I am the Clone of a Death Row Inmate-Chapter 87: Identity

’If I run into someone on Zhang Kun’s level again, I probably won’t even need to use a skill. I could kill them with a single punch.’

Su Ze stretched his limbs, the thought crossing his mind.

At the same time, he had a new idea for his next extract. His original goal had been a high-grade Tier 3 extract—B-grade or above would have been fine. But now, he felt that only a Tier 3 S-grade would be worthy of him.

After absorbing the Mutated Upright Ape Extract, Su Ze was confident he had this Adjudication Battle in the bag.

The "Knowledge is Power" skill, combined with the twofold boost to his physique from the Mutated Upright Ape Extract, caused his strength to surge. This, in turn, indirectly enhanced skills like his Ant Power and Needle Strike.

Furthermore, his physical durability had also improved. Combined with the powerful recovery of his Regeneration Skill, his Defense Power was now formidable even without a dedicated defensive skill. He was no longer a high-attack, low-defense glass cannon.

His combat power had, in every sense of the word, received an epic-level boost.

Su Ze straightened his clothes, left the lounge, and headed to Zhang Tai’s office.

Zhang Tai and Zhang Kun were waiting for him in the office. When he emerged, they both looked at him questioningly.

Su Ze smiled and nodded.

Zhang Tai shot up from his seat in disbelief. "You absorbed that skill?" he asked.

"Yeah, I got lucky."

Hearing Su Ze’s casual remark, the corners of both Zhang Tai’s and Zhang Kun’s mouths twitched. ’He calls that getting lucky?’

Acquiring the single strongest skill out of nearly twenty couldn’t be explained away as just "getting lucky." That was clearly insane, once-in-a-lifetime luck!

’Could that superstitious old saying be true? Do geniuses really have a higher probability of acquiring powerful skills?’

The furrow in Zhang Kun’s brow suddenly smoothed out, and the resentment that had been simmering inside him instantly vanished.

’It’s one thing for the guy to be so strong, but his luck is just as incredible. What’s the point of competing with a monster like that? I’d just be making things hard on myself.’

Zhang Kun even found himself hoping Su Ze would hurry up and complete his second evolution to become a Cocoon Stage evolver. Then he could go teach Li Yongguan and the other so-called geniuses of the Cocoon Stage a lesson, letting them experience the terror of being dominated by someone even more talented than they are.

Just like that, Zhang Kun didn’t need any therapy; he had come to terms with it all by himself, and his sense of defeat was completely swept away.

Still finding it hard to believe, Zhang Tai held out a hand. "Don’t use any skills. Hit my palm with everything you’ve got."

Su Ze knew Zhang Tai’s strength, so he didn’t hold back. He centered his energy in his Dantian, planted his feet, and unleashed a punch that smashed squarely into Zhang Tai’s palm.

THUD!

A heavy, muffled thud echoed.

Yet Zhang Tai stood his ground without so much as flinching. He nodded in praise. "Not bad."

"Alright. Since you’ve successfully absorbed the extract, go back and get ready. You’re coming with me to Luofan tomorrow."

"You too, Kun. Don’t forget to find our third contestant."

Su Ze and Zhang Kun acknowledged the order and left the office together.

"Hsss..."

The moment the two were gone, Zhang Tai hissed, gritting his teeth and vigorously rubbing his palm.

’That really hurt!’

’And these shoes...’ Zhang Tai lifted his foot. The sole had been completely worn through, revealing his five toes.

To keep from being pushed back, he’d had to dig all ten of his toes into the floor just to stay balanced and avoid making a fool of himself.

’This kid’s strength is just ridiculous!’

’Is the initial skill from the Mutated Upright Ape really this powerful? Or was he just this strong to begin with?’

...

Su Ze returned to his quarters. He was supposed to be preparing for the next day’s Adjudication Battle in Luofan, but his method of preparation was simply to sleep.

He had been grinding for four straight days with only ten hours of sleep in total, and he was now severely sleep-deprived.

Now that his goal was achieved, he had nothing left to worry about, so he collapsed into bed and was out like a light.

He didn’t wake up until the next day, when Gu Chengguang himself knocked on the door.

"Mr. Gu," Su Ze said with a yawn.

"Get up and wash your face. Come have breakfast with me. Zhang Tai will be here to pick you up in a bit."

"Okay."

After washing up, Su Ze had breakfast with Gu Chengguang.

He had to admit, the food in the Dongli Kingdom really suited his palate. Today’s breakfast of soy milk, steamed buns, and fried dough sticks made him feel a little bit like he was back home.

Not long after they finished breakfast, Zhang Tai arrived with Zhang Kun and another young man in tow.

"Hello, Su Ze. I’ve heard a lot about you," the young man said, stepping forward to shake Su Ze’s hand. "My name is Wang Hai. I’m one of the contestants for the Adjudication Battle and a classmate of Zhang Kun’s."

Su Ze found it a little strange. ’It’s like this Wang Hai already knows me.’

He gave Wang Hai a brief handshake before turning to Zhang Tai. "Mr. Zhang, when do we leave?"

"Not so fast," Zhang Tai said. "This Adjudication Battle is getting a lot of attention back home, since it determines whether Dr. Liou Wenxin can return. TV reporters will be with us, providing a live broadcast of the entire event. You’ll be representing the image of the Dongli Kingdom, so you all need to wear a uniform."

With that, Zhang Tai took out a uniform and handed it to Su Ze. It was a red and white tracksuit with a golden dragon emblazoned on the chest, its head held high, looking majestic and powerful.

The dragon has been the totem of the Dongli people since ancient times.

Su Ze had already noticed that Zhang Kun and Wang Hai were wearing the same outfit. It made them look sharp and capable, not to mention handsome.

He had no objection to the uniform. As for the live broadcast... that meant Su Ze would be exposed to all his enemies. The Zhao Family and the Filth Earth Organization would know his whereabouts and his new identity. Even King Mu would become aware of his existence.

However, Su Ze had already prepared himself for this possibility when he first volunteered for the Adjudication Battle.

A man can’t hide forever.

Besides, he was no longer the same lone figure who had just walked out of Pan Shi Prison. Now he had support, powerful backers at his back.

Su Ze changed into the tracksuit on the spot. It was a perfect fit.

Then, Zhang Tai handed him something else. Su Ze took one look at it and froze.

"Dongli Kingdom Resident ID Card"

"Name: Su Ze - Gender: Male - Date of Birth: Year 983 of the Evolution Era..."

His photo was on it as well.

It was an ID card.

A simple, ordinary object that everyone else had, but that he had longed for.

It wasn’t just a card; it represented a legal identity.

It meant he would no longer have to sneak into hotels, that he could get a membership at an internet cafe, that he could buy train and plane tickets...

It also meant that he, a Transmigrator and a clone, could finally live openly in this world.

Zhang Tai clapped Su Ze on the shoulder and smiled. "You’re representing our Dongli Kingdom in the competition, so it has to be official. From this day forward, you are a legal citizen of the Dongli Kingdom, protected by our laws."

As a Transmigrator and a clone, Su Ze had never felt any sense of belonging to this world, let alone to any of its countries.

But now, as he accepted the ID card, it felt as if a faint, indescribable bond had formed between him and the Dongli Kingdom.

Just then, Gu Chengguang walked out of the house.

The others quickly greeted him. "Good morning, President." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Gu Chengguang nodded and looked at the three contestants, Su Ze among them. "This time, Mr. Li and Mr. Zhou will escort you to Luofan Country for the competition. I won’t be going myself, but I will be following the event closely."

His gaze swept over the three of them, finally landing on Su Ze. "You must bring Dr. Liou Wenxin and Minister Sun Xiayun back to Dongli. Not just because they are outstanding evolutionists and warriors, but because they are citizens of the Dongli Kingdom!"