NOVPUBBefore Daniel could utter a word, Martin turned to him, "Mr. Daniel, given the pressing circumstances, I’d ask you to wait in the reception room for now."
"Julia, escort Mr. Daniel. Mike, prepare for an emergency meeting," he commanded.
With those words, Martin swiftly exited, leaving the Investigation Bureau in a flurry of activity.
Julia ushered Daniel into the reception room before hurrying off herself.
Sipping his coffee, Daniel found himself deep in contemplation.
From what he had gathered, both Alex and Brooks were Level 3 Evolvers and were virtually unmatched beneath Level 4.
They were the cream of the crop within the Evolver community.
Such formidable figures should’ve been invincible even against hundreds of Ghouls.
Yet they met with a disastrous fate against just over a hundred unknown creatures.
It spoke volumes about the monsters’ power and hinted at the imminent danger humanity now faced.
The already scarce Evolver community had just lost two of its top-tier members.
It’s no wonder Martin was beside himself.
But where were the Level 4 Evolvers?
In the current scenario, their intervention could turn the tide.
Why weren’t they called upon?
Was it that Martin lacked the authority, or was there another reason lurking beneath the surface?
The waters within the Investigation Bureau seemed much deeper than Daniel had first imagined.
If he truly was to join the Bureau, he couldn’t be a sitting duck.
Outside the conference room stood a Bureau officer, tasked with standing guard.
His duty?
Ensure that those inside did not wander freely within the Investigation Bureau’s corridors.
He stood guard for quite some time, noticing no movement from those within.
Just as he was letting his guard down, the door behind him to the reception room opened.
Turning, he saw Daniel, his face impassive, stepping out.
The officer quickly questioned, "Where do you think you’re—"
Before he could finish, he was met with a swift chop to the neck.
He had no time to react, his vision fading to black as he collapsed.
Daniel quickly surveyed the area, ensuring no one had noticed.
Swiftly, he dragged the officer back into the reception room.
He stripped the man of his uniform, gagged him with a sock, and bound him with strips torn from a curtain.
After ensuring the man was well-hidden, Daniel donned the officer’s uniform and made his way through the Investigation Bureau.
On any other day, such a superficial disguise would have been exposed in a heartbeat.
However, with the Bureau in chaos over Alex’s death, no one took note of Daniel’s ruse.
After unlocking his Gene Lock, Daniel realized his hearing had significantly enhanced.
As he walked the corridors, he could easily eavesdrop on conversations within the offices.
"Captain Alex, always the cool and distant type, was a good man at heart.
He was the strongest Evolver beneath Level 4 in our Investigation Bureau.
I can’t believe he’s gone just like that. Such a loss."
"Absolutely. Even Captain Brooks has been gravely injured. He’s alive, yes, but his injuries have greatly hampered his combat abilities. If we don’t deploy a new Evolver soon, the skies over Golden Shores might just darken."
"Finding someone to fill Captain Alex’s shoes isn’t going to be a walk in the park."
"What on earth attacked the Central Supermarket to leave both captains high and dry?" one voice whispered.
"Captain Brooks said it was the clothing mannequins from the Central Supermarket that ambushed them," another replied.
"Mannequins? You’re kidding, right? Those things came to life?"
"With creatures as powerful as the Cthulhu around, is it really so surprising? It’s just tragic about Captain Alex. If they had known this intel beforehand, perhaps he’d still be alive."
As this was said, a heavy sigh echoed through the office.
The room then fell silent, each individual returning to their tasks.
Daniel, pretending to peruse a folder he’d snatched from a desk, absorbed every word.
Afterward, he continued to wander the corridor, the information racing in his mind.
So, this Brooks Evolver was still alive, and he’d brought crucial intel.
All the mannequins in the supermarket had turned into monsters.
No wonder the captains were caught off guard - who would’ve expected plastic models to come alive?
Daniel made a mental note and observed that office doors were open and employees were pouring out.
"Everyone, to the main conference room, immediately!"
"Seems the Evolvers from other cities have arrived."
"We better move fast. The Minister’s in no mood for tardiness."
Blending effortlessly into the crowd, Daniel slipped into the vast conference room.
He settled into a corner, watching from behind the sea of attendees.
The large oval conference table was surrounded by seated figures, each with an expression of grave concern, readying for battle. n𝚘vp𝚞𝚋.com
Clearly, they were the Evolvers summoned from various regions to bolster the headquarters.
All eyes were trained on the head of the table, awaiting guidance.
At that spot sat Martin, his face etched with worry and determination.
To Daniel’s surprise, an empty seat was to Martin’s left.
To his right sat a man with vacant eyes, a bandage wrapped around his head, puffing on a lit cigarette that filled the room with smoke.
Every now and then, a soft cough would ripple through the room, but no one, not even Martin, dared to voice any objections.
Daniel deduced that a figure who could command such respect from the gathered Evolvers and be allowed such liberties during an official meeting had to be one of the captains.
Captain Brooks, no doubt.
As for the empty seat, it wasn’t hard to guess; it must’ve been Alex’s.
Breaking the hush, Martin began without any pleasantries.
"After thorough confirmation from the intelligence department, it is with heavy hearts that we announce Captain Alex’s valiant sacrifice."
The atmosphere grew even more somber.
Not many present might have had a deep bond with Alex, but as the old saying goes, "Better to have a giant shield you from the falling sky."
Now, with the giant either dead or injured, the responsibility of combating the monsters in the Golden Shores region had inevitably fallen upon their shoulders.
It wasn’t a comforting thought.
Martin’s words caused Brooks’s hand to twitch slightly as he took another drag from his cigarette, a hint of sorrow evident in his otherwise hollow eyes.
Then Martin’s voice rang out again, "Based on our intelligence unit’s findings, the attackers of Alex and Brooks were mannequins from the supermarket. For the time being, we’ll codename them ’Mannequin Monsters’."
As he spoke, Julia lowered a large screen, projecting images of these monsters obtained by the intelligence department.
The gazes of all present faltered for a moment.
Countless white plastic creatures, their eyes glowing with a haunting crimson hue, seemed as if they had been imbued with malevolent souls.
With just one glance, Daniel could tell they were manipulated by some dark power.
Perhaps, hidden within the supermarket, lurked an even more sinister and formidable creature.
If one were to rank it based on the Investigation Bureau’s monster grading system, its threat level might exceed S!
Julia continued where Martin left off, "These Mannequin Monsters initially hid within various clothing sections, indistinguishable from ordinary mannequins. When Captain Alex let his guard down, believing that everything was under control, these creatures emerged from every direction, ambushing and severely wounding him. In the end, to cover for an injured Captain Brooks, Alex chose to take as many of them down with him as he could."
Everyone’s focus was laser-sharp on the images projected on the screen, their expressions grave.
The mere fact that these monsters could severely injure Captain Alex implied their threat level might be at C, or even rank B.
Even with the element of surprise, the seemingly invincible, at least under Level 4, Alex wouldn’t have been caught off-guard that easily.
If creatures that overpowered both captains were this challenging, how could those who came to assist possibly cope?
Martin began, "The reason I’ve called you all here, pulling you away from your duties, is singular in purpose – to eliminate every last monster within the central supermarket and ensure that Golden Shores remains monster-free for at least the next six months!"
Brooks exhaled a cloud of smoke and declared in a deep voice, "It’s also about avenging Alex." A somber atmosphere instantly enveloped the room.
Martin, locking eyes with the composed Brooks, said, "Put that cigarette out. Right now, you’re our strongest player at headquarters. Pull yourself together; we’re relying on your Oracle ability for this operation."
At Martin’s words, a newfound energy seemed to electrify the room; every eye shimmered as they turned to Brooks, their attention palpable.
Daniel paused in surprise.
Oracle? Did it mean a divine decree?
Was it a power where every uttered word became prophetic, as if spoken by a deity?
Although Daniel was perplexed, the reactions of those around him indicated that Brooks’s power was something extraordinary.
But Brooks seemed unperturbed by the attention.
He continued to smoke leisurely until the burning end nearly reached his fingers, then tossed it away. A bitter, self-deprecating smile crossed his face.
"Oracle?" he mused aloud.
"If it were truly that potent, Alex wouldn’t have met his end."
