NOVPUBSeeing Daniel truly about to leave the conference room, Brooks quickly backed down, "Wait, wait, wait! I was just joking, don’t take it seriously!"
"Just half a year’s salary? I’ll grit my teeth and pay up!"
A grating sound, like the grinding of teeth, escaped Brooks’s lips, illustrating just how painful this was for him.
Once Daniel had seated himself again, Brooks tried to smile, "Dear Mr. Daniel, can you give me a break? Let’s go by the original price, three months’ salary. How about it?"
Daniel rejected him flatly, "Perhaps it’s best to let Alex decide the worth of that secret."
Saying this, he stood up once more, ready to depart.
Brooks had no choice but to surrender, "Alright, alright! Half a year’s salary it is! Come to my office this evening to get it!"
He thought to himself, perplexed.
With such immense power, one would expect Daniel to be insurmountably cool and charismatic. Yet, here he was, acting like every penny was crucial.
After promising Daniel his hush money, Brooks lost all his energy.
Nursing a minor injury, a bandage wrapped around his forehead, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips, and a vacant look in his eyes – he looked as desolate as he did when Alex had passed.
...
Ten minutes later, Martin called Daniel back to his office.
Besides Daniel, Martin, Brooks, Julia, and Mike were all present.
They were all aware of Daniel’s abilities, so there was nothing left to hide.
With a few minutes to spare before the announcement, everyone chatted casually.
In a corner, Brooks whispered to Julia, "Julia, I have a mission tonight. Can I borrow some gold from you?"
Julia looked puzzled, "I’m just a Level 2 Evolver. I only get 1000g of gold a month. You, as the captain and a Level 3 Evolver, receive 2000g of gold every month. Why would you need to borrow from me?"
The captain gets that much?
Daniel couldn’t help but muse internally, no wonder Brooks was so devastated.
Half a year’s salary, amounting to 12kg of gold, could fetch five to six million in today’s gold market.
Moreover, for Evolvers, gold was the prime weapon against monsters.
Especially for those in the Investigation Bureau who were constantly on missions, the consumption of gold was terrifyingly high.
At that moment, Martin interrupted the ongoing conversation, "Quiet down, the draw is about to start."
Everyone’s eyes turned to the television screen, except for Daniel who was engrossed in sipping his coffee, not even bothering to glance up.
Knowing the outcome in advance meant there was no element of suspense for him.
On the TV, the host was announcing the accumulated jackpot for this round, a whopping 20 billion StellarCoins.
Brooks couldn’t help exclaiming, "My God, if one hits that jackpot, there’s no financial worry for the rest of one’s life!"
20 billion StellarCoins, even just sitting in the bank, could generate tens of thousands of StellarCoins in interest daily.
Behind the host, lottery balls whirled rapidly inside the machine.
Soon enough, the first set of winning numbers appeared, "56, 41, 33, 47, 10, 10, 11!"
Followed by the numbers for the second lottery ticket: "41, 03, 28, 25, 40, 33, 35!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Silence filled the room as everyone waited with bated breath.
In a short span, the winning numbers for all five lotteries were displayed.
After comparing the numbers on the screen with those on their tickets, everyone double-checked meticulously. A collective gasp filled the room.
They hit the jackpot!
All five lottery tickets matched perfectly!
Brooks, his face drained of color in astonishment, quickly approached Daniel and excitedly shook his hand.
"Man, from now on, you’re my blood brother! I’ve just given you all my wealth, and now I’m flat broke. Brother, can you show some mercy and predict the numbers for the next lottery? I’m not being greedy, just the one with the 20 billion jackpot will do!"
If no one claimed the top prize this time, the next round would have an even bigger pot!
Martin sternly interrupted, "Enough, Brooks! Every time Daniel peers into the future, he risks amplifying his power uncontrollably. His gift isn’t meant for such trivialities."
Brooks reluctantly released Daniel’s hand, murmuring with a hint of bitterness, "How can you call it trivial? Maybe you don’t need the money, but I do."
Martin sidestepped Brooks’s comment, turning his attention to Daniel.
His demeanor had softened considerably, contrasting starkly from moments ago.
"Mr. Daniel, your ability has been confirmed. The head of the intelligence department has reported to me that an unusual energy has been detected in the Central Supermarket."
"The creatures inside aren’t man-made traps. On behalf of the Global Supernatural Phenomenon Investigation Bureau, I formally invite you to join our ranks. Any conditions you set forth will be met."
Daniel nodded in agreement.
This was precisely the outcome he’d hoped for, making his earlier use of the recall ability worthwhile.
Ten chances a day might sound ample, but in the face of real emergencies, they could quickly run out.
Martin continued, addressing the others, "The nature of Daniel’s ability is of utmost importance. I’ve decided to classify any information related to Daniel’s skill as top-tier confidential. Since you’re already aware, there’s no going back. However, from this point on, you are not to mention his powers in the presence of others."
Mike queried, "When the Investigation Bureau brings in a new member, it’s bound to draw attention. What do we say if we’re questioned about him?"
Given Daniel’s entry into the bureau and his status as an Evolver, it was natural for others to grow curious about his capabilities.
Martin pondered a moment before responding, "Externally, we’ll say Daniel’s ability pertains to danger perception, that he can sense threats occurring mere seconds into the future."
The others nodded in agreement, finding the explanation reasonable.
Martin turned to Julia, "Julia, Mike, you both are privy to the situation. Until Daniel becomes a seasoned investigator, he’ll be part of your team. Take him now to complete his onboarding procedures and assign him a reliable liaison."
Julia and Mike nodded, "Understood."
Realizing it was his cue, Daniel followed the two out of the office.
After watching the trio leave, without turning his head, Martin suddenly posed a question, "What do you make of this Daniel?"
Brooks paused, glancing around the room. Noticing no one else, he responded, "Are you asking me?"
Martin shot him a glance, "Obviously! Who else is in this room?"
Brooks quipped, "Well, who knows? Leaders like you love to have some ’hidden company’ in their offices."
Martin was left speechless.
