The Last Gentleman

‘Jin, on the surface, seemed to revel in the pleasure of slaughter.

However, in reality, she could precisely and perfectly dissect brain tissue, even while confined within a patient's body.

Perhaps her personality isn’t as terrible as it seems. Or perhaps, as this was her first step into the Gray Zone, her survival instincts were suppressing her outward impulses.

If she could be guided further, and her deeper thoughts explored, it might be possible to identify a point of harmony in her thinking and establish a more efficient cooperative relationship.’

While Yi Chen pondered briefly, Jin had already positioned herself right in front of him, leaning forward, her whole body nearly pressing against him.

“Hurry up and show me how your profession abilities are used!”

Yet, Yi Chen remained still. The two clumps of material cradled in his palms shriveled on their own, ultimately transforming into two hard, dried walnuts.

Jin's expression turned disappointed. "So that's all? How boring..."

As Jin uttered these words, Yi Chen had already entered the state of brain immersion brought on by Central Taste.

This was Yi Chen’s first attempt to absorb two essences simultaneously. While supplementing his brain tissue, he also integrated two fragmented memories. It felt like adding milk to coffee—absolutely delightful.

In an instant, the lustful stimulation brought by the spore dust was cleared away, leaving his mind lucid and unimpeded.

Fragments of broken memories began to emerge successfully.

Unfortunately, the memories regarding the church were extremely blurry, and those involving the interior of the chapel had been entirely stripped away. The only memories he could effectively retrieve occurred after the onset of pathological changes.

One particular recollection about fusion deeply unsettled Yi Chen, even as an observer.

A married couple returned from the church and attempted to procreate that evening. During the act, they found themselves unable to separate until their skin fully fused and their flesh merged into one.

Yet, this biological impossibility caused them no discomfort.

Throughout the process, an odor emitted from their bodies, attracting the household’s cats, dogs, mice hiding in wall crevices, and even the goats in the backyard. All these animals contracted what came to be known as Fusion Disease.

The increasingly intense scent eventually drew in wildlife from the forest, resulting in the grotesque amalgamated flesh form that Yi Chen and Jin had encountered—a stationary, reproduction-focused Patient.

These entities could produce three offspring per day on average.

The offspring they bore were subjected to one of three treatment outcomes based on their condition:

1. [Unqualified]: Offspring lacking basic humanoid form and incapable of rapid maturation (85%) were collected by the village Scavengers—massive villagers carrying burlap sacks.

Based on Yi Chen's earlier discovery of malformed offspring beneath twisted trees, these unqualified offspring were likely buried beneath different trees, forming a symbiotic relationship with them and turning the trees into living surveillance nodes within the forest.

2. [Qualified]: Offspring with basic humanoid forms, mixed with other animal characteristics (14%), continued to draw nutrients from the parent body. If they matured into adults within an hour, they became Villagers.

This was the origin of accelerated-growth patients.

If they displayed certain traits, they could secure roles in the village, such as the butcher Jin had killed, who worked in the village slaughterhouse, or the aforementioned Scavengers. Most, however, remained ordinary villagers tasked with basic duties like patrolling and inspections around the village perimeter.

3. [Holy Fetus]: A rare subset of offspring with intact humanoid forms, carrying only standard goat traits (<1%), were regarded as Holy Fetus by the church. When such beings emerged, church officials would personally escort them to the chapel.

This was the full extent of the information Yi Chen could gather, though he remained perplexed.

Neither the books he had read nor the pathology courses taught by Professor Zed had ever mentioned such conditions.

Perhaps the pathology center at the Hippocratic Hospital had documented such cases, but Yi Chen’s current credentials were insufficient to grant him access.

The essence of these patients presented a fundamental conundrum.

Ordinarily...

The afflicted patient individuals exhibit a severe form of selfishness, willing to use any means necessary to improve themselves.

Yet, in this case, the patient voluntarily confine themselves to a room, continuing the reproductive process as they did during the early stages of infection. They even go so far as to deplete their own "essence" to produce high-quality offspring.

Ultimately, what awaits them is death—a clear contradiction of the biological instinct for survival.

"Even ordinary parents rarely sacrifice their lives for their offspring... let alone when there's no guarantee that these offspring will remain by their side.

There’s only one explanation: this form of reproduction must involve a 'transaction' of benefits. If they can produce a 'Holy Fetus,' the church will likely grant them a 'blessing.' This blessing might free them from their current state of affliction, allowing them to achieve a more complete and liberated pathological condition, perhaps even being accepted as members of the church."

As Yi Chen speculated internally, the animals fused with the street outside began emitting strange, low-pitched sounds. It was as though they were terrified of something—or perhaps issuing a warning.

At the same time, Jin caught a distinct, unusually intense scent of flesh. Grabbing the pig's head, she rushed out immediately.

Yi Chen quickly followed, ensuring the plant connection tethering their wrists wasn’t severed.

In the depths of the dazzling, illusory street, a massive figure was slowly approaching.

On his right shoulder, he carried an enormous sack.

In his left hand, he led a large pet of an indeterminate species.

When he came into view, they saw a dark-skinned man wrapped in a jet-black trench coat.

His physique was even larger than Yi Chen’s former teammate, Dagobert. Beneath his clothing, his bulging, irregularly distributed muscles writhed with strength, heavy, powerful, and solid.

In his left hand, he held a leash attached to a 'pit bull' nearly two meters long.

More precisely, it was a grotesque hunting dog covered in human heads.

The dog roamed the street, devouring fused animals at random. With a single bite, it tore off an entire goat’s head, horns and all, chewing and swallowing it whole.

When the dog noticed the two young men blocking its path, its muscles tensed, and it lunged forward!

Clang!

The thick iron chain around its neck pulled taut as its reckless movement was forcibly restrained by the dark-skinned man.

As the dog barked madly, the human heads on its body began to scream hysterically.

However, compared to the dog, Yi Chen's attention was more focused on the dark-skinned man—especially the black sack slung over his shoulder, which gave off an unsettling feeling.

This image reminded Yi Chen of something he had seen earlier during his memory readings: a type of peculiar villager known as a "scavenger."

“A scavenger? No… the scavengers in the memory fragments weren’t this large, nor did they have pets. What exactly is this?”

As Yi Chen pondered, the dark-skinned man stopped about ten meters away.

“Greetings, travelers,” he said. “I am Kaordi, the village chief of Shepherd Village. Welcome to our community.”

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