Gene Twister

The broad, fat, gray-skinned bald man was clearly no "ordinary citizen."

He looked like someone who had weathered great storms and mighty waves.

He handled himself far better than Wyatt Giles, his tone exceptionally 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 pointed at the boy's corpse. "Jack Clark's parents in name were not his biological parents. Nor was the girl he called his sister related to him by blood."

Zhou Zhe gave him an approving look. "You reacted quickly."

From the very beginning, Zhou Zhe had sensed a trace of discordance.

Of all the aliens in the elevator, everyone besides this fellow was experiencing genuine terror.

That included the already dead Jack Clark.

The youth suspected of being the protagonist of the Kindling World had only dared to step forward and spout wild boasts because courage—or recklessness—had defeated the fear in his heart.

But this fat man before him...

He seemed to have no fear at all.

The panic on his face and the sweat on his body were both fabricated illusions.

Zhou Zhe had originally been ready to draw his blade.

Had the other man stepped forward half a second later, he would already have become a corpse.

"You should be able to tell that I am different from the others."

The fat man gave a slight bow, his tone composed. "I have no name, only a designation—C976."

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

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

"I was born with a physique stronger than that of natural Kindling people. I can freely regulate my body's hormonal secretion, and I lack most of the emotions possessed by ordinary natural Kindling people."

"Joy, fear, anger... I possess none of these emotions."

"Since my birth, I have been entrusted with the mission of protecting and guiding Jack Clark."

"Now, that mission has ended."

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

A dim red light flickered faintly at the nape of his neck.

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

"I cannot defy the orders issued by Lord The Silent One, nor can I actively harm any Kindling person."

"But..."

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

"As an extraterrestrial visitor, you have not received legal education from the Kindling World. You do not know, you do not understand, so it does not count as a crime."

"Besides, Jack Clark carries far less weight than you do."

"Making an enemy of a powerful Cosmic Gladiator is an extremely unwise act. It would damage the friendly relations between interstellar civilizations and bring unforeseeable disaster to the Kindling World."

"In summary."

"The decision I have made benefits Lord The Silent One and benefits the entire Kindling World. It contains no malice whatsoever."

Though he said that, Zhou Zhe could sense resentment so dense it could not be dissolved from him.

"Interesting."

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

C976 remained polite. "Honorable Cosmic Gladiator, your opponent this time is a female humanoid life-form from Xuanji Star in the Dongcang Cultivation Star Circle—Wenren Yi."

"To my knowledge, she came to the Kindling World once 2.6 cubic cycle periods ago."

"Before you killed Jack Clark, she had not yet formed a cooperative relationship with the esteemed people of Senter Dreamland. However, she should know more about this world than you do."

Seemingly aware that Zhou Zhe could not understand the Kindling World's units of time, C976 added a few explanations.

After listening to him, Zhou Zhe understood. "2.6 cubic cycle periods... Converted to Earth time, that might be a little over two days?"

"Did Wenren Yi spend Gladiator Points to purchase intelligence on the arena in advance, or..."

"Is there something else I have failed to consider?"

Zhou Zhe furrowed his brow, considered briefly, then said, "Lead the way! We're going straight to Senter Dreamland!"

Once he finished speaking, he gave C976 an amused look. "I can sense that you want to use me to help you get rid of The Silent One, perhaps even slaughter all the upper ranks of the Kindling World."

"Your phrasing is clever, and your thought trap is well designed."

"Unfortunately, none of your emotions can hide from my eyes."

"Do not try to outsmart yourself."

"I will not give anyone a second chance."

A flicker of disappointment passed through C976's eyes, but his voice remained calm and unruffled. "You misunderstand."

"The starting point of every decision I make and every action I take is for the good of the Kindling World."

"Now, I will lead you and ensure that you reach Senter Dreamland in the shortest possible time."

After speaking, C976 walked to the elevator's control panel, spread his huge hand, grabbed a female Kindling person by the face, and lifted her with one arm, "safely relocating" her to a spot where she would not interfere with his operation.

A faint glow radiated from the nano screen, displaying a numerical model resembling a Rubik's Cube.

Then, with his eyes wide open, he reached out and began altering the elevator's route.

About twenty minutes later.

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

He collapsed to the floor in relief, letting out a mournful sigh that was nearly a groan.

"I finally... survived!"

"Is this Senter Dreamland?"

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

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

The atmosphere here was utterly different from the other regions of the Kindling World, carrying something of a return-to-nature feeling.

C976 said 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."

"There is a miniature star and an intelligent climate regulator here. The oxygen content is suitable, radiation is almost nonexistent, and it is exceptionally fit for habitation."

C976 had originally wanted to add a few more words and stir up some trouble, but when the words reached his lips, he chewed them to pieces and swallowed them back down.

Had it been an enthusiastic and kind Cosmic Gladiator, C976 would certainly have guided them further, fully roused their sympathy, sparked class conflict, and achieved his own goal.

But the person before him was Zhou Zhe.

C976 did not want to die yet.

He still remembered what Zhou Zhe had said.

He did not believe Zhou Zhe had been joking with him.

So he could only lead the way honestly.

The two walked along an earthen road fragrant with rain-washed grass, passing quite a few upper-echelon elites of the Kindling World along the way.

Zhou Zhe noticed that these people were all especially short, far below even the average height of the Kindling people he had seen before.

They appeared to be only around 130 to 140 centimeters tall.

In this world, the shorter one was, the nobler one's birth seemed to be, and the higher one's social status.

They encountered no obstruction along the way. Everyone wore deliberate, stiff smiles as they conveyed goodwill toward Zhou Zhe.

Very strange.

"Welcome!"

"May you have a pleasant time!"

"May you achieve victory."

Zhou Zhe could sense that this goodwill was not false. On the contrary, it carried a kind of almost absurd sincerity.

Perhaps...

In their eyes, no matter how much blood of low-level citizens stained a Cosmic Gladiator's hands, it was of no consequence?

At last, under C976's guidance, Zhou Zhe arrived before an anciently decorated palace.

The palace gates stood wide open, entirely undefended.

"Zhou Zhe, you finally came."

"Come here and receive your death!"