Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 97: Second Quest (2)

While the prince’s question may have sounded harmless, it was anything but.

Just as the priestess had said, it all came down to a leap of faith. The Goddess had shown her the person she had chosen, yet Celistra had no real understanding of who Caleb was.

From what little she had seen, he seemed trustworthy. However, she couldn’t simply tell the prince to trust Caleb based on her judgment alone—if something went wrong, the responsibility would fall squarely on her.

"..."

Osbourne remained silent, his gaze shifting back to Caleb. The decision he made today would shape the future of both his family and the kingdom.

He glanced to the side, meeting Commander Fred’s eyes. The commander gave a subtle nod—an unspoken agreement, a gamble placed on Caleb. If he was going to persuade Caleb to stay by his mistress’s side, he had to show his own faith first.

Osbourne exhaled softly, his attention returning to Caleb.

"You mentioned something about being a geneticist. What exactly does that mean?" Osbourne asked.

"Basically, I can read a person’s genetic code and make changes if I want to," Caleb replied succinctly. But as he caught the confusion in their expressions, he realized they were unfamiliar with the concept.

"Ah, I apologize for the unfamiliar term," he continued. The crowd furrowed their brows, some in annoyance. "What I mean is that I can read and alter hereditary information—the blueprint of life, if you will." freewebnøvel.com

He paused before adding, "For example, imagine a person is born with a neurological disorder that causes the degeneration of nerve cells—or something simpler, like blindness."

The moment those words left his lips, Osbourne’s expression changed. And he wasn’t the only one. Caleb could hear the prince’s heartbeat quicken, could see the way his gaze shifted—full of unspoken emotions.

He noticed it all, but he continued.

"In these cases, the hereditary information a person inherits from their parents may have been altered—either during conception or somewhere along the line. I have the power to restore those altered genes to what they were meant to be."

’Or make them worse,’ he thought but left unsaid.

"That’s the gist of it." Caleb ended with a gentle smile. "Of course, there’s more to it than that..."

"Impossible!"

"Tell that to the crippled Baron and the adventurers I turned into old men," Caleb shot back, turning to face the commander who had rejected his words so strongly. "You have no idea how the genetic code defines our entire existence."

Osbourne’s heart pounded wildly in his chest. He barely heard anything else.

’How, in the Goddess’s name, does he wield power like that?!’ The realization struck like a hammer. ’This power... It should not be in the hands of mortal men.’

Yet, it was the very thing that could save his father and sister.

The priestess, Jess, and everyone present stared in horror, their eyes wide with disbelief. Power like that was enough to alter fate itself.

Commander Fred finally understood why Caleb was different—why he exuded such boundless confidence.

’He awakened his own talent...’ Fred swallowed hard, his throat dry from the realization. ’He’s no different from a god.’

For what felt like an eternity—though only minutes had passed—Osbourne struggled to regain his composure. Countless questions raced through his mind, but he knew he couldn’t ask them all.

For a brief moment, he had feared Caleb’s power was demonic, but could the priestess truly mislead them?

He wasn’t sure. And right now, he couldn’t afford to hesitate. What mattered was that this man was his only chance to save his father.

’I need him on my side.’ Osbourne vowed silently. ’Kingdoms would wage war for someone like him. I must do everything in my power to keep him here.’

"Caleb Zane..."

The prince stepped forward, bypassing the commanders to stand before the enigmatic man. His decision was made—he was taking a leap of faith.

Caleb, however, already knew what was coming. The moment Osbourne moved toward him, a notification flashed across his HUD.

[Quest: Help The Royal Family]

[Description: The Royal family has been pushed to the brink of destruction—almost. King Alexander Julius Gray III now lingers in critical condition.]

[1. Interface with the king’s genetic code to reverse genetic damage.]

[2. Interface with Celine’s genetic code to reverse genetic mutations.]

[3. ...]

[4. ...]

This was a first. Caleb had never seen a quest like this before, but he immediately grasped the task at hand.

’The first two objectives can be done immediately...’ He thought, eyes shifting to the rewards.

[Reward: Unlock Power Suit - Syncra]

[An armour that is an extension of its master. Infused with a symbiotic weave of nanoscopic energy threads and ethereal matter, the suit mirrors every ability and clothing of its wearer without delay.]

[To be available upon completion of the first two objectives.]

An image of the power suit appeared in his vision, showing him exactly what he would gain. A small smile tugged at his lips.

[Penalty: ...]

[Time limit: N/A]

’So the system is pushing me toward helping the Royal Family, huh?’ Caleb mused, his gaze flickering toward Celistra. ’This system... it can only be from the Goddess. The real question is, why?’

The absence of a penalty made one thing clear—the system’s creator wanted him to help out of his own free will. The reward was merely an incentive.

Osbourne, meanwhile, seemed ready to lower his head in a royal plea. Even if Caleb wasn’t well-versed in court etiquette, he knew this much—a prince should not bow to a stranger.

Aside from the commanders, the priestess and Jess, there were also some knights lingering around, observing what was happening. It would be a major loss of face should the prince bow to a complete stranger.

Before Osbourne’s shoulders could dip, Caleb placed a firm hand on them, halting him mid-motion.

"Don’t..."

Osbourne froze at Caleb’s words. His gaze lifted, locking onto Caleb’s turquoise eyes—eyes that seemed to shift in hue depending on how the light struck them.

At that moment, Osbourne understood. This man—this enigma named Caleb—was genuine. There was no deceit in his expression, no hidden malice. Call it optimism, but Osbourne had been around enough people to recognize sincerity when he saw it.

"I was already planning to help," Caleb said with a reassuring smile. Then, with a glance toward Celistra, he added, "Besides..."

A playful glint flickered in his eyes.

"I want to win some brownies."