The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

Chapter 368

Thump!

With a reflexive slam on the table, Francis's eyes flew wide open in disbelief.

"Oh... Ahhh..." His hand trembled uncontrollably as he continued to trace the academic text. "My goodness... My goodness..."

Incredulous, he repeated "my goodness" over and over again, hastily scanning through the entire academic text. Then, as though entranced, he stared at the marred blueprint before sinking down onto the floor. His face went blank as he sat down, pulling at the blueprint on the table. Then, he frantically scanned the one that had fallen to the floor.

"Incredible... Incredible!!" With a shout, he jumped up.

Francis found it astounding. He had no initial reason to enter this isolation area. Among the various branches of alchemy, he held a significant position as an elder in the golem faction. Within the faction, he dedicated his life to creating flawless artificial life, treading the fine line between taboo and non-taboo.

His focus was not on the bulky and rigid golems but on crafting artificially conscious humans. In fact, his numerous papers on golem studies within the alchemy faction had achieved remarkable milestones in the realm of artificial intelligence golems, which were previously dismissed as mere fantasies.

He was known as the Puppeteer, the father of the puppet, in academic circles. Some envied him as a puppet enthusiast, while others recognized him as an astonishing alchemist who forged a new path. His ultimate goal was to create a golem that closely resembled a human without violating the alchemist's taboo, much like the Divine Sword Caldeiras.

From that perspective, he had already surpassed the taboo, yet no one condemned him. He had been researching bio-golems but had never delved into the crucial matters of birth and lifespan.

Chief Researcher Penicillin, with his expertise in human anatomy, captivated Francis as a valuable research talent. Penicillin was renowned for his eccentric and innovative ideas, and given Francis's encounters with alchemists specializing in human anatomy, he was keen on observing Penicillin's potential.

Francis believed that if Penicillin wholeheartedly devoted himself to the study of bio-dolls, something monumental might emerge. However, even if Penicillin offered assistance, Francis would only provide the bare minimum, setting clear boundaries and not exceeding them.

Today, like always, Francis had come to seek Penicillin's insights on the blueprints he had toiled over for years. He grew impatient with Penicillin's evasive behavior but carefully considered the situation. Upon returning from checking reports in the research lab that followed him in the academic world, Francis was confronted with a few words that fundamentally challenged the stereotypes he had spent decades constructing and the blueprints he had struggled to create.

The comments were deeply written, accompanied by carelessly drawn check marks. If someone unaware of the context were to see this, they would be outraged at the desecration of such a precious blueprint and its inherent value. Yet, Francis did not succumb to anger.

"Huh? Elder Francis, why are you on the floor…?"

Snatch!!

After supporting Baron Gorneo by providing necessary medical supplies, Penicillin returned to find Francis sprawled on the floor. As he approached him to speak, Penicillin recoiled in surprise when Francis looked up at him with a madman's gaze before he lunged forward and tightly grasped both of his arms.

"Let go, please! I'm not interested in men!"

"Listen, Penicillin! You're incredible! My eyes didn't deceive me! You truly are a genius sent from heaven!"

Penicillin was taken aback by Francis' fervent reaction, silently staring back at him.

"I beg your pardon? What is all this…?" Penicillin mumbled, his expression one of bewilderment, and then shifted his gaze to the blueprint on the ground. "Oh my goodness! Who dared to doodle on this valuable and expensive blueprint…?!"

"It's not a doodle! It's a revolution! A groundbreaking perspective! In all my years of studying and researching in this field, I have never encountered such a paradigm shift! Our conventional wisdom has been completely overturned! Do you grasp the magnitude of this?!"

"Ah... yes." Trembling, Penicillin responded.

Francis, almost resembling a madman, let out a roar. "You! Join me! With your help, we can create a masterpiece that will be immortalized in history!"

"Please, release me, Elder!"

"Penicillin! I will give you anything you desire! In return, your expertise..."

"What in the world are you talking about, Elder?!" In the end, Penicillin could no longer bear it and forcefully shook off Francis' hand. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Elder. What is happening all of a sudden…?"

"This comment! This critique! And these incredible perspectives! Weren't they what I asked of you? What I entrusted to you! You have discovered and pointed out all the problems and improvements in the theory and blueprint I created in such a short time! It's truly astonishing..."

"That...wasn't me."

Francis came to a halt. "What did you say?"

"Who did what...to that blueprint... Didn't you bring it, Elder? I left immediately after you did."

"Then... Who did this…?" His face filled with terror, Francis began to tremble. "Then who left behind such amazing insights and disappeared?! Tell me! Who could casually enter your tent and write down this knowledge…?"

"Well... To be honest, I told anyone in need of assistance to come in, but..." Penicillin calmly murmured as he slowly walked away. He then approached the guard stationed at the entrance of the tent from the disease control team and asked, "Sir knight, has anyone other than me and Elder Francis visited here?"

The guard pondered for a moment and then shook his head. "No, apart from Prince Davey... Um, if I'm not mistaken? His appearance has changed suddenly, so I'm a little confused. In any case, nobody else was here except Prince Davey. He left just a few minutes after you."

Penicillin chuckled wryly upon hearing those words. "This is quite a predicament, Elder."

Francis's eyes widened. "Wait a minute. You mentioned someone being here."

"Prince Davey? Oh, yes, he was here. We had a conversation. Don't you know him? He's the prince who currently holds the greatest influence on the continent. Moreover, he single-handedly defeated the devastating disease that was rampant in this quarantine area, as if it were just a common cold from a close friend. He's renowned for his saintly deeds."

"That..."

"Honestly, Elder, you are so engrossed in doll-making that you neglect to keep up with the news of the world. You should take care of yourself, at least for the well-being of your disciples."

Under normal circumstances, Francis would have dismissed such nagging, but his mind was occupied with other thoughts.

"That... That must be it." His eyes gleamed, and he abruptly stood up, dashing off like a man possessed. "Prin-Prince Davey!!! Prince Daveyyy!"

Penicillin found it rather amusing to witness the typically serious Francis in such a flustered state. He muttered to himself, "Good grief... Has he eaten something that didn't agree with him?"

* * *

"The divine created the world."

The sound of footsteps reverberated in the silent underground passageway.

"And the world brought forth life."

As the tranquil murmuring came to a close, a moan echoed through the corridor.

Uhnnn...

Simultaneously, a faint light illuminated the figure responsible for the voice. It was indeed the sound of Davey's footsteps.

"Life diverges, evolves independently, develops..."

Tap... Tap...

"Uuhh... Uhh..."

"Uhh..."

"Living together, developing, and evolving."

Davey said in a calm voice, "Do you know where this passage comes from?"

In response to Davey's indifferent question, a groan emerged from the bound and gagged man beyond the light. He stared at Davey in terror.

"Viscount Rutismar."

"Davey, do you really need to act so imposing?" Perserque asked.

"...Just keep quiet for now! Before I stick horns on your head with glue." Davey sulked at Perserque’s playful opinion, which unnecessarily lightened up the mood.

After coughing a few times, Davey resumed his solemn expression.

"It is the content of the first verse of Genesis, the first chapter of the Bible," he said calmly, smiling brightly and snapping his fingers.

Whizz!

"Ughh!"

At that moment, the men's mouths, which had been tightly shut, regained their freedom in an instant.

"Huhuk! Look, Prince Davey! What on earth is going on?"

"R-Right! Let's talk it out through nonviolent means, okay?"

If these men were incapable of assessing the situation, they would not have survived this long. However, their inability to grasp the situation had led them to their current predicament.

Fear was the only emotion they felt after being suppressed by an assassin and dragged into this unknown underground. The secrecy of this place was so pervasive that anyone could die without anyone knowing, and there was no one to rescue them.

"You have quite a few obedient soldiers," Davey remarked, causing Viscont Rutismar to flinch.

"Tell me, Viscount Rutismar. What did you order them to do?"

Davey's question made him tremble violently.

Swish!!!

"Nooooo!!!"

As his fingers were sliced off, leaving behind a bright red afterimage, Viscount Rutismar screamed and writhed on the ground.

The other men who were witnessing the situation beside him were shocked and flailed about, as if attempting to break through an invisible barrier. They were likely startled by the eerie aura that surrounded Davey.

Count Geliman, whose hair had fallen out due to Davey's curse of baldness, involuntarily urinated himself and trembled in fear.

"Would you care to answer?" Davey asked grimly.

Rinne was by his side, having formed something resembling a gun barrel in her hand. She then suggested, "Davey, should I blow off one of their legs?"

"Wait."

"Rinne, highly praised for her marksmanship. She can control life activities right before their cessation."

"Wait."

"Rinne, low chance of missing the opportunity."

"You don't have to dirty your hands with this," Davey stated, causing Rinne to withdraw with a slightly dissatisfied expression.

"You don't have to speak if you don't want to. Aina."

After Davey’s call, a Dark Elf dressed in black emerged from the shadows. She had gone to great lengths to hide from him, and her stealth skills were sharper than ever.

"Can you see me here?"

"If you tell me why you've been hiding in the shadows, I'll comply with your wishes."

"Shut your mouth." Aina drew her sword with a cold voice. "Extracting confessions is my specialty."

She was an assassin, a Dark Elf who was favored by both spirits of light and darkness. She was a special being among her kind.