94. The So-Called "God"

“We are hunters, born with an innate keen sense of smell,” Gru said, a flicker of pride flashing briefly in his eyes. “We can tell a person’s health, their recent diet, just by scent... using this to select targets and distinguish others of our kind.”

Dean tightened his grip on his gun, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “So hunters would attack their own kind?”

“Some do, but most consider it taboo—no killing among kin. I’m one of the majority,” Gru shook his head, his face paling, his voice weak. “Can you take me to a hospital first? Or at least help treat my wounds?”

Dean shook his head, his cold gaze shifting between the man and the cold storage room.

“You have nothing to do with the deceased. You’re no Superman or Batman...” Gru tried to reason, “You don’t need to go against me for a bunch of lowlifes at the bottom of society.”

“Spare me, and I’ll fulfill all your wishes.”

Dean wasn’t after justice with this guy; he changed the subject directly.

“You claim your genes and heritage affect you. So your father, Layton Stone, your mother, Shannon Stone, your siblings—they’re hunters too?”

Gru turned his head, avoiding Dean’s gaze, then nodded after a moment.

“Polished on the surface, from high society—how respectable,” Dean said, aiming his gun at his third leg. “I’m curious, how many people has your family of six killed to survive until now?”

“Not many at all. Just a tiny fraction—one in a hundred thousand—of those who die annually from disease, war, and herbal remedies worldwide is enough to sustain my family!”

“And in this society, money can buy anything, and let you do whatever you want.”

“Then guess—can you buy your own life?”

Dean asked.

Gru urged him eagerly, “Money, status, women don’t tempt you? Then what about health and strength?”

“What do you mean?”

“We hunters not only have extraordinary senses but also long lifespans and strong physiques. We live twenty to thirty years longer than ordinary people. We hardly ever get sick—from the common cold to cancer, we’re immune!”

“If we eliminate certain especially powerful individuals, we can even absorb a bit of their strength and become stronger.”

“You’re not lying?” Dean recalled that special diets made them vulnerable to a virus—how could these hunters become stronger?

...

“No, no, I swear to God!” Gru’s eyes burned as he looked at Dean. “If you spare me, I’ll bring you into our family. You’re already strong as a human, but as a hunter, you’ll rise to the top of the food chain!”

“God doesn’t have time to oversee your heresy,” Dean said after a moment’s thought, shaking his head. “I’m not sick either. I’ll never become as repulsive as you.”

“Besides, didn’t you say monsters are born, not made?”

“Most are, but there is a being who can help you transform—yes!” Gru seemed to be convincing himself as much as Dean, emphasizing, “It can change your constitution.”

Dean blinked in surprise.

“Turn an ordinary person into a hunter? Who has that ability? Layton Stone?”

“No, my father can’t do that. I mean another, far more exalted being.”

Dean felt his heart skip a beat, lowering his voice. “What is it?”

“I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, but I know that in the past two years, Layton and Shannon found a powerful being outside and brought it back to the estate to worship. They offer it sacrifices periodically.”

“Layton calls it an ancestor, a god, a lost wanderer from their homeland. It guides our future and enhances our gifts.”

“Tell me more.”

“I don’t know much. Layton thinks I’m too young, so I haven’t met this god yet.”

“But after persistent pleading from me and my siblings, their attitude is softening rapidly. Soon, they’ll take us to see this god,” Gru’s complexion grew even paler, but a trace of excitement tinted his voice. “Come back with me to witness the ‘god’ and join the clan, become blood brothers with us!”

Dean noticed Gru used “it” to describe this thing, confirming it wasn’t human.

He silently thanked fate for not killing this guy outright.

But tracing a kidnapper only to uncover a supernatural entity—was this the ubiquitous convergence principle Tim had mentioned? A response to thought.

A prompt flashed before his eyes.

New event triggered—The God

During your interrogation of kidnapper Gru Stone, you uncovered his true identity as a hunter.

To save his life, he revealed a startling secret: the Stone family worships a non-human entity capable of transforming you into a hunter.

Go forth and witness this so-called “God” or “Ancestor” for yourself.

Then choose—join its ranks or kill it.

Event difficulty: Medium

Progress (0/100)

Deadline: One week

Reward: 150 experience points + a special reward (depending on the outcome)

...

Gru was oblivious to the coldness in Dean’s eyes, still passionately preaching, a sickly flush coloring his pale face. To survive, he had gone all in.

“We become a clan, sharing strength, status, wealth, and lifespan!”

“You will leap into the upper echelons of Las Vegas society.”

Gru extended his hand.

“Come, brother, don’t give up this precious chance for evolution for the sake of those pitiful mortals!”

Dean shook his head, his face dim under the kitchen light.

“You and your family have plotted this, haven’t you? Set traps all over the estate, just waiting to shoot me to pieces once I step inside.”

“No way! I swear, today’s action was purely personal!” Gru was still unaware of the verbal trap Dean had set. “Layton and the others don’t know!”

Dean relaxed, his features softening. The plan should proceed smoothly now.

“I need to verify your credibility. Answer my questions honestly.”

“As long as you don’t kill me, ask away.”

...

Dean helped Gru back onto the sofa, fetched disinfectant and bandages, and redressed his wounds to prevent excessive bleeding.

Then, like a machine gun, Dean fired questions nonstop, even pulling out paper and pen to take notes.

“How often do you return to the estate? What car do you drive?”

“What’s your usual fashion style?”

“Which room do you sleep in?”

“How are your relationships with your siblings?”

“What are your family members’ personalities?”

“When dining with your family, what’s your favorite dish?”

...

Gru’s expression slowly turned to one of surprise. Dean’s questions were sharp and strange, leaving him baffled.

“Wait, why do you keep asking about my daily life and habits? How does this prove my credibility?”

“The rule is I ask, you answer,” Dean’s voice was icy, his gaze sharp as a blade. “One more word of nonsense or a lie, and I’ll make sure you die a miserable death.”

Gru’s lips trembled but dared not question further.

Dean continued his interrogation for an hour until the first light of dawn seeped through the window. He had extracted every last detail from Gru’s gut and carefully stowed the densely written notes.

Gru licked his dry, cracked lips, nervously asking, “Can I have a drink of water?”

“Hm, you did well. Go ahead,” Dean unusually offered a rare encouraging smile, watching Gru hobble toward the fridge.

He then drew his silenced pistol and aimed at the back of Gru’s golden hair.

Bang!

Blood splattered.

The body collapsed with a thud.

At the same moment, the spirit board in Dean’s arms emitted a glow and warmth.

You have killed Gru Stone. Proficiency +4, Shooting Lv2 (4/300).

Dean glanced at the bloodied corpse and shook his head.

“How could I ever go home with you?”

“I will go back in your place.”

Dean crouched down, collecting some of Gru’s fresh blood samples, then dragged the corpse into the cold storage, placing it among the pile of other desecrated victims before slamming the door shut.

Let darkness and frost eternally envelop Gru Stone.

“You like freezing people into popsicles so much; now taste it yourself.”

“Maybe offer a proper apology to those restless souls.”

...

Next, Dean took out the spirit board and summoned Gru’s soul, freshly absorbed, to interrogate once more, cross-referencing the two sets of notes.

Once confirmed, he pierced it through and took it away.

You have slain a ghost. Proficiency +1, Combat Lv2 (89/300).

...

Dean glanced at his system’s mimicry skill:

Lv0 (25/100)

Gru Stone’s blood sample, replacing the previous one.

Analyzing: 23 hours 50 minutes 10 seconds.

Mimicry cooldown time: 2 days 22 hours...

“In three days, I, Gru Stone II, will go to Layton’s estate and uncover what this so-called ‘God’ truly is.”

(End of chapter)