King of Games C13 Apes progress and Mario mystery case

It has been quite some time since Shinro used the gene modification on the apes in the "Tiny World", and it's been thousands of years in their world.

Although the apes already possessed the "FOXP2" gene, the variant that Shinro added or modified was close to the human version of the "FOXP2" gene, which allowed them to develop speech and language abilities similar to early human species like the Neanderthals.

The introduction of this gene accelerated their evolutionary process, and they quickly progressed to a stage where they could communicate with each other using complex sounds and gestures, much like the early human ancestors did. This breakthrough has significant implications for their understanding of language development and the role of genetics in shaping their communication abilities.

Despite their appearance remaining ape-like and far from resembling Homo habilis, Shinro understood that he needed to observe and gradually modify their genes to guide their evolution towards Homo habilis, then Homo erectus, and finally Homo sapiens.

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Within the "Tiny World," the apes' family tree underwent drastic changes over the course of thousands of years. Although their appearances didn't change much, their behavior evolved significantly.

They became smarter, more coordinated, and developed better communication skills than any other creature in the miniature world. These apes formed communities, crafted stone-tipped spears, discovered fire, and even cooked their prey. They also built crude shelters from wood, marking the beginnings of their journey towards a more sophisticated lifestyle.

Due to the genetic modifications made by Shinro, the apes' cognitive abilities and social skills were greatly enhanced. This led to the development of their own unique religion. Surprisingly, their object of worship was depicted as a hand-like figure, drawn on cave walls and stones. The older generations passed down stories about this colossal hand that could appear in the sky, split the clouds, and plunge the world into darkness.

This was the story that the older generations of apes passed down to their offspring, and while most of the newer generations believed it without question, a rare minority began to harbor doubts. However, they still held onto their beliefs. This skepticism was a clear sign of their growing intelligence, surpassing that of any other creature in the miniature world.

Interestingly, these doubting individuals didn't have to wait long before their beliefs were put to the test. The very "colossal hand" they had heard about emerged from the sky, plucking many of their kind into the air before retreating back into the heavens.

"Woah! Woah!" The apes jumped around in awe, some even bowing to the departing giant hand as it disappeared behind the clouds. They believed that their fellow apes who were taken were blessed and fortunate, destined for a better place.

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Shinro carefully selected a few specimens from the group of apes and began to modify their genes, focusing on those responsible for skeletal structure and the balance and coordination required for bipedalism. He had learned from his previous experience and decided to make changes one at a time, ensuring a higher success rate for the gene modifications. This time, he was more cautious, not wanting to overwhelm the apes with too many changes at once.

Once the modifications were complete, Shinro nurtured the weakened apes back to health, feeding them nutrient-rich foods before returning them to the "Tiny World."

Observing the "Tiny World" after the latest modifications, Shinro noticed profound changes. The enhanced intelligence of the apes had given them a significant advantage over other creatures, and they were on the verge of dominating the miniature ecosystem. Fearing their complete domination, Shinro decided to intervene. He carefully selected specimens from other animal species and modified their genes to be physically stronger, creating a more balanced environment.

Shinro began by modifying the muscle strength, agility, and predatory instincts of carnivorous animals in the "Tiny World," including adjusting their myostatin inhibitors. He also considered enhancing their cognitive abilities but decided to postpone it due to the limited number of gene modifications he could perform in a three-day cooldown period.

Aside from managing the "Tiny World," Shinro started working on another project: developing the video game "Undertale." While the "Super Mario Bros" game was earning him system points and money, he believed that releasing a more advanced and larger game like "Undertale" would significantly increase the conversion rate of downloads to system points.

Currently, Shinro was earning 9 system points for every hundred downloads of "Super Mario Bros" on Steam. However, he estimated that "Undertale" would bring in 20 system points per hundred downloads, effectively doubling his earnings.

Additionally, the success of "Super Mario Bros" had already netted him hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue.

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Since the release of "Super Mario Bros" a few weeks ago, it had gained significant traction not only in the USA but also in Asia, particularly in Japan. Although Japanese gamers typically preferred mobile games, they couldn't resist trying the popular PC game after seeing it on YouTube. Among the addicted players were Conan's friends, Mitsuhiko, Genta, and Ayumi.

Mitsuhiko boasted, "Guys, I found a new trick to complete a whole level without any effort in 'Super Mario Bros'!"

Genta responded with a hint of pride, "Think you're the only one who knows tricks? I know a lot too! I've even been to hidden places in the game!"

Ayumi listened, impressed by her friends' knowledge of "Super Mario Bros." She then turned to Conan and asked, "What about you, Conan-kun? Do you know any tricks in the game?"

Conan scratched the back of his head and asked, "What game?"

His friends were astonished to learn that Conan hadn't heard of "Super Mario Bros" and quickly filled him in on the details.

"Well, I don't use computers much, so I don't play children's ga… uh, games like that," Conan said, correcting himself.

Mitsuhiko chimed in, "You should give it a try! It's a great game. In fact, I only found out about it because my dad played it and introduced it to me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known about a paid game like this."

"Yeah, and Mitsuhiko here got us all addicted!" Genta laughed.

Conan sighed inwardly, thinking, "Their parents must not be doing a good job raising them if they're this addicted to games."

After school, as they left the building together, Mitsuhiko suggested they head to the nearest internet cafe to show Conan "Super Mario Bros." Despite his protests, Conan was dragged along by his friends and had no choice but to tag along.

As they entered the internet cafe, they noticed a few people engrossed in online games. One person, in particular, was playing "Super Mario Bros." Mitsuhiko and the others approached him to strike up a conversation as he played.

The gamer explained that he loved the game's unique gameplay and catchy theme music, especially the "Mario" tune, which calmed him down.

Afterwards, Conan was reluctantly dragged to another PC with "Super Mario Bros" installed. To his surprise, he found himself enjoying the game and getting a bit competitive.

As Conan played with his friends' guidance, a blood-curdling scream shattered the peace of the internet cafe. They turned to see the very same guy they had just spoken to, who was playing "Super Mario Bros," doubled over in pain before passing out.

The entire cafe erupted in commotion, and Conan and his friends rushed to the man's side. However, they found him unconscious. The only clue left behind was a cryptic error message on the computer screen.

Conan checked the man's vitals and was shocked to find him lifeless. He immediately called the police, while others in the cafe, who had initially crowded around, panicked and made their own calls as well.

Conan's eyes fell on the computer screen, which now displayed a crashed "Super Mario Bros" with an error message. He stroked his chin, his expression serious. "Based on this, the 'Super Mario Bros' game must be related to his death…"

Conan couldn't help but wonder, "But how? How could a harmless, family-friendly game like 'Super Mario Bros' lead to a man's death?" He knew there was more to this mystery than met the eye.

He discreetly observed the cafe patrons, suspecting one of them might be the killer. Studying their reactions, expressions, and actions as they stared at the corpse, Conan tried to glean any information he could, but it wasn't enough to pinpoint the culprit.