Because of Eternal Fire, Bai Qi knew the entire Cadmus plan like the back of his hand. He also knew about the worms in the laboratory who abused their power for personal gain. The reason he didn't deal with them was solely because they still had some value; once their final utility was squeezed out, Bai Qi would crush them like ants, without mercy.
However, right now, freeing Xi Mu was more important than monitoring Cadmus.
Despite Eternal Fire being born not long ago, its mature and steady personality made it the perfect candidate for this mission.
"I'm entrusting this mission to you. Any problems?"
"No problem, Father... Master, I will surely carry out your will."
"Very good." Bai Qi nodded with satisfaction, then his dragon claws plunged into his chest, taking out Zhong Su's watch dial and handing it to Eternal Fire. "This mission might involve the intervention of Righteousness. Wear this."
Although Bai Qi produced Zhong Su's watch dial, after being absorbed and cleansed by Bai Qi's body, the aura of Zhong Su on the dial had been covered by Bai Qi. He had also infused it with a considerable amount of dark energy to resist the interference of Righteousness.
"This..."
Seeing Eternal Fire hesitate to take the watch dial, Bai Qi directly shoved it into its hand. "You are very important to me. The mission can fail, but you must come back alive."
Even though Bai Qi was just an ordinary college student before his transmigration, one's mind matures after experiencing many things.
Having held a high position for a long time, Bai Qi had encountered all sorts of people – the powerful and the weak, the unyielding and the sycophantic. Gradually, Bai Qi's control over people's hearts became increasingly skilled.
Just like now, while the Zhong Su watch dial was indeed good, Bai Qi's last sentence was far more useful to a subordinate than the watch dial itself, and could win their loyalty much more effectively.
As expected, Eternal Fire's calm heart showed significant fluctuations after hearing Bai Qi's words, its body trembling involuntarily a few times.
"Yes, Eternal Fire will not fail your expectations."
Bai Qi waved his hand, and Eternal Fire, with the watch dial, retreated from the secret chamber.
"Next, it's time to put on a show."
...
In an office of a museum in Eagle Country, a squatting institution.
"I've had enough of your lies! This world was complete after Columbus discovered the New World. What kind of crap is the Lost Continent? Do you really think my head is filled with paste!"
With that, Bob was forcibly ejected from the office, and then dragged and thrown out of the museum gates by two security guards, landing heavily on the ground with a face-plant.
Bob, after picking himself up, was still persistent. He took out his printed research papers and tried to argue, "Believe me, Mr. Hark, the Lost Continent really exists. If you can find it, you'll be as famous as Columbus. You'll be able to..."
Before Bob could finish speaking, the museum's main doors opened again, and a corpulent, stout man walked out. He looked down at Bob and said, "My museum funds scientific expeditions based on science and facts, not on the stories you fabricate."
"This is not a story. You've seen it yourself, that magical disc and the writings on it. These are all real."
In Eagle Country, many powerful and influential people liked to open private museums and display their collected antique artifacts. This not only brought in a considerable amount of income but also enhanced their social status and showcased their noble identity.
It was just a pity that, as time passed, the era of rampant plunder was over. These nobles could no longer seize other people's artifacts to exhibit as they did before, and the valuable items within Eagle Country itself had long been divided amongst them.
For the sake of their meager pride, many nobles would pay explorers to help them complete so-called expeditions. However, more than half of the treasures and artifacts these explorers acquired had to be handed over to them as payment. But such funding was extremely risky, with a high probability of a complete loss.
Hark looked at Bob below and said, "You can go. I'm old now, my blood has run cold. I'm unwilling to risk everything for a vague direction, nor do I have the courage."
He turned and walked back into the museum. The two security guards behind him threw out all of Bob's belongings, including the magical disc.
This old nobleman named Hark had sponsored many aspiring explorers in his youth, and he had even participated in an overseas expedition himself. However, as he grew older, Hark had lost his youthful ambition. He was content to grow old with his possessions, with his final wish being a dignified burial. He sought nothing more.
Bob's grandfather had been an explorer, and Bob had grown up listening to his grandfather's adventure stories. It was precisely this fascination with exploration that led Bob to study history in college, focusing on obscure historical literature.
Fate seemed to have played a huge joke on Bob. Not long ago, for various reasons, he was fired from his university. But the very next day after being fired, Bob accidentally obtained the magical disc. After translating the text on it, he learned of the existence of the Lost Continent.
The spirit of exploration hidden within Bob's soul ignited once more. However, with the meager savings Bob had from his teaching career, he couldn't even afford to assemble an expedition team if he sold himself. Thus, Bob took his research and the disc to seek funding from wealthy patrons.
Perhaps Bob never intended to gain much treasure from this expedition; his motivation was purely for the adventure itself.
But Bob had approached several patrons, and all of them had explicitly refused to fund his expedition. Some hadn't even bothered to look at the materials Bob provided before having him kicked out. Sultan Novel Network.
Bob concluded that this country, America, was not the place, so he crossed the ocean to Eagle Country, hoping to find opportunities among the old nobles there. But unfortunately, after approaching several of them, he was met with a rebuff every time.
Just then, the already overcast sky grew darker, with thick clouds gathering. Soon, a heavy downpour began. Pedestrians on the street quickly opened their umbrellas and quickened their pace. But Bob alone knelt on the ground, gathering his scattered research papers.
As the heavy rain poured down, many papers became soaked, sticking together. Bob, with his clothes drenched, looked even more dejected.
Finally, alone, Bob, carrying the disc and the soggy papers, trudged dejectedly towards his rented room.
As Bob walked with his head down, like a stray dog.
*Bang!*
He collided head-on with a man.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. Please accept my sincerest apologies."
Bob apologized profusely.