The Scientist and the Thesis
I somehow managed to clean up all the messes I'd created this time. But because of the experiments that had dragged on for nearly two weeks, I'd had no choice but to neglect the children.
"You're leaving already."
"Kiiing... kiiing..."
"Victory... Victory is really, really sad."
They'd all turned sulky like this. But since I'd had to keep offering advice during Dr. Cain's experiments, there was nothing I could do about it. Still, we'd finally reached our goal, hadn't we? When I told them things were returning to normal, the three of them barely managed to nod.
However, Victory, who had switched to her cold personality, made a direct request.
"Maxwell, sir, please arrange for me to meet that Gloria creature as soon as possible."
"Are you really okay with it?"
"She's just a kid like Victory anyway."
Victory wanted to start living with me even sooner. It was perfect timing since I'd already planned to have them meet. And since we could simply reuse the modified Meeting Ground from last time, it would be fine as long as Gloria agreed.
When I asked her right away—
"Do as you wish."
Fortunately, Gloria also gave permission for the meeting with Victory. All that remained was for me to set the schedule, and the two could meet immediately.
Just as I'd nearly finished laying the foundation for all of us to live together in less than half a year—
"Mr. Maxwell, the Chief Researcher is calling for you."
Dr. Cain, who had been practically forced into Black Cell's recovery ward due to several days of overwork, had finally returned. Yet the moment I met him, he was still overflowing with the joy of the experiment's resounding success.
"Maxwell!! Hahaha! Come in, come in!"
"Is your body fully recovered now?"
"Of course!"
The excited Chief Researcher showed me the experimental data we'd obtained and explained just how monumental our achievement was.
"Until now, superpowers were simply thought to appear upon awakening. But!! Now that we've discovered this special factor, we can uncover everything—the cause, the growth mechanism, the compatibility!"
"As they say, the beginning is half the battle. It seems the secrets will be unraveled one by one from here."
"Exactly! Now we're talking about becoming scientists on the level of Einstein or Newton!"
The Chief Researcher looked incredibly happy at the prospect of becoming a historical figure. But perhaps because I'd continued to react calmly, he pounded his chest in frustration.
"Maxwell... are you still maintaining that humility even at this moment?"
"Ahahaha, I'm truly sorry."
"Tsk tsk tsk. Being too good-natured can be a flaw. In that case, can you at least tell me when the paper will be ready?"
"That's—"
There was one massive problem right now. The fact was, I had no idea how to write a thesis in the field of biotechnology. Moreover, internal power dynamics within Black Cell were currently more important than external perception.
Fortunately, the perfect person to solve all of this was standing right in front of me. When I immediately proposed another deal to Dr. Cain, he was stunned.
"Y-you mean I can write the paper?!"
"That's correct, Chief Researcher."
"No, no... this is your research—"
"I merely established the hypothesis. The verification was done by you, Dr. Cain."
When I responded firmly, the doctor fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Had he finally realized what I truly wanted? He looked at me with eyes that showed he understood, at least to some degree.
"...You've been through a lot too, struggling to survive in this Black Cell."
"I'm truly grateful that you understand, Chief Researcher."
"Yeah... since you've gotten so deeply entangled with Director Aileen, even you have no choice. From now on, you won't have to deal with any annoying matters within the research complex. But since I do have a conscience, I'll make sure to list you as a co-author."
It was absurd to hear a scientist who led inhumane experiments talk about having a conscience. Still, thanks to this, the external fame I didn't need—the first authorship of the paper on the Superpower Factor—went to Dr. Cain. In exchange, my position within Black Cell rose dramatically.
The deal with the Chief Researcher was an overwhelming success. Thanks to it, none of the researchers in Black Cell could touch me anymore. The days of walking corpses picking fights with me were over.
The problem was that the newly rolled-in stone had completely dislodged the one already embedded. After all, people are the same everywhere. No matter how direct my connection to the Director was, and no matter how openly Dr. Cain protected me, the senior researchers were bound to be fiercely jealous.
I'd planned to observe the internal situation in the research complex first, but...
"Why is everyone looking at me with such pity?"
"Ahem..."
"W-well, you see..."
"It's nothing!"
Instead of jealousy, everyone in the research complex was looking at me with strangely sympathetic eyes. I was feeling even more confused by this incomprehensible situation when Amano approached me in the cafeteria during lunch with a determined expression. Behind him, the new hires and other researchers were hiding and sending him encouragement.
It seemed Amano, who was considered the closest to me, had stepped up to ask the question on everyone's behalf. But what exactly did they want to ask?
The moment I started talking with Amano, a flash of realization shot through my mind.
"Senior Maxwell, are you okay?"
"Please stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point."
"Ah, I mean... your thesis... was stolen, wasn't it?"
To most scientists, a thesis was like a child into which they'd poured all their passion and life. Looking at the current situation from an outside perspective...
Wouldn't I look like a graduate student whose thesis was stolen by his supervising professor?
And since it wasn't some ordinary discovery but a truly monumental one, I finally understood why the researchers had been looking at me that way.
After that, Amano hesitantly relayed the other researchers' questions.
"I heard the reason this experiment succeeded so brilliantly was because Senior Maxwell built the entire hypothesis and experimental methodology."
"The verification was done by Dr. Cain."
"But in the end, he only put the spoon on the table, didn't he?"
As Amano continued, he actually started getting angry himself. Worried that the junior might get on Dr. Cain's bad side, I deliberately acted as if I had a grander plan in mind.
"Mr. Amano, I don't concern myself with such trivial matters."
"T-trivial?!"
"There are far more things I need to pursue moving forward."
In that way, I treated the thesis Dr. Cain had taken as nothing more than a single step. As a result, I received looks of deep respect from the juniors and other researchers.
Black Cell now had a top priority: uncovering the secrets of superpowers. Naturally, all other research had been suspended indefinitely, and the captured test subjects had become like ducks in the Nakdong River—completely useless.
There had even been talk of simply disposing of these now-worthless, hard-to-manage test subjects, but—
"Each one of them is worth billions."
"Since each is a unique superpower user, their value must be quite high."
"Is that all? The Security Director said transporting them is an absolute nightmare. Anyway, Maxwell, could you tell me what you'd like to do with them?"
"Naturally..."
According to Dr. Cain, even smuggling test subjects from countries where they had virtually no human rights was extremely difficult. When I advised saving them, they were fortunately spared.
Thanks to this discovery, all of Black Cell's key executives had gathered for an emergency meeting. Of course, with Dr. Cain acting as my massive shield, there was no reason to call a mere junior-level grunt like me to such an important meeting, right?
Thanks to that, I'd felt incredibly at ease. I was spending time with the children as usual when—
Beep!!
"Huh?"
"Hm?"
I was with Victory when the phone suddenly rang. When I checked, it was from Secretary Min Chaerin. A huge wave of anxiety hit me—I really didn't want to answer. But since there were CCTV cameras in Victory's containment room, refusing the call would be recorded.
In the end, I answered to see what it was about.
"It's fine since I'm with the children. What seems to be the matter?"
I momentarily failed to control my expression. Seeing this reaction from me for the first time, Victory stared at me intently. I was relieved she hadn't gotten angry, and when I asked why, even the human lie detector didn't know the exact details.
"So I'll only find out once I go. Do I need to leave right now?"
"...Understood."
Having to attend another meeting made my head throb.
I didn't understand why they kept calling a first-year junior to such meetings, but Victory, who currently had her gentle personality, seemed to sense how important the ongoing meeting was. Instead of complaining, she cheered me on.
"Victory will be waiting for Maxwell, sir!"
"Thank you. That actually gives me a bit of energy."
"Hehehehe!"
These days, no matter which personality Victory had, she almost never showed any violent tendencies toward me. However, she currently had her entire body wrapped up tightly like a cocoon, which looked extremely uncomfortable.
Since I have to go to the conference room anyway, I should ask the Director to lower Victory's restraint level even further.
After parting with the bright and cheerful Victory, I trudged along. But apparently even this travel time was too long to wait, because Secretary Min Chaerin was already looking for me from afar.
"Seeing you here, Secretary, it seems I was a little late."
"Not at all, it's fine. Shall we head to the conference room now, Mr. Maxwell?"
"Let's go right away."
I followed Secretary Min Chaerin straight to the Central Strategy Conference Room, where she belatedly informed me of this meeting's unusual point.
"The Chairman has come?"
"It seems he stopped by to confirm such a major discovery in person."
The current chairman of Black Rock—the parent company of Black Cell and the family head of the Black Rock Group—had appeared.