Chapter 250: The Pod, The Node, and The Kid

Another salesman, dressed much like Adrian, overheard the question. He smiled politely but avoided giving a definitive answer.

"You probably saw it being talked about in the newspaper," he said carefully. "Well... it’s not really confirmed."

The blue‑haired young man shook his head... It seemed as if his eyes were filled with desperation.

"But I heard it from the members of the Taurus Faction! They said that if someone found the Divine Gene’s blueprint inside the Virtual World, they would reward that person with treasures, medicines, and anything they wished for..."

"..."

This time, even the salesman had to pause.

His smile wavered, and for a moment, he looked uncertain. He knew of the rumors surrounding the Divine Gene... everyone in Cameron City had heard of it by now, but there had never been any real proof.

’The Taurus Faction... I think this is the first time they’ve openly said something like that. Did they find definitive evidence that it exists inside Perfect World?

The salesman had no idea. He hadn’t entered Perfect World in a long time, and the rumors were always shifting.

Kai and the others exchanged glances. The mention of the Divine Gene made them curious.

They knew about the Alpha Gene, Crimson Gene, Emerald Gene, Super Gene, Prime Gene, and even the Mutagenic Gene that could heavily alter someone’s physical appearance.

Mei stepped closer to Adrian. "What exactly is this Divine Gene? Is it real?"

Adrian hesitated, then sighed. "I can’t say for certain. All I know is that people call it the most perfect Gene enhancement imaginable. Unlike the stimulants and serums you’ve seen, the Divine Gene is said to have no side effects, no instability. It’s... flawless... It’s like you can become a divine being. That’s why so many factions are obsessed with the rumor. But whether it truly exists inside Perfect World... no one has confirmed it."

The group fell silent, absorbing his words.

Claire frowned. "So it’s just a legend?"

Adrian spread his hands. "Perhaps. Or maybe it’s waiting to be discovered. That’s why the pods are also sought after. People believe Perfect World holds more than training simulations and trade hubs. They believe it hides secrets that could change humanity’s future. But we’re not allowed to advertise that since we’re also unaware..."

As Adrian said that, he gestured to the posters nearby.

The slogans read...

"Escape the chaos. Enter Perfect World."

"Train, trade, thrive... all inside."

"Your future begins here."

There was indeed no mention of Divine Gene.

But still, Kai and others could understand why there was a huge reward just for finding the blueprint itself.

In Kai’s mind, the decision was already made.

’I’ll purchase the Neural Gear later... I need to understand how this Perfect World actually works.’

Still, he knew that simply owning the equipment wouldn’t be enough. The Neural Gear Interface alone couldn’t grant him access... he needed the proper application installed to enter Perfect World.

Kai turned to Adrian. "Do you sell just the application? Something that can be installed in the pod?"

Adrian blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the question. Most customers came here to buy the pods themselves, not the software separately.

His curiosity acted up. He was curious if the man was actually a mechanic and capable of fixing a broken Pod.

’Did he assemble one?’

But in the end, Adrian reminded himself it wasn’t his job to pry into a customer’s intentions. He kept his professional smile.

"Yes," Adrian replied smoothly. "For those who already have compatible equipment, we do sell the installation package. It comes in the form of a storage stick, if you will. Once connected, it installs the Perfect World access program directly into your pod or device."

Kai nodded. That was exactly what he needed.

The salesman retrieved a slim, metallic stick from a locked drawer and placed it carefully on the counter. "This is the application installer. With it, you’ll be able to enter Perfect World, provided your equipment is compatible."

Kai studied the item. It looked simple, almost ordinary... yet he knew how important it was. Without it, the Neural Gear Interface would be useless.

"How much?" Kai asked.

Adrian’s smile didn’t falter. "Ten C‑Grade Cores."

Kai exhaled slowly. It wasn’t cheap, but compared to the price of the pods themselves, it was manageable. He reached into his pouch and placed the required cores on the counter. The faint glow of the crystalline fragments reflected off Adrian’s polished suit.

The salesman counted them quickly, then nodded. "Transaction complete. This installer is now yours."

Kai picked up the device, feeling its weight in his hand. It was light, but it was definitely an important item.

Behind him, his team exchanged uneasy glances.

Farrah whispered, "So... with just that stick, you can enter Perfect World?"

Kai nodded. "Yes. As long as I have the right equipment."

Claire frowned. "You have a VR Pod?"

"Hehe..." Kai chuckled. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

In any case, he slipped the stick safely into his pouch.

He didn’t know yet what Perfect World truly held, but he was certain of one thing... this was the first step.

’If the Divine Gene really exists inside... then I want to find it too...’

***

After everything was able to satisfy their curiosity, it was finally time to leave.

But then, Adrian’s eyes focused on Kai for a moment, and then he gave a suggestion.

"You might also consider visiting the shop next door," he said. "They have Transference Nodes there... selling them quite cheaply."

Kai blinked, confused. "Transference... Node?"

Adrian smiled, realizing Kai had no idea what he was talking about.

"Think of it as a bridge. Once you’ve entered Perfect World, you’ll find trading hubs where merchants sell items. They were mostly virtual items you can see inside the game. But there were some merchants there who were also players like you. They could be selling real-world items. With a Transference Node, transactions inside Perfect World can be linked to reality. The node allows items to be transferred into the real world... provided both parties know each other’s coordinates."

"Oh? Is that possible?" Kai asked in surprise. Even the others were also interested.

"Correct... It may be pricey, but if you tell them that I recommended you, you can get a discount. Of course, if you have no plans to transact within the game, then you can just ignore my advice."

Kai nodded at this and thanked the man again... He wanted to check out that specific store.

However, as their group came out of the Immersion Hub, the blue-haired young man blocked their path!

"Mhmm? What’s wrong with this kid?" Alfie muttered as he was prepared to shoo him away.