《The Last Gentleman》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    A vast sea as dark as ink stretched endlessly, with countless boats drifting upon it.


    Some were small, single-person rowboats. Others were ferries, carrying multiple people. asionally, arge ship appeared, carrying hundreds.


    But regardless of what vessel they were on, the people remained in a dazed, lost state. Their memories slowly being erased by the sea, they had no knowledge of where they were headed or even that they were already dead.


    However, within this sea, a lighthouse suddenly appeared, half-hidden in mist, where there should have only been passage to thend of death.


    Its beamnded on a small rowboat, illuminating a young man seated on it, drawing him toward the lighthouse.


    As the light grew brighter, the young man¡¯s dark, lifeless eyes began to regain their luster.


    The burning sensation from the light grew as the boat drew closer. Scorching patterns etched across his head, carrying a voice that seemed to call from the world of the living.


    Buzz!


    The pitch-ck sea vanished, reced by an old, weathered wooden desk.The young man, his eyes slowly adjusting, found himself staring at an old kerosenemp at the upper right corner of the table. The flickering me within it matched the image of the lighthouse in his mind.


    Beneath his resting arms, he felt the rough texture of paper. It was a yellowed sheet with hasty, messy handwriting.


    To his left on the desk was a ss, containing a peculiar-smelling transparent liquid.


    Seeing this unfamiliar scene, his first thought wasn¡¯t fear or curiosity; instead, a critical notion bubbled up from deep within his subconscious:


    ¡°My thesis!¡±


    Hisst memory was of an all-nighter spent revising his graduation thesis in theb.


    And that memory ended with intense chest pain and a foggy consciousness.


    Realizing this, the young man put the pieces together.


    ¡°Did I¡­ die suddenly?¡±


    He looked at his hands, noticing they were rough and worn, with calluses and dirt under the nails. He instantly recognized these hands were not those of his own familiar ones.


    ¡°Did I¡­ transmigrate?¡±


    His name was Yi Chen, a weary graduate student in chemical engineering.


    Being a fan of novels and games, the first word that came to his mind was ''transmigration.''


    Upon reaching this conclusion, he felt no anxiety or fear. Instead, a profound sense of relief washed over him, and he even rxed his body because he no longer had to worry about finishing his thesis, the uing review, or the defense. It felt wonderful.


    Having grown up in an orphanage, he had lived a solitary 24 years with little attachment to his former world.


    However, the relief did notst long, as a putrid smell in the air brought him back to reality.


    ¡°I need to figure out what¡¯s going on¡­¡±


    Yi Chen shook his head and stood up, scanning the modest, 40-square-meter wooden room.


    To the left of the desk was a narrow, single wooden bed pressed against the wall. Mold stains were visible at the foot of the bed, likely due to the dampness of the room.


    There were no windows in the room.


    The only connection to the outside was a heavy, gray iron door, tightly fitted in its frame. The coarse, bumpy paint seemed to be at least 40 or 50 years old.


    The door key was hanging on Yi Chen¡¯s waistband.


    On the wall beside the door, there was an old-fashioned telephone¡ªa model he had only seen in the orphanage as a child, long since reced by smartphones.


    The phone cord, wrapped in rubber instion, extended upward, disappearing into the ceiling.


    It was also worth noting that the only source of light in the room was the kerosenemp on the desk.


    The simple, sealed wooden room and the rotten air reminded Yi Chen of a grim thought¡ª''a coffin.''


    It felt as if he were trapped in a coffin disguised as a wooden room.


    He returned to the desk and,cking a phone or mirror to check his appearance, tentatively felt his face. Aside from some stubble, his features seemed sharp and even a bit more handsome than his previous self.


    Judging by the roughness of his skin, he guessed he was likely under thirty.


    He resumed his focus on the desk, eyeing a ''letter'' left on it.


    ¡°English? Is this overseas?¡±


    Yi Chen, ustomed to skimming through papers, quickly scanned the letter.


    The first line was unsettling, as it began with a chilling word¡ª''die''.


    As he read further, each word slithered into him like a parasite, filling him with unease.


    ¡Ú ¡°I¡¯m going to die; I know it for certain.


    But at least I still have the choice of how to die.


    There¡¯s nothing in this world worth clinging to. My only regret is letting Dean Fran down. I messed up my first job since leaving the orphanage.


    I¡¯ve always been careless, making mistakes like this even back at the orphanage.


    The third rule in the manual¡­ I¡¯ve reviewed it every day, yet I still made a mistake.


    There¡¯s nothing more to say. I can only hope that whoever reads this letter can forgive my cowardice and ipetence; I simply don¡¯t have the courage to face the consequences of my errors.


    If possible, please cremate my body.


    Please, do not bury me here! ¡Û


    ¡°Is this a will?¡±


    Yi Chen picked up a cup from the corner of the wooden table, inhaling the scent lingering in the liquid within.


    He could now deduce the basic background of this body''s original owner.


    ¡°Did this guy also spend his childhood in orphanages? Was it because of a simr past, simr appearance and build, and a coincidental death that allowed me to cross over into his body?


    Knowing he would die, he chose to poison himself?


    Does failing to follow a certain rule truly result in a death penalty? What kind of ce is this?¡±


    Deeply analyzing, Yi Chen could smell the anxiety and danger pervading the air, as he also pondered his own ¡®predicament.¡¯


    ¡°Since I¡¯ve crossed over, the mess naturally falls to me to handle¡­ This guy couldn¡¯t even leave more useful information in his will.


    After making a mistake, what kind of dangers could there be?


    Will assassins from some organizatione to eliminate me? Or will something strangee knocking?¡±


    With this thought, Yi Chen nced around the room once more.


    Even though the wooden cabin was sealed tightly like a coffin, he still felt no sense of security.


    ¡°Calm down~ I¡¯ve already died once, there¡¯s nothing to fear. First, let¡¯s look for the ¡®manual¡¯ mentioned in the will to see exactly what mistake this guy made, and what kind of job he was doing.¡±


    Pulling open the drawer of the wooden table, he found a parchment map and a unique handbook bound in ck fur.


    ording to the map,


    This ce was a cemetery.


    The wooden cabin was located in the center,


    surrounded in a clockwise manner by cemetery numbered 1 to 6. Additionally, at a corner of the map was an unusual Cemetery No. 7,pletely isted and essible only by a narrow path over a hundred meters long.


    ¡°So, this is a cemetery? This guy was a gravekeeper? No wonder there¡¯s a faint smell of decay even in this cabin.¡±


    Yi Chen turned his attention to the handbook containing vital information.


    *<em>Employee Manual (Easton Town ¨C Cemetery)</em>*


    The first page documented the schedule in detail.


    The gravekeeper needed to inspect the designated graves at specific times. For example:


    The inspection time for Cemetery No. 1 was from 7:00 to 9:30.


    The inspection time for Cemetery No. 2 was from 1:00 to 3:00.


    And so on.


    Cemetery No. 7, however, had no designated inspection time and did not require inspection; it was marked as a special area.


    The schedule seemed rtively normal.


    But when Yi Chen turned to the second page, his expression grew serious.


    It started off with an asterisk and bold red text:


    <em>Please carefully read each of the following cemetery rules andmit them to memory. Failure to observe any rule, or any mistake, will invite disaster. The consequences will be worse than death.</em>


    I. [Inspect each grave ording to the timetable; the margin of error for start and end times must be less than one minute.]


    II. [During inspections of Cemetery No. 2, ensure that the cross-shaped headstone is not inverted or adorned with items resembling a goat skull.


    If such conditions are present, the headstone must be restored and items removed within the inspection time.]


    III. [When inspecting Cemetery No. 4, ensure that the number and order of headstones remain consistent with the original setup. If there are any abnormalities in the number or sequence, you must clear away the extra graves or restore the disced headstones to their correct order.]


    <em>For easier memorization, the appendix contains an original sketch of Cemetery No. 4.</em>


    IV. [Before beginning the inspection of Cemetery No. 5, make sure there is absolute silence within. If any strange sounds are heard, postpone the inspection by one hour. If the sound persists after an hour, report it to the manager.]


    V. [If a new corpse is delivered to the cemetery gate, carefully inspect the hearse to ensure it bears the correct ¡®organizational mark.¡¯ If the mark is correct, transport the corpse to the designated grave entrance as indicated by the number engraved on its surface, and it will be interred automatically. If no mark is found or if the mark is incorrect, transport the hearse and the corpse to Cemetery No. 7 during the daytime.]


    <em>Refer to the appendix for the organizational mark.</em>


    VI. [Other cemetery only require basic inspection to confirm that the tombs remain undisturbed and that no foreign objects are present.]


    VII. [When not on patrol, stay in the safehouse to minimize the chance of idents.]


    VIII. [If an error at work causes disaster to befall you, the organization offers one opportunity for survival.


    Lift the floorboards beneath the bed, retrieve a defensive tool, and resolve the issue.]

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    As Yi Chen read through each "rule," he gradually understood that the ce he had crossed over into was infused with strange, unsettling elements foreign to his original world. At the same time, an unknown danger seemed to be closing in on him. Yet, there was still a slim chance for survival. Following the hint from thest rule, Yi Chen bent down to look under the wooden bed.


    He moved aside a loose floorboard and pulled out a hand axe of afortable weight.


    "So, this is the so-called self-defense tool?"


    The hickory handle had grooves carved into it to enhance grip, making it both lightweight and durable, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t slip easily from his hand. The head of the axe, forged from carbon steel, was wless. It had been honed through a special process, making it razor-sharp, and the de was coated in silver, adding a bright, solid, and devastating edge.


    Whirr ¨C as he tested a swing, the axe cut through the air, emitting a faint whooshing sound.


    Holding such a well-crafted axe gave him a sense of security, allowing his tense mind to rx slightly.


    "A decent weapon for self-defense..."


    After a brief warm-up, he returned to the desk.


    "ording to the journal left behind, this guy''s main mistake was rted to Rule #3, which states that when inspecting Cemetery No. 4, he failed to notice the changes in the number and order of tombstones."Yi Chen bit his fingernail, facing a crucial decision. Should he stay in the cabin and wait for danger toe to him, or venture to the graveyard, confront the threats directly, and find a way out of this situation?


    "Let''s be proactive... ording to what the rules say, the only way to eliminate the danger might be to restore Cemetery No. 4. Simply waiting in the cabin would likely be waiting for death."


    Yi Chen decided to treat his predicament as a test of his survival skills in this world. But before setting out, he needed to make some preparations.


    First, he used his rtively sharp mind to memorize the cemetery map, along with the appendix detailing Cemetery No. 4''syout and any organizational symbols associated with it.


    Next, he put on a work coat lying at the foot of the bed. This deep gray coat, somewhere between a raincoat and a windbreaker, had a loose hood that could conceal half his face, hiding his appearance in the dark.


    "This coat fits perfectly... I¡¯ve never worn anything sofortable. Was this tailored?"


    The coat restricted none of his movements; instead, it allowed him to move even more smoothly. He also noticed a metal name badge on the left side of the chest, printed with the original owner¡¯s name: "William Behrens".


    Once ready, he attempted to use the telephone mounted on the wall beside the iron door. However, only a grating noise filled the receiver ¨C the phone line seemed damaged, severing all contact with the outside world.


    "Most likely, this is due to some vition, and the ''overseers'' have cut off their connection... Alright, it''s time to go."


    <em>Click¡­ click¡­</em>


    As the door hinge turned, it emitted a groaning, almost elderly wheeze, like an old man issuing a warning from the depths of his raspy throat.


    Standing at the doorway, Yi Chen stayed alert, waiting for any signs of danger. Seconds passed, and all that came was the nauseating smell of decaying flesh mixed with the damp earth. The moon waspletely hidden that night, with only the glow of his kerosenemp providing light.


    "Seems like ¡®danger¡¯ hasn¡¯t activelye for me yet, which is a good sign... Time to start exploring."


    The axe, gleaming silver, rested in his right hand at thigh level, while he held the kerosenemp out in front of him with his left.


    d in the dark gray coat, Yi Chen assumed the role of the ¡°grave keeper,¡± embarking on his first exploration of the cemetery.


    First, as depicted on the map, the wooden cabin known as the "Safe House" was at the cemetery¡¯s center, surrounded by cemeteries numbered 1 through 6. Tall, wrought-iron fences about three meters high separated each numbered cemetery, keeping them isted from one another.


    The narrow paths between the graves could barely allow for a corpse cart to pass through. Twisted branches, wildly growing above, tangled together to block out the sky, casting a shroud over the entire cemetery. If the cabin was like a small coffin, then this cemetery was arge one.


    The oppressive atmosphere weighed on Yi Chen, even making him imagine a pale foot trailing him from behind, or tree branches transforming into hands reaching for his shoulder.


    He took a deep breath.


    When he was young, he heard from people at the orphanage that when passing through eerie ces at night, one must avoid looking back; otherwise, it might bring "impure" things upon oneself.


    Therefore, he kept his gaze straight ahead the entire time, only tilting his head at most 45 degrees.


    Following the map from memory, he soon arrived in front of the iron gate of Cemetery No. 4.


    However, a thought popped into his mind.


    "I¡¯ve been moving through the graveyard for several minutes now... it¡¯s creepy and oppressive, but at least there¡¯s been no danger, and I haven¡¯t seen anything unclean.


    The danger in Cemetery No. 4, the one that can drive a person to suicide, is not something easily resolved.


    I might need to run, maybe even y a guerri strategy.


    How about exploring the entire graveyard first, familiarizing myself with the area, and figuring out the escape routes and hiding spots? Yes, that¡¯s the n.¡±


    Temporarily leaving Cemetery No. 4, Yi Chen started touring the entire graveyard in a clockwise direction.


    The passage of time gradually helped him adjust to the graveyard¡¯s atmosphere, and he also noticed some interesting details and features set up around the cemetery.


    Each numbered cemetery had a different style.


    For example, Cemetery No. 1 was marked by stone arch tombstones, clean steps, and paved pathways, giving off a neat andfortable feeling.


    Next to it, Cemetery No. 2 had oak cross-shaped tombstones, which leaned at odd angles amidst overgrown weeds¡­ the entire area felt extremely eerie, with temperatures even lower by 10¡ãC.


    He encountered no danger along the way and eventually reached Cemetery No. 6.


    Here, the soil was strangely damp, each step sinking his shoes at least two centimeters deep.


    The tombstones were all piled stones, with no inscriptions or information about the deceased.


    ¡°Hmm¡­what¡¯s that?¡±


    Yi Chen¡¯s keen observation caught a detail: in a corner of Cemetery No. 6, some stone tombs had copsed as if something had damaged them.


    Holding his axe, he approached to investigate, circling the graves twice without discovering anything unusual.


    Maybe it was because he fully immersed himself in his current upation, or perhaps out of respect for the dead.


    After confirming there was no danger, Yi Chen knelt down to carefully stack the scattered stones back into a tombstone.


    Before leaving, he instinctively put his hands together in prayer and gave a slight bow.


    However, he hadn¡¯t taken more than two steps when a strange voice echoed from behind him.


    ¡ìThank you¡ì


    The voice was odd, like it was a mix of multiple throats, fluctuating up and down, prating deeply.


    Yi Chen turned immediately, holding his axe in front of him defensively.


    However, the cemetery behind him remainedpletely calm and unchanged.


    "Am I just too tense, hearing things? No¡­ I definitely heard it.


    There really is something supernatural here~ but the voice just now didn¡¯t sound hostile.


    I¡¯ll try not to provoke any trouble and focus on the most pressing issue for now."


    Yi Chen quickly exited the swamp-like Cemetery No. 6.


    By this point, aside from Cemetery No. 7, which was separately set up at the edge to store and handle unidentified bodies, he had mapped out the graveyard¡¯s generalyout in his mind, along with the best escape and evasion routes.


    Next, he would have to confront the problem-ridden Cemetery No. 4.


    Shortly after Yi Chen left, back in Cemetery No. 6, the soil of the mound he had just repaired began to shift and loosen.


    A mouth emerged, chewing on fragments of the coffin lid, covered in damp earth, as if holding an eyeball in its teeth.


    It seemed to be watching the "helpful" young man from behindyers of fences and nts.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    [4]


    The standard Arabic numeral "4" was engraved on a stone archway.


    The intricately patterned iron gate with a spiked top creaked as it opened slowly.


    Beside the gate stood a wooden cart equipped with a shovel, hemp rope, and bup bags, all used for cemetery maintenance, alterations, or leveling.


    Yi Chen ced his axe and kerosenemp on the cart as well, took a deep breath, and pushed the wooden cart forward.


    As the wheels of the cart pressed into the soil of the cemetery, no expected danger arose.


    Yi Chen looked around as he entered Cemetery No. 4. On the surface, nothing unusual appeared¡ªno wandering "monsters" or strange urrences. Compared to other cemetery, this one seemed "ordinary," with afortable temperature and humidity, firm soil with few weeds, and a bnced ratio of open space, graves, and vegetation.


    However, two peculiar details stood out:


    1. The vegetation, especially the trees along the edges, appeared withered and brittle, as if they could snap at any moment. The leaves fell in clusters, unlike the lush greenery in other graveyards.2. The number of graves exceeded sixty, more than any other cemetery, and the headstones were varied in design. Stone, wood, and even metal gravestones coexisted, with rectangr, arched, and cross shapes, making the area look like a chaotic burial ground.


    Pushing the cart between the graves, Yi Chen inspected each area carefully, confirming the absence of any "anomalies" and rxing slightly.


    Next, hepared the current cemeteryyout to the "original distribution map" in his mind, searching for discrepancies in the number and arrangement of graves.


    Being an engineering graduate, he was skilled at spotting differences, and soon found an unsettling answer:


    "An extra grave."


    This additional grave was located in a deeper area, marked by a metal cross embedded in the ground. The mound''s height matched the others. As he stared at the newly discovered grave, Yi Chen thought:


    "ording to the rules, any extra grave must bepletely leveled. If a body is inside, it should be transferred to Cemetery No. 7, designated for unknown corpses, as per Rule V. However, things can''t be that simple; the original owner of this body wouldn¡¯t have chosen suicide otherwise. I need to proceed cautiously."


    After confirming no unusual activity nearby, he got to work.


    He left the metal cross untouched, believing it might serve as a holy symbol to ward off evil. Grabbing the shovel from the cart, he struck the mound¡ªcrack!


    In his orphanage days, he had done plenty of farm work in the backyard, so handling a shovel felt natural.


    ng! A loud metallic sound rang out. In themplight, part of a coffin lid emerged.


    "A metal coffin?"


    He cleared away the topsoil, revealing a hexagonal ck metal lid sealed tightly without any signs of prior opening.


    Having resolved to deal with this issue and clean up the mess, Yi Chen found a leverage point to pry open the lid.


    Creak! The lid creaked as it was lifted, the sound slicing through the cemetery¡¯s silence like a piercing spike.


    The light from the kerosenemp rushed inside, revealing the contents of the coffin.


    "This is¡­"


    Inside was a naked adult male corpse. His skin had turned green, with rotting blood vessels forming a marble-like pattern across the body, covered in blotches¡­ and a denseyer of moss and fungal growth.


    His eye sockets no longer held any eyeballs but were instead filled with clusters of fungi, which wriggled slightly like insect eyes.


    "Moss and fungi? How did these grow in apletely sealed metal coffin?"


    His curiosity piqued, Yi Chen noticed something else: The corpse¡¯s handsy t beside him, with nails that had fallen off. Thin roots sprouted from the nail beds, extending toward the coffin''s bottom, as if "adhering" to it.


    A sense of inexplicable unease crept over him, intensifying his fear. Abandoning the idea of "relocating the corpse," he grabbed the kerosenemp, nning to incinerate the strange body then and there. His hand readied to throw it¡­


    But just as themp was about to leave his grip, an image shed in his mind¡ªthe guiding light of a lighthouse.


    His intuition warned him: the kerosenemp, the cemetery''s only light source, must not be broken.


    As an engineering graduate, Yi Chen valued and understood the importance of intuition.


    [Intuition]


    The brain, under certain conditions, rapidly gathers environmental factors, integrates all memory data, including subconscious information, and derives a result throughprehensive analysis.


    Because the conscious mind cannot keep up with this process, it feels like a sudden sh of insight.


    Some people don¡¯t take it seriously.


    However, it¡¯s often an urate and effective analytical oue.


    This intuition made him keep the oilmp in his hand rather than discarding it.


    "The only source of light... I still can¡¯t be sure of the true ''danger'' here. If there¡¯s a problem with the entire cemetery, losing my light source could mean being instantly swallowed by the darkness."


    So he decided to stick to his initial n to transport the corpse.


    Yi Chen patted his cheeks to stay focused.


    He picked up the iron shovel again,


    pressed it against the edge of the coffin and slid it in,


    attempting to pry the body into a ''sitting position''... this way, it would be easier to lift the whole corpse out.


    However, something even stranger happened.


    The process of prying it up was unexpectedly difficult, and he barely managed to lift the body just a few inches.


    Through the small gap he had pried open,


    Yi Chen saw a haunting sight he would never forget...


    Thick, tangled roots of varying sizes had grown out of the corpse''s back.


    These roots had prated the bottom of the coffin, reaching deep into the ground,


    pulsating,


    sucking,


    extracting,


    the nutrients from underground.


    The eerie sight instantly reminded Yi Chen of the withered, decaying trees in Cemetery No. 4.


    ¡°This thing is drawing the ¡®life force¡¯ of the cemetery!¡±


    At that very moment,


    a familiar warning sound came from the edge of the graveyard:


    ¡ìBe careful¡ì


    The voice was identical to the one he¡¯d heard at Cemetery No. 6, a unique sound that was unmistakable.


    Due to his intense concentration,


    the sudden warning instinctively made Yi Chen roll backward, putting over a meter of distance between himself and his previous spot.


    Where he had been standing, rotting vines had erupted from the ground... if he hadn¡¯t rolled away, they would have wrapped around his legs and dragged him toward the coffin.


    Then,


    <em>creak, creak~</em>


    With the roots holding it up,


    the corpse in the coffin rose to its feet.


    The roots pulled out from the ground, dangling from its back like strands between 30 and 100 centimeters long, swaying behind it.


    In its eye sockets, clusters of fungal spores converged, forming shapes that looked like eyes,


    staring straight into Yi Chen¡¯s own eyes.


    In that instant,


    Yi Chen realized why the owner of this body, ''William Behrens'', would rather have taken his own life than fight to the end.


    The pain of dying from poison was far preferable to being in by a monster or being sucked dry of nutrients and devoured alive.


    ¡ÚThere¡¯s no way to win¡Û


    If this was just a zombie in a sci-fi movie, Yi Chen might still have fought head-on.


    But this living corpse was far beyond anything he¡¯d ever known.


    To approach it recklessly would likely mean instant death.


    Run!


    Without a moment''s hesitation,


    he hooked the kerosenemp to his belt and bolted.


    In his mind, he mapped out the best escape route.


    ¡®I have to take the time to evade and observe, learn about some of its traits... don¡¯t rush! Stay calm, keep breathing steadily!¡¯


    Just as he was about to slip out of Cemetery No. 4,


    ng!


    Without warning,


    a three-meter-tall iron gate mmed shut.


    In full sprint, Yi Chen kicked the iron gate... ng!


    The firmly closed gate didn¡¯t budge, sealing himpletely inside.


    As he watched the chains that had somehow wrapped around the gate outside,


    Yi Chen couldn¡¯t help but curse aloud.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    Standing before the nearly four-meter-high iron gate with spikes lined up at the top, it was clear that climbing over it would take lot of time.


    If he were spotted by the undead mid-climb, he would be trapped with no chance of survival.


    ¡°Move quickly.¡±


    The area of Cemetery No. 4 wasrger than the others, with chaotic mounds of graves and uneven terrain, providing some room for maneuver.


    He adjusted the kerosenemp to its lowest setting.


    After a short sprint, Yi Chen, guided by his memory, reached a high slope offering good cover. Large tombstones were scattered around, and his lean body fit perfectly behind an arched stone.


    With his ear to the ground, he listened. There was no sound, confirming that the undead hadn¡¯t followed.


    Resting against the cold tombstone brought him a strange sense offort. Breathing heavily, he recalled the strange events that had just urred.


    ¡°Who locked the gate? And why was it chained from the outside? If I had to guess, it¡¯s probably the work of the ¡®organization¡¯ mentioned in the manual.¡±The original owner of this body, William, hadmitted some offense, and the organization likely had people monitoring the cemetery to prevent further mistakes. When they saw him in Cemetery No. 4, they must have locked the gate by some means.


    This would directly lead to one of two oues:


    1. He would survive and perfectly resolve the zombie incident.


    2. He would be killed, and they would deal with the problem themselves.


    Yi Chen quickly moved on from this question to another ¨C the ¡°warning sound¡± that had just saved him.


    ¡°The voice sounded almost identical to the one I heard in Cemetery No. 6. Could it be...?¡±


    As he pondered, he heard a faint rustling sound. The mound of dirt in front of him shifted as though something was about to emerge.


    "I... I¡¯m just using your tombstone as cover. I mean no disrespect!"


    Yi Chen instinctively thought he had disturbed the grave''s owner and exined himself, slowly rising with his hatchet raised defensively.


    Then, he heard a familiar, eerie voice from the soil again:


    "Don¡¯t get up. If ¡®that thing¡¯ spots you now, things will get very troublesome..."


    As soil fell away, a peculiar mouth emerged from the mound. The mouth was lined with two rows of perfectly white, evenly spaced teeth ¨C far more than a human¡¯s.


    The mouth opened to about 90 degrees. The inside was pitch ck, with no sign of a tongue, like a dark abyss that seemed to draw you in if you stared too long.


    From deep within this mouth, something began to float upward, vaguely resembling a spherical shape.


    Finally, a single eye with a ck pupil and white body appeared, staring intently at Yi Chen.


    Perhaps because he had already faced the terrifying undead, this strange ¡°toothy eye¡± didn¡¯t frighten him. His instincts even suggested it might not be dangerous, possibly even ¡°friendly.¡±


    "Are you from Cemetery No. 6?"


    When Yi Chen tentatively asked, a strange, blended voice echoed from within the mouth:


    "Yes, I¡¯m a resident of the pet area¡­ Recently, I gained self-awareness. When I was assembling my body, I identally knocked down a tombstone."


    "I never expected a low-level borer¡¯ like you to voluntarily repair it. And the timing of your appearance is also very unusual; I followed you here to investigate."


    ¡°Now I understand... You¡¯ve been assigned to deal with the mutated undead from the Mass grave section.¡±


    The voice used many unfamiliar terms, but Yi Chen could barely follow.


    ¡°Is ¡®pet area¡¯ No. 6 and ¡®mass grave section¡¯ No. 4?¡±


    ¡°Exactly... The cemetery is like a factory, with different sections serving different purposes and periodically producing things of value. The ones most prone to issues are the Desecration Area (2) and the Mass¡¯ grave Section (4). As for more information, there is no point in telling you now.¡±


    ¡°Your sole task now is to eliminate that mutated corpse.¡±


    ¡°Will you help?¡±


    Yi Chen posed the most crucial question. With a fellow ¡°cemetery resident¡± aiding him, his survival chances would greatly improve.


    ¡°I can¡¯t provide direct help. I¡¯m merely a ¡®pet¡¯ here and can¡¯t handle such mutations.¡±


    The eye rolled within the mouth as it continued, ¡°But since you helped repair my tombstone, I¡¯ll offer you some ¡®sensory¡¯ assistance.¡±


    ¡°Sensory?¡±


    The mound shifted again, and a ck-furred arm shot out. The spherical creature emerged from the soil, standing with its legs in a proud stance on the mound.


    This standing posture seemed to show off it''s figure.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Yi Chen¡¯s terrifying mental image of it shattered. He realized why this creature came from the pet section.


    This furry ck ball was only about the size of two palms, with limbs resembling a cat¡¯s but slightly longer. Its paws had three fingers, resembling pads.


    After showing off its body, it leapt onto Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder. Then something strange happened.


    Click, click¡­ Its long legs dismantled into tiny ck veins with needle-like ends that pierced his skin and anchored it to his shoulder, merging into an external part of him.


    Along with the veins, a nerve connection was established, directly linking the creature to his brain.


    Buzz!


    Once attached, Yi Chen¡¯s ''vision'' transformed, expanding into a wider frame with a small screen on the right showing the creature¡¯s viewpoint.


    As the creature rotated on his shoulder, he could see a 360¡ã view of the graveyard. Most people would struggle with such split screen vision, but Yi Chen seemed thrilled.


    The most crucial part was that when both the creature¡¯s and Yi Chen¡¯s eyes focused forward, the two views would merge, enhancing his field of vision. He could even clearly see the fungal spores drifting in the air.


    This was the promised ''sensory'' assistance, effectively bing his ¡°second eye.¡±


    Moreover, through their neural link, the creature couldmunicate with Yi Chen directly through consciousness, giving timely danger alerts.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    Since he could remember, Yi Chen had never experienced such a vivid visual rity. It felt as if his eyes were high-resolution imaging devices, capturing every detail of the cemetery in full view.


    Even with the kerosenemp¡¯s light dimmed to its lowest, he could still make out the general situation ten meters away.


    [Sensory Surge]


    Experiencing this "beyond human" ability for the first time, Yi Chen¡¯s mind grew unusually excited, stimting his body to release adrenaline, heightening his focus further.


    His confidence surged, and he felt ready to face the living corpse in battle.


    Before acting, he had onest question. He tried tomunicate with the fleshy mass through his mind, ¡°How can Ipletely kill the living corpse wandering around Cemetery No. 4? By beheading it?¡±


    ¡°It seems you don¡¯t fully understand. Your knowledge of this world is still quite surface-level. Cutting off its head or removing its heart won¡¯t stop it; at most, it will only affect its motor functions.


    The reason it became like this is due to an ¡®illness.¡¯


    To kill this creature, you must locate and destroy the ¡®pathogen¡¯ within it; then it will return to its proper, lifeless state.This one is still in the early stages of infection, so the pathogen should be quite distinct.


    Carefully observe for any bulging, swelling, or darker areas on its body. Most likely, these will correspond to the pathogen under its skin.


    The ¡®silver-ted axe¡¯ in your hand is quite effective against pathogens.


    As for this creature''s abilities, I can¡¯t say¡­ Good luck, and try not to die.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    The operation began.


    Yi Chen hugged the tombstone, stealthily peeking half his face out to scan the area.


    A slow-moving shadow appeared at the edge of his vision, and as his sight focused, he saw a shambling corpse.


    It moved slowly, but the tendril-like roots dangling from its back, resembling octopus tentacles, sent chills down his spine. It felt as if being struck by one of these would drain a person dry.


    Yi Chen took a deep breath, analyzing the situation in his mind, ¡°There¡¯s no time or equipment to set traps. The battlefield is restricted to Cemetery No. 4, so a long-range ambush isn¡¯t possible. Directbat is inevitable. But first, I need to pinpoint the exact location of the pathogen.¡±


    Refocusing his vision, he could clearly see all parts of the corpse, including the roots growing from its back. There were four obvious bulges on its body: at the neck, right shoulder, waist, and right thigh.


    ¡°Let¡¯s confirm¡­¡±


    Yi Chen picked up some palm-sized stones nearby.


    In his younger years, Yi Chen would always win dodgeball games at the orphanage, precisely hitting any ymate who tried to dodge, even those several years older than him.


    Now, with his enhanced vision, his throwing uracy had improved even further.


    With a soft whiz, four stones shot toward the target, each a second apart.


    *<em>Thud! Thud! Thud!</em>*


    Three stones hit their marks, breaking the skin at the bulges and even causing some foul liquid to ooze out.


    However, as the fourth stone neared the waist, snap!¡ªlike a creature¡¯s basic response to irritation, a root from the corpse¡¯s back whipped out, striking the stone mid-air. It was like a perfect baseball hit, sending the stone flying out of Cemetery No. 4.


    Not only that, several other roots wrapped around and adhered to the bulge on its waist, forming a unique protective barrier.


    The corpse¡¯s head rotated 135¡ã toward the arching tombstone on the hill, its special eyes, filled with mushroom spores, staring intensely.


    As a sense of dread overtook him, Yi Chen, though he¡¯d obtained the answer he needed, couldn¡¯t stop cold sweat from trickling down his face.


    ¡®At least my actions confirmed the pathogen is in the waist bulge. This also proves the ball of flesh didn¡¯t deceive me. However, this creature¡¯s ¡®irritability¡¯ is beyond reason.¡¯


    Stones suddenly shot out without warning, bouncing off with precise uracy¡­ and quickly forming a protectiveyer around the waist.


    Whoosh!


    To kill this undead creature, I must sever all the tendrils at its back; otherwise, any attack on its vital spots will be ineffective.


    Tap-tap-tap.


    The sound of footsteps on the muddy ground broke his concentration.


    The undead approached, pausing briefly in front of an arched tombstone¡­ swish! Swish!


    Suddenly, two powerful tendrils rose into the air, crossed each other, andshed out violently.


    Crack!


    The sturdy,rge tombstone was instantly snapped in half. Along with it, a dark gray coat, still carrying a trace of human presence, was torn, and a metal namete dropped to the ground, engraved with the name ''William Berens''.


    That was all.


    Only the tombstone and the coat were broken¡ªthe young man hiding behind had already slipped away.


    Just as the undead began to feel puzzled, unable to retract its tendrils in time, a noise came from the nearby burial mound.


    A dark figure lying in wait suddenly leapt out, a silver gleam shing brightly in his hand.


    Buzz!


    The silver light traced a perfect arc in the air,nding precisely on the "cross point" of the two tendrils¡­ st! Foul-smelling, dark green fluid sttered, and the tendrils werepletely severed.


    And that wasn''t all.


    The cut, inflicted by the silver-coated weapon, caused thick ck smoke to emit from the tendril stumps, preventing them from healing.


    "Arghh!!"


    The undead''s dry, decayed voice let out a sickening howl, as though its lifeline had been severed.


    Seeing this, Yi Chen retracted his axe, took a stance, and murmured excitedly, "Eight more to go!"


    The screeching hadn¡¯t even stopped, and those tendrils swaying on the undead¡¯s back seemed to gain a mind of their own, locking onto their ¡®attacker.¡¯


    They transformed into spear-like extensions, thrusting forward.


    [Visual Capture]


    Yi Chen and the ck flesh ball¡¯s eyes widened like brass bells, focused intently on the scene ahead.


    With such a direct attack, each tendril¡¯s trajectory was clearly in view.


    When they were less than a meter away, he performed a perfect side-roll, dodging all the tendrils'' stabs.


    Not only that,


    In the very moment he dodged, Yi Chen, in a half-kneeling position, swung a diagonal sh, severing the nearest tendril mid-air.


    The foul-smelling fluid sttered across his face but couldn¡¯t hide his smile as he silently kept counting:


    "Seven more!"


    At that moment, the ck flesh ball rooted in Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder widened its eyes, astonished at the performance of this ¡®lowlyborer.¡¯


    ''My judgment was correct after all¡­ This guy is nothing like those ordinary ''meat pigs.''


    In a fight as dangerous as this, where a single mistake could mean death, he adapted so quickly¡­ and seemed to even enjoy it a little.


    Come on, young human!


    If you y this festering creature with such a weak body, it will surely draw attention ¡®from above¡¯¡­ and I might get a chance to escape, too.''


    While the ck orb was lost in dreams of freedom,


    Aaaah! Another scream echoed.


    But this time, the one screaming was the very youth it held high hopes for.


    Out of nowhere, a tendril had emerged from the ground, piercing through his shoes and both feet. Tendrils broke through the top of his feet, blooming into flowers that drank his blood, turning a bright red.


    In that instant,


    The undead creature not far away was pressing its palm to the ground.


    It was clear he was controlling the underground nts to perform this bizarre attack, binding his target.


    Crack-crack-crack!


    The undead twisted its neck, staring intently at its trapped ''prey.''


    This time, it was serious.


    Abandoning its previous slow movements, it used its remaining back tendrils like legs, scuttling forward like a spider.


    Its mouth stretched open wide,


    Releasing a mass of fungal threads mycelium from within, as ifughing with joy at its imminent capture,


    Or as if nning a ¡®deep kiss¡¯ with Yi Chen, to insert fungal threads through his mouth and nasal into his brain, draining him dry.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    [Rhythm Change]


    Roots turned into legs,


    The undead crawled swiftly like a spider, leaving no time for thought or hesitation.


    However,


    In the face of all this, Yi Chen felt an unprecedented resolve... he had staked everything on this surreal battle before him.


    "I never thought I could easily survive this crisis from the beginning.


    I was supposed to die directly in theb, but instead, I unexpectedly gained the ''right'' to be reborn... to truly seize this chance, a heavy price must be paid."


    Clenching his fists,


    Lifting both legs, He forcefully tore himself free from the roots piercing his feet.


    Even though the barbed hooks embedded in the roots had deeply sunk into his flesh.


    Yi Chen could feel every piece of muscle in his foot being stripped away bit by bit... an excruciating pain that would have rendered most people powerless or even unconscious on the spot.


    "Pull it out!!"


    A roar emerged from deep within his throat.


    Swish!


    He broke free from the shackles, dark red blood sttering across the ground.


    The freed soles of his feet disyed clear, finger-sized holes, still packed with shredded flesh and fragments of petals.


    Throughout it all, Yi Chen emitted no scream; he even held his breath in restraint.


    The decisive moment between life and death was imminent.


    The undead was right before him.


    The true threat wasn''t just the mycelium seeping from its mouth;


    The roots growing from its back spread wide, aiming at his arms, waist, and legs,


    Attempting to pierce and lift him into the air for feeding.


    In that instant,


    Perhaps the pain heightened his adrenaline,


    Or perhaps the close proximity to danger fully triggered his potential.


    "I must find an opening!"


    [Focus Mode]


    The undead in his line of sight seemed to freeze,


    As if transformed into a high-definition image for detailed analysis in his mind.


    Jumping back to dodge, no!


    Rolling sideways, no!


    Breaking through from one direction, no!


    Each imagined move to break free was dismissed one by one,


    Until he found the best response.


    The entire process of thinking and analyzing took almost no time.


    "Exhale..." He took a deep breath.


    Facing the undead just inches away,


    Yi Chen neither evaded nor backed away; he didn''t even assume a defensive stance.


    Instead, he performed a dangerous, inexplicable move.


    [Step Forward]


    With a quick lunge, he went "face-to-face" with the undead.


    And,


    This unexpected advance threw off the undead''s simple-minded rhythm,


    Its left and right roots missedpletely, merely grazing his arm.


    However,


    While he dodged the piercing roots, another danger remained,


    The mycelium from the undead''s mouth was about to reach his face.


    At that moment,


    Yi Chen gripped his axe with both hands,


    One hand on the handle''s bottom,


    The other close to the axe head,


    This allowed for a significant increase in chopping force and shortened the attack distance... ideal for closebat.


    Fueled by adrenaline, his arms bulged with thick veins,


    His forward right leg angled his body slightly forward,


    Lowering his center of gravity,


    His body bent into a bow shape,


    Both arms raised, axe poised to strike!


    The silver de traced a perfect arc in the air,


    Just before the mycelium could reach his face,


    He delivered a precise vertical chop onto the undead''s skull.


    The rotten, hole-ridden head couldn''t withstand such a blow.


    <em>Crack!</em>


    The skull split openpletely,


    Then cleaved through the green moss-merged brain,


    Splitting the jaw, down to the neck¡ªall in one fluid motion!


    The entire head was split in half by the axe.


    Due to the silver''s effect, ck smoke poured from the wound... the mossy brain dissolved entirely, melting into drops of green liquid that dripped onto the ground.


    This signified the total erasure of the undead''s newly formed "basic consciousness," regressing it to a mindless, primitive creature.


    At this moment,


    <em>Crack!</em>


    The fleshy sphere rooted in Yi Chen''s shoulder sensed danger and swiftly spun around.


    It shared a visual snapshot of the situation behind him.


    The roots that had missed their target earlier were now piercing back toward him.


    "Dodge!" the fleshy ck ball warned.


    Yi Chen quickly executed a seamless dive and roll to evade... swish!


    During the roll, his body seemed to be grazed.


    As he stood up at the end of his roll, his left arm hung limply,pletely unresponsive, with only slight movement in his fingers.


    Looking closely, he saw his upper arm had been punctured with a hole the size of a coin, with moss residue infecting the wound.


    Drip, drip...


    Blood trickled down his arm, mixing with the blood pooling from his feet, staining the ground red.


    Waves of intense pain and blood loss threatened to overwhelm him, ready to tear his consciousness apart with even a moment''s ck.


    "No... I can''t die!" Yi Chen shook his head vigorously, forcing himself to stay awake.


    <em>Ssssss!</em> A strange noise echoed.


    Five meters away, the split head of a reanimated corpse stopped burning from the silver wound.


    Fresh buds and tendrils sprouted from the wound, intertwining as they grew, forming a cluster of flowers at a 90-degree angle between the two halves, serving as its new head.


    Fixating on Yi Chen once more, the corpse charged at him like a mindless beast.


    Its body contorted, steps exaggerated, and the roots on its back iled wildly.


    Yi Chen had to rely on enhanced vision to track each swinging root, his eyes bloodshot from concentration as he rolled, sidestepped, and leaped back.


    He seized every opening, striking back.


    ''7... 6... 5...''


    Yi Chen severed the tendrils one by one, though his movements had slowed slightly due to the punctured foot and his useless left arm.


    During this process, his waist and thighs suffered punctures and tears, and he could copse at any moment.


    "Only... two left."


    Clenching his teeth, he prepared to dodge the next attack.


    <em>Buzz!</em>


    A ringing echoed in his ears, like drums pounding in his brain.


    His vision blurred instantly, and he began to lose sensation in his body.


    He attempted to dodge, but only managed halfway before he stumbled forward.


    <em>Swish!</em>


    The corpse''s root grazed his right shoulder, narrowly missing, and sliced into the ck fleshy ball on his shoulder.


    A thick, strange ck fluid oozed from the hairy wound, and the eyeball within was instantly dyed ck, staring unblinkingly at the corpse.


    With a single nce, the corpse felt a primal reaction.


    *<em>Fear.</em>*


    An intense instinctive fear immobilized the corpse.


    At that very moment, Yi Chen, in a dazed state, stumbled forward yet somehow managed to stay upright... With sheer determination, he focused again.


    Thoughts escaped him; he had only one goal¡ª "Kill the target."


    His handaxe was already raised, his body twisting as he swung with all his remaining strength, tapping into survival instincts.


    He locked his gaze onto the bulging part of the corpse''s waist.


    <em>Swoosh!</em>


    Driven by survival instincts, the roots on the corpse''s back moved to protect this vital spot, hardening their surface.


    The silver de descended...


    <em>Crack!</em>


    The sound of breaking wood echoed across Cemetery No. 4.


    Two hardened roots flew through the air, and the infected purulent mass beneath the skin waspletely sliced open...


    At the moment the strike finished, Yi Chen''s willpower could no longer sustain him.


    His vision went dark, and he copsed to the ground alongside the corpse.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    In a daze, a familiar voice sounded in his ears.


    It was the urging voice of a juniorb member, a favorite of their supervisor, often serving as a messenger to deliver important updates.


    ¡°Senior! Senior! You¡¯re the only one left who hasn¡¯t submitted the paper for external review!¡±


    ¡°Damn¡­ I¡¯m not done with the revisions yet!¡±


    These words were more terrifying than any nightmare, tearing through the fabric of his dream and yanking Yi Chen back to reality.


    He jolted upright, drenched in sweat, but the familiarb wasn¡¯t in front of him. Instead, he found himself in a deste, dark, and decayed cemetery.


    Beside himy a lifeless corpse, its skull shattered,pletely still.


    At that moment, a faint light flickered beside his face¡ªa small ck creature with thin limbs, holding a kerosenentern, stood nearby.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake! Not bad at all~ You actually managed to kill this mutant.¡±¡°The wounds on your body that could¡¯ve been fatal have all been stitched up and stopped from bleeding... Try standing up.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Yi Chen quickly checked himself over. To his surprise, his left arm, which should¡¯ve been immobile, lifted with ease.


    A coin-sized hole in his left upper arm was filled with an unknown ck tissue, connected through dense fibers.


    Not only had the bleeding stopped, but the torn muscles and nerves had also been reattached and healed. His other injuries had been treated simrly.


    Using his hand to steady himself, he slowly stood up. Aside from a bit of dizziness and some pain, he felt mostly fine.


    ¡°Thanks¡­ I still need to transport this body to Cemetery No. 7.¡±


    Yi Chen knew the task wasn¡¯t over yet; he couldn¡¯t rx until the corpse was dealt with and any extra burial mounds were leveled.


    The small creature was quite pleased with Yi Chen''s focus. It hopped onto his shoulder, still holding the kerosenemp.


    ¡­


    Creak, creak¡­


    The wooden wheels of the cart scraped against the ground as he pushed it forward. After a bumpy journey, he finally arrived at the isted Cemetery No. 7, set apart at the edge of the cemetery.


    ording to the manual, this cemetery was only used when an unknown corpse transport cart appeared, requiring no regr approach or patrol.


    Unlike Cemetery No. 1¨C6, it was surrounded by a high stone wall over five meters tall, decorated every three meters with a crow sculpture, as if observing everything nearby.


    Moreover, Yi Chen caught a strange scent wafting from Cemetery No. 7. It was not only the usual rotting smell of a cemetery but also carried a faint smoky aroma, as if something was burning.


    Just then, the iron gate set into the stone wall swung open on its own, apanied by the sound of leather shoes tapping against the stone floor.


    A tall man wearing a top hat and dressed in a ck suit stepped out. His gloved hands elegantly rested on a cane adorned with a golden skull at the tip, faint wisps of death seeping from the skull¡¯s hollow eyes.


    For some reason, the light from the kerosenemp couldn¡¯t fully reveal the man¡¯s face, as if it was shrouded in a misty veil.


    All Yi Chen could make out was the man¡¯s prominent nose bridge.


    However, with his unique vision, Yi Chen noticed an additional critical detail. A golden circle on the middle section of the cane bore an engraved insignia:


    [G&D]


    It seems that this person is very likely an official sent by the organization to handle troublesome matters. If Yi Chen were to die in Cemetery No. 4, this person would handle it personally.


    There is also another possibility: this person belongs to the organization and has been stationed at Cemetery No. 7 all along.


    At this moment, the other person took the initiative to speak.


    "William Behrens, a mere external employee, managed to handle the mutation event in Cemetery No. 4 on his own¡­ It¡¯s been seventeen years since we¡¯ve had such an interesting guy in this cemetery."


    "Bring the body in. I still need to perform a more in-depth lesion check."


    The mysterious person cast a particr nce at the small lump on Yi Chen''s shoulder, seemingly confirming its ¡®harmlessness¡¯ or identifying its type and affiliation before leading Yi Chen inside.


    Contrary to his expectations, Cemetery No. 7 had no graves at all¡ªonly a dome-shaped metal building at the center with a towering chimney. The scent of burnt flesh he¡¯d smelled earlier was drifting from the chimney.


    Additionally, Yi Chen noticed a telephone line from the cabin extending here, making it likely that the mysterious person before him was the "Overseer" mentioned in the manual.


    Inside the dome-shaped building, the interior was mainly divided into two areas: one was the ''Autopsy Area'', filled with various surgical tools and an old-style operating table, and the other was the ''Cremation Area'', connected to the chimney and is in constantly burning state all day long.


    Following instructions, Yi Chen ced the corpse with the head injury onto the operating table. The mysterious person donned a clean apron, picked up the tools, and began working.


    The process was swift, almost dizzyingly fast; within minutes, they had reached a conclusion.


    ¡°nt-based mutation infection, a rather rare case. The pathogen appears in a ttened spherical shape, highly translucent, with visible ¡®pigment particles,¡¯ belonging to a special, umon variant in the early stages of infection. The wound is deep, the pathogen split cleanly in one strike¡­once...silver was impregnated to eliminate the symptoms. Elegant and effective.¡±


    While examining the lethal wound on the undead corpse, the mysterious person cast a meaningful nce at Yi Chen.


    "With some training, you might make a fine gentleman. You split the pathogen in a single cut, without using any non-physical means of attack. The damage to this corpse is less than 10%, which means we can still extract more value from it."


    "Now, send the corpse to the crematorium, and let¡¯s see what luck has in store for you."


    Yi Chen remained silent, sensing an opportunity even if some parts were hard to understand.


    Cremation Area.


    In front of the steaming cremation furnace, there was a conveyor belt with hooks attached. He needed to hook the body and use the manual crank to send it into the furnace.


    This setup reminded Yi Chen of a food he often ate in life¡ªBeijing Roast Duck. The charred aroma in the air stirred his stomach, but he held back.


    Following the mysterious person¡¯s instructions, he pierced the hook through the shoulder de of the nt-infused corpse. As the corpse entered the furnace, he could see other bodies burned down to the bone.


    "The extra coffin and gravestone in Cemetery No. 4 haven¡¯t been removed yet. I¡¯ll go take care of it now."


    "No need. You¡¯ve killed the pathogen and eradicated the ''disease.'' The gravestone and coffin associated with this body will gradually disappear on their own, so there''s no need to handle it further. We can have a private chat before the cremation is finished."


    "Alright."


    Yi Chen was also interested in learning more about this world. The bizzare experiences in the cemetery hadpletely captivated him.


    The mysterious person opened a hidden passageway leading to a basement, where the heat and smell from the cremation area were effectively blocked out. Surprisingly, the so-called basement was avish, European-style room with three bedrooms, a living room, and all the necessary amenities for daily life.


    It seemed highly likely that this person resided here long-term.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    The firece, built of red bricks, crackled with burning logs that sounded like thest groans of an old man nearing the end of his life. Yi Chen and the mysterious figure sat across from each other on a tea-colored leather sofa, each holding steaming cups of ginger tea, meant to ward off the chill umted from years spent among cemeteries.


    "Yourposed demeanor has earned you this chance to speak with me. As an external worker, you likely have many questions... feel free to ask about anything you¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°What should I call you?¡±


    ¡°Just call me Wilbert. I oversee this Seven-Day Cemetery.¡±


    As Yi Chen had suspected, this was indeed the manager mentioned in the manual.


    "I want to know why an extra body mysteriously appeared in Cemetery No. 4. If a body is brought into the cemetery from outside, there should be a clear transport and burial process. Wouldn¡¯t that be easy to notice?¡±


    Yi Chen began with small, relevant questions, trying to break the ice, and if possible, he hoped to learn more about the basics of this strange world.


    "The ¡®corpse¡¯ you killed wasn¡¯t brought in from outside. It was created by the cemetery itself.¡±


    ¡°Created?¡±¡°Cemetery No. 4 is the area with the most corpses, and it¡¯s in a chaotic state. Such chaos easily attracts ¡®disease.¡¯ The living corpse you encountered was a product of a tree that had mutated¡­ As it formed within the cemetery, it naturally gravitated toward corpses here, undergoing ¡®morphological transformation.¡¯¡±


    Yichen, now intrigued, asked, ¡°So, when a tree bes diseased, it takes the form of a corpse? And what about the coffin and tombstone¡ªwhere did theye from?¡±


    ¡°¡®Camouge and disguise¡¯ are what pathogens excel at. They blend seamlessly with the environment¡­ by the time they¡¯re detected, the disease has already spread. However, their disguises aren¡¯tpletely wless. Once you be a ¡®Gentleman¡¯ within the organization, you¡¯ll learn how to identify them.¡±


    Yi Chen''s face was filled with astonishment. ¡°Are you saying that the metal coffin and tombstone were also part of the pathogen¡¯s disguise?¡±


    "Exactly. And that¡¯s just the most basic level of camouge. You haven¡¯t seen pathogens disguising themselves as entire viges, caves, or even mountains.¡±


    Though Wilbert¡¯s exnation was brief, it painted a picture of a world entirely ovee by disease in Yi Chen''s mind.


    Yet, a faint smile appeared on Yi Chen''s face¡ªa smile of anticipation and the thrill of exploration. Sipping his ginger tea, he murmured softly, "Is this world¡­ sick?¡±


    "Indeed. For most people, the fact that we can sit here, drink tea, and have a normal conversation is an extravagant luxury. The situation ''outside'' is far worse than you can imagine, but the topic of the outside world isn¡¯t something we should discuss now. That¡¯s for you to explore in due time.¡±


    Seeing the topic shift back, Yi Chen didn¡¯t press further and continued asking about the cemetery.


    "I still have some questions about the cemetery. The employee manual outlines many formal requirements, mostly for identifying signs of infection. It seems like this whole cemetery is prone to abnormalities and disease¡­ If there¡¯s a risk of these corpses causing problems, why not simply cremate them instead of building this cemetery?¡±


    ¡°The answer is simple. The ¡®benefits¡¯ generated here outweigh the ¡®risks.¡¯ You can view this entire cemetery as arge factory. For instance, that little fellow on your shoulder is a nearly perfect ''product'' designed to assist us inbating pathogens.¡±


    "I see."


    Yi Chen had already witnessed the little creature¡¯s capabilities¡ªwithout enhanced vision, he wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance against the living corpse.


    The manager continued, ¡°Technically, this little guy is the property of the organization. But I¡¯m very pleased today¡ªhappy to see an interesting neer like you. If you fulfill a certain request, I¡¯ll ''quietly'' give this little guy to you as a gift.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the request?¡±


    The straightforward words revealed Yi Chen''s desire for the little ball of flesh.


    "Once the cremation is finished, you''ll understand."


    Next, Yi Chen inquired about each section of the cemetery and learned that before him, at least 200 externally hired employees had worked there, and not a single one had managed to leave sessfully.


    He also obtained a key piece of information.


    The organization¡¯s insignia, [G&D].


    Full name: Gentleman & Doctor.


    However, beyond this, the manager didn¡¯t share much about the organization¡¯s details, global intelligence, or the origin of the disease.


    ording to him, Yi Chen would need to explore these things on his own in the outside world.


    Verbal exnations would be a waste of time and meaningless.


    Time flew by.


    The manager rolled up his sleeve and nced at his watch.


    ¡°The cremation should be nearlyplete. Follow me.¡±


    They returned to the cremation area, heavy with heat and the scent of charring.


    As the metal door of the incinerator opened, the nt-like corpse Yi Chen had killed was almost carbonized but still retained a roughly intact form.


    It was removed, ted, and sent to the surgical room.


    The manager retrieved arge pair of tweezers, mping out a crystal-clear spherical crystal from the waist area of the corpse, about the size of a ping-pong ball.


    The little ball of flesh, which had been quietly resting with its eyes closed, suddenly awoke and stared at the crystal intently, showing an eyeball in its mouth.


    Thick drool started to drip down, soaking the fur around its mouth.


    With a soft "ding," the manager ced the crystal carefully on a nearby metal tray. He took out a monocle from his suit pocket and examined it closely.


    ¡°Hmm? Such a color and shape¡­ I almost regret it.


    This thing would fetch a high price in the organization. It could even fund expansions and upgrades for the cemetery.¡±


    After inspecting it, the manager held the crystal in his palm, disying it to Yi Chen.


    It was a jade-like white, with around 80% transparency, and had small green light particles moving within it.


    "Your luck is truly remarkable.


    The probability of a crystal forming from an initial-stage infected is less than 5%,


    Not to mention, this crystal is top-quality in both shape and color, and its internal essence is perfectly preserved.


    Now you have three choices:


    1. Keep and hide this crystal, then go to the city where the organization is located.


    Once you be a resident or are granted ''Gentleman'' status, hand it over to a local craftsman to make a quality piece of equipment.


    2. As with the first option, join the organization, but instead sell it at a high price through internal channels.


    Or, sell it directly to me for 50% of the price, which will help you avoid considerable risk. Once others see this crystal, it¡¯s bound to bring trouble.


    3. Swallow the crystal here and now, letting it be a part of your body.


    This process involves a risk of death,


    But if sessful, you¡¯ll gain the crystal¡¯s ''disease characteristic,'' which would help you survive longer in this world and increase your chances of passing the assessment to join the organization.


    The third option also satisfies the [requirement] we discussed earlier.


    If you manage to swallow it and survive, the little creature on your shoulder will be yours as a parting gift from the cemetery.¡±


    Yi Chen didn¡¯t answer immediately, instead appearing deep in thought.


    ¡°Overseer, I have just one question.


    If I¡¯m not mistaken, this crystal is a product of a pathogen¡­ If I swallow it, is there a chance I¡¯ll be infected and turn into something like a living corpse?¡±


    "Exactly. That¡¯s the risk.


    If you fail to assimte it properly and show any signs of infection, I will personally put you down.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Yi Chen carefully took the crystal, feeling the residual warmth from the cremation.


    His decision had already been made.


    Gulp ¨C he swallowed it in one go.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    Perhaps it was because this was his first time swallowing something asrge as a ping-pong ball, or maybe it was because the events that followed would decide his life or death. Or maybe it was due to the heightened sensations brought on by the small, fleshy ball. Yi Chen could clearly feel the digestive reactions happening within his stomach. The smooth, embryo-like surface of the crystal bubbled and broke down under the onught of stomach acid, and the dissolved outeryers were absorbed by the stomach as nutrients.


    Eventually, the diseased core of the crystal was exposed, revealing a "green, worm-like structure" somewhere between a nematode and a root tendril.


    The substance made its way from his stomach into his intestines, where it was further dposed and absorbed by digestive enzymes and bile, then entered his bloodstream.


    In an instant, all of Yi Chen''s blood took on a fluorescent green glow.


    The walls of his blood vessels began to undergo "secondary growth," a process unique to nts, forming a vascr bundle structure nested within his blood vessels.


    The entire process was excruciatingly painful, as if his blood vessels were being torn from the surrounding tissue.


    The pain far exceeded the agony he¡¯d felt when his foot was punctured and then pulled free. Just as his consciousness began to dissipate under the onught of pain, the diseased essence circting in his blood reached deep into his brain, transporting him to a peculiar memory from the past.


    It was a fragmented memory stored within nt cells, one that his brain had to integrate and process, projecting it into his mind for a "personal experience."


    He could feel a tree''s entire lifecycle: from seed germination to sapling growth, and finally, the formation of its trunk.He experienced the roots growing downward, absorbing water from deep within the soil, and the symbiotic rtionship formed with bacteria in the earth.


    He felt the unique process of photosynthesis within nt cells, breathing in carbon dioxide from the air.


    He went through the phases of primary and secondary growth, developing aplete and robust nt system, ultimately transforming into a silent guardian of the cemetery.


    Until it was eventually infected by an unknown pathogen, assuming a zombie-like form.


    Unbeknownst to Yi Chen, as he absorbed this nt memory, his physical body in the operating room was undergoing strange changes. New green stalks sprouted from his pores, wriggling out from his cuffs, cor, and waistband.


    From his mouth, nostrils, and ear canals emerged thin, writhing tendrils.


    His widened pupils turned green, pulsing between different sizes.


    It was unclear how long this statested. When the memories concluded, his consciousness returned to the present.


    ¡°Did I survive?¡±


    Yi Chen quickly checked his body and found no trace of bark or branches (they had long since retracted inside him)... His body was as it had been, though he sensed a faint improvement in his physical condition.


    The cemetery¡¯s caretaker, Mr. Wilbert, smiled in satisfaction.


    "I knew you¡¯d make it."


    He seemed to have anticipated Yi Chen''s survival and brought over a prepared meal of unprocessed vegetables. When Yichen saw the vegetables, he felt like a starving man presented with a feast. He ravenously devoured five or six pounds of the food.


    While he ate, the wounds from his earlier fight with the zombie healed at a visibly rapid pace, with the scars from the little flesh ball stitches gradually being covered by new flesh.


    Yi Chen murmured to himself, ¡°Something has changed in my body...¡±


    The overseer exined, ¡°That¡¯s correct. You¡¯ve fully assimted the crystal¡¯s ¡®pathological traits.¡¯ As for what specific changes it¡¯s brought, you¡¯ll have to explore that on your own.¡±


    He continued, pulling a special metal card from his pocket, silver in color.


    The card bore the insignia of the organization, G&D, on the back, while the front disyed the flowing script Seven-Day, representing the Seven-Day Cemetery where they currently stood.


    As he handed over the card, he added:


    "Since you''ve met the ''requirements,'' the little fellow on your shoulder now belongs to you.


    "Remember, if anyone asks about its origin, you don¡¯t have to answer.


    "If necessary, just show them this card¡ªit¡¯ll save you a lot of trouble.


    "The world is sick, and even healthy creatures have grown suspicious by nature. When you travel alone, try to avoid unnecessary problems.¡±


    "Thank you."


    As Yi Chen took the card, Wilbert suddenly recalled an important question.


    "It seems I didn¡¯t consult you about your own wishes and went ahead, guiding you to join the organization on my own.


    Let''s start over... Do you want to be part of the organization?


    If your desire isn''t strong, or if you feel resistant, you can continue working in the cemetery, and upon contractpletion, you¡¯ll receive a generous sry."


    Without hesitation, Yi Chen replied:


    "I want to see the outside world."


    "Very well.


    Tomorrow at noon, head to the eastern exit of the town.


    Show the card to the coachman, and he¡¯ll take you to an area rted to the organization."


    With that, the manager tossed him a small linen pouch filled with heavy coins.


    "These are your overdue wages from the past few months, as well as a special bonus for this incident.


    Since your work uniform was damaged in the fight,


    make sure to stop by the finest clothing store in Easton Town before you depart... show the card to the owner, and she¡¯ll prepare a quality outfit fitting your new role.


    The organization has certain standards regarding appearance and attire.


    Don¡¯t forget the gentlemanly manners you learned at the orphanage... Graceful habits help shield the mind against mental decay."


    "Understood. And, um..."


    Yi Chen looked wistfully at the silver-ted hand axe in his hand. This axe, with its craftsmanship and the disease-repellent qualities of silver, was quite remarkable.


    The manager waved his hand,


    "Take this basic weapon crafted by the organization¡¯s artisans, along with a specially made longsting kerosenemp. The journey to the organization won¡¯t be smooth; a light source and a weapon are essential."


    "Thank you."


    With only a short time until dawn the next morning,


    Yi Chen bade farewell, returning to the cabin for rest.


    When the faint sunlight finally broke throughyers of mist, squeezing through gaps in the leaves and illuminating the cemetery,


    the young man, with his kerosenemp and hand axe secured at his waist, bowed deeply to Cemetery No. 7 and then set off...


    Correspondingly,


    at the entrance of Cemetery No. 7,


    the cemetery¡¯s manager, Wilbert, watched the young man¡¯s retreating figure through the structures and trees of the cemetery, his crow-like gaze piercing the distance, his lips twitching slightly.


    It seemed he felt an intense reluctance over a certain "item" that the young man had taken with him.


    It wasn¡¯t the high-quality crystal taken from a corpse,


    but rather the important product of the cemetery¡ªa small, fleshy lump stuck to Yi Chen''s shoulder.


    "I wonder if such a costly investment will be worth it.


    The ''Mature Consciousness Entity'' of the Nameless Cemetery hasn¡¯t appeared in over a hundred years, right?


    And now it coincides with the emergence of a potential individual capable of ying living corpses and integrating crystals.


    A coincidence? Or some form of synchronicity?


    Forget it¡­ let''s treat it as a high-stakes gamble."


    Yesterday, during his conversation with Yi Chen, the manager had intentionally glossed over the ball of flesh, simply referring to it as a "pet" or "cemetery product."


    What Yi Chen didn¡¯t know was that


    the division of graves not only corresponded to differences in corpse forms, management rules, and tombstone types.


    There is also important significance in the sequence of numbers from 1 to 6.


    As the number increases, the time required to produce a corresponding "product" from the grave dramatically lengthens, and theplexity and danger of the corpses buried within also rise incrementally.


    In other words,


    the "Nameless Monstrosities" buried in Cemetery No. 6, with no names or known origins, are the most dangerous.

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    The world, tainted by disease,


    Filled with bizarre entities and unusual powers,


    Alongside a mysterious organization waiting ahead,


    An endless unknown lies in wait to be explored.


    Due to his excitement, Yi Chen only slept four hoursst night. Perhaps because he had acquired a "disease trait," he felt neither tired nor fatigued, his spirit and appearance in top form.


    As he stepped out of the cemetery gate,


    He expected fresh air, warm sunlight, and lively townsfolk bustling about.


    However,


    The street scene was hardly any better than the cemetery. A thick smell pervaded the air, a mix of crude oil, industrial waste, metal, and various byproducts, almost tangible in its intensity.


    Through rows of low, sharp-peaked town buildings, he could see several thick smokestacks belching out fumes.


    The sunlight was far from the brightness he had anticipated,


    As if veiled byyers of fine fabric. Sparse rays barely touched the ground, failing even to dispel the remnants of the dark dust fromst night.


    In his line of sight, the number of townsfolk did not exceed the count of his fingers.


    They seemed unwilling to expose their bodies to the air, wrapping themselves fully inrge pieces of fabric.


    Even their faces were covered by simple, homemade masks as they hunched over, breathing as close to the ground as possible.


    The entire town felt strange and cold,


    Even tinged with a hint of despair.


    "This world... is worse than I imagined."


    Just then, a cheerful scratching sound came from his shoulder.


    A furry ck creature, resembling a small, ck mass of flesh, seemed to have just woken up,


    Its mouth wide open, revealing ck-and-white eyes that rubbed together like it was stretching after a nap.


    Two thin ck hands waved back and forth in a gentle motion.


    "Finally, out of that cursed cemetery, this is great! Before we begin our adventure, let''s grab something to eat... it''s been ages since Ist had a meal."


    "Sure, what do you want to eat?"


    "Grapes, loads of grapes..."


    When the ck mass said "grapes," it pointed to its own eyes, and Yi Chen understood what it really meant by "grapes."


    Not finding it strange at all, he thought about his own world before, where people enjoyed eating foods like fish eyes or roasted pig eyes.


    "Alright, but let¡¯s first visit a clothing store."


    Currently, Yi Chen was only wearing a shabby, torn shirt,


    With holes in the sleeves and rips along the waist and pants.


    With this body of "William Behrens," unbathed and unwashed for several days, he would be the lowest of the low even among the homeless.


    Walking down the town¡¯s rtively broad streets,


    With no one cleaning for ages, the gaps between cobblestones were filled with sunflower seed shells, dirty water, and decaying insect remains.


    Foot traffic had dwindled over the years, and many shops had long since closed.


    The few remaining shops barely survived and could shut down at any moment.


    Seeing this, Yi Chen couldn¡¯t help but doubt if there really would be a decent clothing store around.


    Just as he wondered,


    At the corner of an alleyway, a building distinct from the surrounding houses caught his eye.


    Primarily ck and heavily Gothic in style, it stood tall and slender.


    In the narrow windows, figures seemed to be secretly watching the outside world.


    The overall appearance was refined and somber, resembling a noble¡¯s residence from a big city, shing with this dpidated town.


    The brass-framed que by the door read - [Maurice & Sad]


    Thanks to the enhanced vision provided by the small ck creature, Yi Chen could see the high-end clothing inside through the window.


    ¡°This should be the high-end clothing store Mr. Wilbert mentioned,¡± he thought.


    "Such a store must cost a lot to run daily; it¡¯s hard to imagine the townsfolk affording anything here. Why would a shop like this even exist?"


    Carrying these doubts, Yi Chen made his way through the filthy street, under the gaze of the masked residents, and pushed open the clothing store¡¯s front door.


    Ding!


    The silver bell attached to the doorframe rang.


    A faint, elegant fragrance quickly filled his nostrils, drowning out the industrial stench lingering in his nose.


    This scent instantly transported Yi Chen out of the decaying town and into the refined, tranquil atmosphere of the clothing store.


    Various hand-heldmps were distributed across the store,


    On top of wardrobes,


    In wall corners,


    Or it could be disyed alone as a decorative piece on a stand, with lights intertwined, presenting a panoramic view of the clothing store to customers, while providing warmth and a sense of safety.


    Ady wearing an embellished hat, her face veiled in sheer fabric, and her long dress trailing on the floor, emerged from an inner room.


    Through the thin veil, the firelight outlined a face as beautiful as a painting.


    Yi Chen originally thought his shabby appearance would make the owner look down on him or even throw him out.


    However,


    the woman stopped in front of him,


    inhaling gently through the veil,


    catching the unique scent of the cemetery that clung to Yi Chen.


    ¡°It¡¯s rare¡­ it¡¯s been a long time since a living person managed to leave the cemetery. Was it Wilbert who sent you?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Mr. Wilbert instructed me toe here and buy a well-fitting suit before boarding the carriage.¡±


    Yi Chen promptly took out a metallic business card from his pocket.


    ¡°Are you in a hurry to leave today?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll have to go with ''ready-to-wear''¡­ Once you pass the organization¡¯s evaluation, you can head over to the tailor shop for ''full customization''.¡±


    When thedy mentioned the term ¡°organization,¡± it became clear that both she and this clothing store must be connected to it. This also exined the financial backing behind it.


    ¡°I wonder if the money I have will be enough?¡±


    Yi Chen took out all the silver coins he¡¯d earned working at the cemetery, filling a small pouch.


    However,


    thedy didn¡¯t even nce at the scattered coins.


    Instead, she grabbed his wrist, her sharp nails almost piercing his skin.


    With that simple contact,


    thedy measured his body and extracted some information from his body.


    ¡°No wonder you managed to walk out of the cemetery alive and even received Wilbert¡¯s card along with cemetery artifacts. It turns out you willingly epted the [Pathogenesis]. Fascinating.¡±


    With that, thedy withdrew her hand, taking nearly half of the coins from his pouch.


    ¡°I happen to have a ready-made outfit in your size.


    But before you try it on, you¡¯ll need to ¡®purify¡¯ your body, washing away the dust of the deceased from the cemetery.¡±


    Under thedy¡¯s guidance, they arrived at the store¡¯s bathroom.


    After cleaning up,


    she personally shaved and groomed him.


    With his appearance fully tended to, Yi Chen could finally examine himself in the dressing mirror.


    Under the neatly trimmed ck hair, his face wasn¡¯t much different from his original appearance¡ªonly now enhanced with some Western features, like a higher nose bridge and deeper-set eyes.


    Looking closely, he bore a slight resemnce to a young Keanu Reeves¡­ though the details were a bit off, the overall look was quite good.


    ¡®I really do share a lot inmon with the original owner of this body¡­ maybe it has something to do with the transmigration.¡¯


    Next came the outfit fitting.


    A white shirt,


    a small vest with dark green stripes,


    ck pants with a bit of stretch,


    and a ck trench coat that covered his entire body, including his face, giving him a gloomy aura.


    Aftercing up the ck Oxford shoes,


    thedy tied a ck tie for him,


    and when he saw his new image in the mirror, Yi Chen felt a renewed sense of vigor.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    Yi Chen had never worn such elegant and refined clothing before. Though it was ready-made, it fit over 90% of his body perfectly, allowing full freedom of movement, and the fabric against his skin was remarkablyfortable.


    However, thedy boss, whose face was veiled by thin gauze, seemed somewhat displeased.


    ¡°It''s a pity you''re not yet a member of the organization, and time is short. Otherwise, at least I could''ve prepared a more fitted and functional garment for you... For now, wear this temporary ''casual attire'' and hope it doesn¡¯t impact the organization¡¯s impression of you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already very satisfied.¡±


    ¡°When you pass the organization''s test, you¡¯ll receive a free [Full Customization] opportunity. At that time, you may choose any tailor shop under the organization to create a bespoke piece for you. Then, you will truly understand the importance of attire.


    ¡°Remember, a perfect piece of clothing can ¡®stimte¡¯ your spirit, crafting a style that is uniquely yours. Wrap your body in rare, ancient fabrics, deciding what version of yourself to present to the world¡ªand, indeed, determining whether you can survive within it.


    ¡°Invest a lot of energy in perfecting your attire and pursuing excellence.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Yi Chen pulled out aplimentary mechanical watch from his pocket and noticed it was almost noon, with only half an hour left until the carriage''s departure. After a quick farewell to thedy boss, he rushed toward the town entrance.Though he was in a hurry, Yi Chen still spared some time to stop by a butcher''s shop along the way, purchasing all the pig and cow eyes they had¡ªthirteen in total.


    Without any preparation, he handed these so-called ¡°grapes¡± to the ck meatball. It swallowed each one whole, savoring the burst of juices in its mouth before chewing carefully, its ck fur rippling with pleasure as it ate.


    It was only satisfied after consuming five. The remaining ¡°grapes¡± were swallowed whole, stored within its body to keep fresh until needed.


    Yi Chen asked curiously, ¡°Do you only eat these?¡±


    ¡°Grapes are my staple; the nutrients in their juice are essential for my body. I can eat other food, of course, but it¡¯s not as important.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have a name.¡±


    ¡°Correct. I¡¯m pieced together, fermented, and assembled from iplete body parts in Cemetery No. 6. Those corpses didn¡¯t have names, so I don¡¯t have anything like a [name] either.¡±


    ¡°In that case, why not call you [Little Grape]?¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±


    The meatball wiggled its arms like waves, clearly pleased with its new name.


    Rushing to make thest five minutes, Yi Chen finally arrived at the town entrance. Two sturdy brown horses were hitched to arge wooden carriage that could hold at least eight people.


    It¡¯s worth noting that the horses wore special breathing masks and were covered inyered fabric, with only their hooves exposed.


    As departure time approached, the carriage was already crowded with masked townsfolk, bundled up and carryingrge bags as they prepared to leave Easton Town. Yi Chen stepped up to the white-haired driver and discreetly showed him a cemetery business card.


    Unexpectedly, the elderly driver, who looked frail, turned a piercing gaze on Yi Chen, sizing him up like an eagle. He opened his mouth, releasing smoke and words together, ¡°You¡¯ll sit at the very back. It¡¯s a long journey¡­¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Upon stepping into the carriage, whether due to his elegant attire or the presence of Little Grape on his shoulder, the townsfolk squeezed themselves against each other to clear a path, some even trembling slightly in fear as they made space for him.


    As the carriage started moving, its wooden wheels, though wrapped in thick rubber rings, still caused varying degrees of jostling.


    Having slept too little the night before, Yi Chen quickly felt drowsy from the monotony of the ride. Resting his head against the wooden frame, he drifted into a dream amid the bumps and sways.


    It was unclear how much time passed, but a stir in the carriage woke Yi Chen. Instinctively, he nced at his watch.


    ¡°Already slept over three hours?¡±


    A portion of the passengers had already left, likely disembarking along the way, leaving enough space for him to stretch his legs and move around a bit.


    However, those who remained seemed restless, and their eyes reflected an unmistakable fear of death.


    They took more cloth from their luggage to wrap around their bodies, even winding it like mummies until they werepletely covered.


    Just as Yi Chen started feeling suspicious,


    the coachman¡¯s voice came from the front:


    "We are about to enter the [Gray Zone]. Everyone, reduce breathing and unnecessary body movement as much as possible, clear your mind... If any symptoms appear, regardless of severity, it will be treated as ''infection.''"


    With those words, the coachman outside spread a thick ck cloth over the carriage, sealing it off.


    Darkness fell, with only the kerosenemp at Yi Chen¡¯s waist illuminating the carriage.


    [Gray Zone]


    Another unfamiliar term. Based on the coachman¡¯s words, it seemed to be a special area affected by an infection.


    At this moment, Little Grape¡¯s voice came through:


    "With me here, plus the decent-quality [Pathogen Essence] you¡¯ve absorbed, such amon Gray Zone doesn¡¯t pose much threat to you.


    "The only thing to watch out for is the other people in the carriage. If you notice anything unusual about them, act as quickly as possible."


    "Got it," Yi Chen replied.


    He was curious to see what the so-called [Gray Zone] looked like, but since the carriage was sealed, he could only focus on the inside.


    As they traveled through the Gray Zone, apart from the bumps, the carriage was silent. The passengers sat like wooden statues, with some even adopting prayer or kneeling positions.


    An hour passed,


    two hours,


    yet there was still no word from the coachman, and no one knew if they had crossed the Gray Zone.


    Then, an elderly woman wrapped in deep red cloth began to show faint signs of twitching.


    Because they had been in a bumpy state for so long, her odd behavior went unnoticed by the other passengers.


    However, Yi Chen had already moved his right hand to the handle of the axe at his waist.


    Secondster, the elderly woman leaned forward, making a retching motion.


    Hiss... ck smoke rose.


    The mask and fabric on her face corroded entirely from her vomit, revealing a ghastly mouth with torn corners and no lips left, her tongue turning into a tube that leaked corrosive ck liquid.


    Swish!


    Yi Chen immediately swung his silver axe.


    Just as the de was about to cut into her neck, suddenly, a tiny bullet, the size of a grain of rice, shot from the front of the carriage, hitting the back of the elderly woman''s neck with pinpoint uracy, shattering the ¡°Pathogenic Abscess¡± hidden within her throat.


    Almost no blood spilled, and the elderly woman copsed to the floor, motionless.


    Then, an extremely stern shout came from the coachman at the front of the carriage:


    "Do you want to cut her neck and let her arterial fluids spray, spreading remnants of the pathogen to infect everyone here?"


    "My apologies."


    After Yi Chen apologized, the coachman¡¯s voice returned to normal.


    "However¡­ your only weapon seems to be that axe.


    "In terms of reaction speed, it''s not bad.


    "Now, do me a favor. See the bup sack under the seat? Pack up this corpse and stash it in thepartment below the floor."


    "Understood."


    Perhaps due to his experience as a gravekeeper, Yichen was adept at handling corpses, quickly packing the body and stashing it into a hidden floorpartment.


    Thud!


    The body slid out through a chute at the bottom of the carriage, left to dry up and disintegrate in the Gray Zone or to be food.


    Another hour passed.


    Finally, the carriage emerged from the so-called [Gray Zone].


    The surviving passengers beganughing and chatting about their hopes for a new life, and they got off at different stops.


    Yi Chen, thest passenger, disembarked at the final stop.


    "You''ve arrived¡­ Prepare for the organization¡¯s assessment. Hope you survive it."

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    After over six hours of traveling, the time had reached dusk.


    When Yi Chen stepped off the carriage with a sense of excitement, he didn¡¯t see any organizational emblems or grand buildings. Instead, a small towny before him. About two hundred meters back along the road stood arge billboard:


    "Wee to Green Lake Town (Green-Lake)"


    This town, preserved in a medieval style, had a lively and vibrant feel.


    Most of the buildings were constructed with slightly yellowed white bricks,plemented by brown and red rooftops. Perhaps because there were no factories in town, the air was fresh, and the sunlight more abundant, allowing one to feel thest warmth of the setting sun.


    With its spacious streets, neatly lined trees, wide expanses of grassywns, and thergeke nearby, Green Lake Town exuded a peaceful, natural charm. It was a ce removed from industrial cities¡ªa spot where one could return to nature.


    Seeing such a lively town, Yi Chen felt a slight stirring within, as if his body resonated with the surrounding nt life, and his physiological needs suddenly surged.


    ¡°Just a moment¡­¡±


    Quickly, he ducked into a small wooded area by the road. As he unfastened his belt, a flood of relief swept through his lower body.After relieving himself, he realized he hadn¡¯t eaten in a while. His gaze was drawn to the lush greenery around him, and he began to salivate.


    Finally, unable to resist, he confirmed there was no contamination, then bit into the tree bark, tearing off some leaves and grass to eat. The nts quickly converted to nourishment within his body, revitalizing him.


    The entire process took less than five minutes, and Yi Chen was fully refreshed as he rejoined the carriage.


    In his field of vision, he saw various carriages arriving in town, each carrying people who appeared to be under thirty, well-dressed and elegant, each with their own distinct style.


    Yi Chen turned to the driver. ¡°Are all these people here to join the organization?¡±


    ¡°Every month, peoplee from various ces to take the organization¡¯s assessment. Some are from notable families with past members in the organization, some are from specialized training groups created to supply talent, and a rare few, like you, aremon folk scouted by external members and brought here for evaluation.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°This town is just a temporary stopover. ''In three days'', members from the organization will arrive to escort you all to the ''headquarters''. You¡¯ll have to stay here until then.¡±


    The driver shared this information before promptly departing with the carriage.


    ¡°So, I need to wait here for three days? Maybe they¡¯re gathering enough candidates to take us all at once?¡±


    Yi Chen felt the silver coins in his pocket as he strode toward Green Lake Town.


    As he neared the first building in town, he caught sight of three young people walking toward him.


    The blond youth leading the group removed his hat, cing it against his chest.


    ¡°Hi, friend! I¡¯m Edmund from the Mariano family. Would you like to join our team? We can look out for each other during the uing assessment, and I even have some secret information on the assessment that I¡¯d be willing to share.¡±


    Behind Edmund stood a tall, elegant woman with a feathered hat and a burly Nordic man, nearly two meters tall, carrying arge sword.


    Yi Chen noticed their main focus was on the ¡°Little Grape¡± on his shoulder rather than him.


    For Yi Chen, who had recently arrived here, joining a team would indeed provide ess to useful information, but he was also aware of the potential risks.


    As he hesitated, he heard a voice from ¡°Little Grape¡± in his mind:


    "I''m not too fond of teaming up with strangers. The two of us are enough... no need to mix with them."


    This suggestion led Yi Chen to make his decision immediately. With a slight bow, he turned and walked away, not even giving his name.


    As Yi Chen¡¯s silhouette faded into the town, Edmund looked embarrassed. ¡°Uh? Was I not gentlemanly enough? Or did I say something wrong? He just walked away without even looking back¡­ Or maybe he¡¯s so skilled that he has no need for us.¡±


    The woman behind Edmund brushed her finger, with its ck-painted nail, lightly over her nose and said softly:


    ¡°He carries a lingering scent of ¡®the deceased¡¯ that¡¯s hard to remove and dresses in a style leaning toward the dark side... This young man likely hails from the organization¡¯s ''Cemetery'' division.


    What¡¯s on his shoulder is likely a product of the Cemetery as well. It could even be a rare type of undead, so it¡¯s only natural he wouldn¡¯t ept the invitation. In fact, staying near him could risk ending up as corpses ourselves.¡±


    Edmund spread his hands, ¡°Ah, what a shame~ Still, since we¡¯re in the same assessment, we might run into him againter. I¡¯d love to see the Cemetery¡¯s capabilities.¡±


    ¡­


    In Green Lake Town,


    Yi Chen walked along the spacious main street, noticing that the town residents, though wearing masks, didn¡¯t seem lifeless. Many of the residents were outside, greeting each other warmly, and they even gave Yi Chen, the neer, a slight nod of friendliness.


    However, despite this pleasant town, Yi Chen couldn¡¯t find a sense of peace. As he walked further into the town, an increasing restlessness welled up within him.


    When that unease reached a peak, Yi Chen abruptly turned his head.


    Before his eyes was a two-story building that exuded a sense of age, retaining a medieval style.


    The wooden sign hanging by metal brackets at the front door was heavily weathered by rain, but the words on it were barely legible:


    ¡°Green Shade Inn¡±


    Intuition told him this inn was important.


    Perhaps there was something here,


    perhaps something rted to the town¡¯s secrets.


    ¡°Green Lake Town feels nothing like it looks from the outside¡­ The longer I walk the streets, the more unsettling it bes. I¡¯d even prefer patrolling in a cemetery.


    This town doesn¡¯t seem right, and this inn stands out even more.


    Could it be¡­ that the test has already begun?


    Little Grape, can you hide yourself for now?¡±


    At Yi Chen¡¯s request, Little Grape rolled down his cor, burrowing into his clothes until most of his small, round body was hidden beneath his skin.


    Resolutely, he stepped into the inn.


    <em>Ring!</em> The door chime sounded as he pushed it open.


    A strong incense scent wafted over him.


    His ck leather shoes creaked on the wooden floorboards of the inn.


    The windows along the hallway were all boarded up with signs reading ¡°Under Repair.¡±


    Uneven white candles burned weakly in the hall, taking the ce of sunlight.


    A man nearing thirty stood behind the counter, examining a stuffed fish specimen.


    His puffy, sagging eye bags squeezed his dull, small eyes as he nced briefly at the young man entering, then quickly looked away.


    He held a nearly empty brown bottle of alcohol, and only when Yi Chen approached the counter did he turn slowly.


    From a mouth full of yellowed teeth, he forced out some slurred words in the local dialect:


    ¡°Need a room?¡±


    Apanied by a unique stench¡ª


    like a mouse had crawled into a stomach, drank itself drunk, and drowned inside.


    ¡°Are there any rooms left?¡±


    ¡°There are rooms everywhere, just many haven¡¯t been cleaned¡­ One silver coin a night. If you¡¯re staying, pick a key yourself.¡±


    The innkeeper put down his bottle, tossing a rusty key ring onto the counter.


    [Room 0206]


    Yi Chen set down a silver coin and deliberately chose a key to a second-floor guest room.


    This allowed him ess to the inn¡¯s second floor to investigate further,


    and also granted a decent high-up view to observe the town¡¯s conditions during the day.


    He climbed the loose stairs to the second floor,


    passing by a stack of moldy mattresses in the stairway¡¯s corner, forcing him to squeeze sideways to get by.


    The hallway¡¯s wallpaper was peeling inrge patches, damp and moldy.


    Naturally, such an inn was devoid of guests.


    Yi Chen was likely the only guest this month.


    Creak, creak¡­


    As he stepped on the groaning floorboards and arrived at the room door,


    a sense of unease drew Yi Chen¡¯s gaze toward the far end of the second-floor hallway.


    ¡°What is that¡­?¡±


    At the far end to the right, a wooden doorbeled [Room 0213] had a total of seven different locks hanging from it.


    Several ck mold spots, each the size of a pancake, dotted the wooden door, as if it were diseased.


    As Yi Chen stared intently,


    a faint flicker of light caught the corner of his eye.


    Turning his head,


    a pale face suddenly appeared right in front of him.


    Startled, Yi Chen instinctively reached toward his waist, prepared to draw his cemetery silver axe.


    However,


    the figure turned out to be the innkeeper.


    The candlelight made his already gaunt face appear even paler.


    ¡°Oh, right¡­ I forgot to tell you.¡±


    ¡°I have a gravely ill sister staying in the room at the end. Don¡¯t go near her; she¡¯s afraid of strangers.¡±


    With that,


    the innkeeper turned, hunched over, and made his way downstairs.


    His frail body moved so lightly that he didn¡¯t make a sound on the floor.

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    Several kilometers away from Green Lake Town, atop a small mountain, a group of well-dressed "gentlemen" observed the happenings in the town using various methods.


    One of them, a middle-aged man with a noticeable paunch and a receding hairline, quietly remarked:


    "This month''s assessment seems to involve several prominent families. Holding it in ''Green Lake Town'' might be too harsh... If the risk is too high, we could lose some high-quality talent."


    At that moment, an elderly man with white hair, hands sped behind his back, and a perched owl on his shoulder, responded:


    "I would rather raise the selection bar than invest resources in those who cannot handle crisis situations. The town''s poption is nearing its limit. The supply of ''skins'' has been decreasing for months now. If this continues, it will be challenging for the organization to maintain the gentlemen''s training, and our internal bnce will be disrupted.


    "If you are dissatisfied with this, Professor Sman, you are wee to raise it with the higher-ups."


    The portly Professor Sman quickly raised his hand in apology.


    "Professor Chambein, I¡¯m just making an objective observation. I have no objections to your choice of location for the assessment. If any threats beyond the scope of the assessment arise, I hope everyone present will act promptly to subdue them."


    "Naturally."At this moment, the white-haired elder noticed a peculiar young man who chose to walk alone down the town''s streets, rather than join a group.


    His dark attire and the fleshy growth on his shoulder stood out.


    "Professor Sman, this young man doesn¡¯t seem to be listed on the assessment roster. And he bears no obvious insignia of a family or school."


    Professor Sman, who was in charge of personnel, followed the elder''s gaze toward Yi Chen.


    "Oh! Indeed, an unfamiliar face. This must be ast-minute addition to today''s assessment. His sponsor is Wilbert Astorga, the head of the ''Seven Day Cemetery'', who sent a letter via a raven from the cemetery, requesting his participation in this month¡¯s assessment."


    When Chambein heard this name, he seemed to drift into a recollection.


    "Wilbert... that guy was a loner during his training, with hardly any friends and always keeping to himself. Eventually, he earned the right to establish a cemetery of his own and live in seclusion. I¡¯m surprised someone like him would rmend talent to the organization."


    As the two chatted, the other gentlemen also noticed the lone young man. He had chosen to stay at a suspicious-looking inn.


    "A ce without ''skins'' for decoration, and merely relying on ordinary senses, he''s already picking up the town''s abnormalities and moving toward danger? This young man is interesting."


    As the temporary supervisor of this assessment, Chambein had only nned to fulfill his duty here. However, this young man from the cemetery piqued his interest.


    ---


    Green Shade Inn


    Yi Chen held an aluminum key, marked with ''#0206'', and aligned it with the scratched and dented keyhole. The lock mechanism clicked into ce, and the door creaked open.


    A diamond-patterned carpet covered the floor, with dust deeply embedded in its fibers, giving the room a barely passable level of cleanliness.


    In the somewhat cramped room, there was a wooden bed about 1.5 meters wide. The dark bedspread seemed to cover stains left by the previous upant.


    The vertical ss window was stered with newspapers bearing the headline ''Green Lake Town'', blocking out the sunlight.


    On the wooden coat rack by the window hung a piece of clothing, as if the previous guest had left in a hurry, forgetting to take it¡­ or perhaps, never having left at all.


    Drip, drip...


    A constant dripping sound came from the bathroom on the right side of the entrance. After checking, he found that the showerhead was leaking, leaving a damp and coldyer of water across the bathroom floor.


    "Phew... time to take a break."


    Unfazed, Yi Chen sat on the edge of the soft bed, picking up the ''Green Lake Town Flyer'' from the nightstand.


    A map of Green Lake Town was drawn above.


    The entire town was built around ake, shaped like an inverted "L."


    The bustling town center was located at the intersection of the streets.


    On the back of the flyer were some perks for visiting tourists.


    1. Green Lake Town offers free boat rides from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM daily, avable to all visitors.


    ? Each visitor can only ride the boat once per day.


    ? This service is not avable at night. If you receive an invitation for a boat ride at night, immediately decline and report it to the Town Security Office.


    2. Every day, Green Lake Town offers tourists "natural green water" sourced from theke¡¯s deep springs, which purifies the body of impurities and enhances physical health.


    ? Green Lake is the heart of the town, so avoid wasting this resource. Once you receive the green water, you must drink it entirely.


    ? Only staff in green uniforms are authorized to serve the green water. If anyone else offers it, be sure to refuse.


    3. Green Lake Town hosts a bonfire party every evening in the town square, providing free, delicious local food.


    ? All participants or passersby must wear masks.


    ? During the event, if you notice anyone not wearing a mask, distance yourself and report it to the Security Office.


    ? The party is held exclusively within the town center and nowhere else.


    Yi Chen stared intently at the words on the flyer, murmuring to himself:


    "These rules are somewhat like those in the cemetery employee handbook¡ªguidelines, in a way. Breaking them could lead to rather frightening consequences.


    Is itmon in this world to have these sorts of rules?


    Moreover, the flyer¡¯s ''rules'' only seem to apply broadly to the surface of the town.


    It doesn¡¯t mention specific details about ces like this inn I¡¯m staying in¡­¡±


    At that moment, Yi Chen felt a squirming sensation.


    A furry ck ball crawled out from his sleeve and settled firmly on the bed.


    It opened its toothy mouth, letting out a strange sound.


    "Rules are created by you humans to minimize and avoid disease, as well as mitigate danger.


    Pathogens hidden in this world can spread through any channel, in any form,


    and may even take physical shape, influencing and invading individuals through certain interactions.


    Following certain rules can reduce the likelihood of infection and lower the chance of dangerous incidents.


    But it¡¯s only a reduction, not an absolute prevention.


    To truly eliminate danger, stronger measures are needed.


    That¡¯s about it¡­


    After all, my memoriese from Grave No. 6 in the cemetery, pieced together from fragments, so I don¡¯t know much."


    "Who discovered these rules?"


    "It was probably a human prophet or some gentleman with foresight, but I¡¯m not too sure."


    "Well, that¡¯s a discussion forter. Let¡¯s first focus on investigating this inn.


    Try to find out what kind of infection problems exist in the town."


    At this point,


    Little Grape¡¯s eye rolled to its teeth, and it spoke excitedly,


    "Hmm¡­I can sense a severe infection here in this inn, and deep within this town, a greater threat likely lurks¡­maybe even a big grape to feast on~ Be careful now, and try not to die."

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    As it was already evening, the free boat rides had ended, meaning they would have to wait until tomorrow. The sun, obscured by light mist, dipped below the hill, and nightfall descended.


    Yi Chen walked to the window, tearing away the newspapers covering it with a rustle. Gazing down the street toward the town center, he could clearly see the glow of a giant bonfire.


    Both local residents and tourists wore masks and made their way to the bonfire celebration, bustling through the crowd, each holding candles or kerosenemps. As night descended, the entire town of Green Lake was illuminated.


    Among them was a group that had invited Yi Chen to join their team. They wore masks of various styles and concealed weapons.


    "It seems most of the people here for the assessment are attending tonight''s bonfire... Little Grape, let¡¯s go take a look; maybe we¡¯ll uncover more information."


    "Let¡¯s go! Maybe there¡¯ll be some delicious grapes there."


    Before setting out, Little Grape instinctively nestled inside Yi Chen, ready to emerge when needed.


    But as Yi Chen stepped out the door, he happened to pass the innkeeper, who looked exhausted and worn.


    Notably, the innkeeper held a te with a dish of "raw fish," seemingly meant for a room at the end of the hallway.The so-called raw fish was simply a whole, untreated dead fish on a te, decayed and reeking.


    Their eyes met. The innkeeper held the te in one hand, pressing his finger to his lips with the other. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he whispered:


    "This town has long vited the ¡®rules¡¯; it''s rotten to the core. If you want to survive, stay in your room tonight. Don¡¯t join the bonfire cloaked in morous illusions.


    Leave quietly at dawn tomorrow..."


    Yi Chen frowned slightly at these words. It was clear the innkeeper knew something about the town¡¯s secrets.


    Lowering his voice, Yi Chen replied quietly:


    "I need to stay in Green Lake for three days due to a special reason."


    "Three days... very few visitors canst that long and leave here normally. Even if you stay at my inn and don''t step out... there¡¯ll still be trouble.


    Just tonight¡¯s bonfire alone can bind many outsiders to this town forever.


    Judging by your attire, you¡¯re here to investigate, aren¡¯t you?"


    "You could say that."


    "If you¡¯re truly here to investigate, take a stroll by theke tonight; you might discover something.


    Remember.


    Don''t participate in any activities hosted by this town. Don¡¯t drink any local water... Every interaction with Green Lake will only strengthen your ¡®bond¡¯ with it."


    "Thank you."


    The innkeeper said no more, heading silently down the hallway to leave the te at his sister¡¯s door.


    Not even a sound came from the te as it touched the ground.


    Yi Chen realized that the innkeeper''s silent movements weren¡¯t strange after all.


    There were two reasons for it:


    Firstly, he had grown up in the inn, stepping on each floorboard thousands of times, knowing exactly where not to make noise.


    Secondly, out of care for his sister, he created a quiet environment to avoid disturbing her as much as possible.


    ''Since I¡¯ll be here for three days, there¡¯s plenty of time to talk to the innkeeper¡­ No need to rush into questions about his sister or the town¡¯s affairs. Following his suggestion, let''s go take a look by theke.''


    ...


    Shortly after Yi Chen left, a noise came from the locked room at the end of the second floor.


    Click!


    The bottom of the locked door opened, revealing a smallpartment just big enough for a head.


    From inside, a foul-smelling liquid trickled out~


    Then, a scaly hand suddenly reached out, grabbing the dead fish from the te.


    Crunch, crunch~


    Strange sounds of gnawing emerged from behind the door.


    ...


    [By the Green Lake]


    Due to the disease-ridden mist nketing the sky,


    the light from the moon and stars is entirely blocked out.


    The sun¡¯s descent feels like drawing a curtain across the world, plunging it into darkness.


    With the bonfire party in full swing, around 90% of the town¡¯s residents are gathered there,


    leaving thekefront eerily quiet and shrouded in darkness.


    Yi Chen wraps himself tightly in a ck coat, pulling the hood over his face,


    walking on gravel and damp soil.


    His kerosenemp serves as his only light source,


    and the small grape hidden in his sleeve peeks ahead cautiously.


    For over ten minutes, he encounters no one by theke,


    the fog hovering over theke''s surface obscuring any attempt to peer into Green Lake. Even with enhanced vision, Yi Chen is simrly hindered.


    Moreover, every ten meters along the shore stands a warning sign:


    [No Swimming]


    [No Unauthorized Water Retrieval]


    [No Contact with Green Lake in Any Form]


    ¡°Theke is quiterge¡­¡± Yi Chen murmurs as he takes it all in.


    Suddenly, a small boat emerges from the fog, approaching his location.


    A man in a blue work uniform stands on the boat¡¯s edge, waving with a smile.


    ¡°Free boat rides are avable right now. Would you like a tour of Green Lake?¡±


    ¡°No, thank you.¡±


    Yi Chen waves his hand in refusal and turns away without a second nce.


    As he distances himself from the boat,


    the little grape sneaks to the back of his neck, peeking out to monitor the situation behind.


    The worker who had been rejected does not follow,


    but instead stands with an exaggerated, unnatural grin, eyes wide as if about to pop out, unblinking.


    The unsettling sight makes Yi Chen quicken his pace, rxing only when he¡¯s fully out of view.


    ¡°There''s even a night tour boat. This town really has its issues... better check theke water.¡±


    Confirming no other boats are nearby,


    Yi Chen steps close to the shore and extends his right hand toward theke¡¯s tranquil waters.


    Just as his fingers are about to touch, they halt.


    Crack, crack...


    The skin at his fingertip splits vertically, revealing a slender root with the scent of a cemetery.


    This is the "pathogenic characteristic" trait Yi Chen acquired, something he experimented with during long carriage rides.


    Though he can''t fully utilize roots as limbs or pierce like a spear, he has mastered basic growth.


    The root touching theke water grows more robust,


    but the water it absorbs doesn¡¯t enter his body¡¯s cirction, merely storing within the root¡¯s segment.


    After collecting the ke water sample,"


    Yi Chen activates his ¡°pathogenic characteristic¡± further, causing the root at his fingertip to continue growing, attempting to reach deeper into theke.


    Five meters,


    Ten meters,


    as he nears the growth limit, a soft sensation touches the root¡¯s tip, as if encountering something alive.


    At the same moment, a burst of firelight appears behind him, apanied by a stern inquiry.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Yi Chen retracts the root quickly, turning as if nothing happened.


    A middle-aged man in a sheriff-like uniform approaches.


    Feigning innocence, Yi Chen exins,


    ¡°I just arrived at Green Lake Town today. It felt dull in the inn, so I came out for a walk. I¡¯m not a fan of crowds, so I didn¡¯t join the bonfire party.¡±


    The man remains silent, showing his officer badge and proceeding to search Yi Chen.


    After a thorough pat-down, no evidence of water collection or contact with theke is found.


    Thinking the situation resolved,


    Yi Chen rxes, only for the sheriff to ce a hand on his shoulder and shove him abruptly.


    The sudden force catches most people off guard, but¡­


    Yi Chen had sensed something was wrong from the start,


    remaining highly alert. As he leans back, he grabs the sheriff¡¯s cor, using the momentum to throw him into theke.


    In that instant, Yi Chen feels his muscle fibers and nt vascr bundles working together, sending the man flying.


    At the same time, a root shoots from his hand, anchoring him to the shore for stability.


    Ssh!


    A huge ssh erupts four meters away,


    and the sheriff, as if under some unseen constraint, does not struggle, sinking rapidly.


    Steadying himself, Yi Chen, pretending nothing happened, quickly makes his way back to the inn.

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    Ding! The doorbell rang.


    The shop owner, who was fiddling with a dead fish specimen, looked up at the young man entering. A hint of surprise flickered in his dull eyes, as though he hadn¡¯t expected Yi Chen to return "unscathed," yet a slight smile curved at the corners of his mouth.


    "You seem to have discovered something by thekeside."


    "I ran into a little trouble, but it¡¯s taken care of."


    "Hmm..."


    The owner buried his head back into the specimen, asking no further questions.


    Click¡ªthe guest room door closed and locked behind him.


    Yi Chen took a ss from the bathroom, pouring theke water preserved in the roots into it. As he squeezed water from the roots, he recalled the spine-chilling encounter by theke.


    "That sheriff..."Though Yi Chen had turned the tables with ease, his eyes caught a disturbing scene that made his skin crawl.


    When he grabbed the sheriff by the cor, scales, fleshy and slimy, emerged from the sheriff¡¯s chest, secreting mucus everywhere¡ªeven Yi Chen¡¯s fingers had some residue.


    This image triggered a visceral sense of revulsion.


    "Scaly skin, a symptom of mutation?"


    Just then, Little Grape popped out from his cor, jumping in with a bit of information.


    "The ¡®variety¡¯ in mutation symptoms is beyond imagination. This scaly kind of mutation is fairlymon in seas, rivers, andrgeke regions like this one."


    "Don¡¯t worry. The nt within you forms a protectiveyer; mere skin contact won¡¯t infect you. But if you get a cut, it¡¯s risky¡­ remember to use an axe next time."


    "Understood."


    Setting aside thoughts about the sheriff, Yi Chen picked up the ss ofke water and ced it before the kerosenemp.


    [Enhanced Vision]


    Like a high-resolution scanner, his eyes examined the water quality. The magnified images revealed terrifying details invisible to the average eye.


    "Is this¡­ some kind of parasite?"


    Countless parasites floated in the water, in massive numbers. And just ten seconds after pouring theke water into the ss, these parasites beganying eggs along the cup¡¯s walls.


    The transparent eggs refracted a faint green glow; perhaps this was the origin of Green Lake¡¯s name.


    "Could this be why the owner advised against ¡®interacting¡¯ with the town? Yet, the nts inside and outside the town appear unaffected, showing no signs of mutation."


    "Even the roots I used to storeke water remain unaffected¡­ meaning these parasites have no effect on ¡®nts.¡¯ I¡¯ll have to make good use of that."


    As Yi Chen murmured his analysis, Little Grape suddenly leapt from his shoulder, holding up the ss with weak, soft ck arms.


    Gulp, gulp¡ªa big swig.


    The sight gave Yi Chen a shock. "What are you doing?!"


    Little Grape gently shook its three-fingered arm, signaling him not to worry.


    "Direct observation always has limitations. Consuming it lets the body sense things more directly and in greater detail. Rx~ I¡¯m a mutated being myself; this stuff won¡¯t infect me."


    "Did you gain any useful information?"


    "Mm-hmm~ These little things that rely on water sources are evidently controlled by some kind of [conscious entity]... the moment I swallowed them, they tried sending a signal. Unfortunately for them, my body isn¡¯t that easy to prate."


    "Shall we try tracking down the entity? We might just find a nice, big ¡®Grape.¡¯"


    "No rush; this needs to be taken slowly."


    "True¡­ given your current abilities and my still-immature state, even if we locate the ¡®entity¡¯, taking it down won¡¯t be easy. This will require some careful nning."


    "Tired now~ I¡¯m going to rest."


    Conversation over.


    Little Grape buried most of his body into Yi Chen''s shoulder, leaving only a small patch of ck fur exposed.


    Not long after, the bonfire party at the town center also came to an end.


    Yi Chen leaned against the window, observing the tourists and residents on the street as they returned to their homes, without any major incidents... at least none visible on the surface.


    Thoughts swirled and intertwined in his mind.


    "ording to the innkeeper, reaching [three days] would be challenging.


    In other words, the longer the tourists stay, the stronger Green Lake Town¡¯s ¡®possession¡¯ desire bes.


    By then, the examination participants are bound to sh on arge scale with the town''s forces tainted by disease.


    No need to rush.


    This town still harbors many potential dangers. Today, the only thing I need to do is get a good rest.¡±


    After confirming the house was securely closed, he fell onto his pillow and quickly fell asleep.


    ---


    Green Lake Town - Central Street


    With the bonfire party¡¯s conclusion, the entire street plunged into silence.


    Yet, faint sounds emerged from certain dark corners.


    Deep within one alley, the three-person team that previously tried to recruit Yi Chen was now engaged in "disease elimination."


    During the party, they epted an invitation from a ¡°maskless person¡± to venture into the alley, where they were ambushed.


    Now.


    The blonde Edmund wore a murderous expression, his eyes bloodshot.


    In one hand, he held a short sword; in the other, a handgun bearing the Mariano family¡¯s feather insignia.


    Swish!


    The rapier was drawn, its de still bearing remnants of pus.


    Before himy a man with fish-scaled skin, the pathogen buried in his brain pierced by the short sword... Edmund hadn¡¯t even fired a single shot, dispatching the infected solely with his sword.


    Simrly, his twopanions each killed another infected person.


    Nearby, a woman was wiping her silver dagger with a cloth, murmuring softly:


    "It seems this town is the key to passing the examination. To pass, we probably need to either find the root cause or contribute enough to ¡®eliminate the disease.¡¯


    Judging from the party, the mayor with the golden demon mask and the security bureau are highly suspicious."


    Blonde Edmund adjusted his clothing.


    "No rush... we still have over two days.


    Since we attended the party today, tomorrow we can experience the freeke tour and gather more intel before the final action.


    I¡¯m eager to earn the organization¡¯s [skin]."


    ---


    Apart from this team, other examination participants also discovered abnormalities, taking down or even capturing diseased townsfolk in different areas.


    News of numerous deaths spread throughout the town.


    The townsfolk holed up in their homes became increasingly agitated and irritable, scratching at the fish scales hidden under their clothing and even mimicking strikes at furniture.


    Meanwhile.


    There was also a disturbance in [Green Shade Inn], where Yi Chen resided.


    An arm covered in scales reached out from a hiddenpartment under the door.


    Perhaps due to the mutations caused by disease, the arm¡¯s length and flexibility now surpassed human norms, extending close to two meters.


    With an unnatural twist of joints, it bent upward...


    Click!


    The locks on the door quietly fell one by one, their cuts smooth and covered with a slimy residue.


    What was more terrifying, however, was that each falling lock was caught securely before hitting the ground, emitting no sound.


    Creak...


    A door that hadn¡¯t opened in months slowly began to swing.


    A dark figure emerged from the top, with long, unkempt hair trailing down from the ceiling like a broom, softly brushing against the floor, producing a faint rustling...

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    [Green Shade Inn]


    Due to years of neglect andck of management, the entire inn has only one resident: Yi Chen.


    However, Yi Chen doesn¡¯t mind the dirt and disarray. He¡¯s stayed in worse ces back in the orphanage... Even if the damp bedding carries a musty odor, it doesn¡¯t disrupt his sleep.


    Yet, his sleep on the first night was anything but smooth.


    It wasn¡¯t due to any issues with his own sleep but rather because of a faint noise outside. The nts within his body became active, stimting his brain and pulling him out of deep sleep.


    Opening his eyes, he noticed small green sprouts appearing on his arm.


    "Are the nts in my body sensing danger?"


    Just then¡ª


    <em>Creak.</em>A soft scraping sound came from outside the door, clearly not from the innkeeper.


    ''I¡¯m the only guest staying in this entire inn.


    There are two possibilities for the source of that sound:


    either it''s the ''Sister'' confined in the end room, or an unexpected visitor from outside.''


    He briefly considered the incident of pushing the sheriff into theke, thinking it might¡¯ve drawn trouble his way.


    But Yi Chen didn¡¯t move. Instead, he hid his silver axe under the bedding and continued pretending to sleep.


    Rushing out recklessly could lead to him being trapped in the inn. In contrast, his small, familiar guest room, with its window always essible, was an advantage.


    The noise in the corridor was faint, but in the silence of the night, he could clearly make it out¡ªa sharp scraping sound against the wooden floor.


    Soon, the sound stopped in front of his door, reced by a metallic click, as if someone were picking the lock.


    Click.


    The old lock was easily opened.


    A shadow with a feminine silhouette stood at the door. She slipped her slender fingers into her mouth, coated them in thick saliva from her tongue, and applied it to the rusty door hinges.


    The saliva dripped down, pooling onto the floor.


    Once the hinges were fully lubricated, she pushed the door open without a sound.


    As she stepped inside, the figure leaped and climbed the ceiling like a lizard¡­ The mucus coating her body seemed to enable her to cling effortlessly.


    In the blink of an eye, she had crawled from the door to the head of Yi Chen¡¯s bed, her ck crystal-like eyes fixed on the stranger staying in the inn.


    Her long ck hair hung beside his face, motionless.


    Perhaps it was a liking for his handsome face, or maybe she was just hungry¡­


    Drip. A droplet of saliva fell onto the nket covering Yi Chen¡¯s neck.


    The staringsted for five whole minutes.


    She seemed convinced the young man in bed was sound asleep.


    The shadow continued her descent, climbing down the wall and inching closer to the sleeping man.


    When only a meter remained between them, a tongue¡ªlonger than that of any normal human¡ªextended from her mouth, lightly licking the young man¡¯s face.


    At the same time, Yi Chen gripped his silver axe tightly, calming his mind.


    ''Wait! It¡¯s not the right moment yet.''


    He nned to strike the instant she moved closer or showed any sign of aggression, ready to open his eyes and sever her head in a single blow.


    After a few more licks, the shadow seemed inclined to continue her descent.


    Yi Chen¡¯s moment was almost upon him.


    <em>Tap!</em>


    The sudden sound of footsteps in leather shoes broke the tension, followed by the innkeeper¡¯s voice, lowered in an attempt at a scolding whisper.


    ¡°Kadacy, stop it!


    This is one of our rare guests. Don¡¯t disturb his rest¡­ Just live as you normally would unless instructed otherwise.


    If you¡¯re hungry, I¡¯ll bring you a fishter.¡±


    The scolding brought the shadow to a halt. She hesitated, then slowly began to retreat, like a child caught misbehaving, crawling back toward the door with her head bowed.


    Once his "sister" had fully left the room¡­


    The boss continued to stand at the doorway, staring intently at the sleeping Yi Chen, as if trying to confirm something. About a minuteter, he gently closed the door.


    Click


    The sound of the door locking was audible. Yi Chen exhaled the breath he had been holding, his palm, gripping the axe handle, was soaked with sweat.


    ¡°What on earth is going on¡­¡±


    Just then, he felt an itch on the cheek that had been licked earlier. When he reached up to touch it, he found a few small, scaly patches starting to grow.


    Yi Chen wasn¡¯t in a rush. He waited a while before quietly heading to the bathroom.


    In the mirror, tiny, shiny scales appeared on both sides of his cheeks, with signs they would continue growing and spreading.


    As Yi Chen pondered how to handle it, whether to forcibly remove the scales,


    <em>crack crack</em>


    small nt sprouts began growing from within his cheeks, pushing out the fish-like scales rooted in his skin, which subsequently fell off.


    ¡°Hm? Is the infected trait within me rejecting an external infection?¡±


    Just then, a small creature on his shoulder, Little Grape, poked its head out andmented on what had just happened in the room:


    ¡°Strange, huh? It just left without attacking you.


    With this type of ¡®parasitic disease,¡¯ it''s rare for it to have any ¡®self-awareness,¡¯ let alone for it to hold back with its target right in front of it¡­ it was able to suppress the urge to infect a living being.


    The brother and sister running this inn seem to be quite unique.


    Perhaps their ¡®grape¡¯ will taste rather good.¡±


    Yi Chen didn¡¯t say much, and after ensuring all the scales on his face had fallen off, he returned to bed.


    Reflecting on the events that had just urred, he fell asleep once again.


    ¡­


    Knock knock knock!


    A knocking sound woke Yi Chen. By then, it was the next morning, with sunlight streaming through the window onto him.


    Dragging his weary mind, he opened the door.


    It was the innkeeper, holding a whole roasted fish. Despite its poor presentation, it emitted a rich, appetizing aroma.


    ¡°This is yourplimentary lunch.


    A reminder¡ªthe time is almost noon. If you¡¯re here for an investigation, you¡¯d better get to it.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Yi Chen epted the meal, plucking out the fish¡¯s eyes to feed Little Grape first.


    ¡°This fish is ¡®clean,¡¯ safe to eat.¡±


    With Little Grape¡¯s assurance, he finally ate it without worry.


    After eating, he changed into a sharp-looking outfit. By then, it was afternoon.


    In the Green Lake area, there was a free boating event being offered to tourists.


    When Yi Chen arrived at thekeshore, it was already packed with townsfolk and tourists.


    ¡°So lively¡­ seems like everyone is actively investigating the town¡¯s mysteries.¡±


    There was a long line at the boat rental point.


    Yi Chen could only wait at the end of the line.


    Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded behind him,


    ¡°Oh dear, are wete? There¡¯s already such a crowd¡­ huh? What a coincidence!¡±


    Blonde-haired Edmund and his two teammates had arrived just then.


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Yi Chen responded briefly, without even turning around.


    Edmund didn¡¯t push further or make trouble. While they waited in line, he casually chatted with hispanions.


    Another detail caught Yi Chen¡¯s attention.


    Edmund went up to some returning tourists from theke, engaging them in small talk and shaking hands or patting shoulders in friendly contact.


    These casual gestures were, in fact, a way to check whether the tourists were infected, assessing the safety of theke activity.


    When he returned to the line, he spoke in a low voice, loud enough for Yi Chen to overhear, ¡°Theke outing doesn¡¯t seem to be dangerous. Just enjoy yourself.¡±


    Coincidentally,


    The boat¡¯s capacity was four, and it was finally their turn.


    Yi Chen was forced to board a small pedal boat with the group. The boat was simply painted white.


    A man wearing a green work uniform, rubber boots, and a nk expression was on the boat¡ªdifferent from the one Yi Chen had seen the previous night.


    ¡°Before setting off, remember these four rules:


    1. Everyone must participate in pedaling the boat.


    2. If you hear any calls that aren¡¯t from people on the boat, do not respond.


    3. Absolutely do not touch theke water.


    4. In the event of someone falling overboard, the boat will not perform any rescue and will immediately leave the area.¡±

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    Even in daylight, theke¡¯s surface was shrouded in a thick mist. Forget about seeing the opposite shore¡ªreaching theke¡¯s center was impossible.


    The old-fashioned pedal boat wasborious to operate. With each turn of the axle, a harsh grinding noise echoed, and the pressure on one¡¯s legs felt like being mired in quicksand. As the boat gradually moved deeper into theke, everyone felt the vastness of this green expanse¡ªlike a boundless maw that could engulf anyone daring to intrude.


    On the boat sat arge man with a sword strapped to his back and a woman wearing a feathered hat in the front, while Yi Chen and the blond Edmund sat side-by-side in the rear. The staff member sat facing them, his eyes fixed on their pedaling feet as though supervising ves.


    ¡°Although previous riders didn¡¯t encounter any issues, thiske gives me a bad feeling. If something goes wrong, we may be forced to cooperate,¡± Edmund said. ¡°Let¡¯s do introductions again. I¡¯m Edmund, from the Mariano family.¡±


    He continued, patting the broad back of therge man in front, ¡°This is Dagobert, a fierce warrior from the North. His physique is partly due to his bloodline and partly due to the relentless cold that honed him¡­ a future gentleman of strength. And this lovelydy here is my friend from training grounds, Juliana.¡±


    ¡°William,¡± Yi Chen muttered, giving the name of his body¡¯s original owner before adding, ¡°By the way, I wouldn¡¯t rmend idle chatter here¡­¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Introductions over, they refocused on theke. Due to the risk of infection and boating rules, no one dared touch theke water, observing only with their eyes.


    While Yi Chen stared at theke¡¯s surface for a long time, he suddenly felt a chilling gaze from theke¡¯s depths¡­ as if something terrifyingy below, watching him. Little Grape, sensing this, began drooling.¡°There¡¯s something tasty down there!¡±


    As everyone kept a wary eye on theke, <em>snap</em>¡ªthe pedal boat suddenly stopped. It seemed the main paddle had been snagged by something.


    ¡°Seaweed? Or some debris?¡±


    Aware of the potential danger, Yi Chen didn¡¯t recklessly stick his head out to check but extended his right arm, sending Grape down his sleeve to observe under the boat.


    Through the rtively clear water, something disturbing came into view¡ªhair. Thick, ck hair entangled the paddle, connected to a swollen corpse below.


    After Yi Chen ryed this, Edmund¡¯s team immediately grew alert, with one hand gripping a weapon. At that moment, the staff member, who had been staring nkly the entire time, instinctively resumed his duties. Donning elbow-length stic gloves, he leaned over the boat¡¯s stern, starting to remove the tangled debris.


    Seeing this, Yi Chen and Edmund both grabbed hold of the young man¡¯s clothes from behind to prevent him from falling into theke by ident. As the ck hair was slowly pulled free, it seemed they were finally about to break free.


    Suddenly, the staff member¡¯s body froze as an unimaginable force yanked him downward.


    <em>Rip!</em>


    All that remained in Yi Chen and Edmund¡¯s hands were torn fabric scraps as the young man vanished into theke with barely a trace.


    <em>Snap!</em>


    Edmund, his usual friendliness gone, snapped his fingers with a resolute gaze. Everyone assumed a defensive stance, warily scanning the surroundings.


    Yet, theke¡¯s surface remained calm, with no terrifying entities emerging.


    Sweat dripped down Edmund¡¯s forehead as he muttered, a bit embarrassed, ¡°All the previous riders were fine, but something went wrong only with us¡­ Is it just coincidence, or has something in theke taken a particr interest in one of us?¡±


    Yi Chen was instantly reminded of hiskeside stroll the previous night, when he¡¯d thrown the ¡®Sheriff¡¯ into theke.


    However, Edmund soon confessed, ¡°The three of us killed a few diseased individuals from the townst night after the evening event. It might have angered something behind the scenes. I apologize for dragging you into this, William.¡±


    Yi Chen coldly replied, ¡°Focus on getting us out of thiske.¡±


    Between the oars, there was still a mass of ck hair not fully removed. If the clearing continued, it was very likely someone would be pulled under.


    At this moment, Dagbert from the Northernnds stepped forward. The broad greatsword he wielded could serve as a makeshift oar, and he had rowing experience from his time living in the North.


    The greatsword plunged into theke, rowing back and forth, propelling the boat swiftly¡ªtwice as fast as before.


    Notably, the ck hair tangled on the oar, along with the corpse, was dragged along, creating a rather eerie scene.


    However, the danger was not over.


    Therge ripples caused by the greatsword''s movement seemed to awaken something resting at the bottom of theke. As the ripples spread, human-sized dark shapes faintly appeared beneath the water, undting their soft, elongated bodies as they moved closer to the boat.


    Seeing this, Edmund gently patted hispanion¡¯s muscr shoulder.


    ¡°Dagobert, just keep rowing straight¡­ leave the rest to us.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    With that, Edmund held a pistol decorated with feathered fletching in his left hand, loaded with silver bullets, while his right hand gripped a silver-ted short sword. His hawk-like gaze scanned the surroundings.


    Juliana bent down to retrieve a dagger from her boot, also assuming abat stance.


    Yi Chen drew a silver axe from his waist, and Little Grape positioned itself on his shoulder.


    ¡°They¡¯reing!¡±


    Ssh~ Water sttered as a scaly, shell-encrusted arm grabbed the edge of the boat.


    As the bloated, waterlogged head surfaced, the cold barrel of a gun was pressed against its skull.


    Bang~ The gunshot shattered theke¡¯s eerie silence.


    Red fluid spread across the water as the first troublesome fish-man sank to theke¡¯s depths.


    After making the kill, Edmund gave a tip, ¡°To deal with these parasitic creatures, just destroy their brains... They haven¡¯t yet evolved into true ¡®Infected,¡¯ so handling them isn¡¯t too troublesome.


    But take care; don¡¯t let them damage the boat. I¡¯d rather not end up in this filthy, disgusting greenke.¡±


    As his words ended, three pairs of arms reached out from different directions, along with bloated, decayed heads filled with sharp teeth.


    With a precise technique, blond-haired Edmund drove his short sword into a target¡¯s face, piercing through its brain.


    Juliana, with a swift reverse motion, drove her dagger into her target¡¯s temple, even faster than Edmund.


    Compared to the two seasoned fighters, Yi Chen¡ªa ¡®Later¡¯¡ªnaturallycked some skills.


    But in the face of theke''s danger, a powerful desire to kill the enemy formed in his mind.


    Driven by this intent, nt-like roots sprouted from his hands, entwining with his axe and merging with its hickory wood handle.


    This gave Yi Chen a firmer grip, allowing him to swing with greater force.


    Kill!


    The silver edge cut precisely across the fish-man¡¯s neck.


    Scales, flesh, and vertebrae¡ªany obstacle to the strike was ovee.


    Swoosh! A bloated, decayed head flew through the air,nding with a st on the boat.


    As this head attempted to wriggle toward Yi Chen to harm him, a small ck creature leaped from his shoulder, quickly swallowing the two ¡°grapes¡± in the fish-man¡¯s eyes. It then burrowed into the head, devouring the fresh tissue inside.


    Upon seeing this, Dagbert and the two others fighting cast surprised nces at Yi Chen, raising their regard for him further.


    ¡­


    After the group cooperated to eliminate nearly twenty of the infected fish-men from theke, the boat reached the shore.


    The corpse entangled with the oar was also dragged ashore.


    When Yi Chen saw the face of this corpse, his body trembled.


    This corpse, with thick, long hair, was shockingly the sheriff he had thrown into theke. Yet, he distinctly remembered the sheriff had short hair.


    It¡¯s like ake has the effect of a petri dish, where anything thrown into it would rapidly grow due to some mysterious influence.


    ¡®Is it really my fault¡­?¡¯

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    Uponnding ashore,


    the highly aggressive merfolk swimming in theke retreated of their own ord.


    Even though many of theirpanions had been killed, they showed no intention of chasing us¡­ or rather, it seemed theycked the privilege toe ashore.


    After several minutes of intense escape,


    even the well-trained Edmond and his team were left panting and immediately began checking themselves for injuries.


    They took out a soft vial from the inner pocket of their coats,


    applying the liquid from the vial to their skin to clean off the blood andke water umted during the fight.


    Edmond even offered a vial to Yichen.


    ¡°William, want some?¡±¡°No¡­ thanks.¡±


    Edmond shrugged, realizing that Yichen seemed unaffected by theke water.


    ¡°It¡¯s only been a day, and we¡¯re already facing trouble of this level. The next two days might be even tougher. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if some candidates end up dead here.¡±


    As he spoke, Edmond gave Yi Chen a knowing look.


    However, Yi Chen''s attention turned to theke, watching the retreating figures of the merfolk while also examining the bloated corpse of the sheriff.


    ¡°Can I have this corpse?¡±


    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s no use to us¡­ Besides, none of us have the skills of a doctor or the talents nurtured in a clinic. But if you drag that corpse back, it might raise some eyebrows.¡±


    ¡°Give me a moment.¡±


    Yi Chen jogged to the town¡¯s main street.


    In just a few minutes, he returned with arge bup sack and a few small spare knives,


    packing the swollen body with practiced ease, then dragged it back toward the inn as if handling a bag of trash.


    With his tall, slightly lean frame and somber attire, he looked like a ¡°corpse collector.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Mr. William, looking forward to our next coboration.¡±


    Edmond waved goodbye with a sunny smile.


    Yi Chen merely raised his left hand over his shoulder, giving a minimal response without turning back.


    Once Yi Chen''s figure disappeared,


    Edmond deliberately raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Did you all see that? This guy has a rare ¡®nt-type¡¯ disease mutation. He could very well be a doctor and will be highly sought after in the organization.


    For this assessment¡¯s prized ¡®quality skin,¡¯ William¡¯s sure to im one slot.


    Looks like we¡¯ll need to keep our wits about us.¡±


    Juliana remarked softly, ¡°He¡¯s got such a gloomy vibe, like he¡¯s from a cemetery, yet he bears a nt disease trait that symbolizes life¡­ What an odd guy.¡±


    ¡­


    However, what they didn¡¯t know was that Yi Chen was still in a heightened state of excitement after the life-or-death battle, though he was suppressing his emotions.


    ¡°These people have psychological resilience andbat skills far above average¡­ They must have undergone long-term training, fundamentally different from me.


    Teaming up with them might reduce risks and yield useful information.


    But it could also expose my ¡®rookie¡¯ status. If that happens, I might be used, or even sacrificed as bait in a dangerous situation. Keeping a half-familiar distance is best.¡±


    Back at the inn,


    the owner was still at the counter, engrossed in his fish specimens, barely acknowledging Yi Chen as he returned.


    As he passed the counter,


    p!


    The owner suddenly pped a few white candles onto the counter, muttering without looking up:


    ¡°Don¡¯t make a mess everywhere. The ¡®smell¡¯ might disturb my sister¡¯s rest. Keep the candles burning while you work.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    In his room, Yi Chen locked the door, cing the candles in each corner of the bathroom. Once the scent of incense filled the air, he began his ¡°work.¡±


    There were a few things Yi Chen needed to understand:


    1. Why did this sheriff, after falling into the water, drown instead of transforming into one of those swimming ¡°merfolk¡± at theke¡¯s bottom?


    2. What kinds of physical changes does theke water induce in a person?


    "Exhale¡­" Having never done anything like this before, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit nervous.


    Before starting,


    Yi Chen pressed both hands to the sides of his face.


    Sssss~


    Tiny green nt shoots sprouted from his fingertips, intertwining and weaving into a homemade nt mask.


    Whether it was the stench of corpses or the scent of candles, the mask purified it into fresh air.


    ¡°This biological mutation ability is truly handy¡­ ording to Mr. Wilbert, as long as I pass the assessment, I¡¯ll be able to examine this ability in detail and might even continue developing it further¡ªperhaps reaching a level where roots be spears, tendrils form legs, like those undead creatures.¡±


    He found it quite interesting; even if there was a risk of death, it was much better than being stuck in ab, writing papers day and night.


    After these recent experiences, Yi Chen felt his true nature gradually being awakened, fully realizing that this world was where he truly belonged.


    Crunch, crunch~


    He continued weaving delicate nt fibers into a pair of natural gloves, took a sharp tool he¡¯d bought at a store, and started working. Perhaps due to the innate talent of ¡°William Behrens,¡± this body''s previous owner, the process of handling the ¡°corpse¡± felt incredibly smooth, even as familiar as conducting experiments in previous life.


    Gradually, he immersed himself in it, feeling utterly captivated, to the point that even Little Grape was surprised by his intense focus.


    After several hours had unknowingly passed, he looked at the corpse before him, now dissected in a way that defied all medical logic. The body cavity was full of mucus, with organs shifted out of ce, clinging to each other, and the rib bones had be thin, sharp, with additional bony branches sprouting, piercing through flesh and blood.


    Yet, some areas retained the original human structure; the transformation was iplete¡­ almost as if it were a ¡°failed evolution.¡±


    A clue emerged, potentially connected to the root cause of Green Lake Town¡¯s ¡°scaly skin disease.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, everything makes sense.¡±


    Yi Chen felt satisfied with the dissection results and even bowed in gratitude to the ¡°sheriff.¡±


    He packed the remains, quietly dragged them away, dug a hole, buried them, and finished the task as midnight approached.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try taking a bath~¡±


    He turned on the bathroom faucet at full st, washing off the remaining tissue fragments and sticky fluids. At the same time, he removed his clothes, exposing his body to the cold water, letting it rinse away sweat and fatigue.


    The reason for bathing was twofold: first, during the battle at Green Lake today, he¡¯d had contact withke water, confirming his skin could withstand external contamination from it. Secondly, he saw this as a necessary adaptation for possible future encounters with theke.


    During the wash, Yi Chen could feel nt roots moving within him, autonomously forming a defense system.


    ¡°No problem¡­ Even if I face danger and fall into theketer, I can ensure my body won¡¯t be invaded.¡±


    Feeling refreshed, he copsed onto the bed and quickly fell asleep.


    However, tonight was far from peaceful. In his sleep, Yi Chen was jolted awake again. Unlike the previous night, it wasn¡¯t due to nt stimuli this time but by the sharp, almost throat-tearing screaming from outside the door¡ªspecifically, from the ¡°sister¡¯s room¡± at the end of the corridor.


    Opening his door, Yi Chen stood to the side, using Little Grape hidden in his sleeve to observe. Through the shared visual perspective, he saw the door at the end of the hall had been opened. Intense candlelight spilled from the room, along with a red liquid¡ªa cold, viscous, and bloody-smelling substance.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    After a brief observation, Yi Chen decided to take action. He hung a kerosenemp at his waist, gripped an ax in both hands, and approached the ¡°sister¡¯s room.¡±


    Just as he was about to reach it, the innkeeper¡¯s voice came from within,ced with a hint of urgency.


    ¡°Either stay away ore in and help.¡±

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    Faced with the choice given by boss, Yi Chen didn''t hesitate. He stepped forward into the "sister''s room."


    <em>Creak creak~</em>


    A strange sensation underfoot made an odd noise.


    His foot hadnded directly on a floor covered in fish scales.


    At that moment, both his sense of smell and sight were overwhelmed by the room¡¯s atmosphere.


    A nearly tangible stench filled the air, like a living stick of rot that invaded Yi Chen''s body, repeatedly striking his stomach.


    In his view, the ground was covered in fish scales, some even embedding themselves into the damp floor as if they had grown directly from the room.


    If it had been the Yi Chen who first arrived in this world, he likely would have protested this sight by vomiting.


    <em>Creak creak~</em>Pressing his fingers to the sides of his face, Yi Chen quickly crafted a makeshift nt mask.


    ¡°Whew! Finally, I can breathe properly¡­ this ce really is unsettling.¡±


    A voice came from the bathroom.


    The boss seemed to be performing some kind of ¡°treatment¡± on his sister, withrge amounts of blood seeping from under the door.


    Before stepping into the bathroom, Yi Chen nced into a corner of the room, noticing an important and unusual detail.


    In that corner was a solid wooden desk, surrounded by walls and floors covered with fish scales. Yet the desk itself remained spotless, without a single scale or even a hint of damp mold.


    It seemed the desk held significance to the sister, who likely cleaned it every day.


    On the desk were a few framed photos, including a family portrait and a photo of the brother and sister.


    The sister in the photo had dark, curly hair, and her close rtionship with her brother was evident.


    Yi Chen quietly etched this scene into his memory.


    <em>Creak</em>


    He turned and pushed open the slightly ajar bathroom door, revealing a disturbing sight.


    This bathroom wasrger than the others and included a bathtub.


    The sister was lying in the bathtub, her limbs tightly restrained by the tub¡¯s binding devices. Compared to her appearancest night, she looked a bit more ¡°human¡±¡­ specifically, the fish scales on her body had significantly reduced.


    However, these flesh-attached scales hadn¡¯t fallen off on their own.


    Instead, the boss was tearing them out one by one, scattering them inside and outside the tub.


    At this moment, the sister''s screams had weakened considerably. The intense pain and copious bleeding were draining her life away¡­


    She had almost stopped struggling, her thin, gilled face utterly devoid of color.


    Only the scales on both sides of her abdomen remained, with about forty left. The situation looked grim.


    Before the boss could speak, Yi Chen was the first to say, ¡°Boss, your sister seems to be advancing to the ¡®third stage¡¯ of the disease, right? The situation doesn¡¯t look good. May I take a closer look?¡±


    The boss was taken aback, not expecting this young man, who had only been here for a little over a day, to have already identified the stages of the ¡°Ichthyosis¡± disease.


    He nodded slightly in permission.


    Yi Chen carefully approached the bathtub. Though he wasn''t from a medical background and knew little about the science behind it, the nts within him could sense the loss of life force.


    ¡°Boss, do you want me to remove the remaining scales?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    With the boss¡¯s approval, Yi Chen gently ced his hand on the sister¡¯s abdomen, touching the surface of the scales.


    Tender new roots stretched out along the gaps between the scales, burrowing under the skin.


    The tips of these roots released a natural fluid with healing properties, slowly and gently lifting each scale out. This method reduced the bleeding and caused minimal pain¡­ even giving a slight tingling sensation.


    The only drawback was that it was somewhat slow.


    Yi Chen meticulously removed the scales from her abdomen while using his other hand to apply roots to the areas of heavy bleeding, weaving them to stop the blood flow.


    During the process, the sister¡¯s onyx-like eyes gazed at the guest in front of her.


    The boss remained quietly by her side.


    At that moment¡­


    Little Grape''s voice echoed in Yi Chen''s mind.


    "Hey! Do you have any idea what you¡¯re doing? The person in front of you is an ''infected'' by the Disease. If she sessfully sheds her scales, she''ll fully evolve into an intelligent [Pathogenic infected Being].


    They¡¯re the source of this world¡¯s gue and decay! By nature, they resent the uninfected, and their instincts drive them to invade and upy your body."


    ¡°If they really intended harm, they¡¯d have done itst night. Besides, since I entered the bathroom, the boss has had plenty of chances to act.


    I still don¡¯t fully understand this world, but from what I¡¯ve observed and deduced, I conclude that helping her could be worthwhile. If we can establish a mutual aid rtionship, we might uncover critical clues about this town¡¯s truth and the mastermind behind it, and pass the organization¡¯s evaluation with flying colors.¡±


    "I really doubt you¡¯re a creature of this world. Your actions might rub some humans the wrong way¡­ but it¡¯s interesting."


    Little Grape said no more and silently observed the boss¡¯s every move.


    Like a major surgery, eight hours passed until thest scale was extracted.


    By then, it was noon the next day. The boss turned on the bathtub faucet, submerging his sister in the water.


    When she awakens, she¡¯ll be fully transformed into what Little Grape called a ''Pathogenic Infected Being.''


    At that moment, the boss gently ced a hand on Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder. Yi Chen, still slightly on guard, instinctively reached for his hatchet.


    However, it was only a gesture of gratitude.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. William.¡±


    ¡°No problem¡­ I helped willingly.¡±


    ¡°You can rest now. I¡¯ll make sure nothing disturbs you while you sleep. When you wake, it¡¯ll probably be night... and you¡¯re wee toe down for dinner.¡±


    Yi Chen made an "OK" gesture and turned to leave.


    Back in his room, the exhaustion was overwhelming.


    Little Grape detached himself, standing guard by the door.


    ¡°Hurry up and get some rest. I¡¯ve slept enough inside you already. Don¡¯t overwork yourself. If this brother-sister duo gives us useful information or even lends a hand, we might just get that super-sized eyeball.¡±


    But Yi Chen, leaning against the bed¡¯s headboard, couldn¡¯t shake his concern.


    ¡°After tonight, the assessment countdown begins. I doubt tonight will be peaceful. When the sun sets, wake me up.¡±


    ¡°Enough talk¡ªgo to sleep already!¡±


    Little Grape, like a security guard, moved a wooden chair to the bed, sitting watchfully beside him.


    ---


    It was the most restful sleep Yi Chen had since arriving in Green Lake Town.


    Possibly due to the nt inside him, he woke naturally as the sun set, photosynthesis ceased, and sleep faded.


    His blurry eyes opened to an oversized mouth, filled with ck fur around it, staring at him with a bulging eye almost glued to his face.


    In a distorted voice from merged vocal cords, it said, "You¡¯re awake?"


    ¡°Little Grape, stop scaring me!¡±


    Dressing up and gearing up, Yi Chen opened his room door to pitch darkness¡ªthe hallway¡¯s candlelight gone, leaving only inky shadows.


    He lit the kerosenemp on his waist, stepping as quietly as possible toward the first floor.


    Descending the stairs, a tantalizing aroma wafted into his nose. Following it, he spotted a partially open door near the first-floor counter, candlelight spilling out.


    Yi Chen pressed himself against the wall, peeking through the door. Inside, the guest room had been set up like a dining hall.


    A wooden round table wasden with various fish dishes and soups. The boss was there, along with a ck-haired woman, draped in a light white dress covering her still-healing body.


    Noticing a scent by the door, she turned her fresh, pale face toward the entrance. The gills on her cheeks were gone, making her look entirely human.


    ¡°Mr. William,e join us for dinner~¡±

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    "I am Kadacy Haji. Thank you, Mr. William, for your help."


    "Mm."


    Yi Chen took his seat at the reserved spot.


    In front of each person were two beautifully prepared main courses, soup, and dessert.


    They served Avengrader-style sashimi, stewed fish chunks, arge fish roe vegetable pie, and a rich mushroom and fish bone soup.


    The dishes, with their vibrant reds, purples, greens, and whites, looked overwhelming at first nce, but the aroma was inviting enough to make them ptable.


    During the meal, the innkeeper, while chewing on his fish, asked quietly:


    "Have you already seen through the essence of this town?"


    Yi Chen quickly waved his hands. "Ah? Not entirely. I only have a rough understanding of the pathological symptoms and processes happening in Green Lake Town ¡ª or rather, a sort of ''selection mechanism.''"If my analysis is correct, the infection should be divided into three stages:


    1. First Stage: Direct or indirect contact with Green Lake¡¯s water leads to pathogen invasion.


    At this stage, the body begins to grow patches of fish scales, and there''s a desire to live underwater. You may even start receiving orders from the ''parasitic host.'' The body¡¯s main structure remains human, with minimal visible changes... The infected live among the townspeople, organizing various activities to draw more visitors here.


    2. Second Stage: Once the first stage stabilizes or reaches a certain threshold, individuals gain permission to interact more intimately with Green Lake, entering the ''Second Stage.''


    I personally call this stage ''Fish Transformation.'' Due to prolonged immersion, the body undergoes drastic changes: the skin bes scaly, and organs start to resemble fish anatomy, gradually transitioning into a mermaid-like form.


    3. Third Stage: This is the state you''ve reached. You return tond, shed the fish-like traits, and emerge as a fully conscious individual."


    "Incredible... You truly are... unique. Yet, one thing I couldn¡¯t understand, even after thinking all night ¡ª why, knowing we¡¯re infected, would you still help us? Isn¡¯t your mission here to investigate the disease and eliminate it?"


    Yi Chen listened to the innkeeper''s question. Unhurriedly, he ced a piece of sashimi in his mouth, chewed, swallowed, and replied:


    "To be precise, I''m still in a probationary period. I don''t fully grasp certain concepts yet. I¡¯m just acting in the way I believe is ''right.''"


    At this, Miss Kadacy couldn¡¯t help but giggle softly.


    The innkeeper smiled too and said no more. But just then, a loud explosion sounded from outside the inn,ing from the town center... apanied by frantic footsteps and crashes. The town had seemingly descended into chaos.


    Yi Chen was about to get up and check when the innkeeper signaled him to sit, saying softly:


    "If ''outside visitors'' spend two days in town without infection, we initiate mandatory measures. This time, the visitors here have remarkable self-control and significant strength, carefully avoiding all forms of water contact. Tonight has been designated as the ''Infection Night,'' with a mandatory purification for you all.


    "But don¡¯t worry... As long as you stay in the inn, no one wille knocking."


    "Mm."


    Spending the remaining days in the inn sounded like a safe option.


    Yi Chen understood his limits. Especially after meeting people like Edmund, he knew his foundation was weak, with no formal training. If he encountered a more advanced infected entity, his chances of winning were close to none.


    As Yi Chen settled into the idea of staying safely in the inn, hispanion, Little Grape, suddenly popped out from his shoulder, jumped onto the table, baring its rows of teeth and revealing its eye, standing akimbo!


    A strange, blended voice came from within it.


    "Hey~ William helped you achieve the critical ''pathogenic infected transformation''... You know, humans might see this as a ''crime,'' something that could evennd you on the guillotine. Do you think a mere meal is enough payment? Offer us some real information and tangible help."


    Though Little Grape¡¯s squishy appearance was somewhatical, its words carried an unmistakable tone of intimidation.


    The innkeeper remained expressionless, but his sister, Kadacy, instinctively moved her chair a bit further from the creature.


    Yi Chen, though slightly surprised, maintained hisposure, permitting Little Grape''s actions.


    The innkeeper looked into Little Grape¡¯s single eye and eventually chose to relent.


    "This was something I nned to discuss after dinner. Since you seek to use ''Green Lake Town'' as a testing ground and aim for high scores in your assessment, I¡¯ll give you a special lead.


    "At the deepest point of theke lies a ¡®certain treasure¡¯.


    This entity is the one governing the "Fish Transformation" process, while also monitoring and controlling those who have be afflicted.


    If we can destroy it, we¡¯ll be able to root out the source of the sickness in this town.


    If you''re interested in this, my sister and I can disguise you as "sacrifices" to offer to the entity at theke¡¯s depths... This way, you can avoid interference from the Fishmen and go straight to the target.


    The dinner you just ate will be enough to make you give off the "fishy scent," so no one will suspect a thing."


    These words from the innkeeper made Yi Chen recall that feeling of being watched from theke while boating, as if a giant eye were staring at him from below.


    At present,


    Green Lake Town is undergoing a "cleansing." Townspeople and other assessors are engaged in massive battles, making this the perfect opportunity to act.


    Now, two paths to reach the end of the assessmenty before him:


    1. Stay obediently at the inn and safely pass the assessment under the cover of the innkeeper and his sister.


    2. Seize the current opportunity, move toward the depths of Green Lake under the siblings'' protection, and eliminate the hidden root of the sickness.


    Before deciding, Yi Chen had one more question.


    "If we fail, and are unable to kill this thing in theke, you and Miss Kadacy will be implicated... Why are you willing to do this?"


    "Mutual benefit.


    My sister haspleted her ¡®scale-shedding¡¯ and be an independent-minded individual.


    But because of that entity in theke, we''re still bound here... Only by removing it can we leave this town. I promised her we would see the world beyond.


    The decision is yours, Mr. William~. If you''re thinking of going to theke¡¯s depths, I trust you have confidence in it."


    "I need to think¡­ Give me five minutes."


    Although he couldn''t detect anything suspicious in the siblings¡¯ expressions, and from all the intelligence gathered and an objective analysis, the siblings, though affected, still retained some humanity.


    However,


    Yi Chen was still unfamiliar with this world and did not fully understand many of its "rules and positions."


    ¡®Little Grape, can they be trusted?¡¯


    ¡®Of course they can. Why not? After all, I myself defy the "origin of disease" and was reassembled and born anew from the cemetery, an independent entity bound by nothing.


    I understand these two people¡¯s thoughts and feelings.


    This is a prime opportunity right in front of us, and it¡¯s worth the risk.


    If you seed, your assessment score will far exceed other humans¡¯, making you more valued by the organization, and you¡¯ll have more chances, a better survival rate, and a greater possibility to explore this world.


    Wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡¯


    ¡®Are we capable of killing the entity controlling and ruling over this town?¡¯


    ¡®Such entities, which need to control arge number of parasites and oversee the Fish Transformation process, are often fixed in one ce and cannot move.


    Its nature is also parasitic, so it won¡¯t have significantbat power.


    The biggest challenge is getting ¡®close¡¯ enough. Any outsider who enters theke will not only be stained by theke¡¯s waters but will also face attacks from the Fishmen.


    However, with the siblings¡¯ cover, as long as we can get close to the core entity, it¡¯ll be easy.


    And even if your silver axe isn¡¯t enough to kill the target, I still have these teeth!¡¯


    Little Grape proudly shed a set of sharp teeth, eager to act.


    Yi Chen didn¡¯t respond immediately, crossing his hands in front of his nose as he contemted.


    He had noticed that Little Grape seemed unusually eager this time, more than ever.


    While struggling to make a decision, he suddenly recalled his experiences in the cemetery, the sense ofing close to death in the fight against the undead¡­ and remembered Little Grape¡¯s crucial assistance, especially the enhanced vision that allowed him to escape the cemetery alive.


    <em>Sigh...</em> He took a deep breath.


    ¡®To survive in this world, ying it safe just won¡¯t work. Just like when I didn¡¯t stay in the cabin but instead went to Cemetery No. 4 to resolve the trouble.


    I still don¡¯t fully understand Little Grape¡¯s origins, true nature, or exact stance.


    Since it saved me once, I¡¯ll trust it unconditionally this time.


    If I survive, it¡¯ll prove it¡¯s trustworthy, and we can work together long-term.


    And I need to seize this ''opportunity'' to reach a higher level... just like when I left the orphanage, seizing the chance to get out at all costs.¡¯

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    A few kilometers away, atop a hill.


    The gentlemen watched as the small town fell into total chaos. The ''clothes'' they wore seemed to sense the blood in the air wafting from the town, bing restless.


    With his round belly, Mr. Sman squeezed his facial features together,


    ¡°If such widespread forced infections erupt tonight, hardly anyone will survive until tomorrow afternoon... I suggest ending the examination by dawn.¡±


    This proposal gained the approval of many of the gentlemen.


    Even the usually strict Professor Chambein, with his white hair, consented.


    As most of the gentlemen¡¯s attention focused on the town center and the surrounding area of fiercebat,


    <em>Hoot.</em>


    The owl on Chambein¡¯s shoulder hooted, drawing his gaze towards the edge of the town¡ªtowards the Green Shade Inn.Two conscious ¡°afflicted¡± individuals didn¡¯t participate in the town¡¯s chaos; instead, they quietly slipped out the back door.


    Together, they pushed a cart stacked with six ¡°corpses,¡± their bodies wrapped in a ¡°fish-egg membrane¡± filled with thick mucus.


    At the bottom of the stack was the corpse of a young man, whom Chambein had noticed earlier, piquing his interest.


    Chambein simply watched in silence, making noment as the cart was pushed to theke¡¯s edge.


    They tilted the cart forward,


    <em>Ssh!</em> The six bodies tumbled into the water.


    The brother and sister who had transported them also jumped into theke,


    sticking close to the bodies, guiding them towards theke¡¯s deepest depths.


    ¡°This is...¡±


    Chambein¡¯s pupils shifted, for the first time activating his abilities during this exam.


    The whites of his eyes turned blood-red, his pupilspletely ck, sharpening his vision and allowing him to see clearly through the greenke, zeroing in on Yi Chen, pretending to be unconscious in his membrane.


    ¡°This guy actually pulled this off¡­¡±


    Chambein pointed forward,


    the owl on his shoulder immediately taking flight, a white shadow cutting across the night sky as it headed toward the greenke.


    ...


    [Beneath the Lake]


    The bodies carried by the brother and sister were not corpses.


    They were perfectly cultivated, ''fish-transformation hosts'', intended as distractions to hide the true ¡°sixth person,¡± Yi Chen.


    The fish-egg membranes covering their bodies


    effectively isted them from theke water,


    preserving enough air to support them to theke¡¯s depths.


    Additionally,


    Yi Chen had taken extra precautions,


    such as the ¡°internal filter¡± built into his mask.


    Fibrous ¡°internals¡± in his throat, nasal cavity, and ear canals would preventke water from entering his body, filtering out any pathogens effectively.


    With eyes tightly shut,


    feigning unconsciousness,


    a mouth hidden on the back of his head opened slightly, containing an eye that quietly observed the underwater situation.


    His observation revealed:


    [Upper Lake Region]: Teeming with dense clusters of glowing green parasite eggs and fish eggs,


    [Lower Lake Region]: The smaller eggs were absent, reced by a disturbing form of ''human-egg''.


    Those who had reached the first stage of fish-scale infection curled up inside the eggs,


    a thick, umbilical cord-like structure connecting from their navel to thekebed,


    beginning their "fish transformation" this way.


    Once enough scales covered their bodies and their organs developed into fully functional gills, they would break free, transformed into merfolk.


    Some fully developed merfolk also swam about here, checking on the human eggs and guarding against intruders.


    Gradually, under the guidance of the siblings, Yi Chen drew closer to theke¡¯s depths.


    A chilling sense of being watched crept over him¡ªsomething was clearly observing them from below.


    ¡®That¡¯s it!¡¯


    After weaving past human eggs and patrolling merfolk, they spotted an enormous "giant eye", embedded deep within thekebed... a gigantic green eye, constantly shifting, monitoring everything in theke and Green Lake Town.


    ¡®A giant green grape!¡¯


    The little grape inside Yi Chen grew unusually excited at this sight.


    At this moment, Yi Chen realized why the little grape was so eager¡ªit had probably known all along.


    But there was still something he couldn¡¯t understand.


    ¡®Why is the source a giant eye and not a parent host?¡¯


    In his mind, the cause of the fish-scale disease transforming the town into merfolk should have been a massive, eggying insectoid monster.


    Yet the giant eye before him seemed entirely unrted to ¡°eggying¡± or ¡°parasites.¡±


    Just as Yi Chen felt puzzled, the little grape¡¯s voice spoke:


    ¡®What is disease? Where does infectione from? These are questions no one has fully understood, marked by diversity and changeability, which are barely known.


    Perhaps there is no parasite host,


    this giant eye may just be an <em>observer</em>.


    It might have been sent here, carrying the ¡°parasite swarm¡± to monitor and witness the town¡¯s transformation¡­ andter might even take some high-quality infected individuals with it.


    It can control the parasites through its gaze alone.


    Either way,


    this super grape is the source¡­ and our target is it.


    Soon, William, you¡¯ll need to do just one thing¡ª<em>make physical contact with this eye</em>.


    Once you touch its surface, I can enter it directly and drink its essence.¡¯


    Listening to the little grape¡¯s n, Yi Chen replied:


    ¡®You knew about the giant eye hidden beneath theke from the start, didn¡¯t you, little grape?¡¯


    ¡®Not from the start; only while drifting in theke, feeling a connection to something of the same type¡­ there¡¯s always a subtle sense of that.¡¯


    Yi Chen didn¡¯t respond further, focusing on whaty ahead.


    After delivering the ¡°cargo,¡± the innkeepermunicated with the giantke eye, passing on information about the load.


    When finished, they ascended immediately.


    Any extra actions might raise suspicion.


    Suspended four meters above the giant eye, Yi Chen and the other ¡°cargo¡± floated in the deep water, close yet not close enough, needing the right moment.


    Then, a strange sight appeared before him.


    The pupil of the giant eye dted, forming a small circr opening,


    through which a fleshy, eel-like creature slithered out, a <em>flesh eel</em>, as he called it.


    Its circr mouth was filled with rows of sharp teeth, trailing red threads of saliva through the water.


    ¡®That¡¯s... the navel-connection, like an umbilical cord!¡¯


    In the next second,


    the flesh eel attached itself to a nearby ¡°cargo,¡±


    its mouthtching onto the navel,


    dragging the cargo towards an empty spot on thekebed.


    Roots,


    Nurturing,


    Conversion,


    Orderly and structured.


    Another fleshy eel was born, linking to the new ¡°cargo¡± in front of Yi Chen.


    Watching the "bodies" around him being dragged away and packed one by one, an overwhelming sense of suffocation took hold, as if a hand was squeezing his heart, forcing his heartbeat to race.


    "Hold on!"


    Yi Chen suppressed his nervousness with all his might, waiting for the perfect moment.


    Perhaps due to luck, perhaps the massive eye sensed something special about him, or maybe the innkeeper had said something to the eye¡ªYi Chen was thest one left. Now, in the depths of theke, it was just him and the giant eye.


    Creak, creak~


    Through the small openings of the eye, the final fleshy eel slithered out, meant for Yi Chen.


    It squirmed,


    Floated upward,


    Prated the membrane,


    Hoo¡­ Yi Chen took a deep breath, still not making a move, waiting for the right moment.


    The eel slid across his waist, squirming towards his navel. A set of neural fments grazed Yi Chen¡¯s skin, causing an unbearable itch.


    Circling around to the front,


    The eel¡¯s mouth opened like flower petals, revealing an inner wall full of sharp teeth, lunging at his navel.


    At the instant the mouth touched his navel,


    Yi Chen''s eyes snapped open.


    A silver axe, long prepared, whipped out from his clothes¡­ swish!


    Both the eel¡¯s body and the white membrane around Yi Chen were cut in one stroke.


    With his other hand, he grabbed the upper half of the eel remaining on his abdomen and crushed it with a powerful squeeze.


    In the next moment, Yi Chen raised his free arm,


    Grasped his face with five fingers.


    Creak, creak~


    Fresh nt roots quickly wove together, perhaps spurred on by the danger. The weaving was faster than before, and even a bark-like texture appeared on the surface.


    In the blink of an eye, a filter-like mask had formed over his face, further isting him from theke water.


    All this happened almost instantly.


    While the giant eye hadn¡¯t fully reacted, Yi Chen swam at full speed toward the deepest part¡­


    Four meters,


    Three meters,


    Two meters,


    With just over one meter remaining, a mutation urred!


    The giant eye, which had previously expanded its pupil, abruptly shrank and focused, transforming into a point the size of a ping-pong ball.


    "Damn!"


    Even though Yi Chen shut his eyes immediately,


    An invisible mental wave pierced through.


    It seeped through the mask and eyelids,


    Through his pupils,


    Traveling directly along his optic nerves to his brain,


    Buzz!


    An intense ringing echoed in his ears, like a mischievous child had stuffed a box of firecrackers in his head and set them all off at once.


    "William! Hang on!


    I can¡¯t be exposed before reaching the Big Grape!"


    At that moment,


    The voice of "Little Grape" echoed in his mind, giving him motivation and mental support.


    Under the infiltration of this mental force,


    Yi Chen felt tiny eyes sprouting on the surface of his brain.


    Any slightpse in awareness would lead to these eyes taking over.


    "Hang in there! This is a hard-earned chance at rebirth..."


    [Willpower]


    A mental construct forged through ¡°life experiences¡± as a hammer.


    Although Yi Chen was only in his twenties, the early part of his ¡°life experiences¡± was like a spiked sledgehammer, constantly pounding him.


    Having barely escaped,


    He finally gained the opportunity to cross into this fascinating world,


    And he wanted to live... really live this time.


    At this moment!


    Blood seeped from his eyes, dyeing the nt mask red.


    His desperate shout transformed into a cascade of bubbles in the water.


    With sheer determination, he breached thest meter,


    Turned his body,


    Extended his arm,


    And touched.


    His palm pressed firmly against the moist, smooth surface of the eyeball... directly at the opening where the eel emerged.


    At the moment of contact,


    A ck fleshy sphere detached from his palm,


    And wriggled into the giant eye through the opening.


    The instant he seeded,


    Yi Chen could no longer hold on, his weakened consciousness was instantly overtaken!


    However,


    The mental invasion from the giant eye didn¡¯t destroy his mind.


    Instead, it processed Yi Chen¡¯s consciousness, transporting it to an entirely unknown realm.


    Buzz!


    His consciousness trembled.


    Yi Chen¡¯s awareness seemed to arrive in a deep, abyssal cavern.


    Hexagonal ck fish scales covered the cavern walls like bricks,


    The ground was submerged in water that reached an average person¡¯s knees,


    Flesh-colored tubes connected various experimental tanks,


    Suspended from the walls were life incubation chambers of all sizes,


    It resembled an *<em>Abyssal Laboratory</em>*.


    At the center of theb,


    A figure of iprehensible form was recording data,


    Its back was turned to Yi Chen¡¯s consciousness.


    Dressed in a near-perfect, dark-gold cylindrical robe radiating a force field, a tail covered in ck scales extended from it.


    Not quite a fish tail¡ªmore like a dragon¡¯s.


    For some reason,


    As Yi Chen gazed at this figure¡¯s back,


    Thump, thump, thump.


    Epic,yered music suddenly resonated in his mind,


    Cello sounds drifting farther away, merging with thepping of sea waves,


    As if to signal that this music originated from the depths of the ocean, heralding the arrival of a terrifying entity.


    Along with the music,


    A golden-framed health bar appeared above the figure¡¯s head, adorned with a fish-head relief, resembling a health gauge in a game.


    It was filled with a dark fish oil, or rather, an ancient ichthyoid essence,


    Flowing,


    Rolling,


    Roaring.


    A title and name were disyed atop the frame:


    *<em>¡ì Origin of Fish ¨C Nazjatar (The Primitive Arowana) ¡ì</em>*

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    In the damp, fishy-smellingboratory, an ancient being who needed the "Old System Calendar" to calcte its life span suddenly sensed a prying gaze from behind.


    <em>Hmm? Has something interesting been sent here?</em>


    The being paused its writing with tentacle-like fingers, turning its head. The gills on its neck slightly opened, revealing an oceanic world teeming with eerie fish through the gaps.


    As it twisted its head¡ªa face too grotesque for the human eye to process or words to describe¡ªthere was a soft <em>pop!</em> A tiny, grain-sized fish eye burst open in the experimental jar behind it, and the sense of prying vanished.


    However, in this single jar, there were thousands more of these tiny fish eyes.


    The being ignored it, returning to its critical data recording work.


    ¡­


    *<em>[Perspective Shift]</em>*


    Listening to the epic sounds of the sea, gazing at the terrifying form far beyondprehension, Yi Chen almost instantly lost control of his consciousness. His vision was frozen; he felt like a helpless fish ready for ughter.In his field of view, the unknown entity recording data seemed to notice his gaze. It slowly turned, a simple movement that stirred an unprecedented fear in Yi Chen¡¯s heart.


    This ancient, primal emotion felt like a pair of giant hands clutching his soul, ready to tear it apart at any moment. The turning of its head felt like a countdown to death.


    At that critical moment, a familiar chaotic noise echoed through his consciousness:


    ¡°William, wake up!¡±


    Along with the voice came a powerful pulling sensation. A hum resonated as Yi Chen''s consciousness broke free from the abyss filled with scales and a pungent stench. He tore through the narrow rifts of time and space, returning to the Green Lake.


    When he opened his eyes, he was back in his familiar body, deep at the dark bottom of theke. The ¡°Watcher¡¯s¡± giant eye had beenpletely drained, lying like a deted balloon on thekebed, devoid of life.


    The fully sated little "Grape" had returned, hiding beneath his flesh, entering a strange state of incubation. It left a single message:


    ¡°I need a longer rest. Don¡¯t call me unless there¡¯s a life-threatening crisis.¡±


    With that, the connection in Yi Chen¡¯s consciousness weakened to one-tenth, leaving only a faint sense of the small fleshy ball in his abdomen, quietly nurturing and growing.


    Yet, the crisis in Green Lake Town had not ended. The giant eye was only a ¡°Watcher.¡± Its death merely freed the townspeople from their chains, making them more liberated¡­ and those infected with "Ichthyosis" might be even more frenzied.


    At the same time, merfolk lurking in Green Lake turned their gaze to the unfamiliar human at the bottom¡ªinstinct driving them swiftly toward him. Their numbers left no escape!


    At the critical moment, a white blur dove into theke with blinding speed. The white light sliced through the shoals of fish. Two powerful wstched onto Yi Chen''s shoulders, digging into his flesh and bone.


    Before he could even feel the pain, an unimaginable force pulled him up from thekebed. Any merfolk attempting to block the way was shredded by invisible wind des.


    <em>Ssh!</em> Water sshed everywhere as Yi Chen was yanked out of theke, skimming the ground, finally being dropped at the back door of the Green Shade Inn.


    <em>Thud!</em> He braced himself against the wall, barely able tond. Looking up, he saw that his rescuer was a white-feathered owl. Before he could express his thanks, it had flown away.


    Just then, the innkeeper opened the back door, pulling Yi Chen inside.


    The innkeeper¡¯s previously dull eyes became sharp and clear.


    ¡°You¡­ actually did it! Kadacy, quickly take Mr. William to the basement to recover.¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    Kadacy, his slender sister dressed in a white dress, easily hoisted Yi Chen over her shoulder, guiding him down a dark passageway to the basement. She brought some dry towels and carefully wiped him down.


    Surprisingly, though he had been submerged in theke for so long, his clothes remained dry. A simple wipe of residual moisture left them as good as new. The only concern was the wound on his shoulder from the owl¡¯s ws, where a bit ofke water had seeped in.


    Kadacy dabbed at it with a towel, then pressed her cold lips to the wound, sucking forcefully. All the blood and taintedke water were drawn out, preventing infection.


    ¡°This should be fine now. I''ll go upstairs to get some snacks, so wait here for me,¡± said Kadacy before leaving.


    Yi Chen sat alone on a chair in the basement. Although his recent adventure to theke''s depths hadn¡¯t caused any physical harm, his mental state was far from good. Persistent ringing in his ears, a slightly swollen feeling in his head, and sudden shes of the abyssalb would cross his mind unbidden. Before he realized it, a trickle of blood ran from his nose, and the intense dizziness nearly toppled him from his chair.


    "Is this a side effect of mental intrusion?" he pondered. "I didn''t even open my eyes, yet I was still affected... I only managed to defeat the ¡®Watcher¡¯s Giant Eye¡¯ thanks to Little Grape."


    The Giant Eye, which spread ichthyosis and ruled over Green Lake Town, was merely a small creation of theb. I''m so weak right now, he thought. There must be ways to grow stronger in this world, and perhaps the organization has those methods.


    After his near-death experience at theke''s bottom, Yi Chen wasn¡¯t fearful; instead, he felt driven to explore the world even further, eager to grow stronger and uncover more secrets.


    Just then, Kadacy entered the basement with a special bowl of fish soup. It was thick, bubbling, ck in color, filled with fish heads that looked as if they''d been radiated, crowding the bowl. The smell was like a dead fish that had drowned in a foot bath and gone unnoticed for a week.


    ¡°This is a special preparation from my brother. He said that if you made it back alive, this fish head soup would be of great help to you.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ okay.¡±


    Yi Chen took the oversized bowl of fish soup, cautiously touching its thick surface with a finger to make sure his internal nt powers wouldn¡¯t reject it. Then, pinching his nose, he gulped it down. As his stomach churned, the constant ringing in his ears began to fade, and the swelling sensation in his head gradually subsided.


    ¡°This stuff is amazing!¡±


    As Yi Chen marveled at the odd yet effective delicacy, a loud voice from above echoed through the inn, reaching his ears clearly¡ªand audible throughout the entire town.


    "All assessors, please note: head to the eastern town exit as quickly as possible. The organization¡¯s carriage will be waiting there for you, with a time limit of ten minutes. Failure to arrive in time will result in disqualification."


    ¡°Has the assessment ended early?¡±


    Hearing the announcement, Yi Chen immediately perked up and hurried back to the inn. Green Shade Inn was located near the southern town exit, quite far from the eastern exit where they were meant to gather. The town was in disarray, with a significant risk in traveling. Moreover, Little Grape was in a special state and couldn¡¯t assist him visually.


    ¡°Mr. William, to reach the eastern exit, you¡¯ll either need to pass through the town center or take a detour around theke. It¡¯s dangerous. Let us take you there.¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t that be too risky? If there are organization personnel at the eastern exit, they might attack you.¡±


    ¡°As long as we don¡¯t get too close, it should be fine.¡±


    Yi Chen epted their help; he indeed needed the siblings¡¯ assistance. Using a disguise, hey t on a wooden cart, pretending to be a corpse, as the siblings pushed him towards the eastern entrance. Due to the dangerous, fully mutated diseased patients in the town center, they opted for theke route. The journey was smooth; no townspeople would question the siblings, considering their high status.


    As the carriage gradually came into view, the siblings stopped.


    Before parting, realizing that the path to ¡°cure the diseased¡± was inevitable, they understood that if they met again, they could very well be on opposing sides. They simply shared a silent hug, refraining from saying any formal goodbyes.


    However, as Yi Chen embraced the innkeeper, thetter gently patted his back, whispering into his ear:


    ¡°Hurry and leave, Mr. William. You¡¯re the strangest human I¡¯ve ever met, different from anyone else. Perhaps you truly have a chance to heal this incurable world. If we ever meet ¡®again¡¯, please¡­ don¡¯t hesitate. Kill us immediately.¡±


    Yi Chen didn¡¯t respond; he met the innkeeper¡¯s gaze for a second before turning away and running toward the gathering point.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    Effort rewarded with due return¡ªthis is one of the essential elements of building society: <em>fairness.</em>


    After risking his life and doing his utmost in Green Lake Town, Yi Chen finally receives the reward he deserves. His excitement is beyond words, as in his previous life, his hard work often yielded only pathetic, pitiable results.


    However,


    Although Yi Chen has acquired the highest level of "Gentleman''s Skin," he still has no idea what it''s for.


    "Mr. Chambein, what is this skin used for? Is it meant to draw out the power hidden within it through a ritual?"


    "It seems Wilbert didn¡¯t tell you anything... didn¡¯t even give you basic training before sending you here. That¡¯s just like him.


    This skin will formally make you a ¡®gentleman.¡¯


    The others are waiting for you; let¡¯s talk while we walk."


    Returning to the main hall of the Divine Skin Mansion, they climb therge staircase covered in flesh-toned carpet, heading to the second-floor side corridor.Before reaching the ritual area, Yi Chen has one more question to rify.


    "If I gain some ability from the skin, will it conflict with the ''pathogenic characteristics'' I already possess?"


    Normally stern, Chambein appears patient at this moment.


    "Not at all.


    The ¡®Gentleman¡¯s Skin¡¯ doesn¡¯t grant you an ability in itself; its essence is a <em>medium.</em>


    Once activated through a ritual, the Gentleman¡¯s Skin will link you to a ¡®growth system¡¯ that transcends human limitations.


    It¡¯s precisely because of this connection that the organization exists, we gather in Zion, and humanity glimpses a faint hope of survival in this world¡ªa hope for which we are willing to pay any price."


    "A medium... linking me to some growth system?" Yi Chen roughly grasps the meaning; simply put, the skin would allow him to gradually grow stronger.


    Chambein continues:


    "Whether it''s the skins given to other assessors or the one you obtained from the First Gentleman,


    Once activated,


    your ''consciousness'' will be guided to the [Hall of the Old Days] through the medium of the skin.


    There, you¡¯ll receive between one and three letters, with the number depending on your own characteristics, but you may only choose one.


    Each letter represents a profession, determining your future path as a gentleman.


    And,


    The color and nature of each letter are particrly important. Since time is short, I¡¯ll only exin this once, so listen carefully!"


    "Understood!"


    "The letterse in four colors¡ªwhite, blue, ck, and purple.


    1. White letters are the mostmon and correspond to ¡®ordinary professions,¡¯ which are the main choice for therge gentlemanmunity.


    Althoughmon, there are some outstanding figures within Zion City who chose this path.


    2. Blue letters are rarer and correspond to ¡®rare professions,¡¯ which typically possess exceptional talent in specific areas.


    They undergo specialized training and often be key members in the organization.


    Some rare professions might develop into ''Doctors''.


    3. ck letters appear in rtion to an individual¡¯s mindset, corresponding to ¡®nightmare professions.¡¯ These professions tend to be dark and malevolent, contrary to some gentlemanly principles.


    A century ago, the organization created a special department to specifically ept and train gentlemen who chose nightmare professions.


    These gentlemen often possess strong elimination abilities and serve as the organization¡¯s executioners.


    Some powerful gentlemen who choose the ck letter have gained renown and are often known as ''Surgeons.''


    4. Purple letters also rte to individual characteristics, though the exact connection is unknown.


    They correspond to ¡®unique professions,¡¯ which differ from the other three in that a purple letter profession is uniquely tailored to the individual.


    These professions are filled with mystery and unpredictability; some distinguished gentlemen who chose the purple letter even spent their entire lives in Zion City, unable to eliminate pathogens outside.


    In summary,


    "No matter what type of letter it is, there will always be an emblem on the cover representing its ''profession.'' Be sure to assess carefully before making a choice."


    This substantial designation of [profession] is far more genuine than any career definitions given in the previous world.


    Hearing this description, Yi Chen grew even more excited.


    Chambein continued speaking:


    "The [skin] you obtained originates from the First Gentleman, and its medium effect will be maximized, which means there¡¯s a higher probability of receiving a blue letter.


    Of course, if a ck letter appears, you can also make a choice based on the specific situation."


    "What if there¡¯s a purple one?"


    "The uncertainty is too great; personally, I don¡¯t rmend it¡­ but this is your decision, so don¡¯t let my words sway you."


    "Understood."


    During Yi Chen¡¯s conversation with Chambein, the hidden "Little Grape" inside him also had its own thoughts.


    "How exciting~ William, what path will you choose? If it¡¯s too conservative and boring, I might just sneak away!"


    [Ritual Chamber]


    In a spacious, circr hall, eleven clergy members from the mansion had drawn a ritual array with a certain viscous flesh-colored liquid.


    Embedded within it were 17 small rings, perfectly corresponding to the number of participants.


    As Chambein led Yi Chen through the door, everyone¡¯s gaze fell on the ck box in Yi Chen¡¯s hand, with more than a few glints of hidden greed.


    Blonde-haired Edmund didn¡¯t care much and eagerly waved:


    "William,e on~ everyone¡¯s waiting for you."


    "Mhm."


    Yi Chen quickly took his ce on thest ring of the ritual array. Following the clergy¡¯s instructions, he took out the "Gentleman¡¯s Skin" from the box and draped it over his head like a hood.


    The ritual began, and each clergyman chanted iprehensible fragments of an ancientnguage.


    However, the ovepping of tones caused these fragmented words tobine, forming a powerful,plete incantation that propelled the ritual forward.


    Buzz!


    Yi Chen felt a familiar sensation he¡¯d once experienced at the bottom of ake¡ªthe subtle feeling of his consciousness being pulled from his body.


    This time, however, he weed it willingly, with no difort. It was like a perfectly slick bar of soap, slipping out of his hand and falling directly into the toilet bowl, carried away in one smooth motion.


    When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in an ancient stone chamber, filled with an aura of antiquity.


    Gone were the intricate structures, openwork carvings, andvish decorations of the Divine Skin Mansion.


    It was like a simple, man-made cave, with only a stone tform in the center and nothing else.


    The other examiners and clergy were nowhere to be seen; Yi Chen was alone here.


    The "Gentleman¡¯s Skin," which had previously been covering his head, had somehow moved to lie atop the stone tform.


    The skin pulsed, as if deliberately concealing something¡­ based on Chambein¡¯s earlier exnations, Yi Chen had a good guess at what it was.


    "I wonder what type of letter it will be."


    He took a deep breath and stepped forward.


    As his fingers touched the Gentleman¡¯s Skin covering the letter, he felt the life force flowing through it.


    He lifted it with a firm motion.


    [Blue] ¨C made of copperte paper, its surface printed with a circle of ivy patterns, containing a human-shaped branch mosaic within,


    [ck] ¨C made of parchment, with a skeletal figure on a boat depicted on its surface,


    [Purple] ¨C made of white cardstock, showing an open book on the cover, with intricate tiny text invisible to the naked eye engraved inside.


    Three different colored envelopes appeared before him. If any gentleman in Zion City were to witness this scene, they¡¯d be struck speechless with shock.


    Just seeing a blue envelope alone is exceedingly rare, not to mention the appearance of three special letters at once¡ªa phenomenon that may not have urred in decades.


    "This¡­"


    Even the usually decisive Yi Chen found himselfpletely stunned.

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    With only two minutes remaining, four carriages awaited at the town¡¯s gathering point.


    Arge group of frenzied townspeople arrived, with some noticing Yi Chen approaching from thekeside, turning to chase him.


    At that moment, one of the carriage¡¯s rearpartments suddenly opened, and a muscr arm extended¡ªDagobert from the Northern Territory, who had previously worked with them.


    Beside him sat the blond-haired Edmund, who waved to Yi Chen.


    "Isn¡¯t that William? Come on, we¡¯re just one person short."


    At this critical moment when the test was about to end, there was no need to refuse.


    He quickly stepped forward. When Yi Chen extended his hand to sp Dagobert¡¯s, an immense force pulled him into the carriage without even needing to jump.


    Edmund, seated next to him, closed the door.


    Now that the carriage was full, the driver didn¡¯t wait.Crack! The reins whipped across the horse¡¯s back, swiftly driving them out of the fishy-smelling town.


    Besides the four of them, there were two other unfamiliar faces in the carriage, both injured. One had bandages wrapped around his waist, while the other, with severe wounds on his right arm, was applying medicine to the injury.


    Compared to the others, Edmund¡¯s team had suffered minimal injuries.


    Dagobert¡¯s left arm was wrapped in a small bandage, and Julianne was resting against the carriage wall, clutching her right side, seemingly with a minor injury. Blond-haired Edmund had only a small adhesive bandage on his cheek.


    By contrast, Yi Chen, who was unscathed, naturally became the center of attention.


    Edmund leaned closer, asking curiously, ¡°Mr. William, I¡¯m a bit curious. The three of us fought our way from the town center to the gathering point, stopping twice to observe along the way, yet we didn¡¯t see you at all. Did youe from thekeside?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    ¡°How did you do that? During the town¡¯s chaos, theke, where the pathogen breeds, is the most dangerous. Almost no one would approach it at thest minute.¡±


    ¡°I just happened to notice an ¡®opening,¡¯ that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Really? Impressive.¡±


    ¡°By the way, how long will it take to reach the organization¡¯s headquarters?¡±


    Noticing Yi Chen taking the initiative to ask, Edmund quickly exined, ¡°Locations chosen as test sites are usually close to the organization for easier monitoring and to prevent unexpected incidents. In at most three hours, we¡¯ll reach the headquarters¡ªZion City.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Yi Chen asked no more, using the time to close his eyes and rest, recovering from the mental trauma.


    At the same time, he checked on Little Grape.


    Despite some selfish motives during theke mission, Little Grape had proven mostly reliable.


    Creak, creak. nt roots moved within his body, trying to make contact with the growing Little Grape to check its condition. As he drew near, the roots dispersed again.


    ¡°Forget it, best not to disturb it¡­¡±


    With his hands in his pockets, he leaned back against the carriage wall to sleep, but found lingering thoughts kept him awake. Every time he closed his eyes, memories of the deep abyssboratory and the mysterious entities resurfaced.


    Unable to sleep, his engineering mind started analyzing the origins of the Green Lake Town incident.


    ¡°The true mastermind should be that unknown entity I glimpsed. The giant eye at theke¡¯s bottom was merely a product of his experiment. He must have released that eye along with some parasite samples into Green Lake Town. Rather than a diseased invasion, it¡¯s as if the town was used as a ¡®breeding ground.¡¯


    Once an advanced infected person emerges, they might be taken to the abyss.


    How terrifying¡­


    What kind of entities rule over this world?¡±


    Recalling the epic music of the ocean and the golden frame above the unknown entity¡¯s head, Yi Chen smiled faintly, eager to uncover this world¡¯s secrets.


    ¡­


    Approximately two hours passed.


    Suddenly, a strong jolt hit them.


    At the same time, the carriage gradually tilted upward, clearly heading up a slope.


    ¡°Are we finally going up the mountain? Ah, we¡¯re almost there. I¡¯m really looking forward to it.¡±


    Edmund, with his blond hair, stretchedzily and then decided on his own to open the rear carriage door. The driver didn¡¯t say anything about this behavior.


    As long as they were going uphill, there was no risk of contamination.


    At least, for now.


    In the instant the door fully opened...


    ¡°What the heck!¡±


    A surge of acrophobia instantly flooded Yi Chen¡¯s mind, his eyes widening instinctively. Luckily, he wasn¡¯t seated near the edge; otherwise, he would have been scared out of his wits.


    At present,


    the carriage was moving along a dangerously steep mountain road on the edge of a cliff.


    The right side was a drop-off of over two hundred meters.


    Most terrifyingly, the width of the road was barely ten centimeters wider than the carriage itself.


    The wheels were almost rolling along the very edge, always on the brink of sliding off. Any ordinary person would naturally feel a primal fear¡ªa deep, instinctive dread of death.


    However,


    the other passengers showed little reaction, fully trusting the driver¡¯s skills.


    As the carriage turned a bend along the cliff,


    hundreds of meters away,


    at the top of the mountain cliff,


    a ck city stood.


    The city was built against the cliff, with even a third of its area extending out beyond it.


    Thick fog hovered over the city, with some areas even shrouded in a ck membrane, effectively blocking any external probing.


    ¡°So this is [Zion].¡±


    For some reason,


    when Yi Chen looked at the city, his body felt a strange, coldfort, as though he¡¯d found a safe haven in a world full of sickness and decay.


    Just then,


    a sensation stirred within him.


    On his shoulder, his skin suddenly swelled, and thin ck threads pierced through, gently tearing open his skin without any pain.


    A ck lump, identical to the original, emerged.


    The nerve connections between them were fully restored.


    Then came Little Grape¡¯s voice:


    ¡°Are we about to arrive at the organization already? That was quick.¡±


    ¡°Little Grape, you¡¯re healed already? I thought it would take you a few days.¡±


    ¡°It was just a delicious snack. A few hours were enough to digest it... It was good, I suppose. It did give me a bit of a boost.


    Here, let me share it with you.¡±


    As Little Grape shared his newly upgraded visual ability,


    Yi Chen¡¯s vision was now equipped with a circr dotted line representing a [Lock-On].


    Whenever any living target entered his field of vision,


    the circle would automatically lock onto them.


    Currently,


    Edmund, the blond-haired one, was in Yi Chen¡¯s line of sight.


    The dotted circle, almost like an aim-assist, instantly targeted Edmund¡¯s head.


    One secondter,


    the dotted line gradually became solid, indicating that the lock-on wasplete.


    Little Grape¡¯s voice returned,


    ¡°All set! The target is locked! Just give themand, and the mental energy will be directed at them.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡±


    Yi Chen quickly looked away and blinked.


    The [Lock-On] was immediately released.


    Edmund seemed to sense Yi Chen¡¯s nce but didn¡¯t care at all.

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    After about half an hour of uphill travel, the carriage finally left the treacherous mountain road. The wheels rolled onto a broad avenue paved with stone blocks, leading everyone toward the gates of Zion City.


    Notably, there were ckmp posts spaced evenly along the road. These weren¡¯t oilmps but ¡®electric lights¡¯.


    ¡°Electric lights here?¡±


    Since arriving in this world, Yi Chen had been curious about the era he was in. The only modern technology he¡¯d seen was an old telephone in a small cabin in the cemetery, which could only connect to the overseer and no one else. This made Yi Chen think he might be in a time shortly after the Second Industrial Revolution.


    But as he left the cemetery, he didn¡¯t see any other electric devices in the outside world; people relied on oilmps and candles for lighting. Even the vehicle sent by the organization was a horse-drawn carriage rather than abustion engine car.


    Now, with electric facilities appearing on the road to Zion City, Yi Chen felt even more puzzled.


    ¡°Could it be that due to ¡®disease,¡¯ certain underdeveloped areas couldn¡¯t keep up with progress and were left behind in the pre-industrial era? But that doesn¡¯t make sense. If it were truly backward, a telephone wouldn¡¯t exist in the cemetery. Perhaps the phone was brought by a overseer from the organization?¡±


    "Gray Zone."


    Suddenly, Little Grape interrupted Yi Chen''s thoughts with this keyword.¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Based on the memories that have merged in my mind, humans here once entered a period of the ¡®Electrical Era¡¯, efficiently and conveniently using electric power instead of steam. However, due to the impact of the disease, electric power couldn¡¯t fully develop and was eventually ¡®segmented and restricted.¡¯


    "The Gray Zone pervades all corners of the world, constantly spreading and proliferating. Anything within the Gray Zone is affected, and electricity is no exception. When electric wires pass through Gray Zones, the current inside them is affected, turning it into a medium for pathogenic.


    "The lightbulbs lit by the electricity can transmit effects through their light radiation, affecting people¡¯s skin. Telephones in such zones emit strange noises and whispers, gradually influencing people''s thoughts. Televisions may show bizarre, unclear images, spreading disease through visual means.


    "As a result, the development of electricity waspletely halted, and human technology was forced back into the Steam Era. However, inrger cities that are rtively safe, like Zion City, there are likely power nts that maintain electricity within the city and preserve the advancement of certain technologies. That¡¯s the gist of it."


    ¡°Even electricity is affected by disease? What exactly is this ¡®disease,¡¯ and where did it originate?¡±


    ¡°My memories are iplete, so I can¡¯t answer that... Besides, even among humans, no one may truly know. Perhaps, as you explore and seek answers, you¡¯ll gradually understand.¡±


    Just as Yi Chen¡¯s curiosity grew and he was about to continue the conversation with Little Grape, the carriage came to a halt.


    Edmond¡¯s voice called out:


    ¡°Mr. William, wake up! We¡¯ve arrived at Zion City. Up next is an important evaluation and awards ceremony, which determines whether we can formally join the organization and our subsequent benefits.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Stepping off the carriage, Yi Chen didn¡¯t see the expected city gates but instead two tall, ck Gothic towers with pointed spires, etched with vertical ribs.


    Between the towers was a narrow, ustrophobic, dark passageway¡ªthe only route into the city. On either side of the towers were endless ck walls, adorned with pointed spires and vertical structures.


    At regr intervals on top of the walls were gargoyle-like statues, adding anotheryer of eeriness to the already somber exterior.


    It felt more like a militarized Gothic city wall than an ordinary city boundary.


    ¡°William,e on! We still need to pass through this passageway used for quarantine, inspection, and purification before we can officially enter Zion City.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    A total of 19 assessors were sent here. They lined up in rtive order, entering through the narrow doorway of the tower.


    Inside, the hallway featured a cylindrical dome and ribbed arch framework, with wallmps on either side, decorated in a ssical style.


    Not far in, a man dressed as a gentleman, holding a walking cane with a curved handle and wearing a white mask, blocked the path.


    On either side of him, a hidden passage appeared in the walls.


    A mature, deep voice sounded from behind the mask:


    ¡°I am pleased that so many neers have passed this difficult assessment. However, before setting foot in Zion, you must undergo a thorough physical disinfection. Men to the right, Madam to the left. Upon reaching the ¡®Disinfection Chamber,¡¯ please remove all clothing promptly. If any trace of contamination or symptoms of infection remains after disinfection, you will be immediately disposed of.¡±


    Yi Chen, at the end of the men¡¯s line, arrived in an enclosed space. Edmond, was the first to strippletely.


    As Yi Chen undressed, he noticed, to his surprise, that his current body¡ªthe one belonging to William Behrens¡ªwas quite fit. Although slightly thin, his four-pack abs were faintly visible, and his body fat percentage was within the normal range.


    After about half a minute, nozzles extended from the walls on all sides, even above and below.


    A pale yellow liquid with an intense odor sprayed out at high pressure, washing over everyone¡¯s bodies. Some of the more severely injured assessors were knocked over by the force.


    Yi Chen steadied himself as best he could.


    ¡°Chlorine water? It seems mixed with something else...¡±


    When the washing ended, a strange, intrusive sensation scanned everyone¡¯s body, as if detecting something.


    A low hum, followed by a slight tremor in the air¡ªand one of the young men sitting against the wall disappeared.


    ¡°Disappeared? What kind of technique is this?¡± Yi Chen was shocked. He had been vignt, but he hadn¡¯t noticed a thing.


    Everyone dressed again and returned to the corridor.


    After the disinfection process, the group was reduced to 17 people.


    They continued to follow the masked gentleman toward the exit of the corridor.


    As they stepped out, the glow of the morning sun washed over them, revealing a city with a Gothic Revival style, a unique architecture beyond conventional construction.


    [<em>Zion</em>]


    The city had multiyered, intersecting streets connected by arched bridges, with winding and uneven alleyways and elevated cathedrals, guild buildings, and noble estates supported by pirs, spiral staircases, andrge steps¡ªachievements that surpassed the architectural feats of Yi Chen''s previous world.


    The gentleman guide ced his top hat over his chest and gave a slight bow to the group.


    ¡°Wee to the headquarters of G&D, Zion¡ªthe world¡¯s sanctuary. I am your temporary guide, Jeff Peterson. Please follow me to the ¡®Divine Skin Mansion.¡¯ Based on your assessment performance, you will receive varying levels of the ¡®Skin of the Gentry.¡¯ Do not leave the group on our way; doing so will be seen as willingly forfeiting your right to the skin.¡±


    Upon hearing this special term, Edmond and most assessors showed expressions of eagerness, their excitement evident, as if the perils they¡¯d faced were all worth it.


    Yi Chen remained expressionless, but his heart raced with anticipation. He was keen to find out what reward his bold gamble would bring.

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    As Yi Chen delved deeper into the city of Zion, he grew increasingly fascinated by its astonishing design. The section they were currently exploring, the "Street District," was divided into threeyers: upper, middle, and lower.


    Theseyers were interconnected by elevators, stairways along the edges, and some indoor corridors. Notably, the area essed from the main gate corresponded to the upper street level. In other words, the middle and lower levels were embedded within the mountains.


    Due to the threeyered structure, there were significant gaps and spaces between the ground levels of the upper and middleyers, connected by circr arch bridges. The residential buildings in the Street District predominantly followed a Gothic style, with tall, slender spires, clear vertical features, elongated windows, and an overall dark, oppressive ambiance. Some buildings disyed a stacked structure, spanning from the lower to the upper levels.


    However, much of the street design was notably inconvenient. The streetscked straightforward ess, with iron gates at certain corners and narrower spots, giving an impression of intentional disorientation and division.


    Additionally, the entire Street Districtcked a clear main road and more closely resembled a multyered, nonlinear maze. asionally, a winding path would appear between inconspicuous houses, potentially leading to the other end of the district, saving substantial travel timepared to other routes.


    While observing the intricateyout, Yi Chen offered his analysis:


    "Such a street design likely serves two purposes.


    1. This city isn¡¯t designed for tourism; it¡¯s exclusive to members of the organization. No matter howplex the streetyout, as long as the members are familiar with it, it won¡¯t be a problem¡ªin fact, it may even be convenient at times.


    2. If one day the disease spreads across the world, even reaching Zion, the streets can be effectively and quickly partitioned for istion thanks to thisplex structure."Moreover, with his enhanced senses, Yi Chen noticed that the people living in the Street District moved with light steps, economical motions, and graceful gestures, often exuding strength in subtle actions. Their attire was equally refined, with every detail meticulously crafted.


    "Those who live in Zion must have passed a basic assessment. Even the most ordinary residents are likely stronger than us."


    While navigating the district¡¯s uneven streets, Yi Chen also noted several hidden shops, unmarked but evidently conducting business. Certain alleys were closed off and guarded by men in gentlemanly attire for unknown reasons.


    He also observed that some gentlemen on the streets were apanied by rather unusual ¡°pets.¡± Beyond typical pets like parrots or cats, some had creatures that could only be described as monstrous¡ªsuch as a dog with a chrysanthemum-shaped mouth and no other facial features, or arge spider with human-like legs. Mysterious pet shops dotted the streets, their doors tightly shut but emitting strange sounds from within.


    It was no surprise, then, that when Yi Chen met with other assessors with his pet, Little Grape, perched on his shoulder, they showed little surprise. Apparently, it wasmon for gentlemen in the organization to carry pets asbat aids.


    Half an Hour Later.


    The group followed Mr. Jeff, their guide, as they crossed a stone-arched bridge to the other side of the street. On the opposite side, an individual with a striking appearance approached them.


    He wore the iconic bird-beak mask of a medieval doctor. The leather of the mask was unique, with faint, starry scars flowing across it. The eye sockets and breathingponents were lined with metal, giving him a mysterious and noble air.


    However, despite the bird-beak mask, he also wore a modern doctor¡¯s white coat and walked barefoot. This peculiar appearance immediately made Yi Chen think of a profession¡ªthe "Doctor."


    Upon seeing this figure, Mr. Jeff promptly removed his hat and bowed in a gentlemanly manner. The assessors apanying him also stopped and bowed in respect.


    Yet...


    As the mysterious doctor passed by, he suddenly stopped.


    With a slight tilt of his head, the metal-rimmed eyes of his bird-beak mask locked onto Yi Chen at the end of the line. From the breathing slit, he murmured in an eerie, almost sticky tone:


    "Death¡­ There¡¯s a faint yet real scent of death flowing from you. Where does ite from?"


    Yi Chen steadied himself and replied quietly, "Ie from the cemetery of Easton Town, where I worked for some time."


    "Simply working in a cemetery wouldn¡¯t let death seep into your body¡­ What is your name?"


    "William Behrens."


    After hearing the name, the mysterious doctor said nothing more, turning to leave.


    Following this exchange, everyone, including Mr. Jeff, who was leading the group, turned their eyes toward Yi Chen. Blond-haired Edmund even ced a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Wow! Mr. William, you actually attracted the doctor¡¯s attention¡­ That¡¯s a rare urrence! You really are something.¡±


    The word "doctor" immediately reminded Yi Chen of the organization name "G&D," where ¡°doctor¡± was a keyponent.


    Not wanting to appear ignorant, he asked:


    "My life at the cemetery was quite isted, so I''m not too clear on the meaning of ¡®doctor.¡¯ Could you exin?"


    "Gentleman & Doctor¡­ Simply put, it goes like this:


    ¡®Gentleman¡¯ represents spiritual purity. It aims to eliminate and prevent the mental decay caused by worldly illness, allowing for constant self-examination and ensuring the purity and integrity of human nature.


    ¡®Doctor¡¯ represents physical purity, using direct methods and ¡®medical tools¡¯ to cut away the sources of disease scattered across the world.


    In the organization, any gentleman granted the ¡®Doctor¡¯s License¡¯ is a true master at eradicating illness at its root.


    Of course, some among them are also skilled in healing. As long as you¡¯re not fully dead, even if one foot is in the River Styx, they can pull you back.


    In short, they¡¯re immensely powerful.


    Keep at it. With your talent, William, you might one day be a doctor too.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re in the same cohort, so let¡¯s look out for each other.¡±


    After some casual conversation, the group continued on foot.


    The area of Zion City isn¡¯t particrlyrge, but fully exploring every corner is no easy task.


    After about an hour and a half of walking, the street architecture gradually became sparse. The winding paths widened and straightened into a clear main road. Along its sides stood exaggerated "gargoyle streetmps"¡ªfive-meter-tall statues holdingnterns with white, perpetual mes.


    At the end of the main road, they encountered a ¡°ck bridge¡±: wide, straight, and extending long into the distance, contrasting sharply with the previous round arch bridge in both scale and structure.


    Ayer of mist covered the bridge¡¯s surface.


    It was clear this bridge served as a ¡°divider¡± between districts. On the other side might lie an important area of Zion.


    After crossing the nearly kilometer-long ck bridge, they reached an open gate.


    Inside stood a massive, castle-like mansion. Its walls were constructed fromrge, rough-hewn stones that strangely looked somewhere between stone and skin.


    As Yi Chen gazed at this skin-like mansion, a deep unease arose within him, momentarily reminding him of the scaly abyss he had once visited¡­ as if there was some hidden resemnce between the two.


    Or rather, an ancient aura¡ªsomething profoundly old beyond hisprehension.


    ¡°So this is the ¡®Divine Skin Mansion,¡¯ is it?¡±


    [Author:- The slower pacing here aims to detail the unique structure and architectural style of Zion City, giving everyone a stronger sense of entering this world¡­ describing the city took a lot of time and study (sob)]

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    [Divine Skin Mansion]


    One of the most iconic and important buildings of the G&D organization, it represents the organization¡¯s origins and has been pivotal in its development and in nurturing distinguished gentlemen.


    All neers who arrive in Zion after passing the external assessmente here to be awarded their corresponding level of "skin"¡ªa necessary item to be a ¡°gentleman.¡±


    The mansion''s entrance is a typical Gothic door with multipleyers of arches and pirs, recessed in stages to create a sense of depth and allure, emphasizing the ''entrance''.


    The door itself is grandly oversized, towering at a height of 10 meters, as if designed not for human entry, but to wee a deity.


    <em>Buzz!</em>


    The heavy iron doors open inward, their solemnity evident.


    Two clerics, who permanently reside in the mansion, open the doors. They wear distinctive attire that aligns with the mansion¡¯s style¡ªlong robes seemingly crafted from patches of animal skins, sewn together after the fur has been removed. Each piece is pentagonal, with conspicuous stitching along the edges.


    Stitching can also be seen on their bodies, along the lips, eyelids, necks, and even parts concealed by clothing, as if their skin too has been pieced together with seams.Upon entering the mansion, a massive staircase with flesh-colored carpetes into view, widening step by step, leading visitors to the left and right galleries of the second floor.


    On each side of the hall hang six portraits, corresponding to the previous masters of the mansion, all bearing the title of


    ¡°The First-Gentleman.¡±


    Only these esteemed figures have the authority to rule over the residence.


    Yi Chen and hispanions do not ascend the staircase but are guided to a side room on the first floor.


    The room resembles a conference room, dominated by a long marble table, where the gentleman examiner overseeing the Green Lake Town assessment sits on the inner side of the table.


    The examinees are instructed to line up neatly, giving the setting an interview-like atmosphere.


    Yi Chen, positionedst, notices a white-haired examiner seated at the center, with a white-feathered owl perched on his shoulder¡ªthe same owl that had saved him at theke.


    ¡°I am the primary supervisor of this assessment, George Chamberson. I am pleased that seventeen of you passed the challenging Green Lake Town assessment, with some even demonstrating unexpectedly graceful behavior during the assessment.¡±


    Next, he exins that their overall performance during the assessment will be scored.


    The total score is 100 points. Scoring above 40 grants residency in Zion; a score of 60 or more earns a standard ''Gentleman¡¯s Skin'', while a score of 80 or higher grants a skin infused with the essence of the old world. Those scoring above 95 will have the opportunity to meet the current ¡°First Gentleman¡± himself, who will personally assess and gift them a skin.


    Some of the gentlemen already familiar with the criteria disregard thest statement. The organization¡¯s grading is notoriously stringent, especially with the chief examiner this year being the elder known as the "White Owl." Scoring 80 alone would be considered exceptional, securing a promising future in Zion.


    The examiners begin evaluating each candidate in the order they entered, with Yi Chenst in line.


    Due to the assessment¡¯s high difficulty, most scored above the passing mark.


    Among those scoring 80 are:


    - The three members of Edmund¡¯s team,


    - A swordsman wrapped in bandages over much of his body,


    - And a young man with a low presence, somehow now d in a floral suit, wearing a vibrant, multi-colored mask.


    A rustic stone box with the G&D emblem was handed to them.


    Edmund couldn''t hide his excitement and kept nudging hispanions with his shoulder.


    Finally, it was the turn of thest person to enter, Yi Chen.


    The blonde-haired Edmund restrained his joy, suppressing his excitement, and focused on the evaluators'' uing remarks and scores.


    This time, Chief Examiner Chambein spoke directly:


    "William Behrens, temporary examiner from Easton Cemetery. Your final score for this assessment is [96]."


    The words fell, and silence filled the room.


    All the examiners, including Edmund, widened their eyes. A masked figure in a colorful suit even turned his head, showing a hint of interest.


    Among them were many from families, training bases, or small to medium-sized organizations directly affiliated with G&D.


    Everyone knew how difficult it was to score 95 or higher in the evaluation and to have a chance to meet the "First Gentleman." Such a score was almost impossible to achieve.


    For many years, no one had been able to reach this score.


    Mr. Chambein continued:


    "Since the score surpasses the first tier, I''ll briefly exin the reasoning.


    At the start of his investigation in the town, William chose a route entirely different from yours. He proactively engaged with an individual in the early stages of ''pathological transformation,'' stayed alone in a highly dangerous inn, and, in his quest to uncover the true root of the town¡¯s sickness, made the right, astute decision to cooperate with this partially conscious patient. He established a temporary alliance to gain their assistance and information.


    In the end, he risked certain death by venturing to the depths of theke to eliminate the [Root Cause].¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    Chambein''s summary left the other examinees even more shocked.


    They knew very well that, without having epted the "Gentleman''s Skin" and formally bing a gentleman, it was nearly impossible for an individual to eradicate regional disease. Simply surviving Green Lake Town and uncovering some key information to pass to the organization was already a significant aplishment.


    Yet this young man ventured alone into thepletely unknownke depths, ying the Root Cause at its core.


    A score of 96 was well-deserved.


    "Elegant andpassionate, courageous and perceptive... Zion hasn''t seen a young person like this in a long time. I believe the ''First Gentleman'' is also looking forward to meeting you."


    Listening to Chambein''s assessment, Yi Chen himself was surprised. He hadn¡¯t been sure whether his cooperation with the afflicted would be seen as a "misstep" by the organization.


    Now it seemed the organization wasn¡¯t rigid; that engaging with the afflicted in certain situations for better oues was a disy of "insight."


    "The evaluation phase is over. Those who obtained the ''Gentleman¡¯s Skin'' should proceed to the Temple District to prepare for the ''eptance Ceremony.''"


    As everyone filed out, Edmund patted Yi Chen''s shoulder gently. "William, you¡¯ll have to lead us more in the future¡­ may you leave a good impression on the First Gentleman."


    "Yes."


    Once everyone had left, Chambein motioned for Yi Chen to follow him.


    "I will personally take you to the ¡®Depths of the official residence¡¯, where the First Gentleman resides.


    On the way, refrain from any impulsive actions and simply follow me.


    If you feel difort on your skin, endure it as best you can."


    Thisst instruction made Yi Chen wary. As the First Gentleman and the master of the Divine Skin Mansion, being in the depths of the residence surely hinted at hidden secrets.


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Chambein rotated a wallmp affixed to the side of the wall, revealing a narrow passageway just wide enough for a single person to pass.


    "Follow me¡­ do not attempt to memorize the route; the path to the [Depths of the official residence] is one-time, one-way, and requires the First Gentleman¡¯s permission."


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Walking through the narrow wall passage of the residence, they proceeded under the dim glow of oilmps for over ten minutes.


    The tight passage soon opened into a spiral staircase descending ominously.


    The moment Yi Chen set foot on the stairs, he heard a strange whispering in his ears.


    Though he couldn¡¯t understand the words, his skin began to tingle, evolving into a peeling sensation¡­


    It was as if his skin had developed its own awareness, wanting to separate from his body and exist on its own.


    "Hey!"


    Little Grape¡¯s sudden mental alert brought him back to reality, and the whispering faded.


    "Just now¡­"


    ¡°The ancient existence hidden within this residence tried to [skin you]. Be cautious~ don''t let your mind slip for even a second. I''ll help too.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Yi Chen could sense Little Grape¡¯s unprecedented seriousness.

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27


    As Yi Chen felt the oppressive influence from the depths of the official residence, Chambein deliberately paused, waiting without offering any assistance.


    After a few minutes passed, Yi Chen regained hisposure, and Chambein offered a quiet assessment.


    "If you could resist the ''Whispers of the Divine Skin'' on your own next time, that would be even better."


    "We still have another half hour of walking to do. Before we meet the First Gentleman, I have a few personal questions I''d like to ask you."


    "Go ahead."


    "When you eradicated the Watcher at thekebed, what else did you experience? Did you see anything beyond the typical test areas?"


    Without hesitation, Yi Chen described his experience of mental invasion by a giant eye, being drawn into an abyssalboratory in his consciousness. He recounted the epic music echoing in his mind, the figure symbolizing the ultimate form of a fish, the strange attire, and the golden frame that appeared above his head.


    Just as Yi Chen was about to speak the ancient name inscribed on the frame, Chambein swiftly turned, covering Yi Chen¡¯s mouth with his hand.


    "Never utter such ancient, originden names; it could cause severe and fundamental damage to you and may even expose the exact locations of Zion and the Divine Skin Mansion. Since you''re not fully part of the organization yet and this is a first offense, we¡¯ll let it slide. Surviving such an ordeal indeed qualifies you to meet the First Gentleman.""Mr. Chambein, what exactly are those fish-like entities in the Abyss?"


    "They are ancient beings, linked to the ''Origin''. They are far beyond your reach¡ªI''ve only seen the tip of the iceberg myself. As for more details, you''ll have to search for them when you reach a sufficient level."


    "Let''s not stray too far off topic. Tell me about your experience in the Seven-Day Cemetery."


    "Alright."


    When Chambein learned that Yi Chen was a non-trained, ordinary external hire, he was genuinely astonished. Apletely ordinary person, merely enhanced in sensory perception, had managed to kill an ''Initial Stage Patient''. Such a case was nearly unheard of across all regions managed by the organization.


    Not to mention that Yi Chen even epted ¡®Pathogenic Characteristics¡¯ afterward.


    "No wonder Wilbert personally rmended you. I''m sure the First Gentleman will also be pleased to see such unique, fresh talent joining our organization."


    As they chatted, the two descended a hundred meters down a spiral staircase. Chambein took out a unique high-level seal and unlocked the iron gate at the bottom of the stairs. The gate creaked open, expanding the previously confined space several times over and filling it with the warmth of candlelight, dispelling the ustrophobic sensation.


    However, Yi Chen felt no relief; instead, an even greater sense of oppression and unease settled over him.


    The so-called <em>depths of the residence</em> turned out to be a medieval chapel buried underground. The central hall was high, with low aisles on either side, and rows of clustered columns guiding visitors toward the altar.


    This underground chapel had no windows. It was as if it was built to reject the divine light descending from heaven, avoiding any form ofmunication with the ¡°above.¡± In ce of windows, square niches had been carved into the walls to hold candles, creating artificial light, a testament to the organization''s beliefs and resolve.


    What Yi Chen found most unsettling, however, was the chapel''s altar design and entity.


    Above the Altar


    An ambiguous figure, a "human," hung suspended. The quotes signify that although this being''s body structure and proportions resembled those of a human, it stood nearly six meters tall. Beneath wild, unkempt white hair was the face of a middle-aged man. His body was shrouded by an old, tattered, patched ck suit.


    *<em>Additional Modifications</em>*


    His body had been sewn with six foreign organs, with only four visible on the exterior:


    1. An aged arm attached to his right shoulder de,


    2. A sea-blue eye embedded in the back of his head,


    3. An ear attached to the back of his right hand,


    4. A spine covered in skin, connected to his waist like a tail.


    The following were hidden from view:


    5. A patch of pale skin with strange tattoos, sewn onto his chest,


    6. A human-faced heart imnted in his right chest, functioning normally.


    The six external entities are derived from the former [First Gentleman], embodying the traits and will he held in life.


    *<em>Suspension Method:</em>*


    Iron chains descend from the church ceiling,


    binding his limbs,


    piercing into the skin of his back,


    passingterally through the back of his neck,


    his entire body hangs cruciform above the altar.


    These chains, touching his flesh, seem almost alive, their cold steel turning warm, even growing skin-like on their surface.


    This man is the current "First Gentleman", the seventh master of the Divine Skin Mansion¡ªAlexis King ude.


    ¡°This is the First Gentleman¡­¡±


    At this sight, Yi Chen begins to feel confused, even nervous, about the reward he is about to receive.


    As he and White Owl approach the steps before the altar, the First Gentleman slowly opens his eyes.


    In that instant, Yi Chen feels his skin begin to ripple all over his body.


    ¡°Since the jury has given you such a high evaluation, ascend the final holy steps and ept my skin.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Only then does Yi Chen understand: the highest honor of the assessment, the "Gentleman''s Skin", is directly bestowed by the master of the Divine Skin Mansion.


    Though he doesn¡¯t yet know the skin¡¯s purpose,


    he is certain it will be of great help to his future progress.


    Taking a deep breath,


    Yi Chen hesitates no longer.


    He ensures his steps are deliberate, his movements graceful.


    As he ascends the steps,


    ng, ng¡ªthe chains move,


    and the First Gentleman, ude, descends to the altar, gazing down at the small-framed young man before him.


    ¡°Touch me.¡±


    He extends his hand.


    Their palms meet.


    In that instant,


    Yi Chen can no longer control his skin, which begins to shift uncontrobly, flowing like liquid.


    Simultaneously,


    a strange sensation overwhelms him as the skin flows toward him, as if their skins are ¡°swapping.¡±


    This liquid sensation


    sparks a memory he thought should have been erased¡ªa vast ck sea, ink-like waves surging and sweeping something from his body.


    Buzz!


    During the ¡°skin transfer,¡± the First Gentleman ude suddenly feels a deathly pull from within Yi Chen¡­ even forming a small ck vortex, actively drawing his skin.


    ¡°Death?¡±


    The withered arm attached to ude¡¯s back sweeps forward, forcibly breaking their connection.


    However,


    Yi Chen, absorbed in the transfer, has no awareness of what happened outside.


    When he finally opens his eyes,


    he finds a 10cm by 10cm piece of "Gentleman¡¯s Skin" in his hand, and he can clearly feel it is alive.


    At that same moment,


    White Owl Chambein, standing below the steps, shows a rare look of surprise.


    ¡°Such arge piece?¡±


    He had seen some exceptionally talented neers granted an audience with the First Gentleman, but none had ever received sorge a piece of skin.


    ng, ng¡ªthe chains move again,


    and the First Gentleman resumes his suspended state.


    Simultaneously, a ck box appears above the altar.


    ¡°Store your ''Skin'' and proceed to the eptance ceremony¡­ I¡¯m also curious to see what kind of gentleman you¡¯ll be identified as.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yi Chen quickly steps forward, cing the skin in the box and holding it close to his chest.


    Before parting,


    the First Gentleman adds ament, intended more for White Owl to hear.


    ¡°Through our contact, I sensed that your physique is quite ordinary, with no basic training¡­ more like an ''outsider''.


    Chambein, make sure this young man¡¯s foundational training is elerated; he¡¯ll need to invest much more time than others.


    If necessary, you may request extended secluded training from the academy.


    In any case, I leave this matter to you.


    We must carefully cultivate our talent; we don¡¯t have much time left.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    With these words, the white skin affixed to the First Gentleman¡¯s chest reveals an ancient, iprehensible pattern.


    ¡¾Spatial Compression¡¿


    In a sh,


    Yi Chen and Chambein return to the side hall of the assessment and review.


    It almost seems as if his meeting with the First Gentleman was but a fleeting dream.


    Clutching the ck box in his hand, feeling the vitality of the Gentleman¡¯s Skin within, excitement, joy, and satisfaction from securing this prized reward surge forth.


    ¡°Going to the bottom of theke¡­ was indeed the right choice.¡±

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    ¡°Each letter represents a career. Once I choose, it will define my future growth path, determine my status and quality of life in Zion City, and even set the boundaries of my exploration of the world. To some extent, it will also dictate my maximum survival time in this world.


    I can''t rush this decision. I need to take my time, think carefully, and decide.


    Neither Chambein nor any of the clergy at the mansion mentioned a ¡®time limit,¡¯ so staying here as long as I need shouldn''t be a problem.¡±


    Yi Chen attempted to summon Little Grape, hoping it might offer some guidance.


    Unfortunately, he found that only his consciousness had entered this ce alone.


    Calming his mind, he recalled the focused state he used to achieve when conducting scientific research.


    First, he looked at the blue envelope.


    ¡°Ivy vines wrapped around branches resembling human forms¡­ This clearly rtes to the ''Pathogenic Characteristic'' within me, likely indicating a nt-based growth path.


    Choosing this would allow further development within the nt system.And Mr. Wilbert did mention that the pathogenic crystal I ingested was of top quality in terms of both rity and shape.


    During the Green Lake Town assessment, I deeply experienced the convenience of nt abilities.


    But let''s look at the others first.¡±


    His gaze shifted to the ck envelope.


    As Yi Chen closely observed the skeleton on the boat illustrated on the envelope, a faint ck mist began to emanate from the leather material, seeping into Yi Chen''s nostrils.


    In an instant, his thoughts drifted to a ck sea, where a lone skeleton drifted in a wooden boat across the waters.


    When the skeleton turned its head, half of its face remained decayed¡­ looking just like Yi Chen''s.


    This sudden shock snapped him back to reality.


    ¡°A ck sea¡­ I saw a simr scene before when I took in the skin of the First Gentleman. There¡¯s an inexplicable familiarity, almost as if I¡¯ve been there before, as if it¡¯s somehow rted to death.


    When I first arrived in Zion, I encountered a doctor on an arched bridge, who also mentioned that death flows within me.


    Could this be due to the transmigration?


    Is the ck envelope connected to my experience of death and crossing worlds?¡±


    Recalling Chambein¡¯s exnation about the ck envelope, it represents the Nightmare profession. Once chosen, he would receive special training from the organization, bing an executioner.


    Yi Chen didn¡¯t particrly mind such a title.


    His instincts told him that the growth path offered by the ck envelope would provide him with formidable power.


    ¡°No rush¡­ let¡¯s check the purple one.¡±


    Compared to the other two, the purple envelope made of white card stock was thicker and more refined.


    Embellished with a book insignia on the surface, it resembled a purple gentleman perusing books in a library.


    ¡°The book insignia on the envelope seems to contain tiny inscriptions¡­ in the real world, you¡¯d need an extremely high-precision engraving machine to imprint such fine text.


    Without Little Grape¡¯s visual enhancement, it¡¯s impossible to make out clearly.


    Wait¡ªif this ce is only essible by the conscious mind, could it be that this ¡®Old Hall¡¯ is also a kind of mental space, like a dream?


    If so, then perhaps my subjective thoughts might influence the objective reality?¡±


    With this thought, Yi Chen widened his eyes as much as possible, almost pressing his round eyeballs against the purple envelope.


    Amazingly, prolonged staring indeed magnified his vision, and the previously illegible text gradually became clear.


    Once he could read it entirely, Yi Chen was so startled that he took several steps back.


    To verify it wasn¡¯t a hallucination, Yi Chen returned to the stone table and repeated the process, looking even longer and more carefully this time.


    ¡°Why¡­ why is my thesis printed on it?¡±


    In the book emblem on the purple envelope, the tiny inscriptions were the very same thesis Yi Chen had painstakingly written before his death.


    The text on the left side of the book corresponded to the thesis cover, including the title and names of Yi Chen and his advisor.


    On the right side of the book was the thesis abstract.


    These familiar words instantly pulled Yi Chen back into painful memories, making him nearly abandon the purple letter.


    After a while, Yi Chen calmed down and resumed hisprehensive analysis.


    "The blue letter corresponds to the ''pathogenic characteristic'' I just acquired here, the ck letter seems to be rted to [transmigration], which corresponds to a death attribute, and the purple letter rtes to my experiences before I died.


    Just as Mr. Chambein said, these letters are closely connected to me.


    Generally speaking, the first two are preferable, but¡­ nts represent vitality, while ck represents death.


    If I choose one as my growth path, the bnce within me will be disrupted, and the chosen path will restrict the development of the other, possibly even eliminating it altogether.


    If I want tobine both, the purple letter is the only option.


    Should I take this risk?"


    Yi Chen looked again at the purple letter, his gaze focused on the book emblem on the envelope. For a moment, he recalled fragments of his past, whether it was in the hopeless orphanage or attending the local school after escaping. Yi Chen never missed a chance to study.


    It was the lines of text in those books that motivated him to survive in his previous world, shaping his values and giving him the opportunity to truly "be human." On the rtively fair path of education, he fought hard, winning schrships each year and eventually reaching the graduate level.


    Books were the light in his past life.


    "Purple represents a unique [profession]... Books and reading were the most important and the thing I was best at in my past life."


    As Yi Chen gradually made up his mind, a sense of certainty formed. Without hesitation, he picked up the purple envelope from the stone table and opened it!


    The words recorded in the letter transformed into a bright, intense beam that shot into his eyes and pierced his mind.


    He could even faintly smell the scent of something burning in his brain.


    Buzz!


    When he opened his eyes again, he had returned to the ceremonial hall.


    Huff, huff! Yi Chen knelt on one knee, gasping heavily, his head emitting plumes of white smoke.


    The other participants had alsopleted their "letter selection." A "emblem" of the chosen letter appeared on a part of their bodies, such as their palms, neck, or chest.


    On the right side of blonde Edmond¡¯s neck was a smoking mark of intertwined guns and swords, as if it had just been branded.


    Dagobert, the burly man, had a mark on his right upper arm showing a flexed bicep, clearly rted to a [strength profession].


    Juliana¡¯s mark, branded on her lower abdomen, was a dagger through a skull, perhaps connected to assassination.


    The overseer of this assessment, George Chambein, scanned everyone¡¯s emblems with an owl-like gaze and showed a satisfied expression.


    "This batch of neers is quite impressive. The proportion of rare professions is high, and the integration process was smooth. A few of these neers may even be worth prioritizing for special training¡­ Hmm?"


    When Chambein¡¯s gaze finally settled on Yi Chen, he couldn''t find any "emblem" on him from any angle.


    "Failed!?"


    Yi Chen was his most promising neer, and he had even gained the favor of the First Gentleman. Chambein immediately stepped into the formation to prepare for a thorough examination of the smoke-emitting Yi Chen.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    Although his consciousness had just returned, and his head was a bit foggy, Yi Chen was still fairly aware of his surroundings and naturally noticed the arrival of Chambein, this high-ranking gentleman. Chambein pressed close to examine Yi Chen carefully, while all the people present, including the examiners and clergy, focused their gaze on him as though sensing something missing.


    <em>Goo, goo!</em>


    The owl perched on Chambein''s shoulder let out a call.


    ¡°Here?¡± Following the owl¡¯s direction, Chambein shifted his gaze to the back of Yi Chen¡¯s head, parting his hair with his fingers to peer fully into the skull and observe the brain''s internal state.


    An intact brain came into view, and where its grooves should have been randomly distributed, there was an unusual reshaping at the back. The muscle-like streaks and indentations at the rear of his brain interlocked andbined, forming a "Professional Emblem" resembling an open book, perfectly symmetrical.


    With each breath, oxygen flowed into his skull, causing the brain to pulsate with the intake. The ''Book'' symbol imprinted on the back of his head created an illusion of pages turning, even with tiny letters on the surface seeming to shift like living text as they adjusted to his form.


    ¡°This!¡± Chambein, who had been in Zion for years, was so taken aback by the sight that he stared in amazement, frozen with his hand still on Yi Chen''s head. It took him a full three minutes to realize hisck of decorum, and he quickly straightened himself.


    <em>Cough, cough.</em>


    ¡°The ceremony has been a sess; all of you have received your respective ''Professions'' without exception. However, you¡¯re still one step away from bing true gentlemen. Before you officially start your ''training'' with the organization, you¡¯ll have two days of free time. Soon, a designated person will escort you to temporary amodations in Zion City.¡°Please use this time toplete your ''custom-made clothing¡¯. If you fail to finish or your attire does not meet the standards, your training period will be dyed, and disciplinary records may be added.¡±


    When Chambein finished speaking, an intense cheer rose from the ceremony hall but soon faded. Suppressing their excitement, everyone quietly discussed the Professions they had received.


    Blonde-haired Edmund quickly came over to Yi Chen, trying to locate his "Emblem".


    ¡°Huh? William, is your emblem hidden somewhere secret? Well, my family has connections with a really good tailor shop in Zion; maybe we could go together?¡±


    Yi Chen didn¡¯t mind the suggestion. After all, he was unfamiliar with the ce andpletely unfamiliar with the process of ¡°custom-made clothing¡¯.¡±


    However, Chambein, the white owl, gave him a sharp look and said sternly, ¡°Due to William Behrens¡¯ unique circumstances, I will personally oversee his lodging and attire.¡±


    Edmund got the message, giving Yi Chen a quick look that said, ¡°We¡¯ll meet again.¡± He then left with his team.


    The other examinees were either taken to temporary amodations or, like Edmund, could head directly to established family estates in Zion.


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving,¡± Chambein said, leading Yi Chen to an upscale restaurant called Brusalle, where they were seated in the deepest private room. Once the array of exquisite dishes was brought to the table, Chambein emphasized privacy to the waiter, ensuring that they wouldn¡¯t be disturbed during the meal.


    Dining with Chambein was rather ufortable for Yi Chen. Chambein''s movements were incredibly refined, even keeping the exact angles of his knife and fork consistent and the food in his mouth for precisely the same duration every time. Yi Chen did his best to mimic the etiquette he saw.


    ¡°No need to force yourself. Later, during your formal training, you¡¯ll learn gentlemanly etiquette in a structured way¡­ After all, you were just a contracted worker at the cemetery before you came here.


    ¡°Rx and enjoy; this is your well-deserved reward.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Since the other party had already spoken,


    Yi Chen, whose stomach had long been rumbling with hunger, grabbed thergest bowl of sd and devoured it within moments.


    Little Grape wasn¡¯t to be outdone either; it crawled out from under Yi Chen¡¯s cor, leapt onto the dining table, and sucked out the eyeballs of a flounder as an appetizer before voraciously gnawing on other meat dishes.


    After licking the oil stains clean from the te, it obediently nestled back onto Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder.


    Watching the mess left on the table, Chambein muttered softly, ¡°You¡¯ll need to take etiquette lessons seriously when the timees.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get to the main topic¡­ What choice did you make in the [Hall of the Old Days]?¡±


    Without holding anything back, Yi Chen described the details. Halfway through, Chambein¡¯s eyes widened suddenly.


    ¡°What? Blue, ck, and purple, three high-level letters appearing simultaneously? Impossible! Quickly, describe the crests on each of the letters.¡±


    As they discussed the blue crest adorned with nts, Chambein analyzed, ¡°nts¡­ A rare and valuable support-oriented profession. If you choose this, you¡¯ll be in high demand in Zion; many gentleman squads will extend olive branches to you. Following this path also makes it easier to be a ''Doctor'' and obtain clinic licenses.¡±


    When they moved on to the ck crest with a skull, Chambein¡¯s brows furrowed, his eagle-like eyes narrowing at Yi Chen: ¡°The deathly aura gathered from cemeteries shouldn¡¯t be enough to produce a death-type ck letter. Do you have a more direct connection to ¡®Death¡¯? This is rarer than the nt path. If you choose it, you could be a fearsome Death Gentleman. However¡­ this isn¡¯t the emblem that appeared in your mind, is it? Did you choose the ¡®purple letter¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Why, with two such excellent options, did you pick an unknown path?¡±


    Chambein, usually warm towards Yi Chen, became unexpectedly stern. He seemed to misunderstand, thinking Yi Chen chose the purple letter out of fear of outside pathogens and a desire to live a safe, uneventful life in Zion.


    ¡°Bnce.¡±[1]


    Yi Chen pronounced hisst name and seriously exined his choice, driven by a desire to pursue knowledge while bncing two distinct attributes.


    Upon hearing this, Chambein¡¯s misunderstanding dissipated immediately. He stood up abruptly, spreading his arms. Even the owl on his shoulder opened its wings in sync.


    ¡°Elegant!¡±


    Chambein quickly resumed his seat and continued seriously, ¡°Ahem~ Since the ¡®First Gentleman¡¯ has appointed me to handle your foundational training, I¡¯ll be your ''First Mentor'' in Zion. I¡¯ll also handle the rted formalities for you. After all, I am an honorary professor at the ''Alfarostik Academy''. Your enrollment process will be much smoother as a result.¡±


    Yi Chen promptly updated his address, ¡°Professor Chambein, I have one more question. Now that my profession is determined, how can I experience the changes it brings? Or, how can I examine information rted to this profession?¡±


    ¡°This is why I¡¯ve given you two days toplete something essential, thest step in bing a gentleman: ''tailor-made clothing''. Take your gentleman¡¯s skin ande with me¡­¡±


    1. Bnce = Behrens... Get it? XD

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    Guided by Chambein,


    they crossed the archway over the street and took the elevator directly down to the *<em>Lower Street</em>*.


    The street was divided into three levels, each differing not only in height but in style, density, and predominantmerce.


    The lower one goes, the fewer "restrictions" there are, so that in the Lower Street, establishments less suited for "gentlemen" sometimes appear. The atmosphere leans toward leisure and amusement, with fewer formal venues.


    At this point, Chambein remarked:


    "Most of Zion''s ¡®tailor shops¡¯ are located in the Upper District, particrly along Academy Street, where many have a long history and a strong reputation. However... your hide is a bit different. Even the shops affiliated with the Academy might not handle it perfectly.


    I know an old friend of mine who, due to certain circumstances, was forced to open a tailor shop deep within the Lower Street. Over thirty years ago, he achieved the level of a master tailor. His skills are sure to make the best use of this hide. And he loves a challenging task."


    Upon hearing this, Yi Chen remembered that his current outfit was also from one of the organization''s ¡®tailor shops¡¯. The shopkeeper had told him that once he passed his assessment, he could get a free, custom-made outfit.


    "Professor Chambein, are there many of the organization''s tailor shops outside?""Indeed, [Tailor shops] are a crucial institution of the organization, a vital supply hub for gentlemen.


    Every tailor shop opened outside receives organizational funding, and gentlemen on assignments can enjoy basic services for free:


    - Cleansing of diseased bodies


    - Repairing damaged clothing


    - epting rted tasks or iming rewards locally


    - A safe house and temporary refuge.


    We continuously select gentlemen with tailoring skills to set up external shops tobat the spread of disease and reduce the mortality rate of gentlemen."


    "I understand."


    During their casual chat, the two squeezed through a narrow gap between buildings, entering the depths of the Lower Street.


    *<em>Chasm Street</em>*, as the name suggests, lies nestled between narrow passages, filled with leisure shops. Most of the shops here openly vite Zion''s regtions. The gentlemen here appeared more rxed, wearing masks to hide their faces and expressions.


    Chambein, who seemed strict, epted this environment, saying quietly,


    "The gentleman''s spirit allows us to retain our ''self'' in a diseased world, though fatigue is inevitable.


    As long as gentlemen maintain enough self-control and view <em>indulgence</em> as a temporary relief and a rational tool for bnce, it can actually be beneficial."


    "Mm."


    Just then, a nearby public phone booth rang urgently. The fixed rhythm of the ringing seemed to convey a message.


    In an instant, Chambein slipped into the small booth, cing the worn receiver to his ear. He didn¡¯t say a word, simply listening.


    When he stepped out, he handed Yi Chen a card bearing an owl''s head.


    "I''ve just been called to a meeting. You¡¯ll have to handle the tailoring alone.


    The tailor shop is at the end of the street. Though hidden, it¡¯s still fairly noticeable in a ce like this. When you arrive, hand my card to the old man; he''ll create the perfect outfit for you."


    "Understood..."


    As Yi Chen took the card and bowed, Chambein had already vanished.


    "Speaking of which, I haven''t arranged a ce to stay... Oh well, I''ll get the suit done first, then think about sleeping¡ªeven the street works if needed."


    To reduce any trouble, Yi Chen pressed his ten fingers to his face, quickly constructing a green mask to conceal his appearance.


    He also created an eco-friendly nt-based handbag, in which he concealed the ck box containing the "Gentleman''s Skin."


    Walking deeper into the lower district, he noticed many peculiar shops lining both sides of the street, half-shuttered without any signs. The air was tinged with scents, some fragrant and others faintly metallic with blood. Suppressing his curiosity, Yi Chen decided these ces were better explored once he officially became a gentleman.


    Following Chambein¡¯s description, he finally arrived at a narrow street corner.


    A gothic ck building immediately drew Yi Chen¡¯s attention. It had no signboard. He ascended the stone steps leading to the door and prepared to knock.


    Creak~


    The ck-painted front door opened on its own, revealing a dimly lit interior with no signs of life.


    ¡°Is anyone here?¡±


    Cautiously, Yi Chen stepped inside.


    Unlike the clothing store in Easton Town, this ce was devoid of light and didn¡¯t disy a single piece of clothing.


    Instead, it was filled with hundreds of life-sized stone "human sculptures." They packed every corner of the room, turning the open floor into winding paths that evoked a ustrophobic atmosphere.


    Strangely enough, perhaps because their faces weren¡¯t fully sculpted, each statue¡¯s head was draped with a white cloth, giving them a sinister and eerie look.


    In addition, there were numerous canvases stacked against the walls, all filled with human figure drawings, some already covered in cobwebs.


    ¡°Did Ie to the wrong ce?¡±


    As Yi Chen questioned whether he¡¯d wandered into a dpidated art gallery, he felt a slight shift.


    A white cloth fluttered onto his shoulder, and a faint breathing sound came from behind him, apanied by a chilling sensation along his neck.


    ¡°Hmm!?¡±


    Reaching instinctively for the hatchet at his waist, Yi Chen spun around swiftly.


    Behind him stood an unfinished statue without facial features, its stiff arm inexplicably raised and pointing in a specific direction.


    Following its gesture, he saw a narrow spiral staircase leading to the second floor.


    Just then¡­


    Tap, tap¡­


    The sound of leather shoes and a cane echoed from the stairwell.


    A middle-aged man in a brown beret, half his face covered by a mask, and wearing a sharply tailored suit, was slowly descending the stairs.


    What stood out was his suit, split into two colors: ck on the left, red on the right, with a me pattern (his masked side was also his right).


    His right hand, d in a rubber glove, clutched a cane to support his descent.


    "Who introduced a neer like you here?"


    ¡°Professor Chambein originally nned to apany me, but he was called to a meeting midway¡­ so I came alone.¡±


    As Yi Chen prepared to step forward to show his owl-marked card¡­


    Click~


    The human statues around him suddenly moved, mechanically raising their arms to block his path.


    ¡°Ahem¡­ I can smell the owl scent on you; no need to show proof. Just state your purpose for being here.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡±


    Without further ado, Yi Chen retrieved a 10x10 cm piece of "Gentleman''s Skin" from the ck box.


    The moment he revealed it, all the statues in the shop showed symptoms of ¡°peeling,¡± asyers of stone ked off to expose underlying muscles and veins (still made of stone).


    The shopkeeper on the stairs widened his eyes, eximing, ¡°Such arge piece of ''Original Skin''? Put it away quickly; it¡¯s not suited to be exposed for too long.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    As Yi Chen returned the skin to the box, the statues immediately ceased their restlessness.


    Yi Chen added, ¡°Professor Chambein specifically said only you in Zion City can properly handle and manage this type of <em>skin</em>.¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t wrong. Most tailor shops are just full of drunks¡ªentrusting them with such a piece would be a waste.¡±


    ¡°Come with me; the process for a <em>full customization</em> is quiteplex, and it will require your patience.¡±

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    "Full Customization"


    This is the final step before bing a true gentleman, the skin of a gentleman.


    As an essential medium in connecting with the growth system, once the individualpletes their career choice through a ceremonial activation, the skin will be repurposed. The tailor will transform it into the essential <em>attire</em> every gentleman needs. This clothing, made primarily from the gentleman¡¯s own skin, not only provides effective "pathogen istion"¡ªallowing gentlemen to face pathogens directly and venture into the mysterious and dangerous Grey Zone for various investigations and clean-up activities.


    It also makes the connection between the individual and the growth system more tangible, allowing one to assess their own state.


    Different skin materials result in different clothing qualities, naturally...


    Of course, this is just the initial outfit, merely representing the <em>beginning</em>.


    Gentlemen who join the organization can acquire more <em>skin</em> through subsequent missions, and those with outstanding performance may even meet the First Gentleman.


    The skin acquiredter can be used to enhance, reinforce, or evenpletely remake the clothing.


    However, while the "gentleman''s skin" obtained through the examination is only a <em>starting point</em>, Yi Chen¡¯s step forward is slightlyrger than expected....


    *<em>[Second Floor]</em>*


    A spacious, unobstructed open-n space with walls and ceilings covered inrge mirrors, resembling more of a dance studio¡ªa stark contrast to the first floor, which is filled with human sculptures.


    The customer only needs to stand in the center, and the shop owner can use the mirrors to read the individual¡¯s body information as the basis for <em>full customization</em>.


    This information also includes <em>disposition</em>. After a thorough observation of Yi Chen through this method, the shop owner let down his guard entirely and introduced himself:


    "I am Korol Ivan, the owner of this nameless tailor shop. I cut off ties with the organization a while back and no longer handle clothing orders from them. I only asionally lend a hand to friends when I¡¯m in a good mood.


    I didn¡¯t expect that rigid owl would make an exception and secretly send you my way... but bringing such a substantial original skin indeed warrants serious attention from him.


    Before we start the full customization, I have a few questions for you.


    Briefly introduce yourself, including your background, key experiences, especially the choice of letter.¡±


    "William Behrens..."


    Yi Chen began recounting his experience in the ''Seven-Day Cemetery''. When Ivan, the shop owner, heard that this young man had ''taken up the path halfway'' and killed infected beings with an ordinary human body, topping the examination, he couldn''t help but widen his eyes, giving Yi Chen a thorough once-over.


    When he further heard that Yi Chen chose the mysterious purple letter over the excellent blue and ck options, the shop owner perked up.


    He didn¡¯t ask for the reasoning behind it.


    He simply took a deep breath as if bracing for a major project.


    ¡°You... are indeed unique. Now Ipletely understand why the owl chose you.


    Because of theplexity of your situation and the distinctiveness of the skin you brought, the <em>full customization</em> is expected to take 24 hours. You¡¯ll need to be on-call throughout... until the production isplete. You can sleep here in the meantime.¡±


    ¡°Here?¡±


    "Yes... pick any spot.


    You¡¯re marked as a <em>guest</em> now; those stone statues downstairs won¡¯t attack you.


    Finally, keep absolute silence in the tailor shop.


    Unless you hear me call, don¡¯t enter the tailoring room or disturb my work.¡±


    Ivan took the heavy ck box, stumbling slightly as he walked toward arge mirror, opening a hidden door behind it.


    A pungent gas wafted out, making Yi Chen, standing several meters away, feel a bit ufortable.


    Rather than a <em>tailoring room</em>, it looked more like a specializedboratory storing dangerous reagents.


    Instinctively, Yi Chen wanted to sneak a peek, but one look from Ivan made him reconsider.


    <em>Click!</em>


    The hidden door locked.


    Yi Chen shrugged and leaned back against the wall to sit.


    "Anyway, since I haven¡¯t been officially assigned a ce to stay, resting here for a day isn¡¯t too bad."


    The mental exhaustion from the professional ritual ceremony washed over his mind, and he soon curled up in the corner against the wall and drifted off to sleep.


    However, he was repeatedly woken up during his sleep to undergo some strange and even bizarre measurements.


    For example:


    Thin needles were inserted into his finger joints to measure their internal diameter, or his clothing was lifted to record the number of folds around his navel, as well as the curve changes of his navel while standing, sitting, and lying down.


    Even the more private ¡°back entrance¡± was measured for various parameters.


    On one asion, he groggily woke up and found the shopkeeper squatting in front of him, meticulously jotting down notes in a little notebook like some kind of pervert.


    Of course,


    there were times when things seemed somewhat normal. He went through about five rounds of trying on sample outfits, each time met with a dissatisfied look from the shopkeeper, with hints of murderous intent... until, on the sixth attempt, a slightly satisfied expression finally emerged.


    In this way, he spent the entire day in a state of extreme unease, feeling constantly subjected to perverted peering and physical probing.


    There was only one hour left until the anticipated custom order was ready.


    Although Yichen was still leaning quietly against the wall, motionless, he was beginning to feel a growing sense of anticipation, even imagining several different styles of gentlemanly attire.


    Just then,


    a scattering of footsteps echoed from downstairs, suggesting that another guest had arrived at the tailor shop.


    Thinking that his [outfit] was in its final stages, Yi Chen moved downstairs with steps as light as feathers, hoping to remind the other guest to stay quiet.


    As he reached the corner of the staircase, he came face-to-face with the mysterious guest, who wore a fully enclosed mask painted with colorful patterns andcking any openings.


    The man was dressed in a mboyantly colorful suit, as if various hues of paint had identally spilled all over it.


    However,


    this close proximity allowed Yi Chen to catch a faint, elegant fragrance that seemed toe from the person¡¯s body.


    "You are..."


    Yi Chen immediately remembered.


    This mboyantly dressed youth was a fellow candidate from his assessment group, ranked at the same level as Edmond and the others.


    However, his score reached [92], cing him second only to Yi Chen among this batch of candidates.


    During the assessment, he was noted for single-handedly killing the fully-scaled [Town Mayor] of Green Lake Town andpleting a plete purge¡¯ of the town hall... unfortunately, he had focused on the wrong investigation direction and didn¡¯t, like Yi Chen, manage to confront and eliminate the giant eye lurking at theke¡¯s bottom.


    Yet,


    Yi Chen¡¯s impression of him was only this deep, and he hadn¡¯t noticed his presence when they first entered the city.


    Suddenly, the multicolored mask pressed in close, brushing up and down against Yi Chen¡¯s face.


    He could faintly hear breathing from beneath the mask, as if the man was scenting Yi Chen¡¯s essence.


    This continued for a full minute.


    Finally, the mask pulled back,


    and a voice that was a blend of male and female tones, leaning more towards thetter, spoke:


    ¡°Hey~ man!


    With a physique like yours, how did you manage to kill the [Observer]? And your ¡®Emblem¡¯ isn¡¯t clearly disyed; it seems to be hidden in a more private area.


    Would you mind setting aside some time so I can closely examine your body?


    Of course¡­¡±


    As he said this,


    he adjusted his patterned gloves slightly, pressing his five syed fingers to his slightly raised chest.


    "¡®Equivalent exchange,¡¯ you can inspect my body as well.


    After all, my emblem is also hidden in a very mysterious ce~ so, what do you say?¡±

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33


    This extremely audacious and ungentlemanly remark instinctively made Yi Chen take a step back in shock.


    And just by hearing the voice and observing the attire, it was still hard to determine the speaker''s gender.


    "Not very appropriate..."


    Yi Chen refused immediately.


    "Tsk~ I thought you''d be an interesting person, but you¡¯re just as boring as all those gentlemen."


    "Being overly restrained is no fun. We¡¯re not going to live long in this world, so being bound by various rules would be tragic¡ªworse than a lion in a circus cage, don¡¯t you think?"


    "By the way, how did youe to know Mr. Ivan?"


    Just then, there was the sound of a secret door opening on the second floor.


    Yi Chen quickly put this entric person out of mind and hurried upstairs.However, the young man wearing a colorful mask followed him closely, moving in perfect sync¡ªright down to the ovepping footsteps.


    Ivan, the shop owner, emerged from the hidden door, leaning on his cane and looking visibly more exhausted than yesterday, with half of his face uncovered by his mask.


    His gazended on the other person as well.


    "Jin, are you also part of this year¡¯s evaluation group?"


    "Indeed~ Mr. Ivan. When I moved into the temporary dormitory yesterday, I got into a minor conflict with a dorm mate. Unfortunately, I identally cut his tendons, causing quite a bit of blood loss... dealing with the aftermath took up my whole day."


    "Oh¡­


    You¡¯ll have to wait a moment. Mr. Behrens here was referred to me by a good friend, and his garment has just beenpleted. We still need to do a final ¡®product fitting¡¯."


    "In case there are any adjustments needed, I might be tied up for a bit."


    "No worries; I¡¯d also love to see just how unique the ¡®first gentleman''s skin¡¯ is. Why not change here?"


    "Jin, show some restraint..."


    Ivan gestured for Yi Chen to follow him alone.


    The young man called "Jin" tilted his head and waved goodbye.


    Click~


    The secret door locked.


    This was Yi Chen''s first time entering the *<em>Garment Room</em>*.


    The tungsten fment light overhead buzzed like mosquitoes, providing its luxurious illumination.


    Inside, it was far from the spacious, high-end setting he had expected. Instead, it was a narrow, elongated room.


    Every usable space was packed with tools, equipment, and fabrics.


    1. A perfectly bnced sewing table made from an ancient wood, the texture incredibly smooth to the touch, allowing prolonged contact without causing any sweat. Various types of scissors and rulers hung from hooks in front of the table for easy ess.


    2. Wall cabs were filled with various fabrics and a few rarely-used special tools.


    3. At the far end of the room, there was a sink-like station reminiscent of a photo developing basin. Bottles of unknown chemicals were neatly arranged, and a fine line strung across the station held pieces of specially-treated, soaked "skin," which would serve as essential materials for garment production.


    4. Several slender mannequins stood in the room, their heads still covered in white cloth. The intricate detail in their arm structures allowed pores and nails of varying lengths to be seen. These seemed to serve as ''assistants'' for Mr. Ivan.


    "This room feels a bit cramped..." Yi Chen had to turn sideways to navigate, careful not to bump into any important tailoring tools.


    "The confined spacepresses the mind, heightens focus, and reduces the chances of errors and mistakes."


    "Follow me~ your clothing is further inside. Let¡¯s not keep ¡®it¡¯ waiting too long."


    Behind a wall cab in the Garment Room, there was yet another secret door.


    The *<em>Finished Product Dressing Room</em>*.


    A roughly ten-square-meter, sealed-off room with candle holders in each corner.


    An oval mirror with a golden frame hung on the wall directly opposite the entrance.


    In the center stood a mannequin exactly matching Yi Chen in body shape, height, and even hand, navel, and posterior measurements.


    However, this mannequin still had no facial features; instead, a swirl was engraved on its face in ce of features, spiraling toward a symbol matching Yi Chen''s book emblem.


    And dressing this mannequin was a finished suit crafted from "gentleman¡¯s skin" as its material.


    This ensemble includes:


    1. "Shirt": A standard white shirt with a rounded cor, designed with ivy-style adjustable cuffs and paired with a set of ck sleeve bands.


    2. "Vest": A must-have piece with a vintage British ir. Originally designed to cover the shirt, it has now be an essential part of the gentleman¡¯s attire. Made from Morata wool in a deep gray between ck and white, it has a distinct inverted triangr structure.


    3. "Pants": High-waisted, single-pleated pants with alternating ck and gray stripes. These support the vest, creating a seamless connection and bridging any gaps between the two.


    4. "Outerwear": The most important part of the outfit, with two options: "Suit" or "Overcoat," both in ck.


    - The ¡®Suit¡¯ is ideal for daily activities, such as Zion¡¯s outings, study sessions, meetings, etc. Its material enhances mental rity and promotes active thinking, making it well-suited for cultivating and showcasing a gentleman¡¯s character.


    - The ¡®Overcoat¡¯ is primarily used for field investigations and battles against pathogens. Its material effectively blocks harmful contaminants andplements one¡¯s personalbat style. Generally, it uses the most "gentleman¡¯s hide" material.


    However, this isn¡¯t a fixed rule; some gentlemen may choose the suit as their main attire for external investigations, explorations in gray zones, or even frontline battles.


    Items like leather shoes, socks, belts, ties, or bow ties, as well as other external decorations, fall outside the ''Tailoring'' scope and can be selected based on the asion.


    ---


    Shopkeeper Ivan''s simply exined:


    ¡°I designed this outfit with an emphasis on the <em>intery between life and death</em> and <em>a emphasis on knowledge</em>.


    The use of alternating ck and white colors,plemented by gray, highlights the boundary between life and death. Knowledge, the core of your chosen growth path, is carefully emphasized in the suit design.


    Using the ssic Ivy style, the suit has narrow natural shoulders, a straight cut with no front dart, and a widely spaced single-breasted three-buttonyout. I rmend fastening only the middle button.


    Given the ample amount of ¡®gentleman¡¯s hide¡¯ you provided, I used half of it in the suit to maximize your professional qualities.


    As for the overcoat, considering your background, I designed a *<em>cemetery-themed</em>* piece,bining ''Son of Lucifer'' ck goat wool with gentleman¡¯s hide. The style blends ruggedness with discretion, with slightly extended length and thicker fabric.


    Try it on.


    The suit and overcoat should be tried on separately.


    I believe this near-perfect outfit will grow into your skin, like a rash you can''t escape.¡±


    ---


    ¡°Alright¡­¡±


    The moment Yi Chen stepped into the fitting room and saw thepleted outfit, he could barely contain himself.


    During the fitting process, he felt the fabric gliding over his skin like a gentle caress, perfectly tailored to his form.


    If the ready-made clothes purchased temporarily in Easton Town were alreadyfortable, then this custom-made suit far exceeded the maximum possiblefort one could imagine. Every inch of fabric, every fold, and seam was wless, beyond reproach.


    When he put on the outermost suityer, the clothing immediately *<em>resonated</em>* with Yi Chen as its wearer. It felt as though the threads woven into the fabric connected deeply with his veins, nerves, and muscle fibers, merging as one.


    Under the suit¡¯s embrace, his mind activated, and at the back of his brain, a book emblem formed by the brain''s gyri, along with his heart and the entire suit, pulsed in perfect harmony.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Rows of *<em>ancient characters</em>* appeared before his eyes, flowing smoothly.


    Yi Chen was certain he had never seen such text before, yet he could understand it.


    At the very top, bold and highlighted, appeared an important message:


    *<em>[Profession: Student]</em>*


    Author: When writing this chapter, I looked up some relevant literature on suits, and it was as if I was back to my painful student days.

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34


    ¡°Is this what Mr. Wilbert was referring to when he said that joining the organization would make it easy to monitor the ¡®Pathogenic Characteristics¡¯? And it¡¯s not just about the Pathogenic Characteristics¡ªeverything about me is disyed here in this ancient script.


    Still...my profession really is ¡®one of a kind.¡¯ After all that effort to cross into such an interesting world, I¡¯m still just a [Student]. As long as I don¡¯t have to write papers, I¡¯m fine with it.


    Let¡¯s keep checking other stats.¡±


    ¡ÚProfession: Student¡Û


    <em>This is a unique, purple-level profession tailored specifically with inherent growth potential. Once the next stage is reached, the profession¡¯s title will change.</em>


    ¡ÚPersona Level: Human¡Û


    <em>This is the most basic stage of persona, trapped within human limitations, with various inherent ¡®restrictions.¡¯</em>


    ¡ÚBasic Attributes¡Û


    *Attribute values are categorized into six standards based on individual ¡®Persona Level¡¯:1. Poor£ü2. Weak£ü3. Normal£ü4. Strong£ü5. Extraordinary£ü6. Limit


    *<em>Physique</em>*: 2


    <em>Your muscle strength, endurance, and resilience determine your physicality.</em>


    *<em>Motorics</em>*: 2


    <em>Your nerve transmission and physical flexibility determine your agility.</em>


    *<em>Intellect</em>*: 4


    <em>Your mental capacity, thought patterns, and breadth determine your intelligence.</em>


    *<em>Psyche</em>*: 3


    <em>Your sensitivity, sense of things, and ability to perceive hiddenyers determine your emotional depth.</em>


    *<em>Luck</em>*: 3


    *Your fortune...there¡¯s not much to say here. Today, you gave money to a beggar, and this could lead to various scenarios:


    Maybe nothing happens,


    Maybe the beggar sees you as wealthy,es back with friends to rob youte at night, and even stabs you in a vital area. Incidentally, the ce is quite secluded, and the first to find you are a pack of starving wild dogs.


    Or maybe the beggar turns out to be a bored aristocrat in disguise who rewards you with arge sum, He also takes off his human skin hood and reveals her true self as a charmingdy, and proposes marriage.


    ¡ÚProfessional Traits¡Û


    *<em>Inquisitive Learner (Passive)</em>*:


    <em>Significantly increases reading speed, improving efficiency in understanding ancient texts and tomes by 50%. Allows basic mastery of ¡®Old Living Script.¡¯</em>


    *<em>Central Taste (Passive)</em>*:


    <em>can absorb the cerebrospinal fluid between the brains of the infected, with a certain probability of enhancing intellect (brain quality affects the probability).</em>


    ¡ÚPathogenic Characteristics¡Û


    <em>Pathogenic characteristics arise from individual''splete mastery over a ¡®processed crystal.¡¯</em>


    Currently absorbed *<em>Forest Ranger - Casimiro''s Tumorous Crystal</em>*


    Quality: Ordinary (Mutated)


    <em>The mutated tumor has instability and growth potential.</em>


    *<em>Core Characteristic:</em>*


    *<em>Vascr Tissue</em>*:


    <em>Pathogenic factors will undergo secondary growth within the body, merging vascr tissue with the internal cirction system. It also modifies muscle fibers, slightly enhancing overall physicality (Physique and Motorics increase ¡Ü1).</em>


    *<em>Vegetarian</em>*:


    <em>Energy can be obtained through consuming nts, supporting stamina, tissue repair, and growth.</em>


    *<em>Growth Root</em>*:


    <em>By consuming energy, you can create root-like tissue externally. The quantity, toughness, length, and control precision of the roots will be affected by intellect, proficiency, and crystal quality.</em>


    There is a lower probability thatpletely new features will be developed during the use of the root.


    ¡ÚUnknown Attribute¡Û


    <em>A material rted to death seems to flow deep within the individual¡¯s soul, with no visible effect for now. It¡¯s spected that this may activate upon reaching the next ¡®Persona Level.¡¯</em>


    ¡ÚPet¡Û


    *<em>Name</em>*: Little Grape, Grip


    <em>Due to rejection and interference during testing. The origin, basic information, and abilities of this pet cannot be verified. It is suspected to be formed from over ten ancient corpses, each more than three hundred years old (hypothetical).</em>


    *<em>Risk Assessment</em>*: High


    <em>This pet¡¯splexity far exceeds the individual¡¯s Persona Level, posing a significant risk of bacsh or possession. Proceed with caution.</em>


    <em>This inspection result is only visible to you.</em>


    ...


    Gazing at such detailed personal information and reading about the ¡®growth potential,¡¯ Yi Chen was filled with an indescribable excitement.


    ¡°Incredible! This feeling is absolutely amazing!¡±


    While he was in a state of self-satisfaction,


    Shopkeeper Ivan was almost pressed against Yi Chen¡¯s back, gloved hands moving over every inch of his body, carefully checking every crevice and joint, even going over some areas twice.


    It may seem excessive,


    but this is actually a very important verification step. If there''s more than 1% deviation, the outfit has to be remade.


    However,


    after a precise physical inspection, the deviation turned out to be only 0.09%¡­ making it Ivan¡¯s most perfectlypleted work in nearly ten years.


    "Perfect! Truly a masterpiece!"


    Shopkeeper Ivan was equally excited, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction and pride unique to a tailor.


    "Ahem¡­ Right! I have a few extras gifts here as well."


    Regaining hisposure, Ivan handed Yi Chen a leather backpack that perfectly fit the curve of his back.


    "The [Gentleman''s Backpack], a unique technology from Zion. Although I¡¯m not fond of the people at the top there, I really admire this invention.


    This backpack lets you freely switch between a ''suit'' and a ''coat''. Go ahead, give it a try."


    Yi Chen folded his coat and ced it in the backpack.


    By pressing a raised area on the strap with his finger¡­ a slight sensation of attachment spread throughout his body, and suddenly, the coat was on him, while the suit was neatly folded in the backpack.


    The switch happened in less than a second.


    Amazed, Yi Chen eximed, "This is incredible!"


    "If it weren¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t bother with Zion¡¯s tech¡­ Stand still; let me finish the final touches."


    Ivan kindly added a ck and white houndstooth tie and a pair of dark wood-framed sses,


    cing a white pocket square embroidered with the G&D logo in the chest pocket.


    As hepleted the arrangement, he softly remarked:


    "A suit is the armor of the modern gentleman. Once you wear it, you take on the responsibilities thate with it."


    "Understood!"


    Yi Chen stood before the gilded oval mirror, admiring his refined new look, savoring the elegance and dignity the suit bestowed.


    Ivan, leaning on his cane and standing to the side, looked at Yi Chen in the mirror and continued:


    "There''s one more thing you need to remember.


    No matter how meticulous the craftsmanship, how wless the design, or how luxurious the materials,


    clothing is only a medium thatplements your character.


    True <em>nobility</em> isn''t shown through stylish attire or graceful behavior¡­ but through whether you¡¯re better than who you were before.


    I hope that next time we meet, I''ll see a truly renewed you."


    These words instantly jolted Yi Chen out of his focus on appearances, transforming these words into important information and engraving them deep in his cerebellum.


    "I¡¯ll remember that."


    "If youe across high-quality, ancient ''skin'' in the future, bring it here, and I can enhance and upgrade it for you."


    "Thank you, Mr. Ivan."


    "You should still have one more day before you report to the academy, so stay here with me.


    I need to ensure that the suit won¡¯t develop any difort after prolonged wear. Although it¡¯s rare, we must ensure it doesn¡¯t happen."


    "Alright."


    ........................................................................


    Read extra chapters on >>> /SpiritStrantion

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35


    Standing outside the door, Jin maintained his temporary farewell wave, as if his internal gears had jammed, freezing time.


    It wasn''t until Yi Chen emerged from the dressing room that Jin returned to normal.


    Upon seeing Yi Chen¡¯s formal, elegant suit that exuded a schrly air, Jin could roughly guess the career direction he was aiming for.


    ¡°An academic style¡ªseems like your profession leans toward learning and thinking.¡±


    ¡°Even from a distance, I can smell the ancient aura emanating from your clothes. Is this the ¡®First Gentleman¡¯s¡¯ skin?¡±


    ¡°Unlike me, I have to make do with this diluted, old skin. Sigh¡­¡±


    In Jin¡¯s eyes, the skin assigned to those scoring in the 80-point range, infused with the essence of the old world, was hardly worth mentioning. He¡¯d even discarded the storage box long ago. The ¡®Gentleman¡¯s Skin¡¯ that others considered a treasure was something he casually stuffed between his shirts.


    Jin nced toward the dressing room door. ¡°Mr. Ivan, is my outfit ready yet? Just make it functional enough to inspect my physical condition. When I get the same skin as William¡¯ster, I¡¯lle back for a proper piece.¡±


    ¡°Having a high skin content isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing; you¡¯ll understand this naturally in time. And I never treat my work lightly. Come in¡ªafter I finish this order, I need a good ten or fifteen days of rest.¡±Jin shrugged and headed straight into the dressing room. Standing between them, Yi Chen and Jin brushed past each other...and Jin¡¯s fingers glided over Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve got an idea. Why don¡¯t we form a special squad in the future? With our abilities, we could clear missions quickly and even apply for higher-level assignments. In no time, we could umte arge collection of high-quality skins toplete our outfits and reach the pinnacle of our positions sooner, allowing us to do something truly meaningful.¡±


    In response to Jin¡¯s invitation to team up, Yi Chen, still a nk te when it came to the organization, the world, and the new abilities he¡¯d just acquired, naturally didn¡¯t ept.


    ¡°Our growth paths might differ. Let¡¯s see in the future.¡±


    ¡°Boring guy.¡±


    Just as Jin¡¯s fingers were about to leave Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder, he applied a sudden force. A sense of imminent danger surged through Yi Chen, activating his instincts to form a defensiveyer on his shoulder. However, Jin¡¯s fingers slid off as if nothing had happened, like a trick thatpletely fooled Yi Chen¡¯s instincts.


    With a wave of his hand in his floral gloves as a farewell, Jin hinted that he still looked forward to their future coboration.


    After Jin entered the dressing room and the hidden door closed, a drop of cold sweat slid down Yi Chen¡¯s temple and cheek, disappearing into his cor.


    ¡°This guy¡­ he¡¯s more dangerous than any pathogenic creature I¡¯ve encountered.¡±


    At that moment, Little Grape slipped out from Yi Chen¡¯s cor, stretching its tiny body.


    ¡°He¡¯s certainly an unusual human. Even I could sense that sh of murderous intent, yet he contained it so easily, as if nothing had happened.¡±


    ¡°William, why don¡¯t we team up with him? With him around, we wouldn¡¯t have to exert much effort in fighting enemies. Besides, the profession you chose, paired with the senses I provide, would allow you to fully im the title of a auxiliary gentleman.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see; I¡¯ll consider itter.¡±


    Little Grape didn''tment on Yi Chen''s career choice or gentleman''s attire.


    However, from its constant bouncing on his shoulder, waving its arms like seaweed, it was clear it was quite pleased with Yi Chen''s transformation.


    Yi Chen recalled the recent conversation.


    "ording to ¡®Jin,¡¯ bing a gentleman andpleting the various tasks assigned by Zion can earn one skins, which can be used to enhance, modify, or even redesign clothing.


    In the process, one seems to gradually approach the <em>Limits of Humanity,</em> eventually advancing to the next persona stage."


    Little Grape waved its arms.


    "It''s not that simple! You humans have been trapped for generations in the restrictive prison of flesh. Breaking through these limits and shattering such a ''prison'' requires an immense price."


    "Then let''s reach that limit first... By the way, Little Grape, do you know what the next stage is?"


    "My memory doesn¡¯t cover that knowledge~ But it''s probably directly rted to ancient beings and your profession."


    "Oh~ By the way, Little Grape, would you kill me?"


    The casual chat suddenly took on a strange and tense atmosphere with Yi Chen''s question.


    But Little Grape wasn''t upset. Instead, it grinned, rubbing its eye with its teeth as it replied, "Seems like your outfit detected something, right? Are you assessing me as a serious threat?"


    Yi Chen nodded, "That''s about right."


    Little Grape crossed its small arms over its chest, its mouth narrowing like closed eyelids.


    "I might indeed kill you... but only under certain conditions.


    If I find you are no longer ''interesting,'' are filled with loathing toward yourself and the world, abandon any curiosity about the outside, and be a meaningless coward, I¡¯ll end your life in advance."


    Upon hearing this response, Yi Chen looked relieved, as if this was the answer he had been hoping for.


    "Good... Little Grape, please monitor me closely. If I ever be like that or start to head in that direction, my two grapes are yours. Let me know how they taste."


    "You''re quite amusing!"


    This brief exchange only heightened Little Grape¡¯s interest.


    It half-popped out its eye, rubbing against Yi Chen¡¯s cheek, leaving a trail of sticky slime.


    Their suppressedughter echoed on the second floor.


    Just then, the sound of the door opening came from downstairs.


    "Hmm? This tailor shop doesn''t seem very hidden... more visitors?"


    As footsteps approached the second floor, a familiar owl came into view.


    "Professor Chambers? Are you finished with your business?"


    "An emergency meeting called on short notice, so it was brief... Hmm!? Is this your outfit?"


    Chambers widened his eyes at Yi Chen''s suit, as did the owl on his shoulder.


    After a moment, he eximed:


    "Perfect! Ivan''s craftsmanship hasn''t diminished with injury but instead has be more personalized! It''s utterly perfect... In fact, you don¡¯t yet fully match this outfit.


    More precisely, you can''t yet bring out its full potential.


    As the ''First Gentleman'' said, you''re still apletely nk te.


    I''ll be conducting a series of extensive training sessions to ensure you can catch up with the other gentlemen at a foundational level.


    Report to the academy tomorrow ande straight to my office... Actually, there''s no time to waste. Let''s head to my office now to finalize the training n."


    Chambers was eager to shape Yi Chen, this rare raw gem.


    "But... Shopkeeper Ivan wanted me to stay here; he still has to review the outfit."


    "Don''t worry about that; I''ll handle the review."


    Chambers pulled out a pen adorned with a white feather, with the organization¡¯s symbol carved on the tip and an ancientcquered owl partially hidden behind a tree trunk on the pen''s body.


    He scribbled a note and slipped it into a crack in the secret door.


    ...


    They were about to head to *<em>[Omphalo-Centric Academy (OCA)]</em>*


    located in the northern depths of Zion City.


    Surrounded by towering walls that separated it from Zion, the academy felt like a city within a city.


    It was permanently cloaked in an aurora-filled night, with no day-and-night cycle. All external observation was blocked, maintaining strict istion.


    Most gentlemen, except those marked by the ck letter, were required to study at this special academy.


    Gentlemen trained here had a significantly lower mortality rate when undertaking tasks, exploring the Gray Domain, and confronting Pathogenic entities.


    The academy also effectively guided the gentlemen to more swiftly and stably touch the <em>Limits of Humanity.</em>

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36


    Under Chamberson¡¯s guidance,


    they navigated through several narrow streets in the district and arrived at a mostly industrial area with rail tracksid down the center of the street known as ''Steel-Street''.


    Here, many railway tforms facilitate the transport of various factory materials and finished products, but one tform stands out.


    The tform¡¯s entrance is adorned with arches decorated in cloverleaf patterns, and atop it stands a small metal sculpture resembling a newborn¡¯s form.


    ¡°This is the train station that takes staff and students directly to the academy, allowing convenient travel between the academy and the street district.¡±


    Soon,


    a train with a blend of gold and wood arrived at the tform, consisting of only four carriages.


    After a brief ten-minute journey,


    the towering outer walls of the Alfarostik Academy came into view. Atop the lofty and sharp perimeter wall, a hemispherical ck membrane shimmered with starlight, shrouding the academy and concealing its innerndscape from view.As the train approached the academy gate, it showed no signs of stopping.


    At this moment,


    the magical inscriptions etched on the carriages began to glow, resonating with the academy¡¯s front gate, acting like a ¡®key¡¯ to a ¡®lock¡¯.


    When the train¡¯s engine collided with the iron gates of the campus,


    <em>Buzz!</em>


    With a ripple that spread outward,


    the entire train entered the campus, and the view outside the windows immediately shifted to the academy¡¯s own enchanting nightscape. Ethereal streams of starlight descended like thin veils, draping over the academy¡¯s main buildings and imbuing them with a sense of mystery.


    Between the towering Gothic spires, small points of warm light shone through the vertical windows, contrasting beautifully with the cool tones of the night and deepening the atmosphere of mystery.


    The campus also has a distinctiveyered topography, with a noticeable disparity in heights among the buildings. Some structures stand alone at elevated heights, their intricate designs giving them the appearance of dignified gentlemen guarding the academy during an eternal night.


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    Not only Yi Chen but also Little Grape perched on his shoulder, its eyes wide open in admiration of the breathtaking view.


    Before long,


    Yi Chen and Little Grape¡¯s attention was drawn to the academy¡¯s center,


    where two nearly ''pir-like mountains'' stood independently, connected at the top by a walkway.


    Atop these pir-like mountains were two distinct teaching buildings: on one side, a single-story cathedral-style structure covering a wide area, and on the other, a multi-story, enclosed building with almost no windows.


    Just then,


    Professor Chamberson¡¯s voice sounded, giving a brief introduction:


    ¡°The academy does not offer aplex array of courses; you only need to study two subjects: <em>Gentlemen¡¯s Studies</em> and <em>Pathology</em>.


    And the locations for these courses are precisely those buildings atop the mountains.


    The Swan Academy, where the unified and public Gentlemen¡¯s Studies is taught,


    and the Wester Mann Building, where the more discreet and group-oriented Pathology is held.


    They are known as the <em>Twin Towers</em>, symbolizing the academy¡¯s ¡®lungs¡¯ and ¡®heart¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Only two sses a week?


    By the way, are all students here of equal gentlemanly status?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you only have two sses a week; the rest of your time is dedicated to self-improvement.


    The new gentlemen studying at the academy all start at the lowest rank, simply <em>Human</em>... Any individual who surpasses this level will no longer need the protection or teaching provided by the academy.


    The academy has only two requirements for you:


    1. Using the free educational resources provided by the school, reach the <em>Human¡¯s Limit</em> within two years. If you reach this limit early, you can leave immediately.


    2. Complete at least one ''task'' every month. Generally, you¡¯ll need to go to the *<em>Hall of Gentlemen</em>* in Zion to ept a task of corresponding difficulty.¡±


    At this point, Yi Chen recalled the team proposal from ''Jin.''


    Professor Chamberson continued:


    ¡°Since you currently have no foundational knowledge,


    I will fully manage your free time during your early days here... Only when I believe you are truly qualified to go out will you be permitted to take on gentleman tasks.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    After spending some time exploring the academy by train,


    Yi Chen quickly identified the distribution of important buildings across the academy grounds.


    The architecture of Alfarostik Academy is organized ording to the structure of the human body.


    The Twin Towers, symbolizing the heart and lungs, are located at the center of the school.


    In the far north stands the eerie, heavy, and massive Grand Library, which represents the brain.


    Near the school entrance, a row of Dormitories and the Cafeteria represent the intestines and stomach.


    Surrounding the dormitories is the Fetal Heart Chapel, which also serves as the teachers¡¯ office building and the academy''s decision-making hub, acting as the campus¡¯s most crucial ¡°connecting structure¡±¡ªthe umbilical cord.


    The chapel itself is a gigantic Gothic structure,


    and from its top extends a ck, ribbon-like structure resembling an umbilical cord that stretches toward the sky¡­ This very structure maintains the campus''s "Eternal Night State."


    Inside the chapel, there are three floors,


    connected by a long staircase that gradually narrows as it ascends.


    The ground floor houses the offices of general staff, like janitors, security personnel, and regr teachers.


    The middle floor contains single offices for associate professors and professors. To hold a title here, teachers must not only reach a certain "persona" but also have made significant contributions to either Zion or the academy.


    At the top floor,


    there is only one room¡ªthe Fetal Heart Chamber, which is also the office of the headmaster.


    Even Professor Chambein rarely has the opportunity to meet with the headmaster, except for highly important meetings; otherwise, the headmaster remains unseen.


    ¡­


    *<em>Fetal Heart Chapel - Middle Corridor</em>*


    A stone key made of white rock is dropped from the beak of an owl.


    Click¡ªthe door opens.


    A spacious, 150-square-meter office with a five-meter-high ceiling, decorated primarily in cool tones, appears before him.


    Numerous potted nts decorate the room, with trees even growing in the corners. The dim wall lights create the impression of a nighttime forest.


    The owl flutters its wings andnds on a tree branch in the corner.


    ¡°Take a seat¡­ I¡¯ll need some time to draft your training schedule.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Yi Chen breathes in the earthy scent of the nts, feeling the room¡¯s lively energy as though he were returning home¡­ he even begins to feel hungry.


    He casually sits on a sofa, gently brushing the leaves of a potted nt beside him. The sensation feels like touching crispy roast chicken skin, though he restrains himself in the end.


    He nces at Professor Chambein, who is engrossed in work, and estimates that he won¡¯t be moving for another hour.


    ¡°I should walk around a bit; I might end up eating the professor¡¯s meticulously kept nts if I sit here too long.¡±


    After wandering around the office, he stops in front of a standard bookshelf.


    One book catches his attention¡ª<em>World History</em>.


    Since arriving in this world, Yi Chen hasn¡¯t had the chance to understand itsyout, whether it¡¯s identical to the world he came from orpletely different in geographic distribution and structure.


    He takes out <em>World History</em>,


    leans against the bookshelf, and begins reading.


    As he opens the book to the first page,


    a foldable world map unfolds at the same time.


    When he sees the map¡¯s depiction of this world, Yi Chen¡¯s eyes widen in shock, and his mind bes instantly invigorated.


    ¡°This is an entirely new world system!¡±


    In mere seconds, his thoughts immerse entirely in the book, tuning out everything around him.


    As he reads further,


    the emblem imprinted on the back of his head begins to writhe as though it, too, is flipping through pages.


    ........................................................................


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 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    Books.


    The thing Yi Chen was best at in his previous life.


    With the new profession of [Student], he didn''t even realize how quickly he was turning the pages. He spent no more than a second on each page, flipping through them as quickly as drinking water.


    It only took him about ten minutes to finish reading the entire "World History" book. His mind became refreshed, experiencing an unprecedented sense of intellectual satisfaction from reading.


    All the information about the world''s tectonic structure was now stored in his brain.


    This world has certain simrities to Yi Chen''s previous world, [Earth]. It is primarily divided intond and oceans, which make up 37.1% and 62.9% of the, respectively.


    Thend is made up of one supercontinent and five surrounding continents.


    *<em>Supercontinent - Middle-Earth</em>*


    <em>Huge, nearly equivalent to thebined area of all the continents.</em>1. *<em>Shambles</em>*


    <em>The continent with the most suitable climate for life, where livestock farming is most developed, and meat export is the highest. The shape of the continent even resembles a steak on the map.</em>


    2. *<em>Everde</em>*


    <em>A continent mostly covered by rainforests, home to the world''srgest rainforest. It nurtures many ancient civilizations, and numerous primitive tribes live there, disconnected from the modern world.</em>


    <em>The coastal areas have been severely industrialized, with many port cities focusing on fishing and lumber.</em>


    3. *<em>San-Carlos</em>*


    <em>A continent dominated by ins, appearing square on the map, with many rivers. It is the second most populous continent after Middle-Earth, and its developed nations are also second only to those in Middle-Earth.</em>


    4. *<em>Quechua</em>*


    <em>A continent of mountains and valleys, with a rich vertical structure. The continent has abundant mineral veins, attractingrge investments. Almost every city has massive factories and long rows of giant chimneys.</em>


    <em>Thend extends vertically with snowy mountains near the poles.</em>


    It is worth mentioning that this is the continent where Yi Chen is located.


    The G&D headquarters in Zion City is located on one of the peaks close to the central mountain range, surrounded by mountains and situated at a high and rtively secretive location.


    5. *<em>Broken Inds</em>*


    <em>The only continent in the Southern Hemisphere, it was split into thirteen inds due to a massive earthquake tens of thousands of years ago. Each ind has its own nation and is underdeveloped.</em>


    ---


    This is the general overview of the world. It¡¯s worth noting that at the bottom right corner of the world map, there is a star marking with a small inscription:


    *<em>"This map was drawn fifty years before the onset of the Pathogenesis Era."</em>*


    The <em>Pathogenesis Era</em>... Does this mean that when the "Pathogenic Symptoms" began to appear worldwide, threatening human society with irreversible damage, people started a new era of counting years?


    By the way, what year is it now?


    ---


    Little Grape answered:


    "ording to the integrated memory in my head, it should be the 371st year of the Pathogenesis Era."


    "The continent we are on, Quechua, and its connection with other continents and Middle-Earth was severed about two hundred years ago."


    "As I¡¯ve mentioned before, the spread of the Gray zone forced an end to the electrical age, causing a technological regression. All the infrastructure built by human society was abandoned."


    "No one knows what¡¯s happening in the other continents. No one knows whether Quechua is the only continent with survivors."


    "So, how does it feel? A bit hopeless, right?"


    ---


    "No¡­ it''s quite interesting! This is what adventure feels like, right?"


    "By the way, aren¡¯t our clothes designed to resist the Disease and explore the Gray Zone?"


    "The organization has so many capable individuals. If we prepare thoroughly and send out strong teams like Chambein''s, or evenrge military expeditions, we might be able to make contact with other continents, right?"


    "Don¡¯t think it¡¯s that simple.


    The [Gray Zone] is extremely dangerous, and there are varying levels of threat.


    The most terrifying Gray Zone contain pathogenic organisms of catastrophic proportions. Even just getting close could turn you to dust.


    The Gray Zone you passed through in the carriage was just the lowest, newly formed level.


    Your carriage had resistance properties, and you passed through quickly as mere travelers... but real exploration is incredibly dangerous.¡±


    "Little Grape, it seems like your memory has expanded?"


    "Huh? It might be rted to swallowing that giant eye. It seems like more fragmented memories in my brain have pieced together. In the future, you should feed me more of those delicious grapes. Maybe I''ll remember more useful things."


    "Hurry up and talk about the gradient issues with the [Gray Zones]."


    At Yi Chen''s request, Little Grape directly transmitted this memory file through consciousness.


    Different Gray Zones are divided into five levels based on their degree of pathogenicity, the time they¡¯ve existed, and certain unknown factors.


    *<em>[Thin]</em>*


    *<em>[Middling]</em>*


    *<em>[Severe]</em>*


    *<em>[Forbidden]</em>*


    *<em>[Dead]</em>*


    Regions covered by Gray Zones may experience changes in speciesposition,ndforms, and even the very structure of space, hiding unpredictable dangers.


    Members of the organization often explore the first three levels of Gray Zones. However, it is nearly impossible to fully explore the fourth level. Sessfully obtaining some items and information from a fourth-level Gray Zone and escaping intact is already quite impressive.


    As for the fifth level, Little Grape¡¯s fragmented memories contain little information¡ªonly that entering it means there¡¯s no chance ofing out.


    Oceans between various continents contain high-level Gray Zones scattered at random.


    This is the main reason why there is nomunication between continents; rashly setting out to sea is a dead-end.


    ¡­


    After learning the basic situation of the world and the Gray Zones, Yi Chen¡¯s curiosity grew immensely. He wanted to know more, especially about the [Origin of Disease].


    Unfortunately, despite searching the entire bookshelf, he couldn''t find any books rted to diseases.


    And Little Grape¡¯s memory fragments had no information about the origin of disease either.


    Hoo-hoo!


    The white owl that had been perched in the corner was now on a closer branch, without anyone noticing when it moved.


    From its beak came a voice¡ªa dignified, slightly old-sounding male tone: "Books about [Disease] cannot be written.


    Even a seemingly harmless association in text could transform a book into a ''pathogenic medium,'' potentially transmitting unknown pathogens.


    What you wish to learn can be studied in the ''Pathology'' course.


    However, even the most distinguished professors in this academy or the most learned gentlemen in Zion City have only a surface-level or slightly deeper understanding of [Disease].


    If you want to know more, then be stronger."


    With that, the owl turned and flew back to its original spot.


    "Understood."


    Yi Chen wasn''t surprised by this talking owl; after all, there was an even stranger little creature on his shoulder.


    Since he was bored and had just had such a thrilling time reading, Yi Chen decided to go through every book in the bookshelf... The dopamine surge from reading made him increasingly excited.


    His basic attribute of [Intelligence] even slightly improved (<0.1).


    Before he knew it, two hours had passed, and Professor Chambein finallypleted the detailed special training schedule. Every time slot was filled with no time wasted.


    When he looked up, he saw Yi Chen putting a book back on the shelf.


    "Reading? You look rather excited¡­ How¡¯s it going?"


    "Finished."


    "Which book did you finish?"


    "All of them."


    "What?"


    ........................................................................


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 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    ¡°Although my bookshelf is rtively small, it holds twenty to thirty books. It¡¯s only been two hours and ten minutes since you entered my office. Are you saying you''ve read them all?¡±


    Yi Chen nodded. ¡°Some of the books on campus architecture and student management were a bit tedious, but the overall reading experience was decent.¡±


    Chambein, skeptical, stood up and walked to the bookshelf.


    "Honesty is also an important trait of a gentleman," he muttered as he randomly picked a few books to quiz Yi Chen on their contents.


    Surprisingly, Yi Chen could recall the approximate page numbers, give the chapter titles, describe the main content, and even share his own insights.


    In all his years of teaching, Chambein had never encountered a student like this.


    ¡°Wait... could this be rted to your <em>profession</em>? You must have already observed certain characteristics through your attire. Let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Yi Chen confirmed.


    Upon hearing about the unique profession called <em>Student</em>, along with its associated traits, Professor Chambein was taken aback.¡°You¡¯ve acquired the skill <em>Old Living Script</em>, which boosts reading speed and enhancesprehension of ancient books and mystical texts? And you can increase your <em>Intelligence</em> by consuming diseased brains?¡±


    ¡°Is that unusual?¡± Yi Chen asked.


    ¡°Typically, initial professions provide only minor enhancements, mostly auxiliary in nature. Only a few rare professions offer traits that directly boost core attributes, such as brain consumption in your case.


    Also, it¡¯s my first time hearing of the skill <em>Old Living Script</em>. This ability will undoubtedly make you a valuable asset to the organization. When you¡¯re ready to explore the Grey Zone, this reading ability will prove invaluable.¡±


    At this point, Yi Chen had a question.


    ¡°Professor Chambein, does the so-called [Human Limit] mean maximizing an attribute?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct. Humanity¡¯s frailty stems from a certain ¡®limit¡¯ imposed by certain rules.


    Through generations of reproduction and evolution, humans have risen as the dominant species and, by nature, have epted their limitations, living within these boundaries.


    However, this ¡®peace and tranquility¡¯ is merely an illusion. Once a real threat emerges, humanity will face extinction in no time.


    One of the primary reasons the organization was founded was to challenge this perception. By using the <em>Gentleman¡¯s Skin</em>, we¡¯re able to connect with a growth system that allows us to break through those limits.


    Through study, training, and field assignments, you can unlock your hidden potential and push toward the limits of human capability in specific areas.


    When any attribute value reaches [6], you¡¯ll begin to sense the presence of a limit. It¡¯s like a membrane, blocking you from advancing further.¡±


    Yi Chen inquired further, ¡°How does one break through this limiting membrane? Is it with the help of the Gentleman¡¯s Skin?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a question you need to worry about yet¡­ but I don¡¯t mind giving you a hint.


    The ''Skin'' merely serves as a ''medium'' to connect you with the growth system.


    To break through the membrane of limitation, you need something called a ¡®Relic¡¯, an item that resonates with you¡ªan ancient object, kind of thing that originated from ancient times. ???¨®?¨¨S?


    Such items are typically found in the depths of the Grey Zone or by defeating certain types of <em>pathogens</em>. You¡¯ll understand more when you reach the limit.¡±


    ¡°Relic¡­ something ancient?¡± Yi Chen wondered aloud.


    Chambein gently patted Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder, interrupting his thoughts.


    ¡°Alright! For now, just focus on reaching the ¡®limit membrane¡¯. Since your profession leans towards intelligence, I¡¯ll arrange more mental and cognitive training¡­ that¡¯s actually my area of expertise.¡±


    However, Yi Chen had his own ideas about his special training.


    ¡°Professor Chambein, I¡¯d like specialized training for my <em>physical body</em>. Since my profession characteristic allows me to consume diseased brains to boost my intelligence attribute¡­ I¡¯ll handle maximizing that myself.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of trying to push multiple attributes to their limits, are you?¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily¡­ I just happen to enjoy the thrill of ying pathogens myself. Is it even possible to push multiple attributes to the limit?¡±


    ¡°It is, but it¡¯s very rare¡ªprimarily due to time constraints. The Academy¡¯s training duration is limited to two years because we don¡¯t have much time to spare¡­ the Grey Zone is continuously expanding, and our explorations and pathogen cleansing are barely keeping pace with its encroachment.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ two years should be enough! Professor Chambein, please arrange for physical training.¡±


    ¡°Haha! You do remind me of Wilbert to some extent. By the way, you still have the business card I gave you, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    Yi Chen took out the owl card, intending to return it.


    ¡°No... Keep this.


    I am, like you, a gentleman of the [Intellect] type. The physical training I can offer is limited and can only provide you with some basic techniques.


    Tomorrow, I will give you a letter. After the Pathology ss, hand this letter along with my card to the ''teacher'' in charge of the ss. He will oversee your physical training."


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°Oh, one more thing.


    That teacher is a bit unusual, possessing certain ¡®entricities¡¯. However, his expertise in physical skills ranks in the top three among all the teachers. If you can endure and learn some ''real skills'' from him, you might genuinely reach a ''multi-attribute limit.''


    Also, because of his personality and quirks, the academy has revoked his mentor qualifications, and he hasn''t had students for a long time. If you feel you can¡¯t keep up,e back and tell me right away. If you injure your ''foundation'' by forcing yourself, your future will bepletely shattered.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Although Professor Chambein''s description was rather strange, as long as the opportunity was there, Yi Chen was willing to give it a try.


    "Let¡¯s not waste the remaining time today. I¡¯ll run you through an entry-level test now to see your ''base level.'' If you can¡¯t handle the basics, there¡¯s no need to proceed with the physical training.


    Twenty push-ups per set, five sets in total.


    Ten single-leg squats per set, also five sets.


    Rest for thirty seconds between each set.


    If you¡¯re ready, start now."


    ¡°Ah? Alright.¡±


    Yi Chen supported himself on the ground, arms aligned perfectly with his shoulders.


    He performed each push-up in a precise, almost wless form, finishing all five sets with only slight breathlessness.


    The single-leg squats were equally well executed, each movement nearly perfect.


    "Have you trained before? The ''First Gentleman'' detected that your body was unrefined."


    ¡°I practiced a bit when I was younger, so these basic moves are no problem.¡± Yi Chen seemed to recall some unpleasant memories as he said this.


    "Next, I¡¯ll test your reflexes."


    As soon as he spoke, Professor Chambein suddenly emanated a sense of killing intent, striking out with a diagonal knife-hand.


    At the same time, the enhanced vision from the little grape allowed Yi Chen to dodge instantly. He rolled backward smoothly, with his right hand ready on his ax handle, prepared to counter if needed.


    The seamless movements left Professor Chambein puzzled again.


    "Your reaction¡­ is also well-trained. That ''rolling'' move, especially, is very refined, and it¡¯s vital for actualbat."


    Yi Chen scratched his head, "That¡¯s also from my younger days. To avoid getting hit as much, I practiced rolling in my free time¡­ after all, once you get caught, it¡¯s not pleasant."


    "Hmm. I think I understand why you want to train physically. Your body indeed has the potential to approach its limits. Let¡¯s leave it here for today. Head back and get ustomed to your new uniform, and be prepared for ss... The roster for your group of new students has been entered into the campus records, and your assigned dormitories are ready for early check-in."


    "I hope everything goes smoothly with your meeting tomorrow."


    "Thank you, Professor."


    ........................................................................


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 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    As Yi Chen left the "Fetal Heart Chapel," his expression was slightly strange.


    The series of simple tests had triggered memories from his time at the orphanage¡­ memories that felt like opening a cursed box hidden deep in a cer, identally releasing ancient curses that had been sealed away for a long time.


    He instantly became cold, with a subtle aura of death, and even the color of his eyes darkened.


    However, this state did notst long.


    "Looking back, I suppose it wasn¡¯t all bad~ If it weren''t for the ''special environment'' of the orphanage, and the strict management rules set by the ''new principal,'' and if I hadn¡¯t survived in such a setting¡­


    Even if I did manage to cross over to this ce, I¡¯d probably be killed and my body drained by the living corpses from Cemetery No. 4, with not even my ashes left behind.¡±


    In just five seconds, he reverted to normal, locking those overflowing memories back in the depths of his mind.


    Little Grape also noticed the subtle change in Yi Chen, but it didn¡¯t say anything, only finding him even more interesting.


    ¡­Looking around, the chapel was surrounded by dormitory buildings symbolizing the "intestines."


    These dormitories leaned more toward a Victorian architectural style rather than a strong Gothic influence.


    Red brick walls, gabled roofs, bay windows, and iron railings.


    They gave off a warm feeling, a stark contrast to the cold Gothic buildings, making them more suitable for living.


    All the dormitories were four stories tall, with limited capacity.


    Yi Chen analyzed briefly: ¡°Only seventeen of us passed the assessment. Those who chose the ¡®ck letter¡¯ path will undergo apletely different type of training, and the enrollment was already small to begin with. Moreover, the school has a ¡®two-year¡¯ limit, and the student count is capped at a modest level¡­ I¡¯d guess most of these rooms are likely single upancy.¡±


    His guess was right.


    After verifying his identity as a new gentleman under one of the dormitories, Yi Chen was assigned a "two-bedroom, one-living-room" unit with a Nordic minimalistic and natural decor.


    His favorite room was the "study."


    Itsrge windows faced the "Twin Towers," and when he grew tired at the desk, he could simply stand up and gaze at the starlit campusndscape.


    He took out Professor Chamberson¡¯s "schedule," which was packed with various targeted training sessions.


    Only Sunday evenings were free; otherwise, his schedule was full, and his sleep time was reduced to around six hours per day.


    Yet Yi Chen didn¡¯t mind the arrangement.


    In fact, he eagerly anticipated theing "Pathology" ss and its mysterious instructor.


    When you¡¯re busy for something you¡¯re passionate about, no amount of busyness is burdensome.


    With a clear goal, the prospect of progress and growth, and the ability to see and feel self-improvement, this was so much better than his previous life, stuck in a crampedb, endlessly writing papers, only to face ordinary, pressure-filled days, with no guarantee of a good job even after graduation.


    ¡­


    Monday morning was set for "Pathology" sses.


    All students were required to reach the mountain base of the Twin Towers by 8:00 AM, where they waited for the elevator to take them up.


    The massive elevator could transport everyone to the teaching building¡¯s entrance at the mountain¡¯s peak.


    Of course, students could also arrive earlier and challenge themselves by climbing the nearly vertical mountain column by hand, to hone their physical strength¡­


    Believe it or not, some new gentlemen focusing on "physique" actually opted for this choice.


    The venue for the "Pathology" ss, the Wilsterman Teaching Building, was named after the subject¡¯s founder and vice-principal, George Wilsterman.


    This multi-story, sealed, nearly windowless square building looked more like a giant gray brick standing atop the mountain.


    The reason for it being "sealed" was simple.


    Inside the building were various pathological materials for teaching, corpses of patients, as well as infected nts, inorganic substances, and so forth.


    Additionally, for safety management and effective teaching, sses here were small.


    The gentlemen who passed the assessment together formed one ss (if fewer than ten, sses would bebined), and with Yi Chen¡¯s group of seventeen, they made up their own ss.


    It¡¯s worth noting that the duration of "Pathology" sses was set for *<em>one year</em>*.


    Once the final exams werepleted, unless under special circumstances, students would not need to enter this building again.


    ......


    *<em>Early Morning [07:50]</em>*


    A crowd of over 130 gentlemen had already gathered in front of therge elevator.


    As Yi Chen approached the group, he immediately heard a familiar greeting.


    "William, your suit looks amazing!"


    The one greeting him was Edmund, a blonde man who had been looking around for Yi Chen since he arrived.


    The other gentlemen who had passed the assessment together with him turned their heads upon hearing Yi Chen''s English name. Everyone was curious about how unique a suit made from the skin of the "First Gentleman" could be.


    Clearly, the ancient aura from Yi Chen''s suit was stronger, and the supportive effects provided by the clothing were significantly better.


    Edmund squeezed through the crowd and quickly came up beside Yi Chen. He held his left wrist with his right hand, barely able to contain his excitement as he asked, "Can I touch it?"


    "Sure."


    Touching the suit wasn¡¯t an issue¡ªit had a self-cleaning function.


    Edmund lightly brushed it with his fingers, feeling a tingling sensation spreading throughout his body.


    "This...what level of quality is this? Even in my family, I haven¡¯t seen such a perfect early suit... Where did you get this made?"


    "From a friend of Professor Chambers."


    "Seems like a private tailor I don''t know about. I''m really envious."


    Yi Chen then looked Edmund up and down,menting in a low voice, "Your suit isn''t bad either."


    Edmund wore a dark blue double-breasted suit with a peakpel, six buttons, and a highpel design, exuding a dignified yet lively noble aura.


    As for the other two members of Edmund''s team, one wore ck and the other white as their main colors.


    Juliana¡¯s ck suit leaned toward a casual style, with a narrow-shouldered, slim fit design that highlighted her figure.


    Dagobert, on the other hand, was like a suited brute. His white suit clung perfectly to his body, showcasing the muscr lines beneath.


    Notably, the gentleman with the colorful mask and patterned suit, "Jin," was absent. It was almost certain that Jin had chosen a ck envelope.


    When the time came, the massive elevator carried everyone up toward the mountain peak.


    Edmund leaned in close to Yi Chen¡¯s ear and whispered, "Hey, I heard some insider news. Due to staffing issues, the school assigned us a teacher for <em>Pathology</em> who¡¯s a bit problematic. His teaching methods were once so improper that they led to the direct death of a student. He faced severe punishment and a trial in Zion...but he was kept on because of his irreceable and unique expertise. Let¡¯s look out for each other during ss, alright?"


    "Sure."


    ...


    Entering the Wilsterman Building required passing through a long, dimly lit hallway for a thorough inspection. They then climbed a winding internal staircase to reach the ssroom.


    Along the hallways, they could hear the hum of generators. The building used a self-sustaining power system,pletely separated from Zion City¡¯s power supply to prevent pathogen contamination.


    After nearly twenty minutes, they finally reached the ssroom floor.


    Theyout resembled an old ward designed to hold severely mentally ill patients: narrow, enclosed corridors with iron doors equipped with small observation windows, and tungstenmps flickering with a dying hum.


    *<em>[#203]</em>*


    This was the special ssroom where Yi Chen and the others would study [Pathology] for the next year.


    They pushed open the iron door.


    Inside was an old,pletely sealed ssroom. Twenty rusted metal desks were scattered around, and the so-called podium resembled more of a metal autopsy table. As they found seats and arranged the desks, they heard faint footsteps from outside the door.


    Everyone instinctively straightened, assuming it was the teacher arriving.


    However, as the footsteps grew closer, their expressions began to change.


    The sounds were not of a single person but of a dense crowd approaching.


    Creak!


    The moment the ssroom door opened, the already flickering tungstenmp went out.


    In the darkness, a horde of deformed, living beings crowded through the narrow doorway, pouring into the ssroom like a flood.


    ........................................................................


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 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    Due to the oppressive, dark, and unsettling atmosphere inherent in the Wilsterman teaching building,bined with its windingyout reminiscent of a mental hospital, everyone had been highly alert since entering.


    The moment the tungsten lights went out, everyone quickly lit their portable kerosenemps. The glow radiated out, illuminating the ssroom once again, revealing a terrifying scene.


    At the main entrance of the ssroom, a horrifying "living corpse" was crawling along the wall. Its eyes were bound with a ck bandage, its mouth sewn shut with steel wire, and its body marked with thick ck lines outlining human anatomy. Long, thick nails punctured its spine at regr intervals. As this first living corpse crawled into the room, more followed, each one more grotesque, until they outnumbered the gentlemen in the ss.


    At that moment, the gentlemen in the ss instinctively touched their backpack straps, shifting from [Suits] ¡ú [Overcoat] and instantly adoptingbat stances.


    Only Yi Chen hesitated, his fingers hovering mid-air over the strap¡­ because he harbored some doubts about the "danger" unfolding before him.


    Drip! Suddenly, a drop of salivanded on Yi Chen¡¯s cor.


    A hideous living corpse was clinging to the ceiling, its mouth wide open, eager to feast on fresh flesh. It locked onto Yi Chen and abandoned its crawling stance, dropping vertically from the ceiling.


    At the same moment, Yi Chen drew his hand axe, his gaze focused¡­ confident he could deliver a precise mid-air beheading.


    Bang! A loud crash echoed.Before Yi Chen could swing his axe, a heavy iron desk flew across the room, striking the corpse and smashing it into the wall. Its head was crushed, punctured, oozing foul liquid.


    Not far away, Dagobert from Quechua¡¯s northern region caught Yi Chen¡¯s eye. Because of the confined ssroom space, his greatsword was too unwieldy, so he had to rely on hand-to-handbat with these living corpses¡­ and even so, he was holding his ground effortlessly.


    "Dagobert¡¯s [physique] must be at least a [4], maybe even [5], right? He must be nearing the Limit membrane¡­ his brute strength is almost exaggerated," Yi Chen thought as he moved closer to the three teammates. Using their strong cooperation and cover, he lowered his presence, avoiding the living corpses'' attention.


    [Enhanced Vision]


    Yi Chen¡¯s gaze scanned over each corpse that had entered, noting various details on their bodies.


    "Hmm? This is¡­" He soon noticed a suspicious detail and took a deep breath.


    Adjusting his attire, Yi Chen strode with formal, dignified steps toward a certain spot in the ssroom, where a corpse was gnawing on a student''s arm. The living corpse sensed Yi Chen approaching. Swish! After tearing off a chunk of flesh from the student¡¯s arm, it turned its head 90 degrees to face Yi Chen.


    Its knees bent, ready to pounce like a wild beast. Yet Yichen performed an action that puzzled everyone present. With his right foot beside his left, his right arm gracefully turned to rest across his chest, he leaned forward about 30 degrees and offered a "gentleman¡¯s bow" to the flesh-eating living corpse, softly greeting it, ¡°Good morning!¡±


    In that moment, all the living corpses engaged inbat with the students froze, motionless.


    Even as some students continued attacking them, shattering bones and hacking into flesh, the corpses remained unmoved.


    The living corpse to whom Yi Chen had bowed slowly straightened up from its primal, frenzied crawl to stand upright¡­ its spine rigid, <em>ng ng ng</em> as the nails embedded in its vertebrae began to drop away one by one.


    Reaching out, he pulled out the wire embedded between his lips. Strangely, there was no blood from the wound, and it healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, leaving no scars behind.


    A chilling, hoarse voice came from the depths of his recently unbound mouth:


    "What¡¯s your name?"


    "William Behrens."


    "You¡¯re the first student in thest ten cohorts who could immediately detect an anomaly and discover ''me''... Impressive observation skills and meticulous thinking. How did you figure it out?"


    Of course, Yi Chen wouldn¡¯t say he had already heard that the instructor had certain "quirks" and had prepared himself in advance.


    "Breathing¡­ and subtle differences in behavior. I guessed this might be a deliberate w you left, hoping that we would stay calm in the face of crisis and pick up on hidden details. Otherwise, with your skills, perfectly mimicking a living corpse wouldn¡¯t be an issue."


    The "living corpse" didn¡¯t respond directly but stepped around the disordered desks, corpses, and students, and made his way to the rtively clean podium. He retrieved a long ck coat resembling ab coat from under the podium and put it over his bare chest.


    "You students aren¡¯t bad... better than previous cohorts. These ''corpses'' you killed are today¡¯s ss materials. While Alive, they were individuals with initial stages of infection. After death, they underwent a thorough ''disinfection'' process and are no longer contagious. I then used some ''corpse creation techniques'' to repurpose them.


    Now, arrange your desks and each choose a corpse to ce on your desk; prepare for ss."


    This strange pre-ss procedure was a first for everyone, and they couldn¡¯t help but feel an instinctive fear of the teacher. While adjusting their desks and moving the corpses, the teacher wrote his name on the ckboard ¨C *<em>[Hogni Zed]</em>* ¨C and continued with a series of bizarre actions.


    He removed his ck coat, once again going bare-chested, andy t on the metal podium. Then, he ordered a not-too-bright "living corpse" with a hole in its head to stand on the podium.


    "For *<em>Lesson One</em>*, I''ll give you a basic introduction to human anatomy. Don¡¯t get distracted; record every detail. Only by understanding the human body ¨C the most susceptible to pathogenic infection and with the greatest potential ¨C can youprehend the deeper aspects of pathogenic knowledge inter lessons."


    With that, he pulled a sharp scalpel from his mouth and handed it to the not-too-bright living corpse. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, he instructed the corpse to begin cutting the skin on his arm, exining the basic skin structureyer byyer. He then used tweezers to pull out muscle fibers, nerves, and otherponents for detailed examination.


    As he continued his self-dissection, he turned his head to the students, saying, ¡°No need to strictly follow ssroom decorum; if you want a closer, more detailed look, feel free to gather around."


    The entire morning''s "Pathology" lesson took ce in this eerie and bizarre teaching atmosphere, but this hands-on method left every student with a deeper understanding of human anatomy.


    After ss, as Zedy on the podium, he began self-stitching, putting his exposed organs back in ce.


    Yi Chen deliberately declined Edmond and the others¡¯ post-ss invitations, choosing to stay alone in the ssroom. Once everyone had left, and Zed finished his self-stitching, he sat up straight.


    "Is there something you need, William?"


    Yi Chen handed him a handwritten letter and business card from Professor Chambers as requested. Surprisingly, Zed seemed to be blind, reading by touching the subtle indentations on the letter. After this touch-reading, he slowly broke into a twisted smile.


    "Knowing that the academy doesn¡¯t allow me to mentor students individually, Professor Chambers still introduced you to me... Very well, I''ll reluctantly ept this job since you seem interesting.


    Remember, my standards for the living are much higher than for the dead. I also can¡¯t entirely guarantee your safety; there¡¯s a chance you might die during training."


    "Understood."


    "Then follow me~ We have only *<em>half an hour</em>* left for my outdoor activity period; I need to hurry back to my ''office.''"


    ........................................................................


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 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    The so-called "free activity time" is as literal as it sounds.


    Except for regr sses and asional free time, Hogni Zed is entirely confined within this sealed school building. All his meals and any needs for experiments or daily life will be provided by the school as best as they can.


    ¡­


    "Are his outdoor hours strictly limited? Is the academy treating him like a usable ¡®prisoner¡¯? Just how dangerous is this guy for the academy to make such a decision?"


    Yi Chen sensed an even greater hidden danger surrounding Teacher Zed. Yet, he felt no fear nor any urge to escape; instead, he was even more intrigued and looked forward to physical training.


    In ss, he had witnessed firsthand how Zed dissected nearly every part of his own body, even disying his organs. Such actions, enough to kill someone a hundred times over, seemed like child''s y to Zed.


    Moreover, he appeared to have a "super-fast, targeted healing" ability. For instance, cut body parts would immediately heal once he no longer needed them on disy. For areas that needed to remain exposed, he could keep wounds open or even halt his blood flow, manipting his cirction.


    He controlled every inch of his body with precision.


    Learning something real from him would surely be immensely beneficial for his own physical development.¡­


    As he followed Zed toward his "office," Yi Chen nced at the ssroom filled with corpses. "What will you do with those bodies?"


    "Don''t worry. They were created for ss purposes.


    Their bodies are preserved with a special preservative and have a shelf life of over three months.


    Since next week''s sses will use them, we¡¯ll just leave them here."


    "Understood."


    Following Zed down the narrow staircase of the sealed school building, they descended further¡­ down even below the first floor into a deeper level.


    Click~ The hidden door opened.


    Below, there was a small elevator leading further down.


    "Are we still going down?"


    "Yes~ Ever since my misconduct, my title was stripped, and my original office was repurposed. The folks at the academy specially customized an underground office for me."


    "Mr. Zed, were you a professor at the academy?"


    "More like an assistant professor at best. I¡¯m not very skilled in socializing or writing¡­ and I actually don¡¯t even enjoy teaching students.


    It¡¯s only because when I exhibit and dissect my own body in front of you neers, I feel a sense of satisfaction on a psychological level. It probably has a lot to do with the peculiar structure of my hypothmus.


    That¡¯s why I chose to teach here."


    "Oh¡­"


    Hearing this, Yi Chen roughly understood Zed''s "quirk"¡­ Of course, ¡®disying his body¡¯ might just be one of his quirks.


    While riding the elevator, Yi Chen nced a few times at the ck cloth covering Zed¡¯s eyes. From earlier details in ss, it was evident that Mr. Zed had an issue with his vision.


    Yi Chen was quite curious about how someone as resilient as Zed could be blind¡­ Even if his eyes were damaged, wouldn¡¯t they just heal? But such a sensitive question was better saved for when they were more familiar.


    At that moment, Little Grape''s voice sounded:


    "His ''eyes'' have been taken."


    "Taken? Can¡¯t they regenerate?"


    "I can¡¯t sense the concept of ''eyes'' on him at all; it¡¯s entirely different from damaged or missing eyeballs¡­ It¡¯s as if, fundamentally, as a biological entity, the ''eye'' organ doesn¡¯t exist for him.


    Naturally, he can¡¯t regenerate them, nor is there any method to repair them.


    But judging by his daily actions, he¡¯s long ustomed to life without vision, and his other sensespletely rece the function of sight."


    "Is this natural?"


    "Maybe¡­ or perhaps he lost them conceptually while exploring the Grey Zone."


    "I see."


    <em>ng!</em>


    The elevator descended to the very bottom.


    Only a narrow arched passagey ahead, barely wide enough for a single adult to pass through. At the end of the corridor was a fully sealed iron door with no windows, equipped with a hydraulic valve.


    Embedded on the door was a clock-like timer, showing only one minute left.


    Each time Zed leaves, the clock begins counting down. If he doesn''t return before the timer ends, the rm will sound across the entire building, and a wave of gentlemen will immediately rush to capture and subdue him.


    If he''s deemed to be escaping with malicious intent, execution would follow.


    Buzz! The iron door opened.


    With mere seconds left, Zed stepped into his office.


    The hydraulic valve rotated, and three cylindrical locks emerged from the two-meter-thick iron door, embedding into the wall and sealing it entirely.


    As the door shut, Yi Chen felt aplete disconnection from the outside world.


    The office itself was quite spacious, with several rooms dedicated to Zed''s daily needs, storage, corpse preservation, personal experiments, and some rooms with unknown purposes.


    However, each room was equipped with a "live surveince eye."


    Yes, a real, living eyeball, suspended in the corner of each wall and connected by numerous nerves, constantly monitoring everything within Zed''s office.


    If anyone needed anything, a simple gesture towards the eye would summon an attendant to inquire about the specifics after a while.


    "This isn''t an office; it''s essentially a glorified ''private prison.''


    Just how dangerous is this Zed, or what kinds of terrible things has he done for them to establish an underground prison just for him and monitor him around the clock?"


    ---


    *<em>Upper Floor of the Wilsterman Teaching Building - Monitoring Room</em>*


    This room was filled with brain tissue and nerve connections and also ''installed'' numerous heads of reanimated corpses.


    These heads were sourced from the organization¡¯s cemetery and represented the better-developed zombie products.


    Each head had a ''data port'' smashed into the back, with nerve lines inserted.


    The other end of these connections linked to the "surveince eyeballs" throughout the building, allowing the staff in the monitoring room to view real-time "surveince footage" by examining the pupils of these reanimated heads through magnifying sses.


    Such ''improper'' facilities would never appear on Zion''s surface.


    Gurgle~


    Professor Chambein had arrived here an hour earlier for one reason only: to observe the initial meeting between Yi Chen and Hogni Zed.


    After learning about Yi Chen''s excellent ssroom performance and watching him peacefully ride the elevator with Zed to the office on the surveince feed, he felt reassured.


    "It''s rare, Professor Chambein, for you to be so concerned about a new student, and to even introduce him to Zed, that twisted freak.


    I''m curious. Could you share the reason?"


    The question came from the head of the surveince area¡ªa tall woman in high heels, a ck dress, and a mask with a dark gold brain pattern.


    "Zed has unmatched physical abilities in this academy¡­ My student''s career is associated with <em>intelligence</em> yet wishes to develop in <em>physique</em> as well.


    I approved of his aspiration, but to achieve such multi-attribute limit, he must seek the best possible mentor.


    That''s the reason."


    The head questioned back, "Even if he risks death and the loss of valuable talent, does that not concern you?"


    "Better to die at Zed''s hands than outside..."


    "Interesting. I¡¯ll keep an eye on this student and do my best to prevent his death."


    "Thank you, Ms. Oressa."


    ........................................................................


    Read 30 chapters ahead on >>> /SpiritStrantion

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42


    After returning to the office, Teacher Zed rxed as if he were at home, his movements bing exaggerated and mboyant, as if deliberately disying himself in front of the monitors.


    He enthusiastically began introducing his ¡°home.¡±


    ¡°The [Corpse Storage Room] and [Medicine Warehouse] are off-limits. Some dangerous items are inside, and academy rules state that only I¡¯m allowed to ess them. Also, before you enter my room or theboratory, you must get my permission. Other areas are open for you to move around freely.¡±


    Zed then led Yi Chen to an empty room, saying, ¡°This room isn¡¯t used often. Sometimes, when there are too many body materials to store, any excess is temporarily piled here. If our training sessions runte, you can stay here overnight.¡±


    ¡°Uh... alright.¡±


    Looking at the dark, cramped, temporary body storage room before him, Yi Chen nodded a bit awkwardly.


    Just then, a pair of steady, powerful yet cold, eerie handsnded on his shoulders.


    ¡°Professor Chamberson is one of the few people in this academy who has treated me well. Because of his ¡®opposing vote¡¯ years ago, I was granted protection by the academy and avoided facing Zion¡¯s judgment. So, since it¡¯s his request, I¡¯ll consider this a priority, doing everything possible to develop and enhance your ¡®physical body.¡¯


    ¡°Your performance in ss was excellent, but you didn¡¯t exhibit the full potential of your body. So, before we create a training program tailored just for you, I must ¡®thoroughly understand¡¯ your physical structure. Come now¡ªI can hardly wait.¡±<em>Plop!</em>


    A droplet of salivanded on Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder as Zed appeared extremely excited. His Adam¡¯s apple moved up and down as more saliva trickled from the corner of his mouth.


    Despite anticipating something unpleasant, Yi Chen still followed Teacher Zed to hisboratory¡ªor more precisely, his ¡°humanboratory.¡±


    Previously, all the animated corpses used in teaching were processed here. The tungsten light buzzed, with a few candles adding extra illumination. A surgical table, not yet clean and still stained, stood in the center, while some decayed eyeballsy on the ground, even the little grapes had lost interest in them.


    ¡°ss ran a little tight today, so I didn¡¯t get a chance to clean up. Don¡¯t mind it.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ sure.¡±


    After wiping the slime off the surgical table with arge rag, Zed made a gentlemanly ¡®please¡¯ gesture. ¡°If there¡¯s no problem, go ahead and lie down.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Yi Chen was aware of Zed¡¯s dangerous nature from the start. Gazing at the surgical table, he could almost guess what ¡°thorough understanding¡± would entail. Taking a deep breath, he nced at theb¡¯s monitors to confirm that the eyeballs in the corner were observing.


    He packed his clothes into his bag andy t on the table, like a corpse.


    <em>Click!</em> Concealed restraints sprang out, locking his limbs, neck, forehead, and waist in ce. However, Yi Chen¡¯s gaze remained calm, adjusting his breathing to keep his heart rate steady.


    ¡°You¡¯re not struggling; you really are different from the others! The previous students I examined always resisted at first. This is how it should be! Only by epting my methods can we jointly explore the secrets of the human body.¡±


    "Next, I will ''open'' your body, observe and document the specifics within, for subsequent ''physical analysis.''


    During this process, you will experience <em>pain</em> continuously and intensely. Do not resist it, or you may faint midway, and with bad luck, possibly even die.


    <em>Pain</em> is a precious gift bestowed upon higher life forms, one of the most important evolutionary products for brain development. You must learn to understand, control, and even fall in love with ''her.''


    Once you adapt, she will be an addictive sensation, a beautiful presence you can¡¯t forget or resist.


    Let us begin."


    In the hours that followed, the candlelight in the operating room flickered in sync with the rising and falling sounds of agony.


    The ''cries of misery'' that struggled from the depths of Yi Chen¡¯s throat sounded like delightful notes to Zede, who even danced through the procedure. Every time Yi Chen''s body was near its limit, Teacher Zede would cut his own flesh, and through "vascr connection," inject vitality, sustaining life¡­ This ''intimate exploration'' continued for six hours.


    Even Ms. Oressa, on the other side of the monitor and responsible for the security of the school building, frowned slightly, wanting to intervene several times, doubting if Chambein bore a personal grudge against this student.


    Yi Chen¡¯s consciousness did notst until the end of the procedure; it reached its limit and slipped into a deepa.


    In his daze, he once again saw the ck sea, feeling the waves lift his body and finally carry him to shore.


    A dark blur crossed his vision.


    Awakening,


    he found himself lying in that narrow, dark, empty room, or rather, tossed there like a corpse.


    His backpack, containing his formal attire, was ced nearby. The first thing Yi Chen did upon waking was inspect his body from head to toe, checking if he was missing anything.


    The examination revealed everything was intact, with hardly any signs of stitching.


    The only difference was that his skin now bore thick ck lines, simr to those on Teacher Zede and other ''living corpses,'' marking his physical structure, including various measurements and proportions.


    Just after changing into his clothes,


    Teacher Zed entered, still wearing only a ck coat, unbuttoned, barefoot on the ground.


    In one hand, he carried arge bowl of primarily vegetable-based food; in the other, a stack of data sheets.


    "Eat up. These are ''supplements'' from those guys upstairs, chosen ording to your taste to help you recover quickly¡­ I know that adapting to <em>pain</em> is a rather lengthy process, so we can take it slow.


    Additionally,


    I am very pleased with your performance.


    During the physical examination, you endured for four hours and fifty-six minutes, far surpassing any of the new gentlemen I have trained before.


    Most of them barelysted half an hour before passing out.


    By the way, have you had simr, prolonged pain stimuli before?"


    "Yes... you could say I did, in my childhood."


    Another buried memory surfaced briefly, but Yi Chen quickly suppressed it.


    "No wonder you have such good adaptability. You already have a certain foundation.


    Through this ¡®in-depth examination¡¯, we¡¯ve already determined your physical foundation, potential, developmental direction... and the best way to reach the ''limit membrane'' physically.


    Overall,


    your body is excellent and suits my style well.


    When possible, I must thank Professor Chambein in person for introducing such an outstanding student."


    While consuming the food, Yi Chen quickly scanned through his physical examination report.


    Detailed, even ¡®meticulous¡¯ would describe this report.


    Each blood vessel, each bone was recorded, and every analysis was spot-on.


    ''Though this Teacher Zed is indeed... twisted, if I can fully adapt, I will surely gain something valuable here, fully unlocking the potential of my physical form.''


    ........................................................................


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 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43


    Afterpleting his review of the data lists and analysis reports, Yi Chen had a question in mind.


    He recalled that in pathology ss where Dagobert, with just one hand, lifted a whole metal desk and threw it, directly smashing a zombie so hard that its head waspletely crushed. Even before obtaining the "Gentleman''s Skin," his strength in Green Lake Town was just as astonishing.


    "Can I, in terms of <em>physique</em>, really reach the level of someone like Dagobert?"


    "Dagobert... Oh! I remember now. That strong student with fair skin and perfectly defined muscles, right?"


    As they discussed Dagobert, Zed couldn¡¯t help but drool, as if he were eager to dissect and understand the distribution of his muscles. After a moment of fantasizing, he continued:


    "No¡­ His strength is an innate talent. With only basic activation training, he could probably reach the ''Limit Membrane''. Even if you trained tirelessly under me and made some extreme modifications to your body, achieving that level of strength within two years is out of the question.


    However, you might be misunderstanding something: <em>Physique</em> includes more than just strength. It also epasses endurance, resilience, and other traits directly rted to the body. What we need to do is find the one most suited to you, amplify it through specialized training, and reach your version of the limit.


    Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already tailored an optimal growth n for your body! As long as you can stick to it, reaching the limit in <em>physique</em> within two years is definitely achievable. Personally, I have high expectations for you."


    As he said this, Teacher Zed cracked a slow smile, even snapping a few lines at the corners of his mouth as he patted Yi Chen on the shoulder meaningfully."Understood. I¡¯ll persevere."


    Next, Zed took out an open pocket watch from his coat pocket, touching it to read the time.


    "Due to your earlier unconsciousness, it¡¯s already ''three in the morning''. The school building is locked down at this hour, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving, so you¡¯ll have to stay here tonight. Let¡¯s not waste time¡ªeat these foods quickly, and we¡¯ll start your training."


    "Alright... okay."


    Squatting nearby, Zed tore open his unusually wide mouth, staring at Yi Chen... quietly waiting for him to finish his meal.


    Yet, the strange atmosphere didn¡¯t disrupt Yi Chen¡¯s eating; he knew well the importance of nutrition replenishment. It reminded him of the "food scramble" at the orphanage, where they¡¯d all be herded into a dark room, and food would pour from arge pipe above¡ªenough for only half the people there. They had to fight over it, not only against each other but also against rats in the dark. Failing to secure enough food meant not filling up... and in the long game that followed, exhaustion would inevitably lead to <em>elimination</em>.


    Recalling this experience, Yi Chen ate even faster, nearly dunking his head into the bowl. Seeing this, Zed lightly tapped the back of his head.


    "Hey! Don¡¯t rush~ take it easy; we have a bit of time."


    Yi Chen¡¯s mind snapped back, and he replied quietly, "Mm... I was just reminded of some unpleasant things."


    Not long after¡ªng! The empty bowl ttered on the ground.


    "Let¡¯s begin the training, Mr. Zed."


    "Mm, follow me!"


    Zed, still dressed in a long ck coat, led Yi Chen back to the main hall of his office. Pulling back the rug, a passage leading even deeper underground was revealed.


    "Does this go even further down?"


    "Yes¡­ this is just my ''office'', where I conduct my personal research and mental exercises. My body can¡¯t rx and move freely in such a confined office space. So when the academy assigned me this ce, I naturally had one request¡ªto create a ¡®yground¡¯ for physical rxation."


    Talking about his "yground" seemed to excite Zed, who couldn¡¯t wait to lead Yi Chen downward.


    As they descended the passageway, a faint, rusted scent mixed with a fishy stench pricked Yi Chen¡¯s nose like tiny needles, making him rub it reflexively. Though there was no actual sound, he could faintly hear faint screams echoing from the lower depths in his mind.


    Stepping out of the hidden passage, Zed smoothly flipped the power switch on the side wall.


    <em>ck!</em>


    The wallmps hanging here, each fitted with red ss, filtered out an eerie red glow resembling two sinister, blood-stained hands, weing visitors to unveil the mysterious curtain of the "Paradise."


    Although Yi Chen had mentally prepared himself beforehand, the scene before him immediately triggered a primal flight response.


    Despite his best efforts to control himself, Yi Chen still took a step back.


    "Wee to my Paradise!"


    Like a proud host, Mr. Zed stretched his arms wide, revealing the crimson interior behind him in full glory.


    The basement spanned around three or four hundred square meters, filled with a variety of "exercise equipment," each piece personally designed by Zed. He had passed these blueprints to the academy, which had produced these custom-made items.


    Zed jogged over to a corner of the Paradise and beckoned Yi Chen toward the entrance.


    "Come over here! Give a little wave to the camera. The folks at the academy are quite strict¡ªwe need their approval before we can start the special training. If you identally die while working out, they''lle after me."


    "But of course, I believe you¡¯ll hold up. You won¡¯t die that easily."


    "Okay¡­ alright," Yi Chen replied, forcing a smile as he stepped in front of the camera.


    After a moment, the camera¡¯s "eye" moved up and down in approval.


    "Oh! Today, the academy folks are being generous¡ªthey approved it right away! So, let¡¯s begin our special training! Since this is your first time here, let¡¯s start with some of the simpler equipment. Do you see that treadmill over there? Get on it and run to your heart''s content. But remember, don¡¯t stop until every bit of your stamina is drained."


    "Okay..."


    Yi Chen looked in the direction Zed pointed.


    The treadmill was made entirely of metal, with restraints at the handles. Once strapped in, there was no escape¡ªunless one were to rip off both arms.


    The most horrifying part was that the treadmill belt was covered with iron spikes, ranging from 2 to 5 centimeters long. Each step wouldnd directly on these spikes.


    If he couldn¡¯t keep up with the treadmill¡¯s speed, with his arms bound, his lower body would meet the belt in a rather intimate and painful encounter, leaving it scraped and mangled by the spikes.


    However, the spiked treadmill was merely an entry-level piece of equipment in "Zed¡¯s Paradise." Zed himself found it so beneath him that it was even collecting dust.


    Just before stepping onto the treadmill, Yi Chen had a small question.


    "Mr. Zed, is this meant to train my <em>endurance</em>?"


    "Endurance is just part of it.


    Think about it! If you were attacked and felt no pain, or even felt pleasure, wouldn¡¯t that be a huge advantage? What I truly want to teach you is ''physical control''."


    "For us humans, the body has never truly belonged to the brain; <em>she</em> has always had a mind of her own. Think of your body as a cheeky littlepanion. She seems loyal to you, obedient on the surface, but often works against you behind the scenes. Whenever she¡¯s unhappy, she might even push you towards death.


    "Take the ssic example of hammering your knee¡ªthe brain didn¡¯t issue anymand, yet <em>she</em> instinctively disys that tantalizing, pale little leg.


    "A little external stimulus, and she¡¯s whining and screaming, sending waves of pain signals. Only by constantly pushing her to the brink and repairing her can you deepen your bond, making her your most faithful partner."


    "Understood." Yi Chen begrudgingly epted this strange philosophy.


    "Oh, and before you get on the treadmill¡­ remember to take off all your clothes. The ¡®Gentleman¡¯s Skin¡¯ is a precious thing, but it¡¯s useless for our training here, so let¡¯s try not to get it dirty."


    Yi Chen changed into a set of clothes he had bought in Easton Town.


    Taking off his shoes, he stepped onto the treadmill, binding his arms securely to the handles. Zed thoughtfully brought over a blood-cirction device¡ªa tube connected one end to a vein in Yi Chen''s wrist, and the other to a reservoir beneath the treadmill. Any blood lost while running would be recircted back into Yi Chen¡¯s body to prevent him from passing out from blood loss.


    As the training began, Zed pulled over a stool, like someone watching his favorite TV show, thoroughly engrossed in the agony of Yi Chen, his suffering runner.

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


    [A Week Passed]


    The fundamental attributes remained unchanged despite the intensive training.


    On the contrary, Yi Chen¡¯s mental and physical state deteriorated significantly. He appeared emaciated, his demeanor utterly lifeless, and his hair started falling out in patches.


    During Monday¡¯s ''Pathology'' ss, when Edmund and the others saw Yi Chen, they were startled by his condition. They tried to offer him material support, but he refused every offer.


    Yi Chen¡¯s only response was simple: ¡°Special training.¡±


    After observing a faint trace of determination in Yi Chen¡¯s dim eyes, Edmund refrained from further questions.


    The first week was spent almost entirely in Professor Zed¡¯s ¡°paradise,¡± gradually exploring other equipment beyond the treadmill. Just as his body adapted to one piece of equipment, a new one would disrupt the bnce.


    ---


    [Second Week]The attribute values remained unchanged, and Yi Chen¡¯s condition showed no improvement. His head had developed a ring bald spot, and he now appeared 10 to 20 years older. He began wearing heavy coats and a hood daily.


    Walking between the teaching building and the campus, he resembled a walking corpse.


    On Sunday night, a rare evening of rest, Yi Chen staggered back to his dormitory only to find Professor Chambein, the owl, waiting for him.


    ¡°Your physical condition is terrible, and the umted injuries may all turn into long-term consequences, leaving your future hanging by a thread. Do you want to give up, William?


    Just nod, and I¡¯ll immediately contact the school to sever all ties between you and Zed. I¡¯ll also transfer you to another Pathology ss, ensuring Zed won¡¯t bother you again. Tonight, I¡¯ll send you to the internal <em>clinic</em> in Zion forprehensive treatment.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Professor Chambein¡­ but I can feel my body undergoing subtle changes. I want to keep going.¡±


    ¡°Are you certain?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    Suddenly, Chambein, who was several meters away, closed the distance almost instantly and ced a hand gently on Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°As I suspected¡­ <em>pain</em> is the perfect catalyst for your body. To achieve ¡®multi-attribute limits,¡¯ you must endure far greater sacrifices than others.


    Also, don¡¯t worry about the monthly mission requirements. I will submit a ¡®task dy¡¯ application on your behalf.


    However, the academy doesn¡¯t encourage such closed-door efforts. After all, the ultimate goal of nurturing gentlemen is to eliminate pathogens. Direct confrontation and fieldwork against pathogens are far more meaningful.


    Thus, the maximum task dy allowed is <em>six months</em>.


    During this time, you must fully adapt to Zed¡¯s training and allow your body to recover through sustained pain. After six months, you mustplete a mission worthy of recognition.


    Missions for gentlemen are far moreplex than those in Green Lake Town. Everything you encounter will be unknown.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be ready. Thank you, Professor.¡±


    ¡°I look forward to seeing your state six months from now.¡±


    ---


    [One Month Later]


    The attribute values remained unchanged, and Yi Chen¡¯s condition was still poor. However, the physical deterioration and aging seemed to have slowed.


    During this time, Yi Chen skipped a gentleman¡¯s etiquette ss and a Pathology ss.


    ---


    [Two Months Later]


    Although the attribute values still hadn¡¯t changed, Yi Chen¡¯s physical condition began to improve.


    The most noticeable improvement was the regrowth of his hair.


    During ss, Dagobert, who had exceptional talent in physical strength, noticed subtle changes urring in Yi Chen¡¯s body.


    These changes were unlike the typical physical development of most people. They weren¡¯t about refining, training, or shaping the existing physique.


    The sensation Yi Chen experienced felt as though his entire physical body had been torn apart, ground to dust, and then reassembled in the most primal way¡ªcreating a form better suited to his needs and easier to control.


    <em>Three months.</em>


    <em>Four months.</em>


    <em>Five months.</em>


    Over these months, Yi Chen gradually returned to his original appearance. His mental state also improved¡­ yet his physique value remained at [2].


    On the surface, it seemed as though everything had reverted to its original state, as if nothing had happened.


    Meanwhile, after months of training, the daily special training routines and schedules had already be fixed.


    Once Yi Chen¡¯s stamina waspletely drained, Mr. Zed would immediately shut down the equipment. He would carry Yi Chen¡¯s utterly exhausted body and throw him into a tub filled with nutrient solution for soaking until he regained consciousness.


    If he woke up before the teaching building closed, he could return to the dorm to sleep. If he woke upte, he would have to continue training there.


    ---


    Time approached the <em>eleventh day before the six-month deadline</em>.


    [Wilsterman Teaching Building - Underground Section]


    As usual, Yi Chen was engaged in intensive training¡­ but today, something was different.


    Mr. Zed, with a heavy expression, nced at the time on his pocket watch.


    The training had exceeded its scheduled duration; Yi Chen should have been utterly exhausted and copsed half an hour ago.


    However¡ª


    He was still sitting on the rowing machine, which was embedded with steel spikes that hadpletely pierced his palms. Yet he continued to row at a high frequency as though unfazed.


    ¡°Could it be¡­¡±


    Zed didn¡¯t mention the overtime. Instead, he spoke in his usual tone for special training.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough for the rowing machine. Move to the treadmill for a light jog.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Yi Chen effortlessly stepped away from the rowing machine, casually bandaging his pierced palms. Without pausing, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm and got on the treadmill with ease.


    While running, Yi Chen suddenly turned his head and asked, ¡°Mr. Zed, may I run a bit faster? For some reason¡­ I feel like my body is bing lighter and lighter.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, follow your instincts and do as you feel. From now on, you don¡¯t need to seek my advice.¡±


    After this final instruction, Zed fell silent, seemingly waiting for some change to ur.


    ---


    <em>Hissing~</em>


    A faint sound reached Zed¡¯s ears, originating from the squeezing and vibrating of Yi Chen¡¯s pores.


    Suddenly, red mist began to emit from Yi Chen¡¯s running body, as though his blood were evaporating. In truth, his total blood volume hadn¡¯t decreased; what was being expelled were clotted blood and the residual pain that had umted in his body over time.


    The more red mist that was released, the lighter Yi Chen felt.


    His speed on the treadmill increased further, until the red mist nearly obscured his entire figure. All that remained visible was a blur of a body running at high speed.


    Then, something even stranger happened.


    Yi Chen¡¯s skin began to undergo <em>¡°shelling¡±</em>¡ªseparating from his body inrge sections.


    <em>Crack!</em>


    A whole piece of shed skin fell off, which Zed swiftly picked up.


    Touching the wlessyer of human skin, Zed¡¯s expression turned to one of extreme excitement.


    ¡°Purification, shedding¡­ just one final step remains!¡±


    A newyer of slightly red skin emerged on Yi Chen¡¯s body. Underneath, tiny, vibrant root-like fibers visibly intertwined with blood vessels.


    Within seconds, the fresh skin matured, transforming into a normal tone and texture¡ªmore flexible, delicate, and closely fitting than before.


    Yi Chen¡¯s hair grew visibly, gaining six months¡¯ worth of length and cascading over his shoulders.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    With a loud crash, apanied by the sound of shattering metal, the treadmill¡ªoverused and heavily worn¡ªexploded under Yi Chen¡¯s intense speed.


    Amid the blend of red mist and metallic debris, a long-haired young man emergedpletely unclothed.


    On his shoulder was a small fleshy protrusion, rhythmically swaying its tiny arms. Its teeth ground together noisily, emanating excitement.


    The youth picked up his gear bag and donned a long-unused suit.


    At that moment, the suit¡ªclinging to his body¡ªdetected the drastic changes in his physique and projected updated data onto his retina:


    [Physique] has increased: [2] ¡ú [3]


    *<em>Special Note:</em>*


    - The fundamental nature of the body has changed, making it easier to further enhance physique.


    - Proficiency in <em>¡°Pathogenic Characteristics¡±</em> has improved.

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    [Fetal Heart Church]


    Inside the office of Professor George Chambein, also known as the White Owl W.O.


    A trial sparring session was underway.


    A white-feathered owl perched in the corner, watching intently.


    The sparring didn¡¯tst long¡ªjust <em>1 minute and 37 seconds</em> in total¡ªbut for the participants, this duration was already an astonishing feat.


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    The typically stern and rigid Professor Chambein burst into uninhibitedughter.


    The owl, sensing its owner¡¯s joy, hooted enthusiastically.


    It had been a long time since Chambein, having reached an advanced age, hadughed so heartily. ¡°I knew it! You¡¯ve inherited such a unique and exceptional <em>physique</em> from Zed¡­ With this, your future is boundless.


    Across all of Zion, besides Zed, only you possess such distinctive physical characteristics.


    I look forward to the day you reach the pinnacle of multi-attribute capabilities.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Professor.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve also timed everything well~ There are only ten days left of your six-month deadline. Are you ready for your mission?¡±


    ¡°As soon as I leave your office, I¡¯ll set out for Zion¡¯s ¡®Gentlemen¡¯s Hall¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Good! Let me remind you once more.


    While the academy ces no specific requirements on the tasks you choose or their difficulty levels, you must hold yourself to a higher standard.


    Don¡¯t settle for the easiest, safest tasks just to get by¡ªchoose something one tier higher, with some risk and uncertainty.


    If you don¡¯t limate in advance, you¡¯ll surely perish when you face true dangers outside the city.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ---


    <em>ng, ng!</em> The train rumbled forward.


    This marked Yi Chen¡¯s first time leaving the academy in six months.


    The Eternal Night scene, sealed behind the academy gates, gave way to sunlight spilling over his body. He felt as if his entire being had awakened, perhaps linked to the photosynthesis urring within the nts inside him.


    It was like being reborn.


    A sapling sprouted in his palm as a smile appeared on his face, filled with hope for the future.


    ¡°This feeling is amazing.¡±


    As the train pulled into the ''Street District'' station, three familiar faces awaited him outside the window.


    The moment he stepped off the train,


    A hand faintly scented with English cologne wrapped around Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder.


    The deep-blue tone of a suit brushed against his ck suit, leather rubbing together.


    Beneath blonde hair, a face reminiscent of <em>Aaron Taylor-Johnson</em> leaned closer. It was none other than his ssmate, "Edmund Mariano".


    ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for you all morning. If we miss out on suitable tasks because of the dy, then William will have to foot the bill for the day¡¯s expenses. I wouldn¡¯t mind spending the night at a luxury hotel.¡±


    ¡°Apologies, I was dyed at Professor Chambein¡¯s office. Let¡¯s hurry and go.¡±


    ¡°No need to be so formal, just a joke.


    As new gentlemen enrolled in the academy, we have the privilege of <em>mission allocation</em>, so there will always be suitable tasks avable whenever we go.


    Let¡¯s go¡ªdestination: ¡®Gentlemen¡¯s Hall¡¯.¡±


    ---


    Over the past six months, although they only had two sses per week, Edmund¡¯s persistence brought him and Yi Chen closer.


    asionally, Yi Chen also discussed <em>physical development</em> with Dagobert, another student specializing in physique training.


    Their decision to form a team wasn¡¯t random. Edmund had sensed the importance of this six-month milestone and proactively invited Yi Chen during a recent pathology ss.


    This time, unlike at Green Lake Town, Yi Chen didn¡¯t refuse.


    1. Six months of interaction had deepened his understanding of Edmund and the others.


    2. Yi Chen had reached a sufficient <em>level</em> to team up with Edmund¡¯s group, whose members had been rigorously trained since childhood. He no longer worried about exposing his ''rookie'' status.


    3. Edmund¡¯s team had sessfullypleted five squad missions during this time, offering invaluable experience to Yi Chen, who had yet to undertake his first mission.


    4. Most importantly, Zion¡¯s rules required gentlemen still in training, like Yi Chen, to take on missions as part of a <em>team</em> to reduce mortality rates.


    Thus, Edmund¡¯s team weed a new member, expanding to four.


    ...


    [Gentleman¡¯s Hall]


    One of the most important buildings in Zion City, the Gentleman¡¯s Hall is a Gothic structure spanning three levels¡ªlower, middle, and upper¡ªlocated in the central street district.


    Taking the elevator to the "Lower Street District,"


    He pass through winding alleys, squeezing through narrow passageways with his chest and back almost pressed against the damp walls.


    Eventually, he reach a higher, open, three-way intersection.


    Here stands a colossal building, far surpassing the surrounding structures in scale, intricacy, and aura:


    [The Gentleman¡¯s Hall].


    A ck metal te with vertically elongated lettering is mounted on the central part of the building, adorned with various intricate patterns. The building¡¯s sides feature numerous flying buttresses, both visually stunning and reinforcing the towering nature of the structure. It evokes a sense of upward momentum, as if soaring straight into the sky.


    At the very top, a prominent circr window catches the eye. Designed with a wheel-shapedttice, its centerpiece disys the emblem of the organization¡ª<em>G&D</em>.


    "William, this must be your first time here, right?


    Although the Gentleman¡¯s Hall is ssified as a [Public Area], it¡¯s essentially a highly confidential division, even involving core secrets.


    The interior is strictly sectioned off, with tight controls over movement.


    As new gentlemen, our ess is extremely limited, and we¡¯re confined to the lower levels.


    Let¡¯s wait until we receive today¡¯s mission slip before discussing task details."


    "Understood."


    As they entered through the main gate,


    a towering gentleman guard, nearly two meters tall and equipped with a ck mask and mechanical goggles,


    lowered his gaze to scan the group¡¯s physical conditions.


    <em>Click!</em> With a full rotation of the circr mechanism on his goggles, the scan passed!


    The guard then made a polite gesture, inviting them in.


    The ground-floor hall had a circryout, filled with numerous independent counters. Each counter was staffed by a clerk and separated by thick ss, reminiscent of a bank¡¯s design.


    Looking around for the first time, Yi Chen noticed there were no visible stairs or elevators leading to the upper levels.


    "Is there no direct way up from the ground floor?"


    "There is¡­ but only if our [Persona Rank] is sufficient. You¡¯d need to apply through one of the clerks here, and they would guide you to the middle or upper levels to take on higher-security, more challenging missions.


    But that¡¯s something for the future."


    ---


    The group approached the nearest counter.


    Edmund, appearing well-acquainted with the process, gestured toward Yi Chen behind him.


    "Our squad would like to add a new member. Can weplete the registration here?"


    "Please present the necessary documentation."


    Yi Chen promptly handed over his student ID, issued by the academy.


    The ID drew attention for two notable details:


    1. A stamp approving a maximum six-month mission dy.


    2. A stamp from the "First Gentleman" as an official sponsor.


    The clerk couldn¡¯t help but take a closer look at this special new gentleman.


    "Please wait. Adding a member requires recalcting the squad¡¯s [Overall Index]. It should take about ten minutes to provide you with a new mission list suitable for your team¡¯s level."


    After saying this,


    the clerk hung a ¡°Service Suspended¡± sign and headed to the upper levels to report the situation.


    The unique student ID quickly caught the attention of a senior manager.


    "Hmm?


    A rare ¡®First Gentleman¡¯ sponsorship? For such a talented neer, why spend six months idling at the academy? And why was the dy application submitted by the infamous ¡®White Owl¡¯ squad?


    Additionally, this teamprises three top students, all with exceptional performance. Their first five missions werepleted with superior ratings.


    Alright, here¡¯s the decision:


    Incorporate this individual into the team under a tripled new gentleman index,


    and assign them some particrly special missions."


    "Understood."

 Chapter 46

    [The Gentlemen''s Hall]


    Everyone sat quietly on brown-painted benches, waiting in silence.


    Edmund took out a pocket watch with the family winged crest engraved on its interior lining.


    ¡°Today¡¯s pace seems a bit slow... Is it because William joined the team? Usually, it only takes ten minutes for the task list to arrive, but it¡¯s been nearly half an hour now.¡±


    At the edge of the bench, Juliana, with her face covered by a ck veil and hands lightly resting on her knees, spoke calmly:


    ¡°William hasn¡¯t performed a mission in six months due to special circumstances, and he¡¯s met the First Gentleman. Evaluating his abilities is probably challenging, so they¡¯re likely discussing and deliberating upstairs.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. For someone capable of scoring over 95, it¡¯smon to see them grinding tasks whenever they get a chance... Taking half a year off is practically unheard of. Let¡¯s wait a bit longer.¡±


    After forty minutes passed, a middle-aged man in a ck tailcoat, white bow tie, and a tilted top hat approached.


    With hollow cheeks and prominent cheekbones that gave off an air of sternness, the man wore a badge on his chest signifying his special status.


    ¡°Supervisor!¡±


    Edmund, with his extensive experience, immediately recognized the badge and its corresponding role. The man was one of the <em>Gentlemen¡¯s Hall</em> supervisors, primarily handling upper-level affairs and liaising with high-ranking gentlemen, doctors, and other elites. He rarely appeared in the lower-level areas.


    The supervisor didn¡¯t respond but instead turned his gaze to Yi Chen, scrutinizing him from head to toe.


    His purpose ining down was to see for himself what the neer epted by the <em>First Gentleman</em> looked like and why he needed six months to recuperate.


    After a thorough observation,


    apart from the mysterious pet concealed on Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder and the unmanifested ''insignia'',


    the supervisor could only conclude with two words: <em>ordinary</em>.


    Compared to past prodigies who had encountered the First Gentleman upon arriving at Zion, Yi Chencked wild ambition or any particrly striking traits. Superficially, Edmund and the others appeared far more outstanding.


    ¡°To objectively consider your team¡¯sposition, I¡¯ve slightly increased the difficulty and carefully selected three missions.


    Here is the list for you to choose from. If you find the tasks unsuitable, I can provide a recement batch. However, the difficulty level won¡¯t change significantly.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    After handing over the envelope, the supervisor showed no intention of leaving. He sat down on a nearby bench, waiting for their decision. He even gestured for them to take their time, indicating he was in no rush.  ?


    Opening the envelope, they found three fine letters crafted from leather paper.


    ---


    1. [Sacrifice of the Ghost Vige]


    Incident Location: Southeastern forest of Helven Valley (72 km from Zion)


    Pathogenic Analysis: Confirmed infection (100%)


    - Category: Mental disorder


    - Objective: Enter the primitive vige, identify the source of the infection, and effectively seal off the area. Eliminate the root cause and all vigers¡ªleave no survivors.


    - Difficulty (Personne


    Special Note: There is a high likelihood of encountering ¡°severe patients¡± in the vige, with a very small chance of encountering a ''Patient Zero''.


    Patient Zero: Rare individuals infected by the pathogen but able to break free from its control during the ¡°afflicted¡± stage, achieving absolute autonomy.


    If you encounter and confirm a Patient Zero during the mission, attempt to persuade them to return to Zion or escort them to a nearby ''clinic'' or ''cemetery''.


    - Base Rewards: A certain amount of silver coins, a 20 cm ¡Á 20 cm piece of ¡°Gentleman¡¯s Skin¡± imbued with old-world essence, and +1 premium mission point.


    - Additional rewards may be granted based onpletion level, discovery of extra clues, etc.


    - If over 20% of vigers escape, the mission will be considered a failure.


    ---


    2. [Suspected Pathogenic Apartment Building]


    Incident Location: Dexton City (103 km from Zion)


    - Previous excerpt: ording to reports from local investigators, an apartment building at 73 Laken Street has seen frequent tenant disappearances (eleven cases so far). Investigators using conventional methods found no anomalies.


    Pathogenic Detection: None found so far (suspected to be deeply hidden, with the pathogen in atent growth stage).


    Requirement: Assist Gentleman Investigator Lambert Chernovy in uncovering the cause of the apartment building''s disappearance.


    Difficulty (Persona): ?? (Difficulty cannot be assessed until the existence, grade, and type of pathogen are determined).


    <em>If a hidden pathogen is discovered, actions should be taken based on Investigator Lambert''s judgment of the situation: eliminate the threat, request organizational support, or immediately retreat.</em>


    Special Reminder: The difficulty of this task cannot be assessed, and there is a potential risk that the apartment building itself may be the pathogen. Please carefully consider whether to ept this mission.


    Reward: To be determined based on the final investigation and oue of the incident.


    ---


    3. [Recovery of Secret Medicine]


    Location of Incident: Vinal City (approximately 51 km from Zion).


    Previous excerpt:


    Two months ago, the "False Moon Incident" broke out in Vinal City, resulting in the immediate deaths of over 90% of the city''s poption. The entire city was paralyzed, eventually bing ruins.


    The ¡®Twilight Clinic¡¯, located on the outskirts of the city, was also severely affected and recently abandoned.


    A week ago, a gentleman recovery team from the organization went to the ''Twilight Clinic'' to retrieve the "secret medicine."


    Due to incorrect information provided by the clinic, it waster discovered through manual verification that one bottle of the secret medicine had not been recovered.


    Pathogenic Detection: A low probability of residual pathogens rted to the "False Moon Incident" exists.


    <em>The primary pathogenic entity responsible for the False Moon Incident has already beenpletely eradicated by gentlemen between organizations, so there is no need for concern.</em>


    Requirements:


    1. Proceed to the ''Twilight Clinic'' to retrieve the missing bottle of secret medicine.


    2. If the medicine cannot be found, use the organizationally issued Proid to photograph every corner of the clinic and obtain evidence indicating that the secret medicine may have been taken.


    Difficulty (Persona): ¡ï¡ï¡ï+? (It is uncertain whether remnants of the False Moon Incident are undergoing rapid growth, and the difficulty may exceed three stars).


    Special Reminder: Once you confirm eptance of this task, you may request ess to partial information about the "False Moon Incident."


    Base Rewards: Several silver coins, a 20 cm ¡Á 20 cm piece of Gentleman''s Skin" with an old-world essence, and +1 premium mission point.


    Additional rewards may be granted based on taskpletion, discovery of extra clues, etc.


    If the secret medicine bottle is retrieved, each participant may receive one or more drops of the secret medicine''s essence depending on performance.


    ---


    These three tasks left Edmund feeling a headache creeping in¡ªeach one more uncertain than thest.


    Only the first task had somewhat stable difficulty, while the other two were highly variable.


    The highest difficulty of tasks they¡¯d epted previously was two-and-a-half stars. Once, they encountered unexpected danger during a mission of that level, which nearly cost Dagobert a permanent loss of one arm. After returning, the team had to recover for half a month.


    Of course, over the past six months, through study and real-world practice, all three team members had improved significantly. Furthermore, the team now included Yi Chen, who had epted the role of the "First Gentleman."


    Facing a three-star or even three-and-a-half-star mission was now a reasonable prospect.


    Juliana, who rarely spoke, suddenly made a quiet suggestion:


    ¡°Captain¡­ should we consider the third mission? Tasks involving <em>secret medicine</em> are extremely rare and typically only essible to higher-ranking gentlemen.


    ording to the prelude, since the recovery team went there a week ago, they must have also cleared the clinic during the retrieval process.


    If we could use this task to obtain some secret medicine essence in advance, it would undoubtedly benefit our future rank advancements.¡±


    ¡°We still don¡¯t know what type of secret medicine it is, and the False Moon Incident might involve some ancient elements¡­ I can¡¯t make a firm decision yet. William, what do you think?¡±


    Yi Chen responded simply, ¡°I agree with Juliana. There¡¯s a bnce of risk and reward here.¡±


    ¡°Alright then~ Even if we ask for a substitute mission, the difficulty probably wouldn¡¯t be much different. This one is also rtively close by. If we¡¯re lucky enough, we might even retrieve the secret medicine in just one day.


    But I have one condition.


    We¡¯ll officially execute this task tomorrow or the day after. This is our first time handling a three-star, or possibly higher difficulty, mission. We need to prepare thoroughly before departure.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 47

    When Captain Edmund confirmed the decision, the supervisor sitting nearby showed a gratified expression, as if anticipating this choice.


    ¡°Information regarding the ¡®False Moon Incident¡¯ is ssified and stored in the archives of the mid-level section. The materials you will ess are only mission-rted and have been modified and filtered.


    Remember two key points:


    1. Once you have read the files, the mission is non-negotiable. Failure toplete the mission on time will result in severe disciplinary action, including memory erasure.


    2. If it is discovered that you intentionally leaked information about the False Moon Incident, severe cases will lead to expulsion from the organization and exile from Zion.


    If you¡¯re ready to proceed, follow me.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    With the team in agreement, there was no reason for hesitation.


    The supervisor led them through an empty reception area,pleting a simple identity verification process. They took a staff-only elevator to the mid-level section of the ''Gentlemen¡¯s Hall'', a zone specifically designed to assign tasks to high-ranking gentlemen who had surpassed their limits. Unlike the open counters of the lower levels, the mid-level section emphasized privacy. It featured numerous private booths for task acquisition, ensuring each high-ranking gentleman received a one-on-one professional service.


    The four-person squad was likewise guided to a private booth. Before long, a sealed document bearing the G&D wax seal was delivered. The supervisor personally broke the surface seal, then retrieved a small, ornate hourss from his sleeve.


    ¡°You have ten minutes to read. Use your time wisely.¡±


    ......


    #The False Moon Incident


    371, ¨€¨€ month, ¨€¨€ day


    In Vinal City, under indirect jurisdiction of the organization, both the local investigators and the Twilight Clinic reported no abnormalities before the ¡®False Moon Incident¡¯ urred at ¨€¨€:¨€¨€ that evening.


    On what should have been a fog-covered night, the dark sky became unnaturally clear, and two identical full moons appeared side by side.


    This rare phenomenon immediately attracted the attention of the city''s residents. Even though the local gentlemen investigators sounded a citywide rm promptly, they could not prevent the event from unfolding.


    Simtions conducted afterward indicated that within just two minutes of the moons¡¯ appearance, over 60% of the city¡¯s residents had witnessed the ¡®False Moon¡¯ firsthand.


    Within an hour of the incident, residents who directly observed the False Moon developed a "Moon Mark" on their necks and exhibited early infection symptoms, indiscriminately attacking uninfected individuals within the city.


    At the onset of the outbreak, Dr. McCoff, head of the Twilight Clinic, mobilized his staff and joined forces with local investigators to enforce mandatory suppression.


    During the purge, utilizing covert measures previously set up by Dr. McCoff (<em>details ssified</em>), they sessfully identified the source of the False Moon Incident: a highly camouged and deceptive patient living among the residents.


    At that time, this patient had already reached the "Open Source Phase", and the condition was identified as <em>Moonscar</em>.


    Though they managed to eliminate the Open Source patient and resolve the incident, the cost was devastating. Nearly all local investigators perished, Dr. McCoff sustained severe injuries resulting in the loss of half his body, and he remains in a deepa, still in critical condition.


    Reinforcements arrivingter thoroughly cleansed every corner of Vinal City, reducing the city to ruins.


    ......


    As Edmund finished reading, cold sweat dripped from his face.


    ¡°An Open Source patient? Dr. McCoff critically injured, and the local investigators wiped out... This is...¡±


    Yi Chen also frowned as he focused on the keyword ''Open Source'', recalling a lesson from two months ago during pathology ss.


    Professor Zed delivered a particrly fascinating lecture titled <em>"A Phased Overview of Living Pathogenic Transformations"</em>. It outlined the progressive stages living organisms undergo after infection and the dangerous forms they develop as they advance.


    ---


    ¡Ú Living Pathogenic Transformations ¡Û


    Using ''humans'' as an example (the differences in mammals are minimal; for non-mammals, the greater their divergence from humans, the more varied their transformations):


    [Pathogenic Phase]


    Also referred to as the initial stage of infection. Based on the characteristics of different pathogens, pathogenic transformations are categorized into two main types:


    1. Physical Pathogenicity


    2. Mental Pathogenicity


    In the early stages of infection, individuals exhibit few or no pathogenic characteristics. Their aggressiveness is typically low, making them easy to eliminate.


    These individuals often choose to disguise themselves or hide in unseen corners or shadows during this phase. Once the pathogen fully takes root in their bodies, forming a distinct "pathogenic structure," they are then ssified as [Infected].


    [Infected]


    The infected possess full consciousness and view themselves as a part of the "disease."


    They exhibit threatening pathogenic characteristics and instinctively invade and infect normal lifeforms that have not been corrupted.


    The innkeeper and his sister encountered in Green Lake Town are such infected individuals. However, their self-control is extraordinarily high, approaching that of a "Patient Zero."


    [Mutation Phase]


    When infected individuals fulfill one or more conditions, such as:


    - Surviving for a sufficient length of time,


    - Infecting a significant number of living beings,


    - Absorbing the essence of other infected individuals,


    They formally enter the <em>mutation phase</em>.


    During this phase, the "pathogenic structure" integrates more deeply with the infected, bing a permanent part of their body structure. It no longer manifests as conspicuous features like boils or rashes but instead camouges itself as organ tissue or blends into the flesh, making it difficult to detect (hiding their weaknesses).


    At the same time:


    - Their pathogenic characteristics grow significantly stronger.


    - Fundamental changes may ur in their body structure, such as:


    - Growing oversized, non-standard limbs,


    - Developing wings capable of flight,


    - Growing an additional brain specialized in storing mental energy and coborativeputation, etc.


    Infected individuals who sessfully transition through this stage are collectively referred to as "Severe Infected".


    A gentleman of "human" status would find it nearly impossible to kill a severe infected individual alone. Even teams face considerable risk when encountering them.


    [Open Source Phase]


    Teacher Zed originally did not n to cover this phase of infection, as new gentlemen are assigned manageable tasks under the organization''s guidance, ensuring they rarely encounter such entities.


    However, due to Yi Chen¡¯s presence and Zed''s exceptionally good mood that day, he indulged everyone''s curiosity and shared a brief overview.


    A rare few infected individuals can achieve "perfect fusion" with their pathogenic structures¡ªa fusion that reaches the soul level.


    Once achieved:


    - The infected touch upon the ¡ÚOrigin Disease¡Û from a distant old world, undergoing a ''qualitative transformation''.


    - Their bodies manifest extraordinary "old world characteristics" far beyond modern reality.


    - They gain strength far surpassing typical infected, and conventional pathogen weaknesses no longer apply.


    Instead, they develop a "health bar"¡ªa tubr structure suspended above their heads that represents their "Origin Disease" and total life force.


    These beings often hide this feature, which can only be discerned by those proficient in ancient living script.


    They are collectively referred to as [Open Source].


    To defeat such beings, specific killing techniques are required to deplete their "health bar." Only when the liquid within the tubr structure is entirely drained can they be truly harmed.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 48

    The descriptions rted to [Open Source] involuntarily reminded Yi Chen of past events at theke and the terrifying entity he had encountered in the Fish Scale Abyss.


    However, based on Yi Chen¡¯s recollection of that scene, the entity dwelling in the abyss appeared to be at a tier far beyond Open Source¡ªa more profound, ancient, and unique level.


    It seemed to bear some connection to the origin of diseases.


    ...


    <em>Snap!</em>


    The supervisor snapped his fingers, signaling the end of the hourss timer and sealing the documents.


    ¡°As you¡¯ve seen, the ''False Moon Incident'' was orchestrated by a Open Source patient. Their pathogenic characteristics were closely tied to the ''moon,'' marking them as a rare and unique case.


    Possessing extraordinary concealment abilities, this patient could fully integrate among humans, eventually causing a near-catastrophic event that almost destroyed an entire city.


    That said, the Open Source patient has been eliminated, and the False Moon Incident was resolved two months ago, with cleanuppleted justst week. All that remains is for you to visit the abandoned clinic and confirm whether thest vial of the secret medicine is still there.¡±


    Captain Edmund attempted to probe for more details:


    ¡°Can you provide us with more information about the secret medicine?¡±


    ¡°You will only learn certain ''partial information'' about itspatibility with you once you sessfully retrieve it andplete the mission.


    For now, the only thing I can share is that the secret potion, developed by the Twilight Clinic, has been ssified as a key inter-organizational secret due to its ''special effects.''¡±


    As the supervisor spoke, he took out four Proid cameras and a photograph. The picture depicted the exclusive secret medicine crafted by the Twilight Clinic.


    A weathered ss vial, filled with silver liquid, its cork stained with unsettling grime. On the discoloredbel of the bottle, a handwritten note in crooked script was faintly legible:


    <em>¡°Twilight Clinic Original Form ¨C Twilight Silver Liquid¡±</em>


    ¡ªDr. D.M. McCoff


    The supervisor tapped the photograph rhythmically, like a telegraph operator.


    ¡°Using the bottle design shown in the picture, locate the remaining potion. If you search the clinic thoroughly and still can¡¯t find it, photograph every corner to prove that it has been stolen.


    It¡¯s that simple. If there are no issues, you may depart.¡±


    Edmund responded promptly, ¡°We¡¯ll begin the mission tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. After all, you¡¯re rookies! As long as the task ispleted by the end of the month, that¡¯s sufficient. If there¡¯s nothing else, we¡¯ll conclude our conversation here.


    Good luck!¡±


    As the group was about to leave the table, Yi Chen, who had been deep in thought, suddenly interjected:


    ¡°I have a question... Are all the details in these documents urate?¡±


    The supervisor, who had already turned away, paused for a moment and turned back again.


    ¡°Oh? Do you think the information I personally provided is false?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s just an intangible sense of inconsistency.¡±


    ¡°The documents provided are only ¡®partial information.¡¯ Many ssified details have been redacted. To maintain readability and fill in the gaps, some elements were artificially adjusted or supplemented. Slight inconsistencies are normal.


    Is there anything else you wish to ask?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    The supervisor, showing a good-natured attitude, personally escorted the four out of the "Gentlemen¡¯s Hall" and waved kindly as they parted ways.


    Watching the four figures fade into the distance, he muttered under his breath:


    ¡°The First Gentleman¡¯s chosen candidate, alongside three excellent new recruits holding blue letters... How far can they go, I wonder?¡±


    Adjusting the tilt of his top hat, he turned and re-entered the Gentlemen¡¯s Hall.


    As the supervisor ascended to the upper levels, Professor Chambein, a white owl perched on his shoulder, was already waiting for him.


    ¡°Oh? Isn¡¯t this the renowned White Owl? What brings you here? Are you looking to take on a dark-tier mission?¡±


    Chambein didn¡¯t respond to the banter and instead went straight to the point:


    ¡°I heard you assigned the mission involving the ''False Moon Incident'' to William, Edmund, and their group?¡±


    ¡°I merely provided an option. The decision to ept it was entirely theirs.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Chambein strode directly toward the supervisor.


    Though the two were of simr height, Chambein¡¯s presence utterly overshadowed the other.


    ¡°Edge, we¡¯ve known each other for some time.


    As the supervisor of the Hall, you should be more aware than anyone of the value of talent. The False Moon Incident hasn¡¯t truly ended. Even if the risk is ¡®minimal,¡¯ should it resurface, they will undoubtedly perish.¡±


    Edge, the supervisor, leaned back slightly, smiling as he replied:


    "I only scheduled tasks ording to the ''algorithm.'' Their squad''s level matches the requirements for retrieving the secret medicine, that''s all.


    Of course, considering the minuscule potential risks involved, I''ll arrange for some free high-ranking gentlemen to observe in the shadows. If danger exceeding the mission''s scope arises, we''ll do everything possible to ensure their safety."


    "No need for arrangements; I''ll take care of it... wait a second!"


    Chambein suddenly realized something. "You brat, you predicted I¡¯d intervene from the start, didn¡¯t you?"


    Edge raised his hands quickly, feigning innocence. "Huh? I didn¡¯t say anything! Since Professor Chambein happens to have time, I won¡¯t need to assign anyone else."


    <em>Snap!</em>


    A w-like hand gripped the supervisor''s shoulder.


    "Edge, you seem pretty free these days too, don¡¯t you? Even making time to personally greet the new gentlemen downstairs... How about we both guarantee the safety of these kids? After all, they¡¯re just heading to the Twilight Clinic to retrieve a bottle of secret medicine¡ªit won''t take much time."


    Edge, who had nned to decline, suddenly felt a wave of killing intent.


    "Uh... sure! I¡¯ve been quite freetely anyway.


    These kids won¡¯t be leaving until tomorrow, so... how about letting me off tonight, Professor Chambein?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, only a single white feather was left drifting onto the supervisor''s shoulder¡ªChambein had already disappeared.


    "Sigh~ Miscalcted a bit.


    I didn¡¯t expect that old white owl to value this student so highly. Looks like that young man, who¡¯s been on leave for half a year, might indeed possess some hidden characteristics I failed to notice.


    Oh well~ To satisfy my own curiosity, I might as well tag along and y with these young ones."


    ...


    [Street District]


    Edmund personally spent his own money to prepare essential supplies for the squad''s journey beyond the city walls, such as various potions,pressed food, camping tents, and so on.


    Just as he was about to buy recement fuel for a kerosenemp, Edmund noticed that the kerosenemp strapped to Yi Chen''s waist was merely a standard civilian model, unsuitable for a gentleman inbat.


    "William! You need to rece that kerosenemp of yours.


    These old-fashioned kerosenemps are easily damaged in battle... Plus, the ce we¡¯re heading to has been entirely abandoned, so we¡¯ll often need kerosenemps for prolonged lighting."


    However, Yi Chen, deep in thought about the mission, only snapped out of it after a moment.


    "Huh? Kerosenemps... Is there more to them than meets the eye?"


    "Of course! In this messed-up world, any investigation into the outside could plunge us intoplete darkness. A kerosenemp is an essential item.


    It¡¯s also one of the officially recognized necessities for gentlemen.


    There are plenty of shops in Zion specializing in kerosenemps. We still have time today; let¡¯s pick one out together."


    "High-quality kerosenemps must be expensive, right?"


    Edmund patted his chest. "No problem~ If you¡¯re short on cash, I can cover the rest."


    "I¡¯ll pay you backter."


    Yi Chen didn¡¯t refuse. From the moment he was born in the cemetery, he understood the importance of a <em>kerosenemp</em>. Looking at his own rusty, oversizedmp that creaked while running, it indeed needed recing.


    They walked into amp shop named ''Helios¡¯s Sacred me.''


    As Yi Chen¡¯s eyes scanned the price tags beneath themps, his hand unconsciously reached for the meager amount of silver coins left on his belt.


    The thought of escaping quickly surfaced in his mind.

 Chapter 49

    Expensive.


    And not just expensive¡ªprohibitively so.


    Yi Chen¡¯s months of wages working in the cemetery, plus his special bonuses, barely added up to a little over 100 silver coins. Yet, even the cheapest kerosenemp here cost 500 silver coins.


    That being said, these kerosenemps were exceptional.


    They managed to shrink their size to the minimum while still maintaining excellent lighting properties. No matter how much you shook them, the internalbustion remained unaffected.


    Both themp cylinder and the base were made from impact-resistant materials. The more expensive ones were even engraved with defensive runes, which significantly reduced the chance of damage duringbat.


    At this moment, Edmund emerged from a special section of the store, holding a particrly unique kerosenemp.


    ¡°William, what do you think of this one? It feels like it suits you.¡±


    Themp Edmund picked was primarily ck, with a raven specimen mounted on the top of its cylinder. The raven''s body had undergone special treatment, filled with a tough yet flexible material that ensured it would never decay.


    Notably, its eyes had been reced with two distinctive rubies, giving the lifeless bird an eerie semnce of vitality.


    Additionally, the fuel refill opening was cleverly designed in the style of a "ck-framed wooden door," making themp resemble a miniature private house. The fire burning within cast its glow outward, illuminating the world through the "windows."


    The shop attendant, treating Edmond like a valued customer, enthusiastically exined:


    ¡°Themp in your hands is called ''The Crow Night''. Its design was inspired by Edgar An Poe¡¯s <em>The Raven</em>.


    This masterpiece was crafted by our topmp artisan, Gnom.


    It features flexible ss etched with ¡®resilience runes.¡¯


    Themp base, handle, and all metallic decorations are made from cold iron sourced from cemeteries aged ten years or more.


    Our store also offers free, lifetime recements for longsting fuel.


    The price is 4,800 silver coins.¡±


    Edmund frowned slightly. ¡°A bit pricey, huh? William, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°Too expensive. Let¡¯s check out another shop.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Yi Chen left decisively¡ªsuch an amount was entirely beyond his means. The other team members followed suit. However, Edmund lingered a little longer, and when he eventually rejoined the group, he was carrying an elegantly wrapped bag with the Sacred me emblem on it.


    Walking up to Yi Chen, he casually hung the bag on his wrist.


    Inside the bag, of course, was the raven-decorated kerosenemp.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°William, you¡¯ve been resting quietly in the academy since leaving the cemetery, so you probably don¡¯t have much money. For me, this is just two months¡¯ living expenses.


    Once weplete a high-difficulty three-star mission, we¡¯ll naturally earn a generous silver coin reward.


    Since this was my decision to buy, I can¡¯t guarantee it aligns with your preferences. If you really want to pay me back, just give me half of the mission rewards when it¡¯s done.¡±


    Seeing Edmund¡¯s sincerity, and considering the challenging mission ahead, Yi Chen ultimately epted the gift.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    When Yi Chen pulled themp from the bag, its light weight andfortable grip exceeded all expectations¡ªit felt like holding the soft exterior of a bird, gentle and soothing.


    Moreover, the dark, gothic design of themp matched Yi Chen¡¯s overall aura perfectly.


    Edmund, who had walked ahead, turned back to survey Yi Chen.


    ¡°My taste is wless. Thismp looks like it was custom-made for you.


    Speaking of which, William, what about that long ck hair of yours? While it doesplement your post-cemetery aesthetic, it might be a hindrance inbat.¡±


    ¡°Long hair, huh?¡±


    Yi Chen touched the shoulder-length hair that had grown rapidly during his recovery period. He didn¡¯t dislike it¡ªin fact, he was rather fond of it.


    In his past life, he had always kept his hair short. But now, he wanted to try something new, perhaps as part of embracing his changed body and mindset.


    Besides, the long hair symbolized the unique six months he had lived through¡ªit held sentimental value.


    ¡°This feels good as it is. No need to cut it.¡±


    ¡°How about this¡ªlet Anna tie it up for you? That way, it¡¯ll be practical forbat and you can still keep your hair. Give it a try.¡±


    Under Edmond¡¯s persuasion, Yi Chen eventually agreed.


    With Juliana¡¯s deft hands at work...


    She kept his bangs and sideburns, tying the rest into a centered bun at the back, making him look much more refreshed.


    ¡°Hmm~ Not bad at all! This hairstyle suits you¡­ By the way, do you want to change your weapon?¡±


    Edmund looked as though he was ready to give Yi Chen aplete ¡°overhaul.¡±


    ¡°No need. This hand axe feels quite handy.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, the craftsmanship is indeed good, but it¡¯s just basic equipment.


    If we can acquire pathogenic crystals or some more precious materials during this mission, you can use them to forge a better weapon when we return to the city.


    For us, weapons to hunt the infected are as vital as our limbs.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    ---


    It had to be said, the family behind Edmund was exceptionally wealthy. They even owned a mansion in Zion.


    He also treated everyone to avish feast for the entire day, coupled with full-body massages to rx before battle.


    After a day of resting and recharging, both body and mind were in peak condition as they submitted their mission execution report at the "Gentlemen¡¯s Hall" early the next morning.


    A high-end carriage belonging to their organization awaited them at the hall¡¯s entrance.


    Compared to the carriages Yi Chen had previously ridden, this one was in an entirely different league. The horses, bred through species refinement, had stamina several times greater than ordinary ones, and they were resistant to pathogens with self-healing capabilities.


    The sides of the horses even had muscle structures resembling feathery wings.


    The carriage itself featured windows with curtains, a sturdy and stable build, and an internal emergency power generator. In case the horses failed, the carriage could still rely on electricity to maintain high speed and escape any pursuing danger.


    After the coachman exined some basic details, they officially set off for their destination¡ªVinal City.


    Although the map listed the distance as 51 kilometers, the mountainous terrain meant the journey would take an estimated three and a half hours.


    During casual conversations about their mission, Yi Chen suddenly voiced a question that had been lingering in his mind.


    ¡°By the way, what exactly is a Secret Medicine? I don¡¯t recall it being covered in our lessons.¡±


    For a moment, the carriage fell silent.


    Eventually, it was Edmund who answered the question:


    ¡°It seems, William, that you¡¯ve spent the past six months focusing on yourself and haven¡¯t looked into the organization¡¯s background. Let me exin it briefly.


    When we talk about ''Secret Medicine'', we must also mention two other key concepts: ''Doctors'' and ''Clinics.''


    Remember when we first arrived in Zion and met a Doctor on the bridge? You probably have a basic idea.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    Yi Chen remembered Edmund exining that Doctors were a unique and powerful group of individuals among the Gentlemen, recognized by the organization and granted a ¡°Doctor¡¯s Credential.¡±


    Edmund continued:


    ¡°''Clinics'' are somewhat simr to ''tailor shops'', both being vital institutions approved and funded by the organization.


    Clinics offer nearby or on-route Gentlemen medical services such as treatment and pathogen removal. They also serve as specialized armed units, providing support during emergencies in the surrounding areas.


    But the core and most critical aspect of a clinic lies in its <em>Secret Medicine</em>.


    For a Doctor to establish a private clinic and gain organizational support in manpower and resources, they must submit a ''Secret Medicine Manuscript'' and a sample.


    After rigorous evaluation and approval of the secret medicine¡¯s value, the clinic is authorized to operate. The clinic must then regrly supply the organization with a fixed amount of Secret Medicine.


    If the output is high and its value exceeds expectations, the organization may increase the clinic¡¯s budget, expand its apprenticeship quotas, and provide additional support.


    Generally, the raw materials for Secret Medicine are derived from the ¡®Infected¡¯.


    Using their unique and private methods, Doctors process and refine these materials into a special medicine free of pathogens.


    This medicine is the clinic¡¯s most important and closely guarded secret.


    Secret Medicine can typically be ssified into three categories:


    1. [Healing-Type]


    These have effects far superior to ordinary medicine, allowing rapid recovery and even surpassing the body¡¯s original limits.


    Some can even enable temporary super-regeneration, granting a ¡°near-immortal state¡± for a short time.


    2. [Combat-Type]


    These specifically activate and enhance certain traits in Gentlemen, providing significant boosts for a limited time.


    However, if the Secret Medicine¡¯s properties are ipatible with the user¡¯s traits, it can cause severe side effects, even death.


    3. [Potential-Type]


    These are rare and highly valuable. They temporarily enhance an individual¡¯s ''Psyche'' (sensitivity or perception), making them ideal for exploring critical areas in the Gray Zone or breaking through personal limits.


    These three categories are what I¡¯ve learned from family records. The organization may have developed new types of Secret Medicine over the years.


    In any case, Secret Medicine y an irreceable role inbating <em>disease</em>.


    However, caution is necessary.


    Secret Medicine have strict dosage limits for different individuals. Overdosing can cause irreparable harm, even death. In some cases, hidden side effects between Nostrums may lead to internal infections.


    As we progress beyond the beginner stage of Gentlemen, we¡¯ll graduallye into contact with more Secret Medicine. These could save our lives in critical moments.¡±

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    Listening to the description of the secret medicine, Yi Chen fell into deep thought again.


    However, this time, it wasn¡¯t about the concept of the secret medicine or matters like doctors and clinics.


    Instead, hebined the details and descriptions from this mission and found a peculiar point.


    ¡°Edmund, you said that the raw materials for the elixir are derived from the <em>infected</em>.


    Could the ''False Moon Incident'' in Vinal City be rted to the development of the elixir?¡±


    As soon as these words were spoken, Edmund froze, raising a finger to his lips.


    ¡°William~ Such words mustn¡¯t be spoken lightly.


    Besides, the information provided to us by the organization clearly states that the open source patientsbeled as ''Moonscars'', the infected, possess a concealment ability far surpassing those of the same level.


    The False Moon Incident erupted suddenly, without the local gentlemen or the clinic noticing anything.¡± Edmund, who was born into a noble family, had been instilled with the principles associated with gentlemen since childhood. He had even met visiting <em>doctors</em> who came to his family.


    He firmly believed that those who could qualify to run a clinic must have noble character and would not be directly or indirectly involved in such heinous incidents.


    ¡°I¡¯m merely specting.


    After all, you just mentioned that the crafting of the secret medicine requires <em>infected</em>.¡±


    Realizing he might have overreacted, Edmund adjusted his posture and began exining some details about the clinic.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. The core ingredients of the elixir indeede from the infected.


    However, the organization has strict rules that these infected muste from <em>hunting</em>.


    The ''clinic'' is run by highly capable doctors. Some gentlemen, who graduate from the academy but are stuck at a bottleneck, choose to be apprentices at clinics to gain practical experience. Generally, a clinic will have at least ten gentleman apprentices.


    These apprentices pay their <em>tuition</em> by hunting in the surrounding area and bringing back valuable infected for the clinic.


    The infected brought back not only provide raw materials for the secret medicine but also hold significant research value, greatly contributing to humanity''s understanding of <em>pathogens</em>.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Yi Chen continued asking, ¡°Then why are clinics always located near cities?¡±


    ¡°For two reasons.


    1. Clinics, as a special armed unit, work with local gentlemen to ensure urban safety and provide medical services to traveling gentlemen. Additionally, the organization requires clinics to conduct regr random health screenings for urban residents, offering free checkups to eliminatetent diseases as much as possible.


    2. Based on years ofbating <em>pathogenesis</em>, humans are the most susceptible to its influence. They also show the fastest rates of infection and progression.


    This may be directly rted to our self-awareness and our innate curiosity about the unknown.


    Therefore, most clinics are set up near cities to ensure urban safety while also gaining the fastest ess to raw materials.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    After this conversation, Yi Chen felt he had gained quite a lot.


    The past six months of intensive training had left him no time for reading. He resolved to visit the great libraries between the academies after this incident concluded to acquire more knowledge about the world.


    At that moment, he felt a subtle disturbance on his shoulder, reminding him of his long-absent ¡°friend.¡±


    ¡®Little Grape, you seem a bit excited.¡¯


    ¡®How could I not be?


    We¡¯ve been stuck in that damned teaching building for a full six months. Sure, the changes in your physical body are interesting, but I¡¯d much rather be outside.


    My soul yearns for the outside world, for its novelties, vibrant colors, and uniquely vored <em>grapes</em>.


    Thankfully, the mission you picked this time is quite intriguing¡ªit even involves <em>open-source</em>.


    In the fragments of my shattered memory, there are faint traces of ancient records. If I could just taste the ancient essence within the open source infected, it would be exhrating.¡¯


    ¡®The report from Zion should be urate. The real culprit behind the ''False Moon Incident'' is already dead, so we won¡¯t encounter them... Besides, even if we did, would we survive?¡¯


    "With our current state, death is inevitable, and it will be a miserable one."


    "Sigh~ You''re such a buzzkill. I''m just fantasizing a little. For this mission trip, as long as I can eat some pathogenic grapes rted to the open source patient, I''ll be satisfied."


    "Alright, during this mission, any infected individuals we kill, their grapes are yours.


    Since the mission primarily involves searching, your visual assistance will be crucial, Little Grape. Don¡¯t ck off when the timees."


    ---


    Three hours of travelter.


    The carriage was about to arrive at the site of the False Moon Incident¡ª"Vinal City" .


    The front window of the carriage opened, and for the first time, the masked coachman spoke:


    "As a protective measure for the neers, I will drive directly through Vinal City and drop you off right below the ''Twilight Clinic''.


    Of course, you can also choose a safer route that detours through the suburbs."


    "Let''s go straight through the city," Edmund decided, and his reasoning was simple. This carriage could iste pathogenic effects, so even if they encountered infected individuals hiding in the city, those beings would never catch up.


    By passing through the city, they could also assess the level of danger for this mission.


    "Just a heads-up, if we encounter an attack from the infected, the carriage will double its current speed. Don''t get thrown off¡ªI won¡¯t stop to wait for any of you."


    As he spoke, the carriage officially entered Vinal City.


    This pitiful city, once ravaged by the "False Moon Incident," was now in ruins.


    Nearly every building bore varying degrees of damage, with some entirely copsed, cutting off city roads.


    Even though two months had passed since the incident,


    the air still carried a mix of rot and bloodplemented by stains on the ground,mp posts, and buildings. It almost seemed as though the screams from that dreadful night still echoed in the alleys.


    It was hard to imagine how a city with over ten thousand residents, watched over by gentlemen and monitored by clinics, could have turned into a hellscape in just one night.


    At this moment, Yi Chen could taste the bitterness of the ¡®disease¡¯, the vor of despair.


    As he stared nkly at the moving scenery outside the window,


    a sense of "being watched" came through the visual window provided by Little Grape.


    "Oh, something in the shadows is watching us. It seems there really are grapes to be eaten¡­ Though they didn¡¯t pursue us, they¡¯re just watching from the darkness. Such a shame," said Little Grape.


    Yi Chen¡¯s thoughts were pulled back by Little Grape.


    "Perhaps these moon-born creatures onlye out at night?"


    "That¡¯s possible. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing if they change at night¡ªmight make the grapes tastier."


    While conversing with Little Grape, Yi Chen also informed the team of the situation.


    Edmund asked, "Can you confirm the number?"


    "I can clearly sense no more than three sources of surveince, but it¡¯s possible I missed some, or that some are still resting deep in the ruins."


    "Alright. Our primary activity area is the ''clinic''. Let¡¯s avoid contact with the city as much as possible afterward."


    After half an hour of fast travel, the carriage sessfully exited the city and followed a winding road into the countryside.


    A small hospital-like building, resembling the architectural style of Zion, stood on a hill near Vinal City.


    This elevation allowed the doctors and apprentices at the clinic to overlook the city¡¯s general state.


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 Chapter 51

    The carriage halted on the road at the foot of the mountain. The coachman, wearing a metal mask, gave a reminder:


    "When youplete the mission, head east along this road for three kilometers. You¡¯ll find me at the fork there. If it takes you more than a week, you¡¯ll need to walk back to Zion."


    "Got it."


    Gazing up at the hill adjacent to the city of Vinal,


    In Yi Chen''s former world, this ce would have been developed into a tourist attraction¡ªwith cable cars, entertainment facilities, and perhaps even a temple on the summit.


    However, here there were no elevators or cable cars, not even stone steps on the mountain path.


    The four of them could only climb the steep trail, holding onto trees, experiencing the primal joy of hiking.


    During the ascent, Yi Chen gnawed on some bark and touched nts to sense the surroundings of the hill.


    Nothing happened along the way¡ªnot a hint of danger, not even a small animal in sight. A deathly silence.


    As they climbed thest stretch of the slope, glimpses through the trees revealed stone walls built fromrge, roughly hewn blocks. Gradually, the clinic¡¯s front door, made of pitch-ck iron, came into view.


    Gargoyle statues adorned the walls, simr in style to those in Zion.


    But most were cracked, chipped, orpletely broken, no longer serving their purpose.


    "Finally here..."


    Edmund stretchedzily,


    An apparently casual movement, but in reality, he was adjusting the team¡¯s formation.


    Dagbert, carrying a massive sword, immediately moved to the front. Edmund and Juliana aligned themselves behind him, forming a stable triangr formation¡ªsecond nature to them.


    Edmund nced at their new teammate. "William, your vision is better than ours. Stick close to Dagbert during the initial exploration phase, alright?"


    "Got it."


    The four of them approached the gate.


    Dagbert extended his muscr arm, marked with the "Muscle Emblem." His open palm pressed against the iron door,


    Shifting his weight downward,


    Both feet sinking into the ground,


    He strained against the gears inside the door, forcing it open.


    Dagbert¡¯s profession¡ª[Strongman]¡ªcame from the Blue Letter.


    Characteristic: "Muscle Development"


    This further unlocks the individual¡¯s muscle potential, optimizing and rearranging muscle cells, raising the upper limit of the "Physique" standard. It introduces a seventh level¡ª''Transcendence.''


    This allows the individual to exceed their physical limits, achieving even greater heights.


    ...


    Standing closest, Yi Chen could clearly see the rhythmic movement of muscle fibers in Dagbert¡¯s arm as he pushed the iron door. It was as if powerful waves were surging through him, granting incredible strength.


    ¡®What an impressive physique!


    The enhancements from his profession are terrifying. If I had chosen the Blue Letter, I might control mountain nts or turn roots into spears like the undead, greatly boosting mybat ability.¡¯


    But Yi Chen dismissed the thought; given the choice again, he would still pick the Purple Letter.


    They stepped through the gate.


    The three-story main building stretched out before them.


    The front courtyard was ttened, showing the many footprints of previous recovery teams.


    The doors and windows of the main building were almost entirely damaged,


    The walls had some cracks,


    But the structure remained intact and solid.


    The overall appearance resembled a hospital from a bygone era, abandoned and forgotten by time.


    Following the main stone path forward led to the entrance of the main clinic building.


    A metal sign reading "Twilight Clinic" hung vertically beside the front door.


    At this point, Edmund gave instructions:


    ¡°The first day¡¯s exploration doesn¡¯t need to be too thorough. Focus on understanding the clinic¡¯syout and identifying potential dangers¡­ Avoid acting alone, and stay in small teams throughout.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Lighting the kerosenemp, the team stepped into the abandoned Twilight Clinic.


    [First Floor Lobby]


    Upon entering, they immediately saw arge portrait of Dr. McCoff fallen on the ground. The area above the mouth waspletely burned.


    The counter next to the door was also in ruins; all the drawers were open, and discarded documentsy scattered across the floor.


    Directly opposite the entrance stood an elevator that led to the second and third floors. The iron elevator shaft was severely deformed, as if a violent struggle had taken ce inside, rendering it unusable.


    Furthermore, the presence of the elevator and wallmps indicated that the clinic once operated on electricity.


    Due to the power outage, the hallways leading to the left and right were shrouded in darkness, with no visible end.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with the right side.¡±


    After a preliminary exploration, the clinic appeared ominously eerie but posed no immediate danger. Even Little Grape''s keen eyesight detected nothing unusual.


    The hospital had a simple three-floor structure:


    - The first floor was the standard treatment area.


    Gentlemen withmon injuries or surface infections would receive quick treatment here. Secret transactions for medicines or even secret medicine also took ce discreetly.


    - The second floor housed inpatient rooms on the left and operating rooms on the right.


    This area treated gentlemen with severe, life-threatening injuries. A strict evaluation system was in ce; if an injury or disease reached a certain severity, the clinic could refuse treatment or even execute the patient in advance. Some gentlemen, knowing their condition was hopeless, sought euthanasia here, donating their ailing bodies to the clinic for research.


    - The third floor had an apprentice rest area on the left and a storeroom for instruments, standard medicines, and misceneous items on the right.


    However, the team noticed one issue: there was no area dedicated to secret medicine in the main building.


    ¡°Is it at the back?¡±


    Leaving through the front door and skirting the perimeter wall to the backyard, they discovered a sealed metal tower standing deep in the courtyard, near the edge of a hill.


    On the way to the tower, numerous warning signs were nted in the ground, each with different messages:


    - <em>"Danger Zone: No Unauthorized ess"</em>


    - <em>"Clinic Restricted Area: Trespassers Will Face Consequences"</em>


    - <em>"Unauthorized Entry Will Result in Immediate Execution"</em>


    ¡°Is this where they make the secret medicine?¡±


    The tower''s main entrance had already been breached by the salvage team. Passing through a cold, dark stone corridor, they entered a starkly different area inside the tower, contrasting sharply with the main building''s style.


    [Material Extraction Zone]


    Even after two months, the air was still thick with the smell of blood. The kerosenemp¡¯s light reflected off bloodstains and liquids, creating a deep red scene.


    Most of the extraction equipment had been destroyed, leaving only scattered remnants.


    Yi Chen could vividly reconstruct a terrifying "Torture Chamber" in his mind due to his specialized training over the past six months.


    The intense lessons from Zed¡¯s ¡°Paradise¡± had left an indelible mark. Any sign of torture or suffering immediately triggered unpleasant memories.


    Additionally, a circr staircase along the wall led to the upper "Secret Medicine Processing Area" and Dr. McCoff''s office.


    Lingering there for a while, Yi Chen imagined the agony of past patients. He wondered:


    ¡°Why treat the ¡®patients¡¯ so cruelly?


    Couldn¡¯t they extract the materials directly?


    Must they use such near-fatal methods to ¡®force out¡¯ what they need from patient''s body? How exactly is the so-called ¡®Twilight Silver Liquid¡¯ made?¡±


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 Chapter 52

    [Day 1]


    The group of four conducted a basic exploration of the main building of the clinic and the Secret Medicine Tower. Although they hadn¡¯t yet discovered any "remaining secret medicines," they had fully memorized the clinic''syout and architectural structure.


    Tomorrow, they n to conduct a detailed search, inspecting and photographing every room and corner, attempting to uncover any hidden passages or secret rooms that might exist.


    At night, The group gathered on the third floor of the main building, choosing a rtively clean apprentice room with intact windows and doors as their resting ce during the mission. They even moved two additional beds from the adjacent room, arranging them into bunk beds.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t possible for all four to sleep at the same time. They needed to set up shifts for guarding through the night, as the "False Moon Incident" had also urred at night. There was a significant chance that the clinic, seemingly safe during the day, might receive some "special guests" at night.


    Moreover, survivors hidden in the city''s ruins mighte up the mountain at night as well.


    <em>Knock~ Knock~</em>


    Edmund, sitting on the lower bunk, knocked on the edge of the upper bunk.


    "William, when the three of us used to operate together, taking turns on night watch became a habit. You don¡¯t need to join the watch this time. Tomorrow¡¯s detailed search will require heavy use of your ''eyes''." "Oh~ alright,"


    Yi Chen, on the upper bunk, hesitated for a moment before agreeing.


    He wouldn¡¯t refuse such an offer. In Yi Chen¡¯s personal philosophy, ''sleep'' was crucial. Anyck of sleep would lead to cognitive issues, reduced efficiency, and a series of mistakes that could culminate in severe consequences.


    "You still seem to be thinking about the Secret Medicine Tower?"


    "Yes..."


    What Yi Chen saw in the Secret Medicine Tower made him question the clinic''s true nature.


    He hadn¡¯t witnessed any gentlemanly behavior, only a desperate, almost mad struggle to survive in the post-apocalyptic world, devoid of any scruples.


    Could such actions, which vited gentlemanly principles, lead to mental degradation among the clinic''s apprentices and even its powerful doctors?


    Edmund¡¯s blonde head slowly appeared over the bunk¡¯s edge, his slightly feather-like blue eyes gazing at Yichen:


    "Hmm~ I understand your thoughts.


    Since you¡¯re skeptical about the Twilight Clinic and Dr. McCoff, use this chance to investigate thoroughly. Uncover the true nature of the clinic and the truth behind the secret medicine development.


    If we find any evidence of wrongdoing, we¡¯ll collect it and report it to the higher-ups through my family connections or Professor Chambein on your end."


    "Alright."


    The clothes made from ''gentleman¡¯s skin'' seemed to sense their wearer''s need for rest. The "looseness" of the attire automatically adjusted to its maximum, and the outer coat wrapped around the body like a nket, enhancing warmth.


    The fabric''s fibers subtly stimted the subcutaneous nerves, inducing a hypnotic effect that slowed brain activity and facilitated quick sleep.


    The raised cor perfectly covered the ears, blocking out unnecessary noise while amplifying any potentially dangerous sounds.


    ......


    Midnight.


    When the clock¡¯s hands aligned at the top, the previously hidden moon seemed to part the thick mist with an invisible hand, revealing her bright and full figure to the world¡ªor more specifically, to the hill where the clinic stood.  ?


    Moonlight cascaded down...


    Whether it was the surrounding forested mountains or the clinic''s tiled floors, a thinyer of gray mist began seeping out.


    This mist did not disperse with the wind.


    It was more like a liquid,


    Flowing along the ground,


    Creeping up the walls,


    And slithering through the pipes.


    The once silent, empty clinic seemed toe alive under the moonlight. Lifeless objects stirred from their slumber as the gray mist swirled around them.


    Strange noises echoed from the second-floor ward.


    It sounded like metal scaffolding repeatedly striking the floor, mixed with the squelching of flesh.


    Eventually,


    These sounds blended into one¡­ tap, tap! A sharp, crisp high-heeled sound emerged.


    It was as if a night-shift nurse, forgetting to change shoes, had begun patrolling the clinic¡¯s corridors.


    ¡­


    At midnight, the night watchman was Dagobert.


    The rest of the team was deep in sleep, enveloped in their protective uniforms to restore their energy.


    At this moment,


    Yi Chen and Edmund, who shared a bunk bed, both sensed something unusual and woke up immediately.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where are the other two?¡±


    In a room meant for four trainees, only the two of them remained.


    The door showed no signs of being opened.


    Moreover,


    Edmund was certain his teammates wouldn¡¯t act alone; something had definitely happened.


    ¡°Edmund¡­ the moon has risen!¡±


    Yi Chen¡¯s voice came from the window.


    He didn¡¯t look directly at the moon but instead used a piece of broken ss to vaguely reflect part of it.


    When Edmund received this information, his face turned grim.


    ¡°Could it be? After two full months, the remnants of the ¡®False Moon Incident¡¯ have grown stronger in the shadows and can now create a simr ¡®moon illusion¡¯ like the pathogenic patients did before?


    These entities, which spread disease through the moon as a medium, are active precisely at night.


    Does the clinic and the surrounding district only reveal their true nature at midnight?¡±


    Yi Chen nodded and added, ¡°The disappearance of Dagobert and Juliana is likely connected to the moon¡¯s appearance¡­ Considering the worst-case scenario, we need to find them quickly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a big worry for now.


    As long as they¡¯re together, they¡¯ll be fine. Their strength isn¡¯t inferior to mine, and they can hold out for a while in good condition.


    Right now, we need to assess our own situation and evaluate the risks within the clinic¡­¡±


    Before he could finish,


    The ground and walls of the room began oozing gray mist,


    And at the same time,


    Their uniforms started to tremble slightly, resisting the mist¡¯s intrusion.


    This sudden development shocked Edmund, and he unconsciously muttered a technical term,


    ¡°<em>Gray-Erosion</em>¡­ Impossible!?¡±


    ¡°Gray-Erosion¡­¡± Yi Chen recalled the term from their pathology ss.


    Professor Zed had once given a detailed lecture on it:


    ¡°Gray-Erosion is a precursor to an area transforming into a ¡®Gray Zone.¡¯ The pervasive gray mist is a special pathogenic medium.


    Under its influence, all materials undergo mutations¡ªeven the desks we use in ss could be infected.


    At your current level, exploring a Gray Zone is far too dangerous. Even the pre-formation Gray-Erosion phase is extremely hazardous. If you encounter it, avoid contact if possible.


    If you¡¯re confident in your strength, you might try venturing into a Gray-Erosion zone for fun.¡±


    <em>Tap, tap!</em>


    At that moment,


    The sharp sound of high heels echoed outside the door, interrupting Yi Chen¡¯s thoughts.

 Chapter 53

    The quiet clinic was disrupted by the sharp, piercing sound of high heels, each step like a nail relentlessly driving into the eardrums. It almost felt as if the heels were made of iron spikes to produce such an unsettling noise.


    Moreover, the high-heeled footsteps were intermittent, pausing briefly after every few steps.


    Captain Edmund quickly realized the reason behind this pattern. ¡°Is this individual inspecting each apprentice dormitory on the third floor one by one?¡±


    Yi Chen nodded. ¡°Very likely... If that¡¯s the case, it indirectly suggests that the intruder isn¡¯t aware of our exact location. Our situation isn¡¯t entirely passive yet.


    I¡¯ll take a look and see if I can identify what¡¯s patrolling the rooms.¡±


    Edmund was puzzled. ¡°How will you do that? Going outside now isn¡¯t wise.¡±


    ¡°No need to go out.¡±


    Yi Chen pointed to his shoulder and then lightly tapped it.


    A ck, fleshy sphere slowly squeezed out from his cor, stretching its tiny ck handszily as if still half-asleep, seemingly indifferent to the ongoing ¡°grey-erosion.¡±¡°Little Grape,


    Someone or something is inspecting each room on the third floor. Can you sneak out the window and take a look when they check the room next door?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Little Grape refused instantly.


    ¡°Not even a quick nce?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still in what¡¯s called a ¡®juvenile¡¯ state... In this unknown environment, especially with the grey-erosion happening, the risk will multiply if I leave your body.¡±


    Yi Chen caught a key point in this statement and smiled.


    ¡°So, as long as you stay connected to my body, it¡¯s fine?¡±


    Soon, Yi Chen pressed his body against the window, extending his left arm outside along the outer wall, trying to reach the next room.


    Of course, his arm alone couldn¡¯t reach the neighboring window.


    <em>Creak~</em>


    After six months of special training, Yi Chen had be proficient in controlling nts. A thick branch grew from his palm, almost as wide as his arm.


    Little Grape followed the branch toward the adjacent window.


    ¡ºEnough! Don¡¯t be too conspicuous!¡»


    The branch stopped growing as soon as it touched the window frame.


    Little Grape gently clung to the rusty window frame with its tiny ck hands, peeking out with half an eyeball to observe the adjacent room¡¯s condition.


    The dormitory was in poor condition. The lower half of the door was missing, leaving only the upper part connected to the hinges, barely blocking the room.


    <em>Tap!</em>


    With a sharp sound, the mysterious patroller stopped in front of the door.


    The missing lower half of the door revealed a pair of ck high heels, about 20 cm high, two long, pale legs, and the hem of a whiteb coat.


    Based on this information, one might imagine a tall, graceful, night-shift female doctor doing her rounds.


    However, when the upper part of the door was pushed open, that beautiful fantasy shattered instantly:


    1. A preserved lower half of a body, severed at the waist.


    2. At the severed waist, a metal IV stand was vertically inserted.


    3. An IV drip connected to the legs, maintaining their freshness and energy.


    4. At the top of the stand, a head with long ck hair covering the face obscured any facial details.


    5. The figure wore a white coat with "Twilight Hospital" printed on it in English.


    If you only looked at the lower half or from behind, there really was a bit of a "female doctor" vibe.


    When this visual image came through Little Grape, Yi Chen felt slightly uneasy.


    Most of the pathogenic entities he had encountered before still retained human forms¡ªat most, they were mermaid-like figures covered in fish scales.


    But what he was seeing now went beyond the human domain in some ways.


    Now that he had seen it clearly,


    the nt-like growth with branch structures quickly retracted into its hand, and Little Grape returned to his body.


    When Yi Chen described the "female doctor" he had seen in detail to Edmund,


    Edmund mentioned another specialized term:


    ¡°''Non-Normality''. Have such entities already appeared? If so, this means the Gray Zone transformation here has entered itste stages.¡±


    This term had also been mentioned in their sses on gray-erosion.


    Edmund muttered softly:


    ¡°The ¡®False Moon Incident¡¯ in the past must have affected the clinic. There wererge-scale battles inside, with heavy casualties. Some leftover blood, bodily fluids, or even intact limbsbined with the clinic¡¯s equipment under the effects of gray-erosion, following some pathological logic.¡±


    ¡°This gave birth to these Non-Normality entities.


    Their ¡®ego-consciousness¡¯ is very strange, and their actions and attack patterns are difficult to judge or predict through conventional experience.


    I¡¯ve never encountered such things before, let alone fought them.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    At this point, the examination in the next room had concluded.


    The "female doctor," wearing high heels, took just tworge strides to reach the bedroom door where they were staying.


    <em>Screech! Screech!</em>


    A metallic object scraped against the door. The door, being locked, refused to budge.


    Suddenly¡ª<em>Boom!</em>


    The thick wooden door was kicked open, creating arge hole. Broken wood and parts of the door lock flew through the room.


    The door opened.


    Long legs in high heels stepped into the suspicious bedroom.


    The head attached to the metal frame sniffed the air for signs of life and began inspecting the room with exaggerated steps.


    Unfortunately, the search result was disappointing¡ªno one was there.


    Under her ck hair, the female doctor''s face showed clear disappointment. She sighed slightly before turning and leaving the room.


    Ten seconds earlier:


    Yi Chen and Edmund had already climbed out of the window and onto the open rooftop.


    Perhaps the barrier effect of their gentleman¡¯s outfits shielded them; they didn¡¯t feel any difort from being exposed to the moonlight¡­ as long as they avoided looking directly at that eerie moon in the sky.


    Before understanding what had happened in the clinic, avoidingbat was the priority.


    A battle with the "female doctor" in the bedroom could draw more, and more troublesome, entities.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we climb down into the front courtyard of the clinic¡­ Then start a thorough search of the clinic from the main hall at dawn to look for Dagobert and the others?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, that seems to be our best option.¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for their missing teammates, they could have temporarily left the clinic and retreated to the forest. They could wait for the night to pass and the moon to disappear before continuing their secret mission.


    Just as the two were about to climb down from the rooftop¡ª


    <em>Thud! Thud!</em>


    Heavy footsteps echoed from the rooftop entrance.


    Arge, shadowy figure, bigger than a human, stood there. Its ¡°head¡± was connected to a fluid container, and the eyeball inside the container stared at the two preparing to ¡°go downstairs.¡±


    In the awkward silence,


    a ck flesh ball suddenly squeezed out of Yi Chen¡¯s shoulder, shouting excitedly:


    ¡°Grape!¡±


    ........................................................................


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