-1474- Just a greeting?

"What's wrong?"

"What happened?"

"Isn't that Real?"

"Did a conflict occur?"

The commotion finally attracted the attention of the previously uninterested researchers, causing them to turn their gaze towards Real, who was lying on the ground, and start whispering among themselves in surprise.

However, their actions did not attract the attention of anyone present.

At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on Real.

This was because a horrifying aura suddenly emanated from the fallen researcher from the Medical Science Division.

Noticing this aura, everyone not only looked in Real's direction but also had their expressions change drastically.

Especially Cris and Elis, who couldn't take their eyes off Real.

Freon, on the other hand, just had a fluctuating expression.

As for Rozen, he slowly retracted his hand while directing his gaze towards Real, his eyes flickering.

In this manner, Real shakily stood up.

The horrifying aura from his body suddenly disappeared, but it still made everyone feel a chill down their spine.

In that instant, everyone watching Real had a strange illusion.

It was as if the person slowly standing up before them was not a human, but a terrifying beast.

Real stared at Rozen with eyes filled with an incomprehensible hatred and madness.

That expression made the other researchers in the laboratory look at Real in shock and fear, as if they no longer recognized him, making him seem terrifying.

What was even more terrifying...

"I'll kill you... I absolutely have to kill you...!"

Real hung his head, his bangs hiding his expression, leaving only a low growl squeezed out from his throat that echoed in the air.

Seeing Real like this, a cold gleam flashed in Rozen's eyes.

At the same time, Real was about to charge forward.

However, someone stopped him.

"Stop!"

Freon finally couldn't hold back and stepped out, unintentionally blocking Rozen's front, and shouted sternly at Real.

"Have you lost your mind? Assaulting a fellow Academy's Sky Wizard without cause is one of the most serious crimes!"

Freon's scolding made Real's body abruptly freeze, stopping him in his tracks.

Upon seeing this, Rozen, who was blocked by Freon, slightly furrowed his brows, lowering the hand he was about to raise, dispersing the terrifying mana that had gathered in it.

Cris and Elis still kept a close watch on Real.

After a while...

"...Sorry, I got a little too excited."

Real remained silent for a moment before raising his head again, revealing a somewhat obsequious and neurotic smile.

The horrifying presence from earlier had completely vanished from his body.

Freon couldn't help but relax her tense body, but her expression still turned serious.

"Real Nua, just now..."

Freon was about to hold Real accountable for what had just happened.

However, before she could, her shoulder was held down.

"Don't be so tense, it was just a greeting, nothing serious."

Rozen actually smiled nonchalantly at Freon, as if he intended to brush off what had just happened and pretend nothing had occurred.

In contrast, Cris unexpectedly stepped forward at this moment.

"Real, you seem mentally unstable. If necessary, please come with me and leave this place."

Cris said this to Real while keeping her gaze fixed on him, her eyes filled with an unprecedented sense of seriousness.

Even Elis, who had been showing disdain towards Real, now stepped forward and smiled sweetly at him.

"Mr. Real, you were indeed a bit too impulsive just now. Would you like to have some tea with me and have a good chat?"

Elis displayed a gentle, beautiful smile, her eyes fixed on Real as if she had discovered something new and interesting, a completely different attitude from before.

But this time, Real became more pretentious.

"No, thank you for your concern, but I'm fine, really fine."

Real smiled awkwardly and vaguely.

"Just like Mr. Rorelai said, it was just a greeting, yes, just a greeting."

Real's words seemed less intended for others and more for himself, or even for Rozen.

And hearing these words, people couldn't help but feel a chill.

Wasn't that right?

A greeting?

In other words, such a conflict was nothing at all, right?

In other words, Real was implying that he hadn't even been serious yet.

If he were to get serious, it wouldn't be this simple.

Everyone understood the implication in Real's words.

Then, Rozen, who said the same thing, seemed to be of the same mind, no longer paying attention to Real, his face carrying an ambiguous expression.

The two no longer exchanged glances, yet the air between them was thick with a sense of confrontation that was impossible to ignore.

Setting aside Cris and Elis, Freon had a complicated expression, uncertain if she should continue pursuing the matter.

After a while, Freon sighed and reined in her expression.

"Researcher Real Nua, please assist us in obtaining a sample of the Shinjuku [2] Variant's body part and hand it over to Miss Elis to bring back to Vebel."

Freon resumed her business-like attitude.

This indicated that she no longer intended to pursue the matter.

However...

"Of course, I will naturally assist you."

Real smiled wryly, the light in his eyes completely gone.

"Don't worry, I've done this kind of work many times, I'm very familiar with it."

These words left everyone puzzled.

Cris's expression turned somewhat unsightly.

Freon also frowned.

Only Rozen seemed completely detached from the situation, looking in another direction.

"Then, I'll leave it to you, Mr. Real."

Elis, unusually enthusiastic, smiled at Real, who returned the smile foolishly.

Next, with Real's assistance, they extracted a part of the body from the massive cultivation tank in the center of the laboratory, which was still writhing as if struggling for life, and handed it to Elis.

That was a part of the Shinjuku [2] Variant's body.

Having accomplished their goal, Rozen and his group left.

Only Real was left, watching them go, or rather, staring at Rozen's back, his eyes once again filled with madness.

"Not enough... it's not enough..."

Real then turned around and looked at the flesh in the cultivation tank before him, mumbling with a devout yet crazed expression.

"Give me more... more..."

As he spoke, Real reached out towards the cultivation tank.

And the flesh inside the tank suddenly moved.

As if in response to something.