39: Chapter 23: Interrogation from the Past 39: Chapter 23: Interrogation from the Past Shiyu Lianyi.
The na of the young man in the suit was not only his human na but also evidence of his creation by a certain institution.
Those slightly experienced in the Impermanence Skill clearly understood what the surna Shiyu represented.
For Takizawa Yoshikazu, that na carried a significance unlike any other associated with Shiyu.
Shiyu Lianyi was one of the Impermanence Mages cultivated during the initial stage of the Shiyu Research Institute.
Back then, Takizawa had never personally encountered a giant dragon; he had only glimpsed the power of dragons through few phrases in ancient scrolls and so preserved materials.
Once rely an exceptional student, his interest had led him to begin in-depth research, and during one search for materials, he unexpectedly discovered a technique known as the Impermanence Skill in a manuscript preserved by his ancestors.
Thus, Takizawa ventured bit by bit into unknown territories, which eventually drew the attention of the officials from Zero Island.
After graduating from university, Takizawa officially beca a governnt official.
Ard with an investigative mind and professional competence, and admitting to himself a lack of combat talent, he was transferred to the then newly established institution for the study of Impermanence—Shiyu Research Institute.
Looking back now, that was the beginning of everything.
Within the Shiyu Research Institute, bustling with geniuses and eccentrics, Takizawa Yoshikazu was just a nondescript backdrop.
Once proud of his talent, he was overwheld in the presence of stronger and more nurous talents.
His personality grew gloomier, his confidence turning into self-doubt, and even his speech beca stuttered.
Fortunately, his life was not entirely hopeless; most mbers bore no ill will toward their peculiar-speaking colleague.
They all focused their attentions on pursuits worthy of wholehearted dedication.
Developing the Impermanence Skill to et the needs of the new age, cultivating unique geniuses, and showcasing the power of Zero Island…
There were many such slogans, which Takizawa no longer clearly rembered.
He only recalled that everyone was striving for goals that were worth proclaiming proudly.
Under so deliberate guidance, the talented young individuals were invigorated, pouring their sweat and youth into making significant achievents.
In this process, they neglected so things that should have received their attention.
Things that, before sprinting toward great achievents, should be firmly rembered by all humans.
By the ti Takizawa realized, it was already too late.
They had personally created one of the worst calamities of the Shiyu Research Institute.
That is, the person now standing before him.
“Ah…
you’re still…
alive…”
Takizawa’s lips trembled uncontrollably.
In contrast to his imnse fear, Shiyu Lianyi was remarkably calm.
“Yes, I am still alive.
I’ve been through a lot since leaving the institute, and now my life isn’t bad.”
Takizawa Yoshikazu struggled violently, desperately trying to bend his body forward, but he was unable to move due to the sturdy restraints.
The long-haired man on the chair repeated his futile struggles, spewing out fragnted pleas, “I’m sorry…
Please…!
Don’t curse !!”
Shiyu Lianyi soothed him gently, “I am not here for revenge; I just want to ask you two questions.
I won’t probe about the details of the plan, and in turn, I hope you can tell your honest thoughts.
Is that okay, Mr.
Takizawa?”
“Ah…
You…
really…”
“Please be assured, I’m no longer a child.”
What Shiyu Lianyi left unsaid was, just as you are no longer that young man who often laughed nervously when alone.
His words seed like a lifesaver to Takizawa.
This man was not afraid of death, nor did he fear interrogation.
Takizawa held in his heart goals much grander than before and believed in a supre God, firmly convinced that everything he had done was worthwhile.
But now, the dragon’s aura that protected his spirit was shattered by the fear instilled in him.
Because Takizawa had once witnessed the horrific states of his colleagues, seen their unbearable death throes.
The thought of facing such a painful death himself caused his once sturdy ntal defenses to crumble like a thatched hut.
Takizawa could not be certain that the other party’s words were indeed true.
His only option now was to believe; only by believing in this person could he temporarily escape his fear, even if it only allowed him minutes of normal breathing.
Shiyu Lianyi stood against the wall, his right hand clad in white gloves, raising a slender index finger.
“The first question.
In the recent battle, from the perspective of a forr researcher rather than a dragon worshipper, did you notice anything noteworthy?
Alternatively, you can share your opinions on those four individuals.”
Takizawa, as if obeying a command, searched through his mory.
He replied intermittently, “Sothing noteworthy, those four people…
the girl wearing a mask seems to be a Superpower User, with a limited range of ability, but her close combat skills are terrifying.
The Country’s Hunter is a genius of the Impermanence Skill, she has developed multiple applications of her abilities, but when I observed, her combat skills were a far cry from the practice of Impermanence.”
This statent seed to pique Shiyu Lianyi’s interest.
“Her skills and abilities are mismatched?”
“Rather, it is a difference in combat style.
From what I rember, most Hunters are converts, considering the Impermanence Skill as one of many tools to be used, balancing it with martial arts, guns, and Heart Phase Weapons in their strategy.
But that Hunter, she centered her combat on the Impermanence Skill, using archery and martial arts rely as supplents.
This way of thinking is more typical of traditional academies, or perhaps…”
Takizawa Yoshikazu racked his brains, trying to co up with a second fitting example, but under imnse ntal pressure, his mind blanked, unable to voice the word that was on the tip of his tongue.
“I understand.
Please continue, Mr.
Takizawa.”
Takizawa relaxed and proceeded with his recollection.
“The man wearing a mask, his Impermanence Skill…
I do not understand.
Lastly, that Superpower User.”
“What do you think about the Superpower User nad Gongsun Ce?”
Takizawa noticed that Shiyu Lianyi smiled.
This ant he had finally touched upon a topic of interest to him.
“He is very strange.”
As a rationale researcher, not a Mage focused on summoning gods, Takizawa thus declared.
“Too strange.
What in the world was that?
There was no ti to think things through during the battle, and looking back now, I can’t co up with any reasonable explanation.”
“What are you referring to?”
Takizawa rarely beca agitated, “It’s his superpower!
How can intangible forces and white matter be abilities of the sa person!
A superpower user only has one superpower, that’s common knowledge to everyone.
After my encounter with God, I have understood a deeper truth, and even using the theories you know, this phenonon can be explained.”
“Yes, please continue.”
“It’s known that a superpower user can display a variety of combat manifestations.
There exists such an example from a few years ago, still very active…
I rember being called…”
The tension brought a blank into his mind, and Shiyu Lianyi kindly prompted him, “The world’s number one superpower user?”
Takizawa nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, that’s him.
In retrospect, what he did was also to develop different uses for his abilities, just like the Hunters of the Country, transferring themselves, transferring weapons, incomplete transfers, but the core is the sa.
However, this interpretation clearly doesn’t apply to Gongsun Ce’s performance.
The intangible force, often referred to as Telekinesis, no matter how it changes, won’t alter its most fundantal nature.
The intangible force might beco colorful and transparent, but it couldn’t beco tangible matter.”
The forr researcher ca to a final conclusion, “That performance, it’s almost as if, a person has two abilities, how is that possible… theoretically…”
“From a researcher’s viewpoint, that’s how it is, thank you for your cooperation.
Now onto the second question, and after this one, I will leave.”
Shiyu Lianyi walked away from the wall, taking steps toward him.
Takizawa who had intended to deliver a long discourse imdiately stopped speaking.
He heard the young man in the suit say, “The last research project undertaken by Shiyu Research Institute before its destruction, do you have any knowledge of it?”
“I, I don’t know!” Takizawa denied in terror, “I fled the institute after the incident you caused.
I regretted, I repented, I was afraid!
My conscience was unsettled, and I never had any involvent with them ever again, never!
I really don’t know, please…!”
Shiyu Lianyi bent down, looking into his eyes.
“Let tell you.”
His next words made Takizawa forget to breathe.
“The last research conducted by Shiyu Research Institute before its downfall was to enable humans to inhabit the bodies of the Evil Dragon, letting sentient beings fill the empty husks without hearts…
To achieve immortality.”
“…………Ah?”
The sound that he emitted after a long stun was one of refusing to accept reality.
Unbelievable, unbearable, unthinkable, crazier than a joke, do you know what you’re saying, stop joking, just kill if you will, why say such absurd lies, this is, this is…
And then, shock crossed over fear, turning into fury.
“How dare they blasphe God, are they insane!!!
Deserved, well deserved!!!
That’s why the institute fell, it’s divine punishnt!!!”
Shiyu Lianyi patiently waited until the man had exhausted his anger through his words, letting fear once again dominate the heavier side of the scale.
“I… I…”
“You knew nothing…
That’s a good thing.
My inquiry is finished, thank you for your cooperation, Mr.
Takizawa.
Wait a mont while I finish processing, and we won’t et again.”
Shiyu Lianyi placed his hand on his head, smiling, “The price is a minute of pain.”
Takizawa began to tremble violently, he knew what was about to happen.
Before death could reach him, the forr researcher cried out his last words.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…!”
“The return is a loss of five minutes of mory.”
“——”
Takizawa incredulously looked up, seeing Shiyu Lianyi smiling mischievously, as if he had successfully played a prank.
“I won’t kill you, Mr.
Takizawa.
When you were a child, you even gave candy.”
Shiyu Lianyi walked out of the room with his back to him.
Takizawa felt his mory becoming blurred in his mind; he couldn’t rember who he had just been talking to, nor what was said.
What was the cause, a fragnt of mory surfaced in Takizawa’s mind.
It was a long ti ago when he was still at Shiyu Research Institute.
Occasionally, just occasionally.
The unsuccessful researcher, passing the dingy, dark room, would throw a low-quality candy inside.
He watched the young children sucking on the candy, laughing neurotically as if watching animals feed.
“Thank you… thank you…”
But whom to thank, why to thank, he also could no longer rember.
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