Su Wan stared at Zhou Hu, her gaze turning sharp. “You aren't a pure-blooded human.”
Zhou Hu's body stiffened slightly.
Su Wan continued, “You have animal genes in your body. You were created in a lab.”
Zhou Hu's pupils constricted sharply, a look of disbelief flashing across his face.
“How... how do you know?”
Su Wan didn't answer, simply watching him in silence.
Zhou Hu's expression shifted repeatedly until he finally let out a bitter laugh and lowered his head.
“You're right... I'm not a pure-blooded human.”
His voice was hoarse, tinged with an irrepressible bitterness. “I'm a product of the laboratory... or rather, a defective one.”
Su Wan’s brow arched. “A defective product?”
Zhou Hu nodded. He slowly raised his hand and looked at his rough palm. “Since birth, I was locked in a lab. They injected me with all sorts of things and performed all kinds of experiments on me.”
“They wanted to create a perfect fusion—something with human intelligence combined with animal instincts and strength...”
“Many people died during that process.”
“I survived, but I wasn't up to standard.”
He paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. “The genes in my body are unstable. Sometimes I lose control and undergo beastification. In their eyes, I’m a failure.”
“I was abandoned, tossed into the Outer City to fend for myself.”
Su Wan listened in silence, but her mind was racing.
The Inner City laboratories were actually doing this? Fusing humans and animals to create warriors that surpassed ordinary people?
Su Wan pondered for a moment before asking, “What about the successful fusions? Where are they?”
Zhou Hu went silent for a beat, then whispered. “In the Inner City.”
“There's a special squad in the Inner City made up entirely of successful fusions.”
“They are far stronger than me. Their genes are stable, and their abilities are powerful. They are much more formidable than Ability Users of the same rank.”
“What is the name of that squad?”
“I don't know.” Zhou Hu shook his head. “I've only heard of them; I've never actually seen them.”
Su Wan made a mental note of this information.
A special squad of successful fusions in the Inner City with strength far exceeding Ability Users of the same rank—this intelligence was invaluable.
She looked at Zhou Hu, her eyes flickering. A defective product, unstable genes, prone to uncontrollable beastification.
But that didn't mean he was worthless.
On the contrary, if she could take Zhou Hu for her own use, she would not only gain a Level 3 Late Stage combatant but also learn more about the Inner City laboratories through him.
“You said earlier that you sometimes lose control and undergo beastification,” Su Wan said slowly. “Can you show me?”
Zhou Hu shook his head, his voice low. “I can't.”
“In that state, I can't control myself. My mind is filled with nothing but destruction and slaughter. I won't stop until all the violent energy in my body is vented.”
He paused and added, “Unless someone far more powerful than me forcibly suppresses me.”
“Or a top-tier mental power expert wakes me up.”
“That's why I won't use this ability unless it's a matter of life and death.”
Su Wan smiled faintly after hearing this. “Don't worry. Go ahead and show me.”
Zhou Hu was stunned.
He stared at Su Wan, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. She was telling him to just go ahead? Did she have any idea how terrifying he became after beastification?
A Level 3 Late Stage Ability User combined with the berserk strength of a gene-modified organism... in that state, his combat power would soar to at least the Level 4 Early Stage.
To completely suppress him after beastification, one would need at least Level 5 strength!
Level 5... those were god-like figures! This woman was so young; could she really possess Level 5 strength?
But then a question suddenly occurred to him—if Su Wan really had Level 5 strength, why hadn't she shown it back in the Ruin Zone?
Why did she wait until they were back in this building to unleash such terrifying power?
A thought suddenly flashed through Zhou Hu's mind—could it be that Su Wan could only use such immense power while inside this building?
So, the one that was powerful was actually the building, not Su Wan!
If that was the case... if he could trick her into leaving and kill her outside, wouldn't the space treasures on her person and this miraculous building all belong to him?
Zhou Hu's heart rate suddenly accelerated.
But he maintained his gloomy expression, showing no sign of his internal shift.
What he didn't know was that the moment this thought arose, a system notification chimed in Su Wan's consciousness:
【Ding! Malicious intent detected from target ‘Zhou Hu’ toward the Host!】
【Target’s Current Intent: Trick the Host into leaving the ‘Terminal Station’ building, kill the Host outside, and seize the treasures and the building.】
【Malice Level: High】
【Recommendation: The Host should take immediate appropriate measures.】
Su Wan looked at the striking red text on the system panel, a cold smirk playing at the corners of her lips.
She had originally thought that if Zhou Hu was willing to submit, she would have him sign a contract and become a tenant. After all, Level 3 Late Stage strength would be a massive boost for the Terminal Station.
But looking at it now—Su Wan came to a decision.
She questioned the system in her mind, “System, is there a way to make Zhou Hu completely loyal to me? Not the loyalty of a contract tenant, but something real—something where betrayal is impossible.”
【Searching... Search complete. Item matching the Host's requirements detected—】
【Item Name: Slavery Collar】
【Description: A single-use item. To use, place the collar around the target's neck. The collar will automatically pierce the target's spine and establish a connection with the nervous system.】
【Once equipped, the target will develop absolute loyalty toward the Host and will be unable to harbor any thoughts of betrayal. Any intent to harm the Host or disobey the Host's commands will trigger the collar's electric shock punishment, which can lead to paralysis or death in severe cases.】
【Notice: This item is irreversible. Once equipped, the target will permanently become the Host's slave and lose their independent will. Please use with caution.】
【Price: 50,000 Points】
【Current Point Balance: 16,500 Points (Points updating in real-time...)】
【Whether to purchase?】
Su Wan looked at the description on the system panel and paused. Permanent slavery, loss of independent will. The cost was indeed significant.
But she was well aware of how dangerous Zhou Hu was. Level 3 Late Stage strength, the special ability to move freely in the Death Tide, and the trump card of potential beastification.
If she let him become a tenant, she would have no control over him the moment he left the building.
And judging by Zhou Hu's recent malicious thought, the first thing he would do once outside the building was find a way to kill her and take everything she had. This kind of person couldn't be allowed to stay.
But killing him would be a waste. So, this was the only way.
Rate on N.U.
