Ultragene Warlord

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Zhang Lie stored his remaining half of the white-grub cores in the settlement storehouse, an integral part of his future plan.
“Craft me a C-grade steel blade, then convert the remaining points into money.”

[A C-grade steel blade will cost 800 points.
The remaining points will be converted into 20,000 dollars.] As the synthetic voice spoke, the lid of the box slid open once more, revealing a sword and a stack of red dollar notes.

Subsequently, he passed through the teleportation device and returned to the slums of the city of Ning.
Technology had advanced to the point that each household would own a teleportation device, just as they would a television.
At only a few hundred dollars each, they were relatively cheap.

Zhang Lie walked out to see a girl of flawless beauty quietly reading in a wheelchair.
She evoked grace and purity with every action, as though she were a flower carefully cultivated by the heavens themselves. [2]

As she heard the teleportation device activate, she raised her head and smiled beatifically.
“Welcome home, Brother!”

Zhang Lie, usually cold and aloof, mirrored her smile.
“How've you been?”

“Well, of course.”

He caressed his sister's pale cheeks, and she nuzzled back like a small kitten.

Zhang Hanxiang was Zhang Lie's sister.
Ever since their parents had gone missing, she and Zhang Lie had had to survive on their own.
Her legs had been paralyzed from birth, but she was otherwise hale.

“Brother, let me warm you a meal.”

“There's no need—it'd be inconvenient for you.
I've already eaten in the dimensional world.
Do you remember how long I've been gone?”

Time flowed about ten times faster in the dimensional world.

“You've been gone for ten days, Brother.”

“Where's Madam Zhao?”

“She's long since left.
It's quite late at night, after all.”

Zhang Lie nodded, then handed her a bundle of money.
“Here's 8,000 dollars for this month's living expenses.
Please pass it to Madam Zhao on my behalf.”

Because it was inconvenient for his sister to move around, and because Zhang Lie had to hunt in the dimensional world for a living, he needed to find some sort of caretaker for his sister.
He had reached out to his neighbor, Madam Zhao, for help: in this case, nothing more than bringing her food on a daily basis.

“It'll be your birthday in another six months or so.
Is there anything you'd like as a present?”

“I don't need anything, Brother, except to remain at your side.” She clasped her brother's palms within her own.

Even though the traces of a smile still hung on Zhang Lie's face, worry had crept into his eyes.

His sister would be turning 18 soon.
By law, upon adulthood—upon reaching 18 years of age—she would have to enter the dimensional world.
The dimensional world was filled with strife and death, and it wasn't something his pure, sheltered sister could get accustomed to, not to mention her inability to walk.

In his previous life, he hadn't managed to protect his sister, and had been forced to watch her tragic death.
In this life, he swore he wouldn't repeat the same mistakes.

Of course, there were ways of bypassing the laws.
Certain special-class citizens had the authority to prevent one of their direct relatives from having to hunt in the dimensional world.
When he grew into his power, when he had enough authority to shield his sister from any harm that could befall her—only then could he bear the thought of his sister entering that cruel world.

At the dawn of the last century, the united world federation began segregating citizens based on the number of gene fragments they possessed.
Those who had reached their basic gene capacity were standard citizens, with the benefits afforded to those of their rank; those who had reached their mutated gene capacity were first-class citizens; and those who had reached their superior gene capacity were special-class citizens.

Zhang Lie's gaze landed on the books stacked beside his sister's wheelchair.
She was very fond of reading, and intended on becoming a researcher or author in the future.
Their parents had only been standard citizens; in order for her to attend the best high schools, he would have to become a first-class citizen.

He had wasted too much time since his rebirth.
When he entered the dimensional world tomorrow, if he remained unable to find the rumored superior-grade white grub within the damp cave, he would have no choice but to give up on his plan.
Nothing was more important to him than his sister, after all.

Suddenly, a few knocks sounded from outside.
Zhang Lie opened the door and found, to his surprise, Wang Xiaohua.
Frowning, he asked, “Why are you here?”

In disgust, Wang Xiaohua replied, “Do you think I would come to a ramshackle place like this of my own volition?”

His sister pushed her wheelchair to Zhang Lie's side.
“Long time no see, Sister Xiaohua.”

Wang Xiaohua's gaze landed on Zhang Hanxiang's paralyzed legs, making no effort to hide her disdain.
Her lips twisted in a mocking smile.

Zhang Lie narrowed his eyes.
He didn't care what others thought of him, but he couldn't stand their contempt toward his sister.
If not for their childhood friendship, Zhang Lie would already have made a move.

Wang Xiaohua harrumphed coldly.
She pushed Zhang Lie aside and strode into the house, announcing scornfully, “What sort of unkempt mess is this? It's almost as bad as a pigsty! But of course I couldn't have expected any better from you, Zhang Lie.”

Zhang Lie's features resolved into calm hostility.
“If you're here only to mock our living conditions, then you're not welcome.
Please leave immediately.”

“As I've said, would I drag myself here without any reason? I'm here to reclaim this property.”

Zhang Lie and Zhang Hanxiang both recoiled in shock.

Wang Xiaohua retrieved a sheaf of papers from her handbag.
“I found a rental contract at home—and, guess what? It turns out that your rental period is almost up.”

Zhang Lie took the proffered contract and scanned it, a frown gradually marring his face.

Wang Xiaohua smirked.
“According to the contract, this property was leased to your family for eighteen years.
Now that the eighteen years are up, it's time for you to vacate these premises.”

1.
Wang Xiaohua (王小花) is the type of name you'd find for a female character in a grade schooler's essay, so you can clearly tell that she's doomed. ☜

2.
Think Nunnally from Code Geass. ☜