Beast, Blue Blood - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“I didn’t say it expecting a reaction from you.”

Eugene didn’t even look up. Watching her, Sergei took a sip of his wine and thought.

He acknowledged her skills but found her to be a high-handed and rigid woman. Especially when they first met, she had a look of disdain for everything, which made her hard to warm up to. Normally, he was the one with such an attitude, not the other way around. If Eugene had been a man, they might have gotten along better.

But seeing her all dressed up today, he was reminded of her beauty. Although this type of cold elegance wasn’t his usual preference, given how tiresome his current mistress Deborah had become, Eugene’s type felt refreshing. After all, he was going to live with this one. Plus, she held the key to the virus.

“Eugene.”

Sergei suddenly reached out and grabbed Eugene’s hand resting on the table. She lifted her gaze, and he brought her hand close to his lips, though not quite touching, enough to feel his breath on her skin.

“I don’t want to send you back tonight.”

The truth was, that Eugene had dressed up today to show off to Hisha. She had only shown him her business or casual attire before. But it seemed she had caught another fish in her net.

She hadn’t slept with Sergei yet, but she had heard he was excellent in bed. Given how much practice he had, it was no surprise that his technique was top-notch. More importantly, his natural vigor was said to be remarkable, sometimes needing several women in one night.

Eugene clasped Sergei’s hand back and smiled a siren’s smile.

“I don’t want to go back either.”

* * *

Grabbing her round b*ttocks roughly, he penetrated her in one swift motion.

“Oh, yes…!”

Their sweaty bodies intertwined on the luxurious hotel bed. The heat and humidity they generated filled the spacious room. The harder Sergei thrust, the more the woman arched her neck and screamed.

The woman turned to him, her lips as red as her s*x, and whispered.

“Sergei…”

Her blue eyes were glazed with heat. A white beauty with soft features and blonde hair, exactly Sergei’s type. Sergei pushed her roughly, and she writhed and screamed in ecstasy.

At the restaurant, Eugene had said she didn’t want to go back, but then she pulled her hand away with a sly smile.

“But let’s talk after you deal with the woman waiting in your hotel room.”

Recalling that moment, Sergei smirked.

“She’s no easy mark.”

* * *

The door opened, and Eugene entered the dim interior. In front of the window, where the city blazed like wildfire, was a large bed. Someone lay on the half-raised bed, staring out the window. Eugene approached.

Only then did the person in bed turn to look at her. Once brilliant blonde hair now white and dull, sad blue eyes in a haggard face… This was Eugene’s father, Heinrich Fuger-Dulloch.

Not long ago, he had looked no older than his forties thanks to rigorous self-care, despite approaching sixty. Now, he looked like an old man, drained of his youth. Only his piercing gaze remained unchanged.

Heinrich looked at his daughter and spoke softly.

“You’re beautiful.”

Eugene chuckled slightly.

“Didn’t expect to hear that from you.”

It might have been the first time she’d heard such words from her father. But Heinrich didn’t respond and asked.

“You met Aleushin?”

“Yes.”

Heinrich, with his gaunt face, gave a smile that looked almost like a sneer.

“The fool. Letting you go on a night like this.”

“I refused. I don’t want to catch a sexually transmitted disease.”

Eugene replied indifferently. Though she didn’t think Sergei was careless about such matters, the thought of it without a health certificate was unsettling.

“How are you feeling?”

Not wanting to dwell on the previous topic, Eugene changed the subject. It wasn’t because she felt embarrassed or found it inappropriate to discuss with her father. She just didn’t think it was a matter to consult him about.

Heinrich looked up at the ceiling and chuckled bitterly.

“Isn’t it ridiculous? We still can’t cure something as simple as pancreatic cancer.”

His tone sounded genuinely regretful. But soon, he turned back to Eugene and asked.

“How’s the virus development coming along?”

“Rumor has it that spies are being planted recklessly. We’ve already filtered out three. Aleushin’s attitude has changed too.”

“It must have been ordered by Maksimov.”

The chairman of Nyev Industries, Maksimov Aleushin, who was to become her father-in-law, originally had a keen interest in immortality.

At one time, a company in which Nyev Industries and Fuger-Dulloch invested clashed severely over a natural gas pipeline project. The mafia hired by each company invaded each other’s offices, leading to bloodshed.

Despite this, what could be the reason Chairman Maksimov Aleushin chose the daughter of Fuger-Dulloch as his daughter-in-law?

About 20 years ago, human rulers formed a secret society called the ‘Brotherhood’ to develop a vampire virus with a 100% infection success rate. They aimed to become vampires themselves and live forever, enjoying wealth and power.

However, as with most suspicious-sounding endeavors, the attempt resulted in numerous casualties that reshaped the world economy, ultimately failing.

Since then, developing a vampire virus related to the Brotherhood incident has become almost taboo, and no one dared to mention it, whether in a good or bad sense.

Twenty years have passed since then…

“I don’t have much time left.”

Heinrich stared intently at his daughter.

“If you want to inherit the family, you need to work harder.”

“I know. I don’t have time for this.”

Eugene said lightly, standing up with her clutch.

“I’ll go now.”

“Yes. Next time, bring some more encouraging news.”

“I will.”

As Eugene walked towards the door, Heinrich spoke as if remembering something.

“By the way.”

Eugene turned around.

“Did you fire Pierlu?”

“No.”

When Eugene answered expressionlessly, Heinrich seemed satisfied. It was as if he was saying, ‘That’s my daughter.’

“Then, rest well.”

Eugene left the hospital room. Nasiri, who was waiting outside, followed her.

The two got into a car waiting in front of the lobby and departed. Only then did Nasiri ask.

“How is his condition?”

“It doesn’t seem to be getting better or worse.”

Eugene answered indifferently while looking out the window, and Nasiri nodded.

“Luckily, there seems to be some time left before the virus is completed.”

“I wonder.”

Suddenly, Eugene said.

“Pardon?”

Nasiri asked in surprise, but Eugene didn’t answer and kept staring out the window. Then, without turning her gaze, she spoke.

“Secretary.”

“Yes.”

“Did you know that the Luax virus belongs to its own unique lineage, not any other virus lineage?”

Nasiri was a highly capable person, but his expertise was in support roles, not in science. Therefore, he didn’t know everything about the virus at hand, but he could at least agree with Eugene’s statement.

“Yes. That’s why there were rumors it came from outer space.”

“Right. There’s nothing like it on Earth. Viruses usually need a host, so it was once thought that the Luax virus must have jumped to primates quite early, but it crossed to humans later than expected.”

Eugene continued.

“There was even a hypothesis about vampire dinosaurs existing in the dinosaur era, but instead, the Luax virus evolved through various animals in its viral form. Then, when Homo sapiens appeared, it finally crossed the species barrier and began to directly infect humans.”

It seemed more like she was talking to herself than to someone else.

“Usually, viruses steal the host’s cells, but this virus stole not just the cells but also the genetic information of the host.”

Only then did Nasiri add a comment.

“That’s why Luax sometimes exhibits beast-like traits, I heard.”

Seeing in the dark, having great strength, running fast, having sharp teeth, etc.

They possess the genetic information of the creatures they pass through.

Genome sequencing revealed that some genes had sequences presumed to be ancient creatures’ DNA.

At that moment, a rainbow-colored light shadow cast through the car window delicately passed over Eugene’s face.

“A true Leviathan, born by breaking the surface of a gene pool that has been mixed and remixed.”

Nasiri thought his boss had a more poetic side than he expected.

“Of course, this phenomenon can also be found in humans. 8% of human DNA comes from viruses that enter our bodies. For instance, syncytin, which forms the placenta. This protein originated from the env protein that originally helped viruses easily fuse with host cells’ receptors.”

Mumbling while looking outside, Eugene looked like a child chasing scattered light shadows from the car’s back seat in her childhood.

Finally, Eugene turned her head and looked at Nasiri.

“Was it a coincidence that the Luax virus crossed to humans? Now holding fragments of human DNA, where will this virus go?”

Nasiri dared not answer that question. And he thought Eugene probably didn’t expect an answer from him either.

In her eyes, there was no trace of childishness left. She emitted an unassailable majesty as if made entirely of solid and firm material.

“I think so. Just as bees pollinate flowers, viruses might have chosen humans as their vector.”

Only then did Nasiri realize why Eugene had talked so much, which was unusual for her.

“Living beings seek evolution. Whether it’s right or wrong.”

The look in her eyes was not one of a typical desire for power. If it had been, he might have understood her more easily. But it was like the eyes of a scientist challenging the impossible, or an athlete striving to surpass their limits.

Or perhaps the eyes of a conqueror who couldn’t bear the fact that there were places beyond their reach.

References

– “Gene Impact: The CRISPR Revolution and the Age of Gene Editing” by Kevin Davies, translated by Jae Hyo-young, Bronstein (2021)

– “Origin of Species Virus” by Hitoshi Nakayashiki, translated by Kim So-yeon, Yeongrim Cardinal (2017)