First Gentleman

As Yi Chen was affected by "Skinning" from deep within the manor, Chamberson deliberately stopped to wait but offered no assistance.

A few minutes passed.

When Yi Chen recovered, he softly offered his evaluation.

"It would be even better if you could resist the Whispers of Divine Skin with your own will next time.

We still need to walk for another half hour.

Before we meet the First Gentleman, I have a few personal questions I'd like to ask you."

"Alright."

"What else did you experience during your mission to eradicate the Watcher at the lake bottom? Did you see any special scenes far beyond the assessment area?"

Yi Chen had no intention of hiding anything.

He described in detail how he was mentally assaulted by the Giant Eye, his consciousness being packaged and sent to the Abyss Laboratory, especially the epic music that echoed in his mind, the silhouette and attire that symbolized the ultimate form of fish, and the golden frame that appeared above his head.

Just as Yi Chen was about to utter the ancient name on the frame, Snap!

Chamberson, walking ahead, turned around with lightning speed and covered his mouth.

"Never utter such ancient, primordial names.

Not only will it cause severe, fundamental Diseased effects on yourself, but it might even expose the exact locations of Zion and the Divine Skin Manor.

Given that you haven't fully joined the Organization yet and this is your first offense, I won't pursue this matter.

Surviving under such circumstances indeed qualifies you to meet the First Gentleman."

"Mr. Chamberson, what exactly are those piscine entities in the abyss?"

"Ancient beings, related to the Origin... they are far beyond your reach. Even I only know a fraction of what they are.

As for more information, you'll have to seek it yourself when you reach a sufficient level.

Let's not get sidetracked.

Tell me about what happened at the Seven-Day Graveyard."

"Okay."

When he learned that Yi Chen was merely an external employee with no prior training, born an ordinary person, Chamberson was quite surprised.

An ordinary person, who was nothing special, managed to kill an Initial Diseased simply after gaining sensory enhancement... such a case was almost unheard of in all the areas managed by the Organization.

Not to mention, Yi Chen had also accepted the Diseased Trait afterward.

"No wonder Albert personally recommended you~ I believe the First Gentleman will also be very pleased to have special new blood like you join the Organization."

While chatting, the two had descended a hundred meters along the spiral staircase.

Chamberson took out his unique high-level seal and unlocked the reinforced iron door at the bottom of the staircase.

Creaaak~

Having been moving through narrow spaces like wall crevices and spiral stairs before, a sense of claustrophobia had filled his mind.

As the iron door opened, the sense of space magnified dozens of times, and warm candlelight welcomed them, dispelling the claustrophobia.

However, Yi Chen felt no relief, but rather a greater sense of oppression and unease.

The so-called "deep within the manor"

was actually a medieval church buried deep underground.

The nave was high, with lower side aisles, and long rows of pillars led visitors towards the altar.

However, this underground church had no windows at all, as if it had no intention of accepting divine light from heaven, nor any intention of communicating with "above" in any form.

In place of windows, there were square niches carved into the walls, with candles placed inside, creating light artificially.

This demonstrates a certain belief and resolve within the Organization.

Next came the 'design' and the 'individual' that made Yi Chen extremely uneasy, the most bizarre of all.

[Upon the Altar]

Suspended there was an 'human' of unknown life or death.

The quotation marks were used because while his physical structure and proportions were similar to a human's, he stood nearly six meters tall.

A middle-aged face peeked through his disheveled white hair.

He was covered by an old, torn, and patched black suit.

≮Additional Organizations≯

Six 'foreign organizations' were additionally sewn onto his body, with only four visible externally.

1. An ancient arm attached to his right shoulder blade.

2. A sapphire-blue eye embedded in the back of his skull.

3. An ear affixed to the back of his right hand.

4. A spine covered with epidermis, connected to his lumbar vertebrae and extending outward like a tail.

Not visible below:

5. A piece of white skin, sewn onto his chest, bearing strange tattoos.

6. A human-faced heart, fully implanted in his right chest, functioning normally.

All six of these foreign organizations were taken from the previous First Gentleman, carrying their pre-mortem traits and wills.

≮Suspension Method≯

Chains from the church's ceiling.

They were wrapped around his limbs.

Nailed into the skin of his back.

Piercing horizontally through the back of his neck.

The entire person was suspended in a cross shape upon the altar.

These chains that touched his flesh seemed to possess a certain vitality, the cold steel becoming warm and even growing flesh-colored skin on its surface.

This was the current First Gentleman, the seventh master of the Divine Skin Manor—Alexis King Claude.

This is the First Gentleman...

Upon witnessing this scene, Yi Chen's feelings about the upcoming reward turned to confusion, even nervousness.

As he ascended the steps before the altar with White Owl, The First Gentleman's eyes slowly opened.

In that instant, Yi Chen's entire body began to writhe.

"Since the review committee has given you such high praise, step onto the final sacred stairs and accept my skin."

"Yes."

Yi Chen finally understood.

The highest tier reward in the assessment, the 'Gentleman's Skin,' was directly taken from the master of the Divine Skin Manor.

Although he didn't know the purpose of the [Skin], It would undoubtedly be of great help to his future development.

Hoo... Taking a deep breath, Yi Chen didn't hesitate much.

He tried his best to ensure his steps were standard and his demeanor elegant.

The moment he stepped onto the stairs, Clang, clang, clang~ The chains shifted.

The First Gentleman Claude, who had been suspended, landed on the altar and leaned down to gaze at the short youth before him.

"Make contact with me."

He also extended his hand.

Their palms touched.

At this moment, Yi Chen could no longer control the 'metamorphosis' of his skin; it became completely uncontrollable, flowing like liquid.

Similarly, A difficult-to-describe skin also flowed towards him like liquid.

It was like a "skin swap."

This sensation of liquid flowing, reminded him of a memory that should have been deleted, a black sea filled with ink, the flow of the waves seeming to pull away a part of him.

Hum!

As the First Gentleman Claude was "transferring skin," he felt a pull of death from within Yi Chen... it even slowly formed a small black vortex that actively drew his skin.

"Death?"

The aged arm grafted to Claude's back suddenly swung! Forcibly breaking their contact.

However, immersed in the process of acceptance, Yi Chen had no idea what was happening outside.

When he opened his eyes again, a "Gentleman's Skin" measuring 10cm x 10cm was in his hand.

He could clearly feel that this skin was alive.

At the same moment, White Owl Chamberson, standing below the steps, also showed a rare expression of surprise.

Such a large piece?

He had met newcomers who were extremely outstanding and able to meet the First Gentleman before, but he had never seen anyone receive such a large piece of skin.

Clang, clang~ The chains moved, The First Gentleman returned to his suspended state.

Simultaneously, a black box appeared above the altar.

"Keep your [skin] and proceed to the acceptance ceremony... I'm also very curious about what kind of gentleman you'll be identified as."

"Yes."

Yi Chen quickly approached the altar, placed the skin in his hand into the box, and held it.

Before departing, the First Gentleman specifically added a sentence, which was more directed at White Owl.

"Through the skin contact just now, I found your physique to be very ordinary, without any basic training... more like an 'outsider.'

Chamberson, this young man's subsequent basic training needs to be accelerated. He needs to put in exponentially more time than others.

If necessary, you can apply to the institution for extended closed-door study.

In short, this matter is entrusted to you.

Talent must be cultivated properly; we don't have much time left."

"Yes."

As the words ended, on the First Gentleman's chest, the white skin attached there displayed an incomprehensible ancient pattern.

[Spatial Compression]

In the blink of an eye, Yi Chen and Chamberson had returned to the side hall for the assessment review.

It was as if the meeting with the First Gentleman had only happened in a dream.

Feeling the black box in his hand and the vibrant Gentleman's Skin within, the excitement, joy, and satisfaction of obtaining a top-tier spoil of war surged wildly.

"Going to the bottom of the lake... was indeed the correct choice."