Chapter 84

Chapter 84 Chapter 84 “Ahem, that concludes the presentation. Any, um, questions?” The dissection team manager carefully set down the trembling microphone. Skyscraper Monument Conference Room. Here, the pinnacle of power within MegaCorp had gathered—the elders and patriarchs of Prime Capital, including Akira Yujin, the current CEO, and the Thomson Family of T&C. Elders from other noble families of MegaCorp were also present. The management of MegaCorp sat in shock and silence after the dissection team’s presentation. Someone among them muttered, “I never knew T&C was deeply involved in genetic engineering.” Even though this statement was made in the presence of Akira Yujin, no one pointed it out. Even he couldn’t maintain his composure due to extreme astonishment. ‘Four different gene types perfectly combined. Was that even possible?’ Akira Yujin was confident that even if he heard the news of Earth splitting, it wouldn’t be as surprising as this moment. The information presented by the meagre-looking man exceeded the genetic technology of theYujin family by far. ‘This is dangerous.’ As soon as he had that thought, someone in the conference room raised their hand. It was Wei Zhao, who had control over MegaCorp’s media. “Haha, looks like there’ll be a generational shift in the Noble Capital.” Generational shift. It hinted at a possible reversal in the relationship betweenYujin and T&C after this presentation. Simultaneously, it implied that Wei himself would change his stance. He was quicker at changing positions, like a bat, than anyone else. With Wei’s words, the atmosphere in the conference room shifted dramatically, becoming more favorable towards T&C. Seeing this, Laila smiled. ‘Finally!’ Despite her recent health struggles, this moment was exhilarating enough for her to forget all the pain. At this moment, her appearance, due to illness, resembled a living corpse, with eyes gleaming wildly. Clearly abnormal, but no one pointed it out. The dissection team’s presentation was valuable enough to captivate everyone, including her father, Samdam. Amidst the euphoria over the presentation, only one person was barely suppressing rising anger within. “Damn thieves!” Denver, head of the Eden Family, gritted his teeth. Laila and the dissection team manager had packaged today’s presentation as their achievement, but Denver knew better. He knew what led to the results announced today. ‘That creature was originally mine!’ If his relationship with Laila hadn’t soured, he might have had a say, a reward for assisting in monster suppression. But their relationship was shattered, and the Vice commander of the Silver lion knights, Vicus, who could have explained this, had yet to appear. ‘Their funding from T&C might be cut off at this rate.’ Samdam was giving him money for one reason—to limit Akira Yujin’s influence if a new Hulk mutant appeared. But now, there was no need. They could create their own by utilizing the monster’s corpse. ‘No, it’s not over yet.’ Denver’s eyes turned cold. The claimed achievement they boasted about was solely obtained from that monster’s corpse. If that corpse disappeared, his feared future would never materialize. ‘I must get hold of that corpse!’ Fortunately, his knights were detained in a room somewhere within Monument. If he ordered them to take ‘appropriate’ action, it wouldn’t be impossible to get hold of the corpse in this building somewhere. While Denver plotted a dangerous conspiracy, Akira summoned Code Black disguised as a security guard. “Look into the dissection team manager.” “Yes, understood.” “If necessary, bring in Code Red.” “...I’ll handle it immediately.” Code Black hurriedly left, but Akira’s gaze remained fixed on the dissection team manager—the recipient of such intense interest from the MegaCorp management. Normally, he would have been extremely pleased. If only ‘that’ hadn’t made its nest in his house. Four days ago, he escaped using the Monument Security Team’s truck and took refuge in his house. Due to this, he had to sleep in the basement while sensing that ‘it’ was monitoring him. But his cries for help never reached outside. ‘Hmm?’ Somewhere, a familiar synapse flew in. Among the five parasites, one settled on the dissection team manager. ‘Sensed stress and shallow resentment from the dissection team manager?’ With that statement, it reported giving ‘appropriate’ pain to the arrogant host. ‘Is it because of the house?’ Currently, I am temporarily using the dissection team manager’s house as my hideout. ‘Senior officials receive housing in the administrative zone.’ The special trading hub provides free housing and personal vehicles to cultists and high-ranking officials. William, whom I previously captured, also resided in the administrative zone. Currently, all my enslaved cultists live nearby. The couple, kissing passionately since entering the house, reluctantly separated amidst disappointment. As the female cultist headed upstairs, her male partner unexpectedly called her back. “Hey, wait a sec.” “Huh? What’s up?” Softly grabbing her face, he kissed her. “Mm, oh, jeez, darling... Ugh!” Mid-kiss, the male cultist skillfully used psychic powers to sweep down her back. Feeling a rush of electricity, the female cultist groaned from her lips. “Ah... dar... please! Stop!” Managing to gather herself, she pushed him away with both arms. Blushing intensely, she looked at her amused partner, unable to get angry. She sighed and went upstairs. “Alright, let’s get ready.” The male cultist retrieved a premium bottle of wine and two glasses hidden in the cabinet. Items specially acquired from Earth for today. Carrying the gifts, he headed upstairs. But a voice called from above. “Darling, the hot water isn’t running properly!” “Again? Alright! I’ll check it from downstairs!” Yelling to his girlfriend, the male cultist, carrying the gifts, opened the basement door. “Huh? Why now?” Turning on the basement lights yielded no response. He contemplated bringing a flashlight. “It’s probably nothing.” Carrying the wine and glasses, he descended into the basement. Familiar with the layout from previous encounters, navigating the dim basement posed no challenge. “Was it this?” He adjusted the water temperature. The machine’s light changed from red to green, and he heard his girlfriend’s thankfulness from above. “I’ll go check...” As he attempted to turn, he felt it. There was something behind him. Thud! The wine bottle in his hand shattered on the cold floor. The liquid flowing was too crimson to be wine. “Heh, heh.” The female cultist hummed cheerfully under the warm water. Having recently worked overtime, she was delighted to come home on time for once. ‘He said it was a surprise, what could it be?’ Before coming home, her boyfriend mentioned a surprise gift but didn’t reveal what it was. He just asked her to anticipate it. As she wondered how surprising it could be, she heard the sound of the bathroom door opening behind her. ‘Today was too easy.’ The cultist couple failed to acknowledge my presence at home, leading to their defeat without resistance. ‘No matter the cultists in the city, they should never let their guard down this much.’ Even on a planet where cultists reside, I couldn’t defeat goat horn cultists this easily. Anyhow, with one goal achieved, I left for the hideout. Given the evening hour, people were scarce on the streets, so I took a different route than when I arrived. ‘Just six more to capture.’ The Head Manager’s house wasn’t far. ‘Huh?’ Someone stood in front of his house. As soon as I recognized their existence, a brief scene appeared and vanished from my sight. [Unavoidable encounter.] [I died.] ‘What?’ That was a danger prediction effect sent by my predator sense. In that moment of realization, my combat arm was severed. ‘Argh?!’ [Pain nullification Activated!] While almost losing consciousness due to excruciating pain, the pain mitigation swiftly alleviated it. I quickly threw myself backward. The sidewalk block I stood on was obliterated by an intangible object. ‘Psychic Whip?’ The object that severed my arm and made the street rubble was a weapon created using abilities I know well. However, as far as I know, this ability shouldn’t have this level of destructive power. “Indeed. Was it such a thing?” The woman standing in front of the Head Manager’s house was the mastermind who materialised the impossible. “If captured for research there, producing such research results wouldn’t be difficult.” As she reached out, a vivid purple whip appeared in the air. She now bore Yak’s horns on her temples. “I dedicate you to Lord Akira.” A whip measuring tens of meters came hurtling toward me.