tree Island to exchange them."

"Conscience Firm?"

Zhang Huaiyuan raised an eyebrow slightly; for some reason, this name gave him a feeling that it was a scam.

"Ahem... Master, this firm is very famous in the Golden Star Sea. At least for us traders, it really is quite conscientious."

Seeming to notice the other's worry, Finn explained.

"Oh? Since that's the case, let's go. It's a good chance to see this so-called Sea Tree Island."

After a moment of thought, Zhang Huaiyuan decided to leave his main body on this planet to continue studying and researching, and send a robot that could connect to his consciousness at any time to go with the two.

With his current level of brain evolution, multitasking was almost effortless.

"However, before that, Tarian, Finn, do you want to become stronger?"

A glimmer of madness belonging to a researcher flickered in Zhang Huaiyuan's eyes as he stared quietly at the two.

"Of course, Master..."

The two were slightly stunned, then nodded in ecstasy.

Although they were A-Class Transcendent subjects, their ability level was only mid-tier, and they lacked handy Transcendent weapons, so their strength could be said to be among the weakest of their peers; they might not even be able to beat a Galaxy Beast of the same level.

"Very well, Tarian, you first. Lie back in the experimental compartment."

After putting the other party into a deep sleep with a high-dose potion, Zhang Huaiyuan activated "True Sight." Immediately, the Transcendent ability gene chain map belonging to "Tarian" clearly appeared before his eyes.

This was not a whim.

His progress in Transcendent Structural Science had reached 27.6%, and his understanding of Transcendent abilities was not inferior to that of a grandmaster.

And as it happened, among the gene chain maps he had seen, there were two abilities similar to the abilities of Tarian and Finn.

One was "Thunderstorm" belonging to Leios, an S-Class Transcendent from the Empire's mining area.

One was the youngest son of "Lord Dark," who had awakened the ability "Flame Sprite."

Both were almost perfect superior replacements.

The corresponding "Thunderstorm" map appeared simultaneously in his mind, which was several times more complex than Tarian's.

"There seem to be some similarities."

Zhang Huaiyuan attempted to move them by creating a one-to-one replica, but after moving only a tiny link, the entire gene chain showed signs of collapsing.

"It seems that batch-replicating high-level Transcendent subjects is impossible... Asroth, inject the gene repair fluid."

After the shortcut method failed, Zhang Huaiyuan began to try making partial modifications by referencing "Thunderstorm."

With the help of "True Sight," he could monitor the status of the entire gene chain map in real-time and adjust it immediately if any instability or collapse occurred.

"Very good, take it slow... Judging from the overall feedback, it has been enhanced..."

"Asroth, help me monitor the subject's physical condition; if there is any trend of collapse or weakness, remind me immediately."

After finishing the modification of one corner, Zhang Huaiyuan pulled back to inject himself with a dose of high-level cell activation potion, rubbing his eyes and resting for a moment.

This kind of delicate work put immense pressure not only on his mind but also on his body.

"I hope everything goes as I envisioned."

Zhang Huaiyuan quickly simulated the theory in his mind and returned to the experimental bench.

"Continue..."