Chapter 49: The Most Unlucky Violator in History
Orochimaru had likely researched the data on tailed beasts, knowing full well that a tailed beast was an energy body with no blood at all.
"Precisely because everyone thinks it doesn't exist, that's what makes it precious."
Su Xiao pulled out a test tube. He had two vials of tailed beast blood in total—one used in the deal with Black Zetsu, leaving only this one remaining.
The allure of tailed beast blood to a scientist like Orochimaru was like a celibate man seeing a peerless beauty after years of abstinence.
"I need to verify its authenticity."
Before Orochimaru could finish his sentence, Su Xiao had already tossed the tailed beast blood toward him.
"With your experience, identifying this shouldn't be difficult. I heard from other Akatsuki members that you seek eternal life? You could investigate the origins of tailed beasts and how many years they've already lived. If you have the ability to transform your soul into a tailed beast's nature, you could both exist independently and reside within others' bodies."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Orochimaru's expression turned contemplative, without any signs of ecstatic joy. This scientist had his own understanding and convictions, and he could tell Su Xiao was merely proposing a hypothesis.
"An interesting hypothesis. You can take the man, but release my subordinate afterward."
"Agreed."
Finding the violator without making an enemy of Orochimaru was undoubtedly the best choice.
"The man is in my laboratory. The situation is somewhat special—not convenient to bring him out."
Su Xiao's brow furrowed. He didn't want to enter Orochimaru's laboratory, but Orochimaru's expression didn't seem like a lie. Considering the man's methods and the violator's peculiarities, that violator might have already become a test subject.
"Is he intact?"
"Barely."
Orochimaru let out a dry laugh, assuming the violator was Su Xiao's friend or acquaintance.
"Is that so..."
Su Xiao pondered for a moment. If Orochimaru turned against him once inside the laboratory, with his blade techniques and energy shield, he was confident he could fight his way out.
Having mastered Ring Break, Su Xiao no longer feared swarm tactics. As for Orochimaru himself, without the ability to use ninjutsu, he wasn't truly fearsome—just possessed an absurdly tenacious survivability.
Realm Severing Thread coiled around Kabuto's neck as Su Xiao prepared to head to Orochimaru's laboratory with the hostage.
"Orochimaru-sama, my ear."
Kabuto spoke up. Orochimaru glanced sideways at the ear on the ground. A snake darted out from the forest, swallowing the ear in one gulp. Kabuto let out a sigh of relief.
The three headed straight for a nearby laboratory. Orochimaru had many such labs; this one was merely a branch.
After winding through the forest several times, an underground cave appeared. Orochimaru had a strong preference for building his laboratories underground.
Entering the cave, a cold, damp sensation set in. Su Xiao didn't particularly like this environment, but Orochimaru loved it. The man was already very close to a snake.
Torches lined both sides of the underground laboratory's corridor, with rows of cells on either side. Each cell door had a small opening, behind which were numb, hollow faces. The prisoners stood at their doors every day, staring outward, instinctively yearning to leave this place.
"Well, what do you think of my works?"
These were all Orochimaru's test subjects.
"With all due respect, just a bunch of cannon fodder."
Orochimaru laughed. He heard flattery far too often.
"True, cannon fodder. But it's a necessary process for gathering data. Interested in joining my research?"
Orochimaru wasn't recognizing Su Xiao's scientific prowess; rather, he valued Su Xiao's identity and strength.
"Join your research? Do you dabble in alchemy?"
Hearing Su Xiao's question, Orochimaru was somewhat puzzled. He simply saw Su Xiao's Akatsuki membership as convenient.
"Alchemy? Somewhat."
Orochimaru didn't believe a close-combat expert like Su Xiao had any real knowledge of alchemy. He was just humoring him, planning to mutually exploit each other later.
Yes, mutual exploitation. If their strength wasn't equal, it would be one-sided exploitation; if it was, then mutual.
"This is my work."
Su Xiao pulled out a bottle of premium alchemical secret medicine. He wasn't sure if Orochimaru had any background in alchemy, but if he did, Su Xiao might be able to pay some price to advance his own alchemical skills.
Orochimaru took the potion, initially unimpressed. He uncorked it and sniffed—the faint sweetness made him frown.
Su Xiao noticed Orochimaru's disdain. He took the potion back and poured a few drops onto Kabuto's ear wound.
"Ah!"
Kabuto screamed. Alchemical potions could be used externally, but they hurt—no, they hurt terribly.
The bleeding from Kabuto's ear wound stopped, and within a dozen seconds, a scab formed.
"This..."
Orochimaru clearly hadn't expected the potion's effect to be so potent. He began to take an interest in alchemical secret medicine.
While the world of Akame ga Kill couldn't compare to the Naruto world in terms of combat power, its alchemical knowledge was something the Naruto world couldn't match—the culmination of tens of thousands of people across generations.
Kabuto's face twitched. Being used as a test subject by two ruthless individuals wasn't pleasant. His psychological trauma must have been immense.
Kabuto took a deep breath and forcibly tore off the scab from his ear, wincing in pain. If the wound healed like this, his ear couldn't be reattached.
"I'll study this potion."
Orochimaru was now genuinely interested in alchemical potions.
"Do you think that's possible?"
Su Xiao put away the alchemical secret medicine. He and Orochimaru weren't even in a cooperative relationship. Expecting to obtain the alchemical secret medicine without giving something in return was a pipe dream. A single bottle of premium alchemical secret medicine cost 5,000 Paradise Coins to produce.
Orochimaru licked his lips, realizing he'd need to offer technical knowledge in exchange.
"Let's just complete our previous transaction."
By now, the three had reached the deepest part of the laboratory, where Orochimaru conducted his daily experiments.
"Let me go, Orochimaru! I'll kill you sooner or later! Fight me one-on-one if you dare!"
"Orochimaru, you motherf***er!"
"Kabuto Yakushi, you son of a b***h!"
Curses rang out. No need to guess—that was the violator.
"He seems spirited."
"Mm."
Orochimaru wasn't known for his patience, and the violator's insults were particularly vile.
Entering the lab, a burly man about two meters tall was strapped to an operating table. His chest was cut open, internal organs clearly visible, and both legs had been amputated.
Hearing someone enter, the violator's breathing quickened.
"Orochi..."
Before the violator could finish, Su Xiao had already walked up to him.
"Who are you?"
Despite being bound to the operating table, Violator No. 10001 showed no fear.
"No... this aura is... a Hunter!"
The violator's eyes widened, as if unable to accept the reality before him.
As soon as the violator spoke, a barrier formed around the two of them. Reincarnation Paradise blocked their conversation from being heard by the plot characters.
"Indeed. Violators are special in some ways—able to detect my identity."
Su Xiao's words were inaudible to the violator, and vice versa.
Drawing the Dragon-Slaying Flash from his waist, a blade of light flashed. The helpless violator was decapitated.
Su Xiao had initially expected a tough battle. Who would have thought this guy was so unlucky as to be captured by Orochimaru and used as trade goods.
The violator died, his body gradually disintegrating—Reincarnation Paradise's standard procedure for violators.
In an instant, the violator's corpse vanished into thin air. A chip fell onto the operating table, faintly shimmering with a pale golden light.