Chapter 115: Arc 4: Chapter 3: Professor Serizawa

Monarch had a leader when it was first founded.

It was the sole survivor of the sinking of the USS Lawton Professor Randa, unfortunately, he died in the exploration of Skull Island in 1973. 

After that, Monarch became a loose research organization until Ishiro Serizawa entered the fray.

The top paleontologist comes from Japan, supposedly his father had also tracked Godzilla before, so he's sorta inheriting his father's work. After he joined Monarch, he used his own charisma and superb academic theories to attract multiple scientists into this project.

But Ishiro Serizawa has his own persistence, he was not a bad guy, and he believes that the results of Monarch's research must be kept under wraps, otherwise, it would cause chaos among human society.

Under the premise of said secrecy, he personally reviews the entry of every new member.

As Project Monarch was transferred to WSC's management, Professor Serizawa had a sort of worry that the discoveries of Monarch may be abused.

So when evaluators from the WSC arrived, he hid in the cabin room in the plane and through his apprentice, Vivienne's probing, attempted to see whether or not these two evaluators were trustworthy.

But Ishiro Serizawa had not realized that his existence was as clear as day as soon as Merlin boarded the plane.

In the spread-out dark senses, Merlin could easily discover Professor Serizawa who hid in the cabin, one can say his rude remarks to Vivienne Graham was to draw out the hidden Professor Serizawa.

"Outstanding research."

In the awkward atmosphere of the cabin, as 'Professor' Merlin sipped on his tea angrily, Vivienne sat awkwardly next to her mentor, and her mentor Professor Serizawa had completely immersed in the research on irregular creatures by Professor Merlin.

In front of Professor Serizawa, there was a pack of delicately drawn, bony pegasus with a pair of bone wings, the pegasus looked very horrifying, and had an odd yet sinister feeling.

"My father had experienced 1945, he was at the sea back then, when he saw the explosion in Nagasaki."

Professor Serizawa looks at the black pegasus and says in a soft yet muffled tone:

"He experienced something terrifying, he once told me that on the night of the explosion, he saw these winged monsters at the dock, he says that these monsters symbolize death."

"Thestrals are monsters that symbolize death."

Merlin answers:

"Only those who experienced death can see them, rumor says that they bring misfortune, but it's not so. It's just a rare creature."

"You've seen these creatures?"

Professor Serizawa lifts his head, curiosity and confusion flash in his eyes behind the glasses; he closes the notebook, places it in front of him, and asks:

"Professor Merlin, where did you collect this information?"

"Legends, myths, and all kinds of urban stories."

Merlin lets out a breath and explains calmly:

"I was born in Germany, Norse Mythology spread there, and I've been infatuated with these stories ever since. After I graduated from Columbian University, I returned to Europe in search of those stories I heard when I was young."

"In a forest in Norway, I saw for the first time a flying Griffin; when I saw that creature take flight,  I knew that the stories we've listened to weren't just silly rumors...Professor Serizawa, do you know why I accepted the WSC's request to come here and evaluate your research?"

Merlin presses his glasses and says to Ishiro Serizawa:

"Because I believe that we are the same kind of people!"

"We do our best in search of those creatures that cannot be known by ordinary people, those creatures that exist in myths and legends. The results of our research are destined to not be seen by a lot of people, but this is nothing for us to regret...all we have to do is find evidence to prove that they truly exist."

As he spoke, Merlin smiles and says:

"To be frank, when I first heard of Monarch, I believed that you were a bunch of frauds."

"I may also engage in the research of these types of strange creatures, but I do not think that with Earth's ecological system in ancient times, terrifying creatures with over 100 meters in height would be born; that is incompatible with the basics of modern biology. Until 14 days ago, in the center of the Pacific..."

A hint of seemingly true astonishment flashes in Merlin's eyes, he straightens his body and says to Professor Serizawa:

"I was tracking a horse-like water monster in the region with Dorris, and I saw it..."

With astonishment and awe in his tone, Merlin says:

"Godzilla...that ancient creature."

"Majestic, right?"

Professor Serizawa sees the seemingly true awe in Merlin's eyes, he smiles and says to Merlin softly:

"That is indeed Godzilla, an ancient beast that feeds on nuclear energy, the top predator that has existed since the Earth was born. When facing the alien invasion, Godzilla's appearance proves the theory Monarch had persisted...it is the keeper of the balance, the protector, the greatest power formed by nature."

"Yes, it is majestic."

Merlin nods, he looks at Professor Serizawa and suddenly says:

"Godzilla's appearance also proves another theory I've been researching on. The ocean is vast, but it is incapable of giving birth to a super creature like Godzilla, and it's incapable of keeping Godzilla off the radar all these years...a creature like Godzilla must have it's own nest in the sea, even its own hunting ground!"

"So, what are you trying to say? Professor Merlin."

A smile flashes on Professor Serizawa's face, he looks at Merlin and says:

"What is your conclusion?"

Merlin looks around and lowers his voice, saying:

"The Earth...is hollow! There must be an undiscovered new world we have yet to discover in the mantle layer, it may not be as vast as the surface world, but it's a world ruled by ancient creatures and irregulars."

Merlin speaks out his conclusion, then Professor Serizawa and his apprentice Vivienne look at each other; the rigorous Japanese biologist stands up and says to Merlin:

"Outstanding!"

"What?"

Merlin looks at Professor Serizawa in confusion, he did not know what he meant.

"What I mean is, your research results are outstandingly similar to the research result of Monarch. Professor Merlin, we too believe that the Earth is hollow, and together with the contents of this notebook..."

Professor Serizawa extends his hand, the 30-year old Japanese says earnestly:

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"You are indeed an excellent irregular biologist! I once again apologize to you for my apprentice's rude behavior!"

"No, it's nothing."

Merlin shakes his head and holds onto Professor Serizawa's hand, he says to the biologist:

"I'm in fact unsurprised by Miss Vivienne's reaction."

A hint of relief and disappointment flashes on Merlin's face as he says:

"Over the past few years, anyone who's heard of the results of my research would make a reaction like that. I'm used to being doubted, in fact, it was only until the appearance of Godzilla did a non-mainstream researcher like me start receiving attention."

"The agents of SHIELD stormed into my lab during midnight and 'invited' me and Dorris to their headquarters, and that black agent called Nick Fury, he was ferocious with a blind eye, it was scary...my god, it was really scary, it was not a relaxing journey."

Merlin smiles shakenly and says to Professor Serizawa:

"But maybe this is good, I have a new lab that belongs to me in SHIELD, and some assistants I know little of, along with plenty of research funding. I believe that this is all thanks to Godzilla, and you too."

"We should also thank the WSC for delivering an excellent irregular biologist to us."

Professor Serizawa sits back down and says to Merlin:

"We desperately need researchers like you, to solve our issue from a different angle."

"Oh? How so?"

Merlin sees the concern on Ishiro Serizawa's face, he knows he has earned the acknowledgment of this biologist and was starting to engage in the real test subjects of Project Monarch.

He asks curiously:

"Have you encountered some kind of trouble?"

"Indeed."

Professor Serizawa nods at Vivienne, the latter places a picture in front of Merlin. Merlin picks it up and notices that it's an infrared image, he had seen images like this back in the academy, so it was nothing too difficult for him.

But after a few looks, Merlin frowns and points at the bright red spot in the image, saying:

"This...looks like a superheated lifeform? The temperature around it seems to have exceeded the limit, theoretically, no large creature can survive in such high heat, I'm curious where this was taken? What is this lifeform?"

"This image was taken in the active volcano in Isle de Mona."

Vivienne explains:

"The temperature of the volcanic belly is extremely high, with our current technology, we have no way of entering to conduct an observation. s for the lifeform surrounded by fire and lava, that is the super creature me and my mentor discovered in 1991...it's undoubtedly a titan."

"We call it...Rodan!"

"Rodan?"

Merlin looks down at the picture on the table, in the infrared image was a cocoon-like lifeform flashing red, the heat of its external skin had surpassed the temperature of the lava, and while the temperature of its inside is comparatively lower, it's still very hot.

"Unimaginable."

Agent Hill looks at the picture and lets out an exclamation. She raises her head and looks at Merlin, the latter squints his eyes and says:

"I probably know what problem you're facing now."

Merlin lifts his head to look at Professor Serizawa and says:

"You're unable to get close to it, so you're unable to acquire accurate data, let alone conduct further research on this sleeping titan, right?"

"Mmm"

Professor Serizawa nods and says to Merlin:

"Even with the custom fireproof materials ordered by the NSA, we are unable to enter the belly of the volcano; although it's been 4 years since its discovery, we know nearly nothing about it aside from the fact that it was sleeping and alive."

"Alright, it is something difficult for technology to solve."

Merlin presses his glasses, a light flashes in his eyes as he has found a breaking point.

"I encountered the same issue when I was tracking a lava worm in Italy 2 years ago."

"Lava worm?"

The young Vivienne asks curiously:

"Is that a type of irregular creature?"

"Yes, it's a large worm-like creature that lives in lava, its appearance is quite similar to a Nydus Worm."

Merlin was like a real researcher, casually speaking in his area of expertise; he takes a pen and draws a ferocious snake-like creature with an outer shell and multiple pairs of limbs.

"The maternal lava worm would place its eggs inside an active volcano and use the extreme heat to incubate the larva, the larva would not leave its birthplace immediately as it needs to stay in the lava for 5-7 years in order to harden its soft shell. When it matures, it'll dig a tunnel from the volcanic belly to the mantle layer, when it reaches the underground magma layer, it'll live there until the next reincarnation."

Merlin was like an irregularist mentor, he picks up his hand-drawn picture and says to Professor Serizawa, Vivienne, and agent Hill:

"It's a rare irregular creature, only the luckiest person would see its majesty as it swims in the lava. They make look terrifying, but they're generally harmless and gentle, but once they're harmed or disturbed...a lava worm out of the lava would cause a geological disaster."

Professor Serizawa's eyes were glowing, he stares at Merlin and says:

"Professor Merlin, you say that you've once tracked a worm that lives in lava? You're saying you have a way to safely traverse lava?"

"Yes, I do!"

Merlin presses his glasses and lets out a smile, he says to Professor Serizawa:

"Allow me to first observe this titan in fire, I have to inspect the temperature and terrain there."

"If the conditions permit so, I don't mind sharing to you my way of tracing lava worms."

 

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