Chapter 4: High-Risk Experimental Subject  

“That was really dangerous just now,” said 626.  

“Yeah.”  

Jing Rong took a deep breath, the glow from the cigarette in his hand flaring suddenly. There was still half left, but he decided not to finish it, tucking the remaining half back into the cigarette case.  

626 said, “I meant that High-Risk Experimental Subject.”  

Jing Rong walked through the night, scanning for a place to stay. “You mean I was dangerous to him? I wouldn’t lay a hand on him.”  

Not interfering with the established worldline was the rule for Executors like them.  

To them, life and death were trivial matters; but for those who lived in this world, life and death were everything. Jing Rong respected this rule and had never broken it.  

626 said, “I thought you were interested in him.”  

Jing Rong didn’t deny it. “His hair color is indeed quite striking. If I get the chance, I’d like to see what he looks like in person.”  

626 immediately pointed out how grim that sounded. “You’re an Adjudicator, and he’s a fugitive. Are you planning to see that experimental subject in person at the Death Row Specimen Exhibition?”  

Jing Rong: “.”  

Jing Rong said, “No need.”  

When it came to beautiful things, he preferred them alive.  

The night wind blew from the north, sweeping through the streets and slightly dispersing the smoke left behind by the train.  

Jing Rong found a nearby inn.  

The place was old, mostly catering to soldiers and officers passing through. With proof of residence from the capital, the price could be halved.  

No one recognized him as an Adjudicator—after all, no one would expect an Adjudicator to stay in such a shabby little inn.  

Jing Rong checked in, washed up, and lay down for the night.  

It was a quiet evening.  

Every half hour, the War Train roared past with a deafening rumble, its passage timed with eerie precision.  

The heavy snowfall muffled all sound, making everything feel dense and thick.  

In the pitch-black night, someone hidden in the snow wore shackles, silent and motionless, as the snow around them steadily darkened with crimson.  

For the High-Risk Experimental Subject on the run, this was just another quiet, death-filled snowy night.  

*  

“Now that all Adjudicators have arrived, we will begin decrypting the classified files regarding this High-Risk Experimental Subject.”  

“Many of these details have never been disclosed before. The challenge we face is severe, so I urge everyone to read carefully.”  

One by one, confidential documents were distributed to every member in attendance.  

The meeting room fell into silence, broken only by the soft rustling of turning pages.  

Jing Rong leaned against the corner by the window, skimming through the new report.  

Compared to the one the liaison team had given him earlier, this version revealed far more about the SSS-class High-Risk Experimental Subject.  

“The subject has no name. Captured by our forces at age six and sent to the laboratory.”  

“Today, we disclose his codename: Jue.”  

“And we must openly acknowledge one fact: Jue is an experimental subject with extraordinarily strong Mental Power. Even for someone of Crown Prince Lyans’ caliber, he poses extreme danger.”  

“Those Adjudicators who have been on the battlefield should understand what this means.”  

The meeting room was dead silent, tension and pressure thickening in the air.  

A few trainee Adjudicators near Jing Rong whispered among themselves, their hushed voices laced with unease and curiosity about the unknown.  

“If we’re judging by Mental Power levels, what would Jue’s classification be?” A young Adjudicator raised his hand and asked.

At the podium, Joson and Crown Prince Lyans exchanged a glance.

As the designated spokesperson, Joson spoke with steady composure: “Double S.”

As his words fell, more hushed discussions spread through the conference room, though there wasn’t much opposition in the air.

Jing Rong leaned against the window, shifting his posture as he casually cracked it open a sliver to let in the cool air.

He had long stopped looking at that report.

Yet System 626 was still fervently gossiping: “They still don’t dare disclose the Mental Power level of that High-Risk Experimental Subject. They’re sending all the Adjudicators to their deaths.”

Jing Rong replied, “They know full well that if they did disclose it, no one would dare go at all.”

Having traversed countless worlds, this wasn’t his first encounter with a Mental Power ranking system.

True Mental Power suppression could crush someone to the point of breakdown with just one level of difference—having one’s consciousness explode under the pressure wasn’t even considered unusual.

And with Jue at SSS-level, no one knew how many Adjudicators he could annihilate in an instant.

The royal family’s decision to conceal this was within Jing Rong’s expectations.

“We are not without hope of victory.”

Amidst the murmurs, Crown Prince Lyans spoke.

“We still have decisive Mental Weapons yet to be deployed. In this meeting, we will assign all Adjudicators to their posts, with the Suicide Squad taking on the mission to confront Jue directly.”

Lyans’ expression was resolute. “And I will lead the Suicide Squad as its captain. With His Majesty ill, he has entrusted this matter to me. Double S against Double S—I swear upon the honor of the royal family that I will fight alongside you all.”

The Crown Prince personally leading the Suicide Squad undoubtedly bolstered the morale of everyone present.

All the Adjudicators rose to their feet in salute, pledging their allegiance.

Watching the uniform ranks of Adjudicators before him, expressing their loyalty and obedience, a hint of triumph flickered in Lyans’ eyes.

For a fleeting moment, he truly felt like a mighty monarch, basking in the worship and cheers of his subjects. By now, not a single minister or citizen doubted that once this battle was over, he would become the Olco Empire’s next eternal ruler.

He would undoubtedly reign for millennia!

Lyans’ gaze swept over the sea of black-clad Adjudicators until it was abruptly stung by a flash of silver-gray.

Jing Rong sat in an inconspicuous corner by the window, his Adjudicator combat jacket casually draped aside.

He hadn’t stood up like the others to bow in reverence.

Though deep down, Lyans knew full well that Jing Rong was indeed the only one in the room who didn’t need to rise.

Joson noticed his gaze and followed it to that figure, then whispered to Lyans, “Your Highness.”

Only then did Lyans realize his lapse in composure. Collecting himself, he continued with the deployment of combat missions.

It was a lengthy meeting, finalizing a meticulous and brutal extermination plan.

All Adjudicators were to assume their posts immediately.

By this point, Jing Rong had already played a hundred rounds of Gomoku with System 626 in his mental space.

It wasn’t until all the Adjudicators had left the conference room that Jing Rong paused his game, picked up his jacket, and stood.

He hadn’t planned to stay long anyway—showing up was merely a formality.

“Your Highness Jing Rong, please don’t leave.”

Joson, pale-faced, called out to stop him.

Beside him, Lyans remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on Jing Rong.

626 let out a derisive laugh. “Ha! Still thinking of running away? Those two look like they want to skin you alive with their eyes.”

Jing Rong turned to face them. “Is there something you need?”

“Your Highness,” Joson lowered his gaze, adopting a more formal tone now. “You’re aware that the secret orders you received came directly from His Majesty.”

Jing Rong nodded. “I know.”

This was why the documents he’d received differed from those given to other Adjudicators.

While the others had been summoned by the prince’s secret decree, he alone answered directly to the king.

The truth of the matter, as Jing Rong had guessed with near-perfect accuracy, was that the king’s secret orders had been issued simultaneously to both him and Crown Prince Lyans.

“His Majesty’s intention was for you and the Crown Prince to jointly oversee the pursuit of the high-level experimental subject, but—”

Joson carefully chose his words.

Jing Rong could tell he was struggling to fabricate an official explanation that would exclude him from the operation, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“But given your prolonged absence on external missions, you might not be fully acquainted with the capital’s personnel and defensive arrangements. Therefore, Crown Prince Lyans will assume full command of this operation. Should you wish to—”

After listening for a while, Jing Rong interrupted. “Assign me a position that requires minimal oversight. I need rest.”

Joson’s face instantly turned ashen.

Jing Rong’s utter composure and indifference only served to highlight the ugliness of their current actions.

Lyans closed his eyes briefly, eager to conclude this conversation. “Then, brother, how about you take charge of the castle’s security?”

“Jue has already escaped the laboratory. You’ll only need to guard against potential uprisings from the other experimental subjects in the castle. My personal guard will remain stationed there as well.”

After a moment’s consideration, Jing Rong offered no major objections. “Acceptable. I appreciate the arrangement.”

626 flitted about restlessly beside him when Jing Rong suddenly remembered something and retracted the step he’d just taken.

His gaze swept back and forth between the two men as he tried to discern something.

Finally identifying who he presumed to be the secretary, he inquired politely, “I’d like cigarettes in my room. Would that be possible?”

His dark eyes reflected their figures.

Joson’s heart pounded violently, unable to meet his gaze. “Of course, Your Highness.”

*

Outside, a blizzard raged, though the snow melted almost instantly, leaving filthy streaks of water on the ground.

A cruel winter wind scraped across every inch of the city.

The air carried the scent of blood and the oppressive stillness of impending death.

The castle housing the experimental subjects wasn’t far from the royal castle—a massive prison fortress constructed from heavy stone blocks.

Jing Rong still favored windows. He selected a room with a view and perched on the windowsill to observe the scenery.

Within a single day, tight security measures had been implemented both inside and outside the city. The encirclement to capture Jue would gradually tighten; even if Jue were a bird, escape would be impossible.

All personnel were prohibited from entering or exiting at will. The only way to learn about events unfolding beyond the walls was through internal radio broadcasts.

System 626 always took greater interest in such matters. It commandeered Jing Rong’s radio without permission, intently absorbing the latest updates from the transmissions.

“Crown Prince Lyans and his Suicide Squad have taken their positions!”

“In light of the extreme danger posed by target ‘Jue,’ this special operation will employ high-precision annihilation weaponry. The instant Jue’s image is detected by our surveillance systems, both the target and its Mental Domain will be instantly eradicated…”

626 listened for a while, then suddenly asked Jing Rong, “How long do you think he can survive?”

Jing Rong was momentarily taken aback. “Who are you referring to? The High-Risk Experimental Subject?”

626 replied, “Yes.”

Jing Rong recalled the bloodstains he had seen beneath the curtains yesterday and fell silent for a moment. “Not very optimistic. The Locator Shackles on him are forged from Mental Power—they can’t be removed.”

“Moreover, he must already be severely injured.”

626 said, “They’ve practically gone all out, deploying every extreme weapon at their disposal.”

Jing Rong detected a hint of bias in 626’s tone. “Like you, I also hope he survives.”

“Is it because he has the most striking red hair in the entire universe?”

626 sent a disdainful emoji, then sighed. “It’s extremely difficult. He’s not the World’s Chosen One—luck won’t be on his side.”

Jing Rong paused.

Watching the light snow drift slowly outside the window, he asked, “Who is the World’s Chosen One in this world? Liones?”

“Not what you’d expect. The World’s Chosen One here is Joson,” System 626 explained. “He’s favored by the world’s threads. He can easily make others fall in love with him, trust him. He comes from noble lineage, and everything he desires is within reach.”

“Everyone will protect him unconditionally, everyone will pave the way for him… because he has a kind heart and a gentle, pleasing appearance… His dream is to become the most renowned and irreplaceable consort in Orc history.”

“As for the SSS High-Risk Experimental Subject, Jue… he’s merely a key figure in Sin Island’s rebellious history. Even we have never seen him. He will die tonight, without even leaving his true name behind.”