Weird Rules Rumor: At The Beginning, He Insisted That He Was Not Dead
Chapter 115: Genetic Tower (14)

Lin Ya raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

She had noticed something amiss with Xiao Yao earlier, and seeing her current state, instantly understood the situation.

Lin Ya placed her hand on the mouse, opened a separate monitor displaying Bai Lian’s image, paused the feed, and zoomed in until he filled Xiao Yao’s field of vision.

Then she attempted to speak:

“Actually, my relationship with Dr. Bai isn’t as close as you think. If it were as you described, he’d be working alongside me.”

Xiao Yao froze briefly, then sank into thought before nodding:

“You seem right. Threatening him through you isn’t a sensible plan—it lacks logic...”

Lin Ya felt a wave of unease—just as she’d anticipated.

Bai Lian’s abilities were such that even in his absence, anyone who saw him fell under his influence! His powers bordered on conceptual; merely seeing him was enough to be affected…

Hmph! If true, this is far too dangerous. Thankfully, I can’t see him, or I’d likely turn into a complete fool too.

Lin Ya took a deep breath, stood up, and snatched the Copper Coin Dagger from Xiao Yao’s hand. Xiao Yao didn’t react strangely—or rather, she hadn’t processed it fast enough.

Lin Ya smiled at her:

“Your attempt to attack me betrays your intentions toward Dr. Bai. I’ll be sure to inform him, and he will take action against you.”

“So, if you wish to avoid dying by his hand, there’s only one path left,” Lin Ya stated.

Xiao Yao tilted her head, puzzled:

“What path?”

“End yourself before he can kill you. That way, he can’t reach you!” Lin Ya replied slowly.

Xiao Yao’s eyes suddenly lit up:

“You’re right! If I die before he acts, he can’t kill me!”

“Thank you so much, Professor Lin! You’re a genius!”

Lin Ya’s lips twitched slightly. Bai Lian’s influence felt even more terrifying now that Xiao Yao’s IQ had plummeted this low…

After speaking, Xiao Yao raised her hand and slammed it forcefully against her own head.

Thud!

The horrific impact instantly reduced her brain to pulp. A player had just ended her own life.

Lin Ya remained expressionless as she looked at the body on the floor. Though her eyes were closed, a gleam of insight flickered within them—as if she’d found the perfect solution.

“There’s a printer here. A black-and-white photo should suffice, right?”

Muttering to herself, Lin Ya immediately screenshotted Bai Lian’s image and printed it. For safety, she didn’t print just one copy—she printed dozens. If one got damaged, she’d have spares!

Meanwhile, unaware that his monochrome photo had become a ward, Bai Lian walked down the dimly lit corridor. He found his Escape Pod, placed the jar inside, and entered himself.

The pod had a control interface; once the task was completed, he could select “Return to Ship.”

Bai Lian chose “Return.” The pod emitted a sound as its door began sealing shut.

At that moment, Bai Lian shattered the jar and lunged out of the Escape Pod!

As he emerged, the pod sealed completely. Bai Lian stood nearby, watching Specimen No. 16 writhe and regenerate inside the transparent capsule. A smile touched his lips.

“Hope you enjoy this gift...”

He lifted his gaze skyward, his eyes so deep they seemed to pierce the ceiling and see the Mothership hanging in the void.

With a flash of light, the Escape Pod vanished from the room.

Bai Lian turned and left. One task remained: eliminate the hidden Specimen No. 26.

He wouldn’t need to search for it, though. As Lin Ya had said, as long as he stayed in the Genetic Tower, Specimen No. 26 would come to him.

“If I recall correctly, it should be in the elevator. Best to wait there.”

Bai Lian remembered the note he’d seen upon entering the dungeon: after Specimen No. 26 escaped, anomalies began occurring in the elevator, and people vanished. Those missing were likely killed by Specimen No. 26.

He exited the room and headed straight for the nearby elevator, arriving quickly.

Standing before the elevator doors, Bai Lian pressed the call button and waited.

Yet at the corridor’s end, two pairs of eyes watched him.

One observer was familiar to Bai Lian—Ji Yunfeng, the young man he’d encountered at the dungeon’s start. Beside him stood another figure: a burly man with a rooster-comb hairstyle, a cruel expression, and a scar across his cheek—clearly not benevolent.

The two hid around a corner, only their eyes visible as they stared intently at Bai Lian waiting by the elevator.

“That’s him?” The Rooster-Combed Man glanced at Bai Lian, tilting his head toward Ji Yunfeng.

Ji Yunfeng nodded: “Confirmed. It’s him!”

“You met him at the start. Why didn’t you attack then?” the man pressed.

Ji Yunfeng’s face darkened slightly. “I thought he might have escape methods. Acting alone felt too risky.”

“This is a mission from above. If we’re careless and fail, what then?” The man gave him a penetrating look, then nodded. “You’re right.”

He, too, was a member of the Professionals’ Association. In large organizations like theirs, when targeting someone, they never sent just one person.

While Ji Yunfeng used an item to team-match with Bai Lian, many association members simultaneously searched for the dungeon. Though players in the Mysterious World were numerous, the odds of entering the same dungeon concurrently rose significantly.

The Rooster-Combed Man had been lucky—he’d successfully matched into Bai Lian’s dungeon!

Currently, he wasn’t just cooperating with Ji Yunfeng; he was also in contact with Captain Xia Dongjie.

【Pei Zhi Xin (Fist King): Captain, I’ve found him!】

【Xia Dongjie (Legend): Excellent. That idiot Ji Yunfeng lost his mind and wasted my items. Don’t disappoint me!】

【Pei Zhi Xin (Fist King): Captain, I always play it safe. This guy’s clearly not on our level—you can trust me!】

【Xia Dongjie (Legend): …That tone sounds familiar. Fine, no showing off. Complete the mission, and you’ll get promoted when you return. Pick any position you want!】

【Pei Zhi Xin (Fist King): I want to be captain.】

【Xia Dongjie (Legend): …】