Chapter 656: Standard Onboarding Process

After that, Yu Sheng and the others learned a great deal more from Mo Mo about the situation at Deep Rock Fortress.

As a "laboratory assistant" who had survived in Old Joe's lab for ten years, this Jipu Luo girl really did know quite a bit. Part of it was stuff Old Joe had casually let slip in front of the "assistants" during ordinary days, and the other part came purely from her sharp observation and deduction.

Unfortunately, that was about all she knew regarding the Venerable Hidden Sect. After all, the cooperation between Old Joe and those cultists wasn't exactly close and seamless, and Old Joe wasn't about to reveal the details of their transactions to the "assistants" in the lab.

The good news was that Mo Mo also knew a fair amount about several factories and labs under Old Joe's name. Plus, through her years of "work" in the lab—even if it was forced—she had also mastered quite a bit of technology related to living metal and implants. Both of these would be very useful to Luo, and rounding up, they could bring Yu Sheng quite a bit of indirect profit.

After all, just living metal alone was a big business throughout the Dark Meteor Starfield and the Argyle Starfield.

"To be honest, it's probably first impressions, but I always felt living metal stuff wasn't anything good," Yu Sheng muttered, stroking his chin. "After all, I only know two cases related to living metal—one is the set of modifications on you, and the other is Luna's 'distributed life system.' The people behind this stuff are no good."

"I guess the technology itself is fine; the key is who holds it," Luo shook her head. "Deep Divers in the Special Operations Bureau also use living metal linings in their armor, and the Argyle use this technology to make high-end robots. This technology was originally created by Black Spot Group and was spread to various civilization circles hundreds of years ago. So strictly speaking, even the living metal technology used by the Hidden Sect to create 'Artificial Saints' actually came from Black Spot Group.

"As for Old Joe... he's a pervert and a scumbag, but you have to admit, he is also one of the most cutting-edge experts in this field. Otherwise, in such a harsh competitive environment as Black Spot Group, he couldn't have stayed stable for so long—after all, even among the average mad scientists at Black Spot Group, a scumbag like Old Joe is rare. People who hate him could queue from the South Cloud Cross Gate all the way to the Amora Fault..."

"Is that so?" Yu Sheng raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I thought guys like him were the norm at your company."

"How is that possible!" Luo's eyes widened at that. "Although Black Spot Group is indeed a place with a lot of strange people, at least most of them are just obsessive in their thinking, extreme in research direction, dangerous theories, and crazy obsession with the Subspace and Black Psionics..."

Eileen was already stunned halfway through listening. The little thing's feet slipped and she flopped onto the table with a thud. She climbed back up, eyes wide. "Not a single good word out of that, dammit!"

"But those traits are more or less complimentary for mad scientists," Luo shrugged. "At least compared to a pervert who takes his own brain out and soaks it in a jar, the danger of the rest of Black Spot folks is limited to the academic field."

Yu Sheng quickly waved his hand. "Don't let Bai Liqing hear that. She'll say your ideological reform isn't complete and then find an excuse to pump your stomach."

Luo frowned in confusion. "What does that have to do with pumping my stomach? Last time I had my stomach pumped, wasn't it because I ate poisonous mushrooms?"

"...I think it's better if you don't know."

Mo Mo sat at the table with her neck drawn in, most of the time not daring to lift her head to meet the eyes of the people across from her. But her ears twitched slightly as she listened intently to the conversation.

Relaxed, free, harmonious and friendly—though sometimes the content of their discussion sounded a bit weird—but this atmosphere... she really hadn't felt it in a long time.

These were a very interesting group of people, definitely not the same kind as Old Joe—although among them were a Black Spot warlord, an Artificial Saint, and a Cursed Doll.

Only the seemingly fluffy nine-tailed fox and that slightly pale-faced Mr. Yu Sheng looked like they might be good people based on appearance.

But she dared not say that out loud.

"Anyway, now we know that the Hidden Sect's capital planet is called 'Sanctuary,' which matches what that 'Grand Sage' we met in the underground garage shouted before he went all out. And we also know they built the Gate of Eden on the planet Sanctuary," Yu Sheng's voice snapped Mo Mo out of her daze. "So by extension, it's extremely likely they also moved the Dark Angel called the 'Shadowless Bones' from the Adar Pit to Sanctuary—unless they have a way to have the Dark Angel wirelessly charge the Gate of Eden.

"Let's assume the worst-case scenario: that both the Gate of Eden and the Dark Angel are on that planet. Then when we take action in the future, we have to be careful. A Gate of Eden that could blow at any moment is already scary enough, but lying right next to it is a 'Shadowless Bones' that could wake up at any time. And the cultists on Sanctuary are absolutely the most extreme and fanatical bunch. When they're backed into a corner, you can bet they'll collapse the Gate early..."

Eileen stared, spreading her hands. "Sounds totally fucked, man—"

A fluffy tail extended quietly from beside her, winding around Yu Sheng's arm and rubbing back and forth.

Yu Sheng raised a hand to ruffle the fox head, then looked around at both sides. "So I need to discuss this carefully with Bai Liqing when I get back. It's not realistic for just us to attack a 'theocratic nation' that might have ten or even dozens of sovereign planets. But if the Council directly pushes in with a massive army, it might just cause those cultists to blow up big. Finding the right balance in between is tricky... might even be tougher than the Derridium incident."

Then he paused, thought for a moment, and his gaze fell on Mo Mo. "Finally, there's your situation."

Mo Mo's tail, which had just relaxed, immediately bristled. "M-me?"

"Don't be nervous," Yu Sheng waved his hand. "It's about what to do with you next—do you have any thoughts about your future?"

"Future?" Mo Mo seemed to have never considered this question, or rather, she had just escaped and hadn't had time to think about it. Now prompted by Yu Sheng, a hint of bewilderment and anxiety about the uncertain future finally appeared in her eyes. After several seconds of subconscious thought, she hesitantly spoke. "I, I haven't thought about it... Maybe try to go home? Ten years have passed. I wonder if those colleagues who were captured by the Sky Raider pirates at the time ever managed to escape. Maybe everyone thinks I'm dead, and besides..."

As she spoke, she raised her mechanical right hand and touched the ear that had been replaced with a metal component.

"These things all carry Black Spot Group's markings. Some living metal growth branches have already fused with my central nervous system. Even the 'Immortal Arts' of the Featherfall Starfield can't safely peel them off. With all this, I'm afraid it'll be hard for me to find work on a research ship again... Most legitimate organizations won't let a Black Spot cybernetic into a lab."

"Well, isn't that convenient," Yu Sheng laughed, pointing at Luo. "Her lab is short-handed, and they don't mind your modifications—she's got even fewer original parts than you do."

It was only then that Mo Mo reacted belatedly. She immediately looked at Luo, but a trace of hesitation remained in her eyes. "I..."

Seeing this, Luo quickly spoke before the other could finish. "My place is a legitimate unit! It's a registered official research space station both in the Borderlands and the Featherfall Starfield!"

Yu Sheng wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that at this moment, this elven beauty's tone carried a bit of that "We are the righteous path" vibe from those three weird doctors—like a sewer rat suddenly getting an official post and wanting to weld the badge directly onto its skull.

Mo Mo, meanwhile, was startled by Luo's sudden shout. Her cat ears, along with the mechanical one, all flattened tightly against her scalp. And then she also connected it to those three seemingly very story-rich "doctors" from earlier...

But just as her thoughts began to wander, Luo rattled off a string of words. "Sign a formal contract, four days on three off, one month paid leave per year, Tier 2 Terran scholar or Argyle Stellar Scholar treatment, full occupational insurance, can apply for a long-term residence permit and ID documents in the Borderlands or Suji local area—if you find your family later and want to go home, the unit will cover your round-trip transportation. Commute time is three to six seconds."

Mo Mo: "...?"

"She's telling the truth," Yu Sheng nodded. "Don't forget how you came from Old Joe's lab to Suji—that three to six seconds includes the time to twist the doorknob and say goodbye to your colleagues."

The cat girl's eyes lit up.

Seeing this, Luo pressed her advantage. "You can bring the others who escaped from that lab with you for onboarding. The workplace is the space station you saw earlier. You're all familiar with each other. The other colleagues are either Argyle Stellar Scholars or researchers from the Borderlands. There might also be some 'naturalized scientists' who escaped from Black Spot Group like you. The workplace environment is very healthy and comfortable."

Mo Mo thought for a moment, then finally spoke. "R-really, really will sign a formal contract? And those benefits..."

"Of course. The entire onboarding process is standard," Luo's eyes curved into crescents. The enthusiasm she burst out with at this moment even surprised Yu Sheng a bit. "We can go through the procedures right now."

"Th-then okay," Mo Mo seemed a bit dizzy, but she still retained basic caution. "But I have to read the contract carefully before signing."

"Of course," Yu Sheng nodded with a smile, while extending a hand to the side.

Luna came over, blade in hand.

Yu Sheng held up his arm. A ball of blood drifted lazily over to Mo Mo.

"Drink this first."

The scene went silent for a moment.

The next second, the poor Jipu Luo girl let out a "Meeoow!" and jumped up. Her entire body arched into an extremely difficult pose as she stood on the back of the chair, her tail erect and fluffed up like a fuzzy club. "Y-you said we were going through the standard process!?"

Even Luo couldn't hold it together. "No, Boss! How could you do this! At least wait until she signs the contract!"

(End of chapter)