Chapter 163: Ch 163: Where it all Began - Part 1

"We are beginning the test to check for influence. The test will start in 3...2...1...now. The readings are normal. We can check whether the kid is under our influence or not. Checking for esper-guide readings..."

"What is this? Is this kid truly from the labs? These readings are awfully low. I guess this kid is a failure as well. We should try with the next one."

The scientists in the lab looked at the large tube where a small body was suspended. The child inside hardly looked to be three years old and was still oblivious to the world.

But little did it know that its fate had already been decided by the adults outside.

"Head researcher, what should we do now? This kid—"

"Dispose of it and bring in the next one. We need to find at least a few that are useful to us in this batch since it is the last one. Your funds are being cut after this to fund another project."

The head researcher told the scientists, which made them panic. These funds were their only means of extra income, and losing them was detrimental to the scientists.

So this made them hurry, and they quickly went through batch after batch of kids to find any useful ones. But ultimately, there was no one they could find, even after looking so much.

"Head researcher—"

"Looks like this batch is full of dead ones. Well, test the last three, and we can be done here."

He told the researcher, ready to turn around when he heard a sudden gasping sound. He turned to look at the researcher, who looked shocked at the results on the screen.

"S-Sir, I think we have it. It’s a high-level signature. And not one, but all three of them are high-grade. Two guides and one esper."

The head researcher looked at the kids in the tubes, who slept peacefully, and his eyes shone greedily. The three kids looked soft and innocent, but they would soon learn their place.

Even among the three, the centre one lightly opened his eyes, and the head researcher met his gaze. And that was the second the head researcher knew that he had someone he could use.

The kid looking back at him? He was special, and he made the head researcher’s insides tingle with excitement.

Unknown to him, a smile appeared on his face that looked greedy and bewitching. All the researchers felt their hearts drop at that smile, but they also looked hopeful.

"Head researcher, about these kids—"

"Prepare to take them in. I have a feeling that they will become great subjects for experimentation in the future."

He told the scientists, who nodded and began to get the kids out. But there was another problem that immediately occurred.

"Sir, there are three of them, and it seems like both of them are clinging to the centre one. How should we pair them?"

Traditionally, an esper and guide were paired with each other, but there were two guides here. Moreover, the other guide was also clinging to the centre guide, making it harder for them to make a decision.

The head researcher sighed before he walked over to the kids and grabbed the centre one. He picked him up and noticed how the other two unconsciously fussed.

"Sir, what is—"

The head researcher raised his hand to silence the speaker before he looked at the kid in his arms. There was something unique about this kid that made him frown. He felt as if this kid was someone special to him. And just the thought of this kid guiding someone else made him feel annoyed.

It was not a feeling he had ever experienced in his life, but he could recognise it as his esper instincts waking up.

"Pair the other two up and keep this one separate. I will deal with him myself. I have a few experiments of my own I want to run."

The scientists shuddered as they watched the head researcher develop an interest in the young kid he was gripping tightly.

They wanted to speak up and get the kid in his arms back, but they were too timid to open their mouths and do so.

Ultimately, they watched as the kid they had just discovered was taken away by the head researcher, and they could not do anything about it.

Instead, they looked at the kids they were left with and quickly decided to name them.

"You are Subject E-001, and you are Subject G-002. These will be your names from today. Please don’t forget them."

The scientists stressed these words as they gripped the kids’ shoulders. But the kids looked disinterested in them.

Instead, their eyes kept looking at the door where the head researcher had disappeared with Subject S-001. They had a feeling that these kids would be a problem without the other subject.

But the head researcher’s words were law in the labs, and they could not deny his orders. All they could do was hope that the kid returned alive and well.

"Let’s get you all settled in."

The scientists quickly grabbed the kids’ hands to lead them out, but it was a struggle. The pair decided they did not want to move, and due to Subject E-001’s abilities, it was hard to move them as well.

In the end, they remained like this until the scientists managed to lie to them and make them believe that Subject S-001 was waiting for them beyond this door. Only then did they move to leave.

But it was a lie, and it would soon be discovered. And that would cause another wave of chaos altogether.

The moment the door closed behind them, the two children exchanged a glance before looking back at the empty hallway. Neither of them understood where Subject S-001 had gone, but they could both feel that something was wrong.

They instinctively hated to be away from subject S-001 and their cries of longing pierced through the labs, making the scientists feel sorry.