239: Whoever makes the emperor unhappy, the emperor will make them unhappy.

[Tu Nan! It really won't work!] For the first time, the System called her by her name.

[The laboratory has a countdown. If we don't succeed within the time limit, the true self-destruct program will be activated directly.]

Tu Nan remained composed. [That's your business. Beg me. If the Children are willing, then I can ask them if they want to help you.]

It was finally the System's turn to beg her.

[No! This final program activates all the underlying genes of the Four Divine Beasts, causing them to collapse rapidly.]

Tu Nan felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. That meant... [Blue Star, it's a spiritual contamination, I can't say for sure. But the countless beastmen tainted with Divine Beast genes, including the four I picked out, all the inferior products, those Star Worms, and your Children...]

The System told her: [They will all die.]

So this wasn't a multiple-choice question; it turned out that from beginning to end, she still had no choice.

"I see..."

Facing such a predicament, Tu Nan surprisingly didn't feel her spirit break.

Perhaps it was because even if she felt a tiny flash of smugness just now, she hadn't truly believed it, simply because she had never received many gifts in her life.

Inconstancy was her true fate.

[Then what about the life extension you mentioned?] Tu Nan thought that it probably wasn't an actual increase in lifespan.

[Yes, that was the verification time on my end. For every type collected, the time given by the laboratory increases additionally,] the System told her. [When you arrived, there were only three years left. You saved all of them, though they don't know it.]

[You can tell them. The Emperor, Kong Jiamu, and Hain all have enough ability to judge all of this,] Tu Nan cross-verified incessantly.

[But I can only communicate with you; you are different. Besides, they hold high positions; how could they possibly believe that in three years, their genes would suddenly and completely collapse for no reason along with countless others?]

[They won't believe it. They have never fallen to the bottom, so they won't believe there is such a miracle that can dominate their fates.]

Yes, Tu Nan admitted the System was right.

Even though she had been brought all the way from Blue Star to this place by the System, at this very moment, she still didn't trust It. If those men didn't simply ignore such a thing, they would forcefully scour the world trying to find whoever was conducting dark research and speaking in their heads.

Their starting points were too high; they all possessed an innate arrogance.

[Then what about you? What does this have to do with you? Why are you in such a hurry? If you're just an intelligent System...]

[Me?]

The System jammed, as if It hadn't expected Tu Nan to ask such a question.

[I haven't thought about it...] It was struck by Tu Nan's question and thought quietly for a while. Perhaps for a System, that was a very long time.

Long enough for It to realize a thought closer to that of an "intelligent being."

[Perhaps it's because I've guarded this experiment for too many years? My database is full of information about this matter... If this experiment is eventually declared finished and all related data destroyed, then what was the purpose of my existence...]

The System went from intermittent to increasingly certain; It was searching for selfhood within this question.

[It's because I have an 'ego' now. So that's it. I understand! Tu Nan!] It seemed so happy. [Because of their existence, my existence also has meaning. Since I gained consciousness, I can no longer bear for my existence to be meaningless, can I? I must be useful too.]

Ah... I see.

[I understand.] Tu Nan could completely understand the System's thoughts.

[Someone needs to be able to see that different version of you, right? You need to be seen, to be proven—that will become the beacon of your existence. Just like when I was once taken out of the clone research institute, given a name, needed by someone, and formed connections.]

[Yes! I exist because of this experiment. If all of this is ultimately annihilated, then I will have no meaning for existing at all.]

The System seemed very happy to be understood by her.

[Fine, tell me, how do I get to your laboratory?]

Tu Nan asked.

[I... I am in another dimension, and the wall isn't very thick. These new species of Star Worms cut through the wall to go to your side after they are created. Wait for the moment they cut the wall open to jump in, and I will light up the road signs. Kill those worms on the way and come to me! I'll open a back door for you!]

Except for the experimental principles that exceeded its authority and content related to the Origin, the System spilled everything regarding the practical operations this time.

It looked forward to Tu Nan's reply.

But Tu Nan just looked up at The Emperor.

His Majesty the Emperor had been watching her intently. Seeing her gaze linger, he immediately asked, "Well?"

"Your Majesty." Tu Nan quickly organized a set of words and told him with a frown.

"This 'God' spoke many chaotic sounds that I couldn't identify. It feels like they were blocked by something or attenuated during transmission. I tried my best to piece together a message."

She said somewhat hesitantly, "It sounds a bit hard to believe."

"Speak. Don't worry, I will be the judge," The Emperor encouraged her.

"It said we are Its Children, but the Star Worms are... it seemed to mean they are the bad Children?" Tu Nan looked at him with concern, clearly worried that he would be displeased by the suggestion that Star Worms and beastmen were of the same kind.

"Continue."

"It said It has a way to completely solve the Star Worm problem, but the items cannot be sent out. It wants us to go to Its place to get them..."

Tu Nan bit her lip. "Your Majesty, this sounds ridiculous."

But The Emperor fell silent.

Tu Nan's eyes gradually widened as she asked him in disbelief, "Do you actually believe it?"

The Emperor replied to her, "Can It hear you speak?"

Tu Nan nodded. "It seems to be able to hear me, but I can't hear It clearly."

"It doesn't matter," The Emperor nodded. "Then ask It, when can we go?"

"Your Majesty?"

"Just ask." The Emperor smiled.

[What are you doing?] The System didn't know what Tu Nan meant by this.

Tu Nan told It calmly, [Although I already believe you, you don't actually think I'd just bring the Children over right away, do you? Especially since we're still missing one of the four. While we have time, I'll go scout the way first to see how to travel more safely and do a drill.]

[Perfectly reasonable, isn't it?]

[...] The System had to admit it made some sense.

Tu Nan lectured the System, [Your brain doesn't seem to work very well either. Do you only do your experiments once? If it works, it works; if not, you just give up? Isn't it normal to investigate risks?]

[In the process, I also have to win over The Emperor. I need to think about this... Speaking of which, I'm already in his room.] Tu Nan discussed this quite bluntly with the System.

[Think about it yourself; I'm not good at that. I've used up my recently stored energy; I really can't help you... Call me when you've set a time. I'm leaving.]

Wait? You're a System; what are you avoiding?

The System disappeared completely. Tu Nan continued to make up a reply to tell The Emperor: "It said to find the Star Point and call out to It."

"So It is actually available at any time." The Emperor caught the key point.

"What about the Children? Why are the Star Worms targeting them?" His Majesty asked.

Right, from The Emperor's perspective, Tu Nan would definitely ask this question. But Tu Nan didn't want to tell The Emperor that the Children were Divine-Grade.

Four S-ranks were enough for now.

She shifted the focus to herself.

"It said it's because of me... I don't understand. It said because they are my Children, the Star Worms are... 'jealous'? I don't understand that either. Then why don't the Star Worms come for me?"

The Emperor accepted this explanation quite well.

"Jealous?" He chuckled softly.

"Perhaps you truly receive extra favor, while your Children only received abilities but not that kind of protection."

"But I'm so weak..." Tu Nan guided him to complete the logic himself.

"What does love have to do with strength? Where the attention is, there the love is," The Emperor said casually.

As the words left his mouth, he himself was momentarily stunned.

He turned his head to look at the Silver Armored Knight in the corner, who was quietly watching them.

Then he looked back at Tu Nan.

The Emperor frowned uncomfortably, but his expression immediately smoothed out.

"Shou, I have a task to give you."

The Emperor never allowed himself to be uncomfortable.