Chapter 27 The True Name of the Inferior

It wasn't until Russell was on the floating car that he felt truly bewildered by the unexpected situation.

Just yesterday, he had met who was now a suspected demon—turned suspect overnight.

He did feel quite fond of Glass, to speak the truth.

Because she gave Russell the impression of being "very strong inside."

Glass appeared to have pale, smooth skin, with a substantial part of her body exposed, yet there were almost no traces of circuit boards or interface slots, the typical features of a prosthetic body... However, with Russell's professional gaze, one look was all it took to know that she was highly modified.

At least sixty percent of her body was artificial—for example, her amazing rainbow-colored hair, which couldn't possibly be the result of hair dyeing.

A simple deduction was... Elves are the well-known rulers of this world. If prosthetic modifications really had no negative effects as advertised by them, only benefiting the implantee, then logically, all elves should undergo extreme degrees of prosthetic modification.

However, the truth is that all elves only have minimal prosthetic implants.

That wouldn't even count as prosthetic modification, but merely an implant.

Normal prosthetic modification involves removing the original part and then getting a civilian prosthetic from a prosthetic doctor, with nerve reconnections and chip synchronization permissions written in.

Although "Prosthetic Fitting and Maintenance" sounds a bit like "excavator maintenance," it's actually a high-tech profession involving microscopic nerve operations and chip permission writing.

Too many body parts replaced with prosthetics in itself can cause a certain level of mental strain.

According to one theory in Psionics, the soul's location corresponds to the body. One possible reason elves haven't mastered Spiritual Energy is because they haven't excised their original bodies.

Only when the original body parts are lost and replaced with prosthetics, causing the brain to perceive a "lack of my body" sense yet when surveyed feels the illusion that "the body indeed exists," can this self-cognition confusion stimulate the activation of Spiritual Energy. The soul originally confined within the body can't help but wake up, extending its tentacles of awareness out from the opened wound.

It's similar to how a body's injured parts may turn cancerous from prolonged stimulation.

Removing a body part during infancy and replacing it with a prosthetic is a preparation for awakening Spiritual Energy.

Russell did hear that some Sky Islands emphasized the philosophy of "the perfect body" and advocated for prosthesis implantation instead of modification... Of course, this is mainly to emulate the "naturally noble" and more exalted Elves.

Whatever the Elves do, they do. In this way, they mimic "perfection."

—But indeed, they also fail to awaken Spiritual Energy.

This is a case in point for the "overflowing spiritual energy" theory.

Generally, the safe limit for modifications is one quarter.

Just like those personal guards protecting Glass, such a level of prosthetic modification places a severe burden on the mind.

It's like how some people, while sleeping, can't help but jolt suddenly to check if they've passed away. The more the original body is lost, the more intense this primal stimulant becomes.

Even Russell sometimes experiences this illusion. His left arm is a prosthetic, and therefore, it doesn't get sore with complex tasks or feel fatigued from carrying heavy loads.

When Russell works or exercises, only his right side feels tired, while the left feels nothing. This asymmetry sometimes makes him unable to resist punching the wall with his left fist, using pain to verify its existence.

Those guards in black became taciturn as a result.

Glass's degree of prosthetic modification was no less than theirs, but her speech was filled with enthusiasm, her clear, glass-like pupils seemingly sparkling.

This was enough to prove the strength of her inner self.

Yet such a person was now...

"'Suspected demon' doesn't necessarily mean demon."

From the driver's seat, the Inferior cast a glance through the rearview mirror at Russell, who was hunched in a corner of the back seat, frowning in deep thought. He couldn't help but emphasize, "It could also be an Enslaved Demon controlled by a demon, or simply a person who was attacked. All of these are possibilities."

"...I understand."

Russell slowly nodded, straightening up, "So that's why I should go in plain clothes, right?"

If Glass were the demon herself, Russell wouldn't expose his identity from the Special Execution Department.

If she were under the control of a demon or the one being attacked, Russell's appearance and approach wouldn't alarm the real culprit.

"Although you're not yet cleared to access this information... Glass knows me and Cui Que. We can't contact her directly, only you can carry out preliminary investigations.

"I can't be with you all the time. To avoid misjudgment, I'm informing you of the specifics here."

While driving, the Inferior spoke in a deep voice, "Glass submitted her 'Happiness Test' two days ago. This means that her Spiritual Energy signature has already been contaminated.

"If she's a demon, then by now she should have developed at least a third-level Spiritual Energy strength. If she's an Enslaved Demon, her subconscious may have been partially controlled; if she's been attacked by a demon, then in no more than two days, her memories will be altered or her cognition warped. If the demon is found immediately, she can still be saved. But remember not to act rashly. It's difficult to completely save the 'Zero Patient,' you have to get used to this realization... Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"...I understand."

Russell nodded heavily, "You mean to prioritize chasing the demon... instead of rescuing the victim."

If she were a victim, it was already impossible to rescue her intact. So there was no need to be overly cautious.

"Not bad, hero."

The Inferior's indifferent voice rose, "You're quite aware. That's good."

"—But."

Russell interrupted, "I still want to try."

"You know what you're saying."

"I just mean... what if. If it's a demon or an Enslaved Demon, there's no saving them, but if she's just been attacked, there's still a chance of rescue."

Russell's voice grew softer, but his expression firmed, "I just want to try. If she's just been attacked..."

The more he spoke, the quieter his voice became, eventually fading away.

The Inferior did not respond to Russell's words.

Several minutes of silence passed within the floating car.

After that, the Inferior skipped the topic and spoke in a low voice, "According to Glass' chip's real-time positioning intelligence, she is now at the Hive Nightclub. You'll have to figure out what identity should roughly suit you. I won't be offering you any help.

"If you need help, just go under any camera, speak to it. Cui Que will support you, she will leave the information on a nearby visible device for you.

"As for me—"

As he said this, the Inferior brought the car to a halt.

This was deep in a dimly lit alley.

After activating stealth mode, the floating car's color almost blended into the surroundings.

Although it was less than a street away from the Hive Nightclub, passersby on the street would definitely not notice Russell getting out of his floating car.

"I'll leave the car here."

The Inferior said, took a deep breath, raised his right arm backward with his palm up in front of Russell, and revealed the data port on his wrist.

He glanced at Russell.

Their ice-cold, indifferent pupils held no emotions.

"You haven't picked a codename yet, let's add each other as temporary friends. Remember, if you encounter danger, call for me at once.

"As long as you're within three hundred meters, I can save you."

"...Okay."

Russell thought, you still haven't told me whether my previous idea was feasible or not.

Is this the typical leadership's "it's up to you" kind of response?

Although he was mulling this over, Russell's hands did not stop moving. He still pulled out a data cable from the prosthetic on his left arm and connected it to the port on the Inferior's right wrist.

[Please select the mode of access]

——Conservative mode.

Russell chose this default linkage mode.

[Access party has set the rules to - Conservative Mode]

[This physical link will not unlock data exchange permissions]

[This physical link will not unlock administrative permissions]

Following that, Russell saw the Inferior's business card for the first time—

Shabby, Senior Authorized User

[Tianen Group] Deputy Director of Execution Department, Member of the Special Execution Department

Formerly [Tianen Group] Head of Security, Deputy Head of HR at [Tianen Group]

"...Shabby?"

Russell's expression became subtle, as he couldn't help but read out the name.

Because of knowledge he shouldn't possess... whenever this name was pronounced, it always produced a rather strange, homophonic meaning.

——Hmm?

Russell suddenly paused.

He abruptly noticed that the Inferior's permission level was actually senior.

But almost everyone he had befriended—except for Amirus and his Elf mentor—didn't have this permission... and instead of this, it was marked as "Active" after their names.

If one were to die, the tag would change to "Deactivated."

Or is it because the Inferior joined the Special Execution Department?

Well, that's an easy question to answer. I just need to add Cui Que as a friend and I should be able to confirm it…

"—Hurry up!"

The Inferior impatiently reprimanded, "What are you probing at?!"

"Right away, right away..."

Russell promptly replied.

When he clicked the [Follow] button, it directly changed to a [Mutual Follow] status.

Straight after, Russell was booted out of the car.

He adjusted his clothes.

Standing in the dim alley, Russell seriously contemplated what kind of emotion he should adjust to, and with what attitude he should go to meet Glass.

Afterward, he rubbed his face vigorously, molding his expression like clay into the required shape before finally leaving the narrow alley.

——————

Update of six thousand words, asking for monthly tickets and recommendations~