Although he accepted the request, Akihiko Kayaba gave Ryu a heads-up in advance, saying he wasn't sure if Professor Agasa would accept.
"He is vehemently opposed to applying his own inventions and creations to military fields. He emphasizes this point exceptionally when collaborating with others, which is why he is kept at a distance by many; otherwise, his fame and status would be much higher than they are now."
Akihiko Kayaba reminded him seriously, "You call this a 'cosplay costume,' but Professor Agasa isn't a fool either. It is self-evident where a power suit will eventually be applied.
He should be interested, but as for whether he agrees or not... I can only say I hope it goes smoothly."
"It would be best if he does, but if refused, there is no need to force it," Ryu looked at it very openly. "It just means we'll have to spend a bit more effort on our end."
Seeing his attitude, Kayaba nodded in relief. However, while Ryu appeared light as a cloud and gentle as the wind on the surface, he had quite a few complaints in his heart.
Unwilling to use inventions for military purposes... it would be fine if someone else said this, but when it came to Professor Agasa, it inevitably made Ryu want to roast him:
I really don't know what the standard for judging "weapons" is in the "Conan-science" worldview.
Can a pair of nuclear-powered sneakers that can kick out vacuum waves, shoot down satellites, stop ocean waves, destroy buildings, and practically kick at the first cosmic velocity not be considered weapons?
In comparison, the output of my power suit is much smaller, okay!
——
Complaints aside, the work still had to be done.
After bidding farewell to Akihiko Kayaba, since it was rare for him to make a trip, Ryu didn't leave immediately. Instead, he passed through layers of checkpoints and arrived at the other half of the park, which was the branch of the "Medical Integration Organization."
After that large Medical Center received financial aid from the Kuse Group, its research progress became faster and faster, but the number of admitted patients also increased. To improve efficiency, several subordinate institutions were separated out to house patients with different conditions.
One of them was placed not far from Kayaba's laboratory. Walking a few more steps, one could also see the office building of the [Blue Dream Group]—this place was actually a technology base specifically designated by the Kuse Group.
Kōjiro Rinko was responsible for managing the medical institution on this side. Since she hadn't received any prior notification, she looked inexplicably astonished when she saw Ryu wandering around inside the facility.
"Mr. Kuse, are you alone today?"
Rinko greeted him from a distance and walked over unhurriedly. Because she didn't see the maid who usually followed by Ryu's side, she asked out of curiosity.
Ryu smiled, "Although Ruri is my secretary, she has her own work too. Occasionally, she still has to go to the company to take a look."
"Is that so? That little girl is impressive~"
"Ruri is my right-hand woman. generally, I only decide the general direction; she formulates and publishes the specific work plans."
"Even though she's still just a high school student... For a girl of that age, it's best to look around more. If she only thinks about work..." Rinko's voice slowly lowered, and her gaze drifted.
Kōjiro Rinko was a woman with strong work capabilities who worked very hard. This could be seen from the concentrated black coffee she was holding and the dark circles under her eyes that even foundation couldn't cover.
However, this was because she still hadn't moved that block of wood, Kayaba, to this day. Actually, if she had a choice, she would quite yearn to build a family, rather than consuming her youth in a cold laboratory every day.
Therefore, when meeting women like Ruri who prioritized their careers just like her, she would feel inexplicably emotional. If they went out drinking together, she might even grumble and persuade the other party to hurry up and find a man~
"I will convey Miss Kōjiro's advice to her."
"That won't be necessary; it makes me look like I'm relying on my seniority to lecture people~"
Rinko smiled freely, putting the unpleasant matters aside for the moment.
"Then do you have any business here today? Mr. Kuse."
"Nothing much, just passing by and dropping in to take a look."
"It just so happens that a patient finished cybernetic implant surgery yesterday. I wonder if you are interested in observing the rehabilitation process?"
"Then I'll trouble you~"
Kōjiro Rinko consciously led the way in front, simultaneously opening a tablet to introduce the patient's data to Ryu.
"Age twelve, female. Like her twin sister, she is an HIV virus carrier. It resulted from a blood transfusion during the mother's labor... it is quite rare to survive to this age."
"Is that so... these two children must be very strong, right?" Ryu did not use social pleasantries as usual this time, but took off his mask and listened seriously.
"Yes. Both their parents have already passed away due to pneumonia complicated by AIDS, and they have completely cut off contact with relatives. Our Medical Center is currently acting as their guardian.
However, they have never thought of giving up and have actively cooperated with the treatment. The process is certainly arduous... but regardless, it has effectively extended their lifespans."
Rinko raised her eyes, her voice taking on a layer of solemnity: "Therefore, being able to wait for this opportunity is what they deserve."
While speaking, the two had already entered the special patient convalescence area. They went separately to disinfect and shower, changed into loose uniforms dedicated to medical staff, and only continued deeper after completing protective measures.
This was a ring-shaped building. Walking on the inner corridor, one could directly see the room numbers of the entire floor. There were quite a few real medical staff members shuttling back and forth, dressed the same as them with only the ID badges being different. Perhaps because the lighting was very good, the overall atmosphere was not as gloomy and cold as an ordinary hospital, but rather sunny, warm, quiet, and comfortable.
If one ignored those medical devices, it might look more like a resort hotel to outsiders, right?
"The plan we adopted is to first use a mechanical cybernetic implant to replace the lungs, avoiding the regretful death their parents suffered, and then gradually replace other important organs to extend the patient's lifespan."
Kōjiro Rinko used a straightforward and calm tone to describe a medical plan that was extremely radical in this era.
The terrible thing about the HIV virus lies in its erosion of the immune system and the difficulty of curing it.
After all, they were infected from infancy, and the life expectancy was only ten years. At that time, schemes like "Cocktail therapy" didn't exist yet. The condition deteriorated very quickly, and being able to persist until now is already the result of the joint efforts of doctors and patients.
Although there are many new treatment methods now, they are of little significance to these two sisters whose "illness has entered the bone marrow"; at most, they would extend life by two or three years.
But cybernetic modification is different. If the decaying organs are replaced with machinery, this body can be maintained to continue operating as usual without needing to consider things like complications—after all, a mechanical body will neither "inflame" nor become "cancerous"~
Artificial organs have always been one of the most important research directions in the medical field, and the technology provided by Ryu is simply a cross-era innovation, enough to be regarded as a milestone in the medical field, written into textbooks, and remembered by generations of medical students!
Kōjiro Rinko was not a professional doctor, but having worked here for two months, she had gradually stepped into the role. Seeing a patient regain a new life under the efforts of herself and others, even if she didn't say it out loud, she was incredibly proud in her heart.
"Is that...?"
Arriving outside the observation room, Ryu saw a short, slender little girl with short hair. She was standing on her tiptoes, clinging to the wall, looking inside through the large glass window. The expression on her face was stiff, but worry and anxiety could still be seen in her eyes.
"Here to see your sister again?"
Rinko obviously knew the little girl. She went up and hugged her from behind, lifting her overly light body. She let the girl sit in her arms without much effort, showing just how light the child's weight was.
"Doctor... when will Big Sister wake up?"
"That's hard to say. Her body is very weak... but it will be soon, don't worry."
Rinko turned her head back and said apologetically to Ryu, "She is..."
"No need for introductions," Ryu didn't mind. "I already know."
At this moment, the eyes of the little girl in Rinko's arms widened slightly. Her body leaned forward, her hands and small face pressed against the glass. Seeing the girl on the hospital bed inside raise her hand and wave slowly, as if greeting her, the stiff face instantly added a bit of radiance.
"Big Sister..."
[Ding!]
[Destiny Coins +1]
[Destiny Coins +1]
Listening to the sound of gold coins falling, Ryu smiled faintly:
"Miss Konno Aiko and Miss Konno Yuuki, right?"
________________________________________
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