The Gentleman at the End

Chapter 44: Chapter 43 Physical Training

When Yi Chen had finished browsing the data list and analysis report, a question arose in his heart.

He recalled a lesson in pathology,

where Dagbert, using only one hand, lifted a metal desk entirely and threw it, directly smacking a zombie out of the room, its head completely shattered.

Even before acquiring the Gentleman’s Skin, the strength he demonstrated in Green Lake Town was equally astonishing,

“Can I really achieve the same level as Dagbert in terms of ‘Physique’?”

“Dagbert… Oh! I remember now.

Is he the strong student with fair skin and perfect muscle definition?”

Upon mentioning him,

Zede couldn’t help but drool, seemingly eager to dissect the other’s muscles and understand the distribution of their contours.

After fantasizing for a while, he continued to answer:

“No… He has an innate talent for strength, and with just some activation training, he should be able to reach the ‘Limit Barrier.’

Even if you train day and night with me, undergoing some unconventional physical transformations, you wouldn’t be able to gain that kind of strength within two years either.

However,

it seems you have misunderstood one thing,

‘Physique’ encompasses not only strength but also endurance, resilience, and other aspects directly related to the physical body.

What we need to do is pick the attribute that suits you best, amplify it through special training, and achieve the so-called limit.

Don’t worry, I have already designed the optimal plan for your physical growth! As long as you can hold on, reaching the ‘Physique’ limit within two years is definitely possible.

I personally have high hopes for you.”

As he said this, Zede teacher slowly cracked a smile, even breaking a few fine lines at the corners of his mouth, meaningfully patting Yi Chen’s shoulder.

“Understood, I will persevere.”

Following that,

Zede pulled an uncapped pocket watch from his coat pocket, using touch to determine the time on it.

“Due to your unconsciousness, it is now ‘three in the morning.’

The academic building is closed at this time, forbidding entry or exit, so you’ll have to stay here tonight.

We shouldn’t waste any more time~ Quickly eat up this food and start the special training.”

“Alright… okay.”

Zede squatted there, tearing at his eerie, large mouth, facing Yi Chen… quietly waiting for him to finish the food.

However,

this bizarre atmosphere did not affect Yi Chen’s eating; he was very aware of the importance of nutrition replenishment.

Just like the ‘scramble for food’ during his life at the Orphanage, everyone would be gathered in a dark room, where a giant pipe overhead would only dish out half the amount of food for the number of people,

not only did he need to compete for food with his ‘playmates’, but the rats in the darkness were also formidable opponents,

if he failed to grab enough food, he wouldn’t be able to fill his stomach… and in the subsequent continuous games that lasted for a long time, he would inevitably be drained of energy and ultimately be ‘eliminated.’

Recalling this experience,

Yi Chen’s eating speed became even faster, even burying his entire head into the bowl,

Seeing this, Zede gently patted the back of his head,

“Hey! Don’t rush~ eat slowly, we have time.”

Yi Chen’s thoughts were dragged back, and he responded softly, “Hmm… I just thought of some unpleasant things.”

Not long after~ Ding!

The empty food bowl was thrown on the floor.

“Let’s start the special training, Mr. Zede.”

“Yes, follow me!”

Zede, still wearing only a black coat, led Yi Chen back to the main hall of the office,

and when he lifted the carpet,

a passage leading down to deeper depths was revealed.

“There’s more below?”

“Correct… Above here is just my ‘office,’ used for my personal research and mental exercises.

My body couldn’t possibly get enough relaxation and movement in this cramped office area.

When the academy decided to place me here, @@novelbin@@

I naturally made a request for a space to be built where I could relax my body—the ‘paradise.’

Zede, once again excited about ‘paradise,’ eagerly led Yi Chen downward.

As they proceeded down the secret passage,

a faint smell of rust mixed with stench targeted their nostrils like tiny needles, forcing Yi Chen to rub his nose.

Despite the silence,

he thought he could faintly hear the distant, faint screams coming from below.

Stepping out of the secret passage, Zede promptly turned on the power switch on the side wall.

Click!

The wall lamps hanging here all utilized red glass,

casting a red light that, like two sinister blood-stained hands, actively unveiled the mysterious curtain of ‘paradise’ for the visitors.

Although Yi Chen had prepared mentally in advance, the scene displayed before him instantly triggered the biological instinct to flee,

even though he was trying to restrain himself, Yi Chen still took a step backward.

“Welcome to my paradise!”

Zede, like a proud host of the paradise, spread his arms wide, presenting the deep red venue behind him to its fullest extent.

About three to four hundred square meters of basement,

was filled with various types of ‘exercise equipment’,

all personally designed by Zede, who later handed over the designs to the academy to have the finished products made.

Zede jogged to a corner of the paradise and waved at Yi Chen from the entrance.

“Come quick! Say hello to the monitors here.

The folks at the academy are very stingy; we must have their approval before we can start the special training… Otherwise, if you accidentally die during the workout, they would hold me accountable.

Of course, I believe you can survive, you won’t die that easily.”

“Okay… okay.”

Yi Chen stood in front of the surveillance camera, squeezing out a smile as best as he could.

Shortly, the surveillance eye began to bob up and down.

“Oh! The folks at the academy are quite generous today, agreeing so quickly. Let’s start the special training then!

Today is your first visit to the paradise, start with some simple equipment.

See that treadmill?

Get on and run to your heart’s content; you absolutely cannot stop until your physical strength is completely drained.”

“Okay…”

He looked in the direction Zede was pointing.

The all-metal treadmill had restraints at the handles, and once strapped in, one couldn’t leave… unless they tore off both arms.

The most horrifying part,

the tread was covered with nails ranging from 2 to 5 centimeters long, thickly packed, and each step inevitably landed on them.

If one failed to keep up with the speed of the treadmill,

because the arms were restrained, the lower body would come into close contact with the tread, getting shredded by the nails.

However,

the spiked treadmill, being in ‘Zed’s Paradise,’ was only entry-level equipment he himself wouldn’t deign to use; it was even covered in dust.

Before stepping onto the treadmill, Yi Chen had a small question,

“Mr. Zede, is this intended to train my endurance?”

“Endurance is just one aspect,

think about it—if an attack hits you and not only is there no pain, but it feels rather comfortable… wouldn’t that be a huge advantage?

What I really want to grant you is control over the ‘physical body’.

For us humans, the body has never belonged to the brain; it has always had its own thoughts,

you can think of the body as a playful little cutie,

it ostensibly belongs to you, looking quite obedient, but actually often does little tricks behind your back, going on strike when upset… even hoping you’d die sooner.

For instance, taking a hammer to hit the knee, even though the brain sends no such command, it would voluntarily display those enticingly tender little legs.

Just a slight external stimulus, and it would cry out in distress, sending a slew of pain signals.

Only by continuously damaging and repairing it can you deepen your relationship, turning it into your most loyal other half.”

“Hmm.” Yi Chen accepted this notion begrudgingly.

“By the way, before you step on the treadmill… make sure to take all your clothes off. ‘Gentleman’s Skin’ is a great thing, but it won’t help our special training, try not to get it dirty.”

Yi Chen changed into the casual clothes he had bought in Easton Town.

Taking off his shoes,

he stepped onto the treadmill,

securing his arms tightly to the handrails of the treadmill,

Zede even thoughtfully pushed over a circulating infusion device,

one end connected to Yi Chen’s wrist veins,

the other connected to a fluid reservoir beneath the treadmill,

ensuring that the blood flowing out during the run would be continually pumped back into Yi Chen’s body, avoiding fainting due to blood loss.

As the special training began,

Zede brought over a stool and watched, as if enjoying his favorite TV show, savoring the sight of Yi Chen, the agonized runner.