Chapter 90: New Temporary Template
As one of the few friends Zhou Ning had in this world, since Sherlock couldn't help him escape his fate, the least he could do was help him find release.
Sherlock was highly observant. Zhou Ning had always come across as calm and inscrutable, but just now, his aura had shifted drastically. It reminded Sherlock of that day when Zhou Ning dragged Elvis away—the sudden change made him feel… extremely dangerous.
"If anything happens, let us know," Sherlock said.
Zhou Ning gave a wordless nod. As he focused his mind, a prompt suddenly appeared before his eyes:
[You have triggered E-Rank Mission: "The Aberrant One." Accept/Decline?]
"Accept."
[Mission Brief: Your friend Richard has transformed into a monster. Kill him. Free him from his suffering.]
[Mission Reward: 10,000 EXP, Sunwatcher Reputation, Temporary Template Card x1.]
After accepting the mission, Zhou Ning took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before continuing toward the nearby alchemy lab.
He hadn't been entirely honest earlier. Through Observation Haki, he had already locked onto Richard's location.
It was a strange, twisted, and decayed presence—an aura so distinct it was clearly no longer human.
With steady hands, he inserted the key into the lock and gently turned it. The door swung inward with a soft creak.
In a corner of the alchemy lab, Zhou Ning saw a familiar figure curled up, facing the wall.
The figure flinched, then rasped, "Wayne, is that you?"
"It's me," Zhou Ning said in a low voice.
"I'm Richard… I don't feel so good…" Richard turned around. Zhou Ning saw his swollen head, bluish-gray skin, and the rotting aura emanating from his entire body.
"Maybe only you can help me now. By the Goddess of Nature, I didn't mean to hurt anyone. They all think I'm a monster… but I couldn't help it, I really couldn't. There's a voice—it just keeps whispering madness, describing madness, in my ear…"
"What do you want me to help you with?" Zhou Ning interrupted coldly.
"Help me get in touch with the Ascetics Church. I'm willing to convert to the Sun Goddess—so long as they can help me!" Richard tugged at the corner of his mouth, forcing a smile.
The moment he opened his mouth, Zhou Ning noticed blood and bits of flesh stuck to his teeth. His expression turned grim as he said,
"No. It's already too late."
"It's not too late! Please. We're friends, aren't we? You saved me once, and I helped you, too. This lab? It used to be mine. I only charged you a third of the price, remember? I'm getting married soon. I was going to ask you to be my best man."
Zhou Ning hardened his heart and shook his head. Richard paused, voice cracking with desperation as his mood suddenly turned erratic: "I get it now. You never really wanted to help me, did you? Otherwise, why would you knowingly send me to the Sunwatchers, knowing it's a dead end? Don't think I don't know anything! Remember Luke Shaw? You saved him with me—he went to the Sunwatchers and never came back!"
Whether due to his agitation or despair, Richard's body suddenly began to swell. Faint blackish-green smoke seeped from his body. He stomped forward violently, lunging at Zhou Ning with a gust of wind.
"Phew…"
Zhou Ning let out a slow breath, narrowed his eyes, then abruptly dodged backward. He raised his right hand and pulled the trigger of his revolver.
A glowing bullet shot from the barrel with intense rotation, striking Richard squarely in the chest. The explosive ripple from the impact caused him to let out a howl of pain as black smoke rose from his chest.
Richard's HP visibly dropped, but he was already consumed by bloodlust and slaughter. He barely paused before charging at Zhou Ning again.
Zhou Ning remained expressionless as he took careful aim at Richard's head and squeezed the trigger—six times in a row.
At that moment, Sherlock heard the gunfire and arrived on the scene with the Sunwatchers, just in time to witness the final scene.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each bullet was either wrapped in golden ripple energy or infused with dark Armament Haki, hammering into Richard's skull, causing him to reel backward repeatedly.
Bang!
As the long health bar finally vaporized, the last ripple-infused shot tore through Richard's forehead, leaving a blackened, smoking hole before he collapsed limply to the ground.
Zhou Ning stood silently over the corpse for a moment. He holstered his pistol, removed the hat from his head, placed it over his chest, and bowed slightly toward Richard.
"I'll leave the cleanup to you," he said to Sherlock with a faint, weary smile.
He knew Richard had likely been telling the truth. The Sunwatchers truly had no way to cure aberration. The only solution was physical elimination. From the start, death might have been the only path left for Richard. Such was the tragic fate of a small, powerless figure in this world.
The system prompt chimed:
[You have slain the Aberrant One: Richard Pessa (Lv.18). You gained 7,200 EXP.]
[Your reputation with the Sunwatchers has increased by 1,200!]
[Sunwatchers: Respectful (100/5000)]
[The Sunwatcher Faction Shop is now unlocked.]
[E-Rank Mission "The Aberrant One" completed. You gained 10,000 EXP. You received: Temporary Template Card x1 (Beginner). Draw now? Yes/No.]
Zhou Ning didn't select it right away. He put his hat back on and gave one last glance at Richard Pessa's corpse. Several Sunwatcher morticians were already at work, hoisting the massive body onto a stretcher.
"I'll have to find a new place when the lease is up," Zhou Ning thought.
…
Due to staying up late crafting Devil Fruits, Zhou Ning slept until noon the next day. It took him a while to clear his head and recall the events of the night before.
He sighed deeply.
After what had happened, he felt a faint sense of disappointment in the Sunwatchers for concealing—or even misleading him about—how aberration was dealt with.
Kien West had once told him that if he ever experienced auditory hallucinations, he should go to him immediately.
But thinking back now—was it possible that going there would have been the same as Luke Shaw? Never to return? Would they simply deal with him the same way—with bullets?
Although he could understand the logic from those in power, it was hard not to feel disappointed when he was the one potentially facing it.
Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss. Zhou Ning shook his head slightly, opened his interface, and chose to receive last night's reward.
[You have used a Temporary Template Card. You have received a random template: Heroic Warrior Zhou Ning.]
The card instantly took on a 3D form, projecting the image of a tall, burly Zhou Ning with a headscarf and piercing eyes—imposing and authoritative by nature.
[Character: Heroic Warrior Zhou Ning]
[Personality: Decisive, resolute, loyal, bold.]
[Talents: Born Leader (Purple), Martial Arts Prodigy (Purple), Extraordinary Strength (Blue)]
[Skills: Basic Fist Techniques (Master), Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms (Expert), Basic Internal Arts (Expert)]
Zhou Ning: …
Don't think I haven't read Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils—this is clearly Qiao Feng, right? This has to be Qiao Feng!
The problem was—what use was this template in worlds where people casually destroyed planets?
After a few seconds of silence, Zhou Ning put the card away. No matter—it'll come in handy eventually.
After washing up, Zhou Ning quickly got dressed. As agreed earlier, Kien would send someone for a trade. Until he found a better market, Zhou Ning wasn't about to cut off this business—it paid well and fast.
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