NOVEL NEXT Chapter 142: Chapter 142: I Became a Human Experiment?
"Mr. Dandins, what do you think of him?" Greed asked, his tone carrying a mix of anticipation and apprehension.
"He's... not bad," Dandins replied casually, his expression unreadable. "So, are you ready to proceed with the plan?"
"Yes." Greed's voice firmed as he continued, "At first, I only admired Kaizen. In him, I saw the shadow of my younger self. But now... now is my chance."
"The number of Shadow Beasts has increased," he muttered, almost to himself. "I've dreamed of becoming one of them for so long. This opportunity—it's the only real shot I'll ever have in this life. I can't afford to let it slip by.
"I want to grow stronger. To rise above the rest. So, Mr. Dandins, I'll carry out your plan. If Kaizen must be sacrificed for me to ascend, then so be it. For this dream, his life is a price worth paying."
Dandins nodded, his gaze sharp. "Very well. I've been preparing for this for a long time. The materials were always the missing piece... but now, it seems you've brought me exactly what I need."
Greed hesitated. "But, you make it sound like Kaizen isn't as simple as he seems. What do you mean by that?"
Dandins leaned back, his voice tinged with amusement. "I've been watching closely, Greed. The deaths of Gluttony and Laziness—you claim they had nothing to do with Kaizen or Lina, and that it was the work of the Heavens Arena executives. But are you sure?"
Greed frowned. "You think Kaizen was involved? That's impossible! A ten-year-old Nen user at the E-level, killing Gluttony and Laziness? No way. Even if he has potential, he's still just a kid."
"Potential is often underestimated," Dandins said cryptically. "But regardless, none of this changes the plan. Whether Kaizen is extraordinary or ordinary, he won't pose a threat to us once we're done with him."
"How long until we're ready?" Greed asked, pushing his doubts aside.
"Half a month," Dandins replied. "That's how long I'll need to complete the preparations. Bring Kaizen to me then, and I'll guarantee an 80% chance of success. Once it's done, your strength will grow immensely."
A satisfied grin spread across Greed's face. "Thank you. I'll handle everything on my end."
As Greed left, Kaizen's eyes followed him, unreadable as ever.
"Kaizen," Greed called out, "let's head back."
"Understood."
Dandins watched them leave, his gaze lingering on the chair where Kaizen had been seated moments before. After a brief pause, he turned to the computer Kaizen had used and reviewed the surveillance footage.
"A game? Just that?" he mused, shaking his head. "Perhaps I'm overthinking things."
Back at the Manor
"Kaizen, return to your room. I'm heading to the training ground," Greed instructed, his tone dismissive.
"Understood." Kaizen's reply was as polite as ever.
Once inside his room, Kaizen immediately scanned the area with Gyo, ensuring no hidden traps or surveillance. Satisfied, he went to a corner, summoning his Killer Queen. From its body, he retrieved a concealed laptop and connected to the network. Data began transferring—files painstakingly gathered by Altan on the No. 2 experimental base.
The surveillance recordings of Dandins and Greed's earlier conversation appeared among the materials.
"So they plan to use me as an experiment... to strengthen Greed," Kaizen murmured, his calm voice betraying none of the storm beneath. "Half a month, huh?"
His gaze hardened. "I have two options: escape Orion within the next two weeks or eliminate Dandins and Greed before then."
But before either choice could be made, there was more work to do. He needed to visit Manor and one more Building. If he could push the progress of his Observer's Will to 50%, his odds of survival would dramatically increase.
"Greed was never trustworthy," Kaizen muttered. "I knew that from the start. He's no different from the others—Gluttony, who attacked the moment he saw an advantage, or Carlisle, who used his own daughter for his goals. Greed's ambition always outweighed any loyalty."
Turning his attention to the experimental data, Kaizen frowned as images filled the screen.
"Human experiments... Fusion, transplantation, grafting humans with monsters?" His hands tightened into fists as he scrolled through the reports and photos, the inhumanity laid bare. Despair, rage, and numb acceptance were etched into the faces of the victims.
"This is worse than anything I've seen before. Even Orochimaru's experiments in the Naruto world weren't this depraved." Kaizen's voice was quiet, but the weight of his anger was palpable.
To be used as nothing more than material... He stared at the photos again, noting the horror frozen in their expressions. Unlike synthetic beasts, which were created in an instant, these transformations stretched over agonizing days, weeks, or even months.
"What kind of experiment do they plan to conduct on me?" he whispered.
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