"I'm sorry, sir, but I'm nothing more than a worker's son from the fringes. I'm sure you've got the wrong person."
Just as this revelation was unbelievable and incomprehensible for Damon, Lucius also found it hard to believe the heartfelt claim of the green-clad knight.
Sir Collymore placed a reassuring hand on Lucius' shoulders with a smile.
"If I were in your place and a stranger suddenly appeared claiming to be my father, I'd have a hard time believing it too. But I assure you, there's no mistake. I've been watching over you from afar for the past eighteen years, my son... But circumstances were cruel to our family, forcing me to send you to Mars to ensure your safety."
These words wiped the smile off the knight's face. Even so, he took a deep breath and forced another grin.
"...But there's no need to worry anymore. The problems have been resolved, and you can finally return to Argus. Your mother is eagerly waiting for you. If it weren't for her pregnancy, she'd be standing here beside me right now."
Damon could see the fear and confusion etched across Lucius' face. The knight, overwhelmed by excitement, spoke loudly, completely ignoring the presence of others in the hall.
"Dammit… how lucky can a person be…?"
"Imagine that—the very day your compatibility gets confirmed, a high-ranking knight shows up claiming to be your father!"
"To hell with this dogshit life. This kind of luck is just unfair…"
Damon ignored the murmurs of the crowd, lost in thought as he tried to extract some logic from the sheer absurdity of the situation.
Meanwhile, Lucius took a step back and tried to respond as politely as possible.
"Sir, I still believe you've mistaken me for someone else… But I know every alley of the outskirts like the back of my hand, and I recognize most boys my age in the southern district. If you'd like, I can help you find your son."
The knight gave a warm smile at Lucius' words and replied,
"That won't be necessary. Before we pass through the Star Gate, we'll return to your old home and inform the Greenfield family. We'll also pay them the remainder of their compensation. By then, you'll understand the truth."
Turning to the hall's administrator, he continued,
"But before that, let's find out just how high his compatibility score is. Dr. Holland, if you please—what's Lucius' compatibility rating?"
Sir Collymore's sudden claim hadn't just shocked Damon or left the other candidates envious; even Dr. Holland and his two assistants were caught in the storm of disbelief brought by the knight's words.
Dr. Holland spent another moment examining Sir Collymore's and Lucius's striking resemblance. Finally, she signaled to the bespectacled technician to announce the test results.
The technician adjusted her glasses and, after scrolling through the data on her holo-watch to confirm the results, hesitantly declared with a bewildered expression:
"Lucius Greenfield... Symbiote Compatibility... 97%?!!!"
As soon as the technician finished speaking, the entire hall fell into a deafening silence. Every pair of eyes fixated on Lucius.
Even Sir Collymore found it hard to believe what he had just heard.
"I must have misheard… Miss, could you repeat that? How much did you say?"
While the bespectacled technician frantically rechecked the information, Dr. Holland took a different approach—analyzing charts and recalculating data. Before his assistant could answer, he spoke up:
"Sir Collymore, congratulations. Your son has shattered the symbiote compatibility record by an 18% margin. He is now the first human who can achieve near-perfect fusion with a symbiote. If you permit, we can begin the integration process immediately."
Damon repeated the number in his head. "97% compatibility?"
He didn't know what to think about his old friend—and new rival—getting such an absurd stroke of luck.
Before Lucius, the highest recorded compatibility belonged to the previous Emperor's wife—the mother of the current Emperor—on the day of her test, she now commanded the Third Praetorian Squad and was ranked the ninth most powerful individual among more than a billion armed warrior in the entire empire.
With a compatibility score like Lucius', it wasn't just the military that would pursue him. Imperial Knights, the immortal Praetorian, and even elite Spartans of the mega-corporations in all the twelve star systems and sixty-three colonies on other planets, would all compete to recruit him.
Damon muttered under his breath,
"fu*k this ridiculous luck. In a single day, not only was your compatibility confirmed, but it turns out you've had a knight's blood running through your veins all along, and now you have a 97% rating. The funniest part? You mocked me for years for even believing in something like this. And because of that, fourteen years of friendship turned into rivalry. Fate really does have a sick sense of humor."
Lucius, still unable to fully grasp what was happening, let the middle-aged technician guide him to a chair next to a capsule.
The machine used for integrating a symbiote into a human brain was called the AI Implanter, but due to its mechanical arm resembling the mechanism of an old sewing machine, it was commonly referred to as the Stitcher.
The Stitcher implanted a semi-organic AI into the user's brain through a thick needle, attaching photonic nano-fibers to the pineal gland and both hemispheres. It then sealed the skull with artificial bone and healed the skin seamlessly.
The technician first inserted a fine acupuncture-like needle between Lucius' upper vertebrae, rendering his entire body numb. Then, she strapped his arms, legs, waist, neck, and head into place as the chair slowly reclined into a bed-like position.
The mechanical arm moved above Lucius' head, the thick needle at its tip scanning his face for precise calibration. Watching the large needle meant for his skull, introduced him to a new level of fear—one he never thought a human could endure. But with his body paralyzed, the only thing he could do was let a single tear roll down his cheek.
It was over, far faster than he expected. In a swift motion, the needle pierced between his eyebrows, remained inside for barely a second, then retracted. A creamy substance oozed from the needle, sealing the bone hole. Two smaller robotic arms emerged, closing and repairing his skin with such precision that no trace of the procedure remained.
Damon had never seen a symbiote integration up close before. But his mind was too preoccupied with everything else to care—even though he knew he'd experience it himself in just a few hours.
"If I analyze everything carefully, the knight's claim makes sense. If we rule out genetic mutation, only being his biological son could explain Lucius' compatibility. And that insane percentage is the final nail in the coffin. There's no way a slum rat, even with genetic mutations, could jump from 0% to 97%..."
He glanced at Lucius, wondering, What's he feeling right now? Is the symbiote already talking to him?
Dr. Holland forced a professional smile and addressed Sir Collymore.
"Normally, we keep new candidates in the hall for twelve hours to let the numbness fade and allow the symbiote to sync with their body and establish communication. However, you may take your son to Argus once you sign this form."
Sir Collymore nodded, and his holo-watch briefly glowed green as he signed the digital document using his symbiote.
Damon observed his every move, contemplating whether to intervene as the knight lifted Lucius into his arms. But then he hesitated—Lucius would never have done the same for him.
As the knight carried Lucius away, a female technician asked in disbelief,
"You're really letting him take the kid just like that? What if he was lying? That boy has the highest compatibility our race has ever seen! The higher-ups won't be happy if something happens to him."
Dr. Holland gave her a look of utter disdain.
"As a technician, I expect you to review all available data before making stupid assumptions. When I verified the compatibility myself, the system automatically identified Sir Collymore as his father based on DNA scans. Next time, don't question my judgment without proof."
Lowering her head, the technician mumbled,
"Apologies, Doctor… I was just worried about the consequences."