District 42-Chapter 223: Visiting the lab

Casper woke up after a long sleep. He had been resting since the start of the afternoon and woke up at dawn. His mind was so dizzy that he couldn’t keep up awake, so he decided to let his body rest as much as possible.

He couldn’t sleep after that tiring night of the mission at all, and he also needed to keep alert because he had things to do at the Sgail’s Headquarters in the morning. After this, he went to his apartment and had a long conversation with Yanke.

With all those nonstop activities and responsibilities, he was completely worn out. He didn’t have time for himself at all. Those hours he passed sleeping seemed to be so fast that he could not enjoy as much as he wanted.

’This way, I will end up in burnout.’ Although it was true for a normal human, Casper knew that it wasn’t his case. He needed to pass for more hellish times than that to break himself.

The soldier was looking at his cellphone, thinking about what he would do for that day. He was in a sort of vacation until the Sgail’s Headquarters called him again for some random task or more information about his next mission. However, if they needed his services, they would probably call in the previous day or at night, but it wasn’t the case.

’I don’t have any missing calls or new texts, so I think they won’t need my help today. At least until the night, I am completely free...’

He put himself in deep thought, trying to decide what he would be doing that day.

’I could go to the laboratory or meet the Princess. Those are my only two options... Ah! True! I need to go to the New Third Lab as well, so I can see Amelia. Well, I think that this last thing will be my objective for today. It won’t take so long, so I will need to decide again on what to do after I finish there.’

The soldier wasn’t willing to lose more time there and just jumped from the bed, trying to vanish his laziness, and went to take a cold shower and tidy up himself so he could leave.

"Good morning, Master!" Yanke was already awake and seemed to be studying.

Casper noticed that the robot always would keep floating in the same place and the blue light around his eye would shine brighter than usual when he was researching. He was probably spying on someone or something through the cameras of the Castle.

"Good morning, Yanke. It’s good to see you." He patted the robot’s body where the Viking helmet was. For some reason, that guy enjoyed head pats just like a dog.

’I am wondering if he already could sort out the concept of affectionate touch. No, more than this, I am thinking if he has a sense of tact...’

The soldier gave up on overthink that and just asked Yanke if that was the case.

"Yes, Master. Just as you supposed, I am working these days to develop the five senses. This way I will be more complete."

The White warrior got even more amazed with that little guy and could not help but feel a lot of pride.

’So, that’s how my grandfather felt when I entered the army, huh? That’s a good feeling.’

Letting Yanke take care of his things, the soldier went to the bathroom.

...

It didn’t take too long for Casper to tidy up himself, exercise a bit, calibrate Yanke and then go to the Third Lab.

Generally, what takes more time of your day when you need to leave your place is to move to your destiny. With the technology of District 42, that time spent was completely nullified.

The White warrior gazed at the facade of the Third Lab in front of him and needed to take a long and deep breath.

’It’s been a while... Be here give me goosebumps until nowadays. It’s not easy to look at it and don’t remember everything I needed to pass.’

Every time that Casper went there, he remembered not just from his suffering, but the lives lost there, and everything he discovered in that Lab.

There was a project he discovered that was still unknown to him.

’Project Draugr... It’s been a while since I don’t search more about it. The reports of those scientists make my hands tremble with anxiety. I can’t imagine what kind of cruelty relies on this project.’

In truth, that was one of the reasons why Casper was going there again. Now that Amelia was the new director of the Lab, maybe she had some information about it.

’There is the Project Jomurgand as well, and this one is even more important. Maybe I can discover more about what’s going on with Adam too.’

With those things in mind, he walked towards the entrance of that place. The gate opened for him without problems.

He took the elevator and went to the first floor underground.

When he arrived there, his mind soothed. He was thinking about the old looks of the Third Lab throughout all the way there.

He couldn’t change the topic on his mind, always coming back to the same image. It got to the point where the soldier had an expression on his face as if he was going to a battlefield.

Casper couldn’t help and even returned with his old habit of hold his knife attached to his waist to feel safer. He needed to control his breath to lessen his heartbeat. It was his only way to calm himself down.

While on the elevator, another struggle. But, once the doors opened again and the Third Lab that he reformed appeared in his sight, he relaxed.

As he passed through the corridors, the scientists whispered among themselves that the White warrior arrived. Everyone was looking at him.

Those scientists knew Casper through stories that others told them. Some even worked there when the Third Lab was still a cruel and dirty place, so they recognized him.

For them, Casper was some kind of hero. He, Alfar, and Olaf were the saviors of that place.

’I wonder why I get so sick with this type of attention... Well, I never liked it, to become with. Since the Yanke Forces, the credit for our missions and feats were just recognized inside the army. The folk never knew about us entirely. It was just like an urban legend.’

The soldier made his way to Amelia’s room. He knew the way because he coordinated a good part of the construction of that point.

Before he could knock on the door, someone opened it. A random scientist got surprised once he faced Casper going to the entrance there. He ended up just lowering his head and walking hastily out of the room.

Casper entered there afterward and saw Amelia already standing from her chair.

"Casper! I wasn’t expecting to meet you today at all!"

She seemed to be glad to see him, but he was aware of her personality and knew that it wasn’t all.

"But, man, I didn’t know that you were this annoying type of person! You should have had called me, you know? I am so busy and stressed that I could kill someone today, and if you came here just to give me bad news you will be this one!"

Casper smiled wryly, nearly giggling. But he didn’t dare to let her know it. He was sure that Amelia would punch him right in the face if she noticed.

"Don’t worry, Amelia. I am here just because it’s been a while since I don’t see you. And I wanted to thank you as well, for a lot of things."

"It’s better you apologize for making me pass through all that hell as well, your mole! And also for giving me this hellish charge at this place. I prefer to be a head nurse in a medical tent on a Battlefield than deal with all these papers! That’s killing me, killing me!"

The soldier needed to swallow his laugh. He was in danger there.

"Y-Yeah, I apologize too. I should have had thought on someone better for this task."

The woman stared back at him with sharp eyes, narrowing them so much that they seemed closed.

"Repeat it and I will do a knot on your tongue." She stepped forward and the soldier retrieved at the same time.

"I-I am sorry again. There is no one better than you for this task and that’s why I called you, although you are so ungrateful about it."

The woman giggled, finally showing that she was just kidding around... in her way.

Casper rubbed his neck, laughing as well.

For a moment, those two had some fun, and a light conversation.

It was good for the soldier and for the occupied director to have times like that once in a while.

After the casual interaction, Amelia finally inquired him.

"Ok, it’s good to talk a bit to you, but spit it out already. I know you have more serious issues to treat with me."

She sat on her chair again and crossed her arms.