Chapter 82: The Phoenix Project and Dragging Gabriel Out of Bed

It's time for the fun lottery draws!

One Level-3 draw and one Level-4 draw.

Since Haruto was at the Foundation site, he decided to bring the two Eye Pods along for luck.

The two Eye Pods, watching their Director act like a maniac, exchanged a glance. They were used to it. As usual, he'd start with the Level-3 draw to warm up.

He pressed the draw button.

A purple light flashed across the lottery panel.

[Reward obtained: Anomaly - Rainbow Lollipop (SCP-3329).]

Haruto: !?

As the reward was extracted, a bucket of rainbow lollipops appeared in Haruto's hands.

[Anomaly: Rainbow Lollipop (SCP-3329). Anomaly Level: 0 - Safe.]

[Anomaly Characteristics: The item appears to be a delicious-looking lollipop. When placed in the mouth, it produces a sweetness three times that of regular candy and cycles through 18 flavors, including apple, orange, and strawberry.]

[Anomalous Effect: While the candy's sweetness is in the mouth, the consumer gains weak memetic properties. Any statement they make will be unconditionally believed by others. The memetic effect lasts until the sweetness fades.]

[Note: After the memetic effect wears off, those influenced will continue to believe what they heard until someone points out logical flaws. Therefore, please do not use this to lure little girls. The FBI will still kick down your door.]

Reading the anomaly's characteristics, Haruto felt it was somewhat underwhelming.

A bit of a letdown.

Since consuming the Titan Worm, Haruto's Blacklight Virus had gained infectious properties. Direct assimilation was far more reliable than this unstable, weak memetic persuasion.

Besides, if he wanted to lure a loli, he wouldn't need...

Ahem.

(T/N: Yo this chigga practically aint hiding it now.)

No matter, it was just a Level-3 draw. Consider it a warm-up.

Haruto rubbed his hands together and pressed the Level-4 draw button. This time, a golden light streaked across the panel.

Haruto smiled with satisfaction.

While he hadn't gotten a red light, a gold was still good.

[Reward obtained: Phoenix Project Technology Blueprint.]

"The Phoenix Project!? Is this the Phoenix Project I'm thinking of!?"

With excitement, Haruto accepted the reward.

A technology blueprint appeared in his mind.

A technology blueprint meant that even if you didn't understand the principles, as long as you had the materials and followed the blueprint, you could still create the product.

The blueprint also provided a detailed explanation of its functions.

It didn't disappoint. This was indeed the Phoenix Project he had in mind.

The Phoenix Project, as the name suggested, was about rebirth; like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

The technology focused on two key areas:

Consciousness upload and digital consciousness simulation.

Biological genetic engineering and cloning technology.

The core of the Phoenix Project was a massive incubation chamber.

Participants would need to provide DNA samples, tissue samples, and upload their consciousness to a quantum computer.

The incubation chamber would record all the individual's data and store their consciousness in digital form.

When the individual died, the Phoenix Project would activate, using the resources in the chamber to clone an identical body.

The stored digital consciousness would then be transferred into the clone's brain, achieving resurrection.

Of course, the project could also be used to pursue immortality.

As individuals aged, they could upload their consciousness, clone a younger body, and transfer their consciousness into it.

However, as discussed earlier with the gender-swapping serum, an individual's body influences their mind.

An older consciousness would be affected by a younger body. Theoretically, this process would erase the older individual, creating a new one instead.

This severely violated Foundation protocols.

The Phoenix Project was strictly prohibited from being used for life extension.

However, its intended function represented a monumental leap forward for the Foundation.

"Prepare the resources and materials on this list and deliver them to Light Containment Zone, Room C-137."

Haruto handed a list of materials required for the Phoenix Project to the Foundation personnel.

Given the current technological environment, the resources needed to construct the Phoenix Project were exorbitantly expensive. It wasn't just the materials for the main incubation chamber and quantum computer.

There were also ongoing costs.

Cloning an identical individual would cost a staggering amount of money.

In Light Containment Zone, Room C-137, Haruto followed the Phoenix Project blueprint to assemble the main incubation chamber, quantum computer, and consciousness transfer system.

Looking at the consciousness upload helmet, Haruto hesitated for a moment before deciding not to upload a backup of his own consciousness.

His body was nearly impossible to clone.

The Blacklight Virus, after continuous evolution, had surpassed the capabilities of current technology to analyze.

Moreover, Haruto's consciousness likely couldn't be recorded as a digital backup. His mind was intertwined with fragments of a Supreme Deity. Perhaps only a device of equal divine nature could simulate Haruto's consciousness.

"Big bro, what's this?"

Nao appeared in Room C-137 without warning.

Haruto noticed but didn't pay it much mind. In fact, her arrival was timely. Haruto guided Nao to a chair and placed the consciousness upload helmet on her head.

"This is a product of technology far beyond our current capabilities. Its primary function is rebirth."

Haruto explained briefly.

Nao tilted her head, still not fully understanding.

"Just sit still and leave a backup."

With that, Haruto initiated the upload process.

Nao's body twitched.

It felt like a small electric shock.

Then, the consciousness upload was complete.

In the quantum computer, a backup of Nao's consciousness now existed. This backup would be frozen and stored, only to be activated if Nao's death was detected. At that point, Nao's body would be cloned, and the backup consciousness would be transferred into the new body.

Afterward, Haruto took blood and tissue samples from Nao.

Though confused, Nao cooperated fully.

"By the way, Nao, you haven't officially joined the Foundation yet, have you?"

After finishing the sampling, Haruto suddenly said.

Nao shook her head.

While she had been active within the Foundation, she didn't have an official rank or designation.

Haruto pulled out the Absolute Contract Codex.

"Want to sign a contract?"

Nao's blue eyes sparkled.

"Really? Big bro is finally letting me sign the contract?"

She had wanted to join officially for a while, but Haruto had told her not to act on impulse.

Snatching the Absolute Contract Codex, Nao quickly signed her name. The contract took effect.

"Big bro, what's my position and designation?"

Nao asked eagerly.

"SCP Foundation, A-Level Decision Coordinator, Nao Tomori, Designation A-01."

Haruto announced her position.

This was something he had planned for a while.

Nao had a talent for decision-making and coordination and had been with the Foundation since its inception. She was well-versed in Foundation operations and knew many classified details.

Her A-Level status was well-deserved.

"Wow! Awesome!" Nao cheered.

She had thought she might become a C-Level investigator or a B-Level manager.

"Alright, stop fooling around. Go gather the Foundation personnel for sampling in Room C-137."

Haruto paused.

Reviving someone through the Phoenix Project would consume resources, which equated to a significant amount of money. Some externally recruited C-Level personnel might not even be worth the cost of a single Phoenix Project activation.

But...

"Notify all C-Level and above personnel to come for sampling. No exceptions."

Haruto said firmly.

The SCP Foundation was an organization that prioritized humanity.

When the cost of resources didn't hinder the Foundation's operations or cause more casualties, human life should be valued above money or material resources.

This was the Foundation's principle.

Nao nodded.

Haruto added:

"Do not disclose the purpose of this sampling or the function of the equipment in Room C-137 to anyone."

If the ability to revive became widely known, Foundation personnel might lose some of their fear of death. This could lead to containment breaches, which would be a headache.

The details of the Phoenix Project were restricted to personnel with Level 4 security clearance or higher.

(0-Level: Public information. 1-Level: Basic trust. 2-Level: Restricted. 3-Level: Confidential. 4-Level: Top Secret. 5-Level clearance is granted only to O5 Council members. 4-Level clearance is given to a select few A-Level personnel, such as Site Directors, Decision Coordinators, and Mobile Task Force Commanders.)

The sampling operation was in full swing at the Foundation site.

Meanwhile, Haruto returned to his apartment.

It was already late at night.

But as he passed by the neighboring apartment, he heard shouting.

Words like: "Go! Trash! Die! Garbage!"

Echoed from inside.

Seeing the flickering light from the apartment window, Haruto fell into deep thought. Was this really the apartment of Gabriel, the girl who radiated saintly light?

Something was definitely off.

Returning to his apartment, Haruto went to bed early, deciding to check on the situation the next morning.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, after washing up, Haruto went to the neighboring apartment.

Ding-dong!

Haruto pressed the doorbell.

"Who is it? It's so early!"

A girl's annoyed voice came from inside.

Haruto's forehead twitched.

"Gabriel, it's Haruto, your neighbor and classmate. You skipped class yesterday. Hiratsuka-sensei is worried, so she asked me to check on you."

Silence followed from inside the apartment.

"I'll just pretend I'm not home. I really don't want to go to school!"

This muttered comment reached Haruto's ears.

Clearly, the speaker thought that lowering her voice would make it inaudible outside. Unfortunately, Haruto's perception and hearing were far beyond human.

Sighing, Haruto kicked open Gabriel's apartment door.

"Wah!"

Gabriel let out a startled cry.