228: System permissions

The situation on the front lines was tense and did not change immediately with the arrival of The Emperor.

After arriving at its destination, the flagship sailed smoothly.

If one only stayed inside Your Majesty's cabin, the tension of the war could not be felt.

After soaking in treatment fluid for three consecutive days, Tu Nan's childbirth injuries improved rapidly.

She only felt a sense of weakness that required nourishment and supplements, rather than her previous battle-damaged state.

Taking advantage of The Emperor's absence, she pulled the System out again to continue their unfinished conversation.

"Come on, have you sorted it out? First, explain clearly what exactly you need the Children to do."

[Alright, I can tell you a part of it.] The System finally revealed a bit of the "truth" to her.

[You guessed correctly; I need to collect specific genes, namely the Four Divine Beasts.]

[I need them to reappear in this world.]

[That will help me obtain a permission, which I also need to open the next door. No... don't ask what that door is; it's beyond the limit.]

[What I need the Children to do is safe; it only requires verifying their existence at specific locations. Similar to the facial recognition on your bracelet, this is a type of genetic recognition for me.]

Tu Nan's fingernails lightly pinched her palm.

She imagined the Children growing a bit older and being taken to some strange place just to "verify their genes"?

Even though the System said it was safe, she couldn't help but feel a hint of resistance in her heart.

Moreover, where exactly was that place?

"It sounds like only the part from Your Majesty is missing. Is it the Dragon?"

"What about Ao Ao? Is the Shadow Wolf not needed?"

[Sometimes there are some incidental benefits; I hope you don't mind.]

From its tone, Tu Nan understood that it couldn't accurately predict the outcome of the gestation either; it seemed more like experiments always had deviations.

"Fine. Why me? And what is the reward?"

[The permission for this has also been partially unlocked.]

The System sounded relieved; it thought Tu Nan would ask a bunch of questions it couldn't answer.

[Hmm... I've waited a long time. The genes of the Four Divine Beasts must all exist simultaneously and must all be in Male Beasts. Then, a very special Female Beast is needed to purify their genes.]

[That person is you.]

"What's so special about me? What conditions did I meet?"

[...]

Fine, Tu Nan knew this was beyond the permissions.

"Let me guess, and you listen. How about that?" Tu Nan tried to bypass that unknown mechanism.

[Don't! Don't make me go offline! If it's serious, I'll trigger an alarm... I might even be directly deleted if I'm not careful! Think for yourself, but definitely don't tell me.]

If the System had a physical body, it would have jumped up by now.

This meant there was a superior controlling the System, or an Advanced System?

It was not its own master, yet it had its own goals.

[Trust me, I have no interest in harming you. Look at everything I've done—which part was bad for you? At the very least, I saved your life.]

The System had dragged her, who had died on Blue Star, over here and given her a new life.

"Yes, you saved me. Thank you."

Tu Nan pondered her own uniqueness in her mind, wondering what exactly made the System insist on her.

"Then let's talk about the rewards. What's the deal with the reward System you gave me?"

[Ah, that.]

The System felt a bit embarrassed.

[The rewards are actually a form of feedback for you perfecting the world...]

"Feedback?"

Tu Nan truly didn't understand this.

[It's... whenever you complete a task and I unlock a permission, I obtain a certain amount of energy. Well... I just give you a small portion of it proportionally.]

It sounded like working for a capitalist and being given a tiny bit of salary.

"Then give me more. If you're too stingy, I'll go on strike."

Tu Nan threatened it.

[See... I knew it. I still need to maintain some mystery to make assigning tasks easier.]

The System complained; after its energy became more abundant, it had also become more human-like.

[The energy I get is really useful. You wouldn't want to see the Star Worms multiply to the point of exploding, would you?]

Tu Nan was shaken. Good, this sentence from the System gave her a piece of information.

Its energy was controlling the Star Worms.

In other words, were the Star Worms related to it?

Yes, so its need to collect the Four Divine Beasts was also to solve the Star Worm problem—the loop was closed.

[The portion given to you is truly enough. For your mission, personal martial prowess is meaningless; I have carefully chosen the most useful abilities for you. Everything I can give you, I have given.]

"What about my lifespan? I give birth once, and it only provides 10% genetic perfection and three years? If it's as you say, wouldn't it be a bigger loss for you if I died?"

[Oh, there's really no other way, and it's truly enough. 50%—if it exceeded that limit, you wouldn't have been able to come over... How could I stuff you in if the genes were too stable?]

Another piece of information.

[Your survival time each time is sufficient. If it were increased, something else would have to decrease. I've calculated it many times; this is the most suitable way. See, it's enough for you.]

"Even when fully replenished, it's only 15 years. It's not you who's going to die, so of course you're not worried."

[Why don't you count what you've gained? This is all for free.]

"Then change your host. Find someone else to handle Your Majesty."

Tu Nan had leverage now; threatening a System was easy.

The System couldn't handle it. [We'll talk about this later, later...]

But it immediately reacted.

[Don't scare me; you wouldn't be able to bear it yourself either. If I can't solve the problem and this world is destroyed, your Children will suffer along with it. Would you want that?]

She didn't want that.

Tu Nan fell silent.

The System cheered up a bit.

[We are mutually beneficial. See, I dare to tell you now because I know you are no longer the person you once were. You have a connection to this world.]

Tu Nan was the one being played instead.

But she shook her head and smiled.

These connections were not a bad thing.

"Then can the rewards be changed?"

[Changing rewards that have already been given would require an astronomical amount of energy. No! Absolutely not!]

"Then next time a reward is given, can I choose it myself?"

Tu Nan negotiated with the System.

[...It's possible, but I always feel like you're going to scheme against me.]

"You're the one giving the rewards; what could I possibly scheme?"

[Fine.]

The System gave in.

[Alright, I've told you everything I can. It really cost me a lot of energy. Hurry up and earn the next batch for me; I'm struggling to hold on too.]

The System instructed her earnestly.

[Raise the Children well. If we fail this time, there won't be another chance.]

Did it even need to say that?

To parents, every child is unique.

Regarding this matter, she absolutely did not want a second chance.

***

A full week passed, and Tu Nan didn't see Kong Jiamu or Your Majesty again.

Shou told her.

Those two hadn't stepped foot out of the meeting room once.

However, this was Your Majesty's room; he would eventually return.

On this day, the cabin door opened silently.

Shou, who was looking after the Children, suddenly said, "Your Majesty is back."

Tu Nan looked up, and The Emperor's figure appeared at the door. Beside him, the silver light from the Silver Armored Knight's armor was as dazzling as ever.

Only, it was empty behind him; Kong Jiamu was not there.