Chapter 331: Chapter 329 The Takamagahara Project Begins_1
Phoenix Academy Maggie greatly appreciated Aozawa’s proper demeanor; it reminded her of an elementary school student listening attentively to a dean’s lecture. She knew he might not be particularly interested in what she was about to say. Still, his willingness to listen earnestly to her was paramount in her eyes—it was a matter of attitude.
"Aozawa," she began, "I must tell you, under the leadership of Iwasaki Yizo, the Prime Minister has decided to initiate a project named Takamagahara. The initial funding is three hundred billion US dollars, and subsequent investment will only increase, not decrease. The project aims to develop weapons and Superpowers. Unlike in the past, it’s now being directly managed as a national project. It will attract genuine top talent from all cutting-edge fields in the country, not those merely chasing fame."
Phoenix Academy Maggie lowered her voice, sharing top-secret information she’d heard from her mother. "My mother finished arranging matters in the country yesterday and hurriedly took a private plane to the United States this morning. She plans to lobby The White House to lift some restrictions on Japan, a process expected to take about a week."
"That long?" Aozawa’s face showed a hint of surprise.
Phoenix Academy Maggie shot him an exasperated glance and explained, "A week is already very fast. Do you think, with Dio’s threat looming, The White House will agree as soon as we state our bottom line? Don’t be so naive about politics! From The White House’s perspective, if you’re willing to reveal your bottom line so easily, it means that isn’t your *actual* bottom line. Both sides need to probe each other, negotiating bit by bit until an agreement is reached. Estimating a week shows my confidence in my mother’s abilities. Anyone else would need at least a month to negotiate such favorable terms."
"I see. Politics really is troublesome." Aozawa sighed, seemingly indifferent about whether Japan was entering a state of war.
Phoenix Academy Maggie shrugged. "That’s the game played by the higher-ups—complicating simple matters to secure more benefits for themselves. Aside from that, Tokyo will likely see an influx of many international students soon."
Aozawa inquired curiously, "Why?"
"You shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. The Phoenix Academy has already begun sending some people abroad—to places like England, the United States, South Korea, Australia, and Canada, for example."
"Considering safety, Tokyo should be the most dangerous place right now. Why would international students still come?"
"Danger and opportunity coexist. Some believe the chances of awakening Superpowers are highest here, so they send family members to try their luck."
As she spoke, Phoenix Academy Maggie stared at Aozawa. "Tell me, do you think ’Paradise’ really exists?"
"I’m not sure."
At this response, Phoenix Academy Maggie gently pinched Aozawa’s forearm between her thumb and index finger, smiling as she said, "Then tell me, based on your own thoughts, do you believe ’Paradise’ exists?"
Aozawa knew full well that if he answered incorrectly, in 0.01 seconds, those fingers—which felt as soft and warm as precious jade—would employ the feared ’Two-Finger Zen,’ a woman’s ’Noble Phantasm’ against men.
"Unless I see ’Paradise’ with my own eyes, I won’t believe it exists," he stated his thoughts truthfully.
Phoenix Academy Maggie smiled, patted his hand lightly, and said with a laugh, "I knew it."
"Knew what?"
"I won’t tell you~" Phoenix Academy Maggie hummed, turned away, and right on cue, the class bell rang.
Aozawa said nothing and took out his textbook. He figured Maggie was about eighty percent convinced he was Dio, or at least connected to him. The remaining twenty percent of doubt was only because he hadn’t admitted it yet, preventing her from being one hundred percent certain. Or perhaps, Maggie was just putting on an act? Aozawa didn’t rule out the latter possibility. But his stance was firm: he wouldn’t admit it. This was to ensure he had his own independent space to play the game without interference.
...
At precisely nine in the morning, Kojiro Yoshihara left his home and headed to his research lab at Tokyo University. He had woken up late because he’d stayed up even later the previous night, working until two in the morning on a research paper his professor was to publish.
As a professor’s assistant, he possessed knowledge superior to that of most professors. But he was at a disadvantage: he had no influential background or connections, and he had the misfortune of working under a professor who liked to take credit for his students’ research. Consequently, for twenty years after graduation, he had remained that professor’s assistant. Every experiment he conducted, every paper he published, bore Professor Sakata’s name.
All the glory went to Professor Sakata, yet even that wasn’t enough for him; he continued to engage in academic fraud. Kojiro Yoshihara despised this, but he was powerless. The Sakata family was renowned in Japan’s academic circles. Besides, academic fraud was deeply entrenched in the Japanese academic community. Such people were only concerned with gaining fame and money. Even if their fraudulent papers were exposed, they wouldn’t panic. At most, they’d bow and apologize, and then things would carry on as usual—the professor would remain a professor.
If Kojiro Yoshihara wanted to continue in this field, he had to endure it. If he dared to expose them, his own reputation would be ruined. The academic world would have no place for him, and no university would grant him access to a lab. This was something he couldn’t tolerate.
Kojiro Yoshihara loved academic research, that feeling of immersing himself completely in what he enjoyed, without having to worry about the daily grind. To him, that was a good enough life.
As Kojiro Yoshihara entered the Tokyo University campus, his unkempt appearance starkly contrasted with that of the young students. If they were the sun-drenched canopy of a tree, he was its roots, hidden beneath, stained with dirt, carrying an air of decay. Looking at them, Kojiro Yoshihara couldn’t help but recall his own ambitious youth when he first entered Tokyo University, feeling as if the world revolved around him. He really missed that past self.
Kojiro Yoshihara sighed inwardly, but his thoughts quickly snapped back to the present. He walked to Professor Sakata’s laboratory, pushed the door open, and bowed. "I apologize, Professor Sakata, for my tardiness."
Inside, several men in suits stood around an elderly man with white hair and a beard. The old man sat on a sofa, hands clasped over a cane, his expression stern and authoritative. The normally arrogant Professor Sakata, who usually lorded it over Kojiro Yoshihara, was now like a tamed dog, faithfully staying by his master’s side, his very posture screaming subservience.
"Kojiro, your timing is perfect." Professor Sakata, his usual arrogance replaced by an overly enthusiastic demeanor, slung an arm around Kojiro Yoshihara’s shoulder. "Mr. Iwasaki," he said, "this is my most brilliant student. His knowledge of biology will undoubtedly be a great asset to this project."
Iwasaki Yizo glanced up. He was already aware of the state of the domestic academic scene and had spent some time stripping away the masks of the incompetent before personally coming to recruit talent for the Takamagahara Project. He wasn’t worried about Kochou’s mission failing; he was confident she could persuade The White House. They just needed to launch the Takamagahara Project as soon as the United States gave its approval, rather than waiting until after the nod to start scouting for talent. Time was of the essence.
Iwasaki Yizo waved his hand, signaling for someone to escort Professor Sakata out. He didn’t want to waste any more words on a useless man.
"Kojiro Yoshihara, I’ve heard a little about you. I hear you’re interested in researching clone humans?"
Kojiro Yoshihara quickly shook his head. He understood cloning technology, but he had never actually experimented with it. It was all just theoretical knowledge.
"Haha, no need to be nervous." Iwasaki Yizo smiled, his expression softening slightly. This was the kind of practical, honest talent he needed, not those hypocritical and incompetent fools obsessed with reputation. "If I were willing to fund your research into clone humans, would you agree?"
"That kind of research is strictly forbidden by the government." Kojiro Yoshihara shook his head. He still had some sense of scientific ethics. As curious as he was, he didn’t believe human cloning was a technology that should be pursued.
Iwasaki Yizo’s face was impassive. "From this moment on, human cloning will no longer be forbidden. On the contrary, we will actively promote it. Japan is facing an unprecedented crisis, and we need unprecedented methods to deal with our enemies. I hope the clone humans you create are not merely living beings, but all-powerful warriors. We will provide you with samples for cloning: deceased Martial artists, Superpower Users who only partially awakened, and others will follow."
Kojiro Yoshihara sucked in a sharp breath. He instinctively wanted to dismiss it as a joke, but looking at this important figure, before whom even Professor Sakata groveled, he knew it wasn’t said in jest. Martial artists, he could comprehend. But Superpower Users? That was beyond his understanding. His mouth went dry. "Do Superpower Users... actually exist?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"Of course. The sole purpose of our Clone Soldier research is to counter the Superpower User, Dio. That man is the incarnation of evil, the spark that ignites global turmoil. He must be eliminated promptly, or the world will face destruction." Iwasaki Yizo, knowing the character of such researchers, raised the banner of righteousness. "This is all for the sake of global justice. Minor ethical transgressions are, regrettably, unavoidable."
Kojiro Yoshihara fell into deep thought.
"If you agree, you will never have to worry about funding again. We will give you our full support. However, you must maintain absolute secrecy. Even if your research yields results, you cannot meet your family or breathe a word of this to anyone. This is a state secret of the highest level." Iwasaki Yizo stared intently at the middle-aged man before him. "Are you willing to conduct in-depth research into clone humans and human genetic modification to protect Japan, and to protect the world?"
Kojiro Yoshihara adjusted his glasses. He understood that after hearing such critical information, he had no option to refuse.
"I agree."
"Welcome to the Takamagahara Project, Professor Yoshihara." Since Iwasaki Yizo wanted him to lead the cloning research, he naturally promoted him from assistant to professor to give him the necessary authority.