Start a Core Pod

  Chapter 521 Research Council

   Just when Mary was taken to the morning jog by the energetic Lorena, Duanmuhuai had sneaked into the master's college again quietly. This time, his target was very clear, and that was Joseph Capek's office.

  The reason lies in Mary's description of her friend.

  Before that night, Xia Li looked very depressed in front of Professor Joseph Capek, and even inadvertently showed an expression that Mary and the others would never see normally.

   Moreover, according to Mary, she also heard that Charlie joined Professor Capek's research group.

   Moreover, according to the rumors that Mary heard from another friend Aselika, there seemed to be rumors among the students that Professor Capek had pursued Xia Li several times and even sent her flowers.

To be honest, just hearing this information, Duanmu Huai immediately pictured in Duanmu Huai's mind the situation of a well-educated young lady who was pinned down by her tutor to force her to be obedient, become the other party's slave, and be ruthless after school. Some small video content similar to "Private tutoring after class. MP4" was carried out in the room.

   Not to mention that Professor Capek had a bad reputation among the students, and he also looks like the wretched hero in the OX animation...

  Okay, enough of the desertion.

  Anyway, this can be regarded as a clue. In fact, just joining the research association is enough to make Duanmuhuai suspicious.

  The so-called research associations are actually scientific research groups led by professors in universities nowadays. Basically, a professor leads a few assistants, and then a few research dogs.

But even as a scientific research dog, not all students can be a student. Given the age of Mary and Xia Li, they are currently at the level of sophomores in high school, so generally speaking, it is difficult for girls of this age to join the research team unless they are very outstanding. of.

  Marie also said that joining a research association is actually equal to being recognized by a professor as a master scientist. Only young people with the corresponding mind and ability to assist in research are eligible to become a member of the research association sponsored by each professor. The number of these people is very small, maybe even less than one-tenth of the students in the academy.

  In fact, Mary only heard about joining the research association from Xia Li, but she didn't know anything about the theme and content of their research group.

   And this is the target of Duanmu Huai's investigation.

  If his premonition is correct, then maybe Professor Capek's research group has something to do with this case.

   But in fact, when Duanmuhuai sneaked into Professor Capek's office, he felt that his premonition was not far away.

  The reason is also very simple...

   "The Complete Encyclopedia of Spiritual Semantics... The mysteries of Western magic... The origin of black magic... Can you be a professor if you study this stuff?"

Looking at the pile of speechless books on the bookcase, Duanmuhuai couldn't help complaining. He still remembered that when Mary introduced himself, he said that Professor Joseph Capek was a professor of mechanics and sociology, but look at what he is reading now. Things, how can it be related to machinery and sociology?

   Do you also believe in the God of Myriad Chances?

   This is of course impossible, but in fact in this world, basically as long as you see an idiot studying black magic or something similar, you can basically judge that he is not far from death.

  Duanmuhuai searched through the office, but unfortunately, he didn't find many useful clues. The only thing he got from the office was some research directions of Professor Capek. What he is currently studying is human mechanics—well, to put it bluntly, it is the robot industry, which is quite in line with his identity, but the problem is that judging from his materials and records, his so-called "human mechanics" , it seems that it is not just as simple as a robot.

  It is a fusion of human beings and machines... um... Thinking of this, Duanmuhuai couldn't help but think of the steel monster that he met on the street that night, mixing human beings and machines. Although it is indeed vulnerable, but...it fits Professor Capek's idea very well.

   At least, very similar.

   Then there is only...

  Duanmu Huai lowered his head and looked at the safe in the office. This is an ordinary steel safe. Of course, with Duanmu Huai's ability, it is no problem to open it. But it would be impossible for him to open and close it without anyone noticing like a thief.

  So Duanmu Huai thought for a moment and made a decision.

  Anyway, the safe will be found if it is opened, so... it seems that this is the only way.

   While Duanmuhuai was busy in Professor Capek's office, Mary was sitting slumped on the avenue by the river bank, panting heavily.

  Although she also thought that the other party's training must be unusual, but no matter what...

   "Luo, Miss Lorena! Five kilometers... It's too long... I, I really can't do it."

   What surprised Mary the most was that she was running with her, but the girl next to her, who seemed to be smaller than herself, was not panting, as if she had just gone for a walk.

   "Huh? Is that so? But this is just the beginning. Next, I will punch a hundred times, do a hundred push-ups, and..."

   "This, I really can't do this!"

  Hearing this, Mary's complexion turned pale. She has a conscience. She is a liberal arts student, not a sports student. She gets up in the morning and runs five kilometers in the morning and then does punches and push-ups a hundred times. Is this some kind of torture? !

  If you really listen to this girl and do it, I'm afraid Mary won't have the strength to go to school today.

   Fortunately, this girl named Lorena is still very obedient.

   "Yes, it's not good to ask too much for beginners. Then follow your steps. How many times do you plan to do it?"

   "This...five..."

"Um?"

   "...Ten times."

   This is Mary's last insistence.

  Although Lorena didn't force Mary to exercise, Mary gritted her teeth and finished the training. After breakfast, she took a shower and changed her clothes. Then she dragged her sore body to the school.

   Woo...

  At this moment, Mary only felt that her whole body was sore, and every step she took seemed to make her joints scream, but as a lady, she still maintained her demeanor and walked towards the school building. However, at this moment, a petite figure suddenly rushed over and hugged Mary.

   "Good morning, Mary."

   "Good morning... Axie..."

  Looking at the black-haired girl who was slightly shorter than herself, Mary also smiled slightly. This is also her good friend Aselika, a very smart and energetic girl. Among the three, Mary and Xia Li are both students of the history department, and only Aselika is a student of the mathematics department. From this alone, one can tell how good her brain is.

   "What's wrong with you? Mary?"

   Sensing that his friend's mood didn't seem very high, Ah Xie raised his head and looked at her worriedly.

   "You look tired, are you okay?"

   "It's okay, I just... got up and exercised in the morning."

   "Morning exercise? I didn't know you still have this hobby."

   "Uh... I just think it's worth exercising once in a while."

For Mary, this is not an excuse. Ever since she was chased by the steel monster that evening, she deeply felt that she should exercise, but... everything should be a gradual process. Things like kilometers... Mary doesn't think that a lady can do it.

   "But it's too tired, you have to be careful about your body?"

   "Well, I will pay attention, not next time..."

  To be honest, Mary doesn't hate this kind of exercise, although she is exhausted. Running by the river in the morning, just concentrating on running, I just felt that my brain was empty. At that time, no matter what happened to Xia Li, or the monsters chasing her, or that nightmarish city that made people feel frightened. It seems to be left behind, to think about nothing, to think about nothing.

   "That's good...huh?"

   Just when Aselika was hugging Mary and acted like a baby, she seemed to notice something. She saw that Aselika let go of Mary and stared at Mary's right hand.

   "Mary, what's that ring?"

"Why?"

Hearing Aselika's question, Mary froze for a moment, then looked down at her finger, only to find that she was wearing a delicate ring on the index finger of her right hand, its appearance was silver, and the ring itself was very ordinary , looks nothing special - of course, Mary knows that on the inner side of the ring, there is a weird pattern of skulls and hammers engraved on it.

   It's just that because the pattern is on the inside, most people can't see it, so in the eyes of outsiders, it's just a pure silver ring.

   "This, this..."

   Not knowing how to explain it for a while, Mary also seemed a little nervous, and seeing her reaction, Aselika raised her eyebrows even more.

   "Wait, it can't be a man, is this a gift from a man?"

   "It's true to say that it's a gift... ah..."

   Under Ah Xie's aggressive questioning, Mary also replied subconsciously, and then she immediately realized that something was wrong. Sure enough, after hearing Mary's answer, Aselika was about to jump up.

   "What? Really a gift from a man? Who? Who is it?"

   "Cold, calm down, Axie..."

   Seeing her friend's reaction like a cat whose tail was stepped on, Mary hurriedly spoke to dissuade her.

   "It doesn't have any special meaning, it's actually... I've been having nightmares these days, so he gave me this ring, saying it can make me feel at ease... just to protect me..."

   "But, Mary, you don't have many good male friends."

  Ah Xie stared at Mary suspiciously.

   "Who on earth would send you such a thing?"

  If Duanmu Huai was here, he would definitely be wronged. He chose the ring at the time because he thought it was more convenient, not as troublesome as a necklace or bracelet.

   "This... actually..."

  Mary didn't know how to explain it for a while, but soon, she changed the subject.

   "Ah, the master's college is very lively, what happened? Let's go and have a look."

   "Huh? Wait, Mary!"

Watching Mary turn and leave, Aselika also complained dissatisfiedly, but she also held up her skirt and followed Mary to the gate of the master's college, and saw a large group of students in the corridor, At the door of the office, Mary saw Professor Capek sweating profusely and saying something to the police...

   "Excuse me, what happened?"

  Mary also spoke to a familiar female student next to her, who nodded when she heard Mary's inquiry.

   "Ah, Mary, good morning. You don't know that, last night, there seemed to be a thief in Professor Capek's office?"

   "Huh? Is that so?"

  Hearing this answer, Mary couldn't help being taken aback. You must know that the master's college is well-guarded. The guards here even carry guns. How could a thief enter the master's college to steal things?

   "Besides, it's strange what you throw."

   "Professor Capek lost something?"

  Mary's first reaction was the leather bag that Professor Capek had been holding in her arms, but when she looked carefully, she found that the bag was still held in Professor Capek's arms, so...

   "Safe, safe! Can you believe it? When Professor Capek came to the office this morning, he found that the safe in his office was missing!"

"……………Why?!"

  Hearing this, Mary and Aselika who came after them were stunned.

  (end of this chapter)