Once Zane had recovered a little, Derek Su frowned and asked, "What's going on with you? Weren't you working like a corporate drone at Zuanka? The way you look now, you're more like livestock that just got used up."
Zane fell silent.
He was already this weak, and Derek Su still could not hold back.
"I really did go to work." He sighed, sounding helpless. "Like I said before, the job is flexible and pays well, but once a month I have to participate in an experiment. It doesn't cause serious harm to the body. It's basically like donating blood."
Derek Su looked at him with suspicion.
Participating in experiments, or being experimented on? You can barely stand, and you're saying it doesn't harm your body much?
Who are you trying to fool?
Thinking about it, this was not the first time Zane had acted strangely.
Almost every week, there would be one or two days where he looked completely off.
Either lifeless, or with dark circles and a worn-out expression.
If Derek Su did not know Lingwind would never get involved with him like that, he might have suspected Zane had been drained by a succubus, or that he was secretly working as a male model for some wealthy woman instead of going to Zuanka.
To be fair, if Zane cleaned himself up, he did look decent.
He had that worn, middle-aged charm.
"Zane, are you really just going to work?" Derek Su narrowed his eyes.
"I am…" Zane sounded guilty.
Seeing the disbelief on Derek Su's face and the Mecha Girls around him, he lowered his head and stayed silent.
After a long pause, under their intense gazes, he pressed his lips together and said in a defeated tone, "Since I can't hide it anymore, I'll tell you the truth… I've been going to Zuanka Technology for drug trials. You all know about sodium-fiber materials, right? Zuanka Technology is mainly controlled by Mecha Island. Even the Human Federation has to step aside. They specialize in developing drugs and equipment based on sodium-fiber materials, and some projects require human test subjects… I'm one of them."
"Why would you volunteer for something like that?" Derek Su frowned.
Zane glanced at him, hesitated, then stayed quiet.
Derek Su thought it through. Zane was not short on money. The Stella Club treated him well, and Lingwind cared about him. Yet he still rushed to Zuanka Technology and even volunteered as a test subject. That could only mean one thing.
"You're doing this because of the Techmaster matter, aren't you?"
Zane flinched.
That reaction was enough.
The rare sodium-fiber-Ω serum, which could stimulate an ordinary driver to become a Techmaster, was developed by Zuanka Technology. Zane had clearly gone there to gather information, like how to increase the success rate or whether there were other ways to obtain sodium-fiber-Ω. For that, he was willing to become a test subject.
No wonder the pay was high and the hours were flexible.
A job like that could not possibly pay poorly.
But Derek Su did not need him to go that far.
He had long known Zane's training plans might not be entirely reliable, but he had still benefited from them and was willing to keep going.
So he said firmly, "Quit your job. Don't go back to Zuanka Technology. Just focus on your nutrient solution shop. Becoming a Techmaster is not something you need to worry about. I'll give it everything I have to win first place on the provincial Panlong Mountain track. Even if I can't become a Techmaster, I'll find another way."
"Alright, boss. I understand." Zane nodded obediently, without any resistance.
Derek Su's word was final.
"Get some rest. Absolute Shadow has already called the medical team. They'll be here soon to help you recover."
After saying that, Derek Su left with the other Mecha Girls.
Lingwind stayed by Zane's side, her face full of concern. Seeing how exhausted he looked, as if he might fall asleep at any moment, she quietly stepped out as well.
She was afraid of disturbing his rest.
When the room was finally empty and only Zane remained,
he suddenly opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
The exhaustion and drowsiness were gone.
In their place was a deep, suffocating anxiety and fear.
Derek Su was sharp. He had immediately guessed why Zane went to Zuanka Technology.
But Zane had not told him everything.
Becoming a test subject there really was for gathering information. His plan was simple. After the provincial race, if Derek Su failed to awaken, he would use that information to obtain sodium-fiber-Ω through other channels. If Derek Su succeeded, then he would use the serum himself. If both of them became Techmasters, the chances of rescuing Mr. Liang would increase significantly.
After all, even if Ethan Yang appeared to be alone, he had been a Techmaster for years. There was no way he did not have connections.
Zane was worried Derek Su would be outmatched by those veteran Techmasters. When the time came, he wanted to be someone who could stand in front and take the blow.
But the thing he had hidden from Derek Su was what troubled him the most.
Recently, several new functional Mecha Girls had joined the research team at Zuanka Technology.
They were not yet fully familiar with their work.
For example, today, the anesthesia had not been administered properly, and he woke up early on the operating table.
And because of that, he heard something that made his blood run cold.
Zane stared at the ceiling as the memory replayed in his mind.
It must have been the afternoon. He woke up groggy, his mind still clouded by the lingering effects of anesthesia.
Then he heard two functional Mecha Girls in white coats whispering behind the frosted glass nearby.
"This batch of sodium-fiber-Ω is very effective. Zuanka's research is becoming more advanced. That's not good for our faction…"
"No matter what, starting this year, no more Techmasters can be allowed to emerge."
"I know… but we need to think carefully about how to tamper with it. Otherwise, we'll be the ones getting recycled."
"Recycled? So what. I'd still do it even if it meant dying countless times."
...
Their footsteps gradually faded.
One of them left.
Then Zane heard the other sigh.
He held his breath and kept his eyes tightly shut, afraid that even the slightest mistake would reveal he was awake.
His thoughts spiraled, and his mind grew heavier and heavier.
The anesthetic in his body had not fully worn off.
After that, everything went dark until he woke up again on the operating table.
...
Thinking back on it, Zane took a deep breath and covered his face.
Frustration welled up inside him.
He had already seen hope. Derek Su had earned the qualification to compete on the provincial Panlong Mountain track. And he was absolutely certain that as long as Derek Su took the awakening serum, he would become a Techmaster.
Everything in his training pointed to it. Derek Su was clearly someone extraordinary.
But now…
"I'm sorry, Derek Su."
Zane clenched his teeth.
He could not quit.
He still had to go back to Zuanka Technology.
He knew it was dangerous.
But if it meant helping Derek Su become a Techmaster, and saving his master,
then no matter what lay ahead, he would keep moving forward.