NOVPUBThe following day, the vicinity of the abandoned factory was already crawling with police conducting their investigation.
Meanwhile, Martin, inside his rental home, received a special visitor.
"So you’re saying you saw something at that time?" the detective asked while taking notes.
Martin sat calmly on the sofa, "I was just passing by on my bicycle, but by the time you’re mentioning, I was long past that place. I didn’t see any lightning or anything like that."
"Uh-huh," the detective nodded.
"Officer, could you disclose what exactly happened there? I passed by today and it was all cordoned off," Martin asked with feigned curiosity.
The detective looked up at him, and said without any change in expression, "Murder."
Glancing down at his notes, the detective suddenly inquired, "Why haven’t you been delivering food these past few days, just riding your bike around aimlessly?"
A chill went through Martin’s heart.
Though that area was remote, it still had numerous factories and not too few people around, making it a primary target.
Only after filtering through those individuals would they move on to the secondary targets, those who passed by around the time in question.
Methods included but were not limited to checking road surveillance and shared bicycle company data.
To accomplish so much in such a short time, a terrifyingly efficient effort, was something a hastily assembled investigative team shouldn’t be capable of.
Therefore, the other party must be an already established team.
And thus, it was likely that the Solantia officials had encountered the monsters before.
While his mind raced with thoughts, Martin put on a facade of surprise, "You know about that? I’m actually planning to move."
After a series of questions, the investigation concluded.
After seeing off the detective, Martin understood that the real investigation, the one in the shadows, was not over yet.
It wasn’t just about him—anyone who had passed by would likely receive the same "treatment."
The plan to recruit more people would have to wait.
Which was fine.
He could use this time to make some edits to the organization’s headquarters.
Lying in bed, Martin thought to himself, "System, I want to modify and preview the organization headquarters."
Having had the system for several days now, he was growing more accustomed to its functions.
Like at the beginning, he would always speak aloud to interact with the system, but he soon realized that mere thoughts were enough.
With the silent incantation in his mind, an image began to form in Martin’s thoughts.
If one must find a fitting comparison, it closely resembles the interface used in designing game environments with a game engine.
On the left, a real-time preview, and on the right, an assortment of materials—plants, stones, buildings, everything one could need.
Moreover, the system conveyed to him that he could easily adjust the original materials at will. 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝙢
Truth be told, this truly sparked a certain creative flair within Martin. Because it felt just like playing some kind of creative game.
Unfortunately, this was only the most basic secret realm, where one could merely edit materials and the like.
Only in a more advanced secret realm could one edit parameters like gravity and lighting, or even add special zones.
For instance, a cavern perpetually flowing with lava, its temperature set extremely high, defined to emit a scorching spirit power.
Or consider an island floating midair, where night never falls.
Martin’s imagination had already taken flight.
After a while, reeling his wandering thoughts back in, he began contemplating how to construct the first secret realm-class wonder—the organization headquarters.
"If it’s the headquarters of a supernatural organization, it must carry an air of magic and awe."
"It’s ancient, long uninhabited, so something needs to reflect its age and a touch of desolation."
Martin suddenly recalled an animated neon movie he had seen once.
In it, a family moved to an old country house, behind which stood a colossal oak tree, its hollow inhabited by the fantastical Totoro.
The secret realm in the animation, along with that immense oak tree, had left a profound impression on Martin.
He himself was a nature enthusiast, fond of buildings nestled within dense forests.
And then there was House Rosewood, his family’s ancestral land, which also included a small hill.
So...
"There we go."
Martin first replicated the topography of his ancestral land from memory, then selected an oak from the materials and magnified it, placing it atop the hill.
As for the tree’s age, he set it at thirteen thousand years, referencing the world’s most ancient oaks still in existence.
Then, he scattered trees and herbs across the hillock, creating a lush tapestry interspersed with ancient vines as thick as serpents.
A few gray-tiled pavilions were hidden within, only their corners peeking through.
At the entrance to the secret realm stood an archway crafted of white stone, partially entwined with old vines.
Martin then added some finer details.
Yet, looking over his work, he felt something was amiss.
After pondering for a while, he had an epiphany.
Behind the archway, on the main path leading to the various buildings, he set a massive stone stele marred with mottled marks.
The stele was bare but for one emblem: the outline of a shield with a ring at its very center.
The symbol of Divine Shield!
With a sigh...
He looked upon the final product, finally sensing that mysterious ancientness.
Although he could adjust the plants, at this level of secret realm, it was impossible to create new species. To have achieved this much was commendable.
As for animals, they would have to be introduced later when the realm was in use.
After all, according to the lore, a secret realm sealed for so many years should have no living creatures left.
"The secret realm is adjusted. Next, after the official investigation concludes, comes the task of recruiting Anna into the fold and establishing the headquarters secret realm."
"I believe when she sees that such an expansive secret realm was hidden behind our family’s ancestral land, she will be utterly astonished!"
