Volume 1, Chapter 40: The MAO-A Gene

Qin Shang gave a submissive nod.

With his identity as a "Trickster" exposed, he no longer felt as constrained in the presence of the Red-Clad Leader. At the very least, he could now be certain that this woman harbored no genuine malice toward him. Consequently, he relaxed his demeanor and spoke with honesty. He truly was a novice player in the "Road of Gods."

*Snap.*

The Red-Clad Leader finally lit a cigarette.

"Since you helped pass on that message, feel free to ask whatever you like. A novice player should have plenty of questions about the Road of Gods, right? My 'House of Ten Thousand Treasures' deals in information, props, and even handles certain gray-market business. Normally, I charge even the rookies for intel, but for the sake of that little brat, you can ask away..."

Hearing this, Qin Shang felt a sudden, inexplicable wave of gratitude toward "Grandpa Niu." He was desperate to make contact with veteran players to gain more information about the game. However, it was clear that veterans like "Eagle of Justice" or "Buddha Favors the Fated" would likely take his head for the bounty the moment they discovered he was a Trickster—let alone high-level players like the Red-Clad Leader. Qin Shang was certain her level was significantly higher than the Eagle’s, and thankfully, she seemed to bear him no ill will.

"Then, my first question is... what is the House of Ten Thousand Treasures?" Qin Shang gave a dry cough, thinking he would start with something trivial.

The Red-Clad Leader’s expression twitched. "Did you not hear me just now? It’s a place that sells information and props related to the Road of Gods. It’s one of my ventures, specifically designed to serve players."

Qin Shang let out an "Oh," thinking that she had certainly chosen a profitable target demographic. *If only I had become a player sooner,* he mused. The money of Road of Gods players was truly easy to earn. After clearing the "Death Train," he had been rewarded with twenty-five points. Converted to RMB, that was an astronomical sum he never would have dared to dream of before.

"What exactly is the Road of Gods? Who becomes a player? What are the criteria for being issued a character card? Also, are classes fixed?"

Qin Shang took a deep breath, noticing the disdain in the woman’s eyes, and realized he had likely been underestimated. The Red-Clad Leader’s face clearly read: "How could a kid who asks such brainless, entry-level questions possibly clear a trial dungeon?"

Deciding to drop the act, Qin Shang honestly asked the biggest questions on his mind.

Upon hearing this, the Red-Clad Leader, who had kept her hands steady on the steering wheel, allowed a playful smile to touch her red lips. "I thought you were a fool, but you’re not stupid after all. I did wonder how an idiot could ever clear the Trickster’s trial dungeon... As for what the Road of Gods is, no one can explain that clearly. Even if you ran off to ask players at the 'Rule Realm,' they couldn't explain the essence of it. We only know that the Road of Gods is a game—a game that looks like virtual reality, but is, in fact, lethal. Every time a player matches into a dungeon above A-rank, there is a possibility of losing their life!"

"However, the rewards for clearing a dungeon are unimaginably rich, aren't they? The points and item rewards are enough for you to turn your life around and live like a king in the real world. You should have experienced it already, young 'Order Realm' Trickster. For example, your skill, 'Inheritance'—if you activate it on an elderly person with no heirs, tsk tsk tsk, your personal assets would inflate at an incredibly exaggerated rate..."

*Huh?*

Qin Shang froze. He knew that Road of Gods skills could be used in reality, but he had never considered using "Inheritance" in that manner.

"Is the Red-Clad Leader a Trickster, too?"

"Me? No..." The woman in the red dress smiled thinly. "Don't be too surprised. Because the Trickster is a public enemy, veteran players have almost all dealt with their skills—they are truly heaven-defying!"

*Heaven-defying?* While "Inheritance" was certainly impressive, was it really worthy of such a label? Qin Shang was stunned.

"As for your second question, who becomes a player... well, that depends on demographics and occupations. I can answer that along with your third question." The Red-Clad Leader spoke calmly. "People from all walks of life can become players, but I can give you one important piece of information for free: the Trickster group is largely composed of people with high levels of the MAOA gene. I don’t know how you did in biology and chemistry..."

"I dropped out of vocational school!"

Hearing that, the Red-Clad Leader wisely refrained from asking further. Dropping out of vocational school meant he hadn't attended university. Biology and chemistry were separate subjects in the secondary school system, and even university students, unless they majored in the field, wouldn't necessarily take a course in "Biochemistry." Qin Shang couldn't be stupid if he had cleared the Trickster dungeon; someone like him dropping out usually implied a painful past. She didn't care about that.

"Oh, well, let me explain it simply. The MAOA gene is also known as the 'warrior gene.' People who possess this gene have a much higher crime rate than others. According to incomplete statistics, 77% of players who receive a Trickster card carry the MAOA gene and are part of a high-crime-rate demographic."

Qin Shang’s heart skipped a beat. Memories surfaced of his behavior when he faced the "Skull" scam syndicate. He had stubbornly insisted on taking them down single-handedly, knowing full well that his methods were also illegal. Yet, he had acted on that extremist impulse anyway. It was hard to say that the so-called MAOA gene the Red-Clad Leader spoke of wasn't at play. For a moment, he felt as if his deepest, most shameful secrets had been laid bare.

"So... is that why I became a Trickster? Because I carry a high-crime-rate gene?"

The Red-Clad Leader shook her head. "No. According to incomplete statistics, half the Tricksters I’ve known have spent time in jail for crimes. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that the Road of Gods issues this class to people who are criminals! Of course, Tricksters are a mixed bag. The MAOA gene only determines the probability of violent behavior; it doesn't necessarily mean actual criminal activity. For instance, people who enjoy torturing small animals or drowning ant hills for pleasure also have high MAOA activity. Having the gene doesn't mean you will commit a crime; it just means your propensity is higher than that of an average person."

She finished and smiled. "The classes issued by the Road of Gods are merely a reflection of the base of one's personality. As for what a person is truly like in reality, none of us can—or should—make a judgment based solely on a little silver-white card."

That statement hit home for Qin Shang. He pressed his lips together and nodded, accepting her explanation.

"Do you have any other questions?"