Throne Of Supreme

Chapter 214: Laboratory

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[Mission Objective: Destroy the Experimental Base.]

Mission Details:

Destroy Laboratory 1.

Eliminate the head of the base.

Kill 5 senior researchers. (0/5)

Reward: 2000 experience points.

---

"2000 experience points? That's quite the generous reward for this mission!" Aoki murmured, scanning his surroundings.

"So, this is an experimental base. That strange smell in the air makes sense now. But what could they be researching here?"

A possibility immediately crossed Aoki's mind: the artificial Devil Fruit, SMILE—a signature creation of the Donquixote Pirates.

"If this base is tied to the Donquixote Pirates, it's highly unlikely they're conducting any research that benefits humanity."

He frowned slightly, realizing this might complicate his original plan to gather information about Robin.

Aoki's gaze swept over the experimental base.

The facility was expansive, with numerous buildings, but it was clear most were auxiliary structures meant for daily living. Only one stood out—the largest, most complex structure at the back: a massive white building.

The design was highly secure, almost entirely sealed off. It had no windows and only a single entry point.

Not knowing what lay inside, Aoki decided against making any rash moves. Instead, he settled into the shadows and waited silently.

---

As the Hours Passed

The night faded, and the first light of dawn broke over the horizon.

A ship approached the island, its mast bearing the flag of crossed swords and a skull—a pirate ship.

As the vessel docked, a group of pirates disembarked, moving toward the experimental base with practiced ease.

After undergoing multiple security checks, they arrived at the entrance of the main building.

Clunk, clunk, clunk.

The sound of gears turning echoed as the door slowly opened.

The group, led by their captain, filed inside.

Unnoticed behind them, a shadow darted forward.

The pirate at the back of the group stiffened suddenly before disappearing without a trace.

"Did you hear that?" a man with a mustache asked, glancing over his shoulder with a puzzled expression.

Standing next to him, Aoki, now disguised, whispered, "Hear what?"

The mustached man scratched his head. "I thought I heard something just now."

"You're imagining things." Aoki's tone was calm, betraying nothing.

"Maybe…" The man shrugged, though he still seemed unsettled.

"Stop lagging behind and get moving!" barked the pirate leader from up ahead.

The mustached man and Aoki hurried to catch up as they entered the main building.

---

Inside the Experimental Base

The door shut behind them with a low thud.

Aoki quickly surveyed his surroundings.

They stood in a vast white room, illuminated by rows of lights embedded into the walls. The sterile environment gave off an unsettling atmosphere.

To their left, several tables were piled with neatly folded clothing. Without a word, the group moved toward the tables, each pirate beginning to change.

Aoki followed suit, donning a white coat to blend in seamlessly.

Once everyone had changed, they regrouped.

The pirate leader addressed them with a stern expression. "You've all been here before, so you know the rules. Don't wander around, don't poke your noses into things, and don't ask questions. Just do as you're told. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" the group replied in unison.

The leader stepped forward, activating some kind of mechanism. The wall in front of them groaned as it slid open, releasing a sharp, acrid odor.

Aoki's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene beyond.

---

Laboratory 3

The group stepped into a massive laboratory, the number "3" prominently displayed on the wall.

The room bustled with activity. Scientists in white coats hurried about, entirely focused on their tasks, paying no attention to the newcomers.

Aoki's gaze traveled to the sides of the lab, where tall cylindrical glass chambers lined the walls.

Each chamber was filled with a murky liquid and contained human specimens.

Men, women, children—the specimens spanned all ages, races, and genders.

They were all naked, suspended motionless in the viscous liquid.

The scene unfolding before Aoki felt like something out of a movie or game.

A man wearing a white coat and a mask, revealing only his eyes, approached and began conversing with the pirate leader. After a brief exchange, the group continued forward.

Aoki's gaze lingered on the man in the white coat, identified as No. 3.

"Is he the head of Laboratory 3? Or perhaps the head of the entire experimental base? Maybe just a senior researcher?" Aoki wondered silently.

After passing through Laboratory 3, they entered another room through a large, reinforced door. A massive number "2" was painted on the wall next to it.

Although referred to as a laboratory, this area resembled a colossal factory. The space was filled with intricate machinery, clanking and rumbling as they worked.

Laboratory 2 was significantly larger than Laboratory 3, occupying more than half the building.

The personnel ratio here was strikingly different. While Laboratory 3 had a higher concentration of scientists in white coats, Laboratory 2 was heavily guarded. Fully armed sentries, with cold, expressionless faces, patrolled the area. Their features were unnervingly lifeless—almost as if they weren't entirely human.

"Let's move! Quickly!" the pirate leader barked, waving the group toward another section.

The doors creaked open, revealing a massive warehouse stacked with cardboard boxes.

Everyone silently grabbed a few boxes and began to leave.

Following suit, Aoki whispered to the mustached man beside him, "The numbers seem off this time."

The mustached man's face was obscured by his mask, leaving his expression unreadable.

"That's for sure," the man replied cryptically. "Once you use this stuff, you can't stop. Business is booming, so demand's only going to keep growing."

Aoki frowned, his mind racing. You can't stop using it? What on earth are they distributing here?

A chilling sense of familiarity crept into Aoki's thoughts, but he held back, choosing to remain silent and observe.

---

As the group reconvened, the pirate leader began speaking with the man in the white coat, identified as No. 2.

The pirate leader gestured to the others. "It's time to leave."

"Send my regards to the higher-ups," the white coat said curtly.

The pirate leader nodded and signaled for his men. "Let's go!"

The pirates began making their way toward the exit, their movements practiced and efficient.

Aoki, however, remained rooted in place.

"What are you doing? Move!" the mustached man hissed, his voice tinged with urgency.

Aoki shook his head, remaining silent.

He had hoped this group would lead him to Laboratory 1, but it became evident they had no intention of going there.

Gradually, the others began noticing something was off. The entire group stopped, turning to look at Aoki.

"Randy, what's the holdup?" the pirate leader asked coldly, his tone laced with suspicion.

So this person's name is Randy, Aoki noted, filing away the detail. Without hesitation, he replied, "Aren't we heading to Lab 1?"

The pirate leader's gaze turned sharp and predatory.

"And how do you know about Lab 1?"

Aoki gestured nonchalantly toward the wall. "It's written right there."

At that moment, the personnel in Laboratory 2 realized something was wrong. Led by No. 2 in the white coat, a squad of guards advanced toward Aoki, surrounding him.

The pirate leader's eyes narrowed, his voice dangerously calm. "You're not Randy."

Aoki reached up and removed his mask, revealing a face none of them recognized.

Shock rippled through the room. Disbelief was etched onto every face as the realization sank in—they had been deceived.

The mustached man, in particular, stared at Aoki as if he were a demon.

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