"Oh? You're certainly straightforward. Then let me be just as direct—what exactly do I get out of working for you?"
Dr. Stylish wasn't stupid. From Haruki's demeanor, it was obvious he wasn't joking. So he asked without hesitation.
In truth, Dr. Stylish hadn't figured out Haruki's real intentions. To him, this was probably just another attempt by a government official to pull him into some political faction or power struggle. That's why he went straight to the point—what's in it for me?
He didn't care for power or status. All that mattered to him was the benefit to his research.
"Take a look at this. As long as you agree to work under me, this will be yours. And in the future, I can offer you more items like it."
Haruki didn't seem surprised by the question, as if he'd anticipated it. With a casual flick of his hand, a scroll materialized in his palm. Aged and weathered, it looked like something pulled from deep history.
As he spoke, Haruki handed the scroll to Dr. Stylish.
Dr. Stylish accepted it, but instead of opening it immediately, his gaze locked onto Haruki's hand—specifically, the ring he wore.
"Lord Haruki, if I may ask... is that ring also a Teigu?"
He had clearly noticed Haruki summon the scroll out of thin air, and now his full attention was fixed on the storage ring, eyes wide with curiosity.
"You could say that. But aren't you more interested in what I just gave you?"
Haruki couldn't help but remind him when he saw that Stylish was more interested in the ring than the scroll. Still, he was impressed by the scientist's sharp perception. After all, no one besides Haruki's inner circle even knew about the existence of storage rings in this world.
"Alright, let's see what the Security Minister brought me."
At first, Dr. Stylish wasn't particularly interested in the scroll. Anything unrelated to his research generally failed to hold his attention. Still, with both Haruki and Esdeath present, it would've been rude to turn it down.
...
"What? This—this is real?!"
The moment he unrolled the scroll and took a glance, the calm expression on his face completely shattered. His hands began to tremble as he clutched the document and looked up at Haruki, voice shaking with disbelief.
"Of course it's real. Others might not recognize what it is, but you should be able to tell."
Haruki's voice was calm and composed, clearly expecting this reaction.
"No doubt about it. It's real."
Dr. Stylish said, barely able to contain his excitement.
What Haruki had given him was one of the forty-eight Teigu blueprint scrolls he'd obtained from the System ages ago. Ever since he crafted the original Teigu a thousand years earlier, the blueprints had just been gathering dust in his storage ring. He hadn't expected them to come in handy again.
For Dr. Stylish, the chance to create a weapon on par with a Teigu was a lifelong dream.
But crafting a Teigu was no small feat. It was nearly impossible to even acquire Teigu for research, let alone reverse-engineer one. The phrase "Teigu cannot be replicated" wasn't just a legend—it was backed by a thousand years of failed attempts by even the most brilliant craftsmen. The best they had managed were Shingu, weapons vastly inferior in power.
In the original story, Dr. Stylish had only joined Esdeath's Jaegers for better access to Teigu and a chance to get his hands on them as research material. He even went so far as to attack Night Raid's base solo, hoping to steal their Teigu for his experiments—evidence of just how obsessed he was with his research.
Now, with an authentic Teigu blueprint laid out in front of him, how could he not go mad with excitement?
"Do you have more of these?"
Recalling Haruki's earlier words about offering more of these in the future, Dr. Stylish struggled to contain his excitement and asked.
"Of course. I have no reason to lie to you. As long as you agree to work for me, not only can I give you more of these blueprints, but I can even provide you with rare materials."
Haruki spoke calmly. After all, the materials used to forge Teigu came from Super-Class Danger Beasts—something even the entire Empire could barely gather, let alone any ordinary individual.
"Aren't you worried I'll take your offer and then back out later?"
Though clearly tempted, Dr. Stylish hadn't lost his rationality. He posed the question curiously.
"I wouldn't be so careless. If you accept my terms, drink this."
Haruki handed him a small vial.
"I'll be upfront—once you drink it, you'll be bound to obey my commands. Betrayal won't be possible. But don't worry. As long as you carry out your work honestly, I won't force you into anything you don't want to do. In fact, I'll provide you with all the conditions you need to pursue your research."
Haruki was actually pleased with Dr. Stylish's caution. Had he agreed too easily, it would've made Haruki suspicious. The fact that he asked such a question showed he was seriously weighing the offer.
What he didn't say outright was that the vial's contents were a concoction refined from a drop of Haruki's own blood, mixed with rare ingredients. Once consumed, it would turn the drinker into a blood-bound servant—just like Aria and Chelsea had once been. Absolute obedience was guaranteed.
However, unlike the women in Haruki's inner circle, Dr. Stylish would not gain their power or potential. The formula had been deliberately altered. At most, his position would be that of a high-functioning servant—a well-kept tool.
Still, even in that role, Dr. Stylish would gain physical strength far beyond ordinary humans and an extended lifespan. Haruki had no intention of letting talented subordinates die off within a century. He wanted a team that would serve him forever.
"This... alright, I'll accept."
After a brief moment of consideration, Dr. Stylish ultimately couldn't resist the deal Haruki was offering. He agreed.
He knew perfectly well that without Haruki's help, the chance of him ever creating a weapon on par with a Teigu was virtually zero. For someone like him—a scientist driven by obsession—that was an intolerable reality.
Then, without hesitation, Dr. Stylish took the test tube from Haruki, uncorked it, and drank its contents in one gulp.
"Good choice. Don't worry—you won't regret this."
Seeing his decision, Haruki smiled. After all, this was his first truly loyal subordinate.
And he wasn't wrong. Haruki knew that by staying by his side, Dr. Stylish would gain access to knowledge and opportunities that were otherwise unimaginable. In comparison, a Teigu blueprint was just the beginning. With Haruki's backing, Dr. Stylish's brilliance would finally have room to flourish.