A person in Ultraman receives a gift from the will of Earth at the start.

Chapter 167 Masaki Keigo Invites Sanada Ryosuke to Join

In the brightly lit room, Ryosuke Sanada, his brow furrowed and a hint of doubt and wariness on his face, broke the silence first and asked, "Weren't those experimental monkeys, along with the Ebloon cells, ordered to be completely destroyed by the TPC higher-ups a long time ago? I've heard about the whole process, and theoretically there shouldn't be any remnants."

He paused slightly, his gaze sharpening as he stared intently at the other man, and continued in a more forceful tone, "But now you possess their photographs, which is truly baffling. Where did you obtain these photographs from?"

As he spoke, Sanada Ryosuke subtly observed the rising star in the technology field before him.

The man was dressed in a sharp suit and wore a confident smile, but to Ryosuke Sanada, that smile seemed to conceal a great deal of danger. The appearance of those monkey photos was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up unsettling ripples.

Masaki Keigo smiled and said, "Don't get excited. I just happen to know some inside information and some experimental data."

"And I also know that you are familiar with this Ebloon cell, so I've come here to invite you to join us."

Ryosuke Sanada snorted coldly, his eyes full of vigilance: "Insider information? I don't think it's that simple. TPC's control over Ebloon cells is airtight. The fact that you could get the monkey photos and so-called inside information suggests you have ulterior motives." He crossed his arms, leaned back slightly, and put some distance between himself and Keigo Masaki.

Masaki Keigo, however, was unfazed. He stepped forward, spread his hands, and tried to show his sincerity: "Ryosuke, your abilities in this field are evident to all. Currently, research on Ebloon cells has stagnated, but our team has an opportunity for a breakthrough. As long as you join, those limitations and mysteries will be solved. Don't you want to explore the enormous potential contained in cells further?"

Ryosuke Sanada's eyes flickered. Research on Ebloon cells had been his obsession, but it had been forced to stop due to numerous obstacles. Now, Masaki Keigo's words had stirred up the desire in his heart.

But he remained vigilant, coldly saying, "Hmph, that sounds nice, but how do I know this isn't one of your schemes? If I get caught up in illegal research, I'll be doomed."

Masaki Keigo's smile faded, and he stared intently at Sanada Ryosuke: "Illegal? Scientific exploration is inherently risky. Those old fogies at TPC are so easily deterred by a minor accident, abandoning the possibility of using Ebloon cells to rewrite humanity's future. That's truly foolish. We are pioneering a new path. If we succeed, our achievements will be legendary." His tone was impassioned, carrying a subtle, seductive power.

Ryosuke Sanada was torn between his yearning for the unknown scientific findings and his concern for the potential risks.

He thought of Sayaka; the two were already married. Would revisiting the taboo subject disappoint her?

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and said, "I will not touch Ebloon cells again. You should find someone else."

Masaki Keigo smiled slightly. He understood Sanada Ryosuke's reaction and had also anticipated it.

"I asked you to come out of retirement not for Eblon cells."

Ryosuke Sanada was somewhat surprised and subconsciously asked, "If you're not after the Ebron cells, then what are you after?"

Have you ever heard of the genes of ancient warriors?

"Ancient warrior genes?"

Ryosuke Sanada frowned, quickly searching his mind for information about "ancient warrior genes," but all he could recall were vague rumors. He looked at Keigo Masaki with some confusion and said, "I've only heard a little about it. It seems to be a powerful gene that existed in ancient times, supposedly related to some legendary giants, but what does that have to do with me?"

With his hands in his pockets, Masaki Keigo said unhurriedly, "This is very important. We've discovered a potential connection between the genes of the ancient warriors and Ebloon cells, a connection that could potentially open a new chapter in human evolution." His eyes gleamed with excitement, as if he could already see that glorious future.

Sanada Ryosuke's heart skipped a beat, but he still asked skeptically, "What makes you think the two are related? It sounds more like a baseless guess."

Masaki Keigo smiled confidently: "We have some preliminary experimental data, which, although not perfect, are enough to show this possibility. Moreover, your expertise and experience will play a huge role in studying this correlation."

Ryosuke Sanada fell into deep thought. The mysterious concept of the ancient warrior gene was like a giant vortex, slowly drawing him in. He knew that once he got involved, he might be drawn into a field far more complex and dangerous than the research on Ebron cells.

“Even if the two are indeed related, isn’t there any risk in researching this? The TPC wouldn’t allow research that could potentially cause huge changes, would it?” Sanada Ryosuke was still somewhat worried.

Masaki Keigo sneered: "TPC? They are short-sighted, always bound by rules and fear. If we keep waiting for their permission, humanity will never reach true power. We can do it in the shadows, and if we succeed, the situation will no longer be under TPC's control."

Sanada Ryosuke listened to Masaki Keigo's bold remarks, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He recalled Sayaka's gentle yet worried gaze, the look she always wore whenever dangerous research was involved. Yet, the allure of the ancient warrior genes echoed in his ears like a devil's whisper.

“I need time to think about it,” Sanada Ryosuke finally said.

Masaki Keigo nodded: "Okay, but time waits for no one, and opportunities are fleeting. I hope you can make the right choice, Ryosuke." He turned and walked towards the door, but just before stepping out, he glanced back at Sanada Ryosuke, his eyes filled with expectation and a hint of barely perceptible threat.

Silence fell in the room again. Sanada Ryosuke stood there alone, his mind a jumble of thoughts. The mysterious veil of the ancient warrior genes loomed before his eyes, and he didn't know if he could truly resist the temptation.

Meanwhile, Mitsuo Itabashi arrived at the secret base and looked at the witch, saying, "I've done what you asked. Is that human of any use?"

“There is an ancient warrior statue in the basement of his company. I originally planned to destroy it, but now that this person has appeared, I have an idea.”

"Don't you think letting them kill each other is a great method?"

“Ultraman Naga has some purification abilities, so your method probably won’t work.”

"All I need is for humanity to panic and become suspicious..."