The Untamed: Game of Hearts
Chapter 235: Research facility

"I am assuming that that ’project’ is still up and operational?" Marcus casually asked Janus as they walked towards a walled-off section of the Moon Clan Territory.

"Ah, yes, my King. While developments have stalled, the project is still largely on track for completion," Janus replied as he walked half step alongside Marcus. "Some of the subjects are already awaiting inspection. And while they might just be blathering mindless fools, they are still a force to be reckoned with."

Marcus hummed as he took in Janus’s report. "I see. Well, I’ll be the judge of that then."

As they arrived at their destination, the King watched passively as he let the doctor open the door for him. What greeted him was a chilling cold as the arctic air of the room escaped from its confines.

"Rather chilly," he commented.

"It’s to ensure that the subjects won’t decompose during testing," Janus quickly explained. "I do apologize if I failed to warn you in advance."

"It’s fine," Marcus scoffed with a hand wave. "A bit of cold won’t kill me now."

It went doubly so, in the King’s opinion. What would the cold even do to him when he was already burning with rage at the monsters daring to oppose him? And even then, his cold contempt at his enemies could easily stave off the chilling touch of whatever it was inside these walls.

With a scrutinizing gaze, Marcus stared at Janus as he patiently asked, "Well?"

Janus almost jumped from where he stood, only now seemingly remembering what he was doing as he ushered in his King.

Stepping inside the compound, Marcus felt not the chilling touch of the cold, but only his own cold calculations as he stared at the sight before him. Floating in vats filled with an eerie green liquid, corpses of both allies and enemies floated within their confines. Tubes of various shapes and sizes were attached at various parts of their bodies, an unidentifiable red liquid flowing right into the inanimate objects.

"This is the undead research facility," Janus introduced, a hint of fear lacing his tone as he toured his King throughout the facility. "It has only grown ever since you fell into a coma, and some of the researchers here are excited to show you their work."

"I see."

Marcus kept his thoughts to himself as he surveyed the compound. In some corners, he saw a few of these so-called researchers tinkering with some of the corpses. They seemed to be checking for mobility, and so on. And some were even injecting some sort of fluid into a few of the corpses lying on the table.

"We’ve begun experimenting with giving the undead a few more weapons to fight off werewolves in particular," Janus droned on as they passed a few more tables. "By injecting them with a special blend of poisons, even the slightest bite into their flesh can cause a painful death for the attacker."

"I see," Marcus nodded. "And I’m assuming that there is no antidote?"

"None that we haven’t made ourselves," Janus quickly replied. "Our blend is entirely man-made, and nothing could possibly neutralize its effects."

"Very good," the King hummed in approval.

Janus then led Marcus towards the testing facility. In there, they saw two of the undead currently undergoing final checks to see if they were capable of inflicting damage. The King keenly watched as the weapon swiped its claws at the dummy, sharp nails digging into the wood as its brute strength trumped the poor target’s defenses.

"I see that it’s fairly powerful," Marcus noted. "However, I sincerely doubt it’s strong enough to kill a werewolf on its own."

"They’re still undergoing the final stages of augmentation," Janus quickly explained. "They can be more powerful given time, but the serum is still not ready for mass production."

"Not ready?"

His King’s foreboding tone made the doctor’s hairs stand on edge as he replied, "W-Well, they’re still highly unstable, and can lead to a rapid deterioration when the subject isn’t fully compatible-"

"Then make it compatible," Marcus growled. "I want these things to be ready for the exchange."

At the deadline given to him, Janus’s eyes widened, "But they won’t be ready by then-"

"I don’t care," the King fumed. "We need every advantage we can get, and I’m more than inclined to rescind my offer on giving you Raine’s hand in marriage if this fails."

The doctor gasped. The prospect of his wedding with Raine being revoked was something he didn’t want to ever happen! "I-It’ll be done, my King."

"Good. I want these undead mass-produced post haste," Marcus ordered. "I don’t care how you do it. Whether you dig up more corpses to use or steal them from the morgue, as long as they’re able to fight, then I want it in working condition."

"O-Of course, my King."

Letting out a sigh, Marcus watched as his doctor fumbled over himself in terror. He knew what he just asked of him was unreasonable, but risks had to be taken when combating such a menace as those blasted werewolves. To think that they even managed to trick his daughter into thinking about going against him was tragic enough. But to actually take her as a mate? Unforgivable!

"I’ll see to it that your kind is wiped out from the face of the earth..."

The King of the Moon Clan grumbled to himself as the chill of the facility failed to get through to him. His anger was burning bright, and these undead would have to do against the tide that was his enemies.