Leonardo da Vinci –

As the head and chief researcher of the Armament Department, he is not only a survivor of the Ashen Battle, a sword-bearer of the Five Seals at the end of the mortal path, but also one of the few great alchemists of the Order who can make it to the side of truth.

But in fact, this middle-aged gentleman with an unusual penchant for cats is unexpectedly easy to deal with.

"How's the experiment going?"

In the steam-powered lift, the middle-aged gentleman, who was neither young nor old, pushed his glasses: "Can the rejection be significantly suppressed as expected?"

Although he is the head of the equipment department, more often than not, he is more accustomed to thinking from the perspective of a researcher.

"For now, yes," the alchemist Criman considered the words of the project's leader, "and the first experiment is nearing its end, and according to the data collected, malignant rejection has dropped by about three percentage points, and the mortality rate has been significantly reduced compared to the past—at least by a third. ”

However, out of the caution necessary for a serious alchemist, the priest of Criman did not say anything about it, but instead pointed out the shortcomings of this experiment: "It is only because of the small number of samples involved in the first experiment, that there will be a certain degree of distortion in the data, and the reference value of the conclusions drawn at present is greater than the actual value." ”

"Understandable. As a great alchemist on the side of truth, Leonardo da Vinci was an insider among insiders, so he was naturally able to understand what he meant, and read the potential requirements from it—so he nodded: "In the second experiment, I will apply to the above for further relaxation of the limit on the number of testers, but please remember that your every move affects the sensitive nerves of Your Majesty and Your Excellency." ”

"I will walk on the earth, and I will walk under the sight of the Lord. ”

Crimanes quoted a verse from the third verse of the book of Covenant Isaac: "I will do what is good as a sign of devotion to the Lord, and I will do what is right as a sign of humility to the Lord." ”

"You should talk to the scribes in the Ministry of Faith and Doctrine," said the great alchemist, "and it has never been my style to chatter, since we are alchemists, let us speak with data." ”

—and the results speak. ”

Priest Chrisman added, and the two looked at each other and smiled.

This is probably the tacit agreement of the alchemists.

In the silence of the two of them, with a "bang", the steel lifting frame fell heavily into the ground, setting off a puff of dust.

"Thirty years ago's old technology," Leonardo da Vinci fanned away the dust with his hands, "Speaking of which, I remember that we had a lot of money this year, right? ”

"With all due respect, the joke isn't funny at all. "Eighty percent of the funds allocated from the Central Finance Department have been filled into the bottomless pit of your projects, and we can only divide the rest of the soup and water - so unfortunately, improving the infrastructure that is not related to research is very low in the budget statement, and is usually only used as a means to cheat funds." ”

"Lie?" the Great Alchemist raised an eyebrow, "This word is well used, next time you teach me too, I will try to cheat more funds out of the pocket of the Finance Department, so that everyone can have a mouthful of soup to drink." ”

"If only you had this heart. Chrisman didn't have any hope, this middle-aged alchemist who was a little old knew very well that even if he cheated out more funds from the Finance Department, there was not much in his hands, because ...... Leonardo da Vinci has several projects in his hands, which is not just an exaggeration to describe it as a "bottomless pit".

"Alright, that's the end of the gossip. When the dust settled, the great alchemist who was on the side of truth took a step from the lifting frame, stood still outside the door, and then lifted one side of his glasses, the flat lenses reflected an inexplicable light, "Take me to your lab, I can't wait." ”

"It's an honor. The alchemist who had worked with him for many years knew his work attitude very well, and there was no bureaucratic style, leading him directly to the center of the laboratory, opening his mouth, as if he wanted to say something to him, but was bumped into by a young researcher with a panicked face.

"Be careful. I couldn't help frowning.

"Priest Chrisman," the young researcher didn't flinch, "Anomalous data just came from 'Mana', and they ...... They seem to have broken through the first wall. ”

Manna is the name given by the researchers to the personality of a girl born from the differential machine.

- Although a little silly, a little stupid, it is simply synonymous with stupidity, but as the latest generation of differential machines, Mana's performance is undoubted, and there is no possibility of false positives.

"It's funny. A smile tugged at the corners of Leonardo da Vinci's mouth, "It seems that the progress of the experiment has been beyond your expectations, can you explain it?" ”

"Later," Chrisman declined the request, "but I can invite you to come along—of course, your mischievous 'McGonagall' lady is to stay here." ”

"McGonagall" is the name of the Egyptian cat on the shoulders of the great alchemist, and the reason why he is given the honorific title of a lady is entirely based on his unabashed penchant for cats, especially the pretty little she-cats.

"What a cruel man," said Leonardo da Vinci, "but I must also be ruthless for the sake of the truth." ”

"Leonardo da Vinci, now is not the time to make use of your extraordinary artistic muscles. Chrisman sighed, "I know your talent for drama and painting is not under alchemy, but ...... There's no time for you to create drama right now. ”

"The situation is urgent?" asked the Great Alchemist.

"Well," Chrisman replied, then explained, "You should know that any experiment with Stigmata Awakening is fraught with uncontrollable dangers, so in order to minimize and avoid this danger as much as possible, I have set up four walls to block the truth. ”

"Sounds interesting. ”

"It's actually very simple, and it's nothing special," the alchemist spread his hands, "I set up four layers of progressive false space, although there is a possibility of a breakthrough in theory, but in reality...... Even if several full-fledged sword wielders joined forces, they wouldn't necessarily be able to penetrate the script I had written. ”

"Script?" Leonardo da Vinci raised an eyebrow, "It sounds like you've taken an interesting approach." ”

"It's all right," said the modest words, but the casual look between his brows made his pride pale, "I just threw them to Pandimaninan. ”

"The city of iniquity?"

"An ancient city engulfed by the deepest night," Chrisman said briskly, explaining to his friends who were far above him in both power and alchemy, "and there are not only countless demons there, but also Mammon, the symbol of greed among the four demon kings. ”

"You're really bad-hearted," the Grand Alchemist shook his head, "for those who have just graduated from the ivory tower, this trial is a bit too difficult to leap over. ”

"But it's necessary. Chrisman disagreed, "In order to help them better awaken the stigma, I must use the constant pressure of survival to squeeze their thinking space, so that they do not fall into philosophical speculation." ”

"And what is the first wall, the first line of defense you have built?"

"It's the door," the alchemist paused, "and hell too." ”

"I have sealed off the demon-infested surface world from the greedy hell of the demon king Mammon, and in order to break through the first obstacle, I must first find the nodes of the two dimensions, and call on at least twenty people to work together to open this gate to hell, and then fight my way through the sea of hundreds of thousands of resentful spirits to break through the desecrated temple - and so, in this way, I can be considered to have broken through the first wall. ”

"It seems...... Hard. Leonardo da Vinci said.

"It's almost impossible," Chrisman shook his head, "I'm sure someone can pull out a team of a few dozen people at first, but in the later stages of the experiment, the total number of survivors in the entire Pandimaninan is no more than fifty, and at this point you told me that there are still people who can organize the pulling of twenty or thirty people to launch an offensive against Hell - even if it's a joke, it's a bit limited." ”

"That," the researcher who was monitoring the data looked up, "Brother Chrisman......

He didn't say anything for a long time.

Say. ”

"The second wall, broken through ......"

"So soon—" The alchemist had expected a breakthrough in the second line of defense, but still couldn't help but look surprised, "It's only been a few minutes?"

"Three and a half, monk. ”

The researcher stupidly gave the answer.

However, Chrisman ignored him, just propped his hands on the table of the difference machine, retrieving the data stream during this time, but it was Leonardo da Vinci, the head of the equipment department, who asked with interest: "So, Chrisman, what is the second wall?"

"Torture the mind. The alchemist returned, but his expression gradually became solemn, and after a long moment he spoke, his tone low and hoarse, "Leonardo da Vinci—"

"What's wrong?" noticing his friend's solemn look, the middle-aged gentleman, who didn't look old at all, restrained the joke on his face, "Looks like you have bad news to say?"

"It's worse than that," Brother Chrisman marked a stat a day ago, "it's garbish, a garbish for no reason—you should know what that means, right?"

"Chaos calculus. The great alchemist who was on the side of truth pushed his glasses closer and leaned closer, "It seems that our old friend buried deep in the ground is not willing to be lonely either. ”

"That's ...... Really bad news. Chrisman bit his lip, "Leonardo da Vinci, do you think I should forcibly stop this polluted, eroded, uncontrolled experiment?"

"Even if it kills all the test subjects?"

"That's right," said the alchemist, "neither you nor I can afford to break the seal, and Hemtika has proven with its demise that no matter how well prepared, a monster of this level is a natural disaster that humans cannot resist." ”

"And what does that have to do with us? Chrisman. Leonardo da Vinci pointed out the blind spot of his thinking, "Dozens of red lives are not numbers, and we, as researchers, have no right to deprive others of their lives -- and on the other hand, since you and I can't bear this responsibility, why don't we entrust the responsibility to those who can? When the time comes, whether they give up their lives or bury the aftermath because of a moment of kindness, there will be people who have nothing to do with us and our group of researchers." ”

"Someone who can afford it?" Chrisman was slightly silent, "like ......"