Chapter 451: Triggering a Hidden Quest, Searching for a Research Lab

Chapter 451: Chapter 451: Triggering a Hidden Quest, Searching for a Research Lab

Chet Lucius took out some tools.

A chainsaw that shimmered with a dark gleam, its blade serrated.

Several arm-thick Armor Break drills, their tips incredibly sharp, equipped with hydraulic devices.

There was even a machete.

"While I was looking for the poison earlier, I also happened to find some... uh, tools and weapons that looked pretty handy."

Chet Lucius explained to Dr. Ford, his expression unchanging.

He started the chainsaw, and a deep, powerful hum rang out.

Dr. Ford stared at these so-called "handy tools," which were clearly not for civilian or even standard military use. His eyes widened, and his mouth opened and closed as if he wanted to say something, but his desire for research samples ultimately suppressed all doubt.

He excitedly slapped Chet Lucius on the shoulder. "Excellent! Good man! It’s wonderful to have these tools!

Quick!

Let’s start with the relatively soft abdominal region. Cut carefully—I want to get a sample of the digestive system first to observe traces of the venom’s effects! Then the major organs..."

Watching from the side as Chet Lucius produced this equipment that was obviously not just "found," a flash of understanding appeared in Seraphina Sullivan’s eyes.

’Looks like this Chet Lucius has plenty of good stuff in his Storage Space, too.’

’This partnership is full of hidden talents.’

With the help of Chet Lucius’s "professional tools," the monster’s corpse, which had been indestructible as far as Dr. Ford was concerned, was slowly cut open.

Seraphina Sullivan didn’t step forward to help with the dissection.

For one thing, the "professional tools" Chet Lucius had brought out were highly efficient. The cutting, separating, and sampling were all done cleanly and precisely—it was obvious this wasn’t his first time doing this sort of work.

For another, she needed to maintain some distance to keep watch, while also looking after Sharon Lynn and Flora Sullivan.

With Chet Lucius’s efficient "assistance," Dr. Ford quickly collected the various samples he desperately needed.

There was stomach wall tissue corroded by the venom, partial slices of the liver and kidneys, a relatively complete bone plate from its back armor, a few sharp claw tips, and even a small amount of the monster’s brain tissue, which he had carefully extracted.

He packed the samples into waterproof bags and special containers as if they were priceless treasures. His face beamed with the joy of his harvest, but it was quickly followed by a look of regret and longing. "Sigh... what a shame. If only I had a proper research lab.

The conditions here are too primitive. We can’t perform much of the delicate analysis and experimentation.

If I could use professional equipment—a high-magnification microscope, a centrifuge, a spectrometer, cell-culturing equipment... perhaps we could analyze the specific mechanisms of this poison much faster. We could even try to synthesize a more efficient targeted toxin, or reverse-engineer this monster’s physiological Weaknesses to develop more effective weapons against them..."

He said this with a sigh, his words sounding more like a pipe dream.

After all, they were on the run, living hand-to-mouth and constantly in danger. Where were they supposed to find a fully equipped laboratory?

Seraphina Sullivan and Chet Lucius were just about to offer some words of comfort or a dose of reality.

Something along the lines of, "Dr. Ford, we’re lucky just to be alive right now. We can worry about labs once we reach a Shelter"—

[Ding! Key NPC Dr. Sophia Ford’s strong desire to conduct research, combined with current environmental conditions, has triggered a special scenario!]

[Ding! Hidden Mission Triggered!]

[Mission Name: A Study in Crisis]

[Mission Objectives: Assist Dr. Sophia Ford in finding a nearby location with basic research facilities to establish a temporary research site. Utilize existing samples and resources to conduct preliminary research and analysis in cooperation with Dr. Ford.]

[Mission Rewards: Based on your contribution to the research and final mission evaluation, you will receive an exclusive Monster Weapon.]

[Note: This is a cooperative mission. All Players in the party who accept it may participate and earn rewards.]

The cold, mechanical system prompts sounded simultaneously in the minds of Seraphina Sullivan and Chet Lucius without any warning!

They both froze, then quickly looked at each other, seeing the same surprise and a hint of understanding in the other’s eyes.

’As expected, the system’s missions are never this simple!’

’The escort is just the main quest. Along the way, additional side quests or hidden missions can be triggered based on the protected target’s needs and actions!’

’These missions often bring unexpected rewards, just like that "Poisoning Experiment" earlier!’

Chet Lucius’s eyes quickly asked, ’Do we do it?’

Seraphina Sullivan responded with her eyes almost without hesitation. ’Of course we do! A "Monster Weapon" reward sounds amazing. It’s probably a very useful piece of equipment in this monster-infested world.’

The silent exchange was over in an instant.

Chet Lucius immediately schooled his expression and turned to the still-lamenting Dr. Ford, his tone becoming exceptionally positive and firm.

"Research? Of course, we must continue the research!

Dr. Ford, you’re right. Just collecting samples isn’t enough. We have to start analyzing them immediately!

We might be able to find crucial information in these samples, maybe even develop special weapons or agents that can be used directly against the monsters!

That would make the rest of our journey much safer!"

Dr. Ford was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Chet Lucius’s attitude to shift so quickly and hesitated. "But... where would we find a lab right now?

We don’t even have the most basic equipment..."

Chet Lucius was prepared, speaking with clear logic. "The city!

There has to be a ruined city nearby!

The hospitals, university medical schools or life science departments, even large pharmaceutical companies or private research institutes—they’ll all have some basic research equipment left, more or less!

Centrifuges, microscopes, sterile workstations, simple chemical analysis instruments... As long as we can find a place that’s relatively intact and hasn’t been completely destroyed, we can clean it up and establish a temporary research site!"

He paused, then added emphatically, "Dr. Ford, think about it. If we travel all the way to the Shelter with these heavy samples and materials, not only will we be slow, but the smell of blood and the residual Energy will easily attract other monsters. The risks on the road are too great!

Wouldn’t it be better to find a relatively safe place nearby and conduct the preliminary research now?

We could extract the most valuable information or concentrates and then travel light. Wouldn’t that be safer and more efficient?"

Dr. Ford was swayed by Chet Lucius’s words but remained full of concerns.

"Even if we find a place, the equipment might be damaged. Power, water, a sterile environment... these are all problems.

Besides, the reagents and consumables I need..."

"Dr. Ford, please trust us!"

Chet Lucius puffed out his chest, his tone almost overly confident. "As long as we find a suitable place, the equipment problem... we can probably solve some of it!

We’ve been scavenging for supplies this whole time and have found some strange things that might just be useful!"

He was so certain because he just so happened to have a portable [Basic Research Kit] in his Storage Space, which he had acquired from a previous instance.

It contained a small microscope, a basic chemical reagent pack, a sterile workstation, and sampling tools—enough to meet most of the needs for preliminary research.

’I originally thought it would be useless,’ he mused, ’but I never expected it would come in so handy here.’