Chapter 408 You Threaten Me
Elbert's gaze swept across the entire monastery.
At the front were a few young monks, still swallowing nervously.
Behind them stood the four senior monks, their faces bruised and mouths marked with dried saliva.
Finally, there was the elderly man with white eyebrows, holding an empty bowl, his hands still trembling.
Elbert nodded slightly. He picked up a bowl, filled it with tofu soup, added a spoonful of stir-fried mushrooms, and topped it off with a few plump dumplings.
"One should always repay kindness," Elbert's voice rang clear through the courtyard. He carried the steaming bowl of food towards the elderly man, "Wouldn't you agree, sir?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" The old man's voice was hoarse, filled with longing, "Quick, give it to me!"
"Alright," Elbert murmured.
Then, with a smooth turn, he placed the bowl in front of Rachel. "Ms. Nguyen took care of me for ten whole days. She stayed up all night to help me prepare this meal."
"So, the first bite should rightfully be hers."
Everyone's heads turned in unison, like puppets on strings. Hundreds of eyes locked onto Rachel... and the bowl of food in her hands.
A blush crept up Rachel's cheeks. She felt a bit awkward but gracefully took a spoonful of tofu and tasted it. After savoring it for a while, she softly praised, "It's really... delicious."
The monks went wild.
We want to eat too!
All rules and regulations were thrown out the window. With a suppressed roar, the crowd surged forward like a tidal wave, disregarding rank and age. They pounced on the long table like starving wolves.
The elderly man couldn't wait any longer. He reached out with his spoon, aiming precisely at a tender mushroom. Just as the spoon was about to touch it, Elbert's hand gently blocked its way.
"Sir, given your esteemed status, you should enjoy your meal in private."
Elbert flashed a mysterious smile.
"Really?" The old man's eyes lit up. He leaned in and whispered, "Quick, take me there!"
The two quietly entered the kitchen. The old man rubbed his hands together excitedly, his eyes gleaming, "Where's the good stuff? Bring it out!"
"Don't rush, have a cup of coffee first."
Elbert brought out a small pot, and a sweet coffee aroma filled the air.
"Oh?" The old man lifted the lid, "This is extraordinary! The fragrance of hawthorn... and the sweetness of honey!" He took a big gulp, "Ah, wonderful! The tartness of hawthorn is perfectly balanced by the honey; what a marvelous cup of fruit coffee!" He quickly finished the pot. "Alright, Elbert, where's the food? Bring it out!"A sly smile spread across Elbert's face. "Alright, sir, you can have the food, but first, you need to answer a few questions. What's the deal with the previous 'Savior'? What's the story behind this monastery? And what hidden forces are at play in this world?"
The old man was stunned. "Are you... extorting me?"
Elbert nodded. "Yep."
"You... I... I didn't realize you were this kind of person!" The old man was furious, his face turning red.
"I'm the chef today," Elbert said calmly, "I made the food, I gathered the ingredients. I think that gives me some say."
The old man pressed his lips together. He knew Elbert had him cornered, and it wasn't just about this meal.
He looked sadly towards the door, watching his disciples. They were in a state of ecstatic frenzy, eating whatever they could grab, tears streaming down their faces, praising the heavens.
"A miracle!"
"This tofu is a gift from God! A small bite, and the flavor lingers, unforgettable!"
"How can these mushrooms be so crisp? So fresh? Absolutely delicious!"
"This tofu... slides down the throat, warming the whole body, so comforting!"
"These dumplings, so flavorful!"
A wave of immense sorrow washed over the old man. And I can't eat any of it!
Suddenly, his mouth started to water uncontrollably, his stomach churned, and acid surged up. He remembered: the main characteristic of hawthorn is its tartness, and its primary effect is to stimulate appetite.
At this moment, he was undoubtedly at the peak of his hunger in his life.
He had underestimated Elbert. That cup of coffee was his second insurance, this young man was incredibly cunning!
The old man's face turned ashen. "Kid, do you know today is my 142nd birthday? And... it might be my last..."
Elbert just smiled, unmoved.
"Sigh... fine." The old man finally relented, "To avoid causing a time paradox, I can't say too much. I can only tell you, in this world, the governments you know are merely the primary rulers."
"Above them, there are forces they can never contend with."
"The modified humans you've seen are just the lowest level of power. Above them are the 'Innate Gene Holders' who have existed for centuries... the ones I mentioned, the evolved 'monkeys'."
"You can think of them as a group of superhumans who defy all logic. They've been developing in secret for centuries, forming multiple organizations. This Reincarnation Temple is one of them. But we are the ones who maintain balance. If anyone tries to disrupt the order, we intervene."Elbert's brow furrowed. An entirely new power structure.
He connected the dots. The four senior monks were all above J-level in strength, not modified humans, but those who had cultivated Qi. And this old man could even manipulate gravity.
They were the so-called "Innate Gene Holders"!
Although the four monks were no match for him, in the outside world, they would be invincible. No wonder he had heard they often went down the mountain to carry out "missions," which were actually "maintaining order."
Countless possibilities exploded in Elbert's mind. So many hidden forces in the shadows.
A sense of unease gripped him. He felt an unprecedented urgency to regain his strength, but until Robert was revived, it was all just talk.
The old man chuckled. "Kid, feeling lost? What I told you isn't exactly a shocking secret. If you pay attention, there are clues everywhere in reality."
"For example, seventy percent of the world's wealth is controlled by an ancient family that doesn't belong to any country. Or how the world's largest arms dealer remains neutral, not loyal to any side. And for instance, among the top twenty multinational companies in the StellarTech Group's Fortune 500, they appear to be independent, even competitors, but are actually controlled by the same person behind the scenes. Even the top-tier modified human technology is held by a secret organization."
A sharp glint flashed in the old man's eyes. "They can control all this because from the moment they were born, they were far above ordinary people!"
Elbert was stunned. This feeling was similar to when he first heard about modified humans! But this time, the foundation was much deeper.
He looked at the old man. He had said so much, yet hadn't mentioned himself. Was he the Savior? Or just a crazy old man? The old man's stomach growled like a beast.
Elbert shook his head. "You still owe me one answer... but that can wait."
As soon as he finished speaking, Elbert, with a mysterious smile, lifted a white cloth nearby!
Under the cloth were two shiny, aromatic roast chickens!
"Meat!"
The old man's eyes nearly popped out.
Elbert smiled, "From my observation, you are not the abbot of this monastery, nor are you a Buddhist disciple. These wild chickens were caught in the back mountain and roasted with utensils outside the monastery. Aside from feeling a bit guilty, you haven't broken any vows, so you can enjoy them without worry."
The old man was overjoyed. He gave Elbert a thumbs up, "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"
He grabbed a roast chicken and found a secluded corner, devouring it like a ravenous beast, his expression lewd, but his heart filled with delight!
Twenty minutes later.
The entire monastery was full and satisfied.
Everyone's bellies were round, lying around, the sound of contented burps echoing. The old man was also in a corner, his mouth greasy from eating.
"Oh, unforgettable, this is the best meal I've ever had!"
"Starving for ten days, worth it! Totally worth it!"
"After this meal, nothing else will ever taste good again!"
"Who would've thought, Elbert, so refined, yet his cooking is divine!"
Looking at the monks, all content and happy, Elbert felt a sense of satisfaction, repaying some kindness. But he couldn't help but laugh, these simple, honest monks were the guardians of world order? It seemed absurd.
However, the tranquility of the mountain monastery lasted less than ten minutes.
In the distance, the roar of an engine grew louder, quickly becoming a deafening howl.
A pitch-black armed helicopter tore through the clouds, hovering slowly in front of the monastery!
Seeing this, the monks' faces changed dramatically!
The four senior monks sprang up instantly. Two immediately escorted the elderly, women, and children to the backyard. The other two stood guard at the kitchen door, their faces serious, ready for battle.
They seemed like different people.
The previous silly demeanor vanished without a trace, replaced by battle-hardened elite warriors.
The old man also slowly walked out of the kitchen. His hunched back straightened instantly, his expression cold as ice, exuding an imposing aura. He waved his sleeve, and the two monks immediately flanked him.
The atmosphere froze!
Elbert also became alert, "Sir, what's going on?"
"I told you," the old man smiled coldly, without a trace of warmth, "Today is my 142nd birthday."
"Unfortunately, there's an organization that comes every year on this day to take my life. They want to turn my birthday into my death anniversary!"
This unbelievable statement left Elbert momentarily speechless, "Why do they want to do that?"
The old man stared at the menacing helicopter, chuckling:
"It's simple," he said, "I am known as 'Savior.' And they happen to be my adversaries."
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