Chapter 262: Chapter 262 - 253: The Polluted King

Even the ability to maintain oneself is lost, how can he possibly think of such a creature as “perfect”?

At this moment, Gerson was like someone abruptly awakened from a hazy dream.

Utterly unable to understand his past self.

“List all the people you’ve contacted over the years and the research you’ve conducted,” Chen Sihui seemed to have realized something, and did not ask further but instructed him to do other things.

“Yes!” Gerson immediately responded with utmost respect, even somewhat fanatically.

In his current view, that was the great Sovereign, who had awakened him from sleep!

However, in reality, it was merely a shift from one form of status pollution to another.

Afterward, Chen Sihui quickly reported to Shen Hao.

Directly through prayer.@@novelbin@@

Shen Hao had now established a deeper connection with Fiora, and most prayers and calls would be sent to Fiora for preliminary processing; only in urgent situations would Fiora contact Shen Hao.

Of course, if Shen Hao wished, he could know directly.

Like at this moment.

Chen Sihui’s report was received by Shen Hao instantly.

“The first step of pollution is considering Spiritual Ability Mutants as perfect beings?” Shen Hao pondered, “This is quite important.”

For someone with a higher status like himself, pollution was not irreversible.

The key was whether it could be detected in time.

This characteristic could be used for large-scale audits and focused monitoring.

However, Gerson had been initially polluted twenty years ago, precisely when the first Ancient God had awakened, which was also when the Life Empire’s experiment to awaken the Ancient Gods had started.

Had it just awakened and immediately polluted the first batch of people researching Dimensional Creatures?

Does that mean all the scholars in the universe related to this field are in the same situation?

“The situation is a bit worse than expected,” Shen Hao frowned slightly.

He had originally thought that this trial would begin in a localized area of the Life Empire and then spread out.

But now it seemed more likely to have started simultaneously at multiple points.

Only, the Life Empire had become the first major power to erupt.

This meant that other powers, big or small, could potentially explode again at any moment.

“Sihui,” Shen Hao’s voice transmitted into Chen Sihui’s consciousness, “you first accelerate the collection of relevant technologies, particularly the Jump Engine technology. For matters concerning Ancient God pollution, I will assign someone else to take charge.”

“Yes,” Chen Sihui let out a sigh of relief.

She had taken on the task of interrogating Gerson temporarily, but she indeed wasn’t good at handling such matters.

Soon, the relevant people were dispatched.

It was a person named Duan Xingjie.

Before the Civilization Trial had begun, he was an Interpol sent out by the Eastern Country, with outstanding investigative abilities. More importantly—he had received a Purple Epic Talent Promotion slot from Shen Hao!

Just this alone was enough to demonstrate his strength.

In terms of authority, he was only slightly inferior to Chen Sihui, one of the “earliest direct subordinates,” but his strength and abilities were already nearly the same.

“I didn’t expect you to be sent here,” Chen Sihui clearly recognized this person.

“Let’s start the work, the situation is still quite tense,” Duan Xingjie, a man nearing forty, said. However, he now looked very young.

Especially those eyes.

As though possessing the power to see through people’s hearts.

“I’ll need your cooperation to raise my status a bit,” Duan Xingjie stated.

“No problem,” Chen Sihui quickly understood his intention.

She called over Prince Bent right away.

Only five minutes passed before Prince Bent arrived immediately.

He had set up his office near the Human Civilization’s stationed Legion.

For a successor who had virtually taken over most of the Kingdom’s power, this was unbelievable.

Even the once mighty Life Empire had not demanded he do this.

However, Prince Bent’s attitude towards Human Civilization had even surpassed his former attitude towards the Life Empire!

“I wonder why the General has summoned this small King, what are your orders?” Prince Bent spoke with utmost respect.

His gaze inadvertently caught sight of Gerson, still prostrating nearby and writing his report, causing him to tremble slightly.

That was the reason for his current attitude.

When he found out that the leftover of the Life Empire, Gerson, had been captured so swiftly, and he personally witnessed how low Gerson had become, he immediately realized how he should treat this new reigning civilization.

Capturing Gerson silently and quickly was undoubtedly a sign of great strength.

But the true terror lay in what could make Gerson so abjectly submissive—Gerson wasn’t just any Life Empire citizen; he had held a lofty status within the Life Empire itself!

The opponent’s ability, insight, and status were things he had personally experienced.

Even though the Life Empire had already crumbled, the arrogance that stemmed from his bone-deep self-awareness couldn’t be erased.

Perhaps human civilization could easily defeat him with military force, but to make Gerson into what he was now, something more powerful and more terrifying than military force was required!

Prince Bent didn’t know what that was.

But that did not affect his humility.

“This person is the President’s Special Envoy from human civilization,” Chen Sihui introduced to Prince Bent, “sent directly by the President and accountable only to the President.”

Prince Bent shivered again.

The President’s Special Envoy!

In the time he had, he wasn’t completely ignorant about human civilization; in human terms, the “President” was equivalent to an Emperor!

Wasn’t this “the Emperor’s trusted official”?

Instantly, Prince Bent prostrated himself on the ground.

“The prince has seen the honorable Special Envoy,” he said.

In this universe endowed with extraordinary powers, the status and authority of those in power were mostly permanent and absolute.

Feudal systems with Emperors or Kings even took the mainstream.

An Emperor of a civilization could even wage wars based merely on personal whims.

How could this not terrify Prince Bent?

“I am ordered to investigate certain matters; the President is quite concerned about them and hopes for your full cooperation,” Duan Xingjie said.

“Yes, the entire Yodora Kingdom will be at your disposal,” Prince Bent said, his heart tightening further.

In his heart at that moment, even if human civilization couldn’t match the Life Empire, it wasn’t far off.

What in the Yodora Kingdom could possibly draw the attention of the Human Emperor?

This was no good sign!

“Get up,” said Duan Xingjie, then suddenly asked, “Who is the strongest one in your civilization currently?”

“The strongest… It should be my father,” Prince Bent answered, “The King has a Sixth Level Spiritual Ability Talent, his Life Level is unknown, but it won’t be lower than the middle tier.”

A Sixth Level Spiritual Ability Talent was enough to secure a throne!

In such a kingdom’s succession, to ensure the throne remains firmly in hand, the best strategy is to have many children and use various expensive resources to increase the chances of awakening high-level talents.

Almost all major forces in the universe ensure the continuation of their rights in this way.

For a kingdom like Yodora, unless there is the good fortune of a Seventh Level Spiritual Ability Talent emerging, the throne belonged essentially to the royal family.

“The current King?” Duan Xingjie nodded slightly and then inquired, “How is the King’s relationship with Gerson?”

“…” Prince Bent unconsciously glanced at Gerson, hesitated for a moment, but still answered truthfully, “Quite intimate. After the collapse of the Life Empire, almost all of Gerson’s research funding came from my father.”

“When did the King start transferring authority to you?” Duan Xingjie asked again.

“About twenty years ago,” Prince Bent responded once more, as this was no secret.

“More specifically?” Duan Xingjie pressed, a seriousness emerging in his gaze.

Even Chen Sihui, who was standing by, felt the same!

Clearly, she also recognized the reason behind Duan Xingjie’s questions.

And after getting the answer from Prince Bent, Chen Sihui’s heart shuddered!

That point in time was shortly after the Ancient God awakened!

“I need to see the King, right now!” Duan Xingjie said urgently.

“…” Prince Bent was perplexed, but still agreed.

In the current situation, not only if the Human Emperor’s Special Envoy wanted to see the King, but even if he wanted the throne, Bent would have to give it up, and he would have to do so with great eagerness!

After Prince Bent went to make arrangements, Chen Sihui asked with some concern, “Are you sure you can handle this meeting alone?”

“The President is watching over me,” Duan Xingjie said calmly.

“That’s good,” Chen Sihui said, relieved.

Just hearing Prince Bent’s response filled her with considerable pressure.

If the King of the Yodora Kingdom had been contaminated, then the entire nation was not safe.

Regardless of Gerson’s high status and significant influence, he was ultimately just a scholar and seldom came into contact with many people.

But the King…

Think about the first step when the Life Empire fell apart.

It all started with the madness of the Life Empire’s Emperor!

Devouring his own children, Chen Sihui, when she first learned of this info, deeply realized what madness brought by the Ancient God truly meant.

It was a perversion against the rules of natural life, against oneself, filled with twisted changes!

“However, you’d better send a message to Yang Jun now; get ready to face danger and shock,” Duan Xingjie said again, “Under normal circumstances, I should further investigate other intel, then infer the King’s and this kingdom’s contamination level before making ample preparations. But since the President has ordered me to confirm the results as soon as possible, I can only cut the Gordian knot. At the very least, there is definitely a problem with the King, and it’s very likely that he is the most severely contaminated in the entire kingdom.”

“Understood!” Chen Sihui said, her expression grave.