Century Good Neighbor Certificate

Century Good Neighbor Certificate

Upon the throne, Dikas extended his tentacle-like long tongue and licked the blood from the corners of his mouth. Back when he had escaped from the laboratory, he had secretly overheard the plan to combine the bloodline of humanity's Ancient Heroes with Artificial Hybrid Beasts.

After escaping the laboratory, Dikas's strength had not improved in over a decade. Driven by his fear of the laboratory and his desire for power, he recalled the plan he had overheard during his escape and set his sights on the bloodline of the Ancient Heroes.

As long as he successfully devoured Diri, who possessed a modified Ancient Hero Bloodline, he might be able to break through to become an Upper Demon as well. By then, with the power of an Upper Demon, he would have a chance of surviving whether he faced the laboratory's pursuit or was captured.

After all, once he became an Upper Demon, even if he was caught, he would have entirely new value to the laboratory. He would no longer have to worry about being deemed a failed product and destroyed.

"Go. Keep that human under surveillance. Under no circumstances can you let him escape. Also, make absolutely sure that human's injuries are healed."

Dikas waved at a giant rat beneath the throne and gave his orders. He still needed some time to prepare before he could successfully devour Diri, so he absolutely could not allow any accidents during that period. In fact, to treat Diri's injuries, Dikas had already arranged for giant rats to capture a human doctor and prepare a large quantity of magic potions before Diri arrived. Everything was for the sake of healing Diri's injuries.

Meanwhile, in a room of roughly eighty square meters, Diri expressionlessly watched the doctor treating him. His arms, whose bones had been completely shattered, had been healed with the aid of a large quantity of magic potions. They were still wrapped in layers of bandages, and the room was filled with a faint herbal scent.

"All right. Your injuries are no longer a major problem. However, to avoid leaving any aftereffects, try not to exert yourself for the time being. I'll also come by once a day to examine you."

After saying this, the middle-aged human doctor put away all his things and turned toward the door. The giant rat that had been standing guard in the room silently followed him out, leaving Diri alone on the bed.

Dikas, the Rat King... What exactly is he planning to do? Could it be...

As he stared at the ceiling above, a string of questions surfaced in Diri's mind. Although Dikas had indeed lowered his guard slightly after all his previous efforts, the strange look in the doctor's eyes before he left caused Diri's vigilance to rise once more.

A few minutes later, Diri sighed and fell asleep on the bed, weighed down by the exhaustion of his long flight and his physical fatigue. After all, Diri had no way to escape at present. His injuries had reached their limit. Not only did he lack the strength to force his way out, even if he succeeded in escaping, he would still die from his severe injuries.

More importantly, Diri had vaguely guessed Dikas's purpose. That was precisely why he could sleep peacefully. The prerequisite for Dikas to do that was for him to remain alive. At least until the final step, he had to stay alive.

During this time, Diri also planned to fully recover his body. Only then would he have even the slightest chance of escaping.

Outside the door, not far from Diri's room, the human doctor looked at the giant rat standing before him. Suppressing his fear, he took a test tube from his medical case. The bright-red blood inside emitted a strange glow.

The giant rat took the test tube offered by the human doctor with its tail. After watching the human return to the room of his own accord, it nodded toward the dark corner of the corridor before heading in the direction of Dikas.

Before long, the giant rat returned to Dikas. It lay prostrate on the ground and slowly extended the test tube from its tail toward him.

"This is it. This is definitely it—the genetic bloodline of an Ancient Hero of humanity after being specially adjusted and modified!"

Dikas cautiously reached out and picked up the test tube. He eagerly held it before his eyes and examined it closely. A faint desire welled up from within his body. Feeling that instinctive yearning, Dikas revealed unconcealed delight.

As long as Dikas drank part of Diri's blood every day for a period of time, allowing the blood to carry the genetic material of humanity's Ancient Hero Bloodline, his modified body would gradually adapt to and accept this power. Finally, as long as he ate Diri whole, Dikas would become a "perfect" existence.

He would possess both the abilities of a demon and those of a human hero. By then, he would become an Upper Demon—and perhaps even have a chance to touch the Demon King he had once yearned for but could never reach.

"Arrange for five thousand Shadow Rats and one hundred thousand giant rats. Have them surround that human's room completely. Not the slightest accident can be allowed. Also, keep a close eye on that human doctor. Once he's no longer useful, you may have him as your reward."

After saying this, Dikas tossed the test tube in his hand into his mouth. His sharp teeth easily crushed it, and the bright-red blood flowed into his body. Dikas's body began to tremble violently. Scar after scar appeared across his iron-tower-like muscles, and blood poured from his body without end.

Yet faced with this situation, Dikas threw his head back and laughed wildly. He knew that this was happening because his body was adapting to the genetic modification of humanity's Ancient Hero Bloodline.

Meanwhile, in the sewer above the Underground Kingdom, Lu Minghao emerged from the shadows and wobbled into a cavern, sprawling on the ground. The large amount of food being rapidly digested inside his body made Lu Minghao feel languid. This was the first time since his birth that he had felt full.

Normally, whenever Lu Minghao devoured demons, Gluttony would instantly digest everything he ate until nothing remained. He had nearly forgotten what being full felt like. Although this sensation differed from the near-overwhelming hunger he had experienced upon first advancing to become a Lower Demon, who would choose to stay hungry when they could eat their fill?

This time, the enormous granary belonging to his neighbor had temporarily satisfied even Lu Minghao's bottomless appetite. Although it was only temporary, Lu Minghao did not care in the slightest. There was still so much food below. He could eat as much as he wanted!

Earlier, Lu Minghao had merely devoured one giant rat at a time from the outskirts, leaving some distance between each one, yet that alone had completely filled him. And from the looks of it, the number of giant rats below had not changed at all.

"This feels great! I never thought I'd meet such wonderful neighbors. They're simply the best!"

Lu Minghao lazily raised his head and glanced at the endless sea of giant rats below. His satisfaction with these good neighbors grew higher and higher. If they had needed it, Lu Minghao would have wanted to present them with a Century Good Neighbor Certificate.

"Well then, my good neighbors, I'll be counting on you from now on."

As he spoke, Lu Minghao closed his eyes and began concentrating on absorbing the nutrients within his body. He felt his body and magic power growing rapidly. All of this was the capital that allowed Lu Minghao to live safely and freely in this world.

Please vote and bookmark. As for the contract, I completed the paperwork this morning. I just need to wait a few days for it to be approved.