The Last Gentleman

When Captain Edmund confirmed the decision, the supervisor sitting nearby showed a gratified expression, as if anticipating this choice.

“Information regarding the ‘False Moon Incident’ is classified and stored in the archives of the mid-level section. The materials you will access are only mission-related and have been modified and filtered.

Remember two key points:

1. Once you have read the files, the mission is non-negotiable. Failure to complete the mission on time will result in severe disciplinary action, including memory erasure.

2. If it is discovered that you intentionally leaked information about the False Moon Incident, severe cases will lead to expulsion from the organization and exile from Zion.

If you’re ready to proceed, follow me.”

“Understood.”

With the team in agreement, there was no reason for hesitation.

The supervisor led them through an empty reception area, completing a simple identity verification process. They took a staff-only elevator to the mid-level section of the 'Gentlemen’s Hall', a zone specifically designed to assign tasks to high-ranking gentlemen who had surpassed their limits.

Unlike the open counters of the lower levels, the mid-level section emphasized privacy. It featured numerous private booths for task acquisition, ensuring each high-ranking gentleman received a one-on-one professional service.

The four-person squad was likewise guided to a private booth. Before long, a sealed document bearing the G&D wax seal was delivered. The supervisor personally broke the surface seal, then retrieved a small, ornate hourglass from his sleeve.

“You have ten minutes to read. Use your time wisely.”

......

#The False Moon Incident

371, ██ month, ██ day

In Vinal City, under indirect jurisdiction of the organization, both the local investigators and the Twilight Clinic reported no abnormalities before the ‘False Moon Incident’ occurred at ██:██ that evening.

On what should have been a fog-covered night, the dark sky became unnaturally clear, and two identical full moons appeared side by side.

This rare phenomenon immediately attracted the attention of the city's residents. Even though the local gentlemen investigators sounded a citywide alarm promptly, they could not prevent the event from unfolding.

Simulations conducted afterward indicated that within just two minutes of the moons’ appearance, over 60% of the city’s residents had witnessed the ‘False Moon’ firsthand.

Within an hour of the incident, residents who directly observed the False Moon developed a "Moon Mark" on their necks and exhibited early infection symptoms, indiscriminately attacking uninfected individuals within the city.

At the onset of the outbreak, Dr. McCoff, head of the Twilight Clinic, mobilized his staff and joined forces with local investigators to enforce mandatory suppression.

During the purge, utilizing covert measures previously set up by Dr. McCoff (details classified), they successfully identified the source of the False Moon Incident: a highly camouflaged and deceptive patient living among the residents.

At that time, this patient had already reached the "Open Source Phase", and the condition was identified as Moonscar.

Though they managed to eliminate the Open Source patient and resolve the incident, the cost was devastating. Nearly all local investigators perished, Dr. McCoff sustained severe injuries resulting in the loss of half his body, and he remains in a deep coma, still in critical condition.

Reinforcements arriving later thoroughly cleansed every corner of Vinal City, reducing the city to ruins.

......

As Edmund finished reading, cold sweat dripped from his face.

“An Open Source patient? Dr. McCoff critically injured, and the local investigators wiped out... This is...”

Yi Chen also frowned as he focused on the keyword 'Open Source', recalling a lesson from two months ago during pathology class.

Professor Zed delivered a particularly fascinating lecture titled "A Phased Overview of Living Pathogenic Transformations". It outlined the progressive stages living organisms undergo after infection and the dangerous forms they develop as they advance.

---

≮ Living Pathogenic Transformations ≯

Using 'humans' as an example (the differences in mammals are minimal; for non-mammals, the greater their divergence from humans, the more varied their transformations):

[Pathogenic Phase]

Also referred to as the initial stage of infection. Based on the characteristics of different pathogens, pathogenic transformations are categorized into two main types:

1. Physical Pathogenicity

2. Mental Pathogenicity

In the early stages of infection, individuals exhibit few or no pathogenic characteristics. Their aggressiveness is typically low, making them easy to eliminate.

These individuals often choose to disguise themselves or hide in unseen corners or shadows during this phase. Once the pathogen fully takes root in their bodies, forming a distinct "pathogenic structure," they are then classified as [Infected].

[Infected]

The infected possess full consciousness and view themselves as a part of the "disease."

They exhibit threatening pathogenic characteristics and instinctively invade and infect normal lifeforms that have not been corrupted.

The innkeeper and his sister encountered in Green Lake Town are such infected individuals. However, their self-control is extraordinarily high, approaching that of a "Patient Zero."

[Mutation Phase]

When infected individuals fulfill one or more conditions, such as:

- Surviving for a sufficient length of time,

- Infecting a significant number of living beings,

- Absorbing the essence of other infected individuals,

They formally enter the mutation phase.

During this phase, the "pathogenic structure" integrates more deeply with the infected, becoming a permanent part of their body structure. It no longer manifests as conspicuous features like boils or rashes but instead camouflages itself as organ tissue or blends into the flesh, making it difficult to detect (hiding their weaknesses).

At the same time:

- Their pathogenic characteristics grow significantly stronger.

- Fundamental changes may occur in their body structure, such as:

- Growing oversized, non-standard limbs,

- Developing wings capable of flight,

- Growing an additional brain specialized in storing mental energy and collaborative computation, etc.

Infected individuals who successfully transition through this stage are collectively referred to as "Severe Infected".

A gentleman of "human" status would find it nearly impossible to kill a severe infected individual alone. Even teams face considerable risk when encountering them.

[Open Source Phase]

Teacher Zed originally did not plan to cover this phase of infection, as new gentlemen are assigned manageable tasks under the organization's guidance, ensuring they rarely encounter such entities.

However, due to Yi Chen’s presence and Zed's exceptionally good mood that day, he indulged everyone's curiosity and shared a brief overview.

A rare few infected individuals can achieve "perfect fusion" with their pathogenic structures—a fusion that reaches the soul level.

Once achieved:

- The infected touch upon the ≮Origin Disease≯ from a distant old world, undergoing a 'qualitative transformation'.

- Their bodies manifest extraordinary "old world characteristics" far beyond modern reality.

- They gain strength far surpassing typical infected, and conventional pathogen weaknesses no longer apply.

Instead, they develop a "health bar"—a tubular structure suspended above their heads that represents their "Origin Disease" and total life force.

These beings often hide this feature, which can only be discerned by those proficient in ancient living script.

They are collectively referred to as [Open Source].

To defeat such beings, specific killing techniques are required to deplete their "health bar." Only when the liquid within the tubular structure is entirely drained can they be truly harmed.