NOVPUBThe clown, a senior member of Rebirth Corporation.
An enigmatic smirk slowly curved Daniel’s lips.
Before Daniel stood the results of a system appraisal.
[Item]: Clown (Codename)
[Detail]: The senior member of Rebirth Corporation, level 4 Evolver. Possesses the unique ability to control shadows and is characterized by his cunning and suspicious nature.
[Appraisal]: Overwhelmingly powerful; approach with caution.
...
It was unexpected that he was a level 4 Evolver.
Daniel paused momentarily in surprise.
The Investigation Bureau had level 4 Evolvers as well, yet they had never shown themselves.
Martin hadn’t mentioned them either.
All Daniel knew was that the Investigation Bureau housed five active Evolvers.
Considering that the Investigation Bureau harbored eighty percent of the world’s Evolvers, and yet, there were only a scant five Evolvers at level 4, their prowess was evident.
Confronting such an adversary head-on was a challenging prospect.
Unless Daniel used the Time Rewind to uncover the clown’s weaknesses, a direct confrontation was unlikely to result in victory.
Besides, Daniel hadn’t initially intended to take on the clown.
"I just didn’t expect Wes to bring such an illustrious figure my way," Daniel mused with a wry smile.
Indeed.
The clown’s appearance wasn’t unforeseen to Daniel.
In Isaac town, he used the Enchanted Eye to cast an illusion on Wes, subsequently giving him a directive.
That was to somehow bring a genuine high-ranking member of Rebirth Corporation to meet him.
Given Rebirth Corporation’s continuous sinister intentions towards him, there was no reason for Daniel to remain passive.
Feeling the control over him gradually dissipate, Daniel spoke, "So, you are the clown?"
Clown replied with intrigue, "Oh? You seem so familiar with me."
Daniel calmly gazed at the clown, "It seems that you know quite a bit about me as well."
"What do you want from me?"
The clown chuckled, "True to the reputation of someone Martin ranked as a Rank-S Evolver. Even in such a disadvantageous position, you don’t seem to be the least bit flustered."
Daniel replied coolly, "So you came all this way to talk nonsense?"
The amusement on clown’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling stare. "Daniel, do you realize if it weren’t for your value to me, that comment alone would have been enough to end your life?"
Unfazed, Daniel countered, "In that case, just get on with it."
"You!" The clown was visibly angered.
He found that Daniel’s thought process rather unusual.
Doesn’t he realize his life is in my hands right now?
Yet, clown soon broke into a mysterious smile, neither entirely happy nor angry. "So impressive. You’ve managed to infuriate me, but I’m finding myself more and more fascinated by you."
Releasing his grip completely, the clown paced with his hands clasped behind his back, "Relax. I mean you no harm. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dealt with the monsters in this building for you."
"I have approached you today with a singular purpose: to invite you to join Rebirth Corporation. I know you’ve declined our invitations three times, but don’t be hasty in saying no."
Raising a finger, he proclaimed, "Just one month. Give me a month, and I’ll make you a level 4 Evolver."
Hearing this, Daniel was taken aback.
The sheer difficulty of ascending to a level 4 Evolver was commonly known.
Otherwise, there wouldn’t be merely a handful of them worldwide.
And yet, clown audaciously claimed he could achieve this in a month. On what grounds?
The clown’s laughter resonated as he reveled in Daniel’s reaction, satisfied that he had regained the upper hand.
"You needn’t doubt. If I say I can do it, I can," clown asserted.
"The only condition is for you to join Rebirth Corporation and fetch something for me."
Daniel countered, "What is it?"
Unexpectedly, clown shook his head, "I can’t tell you now. Only after you have joined the organization."
With a change in tone, Daniel agreed, "Alright, I’m in."
Unsurprised, clown continued, "Hold on. To join the organization, you must pass a test."
"What test?"
"First, answer me this. Do you possess two abilities?"
Daniel wasn’t taken aback by the question. Pretending caution, he coldly asked, "Who told you I have two abilities?"
With a hearty laugh, clown responded, "What you need to understand is that there’s nothing in this world that Rebirth doesn’t know. Initially, we believed that you only had the power to resist negative effects. But to our astonishment, you showcased an even more extraordinary power in Isaac. Upon investigating, we discovered your codename in the Investigation Bureau is ’Prophet’. Isn’t that right, Prophet Daniel?"
Pretending to mull it over, Daniel admitted, "Since you already know, there’s nothing left for me to hide."
At this, clown laughed even harder, deeply satisfied with the revelation, "It seems Wes’s assumption was correct. But I still need to test you."
"The test is simple. You claim you can foresee the future, right?"
"Then predict why I invited you to join Rebirth Corporation."
Without a pause, Daniel responded, "Because I can predict the future."
Clown stared, "..."
Holding back his fury, he snapped, "Isn’t that bloody obvious? I’m referring to a more direct reason!"
"You’d better think this through before answering. I’m giving you one last chance. Answer incorrectly, and you die!"
Frowning, Daniel proposed, "To help you retrieve an object?"
Barely restraining himself, clown managed to suppress his rising anger, "Correct, but that’s not the final answer!"
"That’s the last opportunity!"
Daniel sank into deep contemplation.
From their numerous encounters, he knew well of Rebirth Corporation’s formidable intelligence-gathering capabilities.
To ensure Wes wasn’t prematurely exposed, he’d severed all communications since leaving Isaac.
As for information about the Rebirth Corporation, his knowledge was limited. He was on his own now.
From the beginning, through snippets from Nine, he’d gathered that the Rebirth Corporation aimed to supplant the Investigation Bureau, aspiring to become the world’s most potent Evolver organization.
The recent Isaac incident bore the fingerprints of Rebirth Corporation too.
The Corporation’s mantra suggested a disdain for humanity, even seeming to side with the monsters.
They believed that Evolvers represented the next phase of human evolution, whereas the rest, those who couldn’t evolve, were relics to be discarded.
"Purge the old humans, and usher in the new?" A thought abruptly sprung in Daniel’s mind.
Connecting the dots, he realized the Rebirth Corporation’s ultimate objective.
In stark contrast to his own vow to exterminate all monsters, they aimed to eradicate all humans who hadn’t unlocked their Gene Lock.
To achieve this, the Investigation Bureau was an insurmountable obstacle.
Daniel, being highly esteemed by Martin, was undeniably the Bureau’s rising star.
Joining Rebirth Corporation, leveraging his pivotal position within the Bureau, and dealing a severe blow at the opportune moment – the plan was becoming increasingly apparent.
Daniel calmly deduced, "You want me in Rebirth Corporation because you aim to eliminate all of the old humans. The Investigation Bureau stands in your way. You want me to act as a mole, undermining the Bureau’s strength from within."
Upon hearing this, clown’s face momentarily registered shock.
"So you really can foresee," he muttered, visibly impressed.
Yet, there was an undertone in his voice suggesting Daniel had simultaneously hit and missed the mark.
Clown continued, "It’s a pity, Daniel. While you indeed have the power of foresight, its strength is too feeble to pinpoint exact outcomes with certainty. This unpredictability is fatally flawed; it’s not what I’m looking for."
"As for your espionage theory, you’re spot on. But we have already set that plan in motion, and it’s been remarkably successful. Anyway, after all this talk, it’s time to end you. It’s nothing personal. But since you’ve answered incorrectly and yet uncovered truths you shouldn’t have, I can’t risk letting you return to the Investigation Bureau."
As soon as the words left his mouth, clown readied himself to strike.
Realizing that his understanding of the situation was not yet comprehensive, dying now would mean squandering a precious opportunity for a Time Rewind.
With this thought, Daniel quickly interjected, "Whether my answer is right or wrong, it’s all up to your whims. Everything I say seems to be incorrect in your eyes."
Clown paused, his disdain evident, "Are you suggesting I’m deliberately slandering you?"
Daniel scoffed, "Seeing is believing. I can see all facets of the future; hence, my predictions cannot be erroneous."
Clown let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Well, you’re destined to die anyway. Might as well let you know a bit more before your end."
"In fact, I still need you to retrieve something for me. It’s housed within a pyramid in the Sahara Desert. Once I possess it, I’ll no longer need to tread cautiously around those five level 4 Evolvers from the Investigation Bureau. By then, the Investigation Bureau will cease to exist in this world!"
Upon hearing this, a spark of intrigue lit up inside Daniel.
Clearly, the item clown referred to must possess immense power, enough for him to confidently face five adversaries of equal caliber.
What could this artifact possibly be?
Daniel couldn’t help but wonder.
