— Atlanteus base - Experimental Lab —
In the futuristic cityscape of the Atlanteus base, within the military research district, Daniel walked down the hallway of a lab toward a specific personal laboratory. He was seeking answers about what really happened the previous night.
As he moved through the sleek, white corridors, he passed numerous artificers and magic researchers, heading straight to the deepest part of the facility—Hermes' personal lab, one of Daniel's so-called teachers.
Upon entering, Daniel found Hermes flirting with several female researchers who were assisting with his research. They giggled happily as Hermes whispered sweet nothings to them.
"Ahem!" Daniel cleared his throat as he entered the lab.
The women, startled, quickly made their excuses and left the lab in a hurry, like rats scurrying to avoid a flood.
"You've ruined my romantic mood, dear apprentice," Hermes remarked, stressing the word 'apprentice.' The tone wasn't to remind Daniel of his place, but rather laced with sarcasm.
Between them, Hermes knew that Daniel was not truly his apprentice but his benefactor, and also a master who held power over him.
However, for convenience, Daniel had struck a deal with Hermes, agreeing to let him act as his mentor in the field of Alchemy. In return, Hermes didn't need to address him as lord or master and was granted considerable freedom.
Since Hermes had been resurrected in this era, he found it exceedingly interesting, especially Daniel. A mage powerful enough to resurrect a god and bind him so thoroughly that the very thought of betrayal could not even arise, all done so naturally and without any discomfort or resentment.
Hermes still didn't know what magic or method Daniel used, but he knew well that if it had been during the Era of the Gods, before his resurrection, the idea of being under a mortal like Daniel would have infuriated him.
Yes, he had sided with humans during the war between Humanity and Olympus, but back then, he did so as a leader, a general of his own fate, and a pillar of support—not as a lackey. But now, he found himself surprisingly comfortable under a mortal's command, without even the slightest irritation.
This was both strange and fascinating.
"Why are you here, Mr. Emberweave? Usually, you keep to yourself, invent some mind-blowing creation, and send us the specs and blueprints to produce it here. What brings you to the heart of our operation?" Hermes asked, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"I know you're being sarcastic, Lord Hermes. But since you're asking, I'll answer. I'm here because of the blood sample I asked you to research last night. How's it going?" Daniel asked, ignoring Hermes' sarcasm.
Hearing this, Hermes shrugged and walked toward a strange machine. On its tray lay a bloodied female hanfu, seemingly scanned and analyzed by the device.
"Yes, we've finished researching it," Hermes said, pausing to look at Daniel. "Even though I, as the teacher, received a call late at night to do this research from my apprentice, I had to summon several others to assist with this urgent project. We toiled all night and finally completed it. Just when I was hoping to enjoy a nice chat and relax with some of my apprentices, you, Mr.
Maybe this goddess with the surname Tian can shed some light on that," Hermes suggested.
"Then what about what really happened last night? Why were those idiots suddenly trying to invade Astral Corp HQ?" Daniel asked.
"They weren't trying to invade Astral Corp, Mr. Emberweave. They were after little Sylvana," Hermes replied.
"What do you mean?" Daniel felt a sense of dread at Hermes' words.
"Have you heard of fruits that grant immortality or immense power? Like the myth of the apple from the Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve ate? The fragrance last night had a similar allure, and the only one who could emit such a scent is little Sylvana, who transformed from the essence of the Sylvan fruit." Hermes paused, then continued as he brought up data on the large screen for Daniel to see.
"These data indicate that little Sylvana was born from the Sylvan tree, created from the condensation of all its essence into its final fruit. That Sylvan tree was nurtured with the blood and souls of more than a thousand innocents, and all its essence condensed into this one fruit. Whoever consumes this fruit would gain immense power," Hermes concluded.
"But... why last night? She's been here for over a year, so why now... Oh no..." A realization struck Daniel. "Don't tell me..."
"Yes, just like any fruit, it needed to ripen to release its most alluring fragrance and achieve its best taste. You need to increase her security, Mr. Emberweave. I'm not the only one who knows this; eventually, others with malicious intent will discover it too," Hermes warned.
Hearing all this, Daniel nodded, his heart pounding with a growing sense of foreboding. Then his eyes caught sight of a jade medallion adorned with a phoenix symbol. He picked it up and examined it closely.
"That medallion constantly emits a magical signature of its location, so I put a seal on it," Hermes explained.
"I'll give this back to her. As it happens, I need to speak with her guardian," Daniel said.
"Suit yourself," Hermes replied with a shrug.
Daniel took the jade medallion and strode out of Hermes' lab, knowing he needed to quickly enhance the security capabilities of New Atlantis.
— ??? —
At a secret meeting place, several mages, disguised in black robes and masks, gathered to discuss the events that had transpired the previous night in New Atlantis.
They dressed this way out of fear of Daniel and his forces, worried that if even one of their members were a spy for Daniel, everything discussed today would reach his ears, potentially leading to a swift death at the hands of the Reaper's Gate guild assassins.
"Last night, I received some information from an alchemist in the Qing Empire suggesting that a divine fruit may have been born within Astral Corp HQ," one of the masked men began.
"Qing Empire you say?" One of the participants echoed.