The Last Gentleman

[Incitement]

Yi Chen’s favorite tactic had proven its effectiveness in the orphanage; under special circumstances, it often had unexpectedly good results.

For individuals who hid all along and engaged in sneaky actions, Yi Chen naturally had a move ready. Regardless of its effect, it also allowed for a release of frustration.

Once effective,

the opposing side might produce death incidents more frequently, and the likelihood of exposure would significantly increase.

The only downside was that Yi Chen would inevitably become a thorn in their side, subject to particular targeting.

“Packing successful! Truly deserving of being the main product from ‘Sunken Skin Market.’ So useful… This mission must be completed as perfectly as possible, aiming to secure another large piece of skin from the First Gentleman.

With increasing skin content, the uses of the garment would also broaden.

The Director’s garment must have undergone a sun-structure transformation after reaching a certain skin volume.”

Adjusting his tie and waistcoat, he changed into his everyday suit.

“Next, we just need to bring this back to the hospital and have the Director and Mr. Helvoye check what it really is. It might even pinpoint the root cause of death directly.”

Yi Chen casually carried the black sack on his shoulder and walked out of the house with ease.

Barry outside the door was completely stunned, nearly letting the large shield in his hands slip to the ground; he could hardly believe what had just happened.

“William, aren’t you afraid of dying? That thing might carry the so-called ‘Death Factor.’ It’s possible her gaze and words can convey death. You’re still so close, even making contact.”

“There’s nothing to be scared of. If it really wanted to kill us, there were many opportunities during the mealtime. If I hadn’t exposed her, this would’ve just been an ordinary street visit.

‘They’ pretend this way, seemingly waiting for a moment. When that time comes, I guess there will be a massive spread of death across the whole city instantaneously.

At that time, we won’t consider the ‘independence issue’; a large number of individuals will simply die.

Of course, this is just my speculation. Let’s bring this thing back first.”

“Ah~ oh~ okay!”

Yi Chen had an extraordinary composure towards [Death]. He never showed any fear throughout the entire process, and was even abnormally excited after uncovering the old lady’s true identity.

Walking down the street, Barry repeatedly glanced at the sack on Yi Chen’s shoulder, wanting to help share the burden since he hadn’t done anything, but he was afraid the old lady inside the sack might suddenly burst out.

“William, how much skin content do you have? Your garment can still be used like this.”

“20%.”

“That’s so high! You’ve only been in the city for a bit over a year, right? How did you manage it?”

“The First Gentleman gave me two pieces from his original ‘Gentleman’s Skin,’ one sized 10×10 cm and the other 15×15 cm.”

“Damn, I shouldn’t have asked…”

Barry, born into the Knight Family with the privilege of ‘Armored,’ found Gentleman’s Skin extremely important. He seized every opportunity to undertake difficult missions for as much skin as possible.

Should his skin content exceed 50%, his armor would undergo an essential transformation, and he would receive comprehensive training from his family.

Barry had been in the city for over three years, completing missions with temporary teams. He still had a skin volume of only 17%.

…

[Sun Hospital—Special Surgery Room]

The Director had switched his gentleman’s garment into surgery mode (white coat), but he did not participate in the surgery. Instead, he quietly watched Mr. Helvoye and his assistant, Lotson, performing a living-dead surgery.

On the surgical table.

A living-dead recently completed a brain transplant and was now frantically struggling, desperate to die.

Mr. Helvoye held a stopwatch in his hand, quietly waiting.

The living-dead’s struggles gradually ceased, turning into a pleading look. Sounds began to emerge from its mouth, feigning normalcy and begging everyone to let it go.

Of course, once let go, it would certainly find an opportunity to be alone and commit suicide.

“15 minutes and 27 seconds~ The fresher the brain, the quicker the consciousness adapts. Now, starting the fourth brain examination of the living-dead.”

By the time the living dead had fully adapted to the brain, the surgery had officially begun.

After the brain tissue was cut, a very deliberate arrangement of cells could be observed under the microscope, with the brain cells responsible for processing visual signals showing the highest degree of mutation, leading to a conclusion.

The “Death Factor” was most likely transmitted through “Vision”.

Those who committed suicide had seen a certain image before their death and had been implanted with the concept of seeking death, viewing death as the first instinct. As long as they were in an isolated state, they would commit suicide.

Helvoye continued with the deeper surgery,

He secured three living-dead corpses (already adapted to external brains) in seats, gave them paper and pens, and through external neural manipulation, had them manually draw the images they had seen before their death.

They were not to draw a complete picture, but each drew only a part of it to prevent the spread of death.

By comparing the three incomplete drawings, a roughly perfected pattern, or “symbol”, was obtained.

It was similar to a black cross, but there was a small circle at the top of the cross.

Mr. Helvoye immediately warned loudly,

“Do not try to think about or complete the full pattern in your brains; just knowing it roughly is enough. Otherwise, we might also be subjected to the lethal influence.

Bring these three drawings back to Zion, asking the First Gentleman will surely reveal the root of the death illness.”

“We cannot do that.” Dean Dis immediately vetoed, “That might bring ‘Death’ to Zion; continue our internal investigation until we find the root cause.”

“I was too hasty.”

Mr. Helvoye quickly admitted his mistake; he had not been this tense in a long time. During the surgery just now, he had even repeatedly had premonitions of his own death.

Although the form of death transmission and the important pattern used for transmission had been determined, the pathogen was still not found, and more efforts were needed to lure out the hidden elements.

Just then.

An apprentice hurried into the operating room.

“Report, two dispatched gentlemen who claim to have successfully captured individuals directly related to ‘Death’, suspected patients, are waiting in the lobby.”

Hearing this, the Dean’s eyes widened: “What!?”

Since the outbreak began, not a single patient, not even a suspected infector, had been seen.

“Quickly take them to isolation room one; we’re on our way.”

Dean Dis placed his hand on the chest of the living dead, and a plant resembling a sunflower sprouted from their navels.

Mr. Helvoye also immediately summoned coffins to further seal the living dead, ensuring that during their departure, these fellows would not commit suicide.

Once assured,

everyone immediately rushed to the isolation room, and the entire Sun Church under the Dean’s command was present.

“It’s you!”

Upon seeing Yi Chen and Barry in the isolation room, everyone was quite surprised, and Dean Dis was also doubtful… he did not particularly believe that two gentlemen who had not broken through could catch a patient directly related to death.

As Yi Chen explained what had happened,

The Dean immediately sent someone to check the body of Ingrid Morales and found that the old lady’s body had not moved, having been kept in the morgue all along.

“Personnel who have not broken through the limit, leave the isolation room; let me see what exactly you have caught.”

As the Dean said this, Knight Barry was preparing to leave when Yi Chen gave him a look that signaled him to stay.

“Dean, let Barry and I stay here~ We are the discoverers, and since we were able to catch the opponent, we can surely ensure our own safety.”

“Hmm.”

A transparent containment chamber rose at the center of the isolation room, specially used to detain, isolate, and study highly infectious patients.

Under the Dean’s gaze, Yi Chen opened the black cloth bag and dumped the contents, supposedly “Ms. Ingrid Morales”, into it.

There was no lady at all,

Pouring out from the cloth bag were rotten fish, dead rats, bird carcasses, plastic bags, animal hair, badly damaged fabric, and various kinds of filth that could be seen in sewer drains.