Chapter 614

Hayden Jennings’s speech was passionate and stirring. Not only that, but his cheeks were flushed, his eyes gleamed, and his expression was fervent, as if he could already see how the "24-hour workday" would benefit humanity, all thanks to his research.

But hearing his words, Melody Summers felt her vision go black, and she wished she could faint on the spot.

’I can’t believe it. This Hayden Jennings isn’t just a psychopath, he’s a menace to all of humanity!’

How could he research something so terrifying!

’Can someone who’s taken the Work Secret Medicine even be considered human? They’d be nothing more than a working machine, devoid of personality and thought!’

Melody Summers, out of curiosity, had previously gone to Odyssey Station to ask about the recent situation of "Mr. Caelus"—that is, Felix Ford. On the light screen from The Trading Floor, she had seen Felix looking like a walking corpse.

Because he worked on a high-radiation Ore Star, Felix Ford’s exposed skin had ulcerated. Small pieces of flesh would occasionally fall off him, and in some places, you could even see bare bone. Due to a prolonged lack of food and water, his mouth and tongue were cracked and his abdomen was sunken. From a distance, he looked like a decaying, desiccated corpse.

But even with his body broken down to this extent, because he had taken the Work Secret Medicine, he still had to endure the pain and work ceaselessly, unable to rest for even a moment.

Back when Felix Ford, under the name "Mr. Caelus," ran The Cult and caused so much chaos, he was responsible for the deaths of so many people. This hellish existence was now purely a form of repayment for him; it was what he deserved.

’But why should other, innocent people have to endure such a life?’

’Who would want to go without sleep, rest, food, or entertainment, working 24 hours a day? Even robots need to be upgraded and recharged!’

’People work to have a better life, but something like the Work Secret Medicine would reduce them to mere money-making tools for the wealthy.’

If Hayden Jennings really managed to create this virus, given the current climate, Melody Summers couldn’t even bear to imagine how many people would be forced to work 24-hour shifts, objectified into cheap labor...

’In any case... something as anti-human as the Work Secret Medicine must absolutely not be allowed to exist on Terra!’

’If something like this were ever successfully released, that would be the true apocalypse for Terra!’

Hayden Jennings took two steps forward, looking down at Melody Summers, who had fallen to the ground still tied to her chair. He spoke as if bestowing a great charity, "Actually, if that knockout drug of yours proves useful to my research, you could consider it an honor... When I become successful and famous, perhaps I’ll mention your name in my autobiography, so that your name, too, will be recorded in the annals of history."

Melody Summers: "..."

’Don’t drag me into such a cursed affair!’

"Alright, I’ve told you what you wanted to know. Now, hand over the knockout drug. And tell me where that bitch Cindy Hughes is!"

Melody Summers was silent for a moment before replying, "...Help me up first!"

Hearing this, Hayden Jennings snorted coldly. He kicked Melody Summers in the leg and said impatiently, "My patience is limited. I suggest you do this the easy way instead of the hard way!"

Melody Summers endured the pain shooting up her leg, took a deep breath, and raised her voice. "Hayden Jennings, who do you think you’re fooling? I haven’t seen any of your so-called ’great achievements.’ All I see is that you’ve created a zombie virus!"

"What good would it do even if I gave you the knockout drug? Don’t tell me... Don’t tell me it’s because your zombie virus has already spread, and you’re afraid of being swarmed by zombies, so you need the drug from me?"

Hayden Jennings’s brow furrowed at her words, and he roared, "I already told you, it’s not a zombie virus! That strain was an accident! It’s because existing anesthetics interfere with the cultivation of the virus!"

As Hayden Jennings spoke, he lifted his foot and kicked hard at the chair beneath Melody Summers, growling in a rage born of humiliation, "How could a shallow, ignorant woman like you possibly understand my great research! What right do you have to judge me!"

Hearing Hayden Jennings say this, Melody Summers felt a small sense of relief. ’As long as the virus hasn’t spread, that’s good...’ Whether it was the zombie virus or the one Hayden Jennings was trying to develop, both were extremely deadly. If either one got out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

At this point, Hayden Jennings’s patience had run out. Seeing that Melody Summers was still not cooperating, he raised his foot and aimed a vicious kick at her stomach—

But to his surprise, before his foot could even touch her, Melody Summers, who had been tied to the chair just a second before, miraculously broke free from her ropes in the next!

Melody Summers rolled away, dodging Hayden Jennings’s attack. To his utter shock, she scrambled up from the floor. Then, while he was still trying to process what had happened, she pulled a gun out of thin air and pointed it at him, saying coldly, "Don’t move! Move again and I’ll shoot!"

"You... How did you..." For the first time, terror filled Hayden Jennings’s eyes as he stared at Melody Summers. He watched her in utter disbelief, unable to understand how she had broken her bonds, or why she had a gun—

They had clearly searched her when they kidnapped her. She definitely didn’t have a gun on her then, so where did this one come from?

Melody Summers took two steps forward, pressing the cold muzzle of the gun against Hayden Jennings’s chest. "My patience is limited, too. You’re going to tell me everything. How far along is your research? What else have you created besides the zombie virus?"

"Are the members of your research team from Aeridor all your accomplices? Besides the Walsh Family, who else is involved in this..."

Melody Summers suddenly stopped speaking. She glanced sideways toward the doorway and saw Yuri Walsh standing there. He was also holding a gun, and at that very moment, its dark muzzle was pointed straight at her forehead.

Melody Summers was speechless. In her mind, she complained to Albus, ’How does he walk without making a sound? He’s like a ghost...’

Yuri Walsh’s expression was grim. He spoke to Melody Summers in a low, serious voice, "Melody, listen to me. Put the gun down."

Melody Summers: "..."

Seeing Melody Summers look at him as if he were an idiot again, Yuri Walsh tightened his grip on his gun. He spoke quickly, before she could start mocking him, "You know that even if you shoot the professor, you won’t make it out of here alive. My men are all outside. You can’t escape."

"Melody, listen to me. Put down the gun. I promise I won’t hurt you."

Seeing his chance, Hayden Jennings also stammered, "Th-that’s right... I-if you dare to shoot, you’re dead!"

Then, as if certain that Melody Summers wouldn’t dare to shoot, Hayden Jennings held his breath and began to slowly back away, inching step by step toward Yuri Walsh.

The muzzle of Melody Summers’s gun followed Hayden Jennings’s body until he was completely hidden behind Yuri Walsh.

Yuri Walsh had his gun on Melody Summers, and Melody Summers had her gun on Yuri Walsh. After a moment of silence, a look of reluctance suddenly appeared in Yuri’s eyes. He said in a low voice, "I’m sorry..."

The next second, Yuri Walsh aimed his gun at the arm Melody Summers was using to hold her own weapon and quickly pulled the trigger—