Genetic Ascension

Chapter 142 Paradise

It had to be remembered that after the Sixth failure, the survivors would have already experienced a Summoning. It should have been easy to pull them under one banner.

Why make just a single Race, and yet leave so many separate countries? What was the point of speaking just one language if there were still dozens of cultures?

It all felt like a smokescreen only capable of fooling those too lost in their propaganda or too uncaring to think past a single layer.

It seemed that everyone was scrambling to hold onto their power in some way and couldnʼt be bothered to consider anything else.

If the human race was still acting like this after almost getting wiped off the face of the planet, he couldnʼt imagine they would ever change.

”Anyway, I donʼt know many details, this is all I can tell you. Youʼve already made it so far on your own, so feel free to make your own decisions,” Magnus laughed, ”not that you need me to tell you that.”

**

A plane touched down from the skies. Lucius and his draftees landed in the Ranger Province not in an airport, but a rather inconspicuous stretch of asphalt surrounded by a wheat field.

They had clearly come for battle.

With Aether, spatial devices had become useless and most could only carry around their weapons and various armors. Since there was no point in hiding it from the Browns anymore, they had all brought out their treasures.

On the plane, however, Lucius had given them all large bags to hide them. Each of them was now carrying around a pack that must have been at least a meter or two taller than them.

Well, except for Sylas. He just had a normal suitcase of clothes.

He looked the most normal of them all. He was wearing the same tan trench coat he had come to the Browns compound with. Beneath it was a white turtleneck and a pair of black slacks and loafers.

Rather than battle, it looked like he was about to teach another class.

Most had picked up on the hint that the government was not their friend for this excursion. But only Nathan and Sylas seemed to realize that this didnʼt mean they were going balls to the wall.

How easy would it be to turn the people against the Browns? A family of billionaires suddenly wanted to seize control of power when the world underwent a change?

This would be an uphill battle, and that was precisely why it was a test. One that Lucius apparently wanted them to see through on their own.

Lucius didnʼt inform them of this on purpose, clearly as an attempt to test them. The more leeway he gave them, the easier it would be to observe their characters.

”Letʼs go. Thereʼs a small town about fifty or so kilometers from here.”

With that, he set off.

Such a distance would have been unconscionable for them to cross before, but they hardly reacted to the distance after Lucius finished speaking.

Like this, they set out in a group of about 30 or so. Aside from the draftees, Lucius of course had his own trusted aides.

…

Their destination was a neighboring small town to Lone Star known as Paradise. It had a population of only 10,000 or so, and it was quite used to having a great deal of tourists. Those that took long road trips to Lone Star would almost certainly stop here.

For much of its life, it had lived up to its name. It was peaceful, had a low crime rate, and a warm atmosphere.

However, as the town came into view, the first thing Sylas noticed were the patrols.

A town like this one would have a sheriffʼs office. It would be an elected position that would likely double as a mayor. Clearly, whoever this sheriff was had deemed it necessary to set up such a net.

---

[Gabriel Shroom]

[Level: 0]

[Physical: 7]

[Mental: 7]

[Will: 7]

---

Out of habit, Sylas checked one of their stats, but the result was a surprise that shouldnʼt have been one.

He shook his head. The reality was that most of the humans on Earth right this moment were not Trial Takers as the majority had died. What he had to be worried about wasnʼt this personʼs stats, but instead the gun on his waist.

Sylasʼ gaze shifted to the gun on the manʼs hip. Because the Trial had ended early, the force multipliers of Earthʼs technology still reigned supreme. If someone thought they could act freely just because they had a few stats, they would quickly find themselves to be sorely mistaken.

The unfortunate part was that Sylas couldnʼt scan Lucius. He was very curious about the manʼs stats, but the risk was too high. Heʼd have to wait for a good time.

Soon, Gabriel and his partner noticed them and couldnʼt help but frown. Even under normal conditions, a group of more than 30, each with a huge sack on their back, walking into a small town like theirs would have attracted attention no matter what… let alone now.

”Stop right there!” Gabriel barked. ”Identify yourselves!”

His hand shifted to the holster on his hip, his wariness shining forth in his eyes.

Lucius held up his hands and everyone followed suit.

”I know it looks odd, officer, but weʼre just a group of campers that got caught up on the road.”

”Campers?” Gabriel frowned, looking them over. He could believe that for some of them, but why were two of them so well dressed? Who went camping in a thousand-dollar coat?

Sylas silently watched this interaction, slowly coming to understand something.

ʼ… Heʼs trying to force a conflict…ʼ

It was impossible for Lucius to be so airheaded that heʼd neglect such a detail. He didnʼt brief any of them on exactly what the plans were, and up until a couple of hours ago, they had all thought that they were going to Lone Star, not an adjacent town.