The faint roar of a protest march could be heard from a distance in Snowfall City.
Anderson had grown accustomed to such shouts over the past few days, his ears almost calloused. He could still manage, but many elders within his department and the council could not.
They demanded he quell the current chaos, or his tenure as the Minister of the Superhuman Department would be over.
Under pressure from multiple fronts, the family consortium backing him could no longer hold steady.
"Tch, you were the ones who wanted to reveal the truth, and now you're the ones who can't stand the protests," he muttered.
The sheer volume was the main issue.
There were marches, strikes, and even assaults on official institutions everywhere.
Under normal circumstances, such widespread unrest wouldn't occur. After revealing the truth, the Superhuman Department had successfully diverted public attention to awakened individuals and the marvels of supernatural power.
The supernatural was an exceptionally enticing lure, overshadowing the disasters brought by the malevolent. This strategy had indeed been effective.
The problem was the comparison!
Their country, Splashing Waves, was plagued by frequent incidents of malevolence, with daily fatalities. While many deaths, under the allure of supernatural power, might have been overlooked, ...
When many citizens of Splashing Waves learned of the situation in Donghuang, public sentiment shifted.
Why was Donghuang City so safe? Why could investigators from Donghuang arrive at the scene immediately to deal with malevolence? Why had Donghuang not experienced a single major disaster?
It was alright if everyone was suffering.
But if we suffer while they flourish, that is unacceptable!
Is our Splashing Waves country inferior to Donghuang? Absolutely not. Therefore, the Superhuman Department must be incompetent! Useless Superhuman Department, let all these awakened individuals go to hell!
The more they compared, the more disheartened the people of Splashing Waves became.
The more disheartened they were, the more they could only curse the Superhuman Department and the various official bodies of Splashing Waves.
And their Splashing Waves country was the nation most severely affected by the Red Moon incident. Now, with tragedy compounding tragedy, the domestic situation became even more chaotic.
In contrast, the stable environment of Donghuang emerged as the sole sanctuary in this era of catastrophe.
The slightly volatile situation in Donghuang had stabilized so quickly partly due to the comparison with the larger environment.
It was all thanks to the foil of others.
(He bowed slightly)
"The speed at which Donghuang handles malevolence incidents is indeed far superior to ours."
Anderson mused.
His Superhuman Department had investigated. The stability within Donghuang and the timely resolution of each malevolence incident were not due to intentional propaganda by Donghuang, but were factual.
Even if one disregarded these events and looked for other aspects, even ordinary small towns and villages in Donghuang could promptly contain malevolence disasters.
They searched high and low but could find no flaws.
This was not right.
There must be a great secret!
"Even if the Donghuang Investigation Bureau were stronger, it couldn't possibly be this formidable."
Didn't they also want to eliminate malevolence promptly?
They did, but they had no means, no clues!
Donghuang was far ahead of them, so far ahead that they couldn't even see their backs or traces.
They couldn't learn from them even if they wanted to.
This defied logic. There was only one possibility left.
"Spark of Hope!"
"The Donghuang Investigation Bureau connected with this mysterious organization, Spark of Hope, earlier than us."
"Indeed, there are many Eastern faces within the mysterious and ancient organization of Spark of Hope. It is entirely possible that Donghuang established contact earlier."
"Fortunately, our Splashing Waves country was the second to establish contact, faster than the United States of the White Eagles and the Sunset Nation."
Thinking of this, Anderson felt a little more relieved.
Prior to this, he had visited the Spark of Hope's office twice and had already negotiated some cooperation. He had learned the secret behind the Red Moon ritual from a powerful individual within Spark of Hope.
The Abyss World!
The minions of evil gods!
Malevolence did not arise from filth; rather, it was an invasion and consumption of Blue Star from a terrifying world, seeping out from the Abyss World.
These hidden truths had almost overturned the worldview of their Superhuman Department. However, upon researching based on the clues they had, they discovered... it seemed to be true!
There was no reason for Spark of Hope to deceive them on this matter; it would be meaningless.
These secrets alone possessed immense value, holding significant implications for the future strategy, planning, and research of their Splashing Waves country.
Connecting with Spark of Hope was the most correct decision.
This was indeed an ancient organization!
Furthermore, they planned to purchase a batch of potions and weapons from Spark of Hope. These transactions were to be concluded today, and were generally without difficulty.
The cooperation with Spark of Hope was progressing step by step, as per the initial projections.
But now, Anderson felt it was too slow.
"In addition to the originally planned potion and weapon transactions, we need to acquire more information and find ways to curb the domestic unrest. Many elders above are already pushing."
"Heh! Those gluttonous council members!"
Katarina swept her purple hair, filled with dissatisfaction. Those who only issued orders, how could they know what they were facing!
If malevolence could be easily found, why would they have waited until now.
"Many of those elders indeed do not understand, but they are not entirely wrong. We cannot continue in this state of chaos."
Anderson paused and said, "These disturbances alone are minor. I fear what lies within those doomsday cults. What if they harbor a cult similar to the Red Moon cult?"
This was his greatest concern.
Splashing Waves country could not withstand another Red Moon disaster.
But now, even if they paid utmost attention, they couldn't find the uniquely different dung in a pile of excrement.
How could they obtain Spark of Hope's assistance with minimal cost?
He organized his thoughts and, putting on a smile, Anderson proceeded to Spark of Hope's office.
Soon, he met his target for this visit.
"Mr. Pei."
"Mr. Anderson."
Pei Hongjing was in charge of the business negotiations. He had been in Splashing Waves for several days. With a smile, he instructed someone to bring the potions.
"This is our Stamina Potion. Several of you can inspect the goods on the spot."
It was a pale white potion, appearing ordinary from the outside.
Anderson took it, examined it carefully, and then handed it to a professional accompanying him, an elderly professor with white hair.
He waited patiently.
Although he desperately wanted to inquire about Spark of Hope's method of tracking malevolence, Anderson suppressed his eagerness.
Impatience would put him at a disadvantage.
He had to project an image that their Splashing Waves country was not in urgent need.
He engaged in casual conversation with Mr. Pei, interspersed with subtle inquiries. However, Pei Hongjing's responses were watertight, without the slightest loophole, as seasoned as some of the council elders.
Anderson was even led astray by the conversation, becoming somewhat impatient.
At this moment,
The elderly professor sent back the potion and shook his head, "I am very sorry, I cannot discern anything. Perhaps a professional ritual could detect something."
Anderson was not surprised.
If such a magical potion could be seen through at a glance, they would have developed it long ago.
He called over an ordinary member of the Superhuman Department. "Try our partner's potion."
The team member gulped it down.
After a while, his body began to feel warm, and he couldn't help but throw a punch.
"Strength, power is surging within me!"
"I've become stronger!"
Was this too miraculous? Although Anderson had always believed it and didn't think Spark of Hope would falsify this, seeing it with his own eyes was still astonishing.
Could a small bottle of potion be worth countless days and nights of strenuous training?!
He suddenly felt that his usual training was somewhat pointless.
Anderson's thoughts were complex. After a back-and-forth negotiation of prices, he feigned reluctance while inwardly beaming.
A Stamina Potion was only worth five spirit crystals, or equivalent in other items.
This was too cheap!
It was indeed worth the Minister's personal visit; he had easily saved the department immeasurable wealth.
The first transaction was completed on the spot.
At this point, Pei Hongjing presented a second potion.
"This is an Energy Restoration Potion, which can rapidly replenish a large amount of life energy. For an ordinary Rank Two Awakened, one bottle can fully restore their energy."
What? There was such a potion!
Anderson, Katarina, and the accompanying elites of the Superhuman Department were all shocked.
They were frontline fighters; how could they not understand the importance of life energy? Without life energy, they couldn't use their awakened abilities, and they, the awakened, would be nothing more than enlarged soldiers.
And life energy was usually insufficient. There were not a few awakened individuals who had fallen into desperate situations due to depleted energy.
If life energy could be replenished promptly, the combat effectiveness of their Superhuman Department team could at least double... no, it could triple!
The importance of this potion was no less than that of the Stamina Potion!
Buy, buy, buy!
Regardless, the transaction for the Energy Restoration Potion must be secured.
Anderson thought.
Just then, Pei Hongjing took out another potion with a different color.
"This is a Healing Potion. It can be taken orally or applied externally, allowing injuries to recover rapidly."
"Similarly, it can be tested on the spot."
Upon hearing this, the members of the Superhuman Department's eyes widened.
This potion was also very important. Keeping one on hand could save a life at a critical moment! How many members of the Superhuman Department had perished due to delayed medical attention.
Buy, buy, buy!
This one also had to be secured.
Anderson thought, his expression growing more solemn.
At this moment, Pei Hongjing again flipped his wrist and took out another potion from his mystical ring. This potion had an orange luminescence, with bubbles rising and falling within, looking incredibly beautiful.
It was yet another unknown potion.
"This is a Purification Potion. It can also be applied externally or taken internally. Its effect is to purify the pollution and erosion caused by malevolence. Its value, well..."
Anderson understood!
The reason malevolence's damage was so fatal was because malevolence was 'poisonous.' This poison was the pollution and erosion, more troublesome and terrifying than external wounds, and could only be overcome by the injured person's own resistance.
This potion was even more precious than the Healing Potion. No matter what, it had to be secured!
Anderson's expression became even more solemn. Just as he was about to speak, he saw again...
Wait, again?
Pei Hongjing flipped his wrist again and retrieved yet another potion from his mystical ring. This pale blue potion, upon opening the cap, released a fragrant aroma. As Anderson and the others smelled it, their spirits lifted, and their fatigue seemed to alleviate slightly.
"This potion is called the Calming Potion. As the name suggests, it can stabilize emotions, restore affected sanity, and furthermore..."
Pei Hongjing's lips curved slightly. "When taken in conjunction with the Purification Potion, it can gradually eliminate the side effects of awakening. If taken before awakening, it can even slightly increase the probability of surviving the tribulation of awakening."
"Minister Anderson, what do you think of this potion?"
In Anderson's eyes were longing, shock, and solemnity.
Looking at the row of potions laid out before him, the previously negotiated plan had to be completely overturned.
He was utterly defeated!