Chapter 61: Human Experimentation
Before ever coming back to Suran City, Terrence was already thoroughly briefed about the Lovely Potion Merchant Group’s history.
However, Terrence had gathered separate information about the merchant group on his own, starting three years ago when he first tried to fix what his family, the Lee Family, had done to the innocent people in the Barren Slum.
Although the full details of what happened three years ago weren’t entirely clear back then, the anti-Lee scheme had shared that it was caused by a human test subject that had escaped from the testing facility, alongside a hidden treasure that could be used to control that exact test subject.
Terrence already knew that the explosion wasn’t actually a regular explosion—it was an uncontrolled rampage caused by that test subject, whose true identity he still didn’t know.
Despite the mystery, Terrence had long decided he would uncover every single detail himself.
So, what Terrence currently knew involved the escaped test subject, the existence of the supposed treasure, and a third piece of vital information that would completely flip his visit to deliver news to Stan Visor.
Following the exact plan their anti-Lee scheme had built, Terrence could already see that he held the definitive upper hand against Stan Visor.
"Alright..." Terrence began, leaning back. "First off, I won’t blackmail you anymore about that matter regarding the test subject. You are claiming, by the way you speak, that you already know its location. However, what you truly don’t want is for the Lee Family to ever find out about the treasure’s existence."
"I have no idea where you managed to get that information..." Stan’s calm eyes fell directly onto Terrence’s as he rapidly assessed the situation in his mind. "But I guess you think you can use that against me. Just don’t forget that I have crucial information you don’t know—something that will surely intrigue you."
Terrence scoffed softly. "If I really want to know that, I can just blackmail you again later."
Stan smirked back coldly. "As if you could... Yes, you can try to use that information against me, but don’t think for a second that I can’t fix it on my own. I am merely annoyed that I might have to tackle another minor problem. But that alone won’t bring us down."
’I know that, fucker,’ Terrence thought to himself.
Terrence knew very well that this information alone wouldn’t be the ultimate key to Lovely Potion’s downfall. It could certainly stir up serious trouble on their end, but they weren’t entirely dependent on the Lee Family anyway. They possessed a unique value that the Lee Family couldn’t easily replace elsewhere.
Yet, Terrence was still slightly intrigued by what Stan allegedly knew about his parents’ death.
Stan could very well be bluffing, but that unshakeable confidence was difficult to read. Terrence knew he still lacked the deep experience needed to fully uncover a master corporate bluff.
Deciding to figure that part out later, Terrence casually replied, "I can share a story with you instead. Do you want to hear it?"
Stan didn’t reply immediately, continuing to cover himself in a quiet, heavy aura. After a long pause, he gave a subtle nod.
"Three years ago, there was a secret testing facility that exploded at the outer sector—also known as the barren slum. It was a massive explosion that killed numerous residents living there."
"And what about it?" Stan interjected smoothly.
"Let me finish," Terrence hissed, treating the powerful elder man like he was in the exact same age bracket as him. "That is just the very beginning of the story."
"Anyways," Terrence continued, adjusting his posture, "the testing facility housed illegal experiments regarding the world’s Beast Taming Talent. They were attempting to give everyone the blood, soul, and even the exact mana signature required to tame high-tier beasts. But when the explosion happened, the real cause wasn’t combustible materials or volatile chemicals at all. It was entirely caused by a test subject running amok and causing total chaos."
Terrence paused slightly before continuing. "The test subject slaughtered the residents of the barren slum. It wasn’t in its right mind, but its raw power was terrifying. It mutated directly alongside the beast it had contracted—becoming an unending, permanent Skill Share."
He looked Stan dead in the eye. "The whole experiment was about creating a permanent, unending connection to the Skill Share. However, when the experiment failed and they proved unable to control the test subject, it escaped, carrying away an important dark stain that a certain family didn’t want exposed to the public."
Stan’s brows furrowed deeply as he continued to listen to Terrence’s story, which was being delivered in a light, almost playful tone—as if he were merely telling a bedtime story to a small child.
"The Lee Family already knows about that," Stan stated flatly. "We already know where the subject is, and its current status is completely stable."
Terrence smirked inwardly. ’But you still can’t control it. That test subject regained its human consciousness and is now living like a normal person, but the harsh permanent effects of the experiment still remain inside him. He can still use the full power of his contracted beast at maximum capacity, as if he becomes the beast itself whenever Skill Share is active.’
"That’s..." Terrence voiced aloud, waving his hand dismissively. "Not what I am getting at... This is a completely different story, so please wait for the climax."
Stan quietly hissed under his breath.
"Experimentation is not inherently illegal by nature, but human experimentation is." Terrence noted calmly. "But some people in the central government allows it under strict guidelines to uncover the ultimate truth behind Beast Taming Talent. However, with that specific test subject, it opened up the real possibility of achieving a true one hundred percent Skill Share. If someone could just control it, endless legacies could be created among elite families, making them infinitely more powerful by strengthening their bloodlines to pull off high-percentage Skill Shares that normal people could never dream of."
Terrence stood up slowly from the couch. "The people behind the experiment could only observe the test subject from a safe distance while it started living a normal life. But what if a hidden treasure suddenly appeared inside the rifts—a treasure capable of subduing that test subject, controlling its mind, and replicating its exact mana signature to pass onto other people?"
Terrence took a deep breath as his gaze fell toward the massive glass window showing the entire, sprawling stretch of the main sector of Suran City.
"Someone has already found that precise treasure. They already possess the exact method to control the subject... And furthermore, the owner of that original testing facility already holds the chemical vial needed to reconstruct a person’s very DNA, granting them the exact same mana signature as the test subject..."
Stan clenched his fist so tightly his knuckles turned completely pale as he listened to every single word coming out of Terrence’s mouth. But he could only force himself to contain his surging rage—he couldn’t afford to lose his composure or expose his panic right now.
If he lost control... the only option left would be to kill the kid right here and shut him up forever.
"And that person is no other than... you, Mister Stan Visor," Terrence said, turning around slowly to lock eyes with the CEO. "You are secretly conspiring against the Lee Family too, aren’t you?"