"Give the test subjects the most basic respect."
After inspecting the goats, Adam already understood the inevitable outcome.
The heightened mental state could not last long. Once the excitement faded, the goat would suffer from the dual depletion of its mind and vitality.
Though Adam was the one who had caused this, the notion of "giving respect" seemed somewhat hypocritical.
But this was the nature of humanity.
"Over the years, as the arcanist profession has developed, how many creatures have been exploited for their body parts, used as magical materials, until they were completely drained? Some surviving creatures now require artificial breeding just to exist."
"Are humans cruel? Yes, exceedingly so. Most of what we eat, wear, and use is built upon the exploitation of other creatures. And now, that exploitation is turning inward, affecting humanity itself."
"Humans have killed more of their own kind than any other species has killed humans."
"Some believe that this is the natural order of the world—the survival of the fittest, the law of the jungle. The strong mercilessly exploit the weak for what they need."
"Modern civilizations and cultures are merely another form of exploitation."
"Thus, advocating for morality is utterly absurd. We feast on meat, wear fur, enjoy the fruits of others' labor, and then preach morality. It is the epitome of hypocrisy."
"Take me, for example. My wealth comes from the generations of the Latu family, accumulated through their nobility." Anthony raised his hand, his noble attire elegant and refined. Yet anyone who knew the details would understand how much effort and resources had gone into making such a garment.
"These riches are not entirely clean," Anthony added, aware of how the Latu family had accumulated its wealth over generations.
"But precisely because of this, we must still advocate for morality. If the strong had no sense of morality, if everyone became beasts, consuming each other for survival, then human society would cease to exist."
"Humans possess both beastly instincts and divine potential. The divine here doesn't refer to gods, but to humanity's noblest side. Only with this divine aspect can humans truly be human."
"Why do most churches hunt heteromorphs?" Anthony's words made Adam pause and narrow his eyes.
However, Anthony paid little attention to Adam's reaction, continuing, "Because the beastly nature of heteromorphs is unconstrained."
"Sin, as a force, certainly provides many advantages to heteromorphs, but it also magnifies their bestial side. Take werewolves, for example—once their beastly nature slips out of control, they cannot resist transforming, hunting and killing indiscriminately. Anyone who displeases them becomes a target."
"Imagine a world where everyone is like an uncontrollable werewolf—where the powerful kill at will and the weak prey on those weaker than themselves. Such a world would be a grotesque nightmare."
"Even today, the powerful still enjoy many privileges, but those privileges are still somewhat restricted."
"This already troubled world needs morality all the more."
"Adam, remember this—In this world, to survive and make progress, we may have to exploit other beings. But we must always try to remain kind," Anthony said earnestly.
As Adam's teacher, Anthony's role was not just to impart knowledge but to guide him in matters of character.
"I understand," Adam replied with a nod.
"Hahaha, no need to be so serious," Anthony chuckled, patting Adam on the shoulder. "Everyone has their own perspective on this world, for no two people's circumstances are exactly the same."
"I speak these words today because, when you grow strong and gain the power to control the fates of others, I hope you will still hold onto a baseline of kindness."
"Like with your experiments, you can control these goats' lives—you can decide if they live or die, whether they suffer or find joy. As you do so, give them the most basic respect, and allow yourself to retain some fundamental kindness."
With those words, Anthony didn't say much more. He stayed with Adam, helping him examine the other goats' physical conditions and offering technical guidance for Adam's second surgery.
As Adam worked, he explained the inspiration he had that morning. Anthony seemed intrigued and promised to find two books on the tattoo-based spellcasting techniques for him.
When the surgery was finished and Anthony went to find the books, Adam stood silently, lost in thought.
As Anthony had said, people's views of the world were shaped by their circumstances.
Adam's dilemma was that, in his previous life, he had received a proper education and maintained a relatively sound moral compass.
But everything he faced in this life told him how brutal the world truly was.
Since he lived in this present world, Adam knew that survival often required ruthless measures. But the memories of his previous life constantly reminded him that the things he was doing were distasteful.
He wasn't sure if Anthony's words had enlightened him or only deepened his internal conflict.
At that moment, Adam's emotions were complex, but he didn't dwell on them for long. All this conflict required resources, and he didn't have nearly enough.
It was like worrying about the happiness of pigs raised for slaughter when he hadn't even eaten his fill yet.
Many things had no answers at the moment because he didn't yet have the means to answer them. So, Adam chose to focus on improving himself. Once he had the ability, he could begin to seek the answers.
Meanwhile, in Adam's new home, the cat lay in front of its food bowl, licking it clean, before leisurely hopping up to the windowsill. There, it gazed at the small birds chirping outside, its pink tongue darting out in interest.
But then it lowered its head. The birds smelled like its own kind—it couldn't eat them.
Over time, as Adam's influence grew, the cat was steadily changing—its life force and mental state both shifting under Adam's charm.
The same was true for the birds, though outwardly unchanged. They, too, had become reflections of Adam, their very essence altered by his influence.
The cat's instincts were also affected. It now viewed Adam and all beings carrying his scent as part of its own kind.
Though the wound still affected its body, the cat wasn't afraid. It jumped out of the second-floor window without hesitation.
In their shared gaze, the cat absorbed Adam's mental suggestion, slowly beginning to believe its body was growing stronger and more agile.
This hypnotic effect was gradually taking hold.
Had Adam relied solely on traditional hypnosis, the results would have been less remarkable. Hypnosis could influence the body, but the changes were usually limited.
However, the cat now had an abundance of unused vitality. While not as finely tuned as a knight's cultivation, its life force had been quickly redistributed within the cat's subconscious perception, producing rapid results.
The cat landed lightly on the ground, swiping at an insect with its paw and swiftly consuming it.
Perhaps it was because Adam had only just moved in, but the grass in the yard hadn't been cleared yet, and the area was teeming with insects.
The cat, observing the swarm, began using its paws to swipe them out of the air, quickly bringing them to its mouth.
But this method was slow. Despite having eaten quite a bit, the cat still felt hungry.
Watching the abundance of insects, the cat let out a sound, and in that instant, its paw seemed to summon a force. The flying insects were suddenly pulled toward it and clung to its paws.
Meanwhile, Adam, reading about tattoo-based magic at the Mirror Tower, felt a sudden, vague sensation.
Even after his mental energy had left his body, there remained a faint connection between them. This was the nature of mental power, and Adam had learned about the source-return effect that relied on this very trait.
Even in the Mirror Tower, Adam could sense his mental energy's fluctuations.
"Just now, my mental power fluctuated and I expended some," Adam mused, rising to focus on the sensation.
As the cat continued to explore its newfound abilities, it appeared to discover a new game—manipulating that unseen force to draw smaller creatures closer.
When it heard movement from the second floor, it leapt up, the force drawing the nearby insects to its paws once again. It landed gracefully, as though walking in midair, before bounding back into the room.
The servant, preparing food to refill the cat's bowl, had been instructed by Adam to bring it in periodically.
The cat reached for the food again, but this time, the food didn't adhere to its paws.
"My mental energy has been drained," Adam thought quietly, sitting back down, lost in contemplation.