Gene Twister

The stout, bald, grey-skinned man was clearly no "ordinary citizen."

He looked like someone who had weathered many storms.

His demeanor was far superior to Wyatt Giles, and his tone was remarkably calm. "I am a subordinate of The Silent One. He sent me here to create an opportunity for this young man to step into the extraordinary realm."

"Now, my mission has failed."

As he spoke, he gestured towards the boy's corpse. "Jack Clark's apparent parents are not his biological parents, and his sister shares no blood relation with him."

Zhou Zhe gave him an appreciative look. "Your reaction speed is impressive."

From the very beginning, Zhou Zhe had sensed something amiss.

Of all the aliens in the elevator, everyone except the man before him felt genuine, unfeaked fear.

This included the deceased Jack Clark.

The boy, who was suspected to be the protagonist of the Kindling World, had dared to step forward and spout off simply because courage (or recklessness?) had overcome his inner fear.

But this fat man in front of him...

He didn't seem to feel any fear at all.

The panic on his face and the sweat on his body were all feigned.

Zhou Zhe had already been preparing to draw his blade.

If the man had emerged even half a second slower, he would undoubtedly be a corpse by now.

"You can likely tell that I am different from the others."

The fat man bowed slightly, his tone composed. "I have no name, only a designation – C976."

"In reality, I am not a natural Kindling person."

"I am a creation of the 'Dream Project,' a Gene Twister."

"From birth, I possessed a physique far stronger than that of a natural Kindling person. I can freely adjust my body's hormone secretion and do not possess the vast majority of emotions common to natural Kindling people."

"Joy, fear, anger... I do not possess these emotions."

"From my birth, I was entrusted with the mission to protect and guide Jack Clark."

"Now, the mission has ended."

As he spoke, he lowered his head deeply, exposing the back of his neck to Zhou Zhe's view.

On the back of his neck, a dim red light flickered faintly.

"This intelligent chip implanted in my spine constantly emits signals, controlling my thoughts and actions."

"I cannot disobey the orders given by Lord The Silent One, nor can I intentionally harm any Kindling person."

"But..."

"After rigorous logical analysis and deep contemplation, I have decided to defect to you and provide you with intelligence free of charge."

"As an extraterrestrial visitor, you have not received legal education in the Kindling World. You do not know or understand, therefore it is not a crime."

"Furthermore, Jack Clark's significance is far outweighed by yours."

"Making an enemy of a powerful Cosmic Gladiator is an extremely irrational act. It would disrupt friendly relations between interstellar civilizations and bring unknown disasters to the Kindling World."

"In conclusion."

"The decision I have made is beneficial to Lord The Silent One, beneficial to the entire Kindling World, and contains no malice."

Though he said this, Zhou Zhe sensed an overwhelming sense of resentment emanating from him.

"This is interesting."

Zhou Zhe looked at him with a half-smile. "What intelligence do you wish to provide?"

C976 maintained his politeness. "Esteemed Cosmic Gladiator, your opponent this time is a humanoid female life form from Xuanji Star in the Dongcang Cultivation Star Circle, Wenren Yi."

"To my knowledge, she visited the Kindling World once before 2.6 cubic cycle periods. Before you killed Jack Clark, she had not yet reached a cooperative agreement with the adults of Senter Dreamland, but she should have more knowledge of this world than you."

As if knowing Zhou Zhe couldn't understand the Kindling World's time measurement units, C976 added a few explanations.

After his explanation, Zhou Zhe understood. "2.6 cubic cycle periods... converted to Earth time, perhaps a little over two days?"

"Did Wenren Yi spend Gladiator Points to purchase arena data in advance, or..."

"Is there something else I haven't considered?"

Zhou Zhe's brow furrowed slightly. After a moment's thought, he said, "Lead the way! We're going straight to Senter Dreamland!"

As he finished speaking, he glanced at C976 with a playful glint in his eyes. "I can sense that you want to use me to help you eliminate The Silent One, or even all the high-ranking officials of the Kindling World?"

"Your rhetoric is sophisticated, and your thought traps are well-designed."

"Unfortunately, all your emotions are transparent to me."

"Don't try to be clever."

"I don't give anyone a second chance."

C976's eyes flickered with a hint of disappointment, but he spoke in an unruffled tone, "You've misunderstood."

"Everything I've decided, every action I've taken, has been for the good of the Kindling World."

"Now, I will lead you to Senter Dreamland, ensuring you arrive in the shortest possible time."

With that, C976 walked to the elevator control panel, grabbed a female Kindling person by the face with his large hand, and with a single-armed heave, lifted her and "safely moved" her to a spot where she wouldn't interfere with his operation.

A faint light emanated from the nano-screen, displaying a digital model resembling a Rubik's Cube.

Then, he stared intently, extended his hand, and began to alter the elevator's route.

About twenty minutes later.

Wyatt Giles, the Grumpy Old Man labeled as "the little old man," was curled up in a corner of the elevator, watching C976 and Zhou Zhe leave.

He collapsed onto the ground with a sigh of relief, letting out a groan that was almost a lament.

"Finally... I'm alive!"

"This is Senter Dreamland?"

Zhou Zhe looked around, a strange smile appearing on his face.

Green mountains, clear waters, blue skies, white clouds, flying insects, and roaming beasts...

The art style here was completely different from other areas of the Kindling World, giving off a feeling of returning to nature.

C976 stated expressionlessly, "Senter Dreamland is where the elite class of the Kindling World resides. It occupies one percent of the Kindling World's space and eighty-five percent of its resources."

"It has miniature stars and intelligent climate regulators, with suitable oxygen levels and almost zero radiation, making it very livable."

C976 had originally intended to add a few more sentences, stir up some trouble, but the words caught in his throat, and he swallowed them back down.

If it were a different, kindhearted Cosmic Gladiator, C976 would have guided them for a while longer, fully mobilizing their sympathy, inciting class conflict, and achieving his own goals.

But the person before him was Zhou Zhe.

C976 didn't want to die.

He still remembered Zhou Zhe's words.

He didn't believe Zhou Zhe was joking with him.

So, he could only obediently lead the way.

The two walked on the dirt road, which exuded the fragrance of grass after rain. Along the way, they saw many high-ranking elites of the Kindling World.

Zhou Zhe noticed that these people were all exceptionally short, much shorter than the average height of the Kindling people he had seen before.

They were only about 130 to 140 centimeters tall.

In this world, it seemed the shorter one's stature, the nobler their origin and the higher their social status.

There were no obstructions on the road. Everyone wore deliberate, stiff smiles, conveying goodwill to Zhou Zhe.

It was strange.

"Welcome!"

"We hope you enjoy your stay!"

"May you achieve victory."

Zhou Zhe could sense that this goodwill wasn't fake; rather, it had a touch of almost comical sincerity.

Perhaps...

In their eyes, it didn't matter how much blood of lower-class citizens a Cosmic Gladiator had on their hands?

Finally, led by C976, Zhou Zhe arrived before a palace with an antique, rustic decoration.

The palace gates were wide open, unguarded.

"Zhou Zhe, you've finally arrived."

"Come here, and accept your death!"

See you tomorrow at 12:20 PM~

Requesting recommendation tickets~!