A Core Ship From The Start

Chapter 2679: Chapter 1811: Call of the Wild (Artificial Intelligence Is Artificial Idiocy)

The evolution of the Genetic Thief is divided into five generations. The first generation hybrids look more like twisted, mutated, distorted monsters. Anyone with a normal mind (except its parents) would regard it as an unclean monster. The second generation hybrids look slightly more normal, but still do not resemble humans. Starting from the third generation, things change; they gradually become more human-like. As for the fourth generation Genetic Thieves, aside from slightly purplish skin, and patched bulges on the forehead, and baldness, they are indistinguishable from the host race.

The fifth generation Genetic Thief undergoes reversion, becoming a pure-blood Gene Stealer and starting a new cycle of infection.

For the Tribunal, generally speaking, when traces of Genetic Thief infection are discovered in a location, the safest method is to immediately issue an extinction order for that planet. The pollution of host genes by the Genetic Thief is irreversible, thus complete eradication is the only option.

—————— Tribunal’s Alien Judgment Manual, page 325 (Note by Grand Judge Duanmu Huai: Anyone who shows sympathy towards Genetic Thieves is considered a potential infected and can be executed on the spot.)

Mary, familiar with the Judgement Court Manual, always had an uneasy question in her mind—since the lower city has already been flooded with third generation Genetic Thieves looking almost identical to humans, where then did the first and second generation Genetic Thieves vanish?

Now, she finally got her answer.

The girls are currently staying at a residence on the edge of the city. Although the Emperor was very keen to invite them to stay overnight at the extravagant Governor’s House, the girls, of course, couldn’t agree to such an invitation. At Mary’s insistence, the Emperor arranged for a private mansion on the city’s edge as their temporary quarters.

From the lavish decorations here, it seems the original owner must also have been from the Noble class, although it’s clear they no longer reside here.

As for the reason, it isn’t something the girls need to ponder.

This mansion is situated on a hill at the city’s edge, arrogantly secluded from the city just like nobles in almost every world do, representing the best place for an ambush—after all, this is a mansion, not a fortress.

Hence now, the attackers have appeared.

They are a group of Genetic Thieves.

Their forms are identical to monsters, with long arms and claws, oval-shaped heads like gourds, and tongues stretching out from open mouths, indistinguishable from the monsters in cheap sci-fi horror movies.

"Shall we eliminate them?"

Lorena had gripped the Holy Canon, asking aloud. Mary frowned and looked at Hei Chuan Chi Yin, who shook her head.

"We’d better leave here before they discover us."

"Huh? Why?"

The most displeased by this was Mianmu Zuoniao, who’s already eager to rush out and fight fiercely.

"Because Mr. Duanmu didn’t destroy them."

Hei Chuan Chi Yin quickly explained.

"Given Mr. Duanmu’s character, the reason he didn’t blow this place sky-high in the first assault is obvious—he deliberately left these Genetic Thieves here, pretending to be unaware. Since this is the case, we’d better not ruin his plan. Therefore, I believe we should leave here now before they launch an attack. This way, it will give these Genetic Thieves the illusion that we did not stay here, but went out of the city to investigate. Next, they might wait for us to return within the city while all we need to do is wait."

"Hmm........."

"Then Miss Zuoniao will get to kill to her heart’s content then."

"Alright, I’ll bear with it a little longer."

Hearing Mary’s reassurance, Mianmu Zuoniao reluctantly nodded, once again relaxing her grip on the blade handle she had seized.

"But we don’t need to avoid detection."

As she said this, Mary picked up the communicator.

"I have a better way."

Then Mary turned on the communicator.

"Hello, Governor? Yes, I’m truly sorry to bother you at this time. I remember you mentioned earlier about the Great Judge going to the Dark Fortress for investigation... Yes, yes, we would like to head over there to check the situation now. Could you please send someone to pick us up...?"

Mary spoke softly for a moment before cutting off the communication.

"The Governor will send a convoy to take us out of the city in five minutes."

She looked up at the others.

"As long as those Genetic Thieves see us leave, they should choose to continue laying low—after all, it seems like they don’t want to alert the upper echelons of the city to their existence now."

"Then why would they risk acting against us?"

Hei Chuan Chi Yin was puzzled, while Mary helplessly glanced at Mianmu Zuoniao.

"Perhaps Miss Zuoniao’s previous behavior has made those Genetic Thieves feel threatened, and they mistakenly believe they’ve been discovered."

In fact, they were indeed discovered.

"Hopefully, that Governor is diligent enough."

Alicia, who was watching vigilantly from the window, still carried that buoyant and spirited tone, seemingly disregarding the present danger.

"Those Genetic Thieves are getting closer to us."

"Do I need to construct defensive facilities?"

Naruse Mio had placed both hands on the wall, and with just a thought, this magnificent building would instantly transform into an impregnable fortress.

"Let’s wait a bit......... seems we don’t need to."

Just as those Genetic Thieves hidden in the shadows were about to emerge, the bright headlights from the end of the road flickered. Those Genetic Thieves, upon hearing the sound of an air car, quickly retreated back into the shadows.

"Hoo..."

Seeing this scene, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. If this group of Genetic Thieves had wanted to attack directly, they would have had no choice but to fight. Of course, this is not to say that the girls could not defeat these Genetic Thieves, but this would mean they must explain to the Emperor why Aliens appeared in a place deemed normal by the Tribunal... Well, although it might be possible to cover this up, it would clearly shake the Emperor’s trust in the Tribunal.

"Three minutes, faster than you said."

Alicia glanced at the time, cheekily teasing Mary.

"Looks like that Emperor is quite fond of you."

"Shirley taught me how to deal with gentlemen: put yourself in a weaker position, and use a gentle and polite attitude with a slightly pleading tone to make others more likely to accept your terms---But Mr. Duanmu does it better. He’d just say, ’I give you one minute, send a car over,’ and the other party wouldn’t dare refuse."

"Can’t you learn that?"

"Maybe Miss Chi Yin can, but I can’t."

Mary shook her head with a bitter smile. After all, she was a well-educated young lady and did not fit using Duanmu Huai’s straightforward threats and extortion.

"I can’t learn it either."

Hei Chuan Chi Yin also had to surrender.

The girls packed their things, then left the mansion and took the floating car to depart. Although the others didn’t notice, they were very aware that the Genetic Thieves had been stalking them, hidden in the shadows, until the floating car left the city, where the Genetic Thieves finally stopped.

Afterwards, the group disembarked at the Dark Fortress, and although the driver enthusiastically expressed his willingness to accompany the girls (after all, no one would object to being around a group of beautiful girls), Mary still dismissed him under the guise of "Tribunal mission."

"What should we do next?"

"Find a place to fortify our defenses, then wait."

In response to Lorena’s question, Mary sighed silently and looked at Alicia once more.

"Then wait for Mr. Duanmu to come for his crown."

"........."

Upon hearing this, the girls fell into silence.

"And then?"

"I’ll try to find out what’s wrong with Mr. Duanmu, maybe I can help him get out of that state."

Mary can only rely on her Golden Eye now, after all, Duanmu Huai had mentioned more than once that her Golden Eye is the cheat of all cheats. Now all Mary could do was hope this "cheat" was as useful this time as Duanmu Huai claimed.

"That’s very dangerous."

Lorena softly reminded, having fought alongside Duanmu Huai for the longest time, she knew better than anyone Duanmu Huai’s strength. And Duanmu Huai’s current situation was abnormal; even Lorena was unsure whether he would act against Mary.

"I’ve decided."

"...........?"

Just then, Alicia suddenly frowned and looked around.

"What’s wrong, Alicia?"

"There’s a voice calling me."

Alicia pointed to her ear.

"Didn’t you hear it?"

"A voice?"

The girls fell silent and listened carefully.

"I didn’t hear anything."

"That’s strange, did I hear wrong?"

Alicia blinked, showing a puzzled expression.

"But he’s clearly calling me..."

"Do you know where the sound came from?"

"Over there."

Alicia pointed to the "Dark Fortress" ahead, to be precise, that giant Warship wreckage.

"What did the voice say?"

"He called himself the Emperor and said... he hopes to meet me?"

"The Emperor?"

Hearing this response, the others were startled, and Mary hesitated for a moment.

"Let’s go take a look, after all, Mr. Duanmu had been here to investigate before, I think he probably discovered this entity called the Emperor, hmm... Since he didn’t directly eliminate it, then Mr. Duanmu must have judged that leaving it here won’t cause much harm."