NOVPUBOutside the inn, Daniel and the others gathered in the parking area, where Barbos and three supercars were parked.
However, aside from Wes, the owners of the other two supercars had met tragic ends, a poignant reminder that things had changed, and people were lost.
Wes managed to squeeze out a slight smile, "These two cars are quite valuable; consider them a gift from me."
He walked up to Daniel, "Consider that phone as a token of my gratitude for you helping me survive this ordeal."
Daniel remained silent, not showing any signs of surprise.
No monster had emerged from the mobile phone; everyone knew that he hadn’t utilized Wes’s Spiritual Artifact phone.
If Wes didn’t insist on having it back, Daniel naturally wouldn’t offer it.
As Wes prepared to board his car, he looked at Daniel and spoke, "I find you quite interesting. Perhaps your abilities aren’t limited to being immune to all negative effects, as the organization previously investigated. It might even encompass more than just that."
He added, "We’ll meet again soon."
The brows of Alex and the others furrowed; everyone could catch the underlying implications in Wes’s words. Mike, standing behind Alex, lowered his voice, "Should we kill him to prevent him from causing trouble for Daniel in the future?"
Alex didn’t express any objections.
After the experiences in this incident, he profoundly realized how vital Daniel was, not only to the Investigation Bureau but to the entire human race.
Seeing the duo gearing up to take action, Julia hurriedly stepped in to restrain them, "If you guys start a fight and leave any trace, it might be exploited by those with ulterior motives."
Her words clearly articulated the looming threat. Behind Wes stood a highly mysterious organization, one with a notably hostile stance towards the Investigation Bureau.
If they caught any mishap, they might leverage it to malign the bureau, plummeting its reputation drastically.
Mike hesitated, caught in his steps.
Without any hesitation, Alex coldly interjected, "As long as it is done cleanly, it won’t be discovered."
He understood Julia’s concerns but had no intention of sparing a potential threat to Daniel because of it.
As Alex was gearing up to take action, Daniel walked up to the side of Wes’s car.
Wes looked at Daniel, seemingly understanding what Daniel intended to do.
He smiled and said, "You’d best not lay a hand on me. There are no secrets that remain hidden forever in this world. No matter how well you clean up afterward, you cannot conceal it from the people of the Rebirth Corporation."
He was exceedingly confident in Rebirth Corporation’s information acquisition capabilities.
Suddenly, the corners of Daniel’s mouth lifted, revealing a bewitching cold smile. "Oh really?"
"Such a pity, you have no idea what I’m planning to do to you."
He stretched out his right hand, placing it in front of Wes’s face, and calmly commanded, "Look into my eyes."
Wes found his view obstructed by Daniel’s large hand, making it impossible to see Daniel’s eyes.
Before he could grasp what was happening, a slit tore open in the palm of Daniel’s hand. A grotesque blood-red eyeball emerged.
Cold sweat drenched Wes’s forehead as he exclaimed in horror, "You… How could you...!"
But before he could finish, a surge of crimson blood-light engulfed him.
The bizarre red light bursting from the eye in the palm, coupled with a spiritual fluctuation, penetrated Wes’s eyes, ensnaring his soul.
Daniel’s lips moved slightly, "From today onwards, I am your master."
As his words settled, the horror in Wes’s eyes dissipated, gradually losing their lively sparkle, as if all consciousness and soul had been sucked away, leaving behind only an empty vessel.
Thud!
Wes collapsed onto the passenger seat.
Using the Blood-eyed Monster’s Enchanted Eye, Daniel had crafted a delightful illusion for him.
Within this illusion, no matter what Wes did, he would always be under Daniel’s control, constantly manipulated by him.
Every aspect of his life would be orchestrated by Daniel until he habitually chose obedience, no longer resisting, no longer even wondering why.
What Alex and the others saw was merely Daniel waving his hand in front of Wes’s face before Wes fainted.
Mike was somewhat panicked, "Daniel, you actually did it!"
"If others find out, your reputation will be ruined."
He hurriedly opened the car door to check on Wes’s breathing.
Seeing that Wes was only breathing rapidly and still very much alive, he breathed a sigh of relief. "He just passed out; you scared me. I thought you had killed him."
Daniel’s expression remained indifferent, "It’s just a small punishment."
Soon, Wes regained consciousness.
He looked bewildered at the people outside the car door.
When his gaze met Daniel’s, his entire body visibly shuddered for a moment. Daniel spoke, "You can go now."
With those simple words, Wes behaved as though he had been entrusted with a monumental task, solemnly nodding his head and saying, "Yes!"
Subsequently, he started the engine, switched gears, and sped off rapidly.
Mike wore a confused expression, "What’s going on? How did his attitude change so drastically all of a sudden?"
"Did he wake up without his brain fully functioning?"
Julia patted Mike’s shoulder, "Get in the car, idiot."
She and Alex both understood that Daniel had interfered with Wes in some way.
How exactly it was done remained Daniel’s secret.
Before Mike could grasp what had transpired, he saw Daniel and the others already seated in the car, the engine humming to life.
"Hey, don’t rush, wait for me!"
"Didn’t Wes give us those two cars? Aren’t any of you taking them?"
Julia responded disdainfully, "Do you have the car keys?"
Mike shook his head, then with a realization dawned upon him, he wore a face full of regret, "That braggart Wes, we shouldn’t have let him go!"
After Mike got in the car, Daniel drove about a dozen meters before stopping at a junction, making a right turn.
Before anyone could say a word, he said hurriedly, "I forgot something, I’ll be right back."
Saying this, he opened the door and exited the car, quickly returning to the front of the motel.
He had initially intended to use the system to retrieve those two cars, it just wasn’t convenient to do it in front of everyone.
With a slight motion of intent, he reclaimed everything.
Daniel wore a disappointed expression.
Apart from five million StellarCoins, there were no special rewards.
Having done all this, Daniel returned to the car and drove out of Isaac Town.
Daniel’s car hit the highway, speeding all the way.
No one noticed that the small town of Isaac had silently vanished.
Yes, the entire town had disappeared as if wiped from the map, leaving behind only an endless natural landscape.
...
At the Investigation Bureau headquarters.
Upon Daniel’s return, Sophia’s somber mood from the past few days evaporated instantly, replaced by a burgeoning sense of delight.
Though she had successfully enrolled in the national university’s archaeology program and even became a student of Benjamin, the dean of the history faculty, enjoying rich and fulfilling days of study, she couldn’t shake off a lingering dreariness in the absence of Daniel’s company.
The moment Daniel stepped through the door, she clung to him, demanding his attention three or four times, to the point where Daniel had to cry mercy before she finally released him.
A wave of frustration swelled in Daniel.
Thankfully, ever since becoming an Evolver, his physical prowess had increased substantially.
In the past, he would have never been able to satisfy this little greedy cat.
After Sophia quickly freshened up, the pair left the Investigation Bureau.
In the heart of Golden Shores city.
Here laid the most bustling street in the entire Golden Shores city, a place dense with malls and sprawling with luxury stores.
Just as Daniel parked the car and stepped onto the street with Sophia, a sudden perception caught his attention, prompting him to lift his gaze towards a tall building on the left.
A considerable crowd had gathered below the edifice, all craning their necks upwards, the air abuzz with fervent discussions hinting at a grave incident unfolding.
Lending an ear, Daniel discerned talks of a fire in the building and someone possibly jumping off from it.
Yet, something felt amiss to him.
"A supernatural event?"
An intense intuition surged in his heart, the Enchanted Eye embedded under the flesh of his right palm pulsated, seemingly drawn to a particular phenomenon.
Without hesitation, Daniel grabbed Sophia’s hand: "We need to leave this place."
Sophia, utterly bewildered, inquired, "What happened?"
As they moved, Daniel explained, "There might be a monster appearing nearby."
Fear instantly gripped Sophia, her hand tightening around Daniel’s arm.
Having spent a long time with Daniel, she had garnered a deep understanding of Evolvers and monsters, well aware of the horrifying dangers they represented.
At this moment, the sun was still shining brightly.
The commercial street was bustling with people, a ceaseless flow of hustle and bustle.
Suddenly, a loud bang resounded, immediately followed by a series of crisp clattering sounds coupled with the tumultuous screams and cries of the crowd.
Everyone saw large shards of glass falling from the high-rise building that had drawn the crowd’s attention.
Thankfully, the glass did not land directly on the people but smashed onto the ground, shattering into pieces. However, the splintering fragments sprayed everywhere, injuring many spectators.
Panic engulfed the crowd as everyone dispersed, running far and wide.
Only a few brave souls hid in what they presumed to be safe spots, craning their necks to see what was happening above.
It seemed to originate from around the 25th floor.
Though the details were unclear from the ground, they could witness entire panels of glass peeling off from the building and descending downward.
Soon after, several individuals emerged at that height, lining up before sitting down side by side on the edge, demonstrating a potent intention to jump.
Shocked whispers and exclamations filled the crowd below.
"What the hell is going on?"
"A mass suicide?"
"Has anyone called the police?"
"Calling the police is futile, they look like they’re about to jump any moment now."
No sooner had the bystander’s words fallen when a wave of horrified screams erupted from all directions.
To everyone’s terror, those who sat on the building’s ledge leaped off, simultaneously, plunging towards the ground below.
