"It's all right. You don't have to feel self-conscious about that." Caroline decided not to dwell on the topic and continued, "Also, I have a lab downstairs with all kinds of equipment you can use for experiments. The army will also provide me with some mutant animal corpses so I can do my research. I hope we can work together ... " "Ms. Sinclair!" Nelson suddenly interrupted her in a sharp tone. Caroline frowned, a little unnerved by the almost sinister look on Nelson's face. What's wrong with him now? Did I say something out of line? She knew Nelson could be hard to get along with and unpredictable, and his way of thinking was different from most people's. But thinking back, she was pretty sure she hadn't said anything wrong. "Why are we still standing here? Staying any longer is a waste of time. I can't wait to see your lab." Nelson looked dead serious as he rushed her. So that was what he was trying to say! He really gave me the shock of my life when he called my name with that expression! With Nelson urging her, Caroline only had time to talk to Francis for a moment, saying she had to go ahead. She also gave him the other key, saying there was a Dr. Sinclair among the researchers who probably had an electronic shackle and would need it unlocked. Francis didn't waste a second before sending a soldier to handle it. Francis was so happy by now that he could hardly contain himself. "Caroline, you have no idea how many valuable items are in this lab! Once I finish sorting everything out and report to Nathaniel, he's going to be thrilled! I even brought one of the army's researchers here, and he told me some of the research here will really complement what the army's been working on. Our breakthroughs are just around the corner. Caroline, you really are my lucky star!" Caroline could see Francis was getting carried away, so she quickly interrupted him and said she needed to get going. Francis hurried off to get a vehicle arranged.When Caroline mentioned that they also needed to bring along a tree that was over 16 feet tall, Francis's jaw nearly hit the floor. "What? That tree can understand human speech? He has human intelligence and can even say 'hi'?" Francis even dragged out the last word and made a waving gesture, which made Caroline laugh. "We'll talk about it later. Just get the car ready," Caroline urged. So Francis quickly told a soldier not to bother with a jeep or SUV but to bring the biggest truck they had. The army did have trucks like that, but they were meant for hauling cargo. Now, they were emptying one out just for Caroline's "tree friend." When Nelson went to get on the truck, Caroline noticed he was carrying a bunch of bags and boxes—research materials, a printer, and more. But the most hilarious part was Handsy the tree. Every leaf was covered in lab gear and furniture. Even funnier, one leaf had a giant stuffed animal and a pillow on it. Nelson saw Caroline's puzzled expression and said coolly, "These are all my personal items." Caroline just nodded, not asking any further. When Handsy walked up the ramp on his own, the whole army stared in shock. Handsy's roots formed five thick stalks, like giant claws, allowing him to walk easily on the ground. When he climbed onto the truck, he moved with the agility of an octopus. Not only that, after climbing aboard, he arranged all the items neatly, then slumped back like he was lying down. He used the front part of the truck as a pillow and wrapped himself in his own leaves like a blanket. He looked just like a sleeping beauty—except he was a tree. "Isn't Handsy beautiful?" Nelson asked, clearly proud when he saw Caroline's look of amazement. "He's my greatest creation. Of course, he's also God's greatest work. If it hadn't been for that dangerous 'accident,' Handsy wouldn't even exist." On the way back, Nelson told Caroline Handsy's story. Originally, Handsy had just been a regular mutant tree. But because he mutated early, Harry's people dug him up and brought him to the lab for research.At first, Handsy couldn't survive without soil. As the lead researcher among the graduate students at the time, Nelson became fascinated by him. That was because after mutating, Handsy had a unique shape. Nelson also noticed that whenever people talked near Handsy, he would react with faint electromagnetic signals.