Chapter 190: The Beggar, or the Billionaire

Chapter 190: Beggar, or Billionaire

That night, a light drizzle fell beneath the heavy, overcast sky.

Meng Siyou stepped out of the Anomalous Affairs Bureau, his face grim. He exhaled slowly, not bothering with an umbrella, and walked aimlessly through the streets.

After recording the core composition of the Universal Capsule and its mutation conditions, the progress of Mission 1 had jumped to 80%. It seemed that all that remained was to pinpoint the source of the divine beings to complete the mission entirely.

Meanwhile, the bureau’s affiliated laboratory, based on the available information, simulated a human-body fluid environment in a transparent container and conducted tests using the Universal Capsule.

The fish eggs inside the capsule were indeed deceived by this familiar environment, unwittingly revealing their lifecycle.

When the capsule shell first dissolved, fine particulate matter was released. The transparent larval fish eggs were only visible when they drifted, reflecting faint light that was just barely visible to the naked eye, allowing their forms to be discerned—

Countless fish eggs dispersed in the container like some ethereal fog, slowly spreading and settling until they firmly adhered to the walls and bottom.

The fish eggs appeared inconspicuous and harmless, but in reality, they were developing, dividing, and multiplying every second. Soon, they formed a thick layer on the container walls, resembling a mass of soggy aquatic white moss, so thick it made skin crawl.

The thought that these fish eggs usually carried out such life activities inside human bodies…

Every scientist observing the test couldn’t help but look nauseated.

The cameras clearly recorded the entire experiment, serving as conclusive evidence that the Universal Capsule was linked to unknown organisms and inherently dangerous.

This evidence soon reached official paranormal agencies worldwide, reflected in pairs of eyes of varying colors.

Along with the experimental records came the bureau’s urgent warning—to collectively boycott the Universal Capsule, shut down Wan Neng Chao Xi Pharmaceuticals, and stop the parasitic invasion of unknown organisms targeting all of humanity!

By this point, Meng Siyou could already see the light at the end of the tunnel.

However, the subsequent developments did not proceed as smoothly as he had imagined.

In many countries, the craze for the Universal Capsule had become unstoppable.

Like a gathering storm, once more and more forces were drawn into its vortex, swirling and converging, a cataclysm became nearly impossible to halt.

Countless people, as if worshiping an omnipotent deity, rapturously praised the drug to unimaginable heights. The slightest opposition to the capsule could provoke extreme reactions from these "capsule faithful."

And to make the Universal Capsule vanish entirely would be akin to snatching the sun from their sky.

—After all, once people grew accustomed to solving all illnesses and health issues with a single capsule, who could bear returning to the darkness of debilitating illnesses?

From this tiny capsule, people saw their deepest yearnings mirrored.

"I just want to be healthier, a little healthier is enough."

"I want to shed this obese body and have a beautiful, slender figure!"

"Doctors couldn’t cure my chronic illness, but the Universal Capsule did—it lets me live longer, to see my children grow up…"

"…"

These miracles were what the Universal Capsule could bring to people.

Was it truly possible that no one realized a miracle cure couldn’t exist?

No, of course they knew.

But even if they understood that hidden, terrible prices might lurk behind these "gifts," they couldn’t resist the allure of immediate relief.

It was only then that Meng Siyou suddenly realized:

For the fish eggs in the Universal Capsule to take root in human society, no elaborate conspiracy was necessary—

Because their very existence was the ultimate trap against the greedy nature of intelligent life.

His heart sank further by the second. Meng Siyou never expected that, after cutting through the mist shrouding the divine beings, the first obstacle they faced would be humanity’s own cravings.

In the spread of the fish eggs, none of the buyers at any stage had committed legal or ethical violations—what was wrong with striving to better oneself?

Yet each single snowflake, insignificant on its own, could accumulate into an avalanche that could bury an entire order.

With a heavy heart, Meng Siyou walked through the misty rain.

The rain blurred the neon lights and billboards in the distance, turning them into glowing smears of color, as if multicolored mist floated in the night sky—surreal yet oppressive, laden with countless desires.

Passing a bus stop, he noticed a large LED screen in the shelter running a news segment:

"Recently, a series of suicide attempts has occurred along the western coast of X Country, with 17 cases reported in just three days. Fortunately, nearby lifeguards were vigilant, providing timely assistance. So far, there have been six injuries but no fatalities."

"Our station has learned that the victims were all young adults aged 21 to 35. Surveillance footage shows that they entered the sea alone during off-peak hours, displaying no hesitation or doubt—their purpose was unnervingly deliberate."

"However, after regaining consciousness, the victims claimed to have no memory of going to the shore. By the time they became aware, they were already in the water. Experts speculate that this phenomenon may be linked to seasonal depression…"

"Coastal attractions once again urge the public to put safety first and avoid entering the water alone without supervision!"

Meng Siyou stood before the screen, silent.

Only Ability users knew the truth—these people hadn’t jumped into the sea due to depression or other reasons.

They were unconsciously… heeding the call of the fish eggs.

"It seems you’ve encountered some difficulties."

A familiar voice suddenly spoke beside him.

Meng Siyou turned sharply and saw the faint reflection of the prophet on a nearby reflective surface.

Under the heavy night rain, Wu Suer’s golden-red eyes and the white hair tied over his shoulder stood out starkly, as if he emitted a soft glow, illuminating the gloom.

In no mood to appreciate the sight, Meng Siyou’s first instinct was to glance around nervously, afraid that innocent passersby might spot Wu Suer and spark urban legends of a white-haired specter haunting rainy nights.

Wu Suer seemed tickled by his cautious demeanor and chuckled. "Don’t worry. Others can’t see me."

Before Meng Siyou could respond, Wu Suer continued, "When faced with an insurmountable obstacle, why not pray to Bryce—or the one above him?"

After a brief silence, Meng Siyou lowered his gaze. "Behind the fish eggs… may lie the presence of the Mother of the Tides. If Lord Fate were to intervene forcefully now, it might provoke even greater conflict."

Of course, beyond tactical considerations, he also subconsciously believed that the Narrator wouldn’t risk direct conflict with another True God for the sake of mere mortals.

It went against self-interest.

"Besides, no matter how benevolent a deity is, they wouldn’t endlessly protect a single world, would they?"

"...No, He would." Wu Suer’s voice was soft but firm.

It took Meng Siyou a moment to realize this was a response to his second concern.

Wu Suer was assuring him—the Narrator would forever safeguard this world and the humans living in it.

"Is that true?"

At this moment, Meng Siyou was even struck by doubt:

Did the prophet truly understand what he was promising at this very moment?

On this utterly ordinary rainy night, he dared to speak on behalf of an inscrutable deity, vowing "forever" to this world?

Instinctively, Meng Siyou looked at the prophet, but he couldn’t discern any further emotion in those sunset-bright eyes.

Wu Suer remained leisurely, completely unbothered by the earth-shattering promise he had just made, casually shifting the topic:

"Take Bryce, for example—he frequents this world anyway, with plenty of free time. You can pray to him anytime, or hold rituals, asking him to lend his strength."

"Bryce would be more than happy to help," Wu Suer said. "While traveling across worlds, he often interacts with locals as a bard, offering aid—even earning himself a title: ‘Protector of Children, Wanderers, and Bards.’"

Just from that title alone, one could glimpse the gentle nature of this Apostle.

Wu Suer smiled at Meng Siyou, looking rather pleased, a hint of mischief flashing in his eyes. "Hmm, if you think to call on Bryce and his kind in times of crisis, it’d take some work off my plate... That wouldn’t be so bad, would it?"

"Truly, the secret to a better life is dumping tasks on expendable colleagues."

Hearing this remark, Meng Siyou couldn’t help but think of certain slackers he clashed with at work. The welling emotion in his chest was abruptly cut short, his fist tightening slightly.

Still, Wu Suer had mentioned "expendable colleagues"... So these Fate Domain High Lords had some hidden, tight-knit bond unknown to outsiders?

Did they belong to the same organization?

When it came to Apostles, Meng Siyou immediately thought of church hierarchies.

But then he reconsidered—Wu Suer hardly seemed the type to obediently submit to a god’s chain of command...

Lost in thought, the shifting content on the ad screen caught Meng Siyou’s attention.

Against the backdrop of a crowded town square in a foreign country, a reporter smiled as she interviewed a blond, blue-eyed man beside her: "Mr. Edmund, is it true that you’ve decided to invest in Wan Neng Chao Xi Pharmaceuticals and will meet with the group’s leadership tomorrow?"

The man addressed as Edmund was dressed in an expensive tailored suit, yet underneath, he wore a loud, patterned shirt, its collar casually unbuttoned, exuding the stereotypical carefree rich-boy vibe.

"Absolutely!" Edmund laughed heartily. "I’m thrilled to join several other friends in accepting Wan Neng Chao Xi’s invitation—the outside world has been curious about this miracle-working company for ages. Soon, I’ll see its secrets for myself."

With that, he winked playfully at the camera, eliciting delighted gasps from the reporter and onlookers.

Meng Siyou heard Wu Suer murmur with amusement. "What a perfect opportunity to get closer to the pharmaceutical giant, don’t you think?"

"What—"

Before he could finish, Meng Siyou felt a push against his back, sending him stumbling forward.

As his forehead nearly collided with the ad screen, he shut his eyes in despair, imagining the Ability user’s sturdy skull smashing a hole through the display—hoping the cost of damaging public property wouldn’t be too steep...

But unlike what he expected, Meng Siyou never felt the impact.

Instead, he slipped right through the screen’s image, as if stepping through an invisible curtain of water. The wind of a distant land brushed his face, unfamiliar chatter and laughter gradually enveloping him. Startled, he opened his eyes to a riot of new hues flooding his vision.

Staggering forward, strangers rushed to steady him, anxiously calling out his current name—

"Mr. Edmund? Are you alright?"

Meng Siyou ignored them. The prophet’s laughter still lingered faintly in his ears:

"If the identity of ‘Meng Siyou’ can’t get you closer to uncovering the truth, then change it."

"Let me think—which life would be more convenient? A beggar, or a billionaire... Your pick—I’ll make it happen."