NOVEL NEXT Chapter 125: Gold-Quality Talent
As the founder of the Veritas Snow Group, Emma believed she had weathered countless storms. She could accept new and unknown things quickly.
But right now, what this man named Ethan was saying completely shattered her view of the world.
"Wait, Mr. Ethan." Emma asked without thinking: "are a lot of the things you said based on your own guesses?"
Ethan nodded. "And the facts show my guesses are right. The best proof is that I raised my body to the limit of a normal human in a very short time."
Emma took a few deep breaths. After thinking for a moment, she decided to believe these things that sounded almost unreal.
After all, today had already been full of the unreal.
She looked at Ethan seriously and asked quickly: "Mr. Ethan, you told me so much. You must want my help with something, right?"
Ethan gave her a satisfied look. He liked working with smart people like Emma—it saved a lot of trouble.
Also, Emma, as Lucas's older sister, cared deeply about him.
And Lucas was now very grateful to and in full support of [Windchaser].
As long as nothing unexpected happened, Ethan didn't have to worry that Emma would try to harm him.
Ethan took a deep breath and said: "I need you to keep researching the Ice Virus and find a way to cure me."
"At the same time, I got some potion recipes in Dawnfall Online. I'll share them with you so your team can study them."
Emma shook her head without thinking and said:
"Mr. Ethan, other people can get potion recipes too. But in all of Dolren City, only Veritas Snow Group has the money and equipment to study something this unbelievable."
She was a businesswoman, so she had to think about her own interests.
Without Ethan today, she and her brother might really have been in danger. But Emma could pay Ethan well instead of entering a partnership with him.
You can't make a deal just out of gratitude. This was about whether she could gain supernatural power, so she had to make sure nothing went wrong.
But Ethan's next answer threw her off.
He said he could give her a few days to look for other potion recipes.
At the same time, he would not give her the blood he collected in the abandoned factory for research. Finally, he added: "Ms. Emma, do you really think this is over?"
With that, Ethan turned and left Dr. Axel's office.
Dr. Axel glanced at Emma and said slowly: "Ms. Emma, Ethan isn't an ordinary man. Normally, without painkillers, patients like him either choose suicide or completely break down."
"He's different."
"People have an instinct to live and also a wish to die. I've seen many patients. Ethan's desire to live is the strongest."
"Many patients say their illness is a punishment from heaven. I'm an atheist, so I don't believe that. But whenever I see Ethan, one thought comes to me: his illness doesn't feel like a punishment… it feels like a limit."
Emma looked at Dr. Axel in surprise. It was the first time she had heard him speak like that.
She took a deep breath and pulled out her phone. She had already set up a group of Dawnfall Online players in other cities. They should be strong, and finding some potion recipes shouldn't be hard.
Also, hadn't her younger brother Lucas been saying how strong and unbelievable [Windchaser] was, and how he always managed to get all kinds of intel?
Maybe she could buy intel about potion recipes from Windchaser too.
...
In the hospital room.
Lucas, Emma, and Dr. Axel had already left. Now only Ethan and Leo were there.
Ethan crouched by the bed, looking at the calico cat under it and the blood he had collected earlier beside it.
Leo lounged on the sofa, staring at the closed bathroom door. He sighed:
"People from our department are definitely watching you right now. What's in there isn't so easy to clean up."
Ethan walked over, patted Leo on the shoulder, and said:
"You've handled so many cases. You know what to do. I'm leaving this to you."
"And you're pretty free lately, right? If you come by a few more times, it won't draw attention."
Leo rolled his eyes at him. He did know how to quietly get rid of the body in the bathroom.
Then Leo fell silent and just stared at Ethan.
Ethan sighed and said slowly: "My head's a mess. I don't have a clear plan yet. When I find more information and sort it out, I'll tell you everything."
"If you know too much now, you'll get dragged in."
Leo shook his head. "I'm already dragged in. You need people, and I can help."
Ethan turned him down. Once Lila from the Faceless Department realized Ethan had been forced into this incident, Leo should be able to stay in the Faceless Department.
Thinking of that, Ethan suddenly remembered: this time, Lila hadn't used that memory-wiping pen on him.
Could it be that the pen can't be used on the same person again in a short time?
But Lucas's memory wasn't wiped either. Lucas isn't as important as Emma and Dr. Axel.
Normally, Lucas should have had his memory erased.
Ethan couldn't figure it out. He lay down on the hospital bed, pulled up the blanket, and said to Leo on the sofa:
"Turn off the light and close the door, thanks."
Leo stood up slowly and said firmly: "Ethan, with your personality, you won't trust people easily.
If I'm ever in danger, you'll be the first one who can save me."
"So when you're in trouble, I can't just sit and do nothing. Today I happened to be at the Faceless Department, but what if something happens to you later and I can't help? Then what?
"Take me with you. Whatever we run into, we can handle it, right?"
The room fell silent.
Ethan chuckled. "Why so sentimental all of a sudden?"
"Go get some rest. We'll talk later."
Leo nodded and turned off the light. When he reached the door and was about to close it, Ethan suddenly spoke.
Casually, Ethan asked: "By the way, I never asked—what quality is your talent in Dawnfall Online?"
Leo thought for a moment and said: "Gold-quality talent, [Shadow Master]. Why?"
Ethan froze. He hadn't expected Leo's talent in Dawnfall Online to be that high—gold quality.
Before Ethan could ask what it did, Leo continued:
"[Shadow Master] lets me get some boosts to stats and energy in darkness or anywhere with shadows. If I use it actively, I can enter a powered-up state, slip into shadows, or attack using shadows."
"I was even thinking about a class change to a shadow-related special class, but those special classes are way too hard to find."
Ethan thought for a moment. He now knew that talents from Dawnfall Online could really awaken in the real world.
Once Leo awakened [Shadow Master], he would be strong enough not to die from some random danger.
So Ethan said: "How about this: spend the next few days in Dawnfall Online and level up, get stronger."
"I'll find you some Blue-quality or Purple-quality weapons and gear..."
Before he could finish, Leo asked: "Will that help you?"
Ethan nodded slowly.
In the dark, Leo smiled and said: "Then that's fine. I'll do whatever you say."
"I'll head back now. Tomorrow morning I'll bring what we need and help you deal with the 'trash' in the bathroom."
After Leo left, Ethan froze for a second.
The lights were already off, and the curtains had been closed.
How did Leo see him nod?
Could Leo's talent, [Shadow Master], already be starting to awaken?
Ethan took a deep breath. It was just a guess. Maybe Leo didn't notice his nod and just spoke.
He still didn't plan to rest. He wanted to enter Dawnfall Online and use both [Ice Calamity Intel] and [Intel on Aurora, the healer-smith genius].
Ethan closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was already in Dawnfall Online.
It was still daytime in Safe Zone 9527. Countless snowflakes, driven by the cold wind, hit his face. He frowned a little, raised his watch, and looked at [Ice Calamity Intel] in his [Inventory].
[Ice Calamity Intel]
[Quality]: Orange-quality
[Use Requirement]: Level 21 or higher
[Description]: Cold and death are coming. The area near the Ice City settlement is about to face a devastating crisis. Sustained by seven "Siphoners," a terrifying being called the "Ice Calamity" will appear in seven days. When it arrives, it will destroy the entire Ice City settlement. Use this intel to get information about the Siphoners and the Ice Calamity, including their locations, weaknesses, abilities, and more.
Ethan didn't hesitate and tapped Use on [Ice Calamity Intel].