The True Gene-Modified Human

"We didn't take the miracle drug willingly. Papala Wells got his hands on a few bottles from who-knows-where. He didn't believe that a single bottle could turn someone into a monster or grant superpowers, so he invited his friends and brought over thirty artists from the company, claiming he was taking us on a trip. In reality, he wanted to see the effects of the so-called miracle drug."

"He had us play games, saying the winners would be rewarded with a drink. We all thought it was just alcohol, so we drank it, and then... then..." Aifei'er clenched her fists. "We never expected Papala Wells to be such a beast—he used us as lab rats!"

"He brought so many bodyguards because he was afraid of accidents. He thought a hundred bodyguards could control a few of us, but he didn't realize that true gene monsters aren't afraid of bullets. Of the other four besides me..." Aifei'er paused, finally forcing out the words 'gene monsters' with difficulty.

"Of the five of us, only I kept my sanity. The other four turned into real monsters. They killed people, ate human flesh, drank blood—many died at their hands."

Aifei'er looked down at her palm. "Not only did I not lose consciousness, but I also accidentally discovered that if my palm touches someone, I can take on their appearance."

As she spoke, her facial features began to rearrange. Tu Ran was shocked to see her own face on Aifei'er.

A chill ran down Tu Ran's spine. "Change it back."

Aifei'er obeyed, and in less than three seconds, her features returned to her own.

She looked up at Tu Ran with earnest eyes. "I'm not a gene monster. I just have an ability to change my appearance at will. I'm human—a true gene-modified human. I haven't killed anyone. None of the bodies in there were my doing. Please spare me."

Tu Ran looked at her and sighed inwardly.

The Federation's first true gene-modified human—one without any means of self-defense.

Her emergence would make every faction scramble to get their hands on her.

No matter who she ended up with, she'd inevitably end up in a lab, on an operating table, being studied thoroughly.

"You don't need to beg me. I won't kill you. Even if you were a mindless gene monster, as long as I could control you, I wouldn't kill you," Tu Ran said calmly.

"You're headed to the Research Institute. Your research value far outweighs any damage you've caused. Even if you killed everyone on this ship, even if you killed Papala himself, it wouldn't matter. No one would kill you."

"Really?" Aifei'er asked eagerly. "You Pioneers won't kill me because I'm a gene monster? I heard Pioneers specialize in killing aliens and gene monsters, sparing none, good or bad."

"That information is outdated. The Pioneer Team now captures, not kills. Besides, you said it yourself: you're a gene-modified human, not a gene monster." Tu Ran stepped back and holstered her pistol.

"Someone from the Research Institute will come for you soon. Wait here."

The Research Institute arrived faster than Tu Ran expected.

This time, it was Xie Xu who came.

Probably from the moment Aifei'er knelt, Zero recognized her as a successful gene-modified human and notified Xie Xu, which was why he got there so quickly.

Not long after Xie Xu boarded the helicopter with Aifei'er, another group arrived, wearing uniforms Tu Ran didn't recognize—she couldn't tell which department they belonged to.

The group asked Tu Ran about Aifei'er's whereabouts, and she told them plainly that she'd been taken by the Research Institute.

They were visibly furious, glared at her, and left.

Tu Ran, who'd been shot a dirty look for no reason, thought, *What did I do to deserve this?!*

Besides that group, two more arrived in succession.

One wore Research Institute uniforms—they were from the institute. When they heard Xie Xu had taken her, their faces froze, they exchanged glances, and left quickly.

Clearly, even the Research Institute had its internal factions.

The other group's uniforms bore the words 'Gene Modification'—likely a newly formed department under the Federal Government. Realizing they were late, they all wore sour expressions.

Aifei'er's popularity was far greater than Tu Ran had imagined.

The emergence of the first gene-modified human meant that humanity had completely broken free from God; the direction of human evolution would now be controlled by humanity itself.

Humans would no longer be at a disadvantage against the alien species in the Threshold.

The few higher-ups who knew about inner cores shifted their focus away from aliens entirely—they now had another path to abilities.

Compared to spending vast resources to capture an alien creature, which might not even have an inner core, using the miracle drug to gain abilities seemed far more reliable.

Over the next few months, the Federation's research investment in gene modification and the miracle drug reached unprecedented heights, with all ten billion citizens watching the progress of miracle drug research.

But that's a story for later. Right now, Tu Ran, having completed her mission, sat on the return helicopter.

The Pioneer Team's task was done; all the gene monsters had been captured.

Search and rescue for the luxury cruise ship survivors would be handled by the Executive Department.

Tu Ran leaned against the helicopter window, enjoying the scenery below.

The helicopter happened to fly over the Mildred Islands.

From above, stretches of green dotted a pale blue sea, contrasting sharply with the surrounding dark ocean.

No wonder they called the Mildred Islands 'the last pearl of the Federation's seas.'

Tu Ran was captivated. Scenery like this was a sight you'd never see for free—no point in missing it.

Ding Naiqing, who was riding in the same helicopter, sat across from her, hesitating several times to speak until finally he couldn't hold it in any longer. "Ran Jie, I'm sorry!"

"Huh?" Tu Ran turned to look at him, puzzled. "What?"

"I'm apologizing to you on behalf of Zhao Yan."

"What?" Tu Ran was even more confused.

Wasn't Zhao Yan already dead? And she'd killed him. Grievances and grudges had been settled. What was the point of apologizing now? Unless Zhao Yan had done something bad she didn't know about.

"Zhao Yan killed General Xie Hong and tried to frame you, almost getting you taken away by the Inspection Department. Now that he's dead, and since I was his friend, I think I owe you an apology," Ding Naiqing said, head lowered, unusually sincere.

Tu Ran heard the reason and thought, *Does he know I was the one who killed Zhao Yan?*

She'd already taken his life—why would she care about some frame-up before his death?

Tu Ran chose her words carefully. "Do you know... who killed Zhao Yan?"

"Yes, Ran Jie, it was you," Ding Naiqing said, lifting his head and blinking at her.

"Zhao Yan was your friend. I killed him. Shouldn't you hate me and cut off all ties with me from now on?"

That had been her thinking these past few days.

She assumed it was only natural.