"Pexi, why did you come down here? Didn't I tell you we'd come up to eat after finishing the experiment? You're still pregnant right now." The moment he saw his lover, Norman spoke in a gentle voice.
In truth, from beginning to end, there had always been a trace of pride in Norman's eyes, a kind of arrogance that surpassed this world itself. Perhaps Norman himself never noticed it, but in the eyes of his childhood best friend Ebson, that arrogance felt like a lofty god looking down upon mortals, stirring waves within Ebson's heart.
Norman's pride might have stemmed from the secret hidden deep in his heart. After all, he did not belong to this world. He had come to this world in order to change it!
But whenever he faced Pexi, all the pride in Norman's eyes would instantly melt into tenderness. Only when facing Pexi would that faint sense of superiority hidden in the depths of his heart disappear. This beautiful Eldian girl had used her gentleness to pull him down into the mortal world.
Norman, Ebson, and Bill removed their lab coats together and headed to the lounge beside the laboratory.
"If I waited for you to finish the experiment, it would already be dark outside. Hurry and eat. I made your favorite cheese meat patties. Oh, and Ebson, I also made the beef brisket noodles you like."
Pexi opened the bamboo basket hanging from her arm and took out portions of steaming hot lunches filled with delicious aromas.
Looking at the bowl of beef brisket noodles piled high with meat in front of him, Ebson's appetite instantly surged as he praised,
"Pexi's cooking really is incredible. Norman, meeting Pexi really was your greatest fortune."
Norman grinned smugly.
"Of course. Did you really need to say that?"
Meanwhile, Bill stared eagerly at Pexi and muttered, "What about mine? You didn't forget your own brother, did you?"
Pexi glared at him irritably.
"Didn't you fall in love with smoking? Then what do you need food for? Want me to just give you two packs of cigarettes instead?"
Bill laughed awkwardly.
"Two packs of cigarettes? That's not a bad deal either."
Pexi was utterly speechless toward this brother of hers. Although she hated his smoking habit, she still couldn't bear to let him go hungry. Puffing her cheeks in annoyance, she still pushed the prepared meal toward him.
Watching the three men wolf down the hot lunch, a smile appeared on Pexi's pretty face. Her pale hand gently stroked her slightly swollen belly.
If only all Eldians could coexist peacefully with the other peoples of the world like this...
But when she thought about the lives of her fellow people inside the internment zones, a trace of worry appeared between her brows.
A pair of broader hands covered Pexi's stomach.
Looking at the crystallization of his love with Pexi, the tenderness in Norman's eyes nearly overflowed. Sensing her concerns, Norman comforted her:
"Don't worry, Pexi. I promised you that I would help the Eldians break free from their shackles and make the whole world accept them. Believe me. I can definitely do it!"
Seeing Norman's confident expression, Pexi nodded as well.
"I believe you!"
Very soon, the three men had eaten until their stomachs were completely full. Norman had Bill escort Pexi home first. After all, Pexi was pregnant and could not stay too long inside the underground laboratory. Besides, only Norman and Ebson knew about Bill and Pexi's identities as Eldians, so there was no need to worry about them running into trouble.
After seeing Pexi and Bill off, Norman and Ebson immediately returned to work mode.
Especially Norman.
For the sake of his unborn child, he had to work even harder. He truly believed he could change the future of the Eldians. After all, he possessed wisdom far beyond this world.
"The Titan power of the Eldians is extremely mysterious and domineering. According to our research, as long as either parent is Eldian, their child will inherit this extraordinary bloodline."
Norman dripped a drop of reagent into a test tube.
Ebson helped record the changes occurring in another row of test tubes.
Placing a mass of crimson liquid beneath a microscope that was priceless to ordinary people, Norman observed it while continuing:
"Ebson, you know the story of the Eldians, right? According to legend, the ancestor of the Eldians, Ymir, obtained the power of the Devil of the Earth, which is the Titan power. Using that power, Ymir helped the Eldians conquer the world and establish the Eldian Empire."
Ebson answered:
"I know. Then Ymir was assassinated inside the palace while saving King Fritz. Her children with King Fritz devoured her body, inheriting her Titan power, which eventually became the powers of the Nine Titans!"
The corners of Norman's mouth lifted slightly as he swirled the liquid in his hand.
"Exactly. From that point onward, the bloodline of the Eldians carried the Titan power. But Ebson, aren't you curious? How exactly was this Titan power passed down to all Eldians? Could it be that every single Eldian is descended from Ymir?"
Ebson looked equally puzzled upon hearing that.
"It really is strange. But why are you asking this?"
Norman smiled.
"Because this is my ultimate goal. Once we uncover the secrets of the Titan power, the entire world will go mad over it. The power inside the Eldians could practically be called the power of gods."
"The power of gods?"
Ebson was completely stunned by Norman's words, but Norman knew this wasn't an exaggeration at all.
In his memories, that dazzling Paths space, the Founder Ymir who had existed for thousands of years, and that mysterious hallucigenia-like creature...
Were those not powers akin to gods?
After living here for more than ten years, Norman might have been prideful, but he also understood that this world was not some fictional manga from his memories. It was a real world made of flesh and blood.
Since he had arrived in this world, then he would do everything he could to change it.
"It's hard to obtain the blood of the Intelligent Titans. Although we're both under the military, the Warrior Unit isn't under the command of our Marleyan corps. They answer directly to the Ministry of Defense. So I'll have to trouble you with this, Ebson."
Without even turning his head, Norman continued speaking.
Ebson nodded.
With the help of his father, obtaining the blood of the Titan Warriors was not difficult at all. Perhaps it was simply because he had spent his entire life following behind Norman.
All this time, although Ebson had assisted Norman with all kinds of experiments, he himself had never truly understood Norman's ultimate goal.
However, what Norman had just said about the power of gods had caught his attention.
So Ebson asked:
"Norman, can I take a look at your experimental notes?"
At that moment, Norman was staring intently at the most crucial experimental changes and replied absentmindedly:
"Sure, look all you want. Oh right, don't look at the illustrated booklet beside the notes for now. I'll give it to you after I finish it."
"Okay."
Ebson answered and reached toward Norman's experimental notebook.
At this moment, Ebson's blue eyes were incomparably pure.