Summer camp, Zone C.
Multimedia classroom.
Mike had intended to sit in the back row, but Kaelum enthusiastically pulled him to the front.
"Professor Gregory usually enters the classroom five minutes early and is never late," Kaelum said excitedly.
As time ticked by, Kaelum and Mike still hadn't seen Gregory Blackwell appear.
The expected person hadn't arrived, but the one who shouldn't leave had gone.
"I'm stepping out for a bit, just next door," said the voice of Shadow Nine, and Mike nodded slightly.
Meanwhile, Mike leaned closer to Jessica.
Just brushing up against a Battle Lord for protection, no misunderstanding intended.
Mike couldn't be without a Battle Lord nearby, just as the human race couldn't be without Thor.
In Jessica's shadow, a little girl with dark circles under her eyes coldly watched Mike.
For some reason, a ridiculous thought popped into [Shadow Ninety-Nine]'s mind, "Can this guy Mike see me?"
"How could he? I'm a Battle Lord and he's just a low level..."
The little girl shook her head, choosing not to stare at Mike's handsome face any longer. Too handsome; looking too long could lead to aesthetic fatigue.
...
Gregory Blackwell's office.
Two cups of tea sat on the table. Gregory Blackwell, who should have been in the classroom, was sitting on the sofa as if waiting for a guest.
A shadow descended.
"Shadow Nine."
Gregory Blackwell stood up shakily.
"It's been over thirty years since we last met."
"Better not to meet," Shadow Nine said coldly. "Every time I see you, it's to seal memories."
"Ah, these kids always keep us on our toes," sighed Gregory Blackwell as he sat back down, his cloudy eyes filled with memories of the past.
"Let me think... Supreme Being Ares, I found him on the third day of his appearance because of a sword aura.
Supreme Being Apollo, I bumped into him directly in the Trade Secret Realm.
You might laugh, but you becoming a disciple of [Apollo] was largely thanks to me."
Gregory Blackwell remarked sentimentally, "A hundred years have passed in a blink, and another potential Supreme Being has emerged. Funny, it's me who meets him again."
Listening to Gregory Blackwell, Shadow Nine sounded rather resigned, "Every potential Supreme Being is traced by you, then I come to seal your memory. Only when they reach at least the Battle Lord tier can I unlock your memory for you. Why put yourself through this?"
As the most profound researcher of the first nine floors of the Tower of Truth, Gregory Blackwell had found three potential Supreme Beings, partly through luck and partly through his own abilities.
Hearing Shadow Nine's words, Gregory Blackwell was unconcerned, "We've studied this before; the memory seal you use doesn't significantly affect intelligence if removed in the short term. As long as it's not used frequently, there shouldn't be any major problems. Have you forgotten?
We even co-authored a paper on the side effects of memory seals, which was the best paper of that year."
Mike would never have guessed that Shadow Nine was also an academic talent, specializing in the soul domain.
When the topic turned to academic matters, Shadow Nine became more talkative, "Speaking of the side effects of memory seals, I've been using them frequently on a Battle Chief recently, and the data collected has been quite promising; the subject has been cooperative..."
Listening to Shadow Nine, Gregory Blackwell nodded occasionally, "You can send me the data, maybe we can publish another paper."
"Battle Chief level subjects are hard to come by, did you capture this one from the Abyssal Plane?"
At this question, Shadow Nine paused, "You could say he came to me."
After a brief chat, "Alright, time to get down to business."
Gregory Blackwell picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said composedly, "Don't let my age fool you, I can still stir things up."
"According to tradition, you can ask Thor one question," Shadow Nine reminded before proceeding, "I'll pass your message, but I can't guarantee Thor will answer."
"I've thought about it before you came."
Gregory Blackwell handed over a piece of paper.
"I want to ask about the trigger conditions for the hidden level of the newbie instance."
"Oh, and one more thing, I really like that stone. Ask Thor if he would sell it; I'm willing to trade all my possessions for it."
"Okay."
Taking the note, a swirl of dark mist enveloped Gregory Blackwell.
When the mist cleared, the remnants of a smile lingered on Gregory Blackwell's lips.
He suddenly came to his senses, chuckled wryly, "Getting old, can't deny it."
"Sitting here almost fell asleep, and I've got a class to attend, already late... must hurry."
Saying this, he leaned on his cane, grabbed his courseware, and headed towards the multimedia classroom.
...
When Shadow Nine returned, Gregory Blackwell was also back.
"Kid, listen to me."
Mike heard Shadow Nine's voice in his ear.
Shadow Nine briefly recounted the earlier events, including Gregory Blackwell's encounters with Ares and Apollo.
"Professor Gregory is a potential Supreme Being catcher!"
Just like Maxen Stoneheart, the ultimate [Godfather Catcher], Professor Gregory always managed to come into contact with potential Supreme Beings for various reasons.
Thinking about it, what seemed coincidental was actually inevitable.
Professor Gregory specialized in the first nine floors of the Tower of Truth, and all participants couldn't skip these floors.
In a way, Mike was already one of the best-performing among all participants.
As for the question Professor Gregory wanted to ask, "The hidden level, that's easy."
Mike needed to ensure two things, "It doesn't involve revealing my identity, and I can't talk about the rewards of the level."
Revealing the rewards of the hidden level would be detrimental to Mike.
"No problem."
Their conversation, shielded by Shadow Nine, went unnoticed by those around them, even [Shadow Ninety-Nine] couldn't sense anything unusual.
"As for that stone, you didn't mention it, and I almost forgot."
The resources Mike now controlled were far beyond what a million gold coins could measure. Even if Professor Gregory didn't ask for it, Mike was willing to give it to him.
"You don't quite understand Professor Gregory's character; he won't accept your gift. If you don't take money for it, he'd rather not have it."
At this, Shadow Nine paused for a moment and chuckled bitterly, "In fact, his entire fortune... is much less than you might think."
"Ah?"
This was indeed beyond Mike's expectations.
"Thirty silver coins, worth $3,000."
Shadow Nine revealed the answer, a surprising figure to Mike.
"Professor Gregory was a web novelist in his youth; that was his first payment for his writings, treasured to this day and all he owns. All other income has been donated to support the development of superpower universities."
Hearing Shadow Nine's words, Mike fell silent.
Some can take up arms and charge into battle, defending the honor of the human race even at the risk of their lives.
Others, with no strength to wield a weapon, still possess a heart to serve their country.
Holding a pen is like wielding a sword; tirelessly writing is also a silent battlefield!
"I'll make this deal."
After discussing both matters, Shadow Nine lifted the external shield, and Mike finally had a moment to observe Professor Gregory.
Whether it was students from superpower universities or seasoned powerhouses like Shadow Nine, their admiration for Gregory Blackwell was evident.
At first glance, he appeared as a kindly next-door grandfather, his white hair meticulously combed, his demeanor gentle and approachable.
When lecturing, his voice was strong and clear, his sentences slow and logically interconnected.
"No wonder he could deduce my other identity from mere hints."
Mike couldn't help but remark, "I underestimated the other heroes of this world."
Just as Mike was about to refocus and seriously listen to the lecture, a note suddenly popped up above Gregory Blackwell's head.
[Talent Awakening Condition: Live to 400 years old]
Huh?
"Gregory Blackwell's talent can awaken a second time?!"
Second awakenings were extremely rare; aside from SSS-grade talents, Mike had only encountered it twice!
Once with Jessica, and now, Gregory Blackwell.
Mike was initially shocked, then chuckled and shook his head.
"Even if he could awaken a second time, that condition might as well not be mentioned."
Regardless of whether Gregory Blackwell could live to 400 years old.
He was only 320 this year; waiting another eighty years would be too late.
Time, after all, cannot be sped up!