Trouble

"Dad, you're not seriously thinking of shooting me, are you? I'm your biological son!

"I can't take an M-7!"

Seeing his dad's finger resting on the M-7 pistol's trigger, itching to fire, Su Shijie could not help but shudder.

"Of course not. My fingers were just feeling itchy."

With an awkward laugh, Su Ren reluctantly put the gun away.

"Your Tough Skin level is fairly high, so it'll show easily whenever you're attacked. Completely concealing your Bloodline Trait will be difficult.

"But there's no need to keep your Bloodline Trait entirely secret. You just need to make sure no one learns your exact bloodline rank. If anyone discovers the trait, keep things vague. Once you reach Imperial rank, report it all to the Dawn Goddess at once.

"Say that you awakened your bloodline long ago but never dared report it. That will also explain the traits you displayed early on and prevent further suspicion."

Su Ren offered the reminder.

"Mm, I understand."

Su Shijie naturally took his father's advice to heart.

After clearing away the traces, the two returned beneath the tree and began handling the contaminated black dire wolf's corpse.

Contaminated objects themselves could provide substantial boosts to various physical effects, but prolonged use carried the risk of contamination.

Still, given the black dire wolf's rank, even burning it on the spot would not dispose of it quickly. They might as well take it back first.

It was only the remains of a Contaminated Beast; there was a risk of contamination only through prolonged contact. Besides, it could serve as evidence.

With the contamination source cleared and the tests completed, the two naturally headed home.

With Su Ren's abilities, even carrying the dire wolf's corpse did not slow him down in the slightest. The gap between him and Su Shijie was still there—he had to wait for his son instead.

On the way back, as Su Shijie leaped between thick roots and branches to adapt to his newly enhanced strength, he asked, "Dad, now that I've eaten the contamination source, will it cause any problems if we report it?"

"It's fine. Your dad doesn't have the ability to handle a contamination source alone, so no one will pay attention to me.

"And I told you, we have someone to take the blame. Those people seeking redemption won't speak up on their own.

"We just went out normally, discovered the problem normally, and reported it normally. Don't say anything unnecessary. Keep a low profile."

Su Ren's thinking was clear.

But with the contamination source gone, they would have to find a new place to grind levels.

The difference between having a contamination source and not having one was simply enormous.

After getting such a huge haul, the scraps from the previous few nights now seemed rather tasteless.

On the way back, apparently to help Su Shijie adapt to his current condition more quickly, Su Ren also briefly explained some basic ways to use telekinesis in coordination with weapons.

"With your enhanced telekinesis, if you control it properly, you can definitely handle an Electromagnetic Handgun. Even an M-7 like mine, or perhaps an electromagnetic rifle, might be possible. But make sure the force on the gun is evenly distributed.

"Ensure that after firing, the recoil sends the gun straight backward. Don't imitate how we exert force when holding Firearms in our hands. Otherwise, the barrel will kick upward and throw off your aim.

"You also need to make sure the gun doesn't fly out of your control range. After every shot, you have to guide the weapon back into position."

As he spoke, Su Ren mimed holding a firearm and pointed at the barrel.

Though they were only minor tricks, without someone like Su Ren to teach him, Su Shijie would certainly have had to hit several walls before mastering them.

Su Shijie's telekinetic control range now exceeded twenty meters, while the greatest force he could exert had reached twenty-five or twenty-six kilograms. Combined with the fact that electromagnetic weapons had no gunpowder blast—only the bullet's reactive force—the recoil was far lower.

He truly might be able to control an electromagnetic rifle now!

However, Electromagnetic Assault Rifles, and even the M-7 in his father's hands, were difficult to obtain. For now, he could probably only practice with an ordinary Electromagnetic Handgun.

Even ordinary Electromagnetic Handguns required purchase authorization.

It was amid such conversation that the two returned to the residential district.

The familiar civil-defense iron gate had rust spots in places, but its heavy construction still gave them an overwhelming sense of security.

Out in the wilderness, even with his father at his side, Su Shijie could not feel this secure.

Honestly, once the residential district's civil-defense gate was shut and Electromagnetic Assault Rifles were mounted at the firing ports behind it, the place was like a porcupine.

When they returned to the residential district, the guards all showed looks of surprise at the black dire wolf Su Ren was carrying.

But when they saw the obvious, unnatural marks on the black dire wolf up close, their faces immediately filled with horror.

"Contaminated Beast!"

"Mm, it's a Contaminated Beast. We encountered it today, so there may be a contamination source nearby. I'll report the situation by telegraph.

"Put it in the warehouse and arrange for people to guard it. Keep your distance."

The moment Su Ren entered with the wolf's corpse, he began issuing instructions.

After their initial panic, the guards quickly calmed down. After all, the Contaminated Beast was already dead, and Instructor Su, who had killed it, gave them greater courage.

After storing the wolf's corpse and arranging the watch rotation, Su Ren went to the telegraph room and directly sent Prosperous Sky City a telegram concerning the Contaminated Beast.

Since it involved a Contaminated Beast, only minutes after Su Ren sent the telegram, a tablet-like device beside the telegraph machine lit up and projected a three-dimensional figure upward. It seemed they had been assigned a satellite channel and now had a signal.

A stern-looking man with a long, narrow scar across his face appeared before them as a projection.

"Instructor Su, what is the situation with the contamination source mentioned in your telegram?"

"Officer, it happened roughly like this..."

Su Ren truthfully explained most of what had happened that night. After all, it was no secret that he took Su Shijie out every night to grind levels. He only needed to conceal the fact that they had actively searched for the contamination source.

"Then solve a Rubik's Cube first..."

They really were cut from the same cloth. Watching his father quickly solve the Rubik's Cube on the other end, Su Shijie was left speechless.

The report went smoothly. They would arrange for people to come over that night by aircraft, and they would arrive quickly. When the time came, his father would need to lead the way.

"I probably won't get any sleep tonight, so go rest first.

"And get yourself ready. If nothing unexpected happens, use that potion of yours tomorrow."

After his father finished reporting, Su Ren's words stunned Su Shijie. That Painless Awakening Potion? But wasn't he already Awakened Rank?

"If it had been before, I wouldn't have dared let you use it—I was afraid you couldn't endure it. But you've already undergone three bloodline transformations, so your foundation is solid enough. You can give it a try.

"If trace toxins are added to an Awakened Rank potion to neutralize its painkilling component, it can still be used after reaching Awakened Rank. It rapidly permeates the genes.

"Of course, the burden will be much greater—greater than a normal breakthrough. The first use will increase permeation by ten percent.

"Otherwise, why would Awakening Potions be so expensive and require purchase authorization?"

Su Shijie immediately swallowed.

Ten percent at once, when even one percent had been like that?

"Don't worry. Since you have to endure it yourself, you'll suffer greater pain, but this method won't affect your potential."

Su Ren comfortingly patted Su Shijie on the shoulder.

Is that what I'm worried about? Su Shijie looked up at the sky in speechless exasperation...