Cain was among the more intellectually gifted humanoid anomalies in the Foundation's custody. Combined with his eidetic memory, he was practically a walking encyclopedia.
Luo Shu didn't know how the Chaos Insurgency had convinced him to breach containment, but he wasn't about to resort to cheap tricks himself.
Even with the persuasive power of SCP-3329's Rainbow Lollipop, which could dull a target's logical reasoning, basic facts still mattered.
And Cain? Cain knew things. Deceiving him would be far harder.
More importantly, SCP-073's abilities were too valuable to ruin this relationship with a one-time con.
Luo Shu's goal was simple: Win Cain over with honesty and logic.
Make him a Friend of the Anomalies.
Was it difficult?
Absolutely. But not impossible.
The Genius and the Scholar
Foundation testing had pegged Cain's IQ as above average—but "average" by human standards was hardly impressive.
In 1905, psychologist Alfred Binet set the baseline at 100. Most people fell between 90-110.
Even if Cain scored higher—say, 120 or 130—that hardly made him a genius.
The Foundation was full of real geniuses, and they'd kept him contained in a two-room cell at Site-17 for years.
No negotiations. No upgrades.
Because at his core, Cain was just a tool—a living USB drive.
A smart tool, but still a tool.
Luo Shu, on the other hand?
A Silicon Valley prodigy with an IQ north of 140.
And he knew exactly how to handle Cain.
The Persuasion
Cain was still fixated on "helping."
Luo Shu adjusted his approach.
"Dr. Cain, I just came from upstairs. There's nothing there requiring your assistance. Who exactly asked for your help?"
Cain frowned. "A researcher I know. He said Chaos Insurgency had invaded Site-17 and requested my aid in repelling them."
Wait.
Luo Shu's assumptions unraveled.
Cain hadn't been freed by Chaos. He'd been legitimately released by Foundation personnel.
"Then why attack me earlier?" Luo Shu pressed. "The 'smell of soil' was just an excuse, wasn't it?"
Cain's gaze sharpened. "You weren't in Site-17's records. You had fresh blood on your hands. And… you reeked of Chaos."
Luo Shu almost laughed. Chaos had a smell?
Probably residual traces from IR-1901.
"I was treating a wounded teammate," he explained smoothly. "As for Chaos—I've been profiling their tactics. Cross-contamination."
Cain studied him, then nodded. "You also recognized me. A Chaos operative would've either ignored me or tried to exploit me immediately."
Smart old bastard.
Good thing Luo Shu was smarter.
The Deal
Now that trust was established, Luo Shu pivoted.
"The surface is secure. What's really needed is your help down here."
The key to manipulating Cain? Appeal to his altruism.
"I'm from MTF Epsilon-11, Site-19. We mobilized forces to reclaim SCP-100 today—I led the containment."
Cain's eyes lit up. He knew SCP-100. Knew the op.
"My apologies for the misunderstanding," he said, bowing slightly.
"No harm done," Luo Shu grinned. "In fact, I've always admired your intellect. Let's work together."
The hook was set.
Cain extended a hand. "A pleasure, friend."
As they shook, Luo Shu felt the Anomaly Catalog vibrate in his pocket.
[Milestone Updated: Friend of the Anomalies]
[New Ally: SCP-073 ("Cain")]
[Effects Unlocked: Damage Reflection (1/day)]
Luo Shu couldn't resist humming.
"Hard to find true friends in this world…
But with more friends, the road gets smoother!"