Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 368: Chapter 367 The Sins Committed by Humanity

Ironblood World.

”The development of the Zerg has been quite good recently.”

Looking at the city covered with fungal carpet before him, Fang Zheng nodded in satisfaction. This used to be the capital city of the Ironblood Warriors, but now, this planet had completely turned into the territory of the Zerg. Nothing could survive the rampant expansion of the Zerg, not even the Ironblood. It wouldn’t be long before this race would utterly disappear from the cosmos.

”Mirune, what’s the result?”

”Yes, Master.”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, the Insect Matriarch standing before him moved her body.

”According to the investigation of the hair and blood samples that the master brought, it has been confirmed that it is a low-level virus, mainly being...”

”You don’t have to tell me the overly technical opinion, I just want to ask, is there any way to avoid people turning into Intestinal Creatures after the infection rate of this virus exceeds fifty percent?”

”As of now, it is still uncertain. Sufficient samples are needed for tuning. However, Master...”

”Hmm?”

”Inside the viral gene, I have found a special helical structure not formed naturally...”

”So, what you’re saying is...”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng furrowed his brows.

”...Yes, the so-called ’Intestinal Virus’ you mentioned... is not a naturally occurring product.”

”.........”

This time, Fang Zheng fell into a long silence; then, a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

”Heh, I never expected a world could be twisted to such an extent. It’s truly disgusting...”

”Master?”

”No, it’s nothing.”

Seeing Mirune closely watching him with curiosity, Fang Zheng shook his head.

”In a few days, I’ll bring some corpses of Intestinal Creatures... Any other requirements?”

”It’s better if the specimens are alive. Although these Intestinal Creatures have no value to be ingested, their genetic structure is unexpectedly interesting.”

”I understand.”

Hearing Mirune’s request, Fang Zheng nodded, eager to see for himself just what an Intestinal Creature was. Although he had already seen similar images in magazines from that world, according to the descriptions, there seem to be various stages of these creatures. In that case, it was better to rely on his own judgement.

”One last question, I shouldn’t get infected by that damn virus, should I?”

”You need not worry about that, Master. Your body contains the highest essence of Zerg genes. This level of virus won’t cause any effect.”

”Then I’m relieved.”

For Fang Zheng, knowing this much was enough.

Truth be told, Fang Zheng didn’t understand why he had come to this world.

Initially, he acted out of compassion, and indeed hoped to obtain powerful subordinates, which was why he chose to rescue the ”Cursed Children.” However, as time passed and the number of ”Cursed Children” Fang Zheng rescued increased, his disgust for this world grew deeper.

Every world has its dark side.

This Fang Zheng didn’t find surprising. Even the Main World was the same. The Elves once encountered such malice in the Goblin Dungeon. In fact, Fang Zheng had also heard of Cultists who would use captured children for skinning and bone-pulling sacrifices. However, such acts were indeed evil and intolerable in the Main World.

But in this world, it was different.

The plight of the ”Cursed Children” was no better than those sacrificial victims caught by Cultists. Yet, no one showed the slightest bit of sympathy for their plight. In fact, on a fundamental societal level, the mistreatment and harm directed at ”Cursed Children” were accepted. Furthermore, those who wished to protect the ”Cursed Children” or could not stand to watch them being mistreated were viewed as the unusual ones.

And the more ”Cursed Children” he rescued, the more Fang Zheng felt that this world was beyond saving.

Although there is indeed something called ”survivor bias” in this world, for example, as journalists, if you only pursue reports of the darker side of humanity, it’s inevitable that you will become biased. The police officers who chase criminals encounter a variety of brutal offenders as well.

However, this situation is completely different.

Those who commit atrocities against the ”Cursed Child” are not those with twisted minds or special predilections, nor are they criminals who have fallen into the Abyss of evil. Many are just ordinary people who might worry about the safety of their own children and wipe away tears, who’d amicably greet their neighbors, and who might feed street birds with a kind smile on their faces—simply ordinary people you would see anywhere.

But in the presence of a ”Cursed Child,” they become Devils.

Fang Zheng had once seen a shop owner who ”kept” a Cursed Child in his warehouse, using thick, heavy steel chains to bind her. Whenever something displeased him, the owner would go to the warehouse and stab the ”Cursed Child” with a knife, venting his own grievances and frustrations.

What’s even more cruel is that, because the ”Cursed Child” possesses a physical quality that allows even an ordinary knife wound to heal instantaneously, the shop owner had specifically purchased a knife made from ”Hua” steel. Blades made from ”Hua” steel could prevent the wounds of a ”Cursed Child” from healing for a long time. By the time Fang Zheng found her, her body was covered in blood and swarming with flies—yet she was still alive.

It was a fate worse than death.

By the way, knives made from ”Hua” steel are quite popular on the market, which is strange because these knives are only the size of fruit knives and their sharpness is no different than that of regular fruit knives. They are completely ineffective against Intestinal Creatures that are larger than humans. Therefore, it’s quite obvious what these ”Hua” steel knives are made and sold for.

Fortunately, Fang Zheng’s efforts have not been in vain.

Many ”Cursed Children” from all over the world have been rescued by him and sent to the ”projection” of Heavenly Dao Palace in this world. Although Fang Zheng does not know why the system has not issued the main quest, he doesn’t care. As he once said, as a person, if he can help others within his capacity, he should help.

But because of this, it seems he has caught the attention of another group of people.

”...Heavenly Dao Palace?”

The beautiful girl with silver-white hair raised her head in surprise, looking at the old man before her.

”I have heard of it... but isn’t that just a rumor?”

”It’s not just a rumor, Your Excellency the Holy Son,” the authoritative old man replied, lifting his head with a gaze as sharp as a hawk’s, looking at the national ruler of the Tokyo Region—the Second Intestinal War had shattered the old boundaries of mankind with the Intestinal Creatures dividing and tearing apart the territories. The original national borders had lost their significance, and each area had its own governance. In Japan, the Island Nation, it was the same; as the nominal head of state, the Holy Son’s actual rule was limited to only the Tokyo District.

”In fact, there have indeed been numerous reports of missing ’Cursed Children’ recently, and there are also news of IISO being attacked by unidentified individuals who forcefully took the ’Cursed Children’ who were being held captive. It’s not just in the Tokyo Region, but similar information has come from Osaka, Sendai, and even as far as America and Russia. Among the ’Cursed Children,’ there are rumors that it is the only place willing to accept them, and it only accepts ’Cursed Children.’

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”Isn’t that a good thing?”

Upon hearing the old man’s narrative, Your Excellency the Holy Son asked curiously. As the ruler of the Tokyo Region, she was well aware of the feelings people harbored towards the ”Cursed Children.” In fact, she herself felt sympathy for the plight of the ”Cursed Children” and had even attempted to introduce legislation to change their situation. However, the bill had not passed in the Diet, and now an organization was willing to absorb and accept these Cursed Children—was that not a good thing?

”Of course not, Your Excellency the Holy Son.”

The old man shook his head.

”The other party is a mysterious organization that, until now, we know nothing about their specific origins and identities, merely that they possess the ability to freely move around various parts of the world and take the Cursed Children without anyone noticing. I think, Your Excellency, you are well aware of the powers that these Cursed Children possess. Should someone train them and use them as soldiers...”

”You mean...”

Hearing this, the silver-haired girl’s beautiful face turned solemn.

”Is it very likely that this ’Heavenly Dao Palace’ may be detrimental to us?”

”As of now, their reputation is quite high among the ’Cursed Children,’ to the extent that there have been incidents where the ’Cursed Children’ did everything in their power to go there when rumors of the ’Heavenly Dao Palace’ circulated. This includes some Cursed Children resorting to violence in order to reach the Heavenly Dao Palace. Thus, it’s evident that despite not knowing who they are, they hold tremendous sway over the Cursed Children. We are worried that if they decide to ’establish a nation of Cursed Children’ for example, they may launch an attack on our settlements...”

”......”

The old man did not finish his sentence, but Your Excellency the Holy Son understood his implication. The ”Cursed Children” have always been scorned, seldom brought up formally. Yet nobody can deny the superhuman strength, speed, and reflexes of the Cursed Children. And now, a mysterious force had united these Cursed Children; if they were a group of ambitious individuals, they could command the Cursed Children to attack human settlements and potentially become new rulers.

Moreover, this likely involved a dispute over interests.

Although the Holy Son was young, she was by no means a political novice. She knew that many nations had expended considerable resources to establish the IISO, aiming to control the ”Cursed Children” to serve their desires. However, the sudden emergence of the ”Heavenly Dao Palace” had taken in so many Cursed Children that it could be said they had completely smashed the adversaries’ rice bowls. Under such circumstances, it would be impossible not to enact some countermeasures.

”But... It seems like we alone... have little effect, right?”

”No, in fact, Your Excellency the Holy Son, we currently have a good opportunity.”

While speaking, the old man walked forward and placed a photograph on the table.

”If our predictions are correct, one of the ’Heavenly Dao Palace’ is currently in our Tokyo District.”

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