Chapter Ninety-Six: The Original Purpose Behind the Founding of the Transcendent Manor

Yua was speaking politely in outward form, but her chin had clearly lifted a full inch higher than before, making her, already half a head taller than Wenyu, seem even more overbearing.

Then, when she had finished, she turned her gaze away, as though unwilling to waste another thought on the great director of Wenyu.

It was both a provocation and a display of confidence.

The great director Wenyu frowned slightly, her eyes devoid of even the slightest trace of a smile.

As one of the upper ranks of the City of Energy, she carried the certainty of victory in her heart. How could she tolerate an outsider boiling water and brewing tea in her own territory?

Her gaze then settled on the man beside Yua, Ye Chen, dressed as a researcher from the Transcendent Manor.

Wenyu let out a soft, disdainful snort.

"Heh. I never would have guessed that Director Yua is such a woman of feeling. Even the assistant she brings along is a pretty face."

Ye Chen had been enjoying the spectacle quite happily, when suddenly his expression twitched.

Who are you calling a pretty face?

And what on earth is wrong with targeting me all of a sudden?

Ye Chen, who hated that particular phrase more than anything, was just about to argue with the woman when Yua nudged his foot with her pointed heel and gave a cold laugh.

"We’re here to take care of business, unlike Director Wen here, who’s so leisurely she may very well be searching for a wealthy patron on the side, or perhaps finding herself a new kept man.

"She’s rather busy, so let’s not waste her time."

Those words were meant for Ye Chen, and also for everyone else nearby.

It was as though she were saying that this woman’s fondness for keeping men was common knowledge, known to all.

If anyone here was interested, they could try their luck and see whether their wealth or their looks might win a beauty’s smile.

Ah... wherever there are women, there is always a world of intrigue; and if the women happen to be beautiful, then that world is bound to be drenched in blood and storm.

Ye Chen silently came to this conclusion. Closing his mouth, he averted his eyes as well, preserving the upright and righteous image a researcher from the Transcendent Manor ought to have.

Wenyu folded her arms and walked away with a cold snort.

In such a public setting, the two of them had both held themselves in check quite well.

Yet in their hearts, each had quietly grown heated.

...

As Ye Chen continued strolling with Yua, a question suddenly surfaced in his mind.

"Why doesn’t the Transcendent Manor set up its own exhibition area? By rights, you people should have more than enough worth showing."

Upon hearing this, Yua hesitated slightly.

His question seemed to strike at the heart of the matter, and she felt it necessary to set the record straight for the Transcendent Manor.

She asked calmly, "Didn’t Yuanzi introduce you to the background of the Transcendent Manor?"

Ye Chen recalled that when he had first entered the Transcendent Manor, Yuanzi had indeed given him a brief explanation, so he nodded and said, "She did. She only mentioned the three major areas the Transcendent Manor covers: medicine, education, and serving the awakened."

That was content displayed in a scrolling banner on the big screen; anyone who had seen it once or twice would know it.

Yua thought for a few seconds, then suddenly asked a question that left Ye Chen completely baffled.

"When you were in the Transcendent Manor, did you ever see a huge black door? Did Yuanzi tell you what was behind it?"

Ye Chen nodded, indicating that he had heard of it.

Yua gave a soft "mm" and said seriously, "Then let me tell you: when the Transcendent Manor was first founded, it was not called the Transcendent Manor. Its original name was the Human Research Institute.

"It studied both the history of humanity before the awakening, and the present condition of mankind, from which the field of medicine was born.

"And serving the awakened was only about serving a small and particular segment of humanity.

"Later, because the awakened possessed traits that set them above the ordinary, and because the rulers of the major cities were among the strongest awakened of the present age, the Human Research Institute was renamed the Transcendent Manor in order to better suit public understanding.

"But our original purpose has never changed. The Transcendent Manor conducts all kinds of research from the standpoint of serving all humanity, and never serves any single group alone.

"This is also one of the reasons the Transcendent Manor has been able to maintain its independence. We are not merchants, and we certainly would never take part in an exhibition and sale whose sole purpose is profit."

Though Yua’s words were cold and detached in tone, a note of pride could nevertheless be sensed within them.

Ye Chen listened with repeated astonishment; her explanation carried far more force than Yuanzi’s had at the time.

But in the next instant, he suddenly came to his senses.

Damn it, I nearly believed all of that.

The Transcendent Manor was the kind of deep-pocketed giant that made money in silence, because it never needed to advertise the channels through which it profited.

However, there was one thing Ye Chen had to admit: the Transcendent Manor’s ideals suited his taste very well.

His own small goal was to protect a tiny home, whereas the Transcendent Manor had long since set its sights high, aiming to protect the greater whole.

"Then how does one become an official researcher?" he asked tentatively.

Yua’s cool and beautiful features first showed a faint stir, then gradually thawed, and at last she revealed a smile as pure as a snow lotus.

"Just accompany me in conducting all kinds of experiments, and I can promote you exceptionally to the rank of official researcher."

...Bah. What snow-lotus smile? This is clearly the devil’s seduction. You’re setting a trap for me here.

"Ah, well... let me think about it!"

Yua added, "If you become a subordinate researcher under me, you’ll also have the chance to return with me to the City of Steel and take part in other research projects."

Her proposal was as if she already knew Ye Chen had begun entertaining the idea of visiting other cities.

In truth, Yua had long since formed her own thoughts and plans.

After the previous container accident, repeated tests confirmed that the equipment had no malfunction, and it was also verified that an A-grade reagent had indeed been injected.

And yet the subject of the test had merely been a feeble E-grade, who was perfectly fine and still leaping about beside them.

This only further stirred Yua’s thirst for inquiry and discovery. This mystery had to be solved somehow.

But while she was skilled in the field of awakened artifacts, her brother was only interested in history.

In the City of Energy, the two great directors of the Transcendent Manor found themselves helpless and without a clue.

Only by returning to the City of Steel would there be any chance of unraveling this mystery, because her grandfather was in the City of Steel.

And the old man’s strongest field happened to be medicine.

In his own words, the human body was a treasury containing endless secrets.

History is created by people, and awakened powers likewise exist by relying on people.

When the day comes that we can unravel the secrets hidden within ourselves, that will be the beginning of mastering all the mysteries of the world.

At the thought of this, Yua could not help licking her lips again.

That unconscious gesture made Ye Chen tremble with alarm.

Wait a minute. Are you sure I’m only your subordinate researcher, and not your experimental subject?

Still, the conditions for this cross-city trip... he felt himself wavering a little, and asked weakly, "Then will it end up like last night’s experiment, with you tormenting me to death?"

"No!" Yua answered decisively and at once, while thinking to herself: if it can’t be tormented to death, then I’ll just torment it to death.