"Understood," Bai Qi nodded. "But the auxiliary laboratory cannot be on the main island. I will have the Shadow Ninjas build it underground on Island Two."
Bai Qi continued, "I need you to find someone for me."
"Someone? Who?"
Bai Qi operated his computer, transmitting a portrait to Savage. "His name is Dao Long, a dark energy sorcerer."
"No problem. I'll notify you as soon as I find him."
After ending the call, Bai Qi left the secret room and summoned the Mimic Master. He explained the Illuminati and Project Cadmus to him and told him to make his own arrangements. He also handed over two Devil Fruits, explaining their pros and cons for the Mimic Master to weigh.
"Rest assured, Master, I will handle this matter properly."
Under the management of the Mimic Master and others, Bai Qi's various projects were on track and gradually exerting influence across the globe.
"By the way, Master, you asked me to keep an eye on the Chen Long family and their activities."
"Mm," Bai Qi nodded. "Is there anything worth reporting?"
"Near the antique shop where Chen Long is located, a grand cultural exhibition is about to be held."
"Is there a problem with that? It's just an exhibition, nothing to be surprised about."
"No," the Mimic Master said. "According to intelligence, this exhibition is merely a cover. It's actually for underground transactions. Reliable sources indicate that among the items being traded are ancient magical artifacts."
"Oh? Interesting. Is the information accurate?"
The Mimic Master nodded. "The information is absolutely accurate. The buyer is the notorious crime boss, Kingpin, and the seller is a cult organization called Cobra."
"Do we have any personnel there?"
"Yes, a subsidiary of the Umbrella Corporation is participating in the exhibition, and we have a small base near the venue. Afu is there now."
"Good. Prepare yourself. I'll go take a look. It'll be good to stretch my legs."
"Understood."
Unlike Bai Qi, the protagonist group was growing anxious.
In the antique shop.
Numerous white papers were piled on an old wooden table. Old Man was holding a brush, drawing some kind of rune. Nearby, in a clay pot, rat whiskers, gecko tails, and snake shed skins were mixed together in a stew, emitting a foul odor.
Unlike the focused Old Man, Chen Long and Jade, who were next to him, yawned repeatedly. They had been asleep and were suddenly woken up by Old Man, only to see this scene.
"Old Man, what are you doing?"
Unable to bear it any longer, Chen Long yawned and asked.
Old Man didn't even look up. "Old Man is tracking Shendu."
"Isn't Shendu always in Kowloon? Ah-oh!"
As soon as Chen Long finished speaking, a brush hit his forehead.
"That was just an illusion. Not long ago, Shendu's aura disappeared from this world, and now it has reappeared mysteriously. Old Man suspects Shendu used some means to conceal his whereabouts. A demon that has lived for a thousand years, who knows what kind of magic he possesses to conceal himself? Old Man needs more time to find a counter-spell."
Overwhelmed, Old Man began assigning tasks to the two. "Chen Long, go get the magic book from the third shelf, fourth from the left, for Old Man. Jade, watch the pot and don't let the fire go out."
"And one more thing, Tarak. Where is Old Man's late-night snack?"
"Late-night snack?"
Upon hearing about food, Jade and Chen Long's ears perked up.
"Coming right up, Sir."
With a slight tremor of the floor, a massive figure in overalls entered the study a few seconds later. To their surprise, it was Tarak, whom they hadn't seen in a while.
However, Tarak no longer possessed the ferocity he had when he was with the Shadowkhan. Instead, he appeared somewhat clumsy and cute.
Tarak carried a cup of hot milk and a small bowl of cookies.
"Tarak, aren't you sleepy?"
Jade clearly remembered seeing Tarak busy alone in the kitchen when she came out of her room, and he hadn't slept at all.
Putting down the tray, Tarak rubbed his head. "It's okay, I'm used to it."
Tarak's words carried a hint of sadness, and he seemed a bit out of sorts.
Old Man looked at the milk and cookies on the side and fell into thought. After a few seconds, he waved his hands widely and called out in a slightly hoarse voice, "Ah, where is Old Man's hot tea! Milk is for sleeping, do you want Old Man to fall asleep? If I fall asleep, I won't be able to research the spell. Without the spell, I won't be able to find Shendu, and then we'll all be in big trouble!"
"I apologize, Sir, I'll get it changed right away."
Tarak's already low mood became even more dejected. He was the picture of gloom.
As he turned to leave, Tarak's massive body bumped into an expensive sculpture on the table. If Chen Long hadn't caught it quickly, Tarak would have been lectured again.
When Tarak returned to the study with the hot tea, Jade nimbly ran up to him, holding a poster she had found somewhere. She tugged Tarak's pants leg and said, "Tarak, Tarak, look at this."
Jade unfurled the poster in front of Tarak. "The cultural exhibition starts tomorrow! There's music, food, and super cool tech products. Oh, and the eating contest you love! I can't wait to see you lift the eating contest trophy."
Looking at Jade's smiling face, Tarak couldn't feel any joy. Even the eating contest wouldn't cheer him up.
Tarak patted Jade's head. "Let Chen Long take you tomorrow, Jade. I... I won't go."
"Why?" Jade asked, disappointed. "You've been acting strange lately, always distracted."
She then glanced at Old Man, who was drawing runes. "Is it because of that garlic smell on Old Man?"
Saying this, she fanned her hand in front of herself as if she could already smell it.
"No, it's not, Sir. It's because my mother is coming from Japan to attend the exhibition, and she's a big fan of Calore Nok and his Yudel."
"Mom?!" Jade exclaimed as if she had heard a great secret. Then she asked, "Tarak, you have a mother?"
Cough!
Hearing Uncle Long cough beside her, Jade knew she had said something wrong and quickly explained, "I mean, isn't this a good thing? You should be happy your mother is coming to see you."
"Sigh," Tarak sighed. "I'm not very successful. In the past, I always wanted my mother to be proud of me."
Jade quickly said, "She will be! You're handsome and you're... you're very powerful."
"You don't understand, it's very difficult to please my mother. And she's very unhappy about me leaving the Shadowkhan."
"Why? Isn't that a good thing?"