Miracle

After a few soft whispers confirmed that the Holy Infant had fallen into a deep sleep, Nakai Hayato had his assistants carefully lay the Holy Infant back into the mortuary cabinet. Throughout the process, everyone maintained a tacit silence, though their gazes kept drifting toward the two Holy Son Pills in Nakai Hayato's hands.

Everyone was wondering what leverage they had to be the first to enjoy a Holy Son Pill.

Although the Holy Infant had said more Holy Son Pills would be bestowed on June 5th, that was still a full half-month away. Having glimpsed the dawn, who would be willing to continue swallowing the bitterness of darkness?

Furthermore, there was no guarantee how many pills would be available then, and with so many people, even if the core members had an advantage, they couldn't rule out the possibility of other members appearing more devout than them.

Although Nakai Hayato wanted to give both pills to his trusted aides, he knew they couldn't truly be called members; they were merely Yakuza, and low-level ones at that. They knew full well they were running a scam and were only sticking by him for the money. If he gave them power, they might bite back one day.

But now, since the Holy Infant was real, all the core members could become his true confidants. It seemed the Holy Infant only cared about the number of members, after all.

Nakai Hayato's gaze swept over the seven core members, and his mind was already made up.

"Everyone, you heard it too: more pills will be bestowed in half a month. And as you can see, I have indeed consumed a Holy Son Pill, and its wonders are infinite." Nakai Hayato confirmed their suspicions.

This pill could actually make people younger!

The two elderly members were so excited they looked ready to grab at Nakai Hayato's pant legs.

"Since we all belong to the Holy Infant Society, we are one family. I have decided that these two Holy Son Pills will go to the youngest and the oldest among us. The rest of you, please wait another half-month. I guarantee that during the next ceremony, as long as I am the one distributing the Holy Son Pills, you will have priority." Nakai Hayato didn't dare make absolute promises, but his words carried significant weight.

"I agree!" The oldest man stood up abruptly, his face flushed with excitement.

The couple also beamed; whether it was for their son or themselves, they were the youngest in the room.

The others exchanged glances and ultimately offered no rebuttal.

"It's only right."

"I can wait for the next batch, President, just please remember me!"

"President, if a child eats it, will they become smart and filial?"

Nakai Hayato answered each question with great patience before solemnly handing the Holy Son Pills to the couple and the elderly man.

"Although the Holy Infant didn't specify, I must watch you consume them on the spot. As for you two, I will accompany you to the hospital." To be safe, Nakai Hayato intended to witness them swallowing the pills.

"No problem, that's fine." The couple nodded. They looked at the old man, who was pinching the somewhat large pill. Another elderly member handed him a thermos, and the two shared a smile before the old man swallowed it in one gulp.

Gulp.

Everyone stared intently at the man who had just swallowed the pill, as if waiting to witness a miracle.

Five seconds, ten seconds, twenty seconds...

Under the eager gaze of everyone present, the miracle descended.

The old man's aged, wrinkled face seemed to be smoothed out by an invisible hand. His complexion gradually took on a healthy, rosy glow, and even his scalp, shaved bald from chemotherapy, began to sprout a layer of dark, short hair.

In just one day—or more accurately, within an hour—the old man completed a three-stage transformation: from a skeptical member, to an understanding member, to a fanatical member.

From this moment on, even if the Holy Infant told him that suicide would lead him straight to heaven, free from all pain, he would execute the order without hesitation, taking his family along to that beautiful paradise.

His hands trembled with excitement as he rubbed his face and hair. The old man suddenly burst into tears and laughter, kneeling repeatedly to kowtow to the Holy Infant's coffin, the only way to express even a fraction of his overwhelming emotion.

The onlookers were no less excited. The members fell into a frenzy of joy, and even the two assistants felt their worldviews shaken; the scientific world seemed to collapse in an instant.

Nakai Hayato glanced at the restless crowd, feeling that only today had the Holy Infant Society finally begun to look like what it was truly meant to be.

However, Nakai Hayato was slightly puzzled. Based on his observations, he realized the old man hadn't received the gift of power.

Could it be that what he had eaten back then wasn't a Holy Son Pill, but a higher-grade version?

He thought it possible; after all, he was the President "chosen" by the Holy Infant, so special treatment seemed normal.

Amidst the excitement, Nakai Hayato announced the end of today's meeting. Next, he would follow the couple to watch them feed the Holy Son Pill to their son, and in the process, verify his hypothesis.

In fact, Nakai Hayato's guess was only half right.

Shiraishi Wataru was feeding them balls of parasites, but not everyone could directly acquire his two current abilities—Super Strength and Steel Body.

Some people were compatible with both and could be granted both, but that old man could only adapt to Steel Body. Becoming younger and the removal of disease were merely side effects of Steel Body.

Coincidentally, Shiraishi Wataru also wanted to collect experimental data to see how the compatibility for Super Strength and Steel Body fared as the sample size increased, and whether the old man's inability to inherit Super Strength was due to his frail age or some other deeper reason.

He also wanted to test what the consequences would be if someone only inherited Super Strength.

Setting aside Shiraishi Wataru's many thoughts, Nakai Hayato had already followed the couple to a private hospital room.

The husband stood at the door to prevent interruptions, while the wife held the "pill." Under Nakai Hayato's encouraging gaze, she lifted her son—who was pale and weak from long-term illness—and gently, tenderly urged him to swallow it.

The twelve-year-old boy, thin and frail from his long sickness, seemed more mature and sensible than other children. Although he didn't quite believe in this strange thing his mother had brought, he swallowed the pill with water with great difficulty, just to avoid disappointing her.

Watching his son change bit by bit, the mother covered her mouth in excitement, tears streaming down her face without warning.

"So, he can only adapt to Steel Body as well?" Shiraishi Wataru muttered, recording the observation.

Shortly after, hearing the excitement and joy coming from the hospital room, the husband waiting at the door smiled. Tears streaming down his face, he prayed, "Holy Infant above, I am grateful for the new life you have bestowed." He wiped his eyes, turned, and pushed open the door to rush inside.

Amidst the agonizing wait of the other witnesses, the ordinary date of June 5th finally arrived.