[Chapter 135: Give Me a Few Days]
Frank Douglas said, "Just now, government agents launched a full investigation into the businesses registered under my name. My operations have already taken a hit. Every minute, I'm losing massive amounts of money."
Daniel knew how absurd this sounded. But in the other world, even Donlad Trump had been targeted like this. The FBI had broken into his manor, conducted a forced search, charged him with crimes, and nearly sent him to jail.
Though Frank Douglas was a billionaire, he was still far less powerful than Trump. The authority investigating him now might not be as formidable as the FBI, but it wasn't insignificant.
From Frank's tone, Daniel could tell his situation was dire.
Frank continued, "Ford just messaged me, he's under investigation by the Prosecutor's Office too. Mr. Cross, they might come after you soon."
Daniel fell silent. Frank was a businessman with interests in many sectors, making him an easy target. Ford was even simpler.
But Daniel was an Exorcist. The government would be less likely to move directly against him. If they wanted to go after him, it would have to be through power plays.
"What's your timeframe?" Daniel asked.
Frank replied, "Before I called you, I contacted some senators, and they've started pushing back. I can hold out a few more days."
"And Ford?"
"Ford's situation is tougher. His base is weak, he rose on merit without powerful backing. Otherwise, his Deputy Director position wouldn't have been suppressed for so long. But as far as I know, Ford is clean. A normal investigation will just cause him trouble. He can hold out a few days as well."
"The one I'm worried about most is Katherine," Frank added.
"Then hold on. Give me a few more days." After speaking, Daniel hung up.
...
Daniel immediately called Marcus Hale. "The deposit's been transferred. I urgently need that batch. Get it to me as fast as possible, even if you have to charter a plane."
"I understand. I'll use my connections to get it to you as quickly as possible," Marcus assured.
...
After hanging up, Daniel considered calling Francia to tell her to close the shop. But then he realized it wasn't necessary. Closing now would look suspicious, like it was deliberately shutting down.
If she kept working, Francia was just an ordinary employee. The Brotherhood of Saints wouldn't bother with an ordinary clerk; it wouldn't be worth their time.
...
The next day, Frank Douglas reported that the investigation had widened. The financial impact on him was growing.
By the third day, things only worsened. But with enough cash, Daniel had managed to fly in the medicinal materials on a chartered plane that afternoon. The extra cost was nearly $300,000, money originally provided by Frank.
Using it to save Frank's daughter didn't bother Daniel at all.
Daniel stored the medicine, then left home and headed to Francia's old apartment.
Because someone had died there previously, the apartment was hard to rent out and still vacant.
The Fat Landlord had been so frightened by the Flesh-Mangled Face that he fell seriously ill and was still hospitalized.
Daniel took advantage of the situation to borrow the place for Alchemy that night.
...
Bang!
The yard wall exploded as a nearly three-meter-tall figure smashed through and charged inside.
Behind it, a team of fully armed personnel followed, about ten of them in all.
Each carried heavy firepower. The least powerful weapon was an M4 Carbine. One burly man wielded a heavy machine gun. Another nearby carried a rocket launcher.
The giant brute forced his way through the house only to find it empty.
"That cowardly bastard isn't here," snarled one man behind the giant, frustration written across his face.
"Smash this place to hell!"
If Daniel had been there, he would have recognized the speaker as Mr. Gordon, the bespectacled man he'd met before.
At Gordon's command, the giant began wrecking the place violently.
Bang! Bang! Crash! Crash!
The house filled with heavy thuds and shattering noise.
Just as they were tearing things apart, a ruler suddenly shot through the air and discharged three bolts of lightning, striking the giant squarely.
The giant convulsed violently, then collapsed with smoke rising from his body.
Gordon cursed, "Damn it!" and rushed forward.
After checking, Gordon confirmed the giant was injured but not dead.
He relaxed slightly, taking a box from his belt.
Inside the box were fingers and severed ears, wrapped in tendrils of black energy. This was physical Curse Power.
Gordon slipped on a leather glove, picked up the grisly trophies, and stuffed them into the giant's mouth.
The giant instinctively chewed and swallowed.
After a moment, the smoke cleared, and he stood again, roaring in anger like a beast, ready to resume smashing.
"Stop. Let's go."
Gordon led the giant away, then shouted to the squad outside, "No one's inside. Blow this place up!"
"Piece of cake," said the man with the rocket launcher, casually shouldering the weapon.
Safety off. Aim. Fire.
Whoosh--
Boom!
Amid the fierce explosion, Daniel's house was engulfed in flames.
"Well done, buddy."
Gordon finally smiled and patted the man's shoulder.
...
"Huh? The Dominion Rod I left behind activated. Looks like some Evil Creature did break in?
The countermeasures I set can handle evil creatures, but modern firepower? No chance. If they have the capability to go after Frank Douglas and Ford, they definitely have combat squads trained for this. Or maybe they don't need to train new squads, they can deploy existing ones.
My house might be beyond saving."
Daniel's expression was somber.
Muttering a few words, he resumed forming Alchemical Sign seals, impressing them into the cauldron before him.
Time ticked slowly.
Before he knew it, seven days had passed.
...
Bang!
The apartment door swung open, and Daniel emerged, just as the fat landlord, freshly discharged from the hospital, arrived to check his property.
Seeing Daniel, the fat landlord froze briefly, then screamed, "A ghost!"
He hurriedly turned and sprinted away.
Daniel paid no mind.
He headed downstairs to an empty spot, pulled the Cadillac out of his System space, and drove home.
He stopped the car a good distance away.
His house was a ruin.
What was once an exquisite home was now nothing but burned skeletal remains.
Black smoke still curled into the sky.
Though mentally prepared, Daniel's face darkened.
The house hadn't been expensive, he'd only paid a bit over $100,000 for it.
Still, waves of anger surged inside him.
He waved his hand.
Black shadows flew out from the ruined house and landed in his palm.
These were the arrangements he'd made to deal with evil creatures. Yet, only one Dominion Rod had activated. The others lay untouched.
Daniel put away the items and stepped into the rubble.
He found the entrance to the basement and went down.
The stone box containing the Moth Monster Entity sat quietly in its place.
Sensing life energy, the Moth Monster opened the lid slightly. Realizing it was Daniel, it immediately shut it again.
"Stay put," Daniel said firmly.
He pulled out a seal and pasted it firmly on the box.
Then he locked the basement tightly and left.
This place was now a ruin.
Under normal circumstances, no one would come here.
Daniel pulled out his cell phone.
As soon as he got signal, multiple messages poured in.
Most were updates from Frank Douglas. One was from Francia.
[Mr. Cross, have you run into trouble?] it read.
*****
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