After leaving Zheng San's apartment, the first thing Ulrich did was reorganize his plans.

  Originally, his goal for the dream was many things. Firstly, he wanted to leverage the corresponding information from Zheng San. This is done with ease through the advantage of 'foresight'. In actuality, Ulrich was simply acting as a charlatan. And regardless of his methods, it was proven effective. This alone was enough.

  Secondly, he wanted to learned about this mysterious organization, but realizing that it was a dead end, he quickly changed his target. Honestly speaking, he didn't have much optimism regarding this matter anyway.

  However, Zheng San delivered him a surprising blow—The identity of the book owner being an antique dealer. More importantly, his interest in century-old objects.

  This discovery added another goal to his list, though, as of this moment, his objective remains: Steal the book, verify the content with his limited knowledge regarding Ancient Hermes, then finally, inquiry the owner about its origin.

  With those goals in mind, he made his way toward Gu Lan's address.

  Personally, he wanted to scout the residence of this antique dealer while the man was still at work. To him, this is a form of 'preparation'. And Ulrich hated being unprepared the most.

  Without wasting too much time, he boarded a random taxi and headed toward Yudong Residential District.

  This district was unlike Gongyuan alley; in fact, it was incomparable. Quite frankly, if it needed to be compared, then Gongyuan alleys are like Lower Darwin Street, while this is the inner district of Belham.

  He lampooned, his eyes closed as the skyscraper appeared on the horizon. Ulrich had visited this place once, maybe twice, in his ten years.

  The reason for this is quite ridiculous, and no, it's not a matter of money. Rather, it was because he preferred poorer areas. How could a hobbyist such as himself be lacking in money?

  What he lacks is the opportunity to have fun!

  As he approached his destination, he directed the taxi driver to drop him off at Yudong Road. Following the map in his memory, he quickly found the exact building belonging to the antique dealer, Gu Lan.

  Ulrich didn't immediately break in, but rather, he disguised himself as a nearby civilian and went for a jog. His movements were unremarkable and ordinary. Occasionally, he would check his watch for the time, a habit which is expected of any other joggers.

  'No one is inside… I heard he is a single man in his fifties… According to Zheng San's information, he should be home around 7 at night…'

  As Ulrich went for a jog, he would take mental note of the surroundings. First point of contact, efficient escape routes, as well as entry points that are deemed dangerous. All of these details are within his consideration.

  To him, crime isn't just an act of breaking the law. It is a game, and Ulrich certainly loves the game.

  After completing the necessary preparation, he quickly sneaked into the five-story building.

  Gu Lan lived in an apartment just like Zheng San's, but much more spacious and lavished. It also happened to be located on the highest floor, the 5th floor.

  Eventually, after climbing the flight of stairs, Ulrich stood in front of the door. He stared at the lock, a thought appearing in his mind.

  Could he pick the lock open? Certainly. Would he?

  "..."

  Of course not!

  He was no gentleman. With a smile, he walked to the side of the building on the fourth floor and climbed toward the balcony of the 5th floor. For any ordinary criminal, this was unthinkable, but Ulrich was not ordinary!

  'Luckily, no normal person would look at the side of their building during this hour of the day… ' He sighed with relief.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  If someone dialed the police in this area, he would be surrounded in a span of 5 minutes. Just thinking about it had him shivering in chills.

  With ease, he managed to reached the balcony and unlocked the door with the tools on his backpack.

  Ulrich didn't know what to expect as he entered the apartment. However, what he did not expect was a strange scent. Rust. Fishy. A hint of putrescine, or rots. It was a foul smell, a muddy odor, one that greatly startled Ulrich.

  "Sea Beasts!"

  He recognized this scent instantly. This was the smell of a dead sea beast, or more accurately, a corpse of a sea beast!

  Impossible! Such a thing does not exist in this dream!

  Immediately, Ulrich lost balance, his body leaning toward the wall, producing a dull thud. It wasn't the smell that shocked and terrified him. No, he was too familiar with this scent in Belham.

  Rather, it was the implications of this smell that horrified him!

  Could it be? He murmured, his voice failing to escape his throat, and with fervent effort, he slowly walked toward the source of the scent.

  It was a small room, tucked behind the modern kitchen. From here, the door was already slightly open. As he got closer, the scent only became stronger. Eventually, he stood at the front door.

  Creak.

  His hand was gentle, pressing against the door, then pressed it, or pushed it, the thought spun in his head, and despite his usual calm and indifferent attitude, he was loss for word.

  Shadowfins!

  The corpse lay sprawled across the floor—two meters of scaled muscle, its translucent fins already beginning to decay.

  The same creature he'd seen hauled onto Belham's docks a dozen times. The same distinctive ridge pattern along its spine. The same venomous barbs at the base of its tail. And more crucially, the shadow gemstone stuck in its forehead, giving it the name — Shadowfins.

  Identical.

  Ulrich's hand trembled as he reached toward his watch—not to check the time, but to steady himself against the tidal waves drowning his senses.

  'This can't be a dream,' he thought, his mind racing through the series of events and peculiarly that has been tugging his mind.

  The Ancient Hermes in the stolen book. The sea beasts. All of these should not exist, not in this dream!

  On the basis that my dream is produced from my subconscious mind, the existence of the Shadowfins is explainable, but ancient Hermes is not! This is something I never learned, not until now.

  Even then, this knowledge is incomplete!

  Immediately, he recalled the strange attitude of the unions, of the church, and all the questions which was buried in his mind.

  How could a world exist without a moon? If there is no moon, how can there be such a large tidal wave? Since there are these tidal waves, there must be a giant force acting to create such waves!

  Ulrich's eyes struggle to stay open, his body weak and dizzy.

  The dream is an independent space. Is that… the truth? The idea that there are supernatural forces at work, lurking beneath the world… And I am just a rock pushed along the current?

  Since his transmigration, Ulrich has aimed for a way home to no avail. The only thing he had was this extremely lucid dream. At first, he thought it was a special gift as a transmigrator. Eventually, that idea faded. In the end, the dream became his place of comfort.

  Once again, that idea came back to haunt him.

  Perhaps my transmigration, and the dream which came from it, are correlated.

  Similarly, since my transmigration is supernatural, and the world too, is in turn supernatural. Then, following this line of logic, by studying the supernatural, I might one day find a clue to home.

  A deep, cold breath escaped his mouth. It was like all the anxiety, uncertainty, fear, and terror left with it. He was left a hollow husk, though, slowly, filled with rejuvenated motivation, or at least, tried to.

  Home. I have a clue, home. That alone is enough.

  His shoulder was heavy. Like someone dropped a large boulder, then glued it tight. At this moment, his back ached, and despite his attempt to gather his breath, it was difficult. However, the thought of home became his consolation.

  Ulrich closed his eyes, taking a series of deep breaths, then placated his thoughts. Finally, he opened them, glancing at the Shadowfins stuck inside the transparent glass tank. His face was blank, though; his eyes, if Vander or Selena were here, would certainly notice a difference.

  Studying the Shadowfins, the first question in his mind was: Why is this here?