Transcendent Gene-Chapter 293: Final Truth [1]

With litepacks alone, it was only possible to take a small portion of the treasures in the vault. It was filled with so many good things that it was hard to believe the Old Duke accrued it all within the scenario.

However, the vault only came into existence during the scenario. The Old Duke must’ve sensed it through the same perception Sequence he used to spot Gio.

Most of what was found inside came from the scenario. It looked like a lot of it was provided by the forces under him as some sort of tribute.

Another portion of it, however, definitely came from outside. The vault cards in the corner didn’t exist as a form of currency in the period that the scenario was based in, and some of the resources and raw materials were also staples of the modern world.

’The most likely case is that he has something equivalent to a Storage Hole and he dumped the stuff inside in here.’

Regardless, none of it belonged to the Old Duke anymore. When Shiro and Serene finished filling their bags, they finally looked to Gio and asked him why he wasn’t working on filling his own.

That was when he grinned and held his hand up, summoning a mundane wooden door that one could find on any house anywhere in the world.

Shiro didn’t know its significance immediately. Serene, on the other hand, dropped her jaw to the floor.

"Is that...?!"

"It is."

"What are you talking about?"

Shiro looked to Gio in confusion, asking for a clearer explanation. However, before Gio could say anything, Serene shook her head and grabbed his arm.

"Come here. Look at what this asshole has been hiding from us."

After dragging him to the door, she told Shiro to open it, letting his eyes absorb the sight beyond first.

Gio didn’t really decorate his Storage Hole. It didn’t have any of the fancy shelves or storage spaces that the Blue Steel Squadron used.

However, that only made the space seem grander. It was a huge warehouse that spanned an incredible distance. There were some small shelves and spaces set up near the door, but the white background beyond looked like it spanned all the way to the horizon.

As Shiro marveled at it, Serene rolled her eyes again and threw her backpack inside.

"You’re either way richer than you told us, or you have some insane connections," she said as she gave Gio a sidelong glance.

He grinned and shrugged in response.

"Maybe it’s both."

The only questioning that took place from there came from Shiro’s unstoppable mouth.

"What the hell is this thing?!"

"How did you get one?!"

"Can you get me one?!"

"Hey, can I borrow this sometimes?!"

If he didn’t let the questions go after being denied, it would have been hell. Luckily for Gio, Shiro wasn’t the type to genuinely care about such things.

He embraced the convenience of the current situation and joked about how he could use the space in the future by sticking close to Gio, but he never expressed real greed towards the ring.

’He’s a rare breed.’

Gio very much respected the way Shiro led his life. It was a mindset that would take him very far.

Nevertheless, Neriah was badgered more for knowing about the Storage Hole and not saying anything. While all those conversations were taking place, the four of them loaded the entire vault into Gio’s personal storage.

Escaping the mansion was much easier than entering it. All the staff were gone, and the mansion itself was rubble. When they dropped down from the invisible staircase, the four of them landed directly on the ground and sprinted away from there.

They had a place in Lyverne that could be considered relatively safe, but they chose not to stay in the city.

The combined effect of Gio stealing the clue cards and their group stealing the treasures would put a huge target on their backs that they wouldn’t be able to escape if they stayed in the city.

Their final destination had to be Astarune. They made an alliance with the military even if it was only for the purpose of using them.

It was better to not make enemies with the overall good forces of the world. Those who operated in the light could do much more damage when they decided to act in the dark, after all.

’I’ll give the clues to them once I’ve understood them completely. As long as I’m closer to finding the last clue than they are to finding a fifth, it’s fine.’

He couldn’t even guarantee that much, but the specifics could be sorted out later.

’We aren’t immediately going back, anyway.’

How could they charge back to Astarune at a time like this?

Speeding up the completion of the scenario didn’t benefit them at this very moment.

Instead, their time was better spent on themselves.

They had a lot more freedom while traveling this time around, so they navigated until they found the remains of a small town several hours away from any real civilization.

The entire town existed along a single road, and it was just as abandoned as anything else. Rather than sleeping in caves, they could enjoy the comfort of real beds while they trained.

’My focus only expanded so much when we got here. I originally planned this trip thinking it would be an easy jump to Origin Level 1-3.’

What he found after arriving was a conspiracy that he couldn’t ignore. One or more of the council members he personally met was responsible for hiding the truths found in this realm.

’Even the clues alone are pieces of news that were either discovered much later or never discovered at all.’

What was all of this about "sending" and "receiving" stories? What was everything that was being said about an invading race other than monsters and the alternate history of the world?

It was theorized in the future that monsters had involvement in the Gehenna Complex before they started to openly show themselves, but it was never confirmed.

’Probably because evidence that they were monsters never showed up. Without knowing to look for traces of a completely unknown species, there’s no way investigations or research could progress very far.’

The information learned in this scenario meant a lot. It had the potential to push humans to discoveries they’d never made in the past, present, or future.

’Because of that, I got a little obsessed...’

He had to admit that the scenario was now more important to him than his own growth.

’But growth will also make the rest easier.’

The haul in front of him wasn’t much different from what he used the last time they stopped. Only the quantity changed.

He started absorbing Elixirs and Enhancers one after the other. Some of the resources they took were stones and crystals that enhanced the rate, efficiency, or efficacy of energy absorption. He was surrounded by them as he worked through his supply of treasures.

His body became stronger. While he was growing, the suppression effect seemed to lift as if waiting for him to stop before applying once more.

He and his party members were the weakest people in the scenario, after all. The suppression relied mostly on their power level.

Gio’s body enhanced and fortified itself. His energy became denser, and in consequence, his energy channels became much stronger.

The streams that flowed through his veins were widening into full-blown rivers. Their rushing energy was shifting into a torrent.

The two genes in Gio’s Gene Housing, as well as his very core, gained more of a presence in his body, emanating a more noticeable aura that covered him from head to toe.

His Blackwing Demon Tiger Bloodline pulsed powerfully as its traits became stronger. A blood-red tint faded in and out of his irises as he concentrated deeper.

Ba-dum! Ba-dum! Ba-dum!

His heart beat powerfully. He felt a euphoric sensation spread through his entire body as his blood transformed.

He’d been slowly improving his bloodline this whole time, and with a final push from such quality materials, it shattered the barrier to the next level.

"Huu..."

Once again, there was nothing physical to show for it. Other than Gio’s muscles becoming a bit more defined and his skin becoming a bit clearer, nothing changed.

The aura around him was a bit more substantiated, yet not enough for the average Sequencer to notice.

’But now that I’m at 1-3, I not only have access to more power and energy, but I’m also just a single step away from the first real transformation.’

He was finally close to an actual Stage breakthrough that went further than just the difference between one Origin Level and the next.

’The others aren’t doing bad either. The energy surges around this house haven’t been just one or two.’

Serene and Shiro were both second years. Like him, they were currently aiming for Origin Level 1-3 and higher. Neriah was worse off only in Origin Level, but she was catching up at a rapid rate.

’I was already close to ranking up. The others will need a bit longer to feel satisfied.’

It was perfect. He needed a few more days to get accustomed to his improved body.

’And I need a few days to settle on what I think about these clue cards.’

He was content with waiting as long as he needed to for everyone else to be ready.

However, the world wasn’t willing to move on such a relaxed schedule.

Even if Gio slacked, the world’s enemies would always be on the move.

Even a few days was too long to spend relaxing when the situation was so tense.