The Author's POV

Chapter 260

"So, is this what you wanted to show me?" Xavier's eyes squinted slightly.

His sharp eyes glossed over three individuals as he looked at them from top to bottom. Halting his steps, he raised his brow and pointed towards one specific individual. One whose face was riddled with scars.

"…he is?"

"That's 876"

Joseph replied.

"…876?"

Frowning slightly, Xavier licked his teeth underneath his lips.

"Just where have I heard of h—Ah!"

Smacking the palm of his hand with his fist, Xavier finally remembered.

"He's the one that came into our headquarters on fire?" Looking at Joseph, he asked. "That's him? What happened to his face? I thought that the extent of his injuries only amounted to burns, where did the scars come from?"

"That…I'm not too sure myself. I've never asked." Joseph replied with a bit of embarrassment.

He was too busy developing his serum and testing it on the other subjects that he didn't even bother questioning 876 about his past. In all honesty, he didn't particularly care about his past. He only cared about his research.

"I see…so how is he?"

Puffing up his chest, Joseph pridefully said.

"Well, as a matter of fact, he is my most successful subject."

There were also two other successful subjects 091 and 654, but compared to 876, they were still lacking. Even then, Joseph introduced them to Xavier.

"These here are 091, and 654. Although they may be a little lacking compared to 876, they are still very capable."

Alternating his eyes between 091 and 654, Xavier's eyes finally landed on 876. His eyes flashed with interest.

"Oh? So you're saying that out of the thousands of subjects you had, he's the most successful subject?"

"Indeed."

"Okay." Xavier nodded his head.

—Shap!

Dropping his jacket on the ground and unbuttoning the buttons of his sleeves, he calmly walked towards the middle of the training ground. Stretching his neck, he looked at Joseph and said.

"Alright, show me."

"Huh?"

"…what, did you not hear me? I said show me."

"S-show you what?"

Joseph was starting to get flustered. Turning his head and looking in the direction of where Xavier was looking at, he became even more flustered.

"W-wait, are you trying to fight him?"

876 was his treasure. His most successfully subject. There was no way in hell, he would ever let him go near Xavier.

Ignoring Joseph, Xavier continued. "Don't worry, I'll suppress my strength to his level…D rank was it? I'll fight him at that level"

"Bu—"

"It's not a request. It's an order."

Cutting Joseph off, a cold glint flashed Xavier's eyes. A chill ran down Joseph's spine.

"Joseph, I'm here on behalf of the higher-ups. All you did was show me three individuals. That is not nearly enough to convince me that you're worth investing in. I'm not here to play games? I'm here to see what you've actually done. If I'm not satisfied by the end of this, you can say goodbye to your project. Think carefully."

"Ah…"

A defeated sound escaped from Joseph's lips.

Despite his status, he was but a mere researcher. He couldn't really go against the higher-up's order. Especially since he couldn't fight back either. His only option was to give in.

Weakly staring at Xavier, he nodded his head.

"Understood. But please don't kill him."

Pleased, Xavier laughed out loud and reassured. "Hahahah…who do you think I am? There's no need to worry, I'll hold back a lot."

"That would be great."

A forced smile appeared on Joseph's lips.

'It's precisely because I know who you are that I'm saying this.' he cursed inside of his mind.

Xavier was notorious for his sadistic mindset. If his switch was flipped, only God himself would be able to stop him from going on a sadistic rampage.

Thus.

"No weapons."

Joseph said after mustering all of his courage.

As long as Xavier did not use a weapon, 876 may have a chance at surviving.

"…what?"

Stopping himself mid-stretch, Xavier looked at Joseph.

"What did you just say?"

Clenching his fists, Joseph repeated.

"I said no weapons allowed in this spar."

"..."

of silence, staring at Joseph, an amused smile appeared

so you're afraid

by Joseph's statement. In fact, he found it quite amusing. Raising

you one better. if he can land a single hit on me, I'll grant you your funds. How about

Xavier had agreed to his request,

"You're being serious?"

"I am."

at 876 and ordered. "Go and fight

"Understood."

robotic. Under everyone's eyes, he moved towards the center of

apart from Xavier,

oozed out of Xavier who stood opposite to him. Yet, despite being under such pressure, 876 remained completely

"HoHo, this looks interesting."

at the youth opposite to

head, he looked at

may initiate

"Understood."

head, Joseph nervously looked

'Please don't die.'

the drain. Although 091 and 654 were both capable, they needed a lot more time to develop unlike 876 who was by far

Alas.

could only raise his hand in the

"Ready, get set…go!"

—Bam!

Joseph's hand fell, 876 moved. Xavier remained rooted on the same spot. With a slight smile on his face, his

me see what

his words fell, 876 arrived before him. Planting his right foot on

"Oh? Not bad."

past him. The force of the kick was so strong that Joseph, who was standing quite far from

kick, Xavier was still

—Swoosh! —Swoosh!

to attack. Elbows, knees, palms, fingers, every single part of the body, 876 used. For the past few months, he had been trained every day to fight hand-to-hand combat. He had not

that because of that,

Unfortunately.

—Swoosh!

"Huaam…boring."

He was dealing with someone that was much stronger than him. Even if his rank was

Joseph who was standing not far from where

you've been working for

the fact that 876 was unfazed by his pressure, that was it. Any regular guard could've performed as well as 876. There was nothing really special about

get this

Xavier grew tired. The faster this ended,

it was simple, in actuality it was anything but simple. If one looked closely, a thin layer of mana was covering the fist. If the fist landed, without a doubt

—Swoosh!

moment Xavier punched, a cold glint flashed 876's eyes. Turning his body ever-so-slightly, he tensed his

"Hu—!"

—Pa!

Kracka—!

make out what had happened, 876's fist connected with his face. The sound of 876's fist connecting with Xavier's face resounded across the room, alongside it was the sound of

his cheek slightly, Xavier's face

876, Xavier's eyes

"No wonder…"

where he could fight. His left hand at the moment was completely shattered. Even then, the goal of the fight was

injured himself for the sake of hitting me...this indeed

such a thing wasn't possible, but

still.

—Bam!

fist dug into his stomach. A small shockwave swept the

"ohu.."

his face didn't change, because of how strong the punch was,

—thud!

are you

side, Joseph

"Shut up"

a tremendous

deeply looked at 876. "And that reason is

Kracka—!

sound of bones

"..."

Xavier's surprise, as he broke 876's shoulder bones, he made no sound. He acted

"The more I see it for myself,

Kracka—!

other one. Yet again, 876 showed

been brainwashed

"Y-yes."

"I see."

heard, Joseph's research consisted in erasing someone's

any emotions, answering questions would no longer be a problem since they shouldn't really care about anything else.

his attention back

"What's your name?"

moment of silence,

let me rephrase. What was your

"..."

respond. Xavier's brows knit as a

your tongue? I'll ask again, who were you before coming

"..."

respond. Turning

sure this

longer under Xavier's pressure,

"Yes. It should work"

why isn't

chin, Joseph thought for a moment before responding "There's

part

he was in when you brought him to me? There's a high chance that he may

small sound. "Right.

saw him, Xavier had a look of understanding. Turning his attention back

remember anything about who you were before? Your parent's name? Your job? Your age...or where you got this ring

much hope. He was only asking as a formality. He didn't really particularly care about 876's previous identity, but what he wanted

many rings in circulation, and each ring was extremely precious as it would directly teleport someone into the headquarters of the Monolith.

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