Chapter 165: Destroy the World First

Chapter 165: Destroy the World First

"Today is September 8, 2124, 6:30 AM."

Luk stared straight at his reflection in the mirror. His face was haggard, dry, and devoid of life, like a handful of ash left after being burned to the ground.

"Today marks the eighteenth year of my imprisonment, 6,575 days, 157,800 hours, and 9,468,000 minutes."

He enunciated each word as he counted the time he had been trapped here, then glanced at the clock hanging in the hotel suite and corrected himself.

"Alright, make that 9,468,001 minutes."

After announcing the time, he paused, his hand caressing the mirror. After a long moment, he withdrew his hand and used his index fingers to force a stiff smile.

"There's so much I want to say, but it all boils down to one thing."

"I will destroy the world."

...

The floors above were occupied by ordinary, unsuspecting workers, serving as both a cover and a means to handle the mundane tasks of the actual employees, allowing them to focus entirely on the sealed artifacts.

The underground levels were the true holding cells, spanning twelve floors. The first floor was for employee work and rest areas, the second and third floors housed Level 3 sealed artifacts, the fourth to sixth floors were for Level 2 sealed artifacts, the seventh to ninth floors were for Level 1 sealed artifacts, and the tenth to twelfth floors were for Level 0 sealed artifacts.

Xue Pengkai walked through a long sterilization corridor and entered the employee-only elevator. With a "ding," the elevator doors closed, and it began its slow descent.

The sensation of weightlessness is one of the most primal human fears. Xue Pengkai's heart sank along with the elevator as he prepared to face a Level 0 sealed artifact's derivative. Despite his confidence, he couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.

When the indicator light reached -10, Xue Pengkai stepped out of the elevator. Two tall, muscular security guards approached him, conducting a thorough check before one of them spoke sternly.

"Please show your ID."

Xue Pengkai handed over his ID, and one of the guards took it, a mocking smile on his face.

"Wow, impressive. The Fertile One is known for resisting humans, yet you managed to capture him. And the Magic Fairies, they're all so beautiful, but their sizes... tsk, tsk, tsk."

Xue Pengkai didn't respond, just smiled faintly, unfazed by the praise.

Compared to the compliments from lower-level employees, the teasing and admiration from the Level 10 guards carried more weight, but he didn't feel particularly proud. He had never doubted his own promotion.

His goal was to become a supervisor, and eventually, a manager.

"Since you're a team leader, you'll be overseeing a Level 0 sealed artifact's derivative. Which one are you in charge of?"

"Derivative Three."

"Ah, that one."

At the mention of "Derivative Three," the two security guards relaxed, and the one who had been teasing Xue Pengkai now looked disapproving.

"If you had said it was him, we wouldn't have gone through all this trouble. I thought you were going to manage something like an Apostle, the Catastrophe Formula, or the Phoenix Egg."

Hearing the names of three Level 0 derivatives he had never heard of, Xue Pengkai's eyes flickered. "Could you explain those Level 0 derivatives to me?"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't, and don't listen to what you shouldn't."

The other security guard, who seemed more composed, gave him a stern look. "Level 0 artifacts are top-secret, and some knowledge can lead you to a life-or-death situation just by knowing it."

"Speaking of which, my brother once accidentally revealed a Level 3 artifact to a new Level 3 employee. The next day, he was found dead in his bed. Do you know how he died?"

"Can I know about that?"

Xue Pengkai asked calmly.

"Sure, why not." The security guard sneered. "He cut open his chest and abdomen, using his own blood and organs to create a twisted, sacrilegious artwork."

"Imagine the scene: a sharp blade slicing through your skin, fat, and muscles. Blood droplets seep out of the incisions, and when it hits an artery, blood gushes out. You don't care, just keep digging out your organs, using your fingers to smear blood on the floor, lost in your creation..."

As he spoke, the security guard watched Xue Pengkai's expression, which remained unshaken. He nodded in approval.

"Your mental fortitude is impressive. To be honest, the thing you're in charge of is relatively harmless, at least on the surface."

According to the security guard, Derivative Three hadn't caused any disturbances in over a decade. Even during a major breakout ten years ago, when a sealed artifact went berserk, causing a chain reaction that freed many others, Derivative Three remained calm in its cell.

They believed Derivative Three lacked the ability to escape, as a sealed artifact with a human mind wouldn't want to stay in a hotel suite for eighteen years.

However, no one truly believed that something created by the Horn of the Apocalypse could be harmless. That's why it was sealed, and with extreme measures.

Perhaps something terrifying would happen if it went insane, broke down, or died. Therefore, its living conditions were relatively well-maintained within the constraints.

Following the security guard's directions, Xue Pengkai found the room for Derivative Three.

The room had no steel reinforcement, no heavy guards, and appeared to have no protective measures at all. The door was a plain wooden one with a room number sign, 1408, sealed with tape and a small slot for delivering items. It looked cheap and fragile, but for most sealed artifacts, it was an insurmountable barrier.

Sealed Object Level 3: "Room 1408"

Description 1: The true form of Room 1408 is unknown, but its offshoots have a replication effect. When an offshoot is hung on a door, one hour later, you will find a second doorplate in the same spot, and the replication ability will transfer to the new doorplate.

Description 2: When you hang the "Room 1408" doorplate on a door, regardless of what the room was like before, opening it will reveal a luxurious and elegantly furnished hotel suite with a touch of vintage decor.

Description 3: If the person inside the hotel suite does not leave within an hour, opening the door will reveal a brand new, identical hotel suite, and they will never be able to escape.

Description 4: Removing the doorplate will restore the space to its original state.

Message: Welcome to the Dolphin Hotel~ Your presence brings us great honor, so please, don't leave!

Sealed Object Level 3: "Universal Tape"

Description 1: This tape is water-resistant, fireproof, and impervious to knives and swords. It is tough and inert, showing no reaction to physical or chemical properties.

Description 2: Anything stuck with this tape will never come loose and can only be separated physically.

Message: If the Titanic had this tape, would it have sunk?

Xue Pengkai approached the monitor and saw the third offshoot in the room.

The offshoot looked younger than his actual age, appearing to be only 18 or 19 years old. His skin had an unnatural pallor, and his hair, which was long and unkempt, hung past his waist, tied back with a single elastic band. His body was so emaciated that it seemed almost skeletal.

He had just come out of the bathroom and was sitting on the bed, holding a book. Other than the sound of pages turning, everything was eerily calm.

If he were considered human, he would be quite pitiable.

Xue Pengkai thought to himself and then began to speak to the third offshoot in a gentle, friendly tone.

"Hello, I am a new staff member assigned to care for you. My name is Xue Pengkai."

Lu Ke's eyes lifted slightly, showing a hint of recognition. He slowly rose from the bed, his voice calm and serene, like that of an elderly sage.

"Hello, Mr. Xue."

"I am Lu Ke, but you can also call me the third offshoot."

Lu Ke responded politely, his gaze fixed on the camera. "Your speech is very fluent, unlike someone using a 'Phonograph.' The name format is also similar to ours."

Sealed Object Level 2: "Phonograph"

Description 1: An old-fashioned phonograph that continuously plays a rousing piece called "The Song of the Tower of Babel."

Description 2: To prevent humans from seeking out terrifying entities, a certain being scrambled their languages. Now, children have broken the taboo and rediscovered the means of communication—though it may also be a bridge to their demise.

Description 3: Every time you hear "The Song of the Tower of Babel" for 30 seconds, you will ascend one step on the Tower of Babel and gain the ability to converse in a different language.

Description 4: The language you gain is random, so use it with caution.

Message: Shh~ Do you hear it? What a beautiful sound, the call from the depths of the sea, the call from the stars...

"Yes, I am Chinese, just like you. We share the same blood."

This was likely the reason he was assigned to the third offshoot. The creature mistakenly believed it was human, a Chinese person.

Xue Pengkai felt his heart rate quicken. The ability to communicate meant the possibility of change, and change meant control. Although the third offshoot appeared human, it was still a monster born from the Horn of the Apocalypse.

If he could tame the third offshoot, within two years, provided he met the minimum qualifications, he could be promoted to a Level 4 supervisor.

This was one of the necessary conditions for promotion: controlling two Level 1 sealed objects or one Level 0 sealed object offshoot.

"Do you not consider me a monster?"

"Of course not."

Xue Pengkai replied warmly, "Every part of your body is no different from a human's. Your appearance, your thoughts are just like ours. How can you be a monster? I believe there must have been a mistake."

"Even if there was no mistake, I will still treat you well and try to meet your needs."

Lu Ke's lips curved into a gentle smile, his voice unusually calm. "Mr. Xue, has your supervisor ever told you not to engage too much with sealed objects?"

"Hmm?"

"From your voice, I can tell you are quite young, probably in your mid-twenties. To have reached this position at your age, you are clearly a rising star."

"Your voice is steady and kind, but becoming a supervisor indicates you are not foolish. On the contrary, it suggests you are meticulous, emotionally stable, and skilled at deception. Your immediate friendliness toward me clearly shows you want to use me to advance, indirectly revealing your ambition."

Xue Pengkai was taken aback, a chill running down his spine. He hadn't expected the third offshoot to have such a clear and logical understanding of human thought, analyzing it so accurately.

"Lu Ke, you misunderstand, I—"

"Mr. Xue, I feel very, very regretful. Someone as talented as you is not cherished by the world."

Before he could react, Lu Ke dismissed him.

"Leave now. Come back in three days."

Lu Ke gave a faint smile and returned to his book, his head lowered.

"I believe our next meeting will be more pleasant."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end