[Death]'s Approval, Ron's Resolve

Why?

Why had he suddenly turned into a Void Monster?

Was it because of the "Ability Needle" he had failed to inject in time?

Ron looked at the gaunt man before him, who had suddenly mutated into a Void Monster, and recalled what he had just said.

No wonder. No wonder he had been so panicked and so desperate to leave.

It turned out he had run out of time.

He clearly knew that if he did not inject himself with that "Ability Needle" within the prescribed time, he would become like this and die completely. Ron had thought he was hiding some other secret, but the thing he had kept buried in his heart, too afraid to speak of, was actually this.

So, in his eyes, revealing this secret and dying from failing to inject the "Ability Needle" led to the same outcome?

After exposing this secret, would he be dealt with for leaking information?

After thinking for a moment, Ron's expression gradually turned cold.

Seeing a living person suddenly turn into a Void Monster right before him, even an idiot should have understood that he was the same as those high school students who had suddenly become Void Monsters at that high school before. If the reason they became Void Monsters was all because of those "Ability Needles," then was it related to the experiment that had awakened their superpowers for them—the one conducted by [Ark]?

After completing Ark's Ability Awakening Experiment, did they need to inject the Ability Needles provided by Ark on schedule, or else turn into Void Monsters?

Considering that, according to the gaunt man, Ark's Ability Enhancement Plan had already become quite popular in District D...

Just how many people had participated in Ark's ability activation experiments in order to awaken abilities?

If they would all eventually become like this... what exactly were Ark and Noah Pharmaceuticals trying to do?!

Ron frowned deeply. Even he, who was usually quite calm, felt an anger he could not suppress.

This had nothing to do with profit or factional conflict. It was pure anger, the anger any human would feel when their moral bottom line was severely challenged.

Ron knew very well why something like the "Ability Enhancement Plan" had become so popular in District D.

After all, in a slum like District D, people unable to awaken superpowers were everywhere.

They lacked the talent to awaken abilities, yet tragically happened to be born into this world...

The ideals of Moen Ideal City weighed on them until they could barely breathe. As people without abilities, they had to struggle with all their strength just to live normal lives.

In Moen Ideal City, the preferential treatment given to Superpowered individuals was enough to drive every person without abilities into despair.

It was practically stripping away full civil rights, reserving part of them as so-called "preferential treatment" for Superpowered individuals, and forcing those without abilities to live without even possessing complete citizenship rights. Therefore, any chance at all to become Superpowered was a beacon of hope to them.

No one would let an opportunity to awaken abilities slip away before their eyes. Ron himself had once been one of those bottom-rung people unable to awaken abilities. He knew how mad they would become upon learning of an opportunity that guaranteed ability awakening...

And cost only 5,000 Credit Points.

But if the Ability Awakening Experiments they accepted were all like this—experiments that turned people into Void Monsters...

Then what had originally been their hope of climbing out of the mud would become certain despair and death, wouldn't it?

Noah Pharmaceuticals and Ark had even found a way to lure away the patrol officers, arranged for two people to steal the corpses, and tried to take them back as experimental materials. They had become so vile that they treated the people they had killed as experimental materials and were unwilling to grant those poor people even peace after death!

What... did they think human lives were worth?

Ron took a deep breath, stared at the Void Monster baring its claws and lunging toward him, and clenched his fist tightly.

Then he threw a savage punch.

"Bang!"

["Fantasy Dissolution" is being eroded by a small amount of "Mysticism Influence".]

[Characteristic Damage: 10%]

"Crack, crack—"

The monster was sent flying by Ron's furious punch. A sound like bones grinding and shattering rang out from its body.

Those illusory, twisted bone spurs snapped and shattered in an instant.

Before long, it returned to its original human form. Its entire body was covered in ragged, bloody holes, while the shattered bone matter turned to ash and drifted down to the ground.

Ron looked at the monster, now no different from those high school students after being worn away by [Fantasy Dissolution], and clenched his fists tightly.

Sure enough, their symptoms were identical.

Sure enough, Noah Pharmaceuticals and Ark were disregarding human life.

Sure enough... this was not something Ron could simply cast aside after seeing it.

He coldly glanced at the two corpses lying together, switched back to [Age of Gods Remnant] and [Potion Sequence], and ignited a wisp of dark green Necromantic Fire.

The Necromantic Fire fell upon the corpses, licking at the souls of the dead that were unwilling to depart.

It spread, burned, and reduced everything to ashes...

In the end, the two corpses lay in a heap on the ground, turned into snow-white ash.

Normally, Ron should not have done this.

These two corpses should have served as the lead for a case, as new clues for the previous Void incident. The Patrol Bureau would issue more case commissions because of this, and patrol officer teams would take on the case, investigate it, and arrest the culprits behind it all.

But Ron knew that would be meaningless.

He could have pretended to know nothing, reported the matter to the Patrol Bureau, and let the bureau and the other patrol officers thoroughly investigate it.

At that time, Ark and Noah Pharmaceuticals would certainly be distracted dealing with the Patrol Bureau. He could fish in troubled waters and try to infiltrate Ark, seeing whether he could obtain the secret to using Formula even at Lv.1.

But afterward, would the culprits really be punished?

Ron knew that there might be many officers in the Patrol Bureau who held ideals in their hearts, pursuing fairness and justice like Xia Zhi. But the fact that patrol officers could be transferred away and people could be allowed to infiltrate this place meant there were definitely rotten apples within it.

Noah Pharmaceuticals was one of the three major corporations. They would not pay any real price for this.

Perhaps all it would take was spending a sum of Credit Points to bring this matter to a close.

Afterward, those who had planned this incident and treated ordinary people as experimental materials would not receive any punishment.

They might even change their identities and continue their experiments.

Ron could not accept that.

He wanted to peel back the layers, uncover exactly what Noah Pharmaceuticals and Ark's experiment was intended to accomplish, then find the mastermind behind it and make them pay the price!

Perhaps this would bring Ron no benefit at all, and might even place him in danger. But he simply could not watch such crimes happen around him and do absolutely nothing!

Even though he was currently powerless to save those poor people who had undergone the experiment and were destined to become Void Monsters, he still wanted to destroy this experiment so that, at the very least, they would not be treated as experimental materials after death...

At least let them rest in peace after death!

The instant that thought arose, Ron suddenly felt his blood begin to stir.

The roaring sound of a surging river rang by his ears. In a daze, he could hear faint, cold words hidden within it.

But this time, Ron clearly sensed a distinct phrase carrying meaning in those words—"Well done."

It spoke in Old Rodlandic.

The next moment, his agitated blood coursed through Ron's entire body. Coldness seeped into his bones, yet it filled him with pure relaxation and comfort.

The crushing pressure that should have fallen upon him eased slightly.

He clearly realized something—his [Gravekeeper] Potion had undergone a major degree of digestion because of this.

A crisp notification sounded by his ear:

["Setting: Acting Method" is greatly dissolving the magical contamination present in "Profession: Gravekeeper".]

["Setting: Beyonder Loss of Control" is reducing Loss of Control as a result—]

[Loss of Control -35%]

The Potion had been digested because of this?

And by so much? The Loss of Control from [Beyonder Loss of Control] had now fallen below ten percent. For Ron, it could no longer prevent him from advancing his abilities!

Why? Could it be that something about his actions just now had fulfilled the role of a [Gravekeeper]?

Wait, Gravekeeper... guarding the dead?

Ron paused slightly before finally coming to an understanding.

So-called "acting" was not merely superficial imitation.

Only by comprehending the hidden meanings and concepts within the image of a Potion, then making the corresponding choice with certainty, could one truly complete an instance of "acting."

At least at that moment, Ron had made the most fundamental choice represented by [Gravekeeper], a principle approved by [Death]—protecting the peace of the dead after death.

That was why the residual will within the Potion had approved of Ron's choice and dissolved the "contamination" within it.

Ron looked at the pile of white ash on the ground, the remains of two people, and finally let out a deep sigh.

Even the so-called gods of the previous era approved of his decision. That showed just how outrageous Noah Pharmaceuticals and Ark's experiment was.

This sinful experiment, which toyed with the poor people of District D and used their lives as test subjects, truly needed someone to step forward and stop it.

That said...

Ron had no intention of rushing in alone and starting some kind of street brawl with Noah Pharmaceuticals and Ark.

An individual's strength was limited—especially since Ron was not even a Lv.3 Superpowered individual yet. If he truly fought a major corporation head-on, the only result would be being beaten to death by the corporation's security forces in waves.

But that did not mean Ron had no chance of stopping this experiment.

He picked up his phone and skillfully dialed a number.

After a burst of static, a somewhat authoritative voice came from the other end.

"Ron, this is the second call you've made to me today."

Irina's tone was serious.

"If you want to continue the topic from early this morning, then I can only tell you once again that Heavenly Hearing Media's business portfolio does not include the funeral industry."

But as she spoke, her tone shifted and softened.

"However, if you called because you want to quickly enter the next stage of ability enhancement and begin the Ability Enhancement Experiment originally scheduled for next Monday ahead of time, then I have no objections—"

No, forget it.

Heavenly Hearing Media's exclusive investment plan for Ron was divided into four stages over the two months of summer break, once every two weeks, with each stage lasting one week.

After enduring the previous week, when he had gone in and out of the laboratory every day, been put on and taken off experiment tables day after day, and had his body covered in needle marks, Ron only wanted to live like a normal person for one week first.

Although the various projects arranged for him by Heavenly Hearing Media could indeed raise him to Lv.3, they also made him feel as though he were gradually becoming some strange artificial creation of technology and ruthless experimentation.

Besides, Ron was not currently lacking opportunities to become Lv.3, so there was no need for him to rush into accepting Heavenly Hearing Media's investment.

"Mm... actually, there's something else more important."

Ron said seriously, "Ms. Irina, I discovered that Noah Pharmaceuticals seems to be conducting some illegal experiments in District D recently."

Unlike the Patrol Bureau, if Noah Pharmaceuticals had a problem, Heavenly Hearing Media would not cover for them.

Noah Pharmaceuticals and Heavenly Hearing Media were both among Ideal City's three major corporations. They were also both weaker than Moen Commerce, which had already become the government of Moen Ideal City, and they had long held deeply rooted hatred and conflicts toward each other.

If one asked whether either corporation wanted the other to suddenly collapse outright, the answer would certainly be no. After all, they still needed to support Moen Ideal City together. But if it was simply a matter of making things difficult for the other side... any executive from either corporation would probably agree without hesitation.

With that in mind, Ron carefully explained everything he had discovered in great detail, telling Irina all of it.

After hearing Ron's discovery, Irina was clearly stunned for a moment, and a trace of confusion entered her voice.

"When did Noah Pharmaceuticals develop this kind of technology?"

Compared with the innocent District D residents who had died, she was clearly more interested in the technology Noah Pharmaceuticals had developed—technology that could guarantee ability awakening for people without abilities, while also turning them into Void Monsters.

"This matter is rather strange. Perhaps it is related to their previous attempt to complete another Knowledge-Seeking Experiment for Hera."

It was actually related to a Knowledge-Seeking Experiment?

Ron could not help being stunned. Hera was clearly one of the sectors within Ideal City's Central Intelligent Brain, but someone had already taken the sector's supervisory Authority and become Lv.5.

Shouldn't Hera's Knowledge-Seeking Experiment already have been completed by that Lv.5?

Could it be that the Central Intelligent Brain did not only issue one Knowledge-Seeking Experiment? Even after someone became the sector supervisor, it would still issue new Knowledge-Seeking Experiments for them to complete?

At that moment, Irina, who had been murmuring to herself, thought for a moment before quickly speaking in a serious tone.

"The matter you discovered is indeed important. If possible, I also hope to stop their large-scale experiment."

"However, the three major corporations signed a non-aggression pact long ago. I have no way to provide you with any military support."

No military support?

Well, it was related to a Knowledge-Seeking Experiment after all...

Though Ron was somewhat disappointed, he could understand after thinking it over.

If this were merely an ordinary experiment, Heavenly Hearing Media interfering would not be much of a problem. It would only be the usual game of the three major corporations making life difficult for one another.

But if it involved a Knowledge-Seeking Experiment, then Heavenly Hearing Media entering the fray directly would count as outright hostility. After all, if Ron had the chance to complete Prometheus's Knowledge-Seeking Experiment in the future and Noah Pharmaceuticals sent people to interfere through underhanded means, Ron did not even want to imagine how many people on Heavenly Hearing Media's board would be furious enough to smash tables.

But Irina quickly continued.

"However, since we now know about this, we certainly cannot let Noah Pharmaceuticals complete this unethical large-scale experimental project so easily."

"I will apply to use Heavenly Hearing Media's intelligence system and provide you with every form of support other than military force—"

As she spoke, a faint smile entered her voice.

"—And I will submit a request for the relatively idle executives to have more conversations with Noah Pharmaceuticals' old friends recently, arranging some suitable business visits."

"All executives who hold supervisory Authority over Hera, Aphrodite, and Demeter will probably be too busy over the next half month to make a trip to District D."

Oh?

Ron's disappointment instantly vanished.

Did Ms. Irina mean that over the next half month, there would be no Lv.4 or higher Superpowered individuals in District D of Ideal City who could protect this experiment?

Moreover, there was Heavenly Hearing Media's intelligence system. Although it was probably inferior to the Patrol Bureau's Artemis, helping Ron analyze Ark and Noah Pharmaceuticals in District D should not be difficult.

Then, as long as Ron became Lv.3, perhaps he really would be qualified to storm Noah Pharmaceuticals' branch alone and completely resolve this experiment...

After all, with sufficient intelligence, Ron did not believe that he, once he became Lv.3, would lose to any ability user below Lv.4!

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Irina, Ron hung up. He thought briefly and confirmed the current situation.

...Now, all he lacked was advancing to Lv.3.

As long as he could advance to Lv.3, he would have a sufficient chance to stop this experiment!

Not only for the poor people of District D, but also for himself, to search for a way to construct Formula...

It seemed his rest time was over. It was time to return to "Potion Era" and pay Father Harvey a visit.

Ron fell into thought, but he did not immediately choose to go back.

He first called Xia Zhi. "Sister Xia Zhi, after waking up from a nap, I accidentally crashed into the corridor outside the underground morgue and smashed both the wall and my body camera."

"Huh?"

Xia Zhi, who had just answered the call and heard that statement, could not help feeling bewildered. She asked in confusion, "You... how did you cause that kind of problem just by guarding a door?"

Ron sighed, sounding extremely helpless.

"You know, Sister Xia Zhi, I still need to use an 'Ability Limiter' to control my abilities..."

He looked at her and finally brought up what he had really wanted to ask:

"So, Sister Xia Zhi, can I go to the Logistics Department now and collect a new body camera, along with any standard-issue equipment I haven't received yet?"

Xia Zhi was a little puzzled, but she did not think much of it.

"It's not that you can't. I was planning to take you there later, but if you want to go now, then go ahead."

"I've applied for Authority for you through the Patrol Bureau's Intelligent Brain backend. The Logistics Department will issue you standard equipment. Once you get it, don't use it carelessly. A lot of standard equipment is dangerous too!"

Dangerous? If it wasn't dangerous, I wouldn't even want it!

What Ron wanted was the standard equipment issued to Patrol Bureau agents.

Although much of it was not easy to bring into the Potion Era—after all, technology was far too conspicuous and would easily arouse suspicion, and Ron did not want to expose his identity—some items could be disguised as "divine blessings" and would be a great help in battle. He switched back to [Superpowered] and [Vector Manipulation], gathered up all the ashes and packed them away, disposed of the evidence outside the Patrol Bureau, then went to the Logistics Department to collect all his standard equipment before returning home.

After briefly sorting through everything, Ron took several Flashbang Grenades and a bottle of Nanomedical Spray. These things looked simple, but they were extremely useful. For example, even a severed limb could be stitched back together by nanobots with a spray of Nanomedical Spray.

As long as someone had not died on the spot, this standard Patrol Bureau equipment could keep them alive.

There was even less need to mention Flashbang Grenades. They could have a considerable effect even when apprehending Lv.3 Superpowered individuals. Ron did not believe the extraordinary beings of the Potion Era would be immune to them.

Perhaps these unfamiliar gadgets would be even more effective against them.

He stuffed everything into his pockets and held them in place with his hands, tucked away his spellbook, and put on the fully charged Ability Amplifier. Ron was brimming with confidence.

And it was not just these things. There was also Idrila, who had already become Sequence 7, and President Elvis, who claimed he would protect them...

Even if Father Harvey truly became their enemy, he would inevitably turn into a mass of extraordinary characteristics and become nourishment for Ron's advancement to [Death].

Sequence 7—the sustenance needed to achieve Lv.3!

He would advance to Lv.3 today!