Genetic Ascension

Chapter 279: Puzzle

[1800 GTs bonus]

Sylas’ gaze flashed. Finally, Alex was giving him what he wanted.

Without much thought, it was easy for Sylas to deduce that if Alex had this information, it certainly wasn’t something that could be done with any sort of ease. It was probably one of Legacy’s most tightly held secrets.

In exchange for this, Sylas really would be willing to let Alex live, but only because after giving this information away, there was simply no going back for Alex. If Legacy found out that he had given such a thing away, he would most definitely be killed.

This wasn’t a question that Sylas could ask the Madness Key because it seemed to be related to tricking the system, something that would certainly fall into the range of taboo. Although he couldn’t be certain about that, he had to be cautious around such things until he had no choice.

But now, he wouldn’t have to worry about that any longer.

“You can say that the method is both difficult and easy depending on how you look at it. You just need a broken City Stele that matches the grade of the city being used to analyze your stats and a few Genes to appease it. Of course, you’ll also need a Gene Crystal of the same grade, and a Template.”

“What do you mean a template?”

“A Template is a special treasure that allows those without a specific Profession to complete a task so long as they have the prerequisite materials. Essentially, it’s a blank slate that allows a perfect concoction or treasure creation.”

“This is a treasure I have to wear?”

The moment Sylas heard this, his heart sank. With his luck, the Scorned Wraps wouldn’t allow it. If he went through all that trouble and even gave up something as valuable as a Gene Crystal and a Template, only to be shit out of luck in the end, he wouldn’t even have the tears to shed.

The moment he heard this, he realized that he probably didn’t have any fate with this thing unless he could find a way to take these Scorned Wraps off.

If they didn’t even allow him to wear a Beast Ward, there was no way that it would allow him to wear something like this.

“Not exactly… it’s supposed to corrupt the City Stele you’re targeting. You sneak it, attach it like a cancerous tumor, then hightail it out of there.”

Sylas frowned. “And what if it’s a person you’re trying to trick and not a city?”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “Hohoho, it sounds like you’ve really gotten yourself into a lot of trouble. Special Administration Profession?”

Sylas didn’t respond, but that already confirmed his speculations.

Back then, Bloom had manifested a license plate from thin air. The moment Sylas put two and two together, he realized that there had to be something special about it.

Considering how important the disk was, it was only natural that Lucius would send someone with great capabilities to retrieve it. Who better than someone who could forge government documents?

“In that case, it’s even easier. You just need a countering Skill. Well, not so simple actually. If you just get a normal counter Skill, it would just raise suspicion. Well, not necessarily suspicion, but it would naturally not alleviate your suspicion. What you’d probably want to do is slowly elevate your Favorability over time.

“You would need at least an FFF- countering Skill. Only those at that Grade level are capable of countering without others sensing it.”

Sylas nodded in understanding. It seemed that he had gotten a two-for-one deal. He would have to prepare the first method for when the Grimblades established their city.

“Okay. You can go.” Sylas nodded.

“Haha!” Alex laughed heartily. “You really are straightforward. You really saved my bacon this time, though you’re also the one who put me on the frying pan, but let’s not talk about that…. *Cough*”

Alex suddenly coughed awkwardly when he tried to get up. His hip was still shattered, and though he had made great progress toward healing in these last few days, he would faceplant before he could get anywhere in this state.

Sylas looked through Alex’s belongings then tossed him over an F+ Healing Elixir. It wasn’t the best in his spatial device, and Sylas knew that Alex knew this, but he also didn’t care.

Although Sylas was aware, he didn’t say anything and just gave Alex his thanks, chugging it before slowly propping himself up.

He began to weakly lean on the cave walls as he headed out.

When he was almost out, he flashed Sylas a grin. “When we meet next, let’s be friends.”

Sylas looked over at him, but didn’t reply.

Friends?

He had had a few in his life, all of them the pushy and aggressive type like Alex. Although he acted like this, he wasn’t a complete loner either. It was just that other than Cassarae, he never really went deeper than the surface level with those people. As for why, he wasn’t quite sure.

Alex’s grin didn’t fade away despite Sylas’ lack of a response.

“See you soon, Psycho Syl.”

With that, Alex limped away.

Sylas didn’t see him off. It seemed unlike him to let such a threat go, especially when Sylas was likely still being hunted down, but he had his own thoughts about the matter.

He had learned a lot more about the world, but his mind kept flashing with one thing in particular.

[Age 9: Deciphered Ancient Ithkuil text and completed puzzle. This has helped advance our comprehension of these matters by severalfold. This child can no longer be tested by normal means.]

Ancient Ithkuil? As far as he knew, Ithkuil was a modern language created by a philosopher. It was more of a thought experiment than a real thing.

However, he could remember exactly what that text was. His memory wasn’t something that could be described by normal means.

But when Sylas recalled those words, he was shaken.

Those letters… why did they look so much like Runes?

As for what they had said…

The Lost City of Gold Points Toward the Sea. The Mountains of Giza Point Toward the Stars.

As for the puzzle…

Sylas’ gaze flashed.