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."

"..."

staring at Joseph, an amused smile appeared on Xavier's

see, so you're afraid I won't keep

statement. In fact, he found it quite amusing. Raising his hand,

better. if he can land a

fact that Xavier had agreed to

"You're being serious?"

"I am."

Joseph looked at 876 and

"Understood."

responded in a monotonous tone. Almost robotic. Under everyone's

from Xavier,

who stood opposite to him.

"HoHo, this looks interesting."

loud. Staring at the youth opposite to him was remaining

he looked

may initiate the

"Understood."

head, Joseph nervously looked at

'Please don't die.'

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

Alas.

Joseph could only raise his

"Ready, get set…go!"

—Bam!

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

me see what you

his words fell, 876 arrived before him. Planting his right foot on the ground, he twisted his torso slightly and kicked upwards.

"Oh? Not bad."

him. The force of the kick was so strong that Joseph, who

Xavier

—Swoosh! —Swoosh!

the fact that his first attack had failed, 876 continued 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 been given a

be said that because of that,

Unfortunately.

—Swoosh!

"Huaam…boring."

was much stronger than him.

Joseph who was

really what you've been working for the past few months? Honestly,

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

let's get this

Xavier grew tired. The faster this ended, the

If one looked closely, a thin layer of mana was covering the fist. If the fist landed, without a doubt 876 would

—Swoosh!

eyes. Turning his body ever-so-slightly, he tensed his abdominal muscles similarly punched out. A whistling sound arose and

"Hu—!"

—Pa!

Kracka—!

happened, 876's fist connected with his face. The sound of 876's fist connecting with Xavier's face

bad" Massaging his cheek slightly, Xavier's face

eyes

"No wonder…"

876 was no longer in a state where he could fight. His left hand at the moment was completely shattered. Even then, the goal

injured himself for the sake of

a

still.

—Bam!

dug into his stomach. A

"ohu.."

a small groan escaped from 876's mouth. Though his face didn't change, because of how strong the punch was, the

—thud!

are

the side, Joseph flusteredly

"Shut up"

tremendous

"And that reason is him.

Kracka—!

shoulder, the sound of bones breaking echoed

"..."

shoulder bones, he made no

I see it for

Kracka—!

his other shoulder, he broke the other one. Yet again, 876 showed no reaction.

been brainwashed

"Y-yes."

"I see."

Joseph's research

answering questions would no longer be a problem since they shouldn't really care about anything

attention back to 876, Xavier

"What's your name?"

short moment of silence,

his head lightly. "Sorry, let me rephrase. What was your previous

"..."

time, 876 did not respond. Xavier's

ask again, who were you

"..."

again, 876 did not respond.

you sure

pressure, Joseph nodded

"Yes. It should work"

isn't

Placing his hand on his chin, Joseph thought for a moment before responding "There's a possibility that he might've lost

a part

explained. "Don't you remember the state that he was in when you brought him to me? There's a high chance that he may

a small sound. "Right. That does sound

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

were before? Your parent's name? Your job?

first exchange, Xavier did not have much hope. He was only asking as a formality. He didn't really particularly care about 876's previous identity, but what he wanted to know was

weren't many rings in circulation, and each ring was extremely precious as it would directly teleport someone into the headquarters of

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