The Mech Touch

in soft white, allowing Dr.
Lupo to see the bioimplant frozen inside.

”This is a stasis cage! ” He uttered in shock.
”And this implant! What kind of implant requires such luxurious treatment? ”

”What you ’re looking at is a Tito Biosystems Archimedes Rubal 1002-Z Cranial Codex Bioimplant that I happened to salvage from the frontier. ”

”Tito Biosystems! That ’s a huge name in the galactic biotech community! How in the galaxy did you manage to obtain one of their products?! ”

”It ’s a long story. ” Ves chuckled.
”Don ’t ask too many questions.
What matters is what you can do with it.
Are you able to inspect the integrity of this bioimplant? ”

���I don ’t recognize this model or implant type.
I ’ve only dabbled in implants in a general sense.
I ’m far from a specialist in this field. ” Lupo answered honestly, still perplexed that Ves held a piece of high technology.

”You ’re still a biotech expert, right? Due to the sensitivity of this object, I can ’t trust too many people with knowledge of its existence in my hands.
I want you to keep what I told you to yourself and verify whether this implant is still safe to install in my cranium. ”

Dr.
Lupo frowned deeply at the stasis cube.
”Just because I ’m well-versed in bioscience doesn ’t mean I ’m adept in every specialty.
Implant studies are far from my area of interest. ”

”I can be very generous as long as you achieve some results. ” Ves smirked.
”I will double your personal budget every time you complete a major assignment.
Well, at least for the first four times or so.
I can ’t keep this up forever. ”

”Really?! ”

”I promise. ” Ves grinned.
”While I set high expectations for you, as long as you do what I ask, I ’ll increase your annual budget so you can pursue your pet projects in your free time to your heart ’s content.
Does that sound like a good deal to you, doctor? ”

Dr.
Lupo thumped his palm against his chest.
”You can rely on me! Archimedes Rubal? I ’ll unlock its secrets within a day! ”

”Don ’t make any boasts you can ’t back up.
This is a very advanced if somewhat outdated implant.
Treat it with care and don ’t make any changes without my express permission. ”

Seeing as Ves valued it very much, Lupo adopted a serious expression.
”I ’ll do as you say. ”

Ves watched on as Dr.
Lupo picked up the stasis case and placed it into a small protective container he carried in his lab coat.

Though Ves really did not feel entirely sure about placing the Archimedes Rubal in Lupo ’s care, he couldn ’t afford to sit on it any longer.

If he wanted to make some progress, he just had to go out on a limb and put his trust in someone.

At the very least, Ves had a good feeling about Dr.
Lupo.
Ves had observed the exobiologist carefully and saw no sign that the man was compromised in any way.

”There is something else I want you to do. ” Ves addressed the next topic.
He retrieved a sack from his pocket and passed it on to Dr.
Lupo.
”Can you identify the spice within? ”

Lupo opened up the sack and studied the dark spice contained within.
”What a pungent smell! Is this geril spice? It smells different from what I ’m used to! This must be the authentic formula! ”

Ves smiled.
”You ’re correct.
I ’ve got a lot more geril spice stored in my vault.
You see, they ’re somewhat special to me.
Aside from making spicy Nyx dogs delicious, geril spice is also useful for blocking special tracking methods based on metaphysical scent. ”

”Pardon? ”

”Geril spice has an extraordinary quality to them that is very valuable to me.
Imitation products may taste the same, but they lack this special quality.
What I want you to do is study this spice and see if you can isolate this extraordinary component.
It would be ideal if you can find a way to produce what you ’ve identified.
As far as I know, the only source of authentic geril spice is the Nyxian Gap, and that is far from ideal. ”

”Interesting.. ” Dr.
Lupo smiled and boldly sampled the spice.
”What a unique flavor profile.
No wonder spicy Nyx dogs have become a cult classic.
I ’ve been missing out! ”

Ves coughed.
”Studying the Archimedes Rubal and setting up the exobeast preserve come first.
Don ’t spend too much time on the geril spice before you ’re done with your main responsibilities.
Understood? ”

Lupo looked as if he couldn ’t restrain himself.
With great difficulty, he closed the sack and placed it in his pocket.
His mouth still rolled and quivered as if he was savoring the taste of geril spice.

”I..
will make sure not to forget about my other responsibilities, Mr.
Larkinson. ”

”That ’s not all I want you to do. ” Ves spoke and retrieved a data chip from his desk drawer before sliding it across the desk.
”Take this data chip.
It contains all of the scans and physiological data of my physique, in particular my biological augmentations. ”

”I ’m aware that you have an abnormal physique. ” Lupo said.
”While I am reasonably versed with the human body, your augmented physique is quite perplexing. ”

”I know.
Every exobiologist told me that they don ’t have a clue how the so-called Jutland organ works.
I don ’t expect you to figure out its functioning immediately.
I just want you to tackle this issue step by step. ”

”You are putting a lot on my plate.
Even if you ’ve promised to double my budget each time I ’ve completed an assignment, I ’m afraid it will take many years for me to satisfy all of your demands. ”

Ves did not look worried.
”I have one more thing for you.
Take this and have a bite. ”

He threw a candy at Lupo, who merely observed and sniffed it for a moment before popping into his mouth.

”Hmm..
sweet..
it doesn ’t taste like any candy I am familiar with.
Wait a minute..
this sensation.. ”

Lupo ’s eyes slowly lit up as his mind experienced a profound transformation.

”Do you have more of these candies? ”

Ves grinned and opened his palm, revealing four more identical candies.

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