Transcendent Gene
Chapter 177: First Institute [1]

Chapter 177: First Institute [1]

The next three days were mostly spent resting and saying the necessary goodbyes.

Luckily enough, the situation with Klyde was sorted out easily back then. Moon Rabbit was more than happy to accept a new researcher, especially if it meant she could see the sample of the monster Gio fought being analyzed.

Klyde was already informed about his identity as Lynx and was willing to keep the secret. He moved to Lunos’ bunker and started conducting his research out of a private space they had prepared for him.

Moving his equipment through the Storage Hole without raising questions was difficult, but they worked it out in the end.

Gio only had to visit Lunos to see everyone he’d gotten to know in Helix. That was where he went to say his farewells as well.

He wanted to return to help them occasionally and he wanted to remain in contact with Moon Rabbit to hear about their activities, but he couldn’t maintain anywhere near the same schedule he’d had for the past year.

He would likely only see them every few months at most, if even that.

Moon Rabbit wasn’t the type to ask too many questions. He didn’t tell her where he was going or his reason for leaving, but she only needed confirmation that he didn’t intend to abandon Lunos.

"We’ll be expanding soon. I don’t know if you could tell from the out-of-town contracts, but we’ll start spreading through the world in the next few years," she said.

"Maybe when the time comes, you can help out with that instead of doing your usual missions."

She was a pragmatist, so she accepted the situation and found new ways to continue their cooperation. Klyde was similar in that he only said a simple goodbye without much concern.

The Monster Race, however...

The Monster Race’s ranking system wasn’t entirely known by humanity. The operation involving the doppelgangers wasn’t handled by some council that ruled all monsters, but instead by monsters who’d been ordered to do so by superiors who’d only seen the highest levels of the food chain a few times.

A wave of concern certainly spread through their ranks some time ago. It was a story that spanned the same year Gio spent uneventfully.

The doppelganger playing Anastasia wasn’t a known creature with any kind of rank, but the doppelgangers as a whole held an important role.

The fact that one of them was exposed, regardless of its weakness, meant that there were at least some humans who’d become aware of their plans.

Gio wasn’t aware of their movements, but they did as he expected them to. The underground research society wasn’t a place they could easily penetrate with their spies, so they had no choice but to use a more public method.

They sent a force disguised as police to audit the lab. They searched the entire place for evidence, but found nothing more than the traces of "Anastasia’s" life.

Klyde’s name came up, as did his disappearance. However, his trail didn’t continue any further. His research topics weren’t public knowledge, and as a person, he wasn’t strong or accomplished in any way.

He couldn’t have been related to the true enemy. He was merely a pesky human who happened to form an obsession with the beauty of another.

The talks that happened in the shadows were about people other than him.

"The one called Moon Rabbit belongs to something they call Moon Shadow."

"Moon Shadow appeared after the fact. They are not related, but they may be aware of the killer’s identity."

Such thoughts spread amongst those concerned.

Similar thoughts spread amongst those same individuals in a broken timeline. It happened differently, but the end conclusion was the same.

The Monster Race became curious about Lunos based on their involvement in the actions of others.

And when the Monster Race found them in the past...

Lunos was stable for now. It was possible to move the influence onto the right path as it was now.

But at the same time, far earlier than it should’ve been so in the past, Lunos’ existence was exposed to their worst enemies.

How long would it be before danger came to find them?

***

It certainly didn’t happen in the three days before Gio left.

His goodbyes ended smoothly. He rested properly and backed all of his things. Time passed, and his day eventually came.

He stood outside the mansion with Kyrian and his siblings. His bags had already been loaded into the car, which looked much nicer than the vehicle Gio usually used to go to Helix.

"Alright, then," Kyrian said, brushing some dust off his shoulders.

"I’m sure you don’t want any more sappy goodbyes after we spent yesterday throwing you a farewell party, so I’ll keep it short."

He was going to miss his son, but he pushed down that feeling and showed a purposefully stern face.

"Gio, go forth proudly. I believe that no matter what you do, you will only bring back honor for our family."

That was the goodbye of a clan leader.

"Don’t forget to have fun while you’re learning. I know you like to work, but you’re still a child. It’s important for you to live life well before you’re old and worn like me."

And that was the goodbye of a father.

"Celestelle is far away, but you can always reach us with a single call. If you need anything, even if it’s just someone to talk to, I’ll always be here."

"Me too!"

Isadora chimed in, raising her hand cutely.

"Right, Isadora and Aiden too. Isn’t that right?"

Kyrian looked at his second son, who looked away awkwardly.

Gio gave a wry smile as he shook his head. Isadora was young enough to be happy all the time, but Aiden was in his puberty phase. Naturally, Gio wasn’t going to be offended by his actions.

"I’ll call often, Father. You might get tired of my voice."

"You’re my own son. If there’s anything impossible in this world, it’s that."

"Mhm..."

His smile became a bit more genuine.

"Make sure to pay attention to the mail. You’ll be learning that your son is at the top of his class soon enough."

"Well, the top of the class can’t very well be late, can he?"

Kyrian guided him to the car and opened the door for him.

"There are easier ways to get to Celestelle, but this will be much more fun. Enjoy the ride properly, because your first week at FIS..."

Kyrian did his best to hide the grin that formed on his face as he remembered how the institute ran itself.

"...anyway, enjoy the ride. I’ll see you again soon."

On an ominous note, Kyrian pushed Gio into the car and closed the door behind him. Gio had no choice but to look at the smiling faces and waving hands of his family members as the driver addressed him.

"Good Morning, Young Master. My name is Rod, and I will be your chauffeur for the duration of your journey. This trip to Celestelle will take roughly four days including any stops we have to make. Are you prepared to depart?"

"I am," he responded, waving back at his father and sister.

"You can start whenever."

"Understood, Young Master."

The car started to move.

And a few seconds later, the car started to fly.

Kyrian prepared a surprise for Gio in terms of what form of transportation he was using to reach the city of Celestelle.

Hypertraining in a luxury car was different from hypertraining in a military vehicle for one key reason.

A luxury car’s hypertrain technology was built for the thrill.

And the driver wasn’t the only one who’d have a chance to feel it.