"I don't want your best, Rhea," Fred said, staring intently. "I want your guarantee of success."

She took a deep breath and nodded firmly. "I promise it will succeed."

Seeing her confident look, Fred nodded. "Good. Keep up the spirit."

He lowered his head and spoke into a mouthpiece. "Is everything ready?"

After receiving a reply, he nodded, looked up at Rhea and the three other surgeons, and said, "Please prepare and change into surgical gowns now."

They proceeded to a sterile room and operating theatre, fully equipped. Fred must have gone to extraordinary lengths to build this facility in Hyderland in secret.

Once they donned surgical caps and masks, Fred changed and joined them. Rhea, noticing they were alone, gave him a questioning look.

Fred smiled. "Don't worry. The test subjects will arrive soon."

He referred to the queen and Lily as "test subjects," but Rhea had no qualms. Any prior doubts were erased; Fred's dedication had completely won her over. She considered herself obsessed with experimentation, but Fred's unwavering commitment over so many years, spent in secrecy, revealed a new level of dedication.

Two boxes were pushed in and opened. As Rhea expected, one contained Lily, awake but blindfolded and with her hands bound.

The other box revealed the Queen of Yudonia, who impressed Rhea with her composure. Despite her age and wheelchair, she showed no fear or anger. The queen glanced around, asking Fred, "Is it finally time?"

Fred smiled. "Yes, my dear queen. It is. Are you happy?"

"You look happier than I am, that's for sure," the queen retorted.

"Of course, I'm happy! My dream is about to come true after so many years," Fred said cheerfully. "But you should be even happier—you're about to achieve immortality!"

The queen sneered. "We still don't know whether I'll achieve immortality or death, do we?"

"Come now, Your Majesty, don't be so pessimistic!" Fred said, remaining hopeful. "I've assembled the world's best neurosurgeons. The experiment will be a success."