7 The Good and Bad Sides of Mutation

~Hey author here. Just wanted to mention that I will be putting the speech by system in [….] instead of '….' from now on to avoid confusion.

~Btw, this chapter took me a lot of effort to write, so please read it carefully.

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'Excuse me?' These were the only words that Long Yu could utter in response.

[Would host like for system to repeat again?] The system asked.

Right now, although Long Yu knew that the system did not have the ability to joke, he couldn't help but want to believe so.

'System, it's a joke right?'

[It is an inevitable event that will occur. The mutant genes have long existed in various species on earth, including homo sapiens. There has also been signs of the mutant genes' rapid evolution since many months ago.]

'How can that be? If that is true, then how come no one has found out about it yet?'

[System has calculated that the mutation in other species such as plants and animals have already started. These initial mutations vary from increased aggression to increased growth rate.]

The system then continued before Long Yu managed to interject.

[It is highly likely that the mutation has been concealed by other humans.]

Hearing this, Long Yu knew what the system was implying. These so called 'other humans' must have been the government and higher ups.

However, with such a widespread effect from the mutation, he believed that even those higher ups would not have been able to hide everything from the public.

Taking out his phone from his pocket, Long Yu immediately searched the web for strange and special occurrences in the recent months.

10 minutes later, a look of amazement could be seen on his face.

'I really have to give it to those higher ups. How cunning of them,' he praised.

It turns out that the government had decided not to completely hide the situation from the masses. Rather, they disguised it as a long-researched scientific experiment on genetics.

They even shamelessly claimed the outbreak of the mutation to be the results of their breakthrough.

According to the information that Long Yu read from multiple news outlet websites, the so called 'results' showed a 40% increase in crops and animal productivity.

Some news outlets even openly hailed those scientists as geniuses who will help rid the world of starvation.

'How utterly shameless,' Long Yu thought to himself.

Suddenly it hit him. What about humans?

Without delay, he asked, 'System, you mentioned that humans are also one of the species that are mutating right?'

[That is correct.]

'Then how is it that no humans have discovered the mutation happening in their bodies?

[The rate of mutation differs depending on the type of species. The more self-aware a being, the slower its initial mutation is. Humans…..]

...….

An hour later.

Long Yu was leaning back on the leather sofa as his head faced towards the ceiling.

His stomach had growled multiple times in the past hour. However, he was in no mood to entertain it.

Long Yu was currently trying to digest all the information that was dumped on him.

First of all, it seems that the mutation in domesticated animals such as pets, will be slower compared to wild animals due to their prolonged interaction with humans. That was why animal lovers have yet to realise any changes in their pets.

As for humans, they were a whole different ball game.

According to the system, humans, categorised as the most intelligent species on earth, will inevitably be the slowest to show signs of mutation.

However, once the mutation of the genes reaches the human brain, a change will occur. It forces the rest of the dormant genes in the body to rapidly mutate in order to adapt to the mind's evolution.

Recalling his conversation with the system, he couldn't help but shiver.

'What do you mean success in mutation? Does that mean there will be failures as well?'

Long Yu had a bad feeling of what was about to follow.

[That is correct. Humans that successfully mutate are likely to gain power and abilities without corroding the mind.]

'Forget about the success part for now. Quickly, tell me about the failures in mutation that you mentioned instead.'

[The failure in mutation can be categorised into two types. The first type is when the all mutant genes in the body go back to being dormant after reaching the brain.]

[Another type is when the mutant genes start to degrade and break down due to the body's inability to adapt to the mutation.]

[The degrading mutant cells in humans who fail to mutate successfully, will corrode their mind as well. As a result, they will harbour extreme aggression, and only seek to devour the dormant and successfully mutated genes within other humans.]

'Then is there a way to cure them?'

[At that stage, humans who experience the second type of failure in mutation are considered as deceased. Therefore, they are unable to be cured through normal methods.]

'Then, system, what is the estimated number of humans on earth who will experience the second type of failure?'

[The precise amount is incalculable. Percentage can reach up to 70% or even 90%. System is unable to predict the appearance of unknown variables.]

Recalling up to this point, Long Yu's heart sank once again. It seems that the world was truly going to be thrown into chaos once the countdown ends.

Slapping his cheeks in attempt to clear his mind, Long Yu now only had one thought in his head.

'To survive in the upcoming disaster, I need money. Lots and lots of it.'