Chapter 2605 – 2605. Eternal Eden

I had obtained the source of the Jecheon Pasqueflower, so there was nothing more to do.

The Jecheon Pasqueflowers remaining in Jecheon? They stopped moving the moment I got the source. Even when the Paladins approached, they didn’t react at all.

‘I won.’

We had won. We had achieved our goal. However, we had no intention of reclaiming this city. We would take all the resources left in Jecheon and abandon it.

‘What the Korean Peninsula lacks most right now is population. There’s no population to push into Jecheon. And there won’t be any citizens who want to return just because Jecheon is their hometown.’

Jecheon was already ruined.

We waited on the rooftop until the pollen settled on the ground.

That’s when the Jecheon Pasqueflower changed. The flower buds fell off, and fruits began to form. The long, white, hairy fruits resembled an old woman’s hair. That’s why it was called Pasqueflower.

“We need to send them to the lab, so collect a few fruits for now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Paladins acted immediately.

After that, the pollen settled, and a helicopter landed on the rooftop. We boarded the helicopter and left Jecheon.

• • •

Several days passed.

I received an invitation from the Korean Biotechnology Research Institute. It was to check the research results myself.

Waiting at the entrance was the director of the research institute, Yoo Seo-jung.

Her appearance was that of a mixed-race beauty in her early twenties, with long light brown hair and amber eyes. Unlike her young appearance, she had a kind and gentle motherly aura. It wasn’t strange. Her youth was due to my ability, and she actually had a grown daughter.

“Welcome, Eugene.”

“I didn’t expect the director to come out to greet me.”

“It’s you, Eugene, after all.”

Yoo Seo-jung smiled faintly. I could feel a warm atmosphere. I openly scanned her body. Under her white coat, she wore a blouse and a formal skirt. The skirt reached below her knees, and her calves were covered in dark brown stockings. Her shoes were low-heeled.

It was a similar fashion style to Na Chae-young. However, the atmosphere was 180 degrees different. Yoo Seo-jung, with her warm and cozy atmosphere, looked like a kindergarten teacher in a way. On the other hand, Na Chae-young was cold and sharp.

“Let’s go inside. There’s a lot to show you.”

I followed Yoo Seo-jung into the research institute. The security level was top-tier, both outside and inside. First, we headed underground.

“This is the most important place in our research institute.”

The specimen storage.

In that cool room, there were research specimens preserved in formalin. There were important body parts of mutants, the source of the Jecheon Pasqueflower we had recently acquired, and brains or body parts of ability users, including those with mind control abilities.

“Researchers manage this place in shifts.”

“Can you trust the researchers?”

Yoo Seo-jung smiled wryly.

“We have no choice but to trust them. Still, they are researchers who have been primarily screened. And there’s also a secret specimen storage in case of an emergency. Only me, Eugene, Lee Yeon-hee, and Dr. Na know about it.”

“Ah. The place I was briefed about recently? I know about it.”

I checked the specimens. There were quite a few interesting things. Among them, one thing caught my eye: an insect specimen. It was too big to be called an insect. It was the size of a large dog. Its appearance was like a mix of a cockroach and a grasshopper. It felt like it had stopped evolving midway.

“What is this disgusting thing?”

“It’s a specimen caught by the military three months ago. As you can see, it has a mixed appearance of a cockroach and a grasshopper, so we named it Roachstra. Most researchers just call it a bug, though.”

“Now even bugs are mutating.”

“Yes. Bugs are living things, after all.”

“Where did you catch it?”

“They say it was caught near the 38th parallel. A soldier shot and killed it as it was running away. The research on Roachstra… unfortunately, it hasn’t progressed much. Our researchers’ skills and equipment are lacking. At least, it’s impossible to delve deep into research.”

I frowned.

These bastards didn’t feel good for some reason. But there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t order troops to be sent to the 38th parallel to search everything. South and North Korea had not yet unified. They were still facing each other. There had even been a military movement once.

The 38th parallel was a powder keg right now. If you touched it wrong, it would explode.

‘Of all places, it had to be the 38th parallel.’

For a safe unification, the 38th parallel couldn’t be touched right now. I clicked my tongue briefly.

“Why can’t you research these guys?”

“Their genetic complexity is higher than humans. Some researchers say that Roachstra will surpass humans and become the new rulers of the Earth.”

“They’re dangerous, aren’t they? Why weren’t these guys reported to me?”

“What? I heard the report was submitted.”

“……”

I had skimmed through the written reports.

The most urgent matters were reported directly to me by Lee Yeon-hee or President Jin Soo-hak.

‘So, those two judged that it wasn’t an issue that required my direct attention.’

Logically, it didn’t make sense to make a fuss over a single mutant bug.

But seeing this Roachstra directly, something felt very unsettling.

“Research this guy as much as you can. A weapon that can kill bugs in large numbers… It would be good to have something like insecticide. If you need live bugs… I’ll help you since we have a specimen.”

“It would be a great help if you, Eugene, could help us directly. I’ll try to research it.”

We left the specimen room. The next place we moved to was the laboratory. In the center of the laboratory, a Paladin was lying on a surgical table in a patient gown. He was even restrained, just in case.

The researchers said as they saw us.

“The preparations are complete.”

“Shall we administer the Pulsatilla Enhancement Serum?”

The reason I came here today wasn’t just to look around.

The Pulsatilla Enhancement Serum was created by researching the Jecheon Pasqueflower. Today, it would be administered to a Paladin. I came here to check the results and prepare for failure.

“The Pulsatilla Enhancement Serum can increase the target’s muscle strength and nerve information transmission speed. It’s not to the level of a neural accelerator, but… the reaction speed will increase by about 30%. As for strength, it will increase by about 20%.”

“Good. Can the enhancement serum be received multiple times?”

“The enhancement serum causes genetic mutations, so there’s no point in administering it multiple times.”

“What about administering other enhancement serums? It depends on the type. If it works, that’s good, but if it rejects, there’s a high chance of death.”

“It’s okay since I’m here.”

Even if they die, it doesn’t matter. I can just revive them.

The Pulsatilla Enhancement Serum wasn’t something they would use for life. There was also a serum in the original work that could reverse the enhancement serum and return the body to normal. It wasn’t a serum that could be made right now, though.

“The success rate is about 80%. Even if it fails with a 20% chance, they won’t die. They’ll just develop immunity to the Pulsatilla Enhancement Serum.”

“Can’t I solve that with my ability?”

“Yes. If you’re here, Eugene, the risk of failure becomes 0%. Your ability is too overpowered.”

“Hehe. That’s why it’s good. Start.”

The researcher administered the Pulsatilla Enhancement Serum to the Paladin. The syringe needle was inserted into his neck.

The Paladin, restrained on the surgical table, opened his eyes wide. The blood vessels in his body became red and swollen, but soon stabilized.

“It’s a success.”

“I can’t really tell by looking.”

“We’re receiving real-time physical information through the surgical table and electrodes. The genes have successfully mutated.”

She pointed to one of the monitor screens. Various information was displayed, but I didn’t understand it even if I looked at it. I just nodded vaguely.

‘Enhancement serum. If it succeeds, you can easily become stronger. It’s not without its drawbacks. The enhancement serum causes genetic mutations, so both men and women become infertile. Even if they don’t have the purity trait, they shouldn’t get the enhancement serum.’

Anyway, it was definitely effective.

“Administer the Pulsatilla Enhancement Serum to all the Paladins.”

The Paladins would become stronger.

• • •

I didn’t let the Paladins, who had become enhanced humans through the enhancement serum, rot as my escorts.

‘If you have power, you should use it. Moreover, they’re immortal troops who can be revived even if they die. If they accumulate experience, they can become stronger.’

I wanted them to go through all sorts of hardships.

So, I divided the Paladins and sent them to the most dangerous battle zones. These were places where ordinary military forces struggled with mutants. Of course, they also participated in the raider suppression operations for battles against humans.

‘The overall survival rate is about 70%.’

Three out of ten Paladins died in battle zones. Most of them didn’t die instantly but self-destructed. I could feel their will to complete their mission even in death. Thanks to them, South Korea was stabilizing at a rapid pace.

‘But damn it. I have to revive that 30%.’

I had to revive about 10 people every day, and there was a limit to my stamina. Reviving 10 people a day was difficult.

‘Fortunately, the standard for revival recovery is when the heart is removed. If I recover using the heart as a medium while having a neural accelerator implanted and having received the enhancement serum, I can revive in an enhanced state. But it takes more of my stamina.’

I had to increase the survival rate.

I watched the combat footage of the Paladins.

The Paladins’ capabilities were top-notch. They were showing combat power that ordinary soldiers couldn’t even dare to follow. Even ordinary mutants could fight them one-on-one because of the neural accelerator. Of course, there were more mutants that they couldn’t fight.

‘Mutants are also getting stronger over time, so there’s no helping it.’

I easily found out why the Paladins were dying on the battlefield.

‘These bastards. They don’t care about their bodies because they can be revived.’

They threw their lives away like trash for the sake of mission success. If they saw a chance to self-destruct? They would immediately charge in without hesitation.

It was a very desirable attitude. But because of that, I was suffering.

‘The combat AI’s data is also accumulating… If they gain experience, they’ll probably get quite good… But I still need to drastically improve their overall skills.’

Cybernetic implants and enhancement serums had their limits. I needed a more fundamental way to increase their skills.

As I pondered, a ray of light flashed in my mind.

‘Martial arts! It would be perfect if there was a martial art that suited these guys!’

Even though this world didn’t have internal energy, martial arts didn’t necessarily require internal energy to be established.

‘If it’s me, who receives talent boosts from the Light Ascending Heaven Path, I can create a martial art, no, a martial technique that is perfect for these guys. And I can get help from Weiyu.’

It was related to martial arts. Weiyu would gladly help.

‘Good. The next chronic problem of the Paladins is… the small number of troops.’

I would increase the number of Paladins. But it would be a waste to just let the increased Paladins play as my escorts.

‘I should divide the Paladins. It’s normal to divide and specialize troop types. Should I just name them knight orders and divide them? I should put Choi Hye-jin and Irina in the knight orders as well.’

The 1st Knight Order would inherit the current Paladins. Only the best of the best among the knight orders would become members of the 1st Knight Order.

‘Hmm. Just like divisions have names, knight orders should have names too. Should I go with dragons? No. This is Korea, so it should be Korean style… The 1st Knight Order is Mir.’

The 2nd Knight Order. A knight order specializing in assault and raid, with Choi Hye-jin as its commander.

The 3rd Knight Order. A knight order specializing in reconnaissance and sniping, with Irina as its commander.

‘The names… nothing comes to mind. I’ll have to search the internet and pick something suitable. Should I change Lee Yeon-hee’s affiliation while I’m at it? Not a knight order, but something like an inquisitor.’

Well, it was just a plan for now.