The Gap Between the Replica and the Original

In Binhai City, as Ability Users appeared with increasing frequency, Binhai University had also stepped up its publicity efforts.

Compared to other departments in society, the university had an even more detailed understanding of Ability Users.

East Xia intended to launch research projects related to Ability Users at major universities.

Luoshui’s red Mercedes AMG drove onto campus and immediately drew a crowd. When the car stopped, the two people who stepped out attracted nearly everyone’s attention.

The woman was tall and beautiful, dressed exquisitely. The man was equally tall, with powerful muscles and a lean frame, radiating even greater charm than the woman beside him.

Luoshui frowned, then put on her sunglasses.

"Let’s go, Bai… classmate. We’ll see Teacher Zhang first, then find that Ability User."

Luoshui was somewhat unaccustomed to the man beside her. He looked exactly like Bai Cangshu, yet he always made her feel vaguely uncomfortable.

She could not say where the difference lay, but this so-called replica gave her an unusual feeling.

It was more like an indescribable difference in temperament, scent, or temperature.

Bai Cangshu’s replica greeted these "junior students" generously, his smile brilliant but devoid of any warmth.

His eyes shifted slightly, taking in every movement around him.

That included the eagle circling unnaturally overhead, as well as the woman’s wariness toward him.

He took the initiative and headed toward Teacher Zhang’s office from his memories. Though he knew perfectly well that even those "memories" were merely information copied from the so-called original’s brain.

Still, that sense of familiarity gave him the illusion that he had truly lived here before.

After taking two steps, Bai Cangshu noticed that Luoshui had not followed. He turned back and met her gaze, only to see her instinctively frown and look away.

His interest was suddenly piqued. He took two steps forward, and in that instant, he clearly sensed that the eagle above had lowered its flight altitude considerably.

An hostility so clear that even he could distinctly feel it settled on him.

Sure enough, those people would not release him without any precautions, much less send this foolish woman, delicate as a flower, on a mission alone with him.

This was a test. Or rather, a probe. Those people were using this woman’s life to test whether he would betray them.

Bai Cangshu’s replica smiled even more brightly.

He did not move closer to Luoshui. He merely said softly,

"Miss Luo, I’m actually rather curious. Since that person and I have the same build, appearance, manner of speaking, body language, even the same expressions and memories…"

"Why are you so wary of me, while missing that guy? What exactly is it that you miss?"

"Or rather, what exactly is different between him and me?"

Luoshui’s face reddened. She did not think at all about the implications of the replica’s doubts and reflections regarding his own existence, nor about the scientific and philosophical question of how a replica differed from the original.

Luoshui merely felt that he had misunderstood her relationship with Bai Cangshu, and hurriedly explained.

"I don’t miss him!"

Bai Cangshu’s replica’s smile slowly vanished. He shook his head, utterly disappointed by this woman’s stupidity.

For a moment, he was even ashamed that he had asked such a profound question of a woman like her.

Tap, tap, tap.

He turned and walked up the teaching building’s steps. Hearing the hurried footsteps following behind him, he deliberately said with malicious amusement,

"Miss Luo, do you know? From what I know about that guy, he would never like a foolish, weak woman~"

Luoshui’s face went pale. She wanted to argue that she was not foolish, but he had already entered the stairwell.

Meanwhile, inside a black van outside Binhai University, several people wore different expressions. One of them said,

"This replica is indeed different from Mercenary Tao."

"Mm… I can’t quite put my finger on exactly how."

The woman in the front passenger seat had a head of red hair and a distinct scar across her face. She lit a cigarette and rolled down the window.

"It has human warmth. This replica has more human warmth than Mercenary Tao’s original body…"

Hongye recalled the cold killing intent she had sensed during her brief encounter with Mercenary Tao. Mercenary Tao was an absolute beast, forever immersed in slaughter.

Such human conversations and thoughts, even teasing jokes, would never have appeared.

"Not pure enough, this guy~"

"Abandon that plan. Using Mercenary Tao’s replica against Mercenary Tao is a foolish plan."

Hongye made her judgment. The people behind her trusted her deeply and immediately reported to their respective departments within the World United Organization.

They declared that East Xia’s plan to use Bai Cangshu’s replica to kill the original Bai Cangshu was not feasible.

Inside the university, Teacher Zhang looked at Bai Cangshu, who had suddenly appeared before her, with surprise in her eyes.

"Bai Cangshu?"

"You’re back from Teng City? Good, good. The situation isn’t great right now, so it’s safer to return to a big city."

She spoke familiarly on her own, but Bai Cangshu’s replica took out the identification Zhong Tianming had arranged for someone to give him.

"Teacher Zhang, I heard that a new Ability User has appeared at Binhai University. We came to investigate."

The replica said this, but his sharp senses noticed that the feeling of being watched had diminished significantly.

In other words, their observation of him was nearly over?

He forcibly suppressed his impatience and killing intent.

Wait a little longer. Just a little longer. Before I obtain enough power, I can’t make a move against these people yet…

Boom!

The moment the firestorm exploded, the eyes of the people fighting around them all shifted. Chu Qi watched as the one sent flying was actually Mercenary Tao, who had just been possessed by an Over Soul!

The next moment, bone-chilling Freezing Qi once again spread across the area. ICE, who had lost an arm, radiated Armament Haki condensed to the extreme, while scarlet Conqueror’s Haki slammed into the surroundings without restraint.

That savage, violent aura instantly overwhelmed Mercenary Tao, who appeared completely unharmed.

White Face wiped her mouth, her expression already twisting as she felt close to exploding with rage.

Because she had lost her card sequence and lacked the experience and strengthening gained from so many missions, her control over her superpowers and her offensive methods were insufficient.

She had actually been unable to defeat ICE in such a cramped space.

It dealt a blow to White Face’s pride.

What displeased her even more was that the foolish, arrogant fellow sharing her body was wildly mocking her.

"Hahaha, mongrel! You possess such power, yet you were defeated by someone Overthrowing the Superior. How unsightly~"

"Give this king the body. This king shall play with these insects…"

Gilgamesh’s voice carried the same arrogance that regarded no one as worthy of notice.

As White Face suffered this setback, golden radiance began shining from Mercenary Tao’s body, leaving the other Reincarnators stunned.

White Face kept cursing Gilgamesh. This arrogant fellow was the biggest fool when it came to being Overthrown by inferiors, yet he was mocking her for being Overthrown by an inferior?!

But as she watched Gilgamesh begin to reveal his power, she miraculously restrained her anger and started relinquishing control of the body.