The Genius Evolution Store

A man looked at the busy store from inside the van parked diagonally from the store.

”It looks like this guy is the one helping them cure the poison...”

He was assisted by a driver as well as two other operatives. One operator was managing the information, while the other was listening carefully to the noises from the store.

However, the van’s door was opened from the back.

Bang!

”Yo, guys!” Arnie smiled and waved at them.

The van was supposed to be locked. That was why there was no way Arnie could open it.

”Who—!” They were startled, but before they could react, Arnie had leaped into the van. ”Drive!”

When the driver was about to step on the gas, a lightning strike hit him from the side, electrocuting him.

”Aaahhhh!”

”!!!”

They panicked, but there was nothing they could do. Arnie knocked them down one by one easily.

”Are you done?” Jennifer opened the other door and took a peek inside.

”Yep.” Arnie nodded. ”Take them with you. I’m going to remain around for at least a few more days in case more people show up.”

Jennifer observed the equipment and said, ”I’m afraid they’re sending the information constantly. The organization must have received the information about that person.”

Arnie smiled. ”I had expected that much. Check if we can trace them back and figure out their actual base.”

”Understood.” Jennifer was still a bit concerned. Auric had helped them a lot, so she had dropped all her prejudice against him. So, she thought it would be best to ensure Auric’s safety going forward.

It could be said that Auric was an asset they had against this organization.

Still, Arnie looked like he had everything under control, so she didn’t ask much for the time being.

Once Jennifer left, Arnie looked around and muttered, ”I still don’t understand the problem with this organization. What is exactly their goal? Poisoning the next generation? Even if that’s their goal, they will surely do something more radical the moment there’s a person who can cure the poison.”

Arnie simply didn’t understand. In fact, he expected a more aggressive attack on this store instead of surveillance.

That was why he and Jennifer weren’t the only ones in this place.

There were two bodyguards that the Aheron family had sent. Their sole purpose was to ensure Auric’s safety.

At the same time, there were at least ten agents who were watching this place closely. They hid on the rooftops or became random civilians. They were ready to act in case something happened.

By removing the person who could cure the poison, their poison would become much more effective. They wouldn’t have to worry about anything that could stop them.

So, the fact that there had been no attack yet meant they were preparing for something else. They might have another goal that he had yet to figure out.

”I’m afraid that figuring out this organization won’t be an easy task.” Arnie let out a long sigh.

...

While Arnie was busy with the surveillance group, Auric was treating the patients, ensuring that all of them could use their energy again.

It was true that some of them had been held back by the poisons for months, but this was only a setback. They could still rise back up as long as they had the will.

Auric just hoped they never gave up.

”Phew. It’s finally done.” Auric wiped his sweat. With the last patient gone, his store was finally empty. ’How many people have I treated in the last three days?’

”Let me bring the statistics for you.” Lindwurm clapped his hands.

A screen that only he could see appeared before him.

[Poisoned Patients: 43]

[Evolution Patients: 114]

[Injured Patients: 11]

’So, that’s a total of 168 patients?’ Auric frowned.

”Yes.”

’Well, it’s not as much as I expected...’ Auric crossed his arms. The Night and Day store had a record of 140 patients a day. He managed to handle all of them alone.

This time, he probably only handled half of them, even with the promotion.

Lindwurm smiled wryly. ”Don’t you think your expectations have been twisted a lot? If we’re talking about the average evolution masters, they probably have 10 to 20 patients a day. Sometimes, it’s not even 10.”

Auric couldn’t really deny it. Even ten people were quite generous, considering many of the patients were usually troubled with injuries, not evolution.

Auric was able to get that many patients simply because he was fast and had a lot of elements. He brought in patients with other elements.

’Well, this is fine, I guess. Besides, we are going to have a special guest today.’ Auric was expecting Axel to bring his friend today. Since he had treated all the patients, even if one or two customers came, he could take care of them quickly.

Arnie suddenly entered the store.

”Yo. Thank you for everything. All the poisoned patients have been treated.”

Auric nodded. ”It’s fine. I’m getting paid as well. It’s just... I prefer something much more stable and safer. I don’t like conflict.”

”I guess you understand everything.” Arnie chuckled.

”I’m not that insensitive.”

”Of course. Anyway, the patients are gone, but I’m going to maintain the surveillance for another few days. If a single harm comes upon you, my head will be the one flying.” Arnie sighed.

”There is something that you may want to know. First, I need to confirm something. Do you keep records of when they’re poisoned?”

”What do you want to tell me?” Arnie asked.

”You know the rule. You don’t tell me, I won’t tell you. Don’t try to get anything for free.” Auric shrugged.

”Fine. Remember, keep this a secret.” Arnie took out his phone and opened a file. ”This is the list of patients.”

Auric had asked for the list before, but the information on this list was much more detailed compared to the one he possessed.

In the end, the previous list only focused on their condition, while this list contained everything, such as the type of the wound, time, date, and even situation.

”Can you sort them according to the date they were poisoned?”

”Yeah, just press this...” Arnie tapped a few things and changed the order. ”There you go.”

Auric then started looking at the list before saying, ”Try to find a connection among these four people.”

”So, care to tell me the reason now?” Arnie squinted his eyes.

”The first one, Karen. She had the first version of the poison. The second and third people on the list, Erwin and Silvia, had the second version, but the last person, Arthur, had the first version. Before Karen, everyone got the older version, while after Arthur, everyone had the second version.”

Arnie frowned. ”You are saying that this is when they upgraded the poison?”

”Yes.”

”What’s exactly the point? I mean, can’t they have such a breakthrough? Or maybe they just found better ruins to create the poison.”

Auric shook his head. ”Not at all. I have heard about the ruins. The ruins help with the mixing process, but the breakthrough shouldn’t be related to the ruins. It is related to the materials they purchased. See if there’s anything you can find about it.”

”Hmm...” Arnie was a bit skeptical, wondering if this lead would actually turn up something or not.

Nevertheless, it was a lead. Auric had been helping with the investigation, and his insight was quite accurate. So, it might not hurt to check.

”Fine. I will check.” Arnie walked back. ”Anyway, see you around, evolution master.”

Auric nodded.

Since he was done with his work, Auric could finally take things a bit easy. ’Well, I wonder how I am supposed to handle this patient.’

Lindwurm asked, ”Why don’t you show your silver badge?”

’While it’s true that the silver badge can solve everything, considering the badge doesn’t indicate the element, it will mean I’m lying to the customer. Besides, we have a bigger problem.’

”Do you mean you’re worried that your energy won’t be enough to help him?” Lindwurm asked.

’Yes.’

The biggest problem was not about his identity. It was the fact that his light element hadn’t evolved to handle the intensity of the patient’s element.

Of course, it could still be used, but Auric’s light element was the lowest among all his elements.

Because of the difference in their intensity, Auric had to use much more energy just to lower 1% of the element.

In addition, he wasn’t a silver-grade light evolution master. He was only a bronze-grade dark evolution master.

The system for light and dark evolution masters was different from the six basic elements.

There were only two elements in this cycle. If he wanted to treat a light element avatar, he could suppress their element with the dark element and strengthen their element with his light element.

He had some confidence in empowering it, considering the strength of his dark element. But his light element was another matter.

Auric might have to attempt the Extreme Bridge Management and Dual Fusion Method for this one, but he hadn’t seen how severe his case was, so he couldn’t assess it yet.

In addition, there was an issue with the badge. If he lied to the patient, he might get caught.

It was a risky plan, but he might succeed as long as he had the confidence in treating him.

Unfortunately, no matter how much he thought, whether he could treat him or not depended on the patient’s condition.

As a result, Auric decided to wait.

As promised, Axel brought two friends to the store. The first friend had a wind element, so he was probably the friend that just wanted to watch the entire process. The second one had the dark element, but he noticed another problem with this patient.

However, this problem might actually be an advantage for Auric.

The man with the dark element had short, spiky hair and small black eyes. He looked at Auric with a judging gaze as soon as he entered the store.

”Yo!” Axel waved his hand with a smile. ”I’ve come.”

”Welcome.” Auric nodded.

”This is my friend Roy. The one who wants to evolve is this person here, Paul. I wonder if you can help.”

”Hmph. What can a bronze-grade evolution master even do? I’m looking for a silver-grade evolution master. I come here because of respect for you, Axel. Now that I am here, it’s time for me to go back.”

”Paul, please.” Axel was trying to stop him.

”You’re wasting my time. Just look at him. Do you think he’s capable enough to help me?” Paul pointed at Auric. ”He’s a bronze-grade evolution master. It’s only natural for someone who wants to evolve their avatar to the adult form to receive help from a silver-grade evolution master!”

Axel definitely couldn’t argue with that. This was the norm after all.

Even Auric could agree. If he wanted to treat Paul, he had to use the Dual Fusion Method and Extreme Bridge Management at the same time. The difficulty of his treatment would spike. That was why it wasn’t wise to attempt this evolution as a bronze-grade evolution master.

However, Auric also wanted this element. This power was simply too great to pass up.

There was one more option. He could just tell Paul that he could get rid of his other problem instead of helping him evolve.

And it looked like this was the only way.

”I...” Auric wanted to explain it to Paul, but the conversation suddenly turned in an unexpected direction.

”Paul. He just wants to take a look. How about you let him take a look, just for my sake?” Axel asked politely.

”Why should I do that? I am currently busy. Besides, what kind of skills does he have?” Paul opened his phone and said, ”If he is an evolution master like this guy, I will consider it!”

”Which evolution master?” Axel was bewildered.

”Don’t you know? There is a rising star in the capital city. That person is called Sun. He is the Lord of the Sun, who has created a gathering technique that no one has ever done. A technique that helps you increase your energy without using any materials or artifacts! If he is the Lord of the Sun, I will do it.”