Chapter 576 - COMPETE FAIRLY (1/2)

When the long-awaited day of the Triennial Championships came, everyone on the island was excited. But the opening was not set until the evening. Still, most of the people on the island, from the visitors to the residents, and even the competitors were buzzing with activity.

Moreover, the structure of the tournament was announced in the morning, allowing for people to place their bets.

The gambling houses on the island felt like they were on top of the world. Not only were they able to receive bets from the locals on Martial Island, but they were also getting money from external members of the island who could only watch the matches on an exclusive streaming platform.

Unfortunately, none of the residents, competitors, guests and gambling bosses knew that their excitement would amount to nothing.

Behind the scenes, a troubling scheme was brewing. And it would mean the end of the beautiful dream they had of glorious martial battles.

In a prominent part of Martial Island, Phoebe Lambert was preparing to check on her project before closing up for a few days. Since the second disappearance of Jiang Yinuo, she had complete autonomy of the research project on the rare material.

The Iekami clan was also involved, but their circles were different. The Iekamis wanted to find a cure for the people who had been affected by the rampaging energy of the bad rare material. They wanted to return the status quo.

However, Phoebe had greater plans.

She was not the most brilliant scientist, but she had a knack for putting things together. By using the research findings by both Hime Iekami, no, Takahashi Hime and the insights provided by Jiang Yinuo, she planned to create something better.

So far, her research had proven that the zombie drug combined with the tainted rare material could give rise to creatures similar to zombies.

The only problem was that she could not control them. The creatures were mindless and would only remain alive without anything but a relentless hunger.

She looked at the creatures in the glass boxes, hitting helplessly on the clear material. These zombies were once-promising members of the middle-class families on Martial Island. But they had consumed the tainted rare material in an attempt to get stronger.

Now, they could only be experimental subjects for Phoebe's pet project.

”Your sacrifice will not be in vain. I will find a way to make you rise again. I will give you the power you wanted.” Phoebe said as she double-checked the security system. ”Of course, you must remember to obey me when the time comes.”

”You are still as retarded as ever, Ms Lambert.” A sweet voice spoke up.

Phoebe was startled by the voice. This level of the research lab was a secret. The research company outwardly served all of Martial Island, but it was funded by the Lambert family. The family leader built the secret level for Phoebe after she explained her plans.

Normal research on the rare material continued in the upper levels with just a few experimental subjects. Those subjects were treated humanely. As for the monstrosities kept by Phoebe, only a few trusted members of the Lambert family knew about them.

”You… What are you doing here?” Phoebe asked.

Jiang Yinuo laughed. ”Is that the best you can come up with?”

”You should leave. The research lab has nothing to do with you anymore.” Phoebe said with some apprehension.

She was always a little afraid of Jiang Yinuo. Perhaps, that fear came from the knowledge that she would never be the smartest or prettiest girl on Martial Island. Or maybe, she knew that Jiang Yinuo could see through her.