Chapter 196 - 195: Cecilia Caldwell and Asher Are Both Genetically Edited

Chapter 196: Chapter 195: Cecilia Caldwell and Asher Are Both Genetically Edited

The DNA Authentication Center.

When Asher and I arrived, Lucas Grant was sitting on a sofa in the waiting area, his expression grim.

Not only was Lucas Grant’s expression grim, but so were the faces of several people in white lab coats who looked like researchers.

"See for yourself."

Lucas Grant placed a test report on the table.

Asher picked it up and glanced at it, not seeming particularly surprised.

I looked at Asher, then reached out and took the report to look at it myself.

’Unfortunately, I can’t make sense of it...’

As if sensing my confusion, Lucas Grant rubbed the bridge of his nose. "This is big... Cecilia Caldwell was likely genetically modified during her embryonic stage, and the modified embryo was then transplanted into a mother for gestation. She’s a genetically edited human."

A researcher added with a grave expression, "Moreover, Cecilia Caldwell underwent the most advanced form of gene modification. She was engineered to be born with the highest possible IQ, and a physique and strength superior to that of a normal person. It’s equivalent to... creating a genius."

’To put it more frighteningly, it’s like humanity created ’gods’ who can age and die.’

"Gene editing..." I looked at the researcher in astonishment. "Is this technology common?"

"It’s explicitly forbidden," Lucas Grant said with a frown. "You don’t understand what gene editing means for society. Once..."

Lucas Grant trailed off, as if he thought I wouldn’t understand even if he explained.

Asher remained silent, saying nothing.

"Is it possible that some wealthy people have already started doing this? It sounds like... there aren’t any downsides, if it can make your child more exceptional," I asked tentatively.

"Research into gene editing is banned from being tested on humans because there are too many uncontrollable factors. Once you have an off-target risk... for example... you close one door in the gene sequence to make yourself naturally immune to AIDS, but it’s highly likely another door will automatically open. The consequences of that are uncontrollable and unpredictable."

Wealthy people aren’t idiots. They wouldn’t dare to casually attempt such an immature experiment. Therefore... a single successful experiment requires the sacrifice of countless test subjects to achieve the best result.

Once gene editing is legalized, society will descend into chaos.

The rich would ensure their children are ’gods’ from birth, while the poor would be oppressed for their entire lives.

I stared at the gene test results, silent for a long time. "So you’re saying... Cecilia Caldwell wasn’t the child born from her parents’ love, but a test subject?"

"It’s highly likely," the researcher nodded.

Lucas Grant also looked up at Asher. "You should know why I called you here. This information cannot get out, or it will cause a panic. We need to investigate this thoroughly... I suspect Cecilia Caldwell isn’t an isolated case."

Coupled with the logs from Cecilia Caldwell’s parents, which read like experimental data, Lucas Grant suspected she was indeed a test subject. "And her death was very likely a deliberate act by the people behind this to destroy the evidence—to eliminate this living proof of their crimes." ℯℯ𝘭.

Moreover, it’s very likely that the people behind it considered Cecilia Caldwell a failed experiment.

That’s why they abandoned her.

"If it was really about destroying the evidence, the person who killed me... who killed Cecilia Caldwell shouldn’t have trapped her body in a glass display case. They should have burned it, destroyed the body and all evidence," I retorted. "Placing her body in a glass display case seems more like... a deliberate act."

"Deliberately exposing her in public, displaying her like a product, to let everyone know about the conspiracy behind it," I said in a low voice.

’The killer must be against gene editing, right?’

’And the killer knows a lot of secrets about the gene editing experiments.’

"This is the most terrifying part." Lucas Grant took out another gene test report. "This is the embryo from Cecilia Caldwell’s womb. Congenitally malformed, abnormal morphological structure, severe genetic defects, chromosomal abnormalities..."

’It was, for all intents and purposes, a ’monster’.’

A malformed child that could never have been born.

"Why would it be like that..." I asked in shock, covering my mouth with my hand, my body trembling slightly.

That unborn child.

"This is the consequence of tampering with the gates of genetics. Cecilia Caldwell was a genius from birth, naturally immune to AIDS and many other diseases, but this also meant her body was, from birth, unsuited for the natural instinct of species propagation."

And if she did conceive a child, it couldn’t be carried to term or survive healthily.

Gene editing is like Pandora’s box. Once opened, the consequences are unpredictable.

"Don’t think this is a small matter. This is terrifying... and the scope is incredibly wide. Behind the test subject Cecilia Caldwell, there must be a terrifying and sinister organization pulling all the strings."

Lucas Grant slapped the table. "From the genius selection program to the missing teenagers, from the serial killings to the dismemberment case... and now looking back at this gene editing case, they all seemed unrelated, but they’re all inextricably caught in the same web."

’Lucas Grant’s brain was suddenly working.’

’Maybe he’s actually been smart all along.’

’He just figured it out a little too late.’

’But Asher had already figured all of this out many years ago and posted it on his wall.’

I turned to look at Asher, my gaze burning.

’I wasn’t blaming him.’

’But even now, was he still not going to say anything?’

"That’s right... The wealthy, in their quest for superior heirs, began secretly conducting gene editing long ago." Asher’s voice was hoarse as he finally spoke. "I am also a genetically modified person, but my situation is different from Cece’s... She was a complete genetic reconstruction. I was merely ’enhanced’—modified to resist hereditary diseases, improve intelligence and physical ability, and capitalize on the advantages of combining Caucasian and East Asian genes."

The moment Asher finished speaking, everyone’s eyes snapped to him.

The researchers’ eyes seemed to light up.

Human desire is a terrifying thing.

From ancient times, emperors sought immortality, a quest that continues to this day. Humanity’s research into eternal life, longevity, and anti-aging has never stopped.

But these studies, which go against humanity and the laws of nature, fueled by ceaseless human desire, are destined to eventually take the stage of history.

"Marcus Lancaster never loved my mother. My mother was just an ordinary woman of mixed Chinese and M-Republican descent. Her genes were deemed perfect, so she was chosen by Master Lancaster to be a surrogate and egg donor. Marcus Lancaster was merely the sperm donor."

In other words, his so-called biological father.

Asher let out a cold laugh.

’To put it bluntly, he was the product of a surrogacy arrangement.’

’Like an object, a commodity.’

"Master Lancaster wanted a perfect heir. So I, having been genetically edited, was born in a laboratory in the Republic of M."

I suddenly understood why Asher had kept silent about these so-called secrets.

Because for him, every secret was like a knife.

By revealing these secrets, he was also stabbing himself with every word.

"I grew up under the observation of researchers until I was eight years old, the age at which, according to the contract, the Lancaster Family was supposed to take me in. But they backed out. Because I was naturally silent and withdrawn, a side effect of the genetic modification was that my brain development was abnormally slow before the age of eight. My IQ was even lower than a normal person’s."

"They considered me a failed product. After bringing me back to the country, they threw me into an orphanage..." Asher took a deep breath, looking coldly at Lucas Grant.

"What they didn’t know... is that after I turned eight, it was as if my brain’s potential was unlocked to a level unattainable by normal people."

Asher pointed to his temple, his voice laced with hatred.

’It seemed he, too, considered himself a genetically modified monster!’