Starting from the Planetary Governor

The servants on the lower decks have their spiritual needs mainly satisfied through religion.

The visiting priests aboard the ship occasionally find their way to the lower levels, spreading the faith in The Emperor through sermons, while exuberantly extolling the great deeds of the Interstellar Warriors as Emperor Angels.

And these tales are naturally the most alluring to the youth.

The admiration for the Interstellar Warriors is quite strong among the people.

It's not just Rex; most of the recruited youths, upon learning that they have a chance to become a Phoenix recruit this time, are extremely excited and hopeful.

Russell is quite pleased with the youths' mental attitude. However, what disappoints him is their physical condition.

Malnutrition, being involved in heavy ship maintenance tasks from their early teens, lacks education, lacks specialized training... The conditions of these youths clearly do not meet the usual recruitment standards of the Interstellar Warriors.

In the Battle Group's prime, such poor-quality recruits would not even be considered.

"As if I had a choice..." Russell muttered internally.

Thankfully, he had the [Keen Insight] reward ability; otherwise, he wouldn't dare use the precious Genetic Seeds on these recruits with poor overall conditions.

...

Even with special abilities, evaluating the recruits is still cumbersome.

Even for simple observation to determine someone's genetic compatibility, it takes around ten seconds.

With this speed, completing the evaluation of more than three thousand eight hundred people took Russell nearly two days. Finally, he selected twelve candidates with genetic compatibility over 85%.

Theoretically, a value of 70% is sufficient to qualify. But it's because Russell doesn't have many Genetic Seeds; he couldn't afford to waste any, so by raising the standard, the success rate of the surgery would be higher.

Honestly, finding twelve suitable candidates already surprised him.

At least, the F.2 mission no longer has much of an issue in completion.

Having selected twelve candidates, Russell didn't delay.

He gave these young men a few days to prepare, configuring them with a rich and balanced diet, hoping their physical states would be optimal.

Then, the surgeries began.

...

Bound and lying on the cold surgical table, Rex's heart was still very tense.

In an argument with his mother, he boasted realizing internally that his chances of being selected were slim.

Standing in the queue at the time, watching those ahead of him fail one by one, he was half aware. He thought his mother's worries were unnecessary, fearing he would die on the surgical table.

Could it be possible that he wouldn't be selected at all?

But it was exactly this mindset that made the moment Russell pinched his arm, examined, and selected him out such a surprise he found hard to process.

I was actually selected?

After the surprise came excitement and unease. Brought to you by MV6LEMPY6R.

Considering the dangers of the transformation surgery cannot be ignored.

Persisting until reaching the surgery today, it peaked.

"The surgery has no anesthesia, so it will be painful. But this pain is nothing compared to the pain during subsequent genetic modification. You need to be mentally prepared; endure it without passing out, or you will die."

Russell's voice echoed in his ears.

Rex wanted to nod but couldn't move; wanted to speak but his mouth was sealed, so he blinked to signal understanding.

"It's starting."

Russell made the first incision.

The sharp scalpel slicing through the skin made Rex's eyes widen instantly.

This was still bearable, but as the surgery progressed, the pain became increasingly hard to endure.

He couldn't move, couldn't even scream to relieve the pain, his forehead veins bulged, and sweat flowed continuously.

Yet Russell's hand never stopped.

He lost track of time in the pain, feeling it as one of life's longest moments.

Until finally, Russell's emotionless words brought him relief:

"Done."

All bonds released, yet he couldn't stand up.

Two Mechanical Servants walked in from the doorway, carrying him on a stretcher to a rest area.

He gasped deeply, feeling the pain had lessened somewhat.

But he couldn't help recalling Russell's words.

The subsequent modification would be more painful than the surgery?

How painful would that be!

Regret washed over him, but he soon discarded that regret.

"There's no room for regret now; according to the Battle Group Leader's words, I must persist, persist, and persist to survive."

"I will definitely survive!"

...

Completing surgery after surgery, each required Russell half an hour.

This is linked to the Battle Group's future development; he dared not afford any mistake. Meanwhile, the seed implantation surgery is meticulous, consuming much energy. Plus, it's his first time personally wielding the scalpel, outwardly cold and assured before the subjects, calming them, though he himself was quite nervous.

On the whole, the process of the twelve surgeries was smooth; at least no one died immediately on the surgical table. Whether it succeeds, depends on the recruits' own destiny.

In past experience, the most dangerous period is the first post-surgery month. During this time, the degree of genetic seed modification on the body is greatest. If they get through this, things stabilize significantly, and training can commence.