Chapter 329 - 13: Symbiote?

Chapter 329: Chapter 13: Symbiote?

After Vincent finished cleaning up the camera equipment, he went to the other side to deal with the Lizard-man’s remains.

Then, Lin Yu, feigning anger, walked over to Conley and, ignoring his frantic struggles, ripped open the cape on his back.

Gazing at the familiar scar on his back, Lin Yu sighed. "I can’t believe it. Those things actually made it to Cuiwei Star."

Li Hua walked to his side. His expression turned grim as he looked at the standard mark of an Eye Demon parasite on Conley’s back.

To lords like them, the Eye Demon’s abilities weren’t considered particularly formidable. As long as one took precautions and cremated the bodies of all parasitized creatures, most of the Eye Demon’s powers could be negated.

However, that was only possible under the rules of the tournament, where as long as the organizers forbade it, an Eye Demon couldn’t remain on the continent where their Cuiwei Star territory was located.

But now that the Eye Demons had come to Cuiwei Star, the problem was completely different.

Here, they wouldn’t just be teleported away. If they hid, they could reproduce in secret, control the civilians of Cuiwei Star through parasitism, and even spread to other planets of the Human Race. The danger was immense.

Li Hua thought for a moment before asking Lin Yu, "Lin Yu, didn’t they say there was a reward for reporting new intelligent alien species? Did you report it?"

"Don’t get me started. I reported the information on the Eye Demon and the danger it poses the moment I got out."

"And the system replied that my report had failed, saying the data I provided was incomplete and conflicted with information submitted by others. It told me to get video evidence of the Eye Demon, get a threat assessment done first, and then upload it for review."

"Where the hell am I supposed to get video evidence? Back when I was experimenting, nobody told me I needed to record a video! I only took some pictures..."

Lin Yu felt deeply wronged. When they said in the group chat that you could report things for a reward, nobody mentioned needing video evidence—let alone video of the Eye Demon actively using its abilities and causing harm.

"So, your report wasn’t successful?"

"Exactly! And it even said my information conflicted with something else. What’s the conflict? It’s parasitism, isn’t it?"

The reward he could have gotten for free was gone, and Lin Yu was pissed. It wasn’t that he desperately needed the resources, given the current strength of his territory, but needing it was one thing, and getting what he was owed was another entirely.

"..." Li Hua lowered his head, looking something up on his wristband. Lin Yu, his anger now boiling over, started cursing and ranting about the Cuiwei Corps’ bullshit review process.

"I think I know why!" After a bit of searching, Li Hua found something.

"What is it?"

"I’m sending it to you. You’ll understand once you see it."

BEEP BEEP BEEP. The friend notification alert from his wristband sounded in Lin Yu’s ear.

Lin Yu opened the message. It displayed an entry from the latest list of friendly alien species published by the Cuiwei Corps.

[Name]: Symbiote

[Photo]: Big Eye.jpg

[Abilities]: Enters into symbiosis with a living organism, increasing the host’s attributes and slightly enhancing the host’s skills. Can shapeshift into cold weapons to aid the host in combat.

[Reproduction]: Fission (High reproductive rate)

[Description]: When not bonded with a host, the Symbiote’s body is weak and requires protection.

When bonded to a host’s back, the enhancement effect is at its strongest, but it loses its shapeshifting and combat assistance abilities.

When bonded to other body parts, the attribute boost is comparatively lower, but it can shapeshift and provide combat assistance.

[Warning]: Do not allow the Symbiote to bond with the head. If a citizen is found with a Symbiote bonded to their head, arrest them immediately. Lethal force is authorized.

[Video Evidence]: ...

Based on the published information, this "Symbiote" had some similarities to the Eye Demon, but overall, they seemed quite different. After all, one was parasitic and the other symbiotic—a fundamental distinction.

The video evidence showed a person whose face was blurred out demonstrating the Symbiote’s abilities when bonded to a hand. The Symbiote morphed into various cold weapons that could slice through iron as if it were mud, and it could also form a shield to block bullets. It all looked very impressive.

However, looking at the close-up photo of this Symbiote, Lin Yu couldn’t help but blurt out, "Isn’t this just a fucking Eye Demon?"

He hadn’t conducted any experiments on the Eye Demon’s ability to bond with other body parts, as described in the Symbiote’s profile. ’I really didn’t know the Eye Demon could do that,’ he thought. ’Maybe this is a mutated strain. But judging by that warning, its parasitic mind-control ability is definitely still there.’

"As far as I know," Li Hua began, "there usually aren’t strict review requirements for submitting data on new alien species. After all, the Corps doesn’t even know if they’ll encounter the creature again."

"But his submission is different." Li Hua pointed to a green emblem in the file. "This indicates that this information has already been officially verified."

"So, if anyone submits new information related to this species in the future, it will be subject to a strict review."

"And information like yours, which directly conflicts with his, will require an even *stricter* review."

Lin Yu immediately started swearing. "Fuck! Who the hell is this? It’s bad enough they beat me to the punch, but why submit false information? And it actually got approved? Does the Cuiwei Corps review board just eat shit for a living?"

"Look here!"

Lin Yu looked at the small print Li Hua was pointing to: "Submitted by: Opal Hass."

"Motherfucker!"

’That bastard definitely pulled some strings! How could his information get approved with just these videos, while my photos weren’t good enough?’

Lin Yu knew Opal Hass was a "second-generation," an heir from a powerful family. His report must have been approved because he pulled strings, and Lin Yu was filled with resentment over it.