326-330

Chapter 326: Consolation Prize 

There was no time to overthink the situation. 

Amidst the applause of the surrounding audience, Allen put on a surprised expression for the camera. 

He was genuinely surprised—he hadn’t even figured out what award he had won yet. 

However, one thing was certain: an award given at this in-between time slot was unlikely to be of major importance. 

Under everyone’s gaze, Allen stepped onto the stage and embraced the award presenter. 

Glancing at the card in the presenter's hand, he immediately understood. 

Best Sound Editing. 

As expected, just as Allen had anticipated, this so-called Best Sound Editing award was clearly the result of Universal’s PR efforts. 

After all, "Heroes Unleashed" was one of last year’s highest-grossing films. Even though its box office crown was eventually overtaken by "Avatar," the production cost of "Avatar" was enough to make ten movies like "Heroes Unleashed." 

Not to mention, James Cameron was a notorious perfectionist, willing to wait over a decade for technology to catch up before making "Avatar." 

Even though "Avatar" became a worldwide sensation, if Fox and other studios had a chance to go back, they might hesitate before investing in it again. 

The time commitment was just too much—nearly a decade of pre-production and special effects development, followed by two years of actual filming. 

Compared to Cameron’s lengthy production cycle, Allen, who could complete a film in just a few weeks, was every studio executive’s dream director. 

Especially for Fox—when they saw Allen’s efficiency, they probably wished they could swap Cameron out and have Allen direct "Avatar." 

“Thank you!” 

Taking the golden statuette from the presenter’s hand, Allen felt its weight. Although Best Sound Editing wasn’t a major category, it was still an Oscar. 

As he looked at the celebrities in the audience, he felt a mix of emotions. 

Despite writing and directing several films, this was his first time stepping onto an awards ceremony stage. 

And considering he was secretly the mastermind behind an evolving reality, standing openly at the Oscars and even winning an award felt surreal—even to himself. 

“First, I’d like to thank the Academy, as well as Universal. Of course, I can’t forget director James Wan—if not for him…” 

He quickly reined in his thoughts and followed tradition by thanking his team. 

Though the win was unexpected, Allen remained calm, even giving the impression that he had prepared for this moment. 

After all, he was a creator of worlds. 

Having orchestrated supernatural events through his scripts, attending a Hollywood awards show was hardly something that would rattle him. 

As he had predicted, Best Sound Editing was merely a consolation prize from the Academy. 

For the remainder of the ceremony, "Heroes Unleashed" was not mentioned again. 

The biggest winner of the night was "The Hurt Locker," a war film about Iraq, which swept five Oscars. 

Of course, movies are just movies. 

On-screen, American soldiers are depicted as loyal, brotherly, and committed to duty, valuing honor above all else. In reality, these so-called "great" soldiers couldn’t even win a war. 

Compared to "The Hurt Locker," which stole the spotlight, "Avatar" was in an awkward position. 

The Academy clearly didn’t favor the film, treating it as mere blockbuster entertainment. Throughout the ceremony, "Avatar" only received a few minor consolation awards. 

Cameron seemed to have expected this. His acceptance speeches were brief and lacked enthusiasm. 

After the long ceremony, the following banquet was far more relaxed. 

Despite "The Hurt Locker" being the biggest winner, the real center of attention at the after-party was directors like Allen and James Cameron, who dominated the commercial film scene. 

This year’s Oscars banquet featured movie-themed dishes, including Na’vi-inspired desserts from "Avatar," bomb squad-themed sweets from "The Hurt Locker," and lollipops inspired by "Up." There were even cakes decorated with superheroes from "Heroes Unleashed." 

Chatting with Cameron about film technology, Allen could see the legendary director’s ambition—he was determined to push even more groundbreaking technology into "Avatar 2." 

But Allen knew the truth. 

At Cameron’s filmmaking pace, by the time "Avatar 2" was finally released, the World Evolution System might already be at 100% completion. 

“Pleasure to meet you, Director Allen.” 

After wrapping up his conversation with Cameron, Allen grabbed a "The Hurt Locker"-themed cake and took a bite. 

Thanks to the enhancement serum, his body had already surpassed human limits. His physical strength had skyrocketed, but so had his metabolism. 

His food intake had more than doubled compared to before. 

As he stood at the buffet, replenishing his energy, a bald man in a suit seized the opportunity, holding a wine glass as he approached with a smile. 

“Allow me to introduce myself—I’m Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros.” 

Allen swallowed his bite of cake, grabbed a napkin, and wiped his mouth. He turned to face the uninvited guest, already guessing his intentions. 

“It’s an honor to meet you as well, Mr. Robinov.” 

Extending his hand, he shook Robinov’s firmly, maintaining a composed demeanor. 

Robinov was slightly taken aback. As Warner Bros. President, he was a major power player in Hollywood. Even A-list stars often showed signs of nervousness when meeting him. 

But Allen remained unfazed. 

The reason was simple—when you have the power to control an entire nation, meeting Hollywood’s elite no longer seems impressive. 

(End of chapter) 

Chapter 327: Warner’s Invitation  

“How about it, Allen? Warner has been very sincere about inviting you to write the script for Batman 3…”  

Suppressing the questions in his mind, Jeff Robinov looked at Allen and smiled.  

At first, Allen had thought that Warner’s invitation to write the script for Batman 3 was nothing more than a publicity stunt. However, seeing Jeff Robinov’s reaction now, it seemed like they were genuinely serious about the offer.  

For an average Hollywood screenwriter, receiving an invitation from Warner Bros. would at least warrant some interest, even if they didn’t accept.  

But Allen was clearly not just any Hollywood screenwriter.  

Regarding the script for Batman 3, he had no particular thoughts on the matter.  

“I believe Director Nolan already has his own ideas for the third film.”  

Shaking his head, Allen politely declined Jeff Robinov’s offer.  

Seeing Allen reject his proposal without hesitation, a trace of regret flickered across Robinov’s face.  

In fact, as Allen had pointed out, Christopher Nolan already had a rough concept for Batman 3.  

Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be a bad thing. Nolan was the director who had redefined Batman, bringing a fresh and unique style to the superhero genre. Having him helm the third film would be the safest choice.  

However, the problem lay in timing.  

With Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe expanding and real-life superheroes capturing public attention, Warner’s ambitions for Batman had grown significantly. They wanted to push Batman into a Justice League movie.  

While Warner’s idea was appealing, Nolan had no interest in their Justice League plans. He made it clear that Batman 3 would be his final Batman film, and even if Batman were to join the Justice League, it wouldn’t be his Batman.  

More importantly, Christian Bale, the actor playing Batman, also agreed with Nolan’s stance. Having played the Dark Knight for two films, he was growing tired of the role.  

With both the director and lead actor unwilling to participate in Warner’s Justice League, the studio found itself in a difficult position.  

Without Nolan’s Batman, Warner’s Justice League would have to be a completely new project. To ensure its success, Warner had to explore other options.  

One such option was recruiting Allen.  

“Well, Allen, if Batman doesn’t interest you, how about directing a brand-new superhero project?”  

Suppressing his disappointment, Robinov extended another offer.  

“A new superhero project?”  

Allen raised an eyebrow.  

Robinov smiled and revealed the title he had long prepared:  

“Green Lantern.”  

“……”  

Robinov seemed extremely confident in Green Lantern.  

As one of DC’s "Big Seven," Green Lantern had a massive fanbase, and its expansive universe made for an exciting adaptation.  

However, looking at Robinov’s confident expression, Allen remained skeptical.  

If he remembered correctly, Green Lantern was destined to be one of Warner’s biggest failures. It would even stain the lead actor’s career, nearly ruining his future. In fact, this movie’s failure would mark the beginning of Warner’s struggle with the Justice League, causing the project to collapse.  

It wouldn’t be until years later that Warner would attempt another superhero film, eventually rebooting the Justice League—only to fail again.  

Given such an obvious trap, Allen had no reason to accept.  

“Ah, so this is where you are, Allen…”  

Just as he was about to tactfully decline, a familiar voice interrupted him.  

Turning around, he saw Ron Meyer, the vice president of Universal Pictures, approaching with a warm smile.  

Meyer embraced Allen enthusiastically.  

“I almost thought you had already left.”  

After exchanging pleasantries, Meyer turned to Robinov, as if only now noticing the Warner Bros. executive.  

“Oh, Jeff, I didn’t realize you were here.”  

“Long time no see, Ron.”  

Wearing a carefully maintained smile, Robinov greeted the uninvited Meyer. Then, he turned back to Allen and nodded.  

“Warner is offering this opportunity with full sincerity. I hope you’ll give it serious consideration.”  

With Meyer disrupting the conversation, Robinov knew there was no point in continuing the discussion.  

After briefly expressing Warner’s goodwill, he turned and walked back into the crowd at the banquet.  

As mentioned before, Allen was only one of Warner’s potential candidates.  

Even if he declined, Warner had plenty of other directors to take on Green Lantern.  

The real question was: which unfortunate soul would end up taking the job?  

Watching Robinov’s departing figure, Allen pondered the situation.  

In truth, Green Lantern’s failure wasn’t just due to the director and screenwriter—it was also largely Warner’s fault.  

The success of James Cameron’s Avatar had made Warner obsessed with 3D technology.  

They rushed Green Lantern into a 3D spectacle, ignoring the fact that Cameron had spent two years just refining Avatar’s 3D effects—on top of years of pre-production.  

A hastily made 3D blockbuster, aside from bombarding audiences with an overwhelming amount of green visuals, had little chance of success.  

“Warner’s Justice League project is facing internal controversy. While Robinov currently holds some influence as its main advocate, a failure could seriously impact his standing at Warner.”  

Standing beside Allen, Ron Meyer helpfully pointed this out.  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 328: Evolving a New Script  

Ron Meyer could understand Jeff Robinov’s "slander."  

Hollywood’s major film studios are naturally in competition with one another. Over the past year, Universal had released several blockbuster films, significantly expanding its market share. In the race to catch up, it even briefly surpassed Paramount and Warner Bros., which had traditionally been ahead.  

The person most responsible for this success was none other than Allen, who was closely associated with Ron.  

Many of Universal’s most profitable films from the past year had Allen’s involvement. That was precisely why, despite knowing that Uncontrolled Hero wouldn’t be well-received at the Oscars, Universal still lobbied hard for its nomination—hoping to strengthen its already favorable working relationship with Allen.  

Unfortunately, Universal miscalculated one crucial factor: Allen did not care about the Oscars as much as they had imagined.  

For him, Hollywood was merely a cover for his true identity. His real profession was that of a behind-the-scenes manipulator.  

In fact, he had just returned from a vacation in Hawaii, completely unbothered by any sense of urgency.  

“I’m not particularly interested in superhero movies,” he stated bluntly to Ron Meyer.  

This wasn’t just a casual brush-off—it was Allen’s genuine sentiment. Given his ability to manifest extraordinary powers through script evolution, superhero films felt uninspiring to him.  

Compared to real-world manifestations of supernatural abilities, CGI-generated green-screen effects in superhero films were simply unappealing.  

That said, his disinterest was at least somewhat reassuring to Ron Meyer.  

“The sequel to The Blair Witch Project is already in development. The script is complete…”  

Shifting the conversation, Ron steered the topic toward the production of The Blair Witch Project 2.  

Universal had spent a hefty sum to acquire the sequel rights from Allen and had no intention of letting them go to waste. Though Allen had made it clear he would neither write nor direct the film, Universal still used its financial leverage to persuade him to serve as a producer.  

He didn’t have to do anything—just having his name attached would be enough to establish the film as an official sequel.  

It was essentially free money, so Allen had no reason to refuse.  

In Hollywood, it was common practice for directors to take on producer roles for marketing purposes. If the film flopped, they could always claim they weren’t directly responsible, since they weren’t the director or writer.  

Allen nodded but had no expectations for the sequel.  

The first Blair Witch film had angered too many viewers with its marketing tactics. Repeating the same trick and expecting another windfall wouldn’t be easy.  

The odds were high that The Blair Witch Project 2 would flop at the box office.  

But that was no longer his concern—he had already secured his licensing fee from Universal.  

The Next Day: The Aftermath of the Oscars 

The impact of the Oscars continued to ripple through the industry.  

The Hurt Locker emerged as the biggest winner of the night, and the effect was immediately visible in the DVD market.  

According to media reports, DVD sales of The Hurt Locker surged by 20% within just two days of its Oscar wins, with numbers continuing to rise.  

However, online discussions about the awards were highly polarized.  

Despite its Oscar glory, The Hurt Locker had been utterly crushed at the box office by Avatar.  

James Cameron, a globally renowned director, had a massive following on the internet. His groundbreaking 3D filmmaking technology further solidified his status.  

Yet, Avatar received shockingly little recognition at the Oscars.  

The stark contrast between Avatar’s box office dominance and its meager Oscar haul frustrated many fans. Critics slammed the Academy for being outdated and unwilling to embrace new technology.  

Online debates raged over the legitimacy of The Hurt Locker’s victory, with Avatar supporters leading the charge.  

Even Allen’s Uncontrolled Hero got dragged into the discussion.  

Meanwhile, in Reality… 

Despite the online uproar, the real-world impact on Hollywood was minimal.  

The Oscars had long been a political game of dividing the pie. Controversy and backlash were nothing new.  

In fact, there was hardly ever a year when the Oscars pleased everyone.  

James Cameron, for one, was more focused on Avatar’s record-breaking box office numbers than on awards.  

As for Allen, he had even less interest in an awards ceremony that had ended days ago.  

San Marino – Inside the “Clockwork Space” 

Standing before a table formed by interlocking gears, Allen examined the system panel.  

Script #12: "Divination"  

Synopsis: 

Washington, BSI Headquarters.  

A mysterious man arrives at BSI’s Washington office, calling himself "The Diviner." He claims to have foreseen a terrifying future. Rambling cryptically, he describes the horrors yet to come.  

His arrival draws BSI’s attention.  

Meanwhile, outside a bar, an unexpected figure appears…  

Refining the Script 

After his vacation in Hawaii and the Oscars, Allen finally remembered his true role as a behind-the-scenes mastermind.  

He shifted the setting of his script from Japan back to the United States and refined the main storyline he had been developing.  

With plenty of experience in script evolution, Allen now approached the process with ease.  

He cross-checked the system’s script content before adding the necessary materials:  

• Material 1: Shotgun – 50,000 [Plot Points]  

• Material 2: Notebook – 30,000 [Plot Points]  

• Material 3: Hair – 100,000 [Plot Points]  

• Material 4: Crystal Ball – 35,000 [Plot Points]  

• Material 5: Voodoo Doll – 15,000 [Plot Points] 

He picked up a Voodoo Doll scampering around the Clockwork Space and added it to the script.  

As he stroked its fluffy little head, he placed his final material into the evolving story.  

Confirming use of the "Blank Character Card."  

Upon using this item, the Crystal Ball was removed from the system’s material panel, and its 35,000 Plot Point cost was nullified.  

After careful deliberation, Allen had finally decided to integrate the Blank Character Card into his evolving script.  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 329: Immersed in the Scene 

"Ding! The material matches. Generating the plot will require 800,000 Plot Points. Please select a plot evolution location!" 

"Select Evolution Location 1 — Washington, D.C.!" 

"Select Evolution Location 2 — Haiti!" 

"Ding! Choosing this location for evolution will consume additional Plot Points. Do you wish to proceed?" 

Washington, being a common evolution setting in American-based storylines, didn’t require many Plot Points. However, once Haiti was added as a potential setting, the system predictably issued a warning. 

Clearly, incorporating two different countries into the narrative would demand an unprecedented amount of Plot Points. 

Haiti was a location Allen had deliberately recorded earlier. It was also the primary setting for the main plot of "Divination." 

Without much hesitation, Allen continued his actions. 

"Ding! Evolution location confirmed. This script evolution will require a total of 2,000,000 Plot Points. Proceed with the evolution?" 

"Confirm!" 

[Evolution Begins] 

"Don’t be afraid—you’ll be fine." 

Allen gently patted the head of the Voodoo Doll, offering a reassuring touch. 

Feeling Allen’s hand, the Voodoo Doll responded by lifting its head cooperatively. 

Then, as the system’s invisible force rippled through the air, the Voodoo Doll and the materials on the table transformed into radiant beams of light, merging with the scene. At the same time, Allen felt a shift in his perception. 

"This sensation..." 

Washington, D.C., BSI Headquarters. 

A disheveled, brown-haired gypsy man clenched his fists in front of the BSI headquarters. Closing his eyes, in the next moment, his consciousness returned from Washington to the Clockwork Space in San Marino. 

"...What a strange feeling." 

Experiencing the sensation of shifting awareness back and forth, Allen began to grasp the system’s explanation of controlling plot characters. 

Even though his physical body remained in San Marino, Los Angeles, his consciousness could manifest in Washington through this character in the script. 

"It seems these Blank Character Cards are even more extraordinary than I imagined." 

Adjusting to his new identity, Allen—or rather, the Diviner Joey—gently patted the Voodoo Doll perched on his shoulder. 

He then confidently approached the BSI headquarters. 

"Stop right there!" 

The guards stationed in front of the BSI exchanged glances at the sight of the man. One of them reached for his holstered weapon, blocking Joey’s path with a warning gesture. 

"State your business, sir!" 

Their eyes focused on Joey—especially the Voodoo Doll on his shoulder—becoming visibly more alert. 

"Relax, gentlemen." 

Raising his hands compliantly, Joey responded calmly: "I’m not here to cause trouble. Quite the opposite, actually—I’m here to help. I’ve foreseen some terrible events, and I need your assistance." 

His cooperative demeanor and mention of "foreseeing the future" left the guards exchanging puzzled glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and suspicion. 

"Can you describe the situation when you encountered that homeless man in detail?" 

"Come on, Spike, I’ve told you everything I can." 

Inside the BSI team office. 

Frustrated by Spike’s repeated questioning, Amanda’s expression showed clear signs of impatience. 

"It was nighttime, and his figure was hidden by a coat. All I saw was his back. He left the necklace and disappeared..." 

Listening to Amanda’s account, Spike’s face took on a thoughtful expression. 

"Boss, something’s up." 

Just then, Agent Phil rushed into the office, delivering his report. 

Hearing Phil’s words, everyone exchanged glances and quickly headed to the specified location. 

When they reached the entrance, they were met with a tense standoff. 

Outside the BSI building, a disheveled man stood with his hands raised while two visibly nervous guards kept their weapons ready. 

"You all seem a bit too tense." 

Hands still raised, Joey looked at the guards with a curious expression. 

"I’m here for help, not to hurt anyone." 

"Help?" 

Spike raised an eyebrow upon hearing Joey’s words. 

Ignoring Amanda’s cautious warning, Spike stepped forward, scanning the Voodoo Doll on Joey’s shoulder. 

"You seem to know us." 

Joey’s expression remained unchanged as he met Spike’s gaze. 

On the other side, Allen found this deeply immersive experience fascinating.  

Though it wasn’t his first time interacting with characters within a plot, participating in a live script evolution like this felt uniquely magical—even for him. 

Despite some internal excitement, Allen maintained character as Joey. 

Joey: "I just know a little." 

Spike: "From where?" 

Joey: "The future." 

Spike: "The future?" 

Hearing Joey mention the future, Spike’s expression subtly shifted as he fixed his slightly drooping eyes on the man before him. 

Spike: "And what exactly did you see in this future?" 

Joey: "Disaster, death, and destruction." 

Spike took a small step back and glanced at Amanda. 

"He’s a diviner." 

"Do diviners really exist in this world?" 

At the BSI, Agent Phil’s face still held a hint of skepticism toward this so-called diviner. 

"If mediums exist, then it’s only natural for diviners to exist too. Divination is an ancient practice with a long history." 

"So, you can divine as well?" 

"Just a little. I dabbled in it briefly while searching for answers, but it’s an incredibly complex art. I don’t have much talent for it." 

"In truth, real diviners are extremely rare. Most so-called fortune-tellers are just frauds." 

"Then this diviner who showed up at the BSI might just be another con artist?" 

"Maybe, maybe not." 

"Come on, you’re a medium—you should be able to spot a fraud easily." 

Phil sounded annoyed by Spike’s nonchalance. 

"You said it yourself—I’m a medium, not a diviner." 

Spike shrugged in response. 

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 330: Interrogation  

"Name?"  

"Joey. Joey Sawyer."  

Inside the BSI interrogation room, Amanda sat across from the fortune teller, her expression stern as she questioned him.  

Her gaze fell upon the voodoo doll perched on Joey’s shoulder, and she frowned slightly before continuing. "So, Joey, can you tell me why you came to BSI?"  

"Just as my introduction stated, I am a fortune teller."  

Faced with Amanda’s interrogation, Joey—controlled by Allen—wore an enigmatic expression, lowering his head slightly as if he were deep and mysterious.  

"I came here seeking help."  

"Help?"  

This wasn't the first time Amanda had heard Joey say this. In fact, back at the BSI entrance, he had already mentioned it to Spike.  

"Help. What kind of help do you need?"  

She frowned, pressing him further.  

"I don’t know."  

To her surprise, Joey—who had been putting on a mysterious act—suddenly dropped the facade, shrugged, and replied casually.  

"He’s either lying or crazy."  

Standing outside the interrogation room, Agent Phil shook his head at Joey’s response.  

"No, he’s telling the truth."  

Spike, on the other hand, had an entirely different perspective.  

Watching Joey through the glass, he explained, "Fortune telling is a profound art, one that relies heavily on innate talent. But even the greatest seers can only catch fragmented glimpses of the future."  

"That sounds like the excuse con artists use when they get caught."  

Agent Zhou, who had just entered the observation room, frowned as he listened to Spike’s explanation.  

"The future is full of uncertainties, but one thing is certain—what a fortune teller foresees will inevitably come to pass."  

"What do you mean?"  

Spike’s seemingly contradictory statement puzzled both Phil and Zhou.  

"In ancient times, fortune tellers were regarded as harbingers of disaster. But in reality, they were more like detectors of catastrophe. Because of their unique abilities, they were more attuned to sensing impending calamities. They would warn the public of their visions, but instead of being heeded, they were blamed for causing the disasters themselves..."  

From Spike’s explanation, both Zhou and Phil gained insight into the lesser-known history of fortune tellers.  

Meanwhile, inside the interrogation room, Amanda continued her questioning.  

"So, you're saying you came to BSI for help, but you don’t know what kind of help you need?"  

"Exactly."  

Joey nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.  

Amanda felt a headache coming on. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to suppress her growing frustration, and pressed on.  

"Then who told you that BSI could help you?"  

For the first time, Joey’s expression turned serious. He looked at Amanda’s barely contained irritation and spoke slowly.  

"I saw BSI in the future. To be precise, I saw you and the others outside. I confirmed that in the great catastrophe to come, you were all involved."  

Amanda instinctively turned to glance at the one-way mirror behind her.  

The interrogation room’s mirror only allowed people on the outside to see in. Yet, Joey seemed completely unaffected by it—he had clearly noticed Spike and the others watching from the other side.  

"I think he’s bluffing."  

Phil remained skeptical, unimpressed by Joey’s confident tone.  

"The layout of an interrogation room has been shown in countless movies and TV shows."  

To test Joey, Spike waved his hand. Inside the interrogation room, Joey raised a hand and waved back.  

"..."  

Phil glanced at Spike, then at Joey inside the room, and immediately shut his mouth.  

"Since you claim to have foreseen this ‘great catastrophe’..."  

Amanda wasn’t entirely convinced by Joey’s words, but she decided to press further.  

"Why not take action to prevent it?"  

"I can’t."  

Joey lowered his hand and shook his head.  

"What I saw wasn’t just a disaster—it was only the beginning. A malevolent spirit will return from the spirit realm, and this entity will bring forth a tremendous calamity—the rise of darkness."  

"The rise of darkness!"  

Upon hearing these familiar words, Amanda’s expression subtly changed.  

At the same time, in the observation room, the previously calm Spike grew noticeably more serious.  

Elsewhere in Washington, D.C. 

In an unknown alleyway...  

"Status update?"  

"Everything’s normal."  

Sitting in a car monitoring the alley, a BSI agent reported back to headquarters.  

Months of surveillance had worn down the agents’ patience.  

If it weren’t for BSI’s detailed records and warnings about [BSI-028: The Bar], they might have mistaken this as nothing more than an ordinary alleyway.  

"I’ve started working out again recently..."  

"Oh really? If I recall, you haven’t set foot in a gym for at least six months."  

"That was true. But recently, I noticed while showering that I’ve really let myself go. Especially my stomach—it’s gotten soft, like a deflated life preserver."  

"I suspect my declining physique is due to lack of exercise. Sitting in this car every day, eating burgers, soda, and donuts for months... I almost forgot I’m an agent."  

"Yeah, we’ve definitely overdone it lately."  

The two agents chatted absentmindedly, their conversation devoid of the tension one would expect from a surveillance operation.  

Judging by their physiques, they had noticeably gained weight compared to a few months ago. Even their faces had become rounder.  

Just then, a tall, burly figure appeared at the entrance of the alley.  

"Looks like someone’s coming."  

Noticing the approaching figure, one of the agents perked up.  

"Probably just another homeless guy."  

The agent in the passenger seat remarked casually.  

They had seen plenty of vagrants in the area.  

At first, they used to be on high alert whenever someone loitered nearby.  

But after months of uneventful surveillance, they had grown desensitized.  

Besides, these people usually rummaged through the trash for a bit before moving on.  

(End of Chapter)