"Whir—Rumble rumble rumble—"
The hangar door was opening.
It was a massive, heavy tal door.
Over twenty ters high and thirty ters wide, the entire door was composed of three layers of armored plating, with shock-absorbing materials and acoustic cotton filling the gaps between each layer.
The surface of the door was covered in a complex system of hydraulic pipes and gears, resembling the muscles and bones of so colossal organism.
When the activation switch was pressed, the entire system began to operate.
Steam hissed sharply from the joints of the pipes.
The gears began to turn, producing a low, rhythmic clicking sound.
The hydraulic rods slowly extended, pushing the heavy door panels apart to either side.
Bright white light shone through the gap in the door.
The light widened as the door opened, eventually illuminating the entire corridor.
"Creeeak—Clang!"
The door was fully open.
Dr. Lovelace walked in.
She was talking incessantly as she walked.
"I'm truly very sorry."
Her voice sounded very sincere.
"I know the treatnt process might have been a bit... uncomfortable."
"But you have to believe , it was the fastest and most effective thod."
"And look, aren't the results great?"
"Your current physical condition is definitely the best it's ever been in your life."
"So—"
She turned her head to look at Pavela behind her.
Her erald-green eyes were full of expectation.
"Forgive ?"
Pavela held an ice cream cone, licking it as she walked.
It was vanilla-flavored, sprinkled with so crushed nuts.
It tasted quite good.
The sweetness was just right, not too cloying.
She took a lick, then looked up at Dr. Lovelace.
A few seconds of silence passed.
"...Barely."
She said.
A radiant smile imdiately blood on Dr. Lovelace's face.
"That's great!"
She looked truly happy.
Pavela took another lick of the ice cream.
She had to admit that Dr. Lovelace's ability to coax people was absolutely peak.
Less than half an hour had passed since the treatnt ended.
Dr. Lovelace had started with an apology.
A very sincere kind of apology.
Then ca the explanation.
A detailed explanation of why it had to be done this way, why other thods wouldn't work, and why she hadn't told Pavela beforehand that it would be so painful.
Then ca the compensation.
"What do you want?"
Dr. Lovelace had asked at the ti.
"As long as it's not too unreasonable, I can fulfill any request."
Pavela had still been huddled in the corner then, not saying a word.
Dr. Lovelace waited for a mont, then said:
"Then I'll get you sothing to eat first."
"You must be hungry."
She then disappeared.
When she returned two minutes later, she had an ice cream in her hand.
A vanilla-flavored ice cream with crushed nuts that looked very exquisite.
"Want a taste?"
Dr. Lovelace held the ice cream out to Pavela.
Pavela stared at the ice cream for a few seconds.
Then she reached out and took it.
She took a lick.
It was delicious.
Very delicious.
The sweetness was perfect, the texture was delicate, and the aroma of the nuts blended perfectly with the vanilla.
Pavela took another lick.
Then she realized her emotions were already starting to settle.
That "I'm never talking to you again" anger was rapidly fading.
It was replaced by a helpless "Forget it, it's already happened" feeling.
She repeatedly tried to build herself up ntally.
Don't forgive this woman so quickly.
Don't be bought off by a single ice cream.
Maintain your stance.
Make her realize she was wrong.
But—
She was still coaxed into a better mood.
Once the emotions subsided, it was a bit difficult to maintain the silent treatnt.
Moreover, this woman had genuinely healed her body.
Pavela could feel it.
She couldn't tell right when the treatnt finished.
But now that she was moving around, the sensation was particularly obvious.
Her body had beco much more flexible.
Every movent was smoother than before.
Her limb control precision had improved by at least a whole level.
Previously, if she wanted to perform a precise movent, she had to first calculate the angle, force, and timing in her mind before executing it.
Now, she didn't need to.
She only had to think "I want to do this movent," and her body would complete it automatically.
It was as if the latency between her brain and muscles had been completely eliminated.
Her strength had also increased.
An overall, continuous, and stable improvent.
She could feel her muscles becoming firr, her bones stronger, and her joints more flexible.
The sa went for her speed.
She tried jogging a few steps in the corridor.
Her steps were as light as if she were flying.
Every footfall landed precisely in the most optimal spot, and every push-off exerted maximum propulsion.
This feeling—
It was like she had finally obtained a fully functional cha.
Instead of that thug-iv covered in weld marks that could fall apart at any mont.
From the doctor's mouth, she learned that this treatnt wasn't free.
In fact, it could be called extrely costly.
To heal Pavela's countless old injuries without leaving any hidden issues, Dr. Lovelace had consud fully half of the entire facility's energy reserves.
Although Pavela had spent the most miserable few hours of her life, considering that she had also suffered a heavy loss...
And for the sake of this ice cream.
Pavela decided to barely forgive her.
Now, they had arrived at the cha hangar of the Seventh Division.
This was a vast, empty space.
The ceiling was so high the top couldn't be seen, with only countless thick steel beams extending into the black background.
The floor was polished concrete, coated with a layer of anti-slip paint that gave off a dull luster under the white light.
Rows of display racks were lined up along the walls.
Each display rack held a cha.
So were complete, while others were re wreckage.
So looked brand new, while others were already rusted.
But they all had one thing in common—
They were all Prototypes.
Before the design of the new cha began, Pavela wanted to see what the past Experintal Units were like.
Dr. Lovelace naturally didn't refuse.
"Of course,"
She said,
"These are all my works."
"Although most of them were failures, every failure taught ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) sothing new."
"Co, I'll give you a tour."
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