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

Upon hearing the news about the mermaid, Gordon became even more serious.

"Then we'll find her and protect her." Gordon really wants to see Ningning again.

How do I find it?

"Go to the wading chapel to find Olivia. In Green Shade Mansion, there are mermaid statues and paintings everywhere. She's a mermaid enthusiast. There's also the singer Elaine. She sang at the Evangelical Feast, and her singing reminded me of mermaids. After Green Shade Mansion was raided, she disappeared too."

Martin recorded each item.

"Given the unusually heavy rainfall, we will prioritize conquering the flooded chapel in the next phase of our work," Martin concluded.

"And then there's the San Barto auction," Gordon said. "The Logris Underwater Heritage Archaeological Society seems to have some artifacts being sold there."

"Many underwater artifacts are auctioned there." Martin opened another file. "In the past six months, quite a few antique dealers and collectors have sent their items there for consignment."

"Is it still possible to seal it off now?"

"Not for now. The auction is a summer festival with a history of hundreds of years, and a hasty shutdown would only alert them. However, we can go there together tomorrow to check the situation. I will ask the top investigator to come."

Gordon leaned back.

Top-level investigator.

"She's the person in charge of the Blackwater River project? What's her name? What are her abilities?"

"The affairs of those with abilities at the third rank or above usually require strict confidentiality; you can temporarily refer to them as 'Special Grade'."

"Appearance?"

"It has nothing to do with the case."

"You can always talk about your personality, right?"

"They are very efficient in their operations and have led the way in solving many major cases."

What does she think of me?

"She's read your resume." Martin thought carefully. "I think she approves of you."

"Okay." Gordon felt he couldn't pry anything more out of this rock.

In any case, the threat posed by the Blackwater River has indeed escalated to the point where strategic-level imperial powers are required to intervene.

"Oh, right, and this too..." Martin took a wooden box from the table, placed it on the table, and opened it for Gordon.

An armband lay on the velvet.

It is made of bright red fabric, with a red dragon flying proudly under the blazing sun in the center.

The scales are woven from red silk threads of varying shades, and as the viewing angle changes, the entire dragon seems to breathe and flap its wings under the blazing sun...

It was surrounded by a ring of small gold lettering that read: Gordon Vick, Crimson Alchemist.

[A bright red armband. You've done something amazing; walk on proudly.]

"By order of the Lord Gentleman, you are hereby commended for your splendid performance at the Summer Ceremony." Martin walked over to Gordon and fastened the armband to Gordon's left arm.

Gordon's heart was racing.

To receive an armband bestowed by the generous minister is such a wonderful thing.

The applause at the ceremony had long since faded, and the newspapers had finished their endless praise, but now, he could wear the title of Crimson Alchemist on his person as an open identity, and no one could deny it.

Eve gazed at the armband, a complex expression flashing in her eyes. She knew all too well how difficult it would be for the Empire to publicly acknowledge Gordon.

Vera didn't speak, but simply tugged at Gordon's sleeve, smoothing out the wrinkles below the arm patch.

"That's perfect," Vera said. "You should have this."

After Gordon had finished processing the joy of receiving the red armband, Martin took out another box.

"This is what you told me to look for on the second floor the other day, something to protect your eyesight." Martin asked Gordon to open it.

Gordon took a deep breath and opened the box.

Inside is...

Glasses!

Sunglasses. Cool, no talking.

Its lenses are jet black, it has no temples, but it has a stylish light gold chain that can be attached to Gordon's trench coat.

He examined it carefully.

A spiritual light flows along the fine lines inside the lens, a testament to the extremely precise and complex craftsmanship.

It is more precious than the cane or the refrigerator that Gordon had seen before, and it is difficult to simply replicate.

"It connects with your mental energy and can zoom in and out at your will, such as zooming in and out, and can also record what you see with your own eyes."

"Record?"

"Yes, it records a segment of what you see. It's said that the longest recording is 15 seconds. New recordings will overwrite old ones, and you can replay them."

Gordon's heart grew warmer and warmer.

This sounds incredibly advanced, combining the functions of a telescope, a magnifying glass, and a video recorder.

He couldn't help but pick up his sunglasses and put them on the bridge of his nose.

The ambient light dims slightly, protecting the eyes without causing harm.

He turned to the report on Martin's desk, zooming in and zooming in until he could see every word clearly.

His left eye focused and shrank, while his right eye continued to observe the office. Two different scales of images entered his brain at the same time. At first, he felt a little dizzy, but gradually, his enhanced nervous system adapted.

Gordon turned to look at Vera and immediately zoomed in on her beautiful face.

"?" Vera felt Gordon looking at her, touched her cheek, and asked, "Is there something there?"

"No, it's about analyzing the beautiful things in the world."

"Can you see it clearly now?" Vera moved her face closer.

"It's beyond the safe focal length." Gordon saw Vera's big eyes.

Gordon then turned to Eve, looking her up and down, zooming in and out.

Please remember the only URL of this novel: ".". The website owner has only this one website, and other websites may be discontinued at any time.

"Mr. Vic..." Eve raised a finger, her gaze subtle, "Do you really want to see that?"

"Scientific research must cover testing targets of different sizes."

"..." Martin looked up.

He felt it was absolutely necessary not to tell Miss Gordon the situation.

Gordon pressed the end of the mirror chain and began taking pictures.

Over the next fifteen seconds, he glanced at his crimson armband, at Eve's blush, at Vera's dazed eyes, and then at Martin's silent expression.

When the image is replayed, the lens immediately replays the previous scene.

The dragon on the crimson armband was incredibly lifelike, Eve's expression still carried a shyness that was hard to believe was genuine, Vera was unaware that she was being recorded, her gaze fixed on the "camera," and Martin remained unchanged.

When the playback ended, Martin was still standing in the same spot, maintaining the same expression, seamlessly connecting to the expression in the last frame.

Gordon paused.

The true identity of the Crimson Alchemist, the two companions, the somewhat dazed Martin... all of these things existed within those 15 seconds just now, and are worth revisiting.

"Good stuff." Gordon was very satisfied. "From now on, I can preserve original evidence of anything I see."

"Please do not use it to record anything unrelated to the case," Martin cautioned.

"I want it." Gordon wants to shoot a great short film.

"Then, let's go see that auction tomorrow." Martin nodded. "Before we set off, it's best to stay in this building and conserve our energy. With the addition of the Special Agent, we may soon be able to break into the wading chapel, find Olivia, get clues about the mermaid, and try to locate the source of the storm."

"Staying here overnight?" Gordon questioned. "What are the accommodations like?"

"Not so great. The Department of Extraterrestrial Affairs isn't a grand hotel." Martin picked up another notebook, flipped through it, and said, "We don't have enough rooms available right now."

"Savings money".

"Would the three of you be willing to share a bedroom?"