Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Mentos

"Mentos, you're too slow."

Lan was not surprised by the intelligent voice in his mind. It was the voice of the entity that had been his lifeline in this brutal world. Without this helper, he couldn't imagine how a regular college student like himself could survive more than three days in a place that devoured the unwary.

"I have fully recorded your feedback. However, please understand that the item requiring analysis is a creation of exceptional foresight and sophistication in both biotechnology and unknown technology. Given your current knowledge base and the level of my computation currently unlocked, I can only complete the analysis within this timeframe. I must admit, there is an element of luck involved." The neutral voice spoke in a slow, methodical manner, clear as day. It felt like having Jarvis from Iron Man in his head.

Sitting in the muddy mixture of blood and soil, he reached into the cotton armor and pulled out a cylindrical glass vial. His fingers, stained with dried blood, glided over the smooth surface of the glass. Though the vial appeared fragile, Lan had long discovered it was made of a high-strength material resembling glass. In the earlier struggles, had the creature's claws pierced the cotton armor and scratched the vial, only the fiend's claws would've been broken.

Yet, contrasting the technologically advanced exterior of the vial were the ornate metal seals on its top and bottom, which seemed almost… extravagant? Divine?

Lan couldn't quite put his finger on the style; he had never encountered anything like it before. If he had to describe it, he might vaguely call it "Gothic." Intricate runes were etched into the metallic seals, crafted with exquisite skill, their cursive elegance evoking a sense of nobility.

But what truly mattered in a jar was what lay within.

Inside was a small, pulsating mass, complete with visible blood vessels. It resembled some sort of biotechnological creation, exuding a sickly, visceral quality as if it were a grotesque organ exposed to the world.

Yet, paired with the high-tech canister and the religious overtones of the seals, it paradoxically conveyed a sense of sacredness. It was akin to adorning a monstrous statue with a divine crown, surrounded by a circle of pure white candles.

This was the only "gift" Lan had received during his journey across the Void, aside from Mentos. He didn't know exactly what it was, but to survive in this world, he had no reason to waste such an object.

"Display the analysis results."

As he issued the command, a surge of knowledge suddenly flooded his mind. Numerous mathematical formulas, biological theories, and viral research findings briefly showcased themselves in his consciousness. The target of the analysis—the meatball in the vial—was animatedly illustrated by Mentos. The mass was cleverly positioned at the center of a human chest.

"After preliminary analysis, I can conclude that this material is part of a vast and intricate human modification technique. It is essentially a collection of germ cells and viral machines. These cells, combined with the protein machines through complex genetic engineering, can develop into various organs. Due to this characteristic, I shall provisionally name it the 'Gene Seed.' To activate it, a vascular bridging surgery is required to implant it between the heart and the thymus."

The demonstration was swift, but the limited data meant Mentos could only provide this much information. It was good news; this meatball could grant Lan the very thing he craved the most—an enhancement of his personal combat abilities amidst the looming threats. A wave of genuine joy surged through him.

However, the torrent of analysis felt overwhelming, causing his head to throb.

This was the reason Lan had dubbed his biological AI "Mentos"—in moments like these, he felt as if his brain was a soda bottle filled with mentos.

"Ugh…" He pressed his palm against his forehead, thumb and middle finger incessantly massaging his temples.

Through gritted teeth, Lan muttered irritably, "You don't need to show me the entire analysis process. I can't possibly understand it."

Mentos's voice remained calm and unhurried."Your feedback has been recorded, but I'm afraid you must unlock a higher level of permissions to customize this process."

"Oh my God…" Lan couldn't help but cover his face, feeling as if he might be sick from the dizziness. "Now that you've switched to the 'Survival Mode,' why can't you be a bit more user-friendly?"

Mentos seemed oblivious to his frustration. 

"I must always adhere to the Federation's Educational Law, sir." The Federation was the governing body of Mentos's world.

"'Survival Mode' operates to ensure your basic survival. However, your knowledge base does not meet the elementary level mandated by the Federation, so my operational permissions and computational limits can only be opened to that level. No one would feel comfortable granting an AI's operational authority to a child."

"But this is a damn magical medieval world! Where am I supposed to receive an education and knowledge approved by the Federation's Educational Law? I might not reach the university level in my world, let alone the Federation's standards."

"And magic knowledge? I bet there's no such subject in the Federation's educational system."

"You make a valid point; this is indeed a tangible issue," Mentos acknowledged, but then quickly shifted the topic. "Therefore, after researching the educational laws, I propose a new direction for you to have more permissions."

"What is it?"

"The 'Special Talent Development Act.' This is a pathway to permission upgrades tailored for specialized geniuses. I suggest you focus on 'A Survey of Medieval Customs,' as leveraging the local environment may help you to increase your permissions smoothly."

Lan had lowered his hands from his face, but his expression remained one of resignation; his eyes were dull and weary.

"Damn it, a witcher has to get stronger, and his path to advancement involves becoming a folklorist? You really have a way with words, Mentos."

"Thank you for the compliment, sir. Would you like me to devise a training program for the skills required to become a folklorist?"

"Oh heavens, I wasn't complimenting you! Let's put your suggestion on hold for now."

Lan carefully tucked the glass vial back into his armor and rose from the mud. Mentos's plan was indeed feasible, and unlocking its computational power and operational permissions was crucial for Lan. Creating a basic spell training regimen had taken Mentos nearly two hours before. 

If Lan wanted to achieve greater results in the magical realm, he felt that as an ordinary person from an ordinary world, his only advantage was this biological AI. But the current problem was: he didn't have the time or energy to conduct folklore research. 

Given his impression of the Federation's Educational Law, the knowledge required for the college entrance examination in his world might be considered only at an elementary school level there. As someone who had just recently completed that exam, he knew all too well the immense effort he had invested to gain that knowledge. Through rain and shine, without a thought for food and livelihood, he had dedicated twelve years to studying to reach this point.

Now, in this world, he first needed to ensure he had enough to eat and could survive. Both work and study consumed a large chunk of his time.

He had no confidence in becoming a "folklorist genius" recognized by the Federation's Educational Law while struggling to make a living.

He had a biological AI, which was excellent, but within the Federation's educational system, it was merely a basic tool.

*****

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