This was the process of creating a genetically enhanced human of great intellect or strength; to prove that such mutation was possible, Alexei took 4 years to experiment with trial-and-errors of mutating lab rats first to increase their intelligence and strength. In the process of that experiment, Alexei also took time to expand his knowledge about the anatomy of human, mainly the nervous system and the muscles. In such short span of time, Alexei has now officially set up the pathway of creating an intellect in his dreams, as well as a soldier for the Empire.
"Tell me about the outcome of the births of the genetically enhanced humans." Gerald started in their meeting.
"We were very lucky, Gerald. Out of the 20 female participants who received sperm with mutated genetic information, one of the baby has been born without miscarriage or complication."
"That's good to hear. Are you certain that this baby is the way you expected?"
"I can be sure. The back side of his neck and his back are hotter than usual. As expected, with thicker spinal cord serving as an 'additional' brain matter, his brain will be able to process information at a speed unattainable by an ordinary man. Combined with greater storage for memory and knowledge, humanity could achieve breakthroughs with much reduced efforts. However, I must tell you that all of this power comes at a cost of consuming higher amount of energy and his back will feel hotter than usual."
"It's been a long time since I've seen you this excited and thrilled, Alexei. I hope this endeavor will come at a success. I presume that his neck and spine will be much more susceptible to injury then? Now about the cost… How much more food do you expect this baby needs than usual?"
"You are right in that assumption, Gerald. We might even need an armor around his spine. As for food…I estimate around 2 times more just to maintain his body."
Gerald sighed. "2 times more food? I don't know how the higher authority will feel about that when the Empire treats food like treasure."
Alexei responded in somewhat hurry. "Please let them know that I will deliver a soldier of great strength within 3 years, and this one will only require half, even potentially less food than usual to maintain. I still need to finish my abstract and proposal for this soldier though."
Gerald prepared his pen for writing. "Well, you go finish that proposal. That baby is now in your hands, Alexei. Guide it well for the future of the Empire. You're dismissed."
The genetically enhanced baby boy's feature was immediately clear. In just a span of a week, the baby has shown an attempt to walk, though unsuccessful due to undeveloped leg muscles. This baby has been assigned a code name "Anointed One." The staff assisting Alexei commented that the Anointed One matured as if the clock was moving 10 times faster and couldn't keep up with him without Alexei's guidance. They were in awe of taking care and teaching such baby who was ready to learn to read and write and speak in a matter of year.
Yet Anointed One was not without problems. Since it processed information so quickly, it was unpredictable of how it would act. Moreover, the staff has complained the uncontrollable nature of Anointed One whenever it threw a tantrum; Alexei theorized that the side effect of being able to process information very fast also resulted in emotion being processed at such speed as well, meaning emotions such as anger would become intense in a matter of seconds.
It was not an easy feat for Gerald to continue to convince the higher authorities to continue this project; if wasn't for the Anointed One's ability to also become mature enough at a toddler's age to become disciplined under Gerald's advice, the Alexei's dream could've been shattered.
At an age of 2, the Anointed One stood in front of Gerald, as well as his commanding officers for the first time. The nervousness overwhelmed and he whimpered.
"Relax, Anointed One, I'm here with you. Breathe deep and I'm sure you'll pass." said Alexei. The Anointed One gripped Alexei's hand in response.
"Begin the test. This better be good." Said the commanding officer.
"Yes sir." Gerald pulled out a paper and showed a math question. "What is 8 times 9?"
"…S-se…ven-d-dee Too…" the Anointed One still struggled with speech due to incomplete teeth combined with anxiety.
"5 times 4 times 9?"
"H-hondwed e-eiity…"
"Make him write or something; can't understand a damn thing he says." Said the commanding officer.
"The Anointed One is volatile in emotion, sir. I would ask you to be gentler." Alexei said after the Anointed One looked stressed from the officer's comment.
After being given pen and paper, the Anointed One wrote somewhat messily, but legible answers down successfully throughout the test.
"456 times 982 times 5" this time, there was a bit of delay, but the Anointed One wrote a correct answer of 2,238,960. "Correct, you've answered them all successfully." Said Gerald.
"Please excuse us. The Anointed One is about to have hyperventilation from chronic stress." Alexei then took the Anointed One for rest.
Giving nod to Alexei, Gerald spoke to the officer. "The test to confirm the accuracy and efficiency of information processing of the Anointed One is successful sir."
"I must say, I'm impressed. I had no expectation whatsoever considering all the disaster you had trying to discipline the Anointed One."
"It certainly wasn't an easy task sir, but thanks to the guidance of the Dr. Magellan as well as strict discipline under my advice, the ground for a soldier of unimaginable intellect is set."
"In that case, implement the next stage in the Anointed One's training phase: The War Tactician."
"What? The next phase is the Common Sense, not - "
"I meant that, Gerald. The way I see it, the Anointed One's clock runs incredibly faster than any human. Seeing how well the Anointed One composed himself despite being a newborn in our eyes, I don't see why the Common Sense phase is necessary when he could probably figure out the common sense on his own. The Anointed One put up a good show today, but what I want is the result I was promised sooner than later."
"But sir, under Dr. Magellan's advice, the Anointed One still needs this phase to ensure he has a correct-"
"That's an order, Gerald. I hope you and Dr. Magellan has not forgotten who approves and funds this project. Or are you suggesting that the Anointed One isn't as smart as I have hoped?"
Sighing, Gerald complied. "Yes sir. We'll implement The War Tactician phase."
"Good. Don't disappoint me. You're dismissed."
Meanwhile, Alexei was tucking in the Anointed One to bed as the test has taken toll on his mental well-being. "You've done well today, Anointed One. Get some rest; the stress may affect your health."
Having calmed down from nervousness, the Anointed One's speech became clearer. "Did I not make that big man happy, master? Am I getting thrown away?"
"Oh no, you're not getting thrown away. Of course the big man was happy. What's more, I'm proud of you for making this far."
"But, but, I have to make that big man happy all the time…" the Anointed One got teary. "W-what if, one day, he doesn't want me anymore because I fail? Then I can't…fulfill my purpose…your dream-"
Alexei gave the Anointed One a hug. "Please, there's no need to stress yourself out more. I care about you so much that losing you will be devastating to me. I'll prepare you, and make sure that big man will stay happy."
"R-really?"
"Yes, I promise. I made you to be destined to move the mankind forward at a speed higher than the history has ever recorded. One day, I can see you succeeding every scientific breakthrough in one try. Don't worry, you have a noble and valiant purpose, and I believe in you to fulfill it."
"Okay. And…master…I don't like Mr. Gerald."
"Ah, is that so? Remember to watch what you say about other people. But is it because he always gives you hard time?"
"Yes, and whenever he's around, you just seem to…be under him, like how I was with that big man."
"Don't worry, Anointed One. I can assure you that everything being done is necessary for your development. He's the reason this was possible, after all, so think of it as a way for me to return the favor. So please, I ask you to persevere."
"Okay, master."
"Thank you very much for understanding."
"Alexei, we have to talk." Gerald called.
"Alright, have a good sleep, Anointed One." Then Alexei left the room and sat down with Gerald.
"The commander orders us to skip the Common Sense phase and implement War Tactician phase." Gerald said.
"Excuse me?! The Anointed One urgently needs to improve his social interaction skills and etiquette, yet they want him to be a tactician already?"
"I know how you feel. This is the reality of the military authority even I can't do anything about. We're bound by finance and approval, so we need to figure something out."
Alexei facepalmed from stress. "Ugh, perhaps I should've declined if I knew it would come down to this…Not that I'll back away now. However, I fear that different philosophy between war and normal social setting will confuse the Anointed One so much Gerald. With his brain processing at an unimaginable speed, who knows what he'll end up learning as truth!"
"Alexei, do you think that with the pace we're going right now, the Anointed One will able to at least come up with a convincing war plan?"
"It's hard to say, Gerald. Though the Anointed One looks like a genius, it's only because he thinks through what he knows at an incredible speed that his decision is carried out more thoughtfully and coherently compared to normal person. Yet still, if the information he processes is faulty, the end product will become garbage like any person would."
"Then we'll have to make sure that what he thinks is truth and truth only. You can leave the war tactics to me to teach the Anointed One. While you go and teach whatever you planned to teach him in the Common Sense phase."
Alexei sighed. "I hope this won't become too confusing and frustrating for the Anointed One."
Yet the path towards next test was arduous and went downhills. Because Alexei has promised to make a second soldier that had an incredible strength to turn the tides of battle, his attention became divided after one year. From that point on, teaching the Anointed One became frustrating and hopeless.
One time outside, Gerald was showing a miniature fortress that resembled the fort back at the Leidenschaftlich to the Anointed One. "This should closely match the fort at our enemy's base. Now, how would you approach this?"
"I'd take an entirety of our force's cannons, shoot down the wall for wide opening and invade the inside from there."
"What? No. Enemies don't just stand there watching us set them up. Besides, the cost of failure is too great to execute that."
"Our soldiers can just shoot the defending soldiers while the cannons set up."
"Didn't you learn about the high ground advantage in the tactics handbook I gave you? You can't just assume that battles can go your way."
"I thought the weapons we are given were lethal-"
"You don't just assume every shot from a rifle will hit an enemy, not to mention assuming every soldier has an aiming of an elite."
"Then what is certain, Gerald?! If nothing is guaranteed, what am I supposed to deduce?!"
"Control yourself, Anointed One. Your emotion outburst is at it again."
"Do you think it's that easy when you always give me and my master a hard time?! It's always what you want to see as a result, and we get scolded if we don't deliver the result! When do I get to do 'breakthroughs' as master created me to do?!"
"Your master signed up to this before you were even born! It's a choice he made because it was the only way for you to fulfill that purpose! If you want to do your 'breakthroughs', you better meet the expectations, or you can kiss that chance goodbye!"
The Anointed One reluctantly conceded. "Fine, I'm sorry…"
Gerald sighed. "Perhaps I still need to help you understand the nature of war and battles. Let's reiterate the basics."
At another time, a staff named Angela assisting Alexei was outside giving practice to social interaction in place of Alexei who was busy with process of creating a soldier of great strength. "Alright, I'll start a conversation. Hi Anointed One, how are you doing?"
"My spine is still intact and well-protected-"
"You usually respond in a broad terms such as 'I'm doing good' or 'I'm not doing so well.'"
"But master keeps making sure my spine is okay. Doesn't the question imply your status?
"It does. Nonetheless, it is good enough to respond with non-specific description as that is what most people do. Anyway, let's continue: 'the weather is quite nice today.'
"Weather is sunny today. It's a normal state and can't be described as optimal-"
"That won't do. Not every conversation is meant for correcting or learning. Sunny weather is desirable for most people, and that is why the weather is described as 'nice'"
"'Nice' doesn't sound right to me though when rain can be desirable for farmers-"
"Please remember that we're having conversation practice and not a debate. For now, please accept this as a consensus among people and go along with it."
"But master said to always strive for accuracy and truth, Angela!"
Angela sighed. "Oh, if only Dr. Magellan was here…"