NOVPUBNo sooner had Daniel stepped out of his dormitory than he bumped into Abel in the corridor.
Seeing Daniel, Abel approached swiftly, "Dan, finally caught you outside."
Daniel was slightly taken aback, "What’s going on?"
Abel smirked and gestured dismissively, "Oh, nothing much. Heard you were back. I sent Allen last night to report to you, but there was no answer at the door. Figured you were preoccupied inside."
Understanding dawned on Daniel, who gave an awkward nod and smile, quickly changing the subject, "Any issues at the mine?"
"Not as such," Abel responded, "Things are progressing smoothly. But since we just started, our operational procedures are still a bit immature and the mining output is on the lower side."
"How much gold can we produce daily?"
"Approximately 2000 ounces."
Converted to grams, each ounce is roughly equivalent to 31 grams of gold, placing the daily yield at 62 kilograms.
Such an output was comparable to a mature small-scale gold mine.
Daniel was quite satisfied with this.
However, a troubled expression appeared on Abel’s face, hinting at a more challenging topic.
"What’s on your mind? Just spill it," prompted Daniel.
After a moment’s hesitation, Abel began, "Our most pressing issue right now is funds. The money you gave has long been spent. Allen and I have poured in our own savings too, but it’s far from sufficient."
Daniel, brushing off the concern, retrieved a bank card and handed it over, "Thought it was something more serious. Here, there’s a bit over a hundred million on this. Use it for now, and I’ll figure something out later."
It had been a long while since he last moved money from the docks after joining the Investigation Bureau.
This card represented the last of his savings.
Abel took the card, his enthusiasm tempered, "This is when we’re spending the most. This money will last at most a couple of months."
He continued, "Another thing. The government is currently buying gold at twice the market rate. I suspect it has something to do with the creatures."
Daniel wasn’t surprised by this revelation.
Given gold’s ability to negate supernatural forces, it inherently becomes an essential strategic resource in the Evolver world.
It wouldn’t be long before governments worldwide would scramble to reclaim gold from the public.
At twice the market rate, the gold worth over thirty billion could fetch seventy billion in an instant — a meteoric surge in value.
Abel, recognizing this, suggested, "Should we sell some now to secure funds?"
Daniel shook his head firmly, "We mustn’t sell the gold. I’ll figure out the finances."
Nodding in understanding, Abel knew better than to challenge the decision.
With duties waiting at the mine, their conversation was brief. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they parted ways.
Daniel didn’t leave the headquarters right away.
Instead, he sought out Mike. He had intended to find Julia, but bumping into Mike was serendipitous.
Thinking Mike might have some answers, Daniel inquired directly, "How did you handle Morrison?"
Mike replied, "The guy hasn’t said a word. He’s still locked up in solitary."
"Which floor’s cell?" Daniel pressed.
The Investigation Bureau’s headquarters was vast, stretching a hundred meters below ground with solitary cells on every level.
"The eighteenth," Mike said, then hurriedly added, "But Julia holds the keys to those cells."
He explained, "Julia suspects there’s a mole from Rebirth Corporation within the Investigation Bureau."
Without missing a beat, Daniel inquired about Julia’s whereabouts.
Learning she was off for the day, he bid Mike farewell and set off to find her.
As Daniel approached the bedroom door, about to open it, he heard sounds emanating from within.
"Oh! Dan! Right there, harder, push a little harder!"
"Oh, my God!"
"Oh, Daniel!"
Why was she saying his name?
A slight frown creased Daniel’s forehead.
Did she know he was here?
But why did she sound so… lechery?
Without a second thought, Daniel pressed down on the doorknob and pushed the door open, asking, "What are you doing?"
Before he could finish his sentence, he was utterly taken aback by the scene before him.
Julia, laying on the bed, was equally shocked and frozen in place.
They locked eyes in an intensely awkward moment.
There was Julia, entirely exposed, her legs slightly bent and parted.
One hand was between her legs, fingers deep within herself, and a viscous white fluid could be seen trailing down her fingers.
"Oh my God!"
"Oh my God!"
"Oh my God!!!"
Julia exclaimed in rapid succession, springing up from the bed like a fish out of water, grabbing the blanket and wrapping it around herself.
Her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger, she snapped, "Do I need to teach you to knock before entering someone’s room?!"
"And how did you even get in?!"
Equally mortified, Daniel responded in a daze, "I needed to talk to you. I saw the door was ajar and just walked in."
"How was I to know that you’d be bold enough not to lock your door and be... pleasuring yourself in your room?"
Julia’s face reddened even more, "Oh, my dear Dan! I truly owe you an apology, don’t I?"
Daniel quickly replied, "Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone."
Julia shot him a glaring look, "Oh, thank you ever so much. You’re such a considerate man!"
Daniel struggled to suppress a grin, his gaze drifting to the contours of Julia’s figure, accentuated by the blanket.
It was just as impressive as Sophia’s.
"By the way, you have quite the sexy figure."
Julia’s irritation hadn’t subsided, "Thank you for the compliment!"
Daniel sat down on the edge of the bed, "No need to be so mad. If you feel slighted, I can even the score by letting you have a peek too."
Saying this, Daniel made a move as if to take off his clothes. "
"Get out! Now!!!"
…
In the living room.
Daniel sat on the couch.
After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, Julia finally emerged from her room, dressed and giving Daniel a resentful glare.
"Let’s go."
Daniel grinned sheepishly and stood up, heading towards the door.
The two took the elevator, descending directly to the eighteenth basement level.
It was Daniel’s first time on this floor.
Observing the desolate look of the corridor, he curiously asked, "Why is it so empty? What’s the primary purpose of this level?"
Julia responded coldly, "This entire floor is made up of solitary confinement cells."
The pair navigated a labyrinth of corridors, making lefts and rights.
After what felt like a significant amount of time, Daniel felt he could hardly recall the way they came.
Eventually, Julia halted.
In front of them stood a securely locked iron door, its edges encased in a golden-yellow metal.
Presumably gold, considering those confined here were likely Evolvers.
Julia unlocked the door with her key, revealing nothing but pitch-black darkness inside, making it impossible to discern anything.
Daniel remarked in puzzlement, "They can’t even afford to turn on a light?"
Julia, equally surprised, responded, "There should be lights. Why is it so dark?"
No sooner had she spoken than a rush of wind emanated from within the cell.
A shadow, fluid like water, swiftly snaked its way out towards the door.
With quick reflexes, Daniel pulled Julia behind him, raising his right hand simultaneously.
Instantly, a radiant crimson glow shone forth.
The dark shadow was immediately engulfed in the blood-red luminescence.
With a final, icy tone, Daniel spat out a single word: "Die!"
The very next second, the shadow seemed to have encountered the most terrifying thing in the world, trembling uncontrollably.
It then gradually took the form of a human figure, curled up and lying on the ground.
"No! Don’t!"
"Don’t kill me!"
"I don’t want to die. I want to see Daniel. I need to see Daniel!"
As the shadows receded, lights illuminated the room, revealing everything clearly.
The figure lying on the ground now showed its true face.
It was Morrison.
Julia was still reeling from Daniel’s display of power.
She sensed the aura emanating from Daniel, the distinct aura of a level 2 Evolver.
She looked at him with astonishment.
Had he leveled up?!
In just over a month, he’d advanced from a level 1 to a level 2 Evolver.
For Julia, that same process took an entire year. Daniel approached Morrison, commanding, "Get up."
Under some invisible force, Morrison’s body unwillingly lifted itself from the ground.
"What is it you want me to find three hundred nautical miles under the sea?"
"Is it the same object your organization, the Clown, is searching for?" Morrison shook his head, slightly dazed.
"It’s not the same item."
"I’m seeking a sea creature."
This answer immediately cleared up Daniel’s confusion.
When he had learned from Clown that the sought-after item was in the Sahara Desert, he’d been puzzled.
Because that location contrasted starkly with what Morrison had initially told him.
So, they were not talking about the same item.
"What sea creature?" Daniel pressed.
Under the influence of the Enchanted Eye’s illusion, Morrison was utterly unguarded.
"It’s said that three hundred nautical miles off the eastern coast, deep beneath the sea, there’s an underwater palace where the Mermaid Princess slumbers."
"If you can tame the Mermaid Princess, you’ll obtain the ultimate weapon of the Mermaid race, Poseidon."
The god of the sea, Poseidon?
