Free Web NovelChapter 420: Chapter 271: Apostle Factor
The Wishing Star Seed burned brightly, and a scene appeared in Zhou Chen’s mind.
A male scholar in a white lab coat was in a laboratory, conducting research Zhou Chen couldn’t comprehend. The man was gaunt and emaciated, his skin an unhealthy pale. His hair, messy and greasy as seaweed, looked like it hadn’t been tended to in a very long time.
The most striking feature was the large, raised scar tissue on his left cheek, the result of a severe burn. It made him look grim and terrifying, easily bringing to mind the mad scientists from movies and television.
’The Poison Master!’
Zhou Chen had seen the Poison Master’s file. The moment he saw the signature burn scar on the man’s left cheek, he recognized him instantly.
’The Crystal Disease was the Poison Master’s doing, and so are the Resurrectionists?’ Zhou Chen was stunned. ’Fallen Paradise is making such a huge move all at once? This doesn’t fit their usual methods... There must be a much larger conspiracy behind this.’
"Mister Poison Master, how are the preparations coming along?" Just then, a light chuckle came from off-screen.
Without looking up, the Poison Master remained focused on the view through his microscope. He pointed a finger at a sealed metal canister on a nearby table. "It’s in there. Go to North Carolina, find any slum, and open it. A month later, the area will be all but lost."
The voice from off-screen asked again, "And the Apostle Factor?"
"It’s seventy percent complete. I estimate we can begin official experiments in a month. By then, the Crystal Disease will have broken out, allowing for a seamless transition into the Second Stage of the plan," the Poison Master replied, adjusting his microscope.
"Excellent." The voice grew cheerful. "If the plan succeeds, Mister Poison Master, you will be the undisputed greatest contributor. Everyone in the future Joyful Garden will sing your praises."
"I only wish to save this unsalvageable World. That is all," the Poison Master said calmly.
The image then rippled like the surface of a lake after a stone is tossed in. When it settled, the scene had changed completely.
It was the same laboratory. The Poison Master handed a brand-new, sealed metal canister to the man from before.
For some reason, however, the mysterious man was never shown on screen.
The mysterious man took the sealed metal canister and caressed it gently, sighing in heartfelt admiration. "Mister Poison Master, you are... you are an absolute genius!
"So many scholars in Fallen Paradise have researched the Apostle Factor, but you are the only one who succeeded. I imagine ’Adam’ and ’Eve’ will be in for a huge shock when they awaken, don’t you think?
"The Apostle Factor will be the first step toward salvation. I’ll have someone deploy it in East Continent Stone City, far from North Carolina. We should see results within a few days."
"Stone City... Yes, it’s quite suitable."
The Poison Master nodded slightly, then continued, "However, the Apostle Factor isn’t fully perfected. If it fails to merge with the Crystal Virus and produce a positive mutational evolution, the ’people’ it creates will not possess the slightest soul or spirit. They will be ’robots’ with no self-awareness."
The mysterious man seemed to chuckle. "Compared to past experimental results, a complete ’robot’ is already an epoch-making advancement. It’s like humanity inventing the car and then immediately landing on the Moon—it’s shocking, unbelievable."
"But what’s the use of that?" the Poison Master shot back.
"A horde of robots with no self-awareness, merely executing predetermined programs. Even if they inherit the memories of the World’s most brilliant scholars, they could never reach the same heights. They’re utterly worthless.
"Do you know why humans became the World’s only intelligent species? I’m referring to the Old Era, of course."
"Well... there were actually some Secret non-human intelligent species in the Old Era..." the mysterious man muttered, shrugging. "But I get your point. You’re asking why humans reached their current heights, and not fish, cats, dogs, otters... right?
"—To be honest, I don’t know."
"Thought."
The Poison Master said, "One day, in an ancient era, a group of human ancestors were being chased by a wild beast. In desperation, one ancestor picked up a stone and hurled it at the beast, hitting it right in the eye. The beast shrieked in pain.
"Seeing the beast recoil, the other ancestors imitated the action, picking up stones and throwing them, eventually driving the beast away.
"One of those human ancestors looked at the stone, then at the fleeing beast, and a wondrous idea sparked in his mind. And so, the first tool was born. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"After that, our ancestors began to try making different tools. And just like that, they learned to think. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"Through constant thought, humanity was able to continuously evolve, eventually becoming intelligent life.
"And to think, one must have consciousness. To have self-awareness, one must have a spirit and a Soul."
The mysterious man listened intently. "So that’s why the ’robots’ are of little value—because they have no self-awareness, can’t think, and lack the creativity of the originals?"
"Precisely. The spark that ignites during thought is the true engine of human evolution."
The Poison Master spoke slowly, "However, as long as the Apostle Factor successfully merges with the Crystal Virus and produces the planned positive mutation, this flaw will be resolved. We will create true ’Apostles’."
"I eagerly await that day," the mysterious man said with a laugh.
The scene changed again.
Stone City. A bar. Amidst the debaucherous chaos, a man pulled a glass tube from his pocket. He uncapped it, waited a moment, then casually tossed the tube into the trash can beside his booth.
The scenes shifted in quick succession, showing the same action taking place all over Stone City. Clearly, this was how the so-called Apostle Factor was being deployed.
Finally, the image vanished, and a block of information was poured directly into Zhou Chen’s mind.
[Apostle Factor: Upon entering a human body, it will completely replicate the host’s information. On the third day after the host’s death, the Apostle Factor will resurrect them at their "home." They are then officially granted the identity of "Apostle" and become the cornerstone for building a beautiful World.
Apostle Characteristics: Do not age or die of natural causes. They have relinquished the ability to reproduce in order to have more time to build a beautiful World.
Apostle Weaknesses: Can be killed by unnatural means. Fear the smell of snail rice noodles. Extremely hostile toward snakes and will try to kill them by any means necessary.]
"..."
Zhou Chen was left speechless.
’Setting everything else aside, are they really afraid of the smell of snail rice noodles?’
’How could anything possibly be afraid of that?!’
’...Well, alright, snail rice noodles do smell awful, but they taste delicious!’
After digesting the flood of information, Zhou Chen glanced at his Wish Value on the System Panel. The corner of his eye began to twitch.
This little excursion had cost him a whopping 500 Wish Value!
Of course, he had braced himself for it. Anything involving Fallen Paradise was bound to be expensive; their members surely carried anti-divination artifacts. The mysterious man who never appeared on screen was the perfect example.
And in truth, 500 Wish Value wasn’t really that much for the current Zhou Chen.
The Round Table Hall had 42 members, and whenever they used the Prayer System’s functions, Zhou Chen got a cut. On average, each member contributed 3 Wish Value per day. That was 126 a day, or 1,890 in half a month. In reality, he earned even more than that. Combined with the Wish Value he obtained from other sources, Zhou Chen was now undeniably wealthy.
But he was used to being frugal, and such a large expenditure still stung a little.
Composing himself, Zhou Chen began to analyze the crucial information he’d obtained.
First, the Resurrectionists were brought back to life by the "Apostle Factor." Just like the Crystal Disease, it was the Poison Master’s creation, all part of a Fallen Paradise conspiracy.
’He still didn’t know what, exactly, an Apostle was. The information only stated they were the cornerstone for building a perfect World... They don’t age, they don’t die of natural causes, and they’ve even given up the ability to reproduce. They’re the perfect builders. If they also didn’t need to eat, didn’t need a salary, and could work twenty-four hours a day without rest, there would definitely be plenty of bosses eager to cooperate with Fallen Paradise...’
Second, the Poison Master and the mysterious man had mentioned "Adam" and "Eve." Given how ancient Fallen Paradise was, Zhou Chen even suspected their Adam and Eve might be the actual figures from mythology.
Then there was the fusion of the Apostle Factor and the Crystal Virus. Apparently, only through this fusion was there a chance to create true "Apostles."
’The Poison Master also mentioned a Second Stage to the plan, which is definitely a bigger conspiracy. By my calculations, it’s probably already started over in North Carolina. I have to find a way to inform the Star Association about this.’
Finally, there were the Apostles’ weaknesses: fear of the smell of snail rice noodles and a great hostility toward snakes.
But Zhou Chen still couldn’t wrap his head around it. Why would Apostles be afraid of the smell of snail rice noodles...?
It just goes to show, the World is vast and full of strange things.
’Since I’ve found the Apostles’ weakness, how can I pass this information to the Star Association in a plausible way...’
Zhou Chen stroked his chin, thinking. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
’I wish for Cao Daniu to suddenly crave snail rice noodles!’
Wish Value -1.
In his cell, Cao Daniu’s stomach rumbled. A wave of hunger washed over him and his mouth began to water. For some reason, he had an intense craving for snail rice noodles. The more he thought about it, the more he craved them, and the stronger his hunger grew.
He got out of bed, pressed the call button, and stated his demand bluntly. "I’m hungry. I want some snail rice noodles. You don’t want me to starve to death, do you?"
Cao Daniu wasn’t an idiot. He had been moved from a regular cell to a private one and had undergone countless physical exams. Even a fool would have guessed something was wrong with him.
As a death row inmate, Cao Daniu wasn’t afraid to die, so he didn’t care what they planned to do to him as long as they met his demands. Of course, it would be even better if his death sentence were commuted to life in prison.
Ten minutes later, a steaming bowl of snail rice noodles was delivered to the isolation cell.
Just as Cao Daniu was about to enjoy his meal, his expression suddenly changed. It twisted into a mask of unbearable pain before he collapsed to the floor, convulsing violently.
Seeing his chance, Zhou Chen decisively pressed the alarm button.
