Unable to repay my student loans, I had no choice but to work part-time as a demon hunter.

Gordon went across the street to see what they were doing.

Next to the laundry, patrol officers stood nearby with black umbrellas, and yellow and black police ropes were strung up on both sides of the street.

Shirin is explaining to the laundry owner that they will pay a compensation for lost work time to ensure that their normal business operations are not affected.

Martin stood next to the laundry yard, holding an umbrella, organizing people to clear the area, waiting to unleash his power and investigate who had been standing there watching No. 9 Knight Road that day.

"Oh dear, oh dear!" Shirley greeted Gordon, holding up her umbrella. "Why aren't you using an umbrella, Investigator? Are you going to get soaked in the rain?"

She ran over, raised the umbrella high, and covered Gordon under it.

"It's nothing. Oh, something's wrong." Gordon casually slipped under Shirin's umbrella and walked over to Martin. "The weather isn't very friendly today."

"The weather has no obligation to be kind to people." Martin responded seriously to every joke Gordon made, while taking out his notebook. "Yesterday's events added up to two small achievements: sealing off the cold water warehouse counts as one, and defeating the Otherworldly Demon counts as another."

Two small achievements equal one thing. Gordon was very pleased.

He was happy whenever he could get free resources from the Empire.

"I need eye protection; I need to protect my eyesight," he explained. "Right now, the most important thing in the world is my eyes. Considering my immense value, you should look on the second floor, not rummage through the trash on the first floor."

"Okay." Martin wrote a line in his notebook. Given Gordon's position, these matters were no longer his private affairs. "Did you receive the refrigerator?"

"Received. My dream is to bring refrigerators into every household in Lundnim..."

The rain suddenly intensified.

Gordon looked up at the sky; the rain was pouring down, and Martin and his men would be standing there all day. Everyone gritted their teeth and endured the dampness and cold.

"You've worked hard," Gordon said.

Hmm? Martin looked up, trying to recall when Gordon had last said those words.

He discovered...

there has never been.

Gordon has finally become human.

"It's my duty." Martin unleashed his power.

Neither of them held back any further.

[Crime Scene: Silent Testimony]

White smoke billowed across the ground, spreading along the stone path, overflowing the puddles, and slowly solidifying within a radius of 100 meters.

The events and people who had been here over the past three days were replayed in reverse: passersby, horse-drawn carriages, porters, laundry women...

After a thorough investigation, the stalkers will have nowhere to hide.

Gordon nodded silently. He would feel much safer if he could find out who was the one spying on him.

He, Vera, and now Eve are all in No. 9 Knight Road. There's an agency and a high-powered company involved; nothing can be lost.

……

Gordon returned to the lobby on the first floor, where Vera and Eve were chatting.

Eve coaxed her gently, while Vera remained cautiously defensive, yet couldn't help but subtly boast to Eve about something.

"So... Gordon just likes..." Vera was about to say something, but when she saw Gordon come in, she stopped talking.

"What's wrong with me?" Gordon asked, confused.

"It's nothing," Eve blinked. "Mr. Vic is really interesting."

"That's usually not a compliment," Gordon wondered.

She walked to the entrance of the lobby and looked at the torrential rain and the busy patrolling police officers outside.

"What are those people doing?"

"There used to be a scoundrel standing outside the laundry, and Martin is trying to get every single hour of the past to come out and be interrogated. That's one of the reasons I had my senior move in; if they're watching me, they might be watching you too."

"The enemy is finally getting serious," Eve mused.

"This is not good news for us."

"So I'm just a tool to protect against bad guys, junior..."

"How could that be? You're an important figure in the company now, a consultant on mysticism, the person in charge of nighttime lighting, and the master's assistant. I even pay you a salary."

"Then I need to know my deadline. How long can I stay here?"

"I'm not going to say 'forever,' it sounds like a shady contract. I can only say that as long as there are no major changes and we both feel it's suitable, then we'll continue. If it doesn't feel suitable anymore, we'll renegotiate."

"So pragmatic?"

"We're all very busy right now, there's no need to complicate the partnership too much."

Eve wholeheartedly agreed.

That's Gordon for you; in some ways, he's both honest and straightforward.

"So, are we going out today?" She turned her head.

"Going to university to research rainbow water and the black water cure, the Bureau of Investigation should have already spoken to them. I'm a water sports king, we can go together, I won't let you get wet." Gordon isn't afraid of rain at all.

He packed everything he needed, intending to unravel the mystery behind the Fishing King as soon as possible.

Vera is going too.

"Wait for us here." Gordon walked over and kissed Vera. "We'll be right back."

"Ugh." Vera lay on the counter, watching them walk into the rain, her fingers drawing circles on the counter before she got up and went to organize other files.

……

They braved the torrential rain and returned to the university.

Eve held up the umbrella simply to avoid arousing suspicion from passersby.

In fact, Gordon had already cleared away all the raindrops, and walking in the rain felt as natural as walking under a clear sky, except that it was a bit chilly, and his shoes and trouser legs remained dry.

She turned her head to look.

Gordon claims to be a master of water manipulation, but his actual control precision far surpasses that of ordinary ability users, which is truly impressive.

The Royal Academy of Sciences has received word that Gordon is coming today.

Principal Hamilton arrived early; he was a bald man with glasses and a large belly, whose head reflected light even in the overcast weather.

He was greeted by the administrative staff, school workers, and several board members who remained on campus, accompanied by numerous reporters holding umbrellas of different colors.

They all applauded when they saw Gordon.

Half of it is respect, and half is gratitude; there's no need to contemplate life in the pouring rain anymore.

"Mr. Vic! Welcome back to the Royal Academy of Sciences. We've heard from the administration that you're looking to further investigate the new anomalies on the Blackwater River." The principal invited Gordon into the campus, and the others quickly followed.

"This is all part of my job."

While it's nice to be welcomed, Gordon intends to keep a low profile.

"This..." Principal Hamilton glanced at Eve hesitantly.

She is a notorious troublemaker, a brilliant young scholar from Lundnium, and a controversial figure who was exiled for five years and has only recently returned.

"She's a professional consultant on the Blackwater River project. If the school has a more suitable occultist, they can recommend her to me, but I guess no one is more suitable," Gordon introduced Eve generously.

"Hmm..." Hamilton did not answer.

"I'm just an insignificant person," Eve said softly, stepping behind Gordon.

Gordon and the principal walked through Boshi Square.

"In conclusion, in light of your outstanding performance, the university has decided to award you an honorary alumni certificate and rename the anatomy lab in the biology building where you once lived as the 'Vic Laboratory,'" the principal said with a smile.

Gordon paused for a moment.

"If the school had built more public student dormitories back then, the entire building could be named Vic Dormitory now."

Eve nodded in deep agreement.

"Ahem..." Principal Hamilton glanced at the people around him and changed the subject. "By the way, the school is also planning to have a portrait of you painted and a bronze statue sculpted, as a role model for young scholars to inspire future generations to carry on the legacy."

"No need."

"Hmm?" The principal turned his head.

"Seeking truth and being pragmatic has always been my pursuit. If I make things too fancy, people will think that my first half of life has been very smooth sailing," Gordon said tactfully.

The principal remained silent.

"If the university and its board members truly believe that I bring honor to the school, they can save this money and set up a scholarship or interest-free student loan in my name, which would also promote the school and me," Gordon said honestly.

No one spoke in the rain.

They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.

Everyone had prepared many plans.

Renaming a building, hanging portraits in the corridors, holding ceremonies and special balls, embellishing his achievements, boasting about his abilities, and firmly binding him to the Royal Academy of Sciences—these are all familiar procedures for the university.

But Gordon doesn't want any of that.

"Really...?" Principal Hamilton was taken aback.

"I've thought this through very clearly. Renaming a room only proves that I was here. Painting a lifelike portrait only proves that the painter is very skilled. Only things that truly help others, help the next generation, can make me feel that all of this has meaning," Gordon explained.

Gordon's attitude was clear.

He doesn't want anything that's vain.

Hamilton thought about it carefully. Although it didn't fit the style of a young man, it was quite fitting for the weight that the title "Crimson Alchemist" should carry.

Several reporters began frantically taking notes; "The Crimson Alchemist's Choice: Scholarship Over Statue" would soon become the next sensational headline.

Eve, who was following behind Gordon, nodded slightly.

"Okay, the college will conduct a feasibility assessment." Hamilton nodded vigorously. "But please accept this honorary alumni certificate."

"Thank you." Gordon turned to the principal.

[Certificate of Honor. Congratulations on officially becoming a mobile promotional material for the Royal Academy of Sciences University.]

Ok.

"After the summer break, in October, the university will invite experts from all walks of life to arrange comprehensive advanced studies for Mr. Vic. Whatever you want to learn, we will do our best to recruit renowned teachers," President Hamilton continued.

That's truly good news. Gordon was very satisfied.

The university promised to find the most suitable people in the world for what he wanted to study.

He really wanted to access more cutting-edge knowledge.

"I look forward to making scientific achievements with other outstanding people in the world, which is better than me working in isolation."

The reporter then proceeded to take notes frantically.

When they arrived at the Sherwood Laboratory building, the crowd took turns handing out business cards, which Eve accepted. They gradually dispersed, with only a few reporters remaining.

A man in a black tuxedo walked down from the doorway.

He was around thirty years old, and his features looked familiar to Gordon. His hair was neatly combed.

"Mr. Vic, welcome." He stepped forward. "I am Edward Winslow, Professor Winslow's eldest son, a practicing lawyer, and a member of the Imperial House of Commons."