NOVPUBAs Martin’s words settled, a serious look crossed Brooks’s face, as if he were mulling something over.
In addition to an Evolver’s power ranking, there was also a significance ranking.
This was based on the potential of their abilities and their importance to the Investigation Bureau.
The ranks, similar to the threat levels of monsters, ranged from C, B, A, to S in ascending order.
Daniel’s SSS rating was both a first and the only one of its kind worldwide.
This clearly underscored the weight he held in Martin’s estimation. n𝚘vp𝚞𝚋.com
Of course, the significance of Daniel’s abilities had already manifested in Alex, and Brooks felt that such a ranking was not out of place.
However, he suddenly questioned, "With such a rating, if the higher-ups find out, wouldn’t they whisk Daniel away to protect themselves? After all, in their eyes, their own lives are paramount."
He continued with a hint of jealousy, "And why am I only ranked at A? How can Daniel, a newbie Evolver, surpass me with a SSS rank? Tell me the truth, Martin. Is Daniel your secret son?"
Martin shot him a cold glare, choosing to ignore the latter comment, "That’s precisely why I’ve classified Daniel’s records at the highest level of secrecy. Only the highest council can decide to unveil it; no one else has the authority to access it directly."
In the midst of their conversation, Martin’s expression suddenly became melancholic. "Brooks, you must know, I was once one of them. "
"But ever since I was pushed out of the group and took over as the head of the Investigation Bureau, after experiencing events that transcended comprehension, I realized humanity seems to be its own worst enemy."
Brooks remained silent, not quite grasping Martin’s last sentiment.
Martin continued, "Lately, supernatural occurrences are on the rise. The world as we know it is changing. Step up your game. Maybe God has grown tired of humanity’s stagnant progress and decided to interfere in the natural order. Evolvers might be the future of humankind."
Brooks, sensing Martin’s underlying emotions, replied nonchalantly, "Don’t worry, Martin. Even if you never become an Evolver in this lifetime, I’ll always have your back."
Turning around, Martin chuckled softly. Who wouldn’t wish to be that one special being, if given the chance?
After a brief silence, Martin said, "Isn’t Daniel’s girlfriend, Sophia, applying for an archaeology major at the national university? "
"Bring her into the Investigation Bureau. And those two brothers, Abel and Allen, get them on board too. Find a department that needs hands and place them there."
Brooks was puzzled. "They’re ordinary people with no exceptional skills. What use could they possibly be?"
Martin, with a rather theatrical look, retorted, "You don’t get it. It’s called ’bonds’. Daniel joined the Investigation Bureau for the Gene Magnet. "
"If someone else or another organization offers a better deal, he might consider leaving. But with bonds tying him here, he won’t depart so easily. Friendships, connections, these are what truly matter to humans."
Rolling his eyes, Brooks remarked sarcastically, "How many times have I told you? Anime is for kids. It offers no real positive impact on adult psychology. Hearing you speak like this, I can tell you’ve been re-watching ’Naruto’ again, haven’t you?"
Martin’s face turned a shade of red, and he quickly coughed to deflect, "Let’s check on Alex quickly. With the current state of affairs, we can’t afford any issues with him."
Brooks wore a rare, serious expression. "Understood. I’ve already summoned all the medical teams from the Investigation Bureau to attend to it. There shouldn’t be any issues. I’ll go check on them now."
Martin nodded, murmuring an affirmative.
As Brooks stepped out and closed the door behind him, Martin turned the television on again, instinctively hitting the shortcut button.
Immediately, two figures, one blue and the other orange-red, were shown attacking each other on the screen.
Voices rang out: "Naruto!" "Sasuke!" The scene was chaotic, with the world seemingly falling apart amidst flying sand and debris.
Martin was momentarily engrossed, but then quickly realized his mistake.
Glancing up, he saw Brooks peeking through the door with a mischievous grin. "Still watching?"
Martin’s face reddened even further.
Hastily reaching for the remote, he blurted out, "I turned on the TV to watch the news, not this! Get lost!"
Brooks let out a hearty laugh, closing the door behind him, his footsteps fading away.
On the television, a news broadcast played. "Multiple incidents of monsters invading farms and attacking locals have been reported across various states, inciting widespread panic."
"The monster incident in Mauritania isn’t the end, but rather the beginning!"
"Are these monsters the result of biological mutations or ominous signs of Satan’s descent?"
"Many are flocking to churches in their vicinity, seeking God’s protection."
"..."
Martin channel-surfed incessantly.
Every news station relayed the same distressing message: the world was in chaos.
As he had feared, supernatural phenomena were becoming increasingly common, leaving the public in trepidation and society in turmoil.
If the eradication of the monsters across various regions isn’t intensified, the world will be thrown into greater turmoil, only amplifying the terror and strength of these creatures.
...
Daniel had Mike drop him off near Rachel’s apartment and then got out of the car.
Though it had only been a few days, perhaps due to the shift in his worldview, Daniel felt that the once-peaceful world had become a rare treasure.
He deeply missed Sophia, longing for her scent.
He walked up to the apartment and knocked on the door.
No answer.
Had she gone out?
Reaching for his phone, he dialed Sophia’s number.
Becoming an Evolver had heightened his senses significantly.
He easily detected the sound of Sophia’s ringtone emanating from behind the door.
Her phone’s inside, but she isn’t?
Daniel’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
With a gentle nudge of two fingers amplified by his Evolver strength, the door lock gave way.
Stepping inside, he instantly felt that something was off.
Although the sun was shining brightly outside, the apartment was shrouded in a dim, gray haze, dense and all-encompassing.
With a sharp gaze, Daniel tried to penetrate the mist in search of Sophia.
However, the fog was so thick that his visibility was limited to barely a meter.
As he ventured deeper, a sinister emotion began to tug at his consciousness.
It felt as though something was deliberately inducing a sense of terror within him.
Through the thick haze, the faint glow of a chandelier and various appliances could be discerned.
The apartment, however, was plunged into deeper darkness, filled with an odd scent—a mix of fresh, rain-soaked earth and the putrid stench of decaying animal flesh.
Furrowing his brow, Daniel drew his Desert Eagle, ready to fire at a moment’s notice.
"Sophia?"
"Are you there?"
Rachel’s apartment was small, comprising just two bedrooms.
Daniel searched every room, including the bathroom, but found no trace of Sophia.
The apartment grew dimmer, resembling the darkness of deep night.
Sitting on the couch, Daniel spotted Sophia’s phone on the table.
Picking it up, he noticed a missed call – the one he had made.
A quick scan of the phone revealed nothing unusual, suggesting that Sophia might have just forgotten her phone when she left.
The alternative, that she was taken – or worse, devoured by a creature – made his heart race.
Above all, he was deeply concerned for her safety. Where could she have gone?
Resolving to leave this ominous place, Daniel stood up.
Just as he did, a voice echoed through the dense fog.
"Daniel?"
It was Sophia’s voice!
Without hesitation, Daniel shouted back, "Sophia? Where are you?"
Suddenly, a silhouette emerged from the mist, swiftly moving towards him, almost as if about to embrace him.
Daniel hastily took two steps back, calmly inquiring, "Wait! Are you really Sophia?" He had scoured the entire apartment and hadn’t found her. Why was she appearing only now?
A hint of sorrow emerged on Sophia’s face. "Of course I’m Sophia. What are you implying?" she questioned, her voice carrying a touch of hurt.
"Have you forgotten about me after just a few days?"
Tears began to form in her eyes. Daniel quickly approached, comforting her, "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. But why didn’t you respond when I called for you earlier?"
From what he had surmised earlier, these high-level creatures would only attack when engaged in interaction. Since he’d already spoken with Sophia and everything seemed normal, she surely couldn’t be one of those creatures.
As Daniel moved to embrace her, his phone rang. Answering, he inquired, "Who is this?"
Julia’s voice sounded from the other end, "Daniel, where are you?"
"At home," he responded.
"Listen," Julia began, urgency evident in her tone, "there’s been another sighting of one of those creatures on Eighth Street downtown. Hurry over there; Mike and I will join you shortly."
Glancing at Sophia, Daniel said, "Let’s go. It’s not safe to stay here; we’ll head to a hotel."
Julia, still on the line, caught this and curiously asked, "Who are you talking to?"
"My girlfriend, Sophia," he replied.
There was a momentary silence on the other end before Julia’s voice, now filled with urgency, broke through, "Run! That’s not Sophia. Get out of there now!"
