The Gentleman at the End

Two years have passed since William Behrens won the "qualification" through a special performance, becoming the first-ever Madman Plague Master.

The "World Infection" that the Patients have been eagerly awaiting has finally been completed.

Various epidemic buildings, organizations, and armies have sprung up throughout the new world of the Grey Zone, rapidly partitioning the land of the new world.

The G&D organization, unique to humans, has not fallen into peril due to the complete arrival of the Patients. Instead, it has quickly gained protection from multiple forces, and based on [Zion], it has established a brand-new, diverse city-state, ten times the previous scale.

At the moment the world infection was completed,

a group of Stargazers with large heads and crystal-like eyes and silver-white skin arrived at [Zion] through the Space Channel to formally meet Principal Desline, a human Stargazer, thanking her for sharing Star Maps of this world over the years, allowing the Stargazers to maintain the activity of the Platinum Blood within them.

To express their gratitude, the Stargazers collectively settled in Zion, and were even willing to assist in cultivating talents with aptitude for Stargazing.

Additionally,

Ascender Reagan Ludwig also promptly settled down with The Neisseria Ones, moving the Neisseria Lab, originally hidden in the depths of an Old World mine, directly to the lower end of the mountain range where Zion is located through Space Transfer technology, even sharing some ancient technology to connect it to Zion's Power Station.

The Skin Factory and Blood People, which the organization has always been worried about, have not caused any trouble,

the 'Seven Marquis' Gluttony Gratoni who once invaded Zion even personally visited with Zede to apologize and represented the Blood People in proposing cooperation with the organization.

Anyone with talent in blood matters, willing to accept the Blood Plague, can receive "Blood Exchange Technology" provided by the Blood People, and blood exchangers can go to the new estate to receive relevant training.

Additionally, there is the Cancer Palace privilege brought by Jin Almeda,

given that the organization has cultivated many excellent talents, the Lord also values the potential of humanity, sending the Venerable Tumor Knight Order to sign a cooperation treaty with the organization, opening talent pathways, allowing capable individuals to develop in the Cancer Palace.

Of course,

the true key factor for Zion to become an important city-state in the new world in a short time lies in the protection authority bestowed by the Pathology, and this authority originated from Yi Chen.

By killing the Old World's greatest evil, the number one wanted criminal, Art Kramer, Yi Chen earned [reward]. Rather than choosing a tangible reward, he stood with William to choose a reward that allowed the Pathology to protect the entire organization and the main city of Zion.

After just one year of development, Zion's scale can now be ranked among the top three neutral cities in the world, no longer just a human sanctuary, but even called [Ascending City] among the Patients.

The reason is simple, Zion has connections with multiple organizations and Source Epidemic Areas, and anyone who can become a "gentleman" among them will gain many ascending opportunities.

Those Patients born in the new world or other continent's infected Patients with different illnesses have flocked here to undergo a gentleman's assessment.

The organization naturally has also increased the difficulty of the assessment, especially in the aspect of Heart, strictly checking.

Additionally worth mentioning is that,

the new world's sun and moon surprisingly have the flavor of past Pathology, the sun emits a glow similar to the Evil Sun, nourishing various types of plagues.

When night falls, the cold Moonlight will spread over the world,

however, in some areas when bathing in moonlight, 'haunting incidents' are frequently reported.

For example, the shadow of Patients in the moonlight can distort into nameless monsters, or occasionally some monsters with Moon-like heads quickly flash through moonlit woods.

Some even begin to have bizarre dreams after prolonged exposure to moonlight and find it difficult to discern reality upon waking, with their own illnesses beginning to change.

Lastly, it is necessary to mention the Fear Circus where the Chief Clown was killed, and the Chief Actor and Assistant Clown subsequently departed.

Perhaps due to the vitality brought by the new world or perhaps some ingredient within the circus brought a longevity effect,

the boss is still alive and relocated to the new world promptly.

But the performance concept of the circus has changed, becoming somewhat more human; now any Audience coming to watch the circus performance needs to pay [Ancient Coin] to purchase tickets in advance.

Although the performance still draws upon feelings of fear, it will not be entirely depleted, and once the fear value drops below half, Audiences are asked to leave early.

Those with ability can even learn things during the performance, and might receive an invitation to join the circus.

After Zede joined the circus and became the Fourth Leader,

Zion's two-faced Prophet Martin and Marko also followed suit, becoming Mr. Jian's assistants, known as [Assistant Magicians], enjoying the Freedom privilege, not being bound by the circus outside of performances.

As for Nash, shortly after that incident, he also returned to the circus.

The boss originally wanted Nash to replace William's position as the Chief Actor to rebuild the theater, but Nash politely declined,

his response was simple; a theater without William is incomplete and unnecessary.

He also resigned from the Deputy Actor position, reclaiming the [J] identity to handle some secretive matters for the circus. Equipped with Special Iron Chains and understanding Death, he now operates with efficiency rivaling that of Art.

Of course, whenever Mr. Yi needs anything, Nash takes leave and rushes to him immediately.

Today coincided with the circus's big break,

Zede, along with Prophet Marko and Martin, was returning to Zion when Nash, clad in a poker-faced [J] mask, gasped and hurried over,

"Teacher of the boss! Please wait! I wonder if I can follow you to Zion. I also want to see the city where the boss used to live; perhaps I can still smell his presence there."

Nash's eyes glistened with tears, having often wandered through the circus, unconsciously heading towards the theater and dreaming of performing with William, leaving him quite depressed.

"Let's go."

"Thank you, teacher of the boss!"

"Speaking of, do you know where the young man named Yi is now?"

"Yi, the boss? Not too sure… it's been half a year since I last contacted him because he said he had important matters to handle and not to actively reach out to him, unless he reached out to me."

"Alright."

As the three sped towards Zion,

Buzz!

Nash's internal iron chains shuddered, Zede's Physical body trembled slightly, and Marko and Martin had already turned their heads.

In the world sky thousands of kilometers away,

one could vaguely see space forcibly squeezed into a funnel-shaped opening, accompanied by several beams of light descending, among which a golden beam was most conspicuous.

Even from such a distance, it was possible to feel true pressure, not belonging to a plague.

"Divine Presence! Has the guy from the outside world come?"

Meanwhile,

a voice, ancient yet kind, spread through the air to every corner of the world.

§ To all in the Pathology World, I am Lung Venerable Zhen Jin Hao Hua, visiting with ten Divine Status holders, with absolutely no malice but rather to bring unique opportunities, gifts, and foresight to you.

We will be setting up a [Stage] in an open area without disturbing your development, where any Patient below the level of Plague Master can come to undergo our tests.

Even if not completely successful, there will be definite gains.

Of course, if a Plague Master is interested in visiting, we would absolutely welcome them. §