a stay at home dad s restaurant in an alternate world

Chapter 2487: Since the Beginning of Ancient Times, Who Was There To Lead the Flow of Life? Where Did the World Come Into Being Before It Took Shape?

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Mag returned to the dormitory and then sent a message to Xi: “Everything proceeded smoothly.”

He attached two photographs. One was Norma munching on the rib indulgently. The other was Gardner drinking the red wine and eating the rib.

“What’s your next step?” Xi replied quickly.

“I think if the McCarthy Family is indeed involved in Congressman Tamm’s kidnapping, then Gardner must be the one in control behind the scenes. I have already gained Norma’s trust and I have the chance to get close to Gardner. But, I’ll need someone who can help me hack into the McCarthy bangles.” Mag’s plan was very simple. It was to make the receiving of the evidence reasonable.

He had the encrypted letter between Gardner and the head of the McCarthy Family. Now, he only needed to let Xi and Ferdinand think that the methods he used to get the intel were reasonable and wouldn’t suspect that he had other assistance.

!!

Xi was silent for a few minutes before replying, “Tomorrow at six a.m., someone will send a deciphering robot to the third tree outside of your dormitory. This is a standalone version. I’ll send its operation tutorial to your bangle, so that you can learn how to use it on your own.”

“Alright.” Mag closed the chat interface.

***

Gardner said to the stern-looking man sitting across from him, “Big Brother, the Dixon Family was dumped into hot waters by this incident. I’m afraid Ferdinand is behind all of this. We have to be more careful.”

Archie said in a low voice, “Haha. Now they all think that it’s us who is behind all of this. Nancy has brought that fellow back and even though his background check is fine, you have to be careful too.”

“I have just met that kid. His culinary skills are indeed not bad and he was able to gain Nancy’s favor. Furthermore, at his young age, he shouldn’t be Ferdinand’s man.” Gardner shook his head slightly. His expression also turned grave. “However, regarding ‘The Adjudicator’, I’m afraid we have to join in on the Dixon Family’s assasination plan. Regardless of if he is Ferdinand’s man or not, he has broken the rules. We have to kill it in the cradle.”

“I’ll leave this matter to you, but we don’t have to hurry about that. There are many in the Dixon Family who can’t wait to seek revenge.”

***

“Why is the mutton rib so divine? It’s simply too scrumptious…”

Norma slumped over the sofa with a glass of happy water as she sipped and lamented at the same time.

“Mr. Hades is the best chef that I have ever met. He’s just like a god.” The little maid’s eyes were filled with little stars.

“We’ve had the grilled mutton ribs, so it will be the handmade Explosive Beef Balls next.” Norma turned her head to the side and instructed the maid. “Go and tell the back kitchen to keep a cow back for me. I want it to be alive. We’re going to have the beef balls tomorrow.”

“Oh yes.” The little maid nodded and went out to make a call excitedly.

***

Nancy pinched her glabella with a headache after she heard Baussaint’s report. “Norma is really incorrigible…”

However, Norma didn’t seem to have made things difficult for Mag. She sent him back to the dormitory after he made the charcoal-grilled mutton ribs for her.

But, it still annoyed her. Why should Norma get to use the man, whom she brought back, first?

Furthermore, according to the rules, Hades would only start work officially tomorrow. She was bullying him by making him cook two meals today.

“Seems like I have to talk to her tomorrow to let her know whose man he is,” Nancy thought to herself.

***

Early the next morning, Mag successfully received that deciphering robot that was disguised as a beetle under the tree.

After returning to his room, Mag opened up that beetle which was about the size of a fingernail, and received an even smaller metal cube.

After clicking on the activation code that Xi sent him last night, the silver metal cube flashed slightly and a corner flipped up. A message appeared on the bangle reading:

“The 7th generation nano deciphering robot: This robot has the deciphering bangle…”

The introduction was very long, but the usage was easy.

This was a standalone version of the nano robot and it could only be used one time.

“System, analyze how this little thing works, then we will find a random bangle to test it out on. After we apply the data template, our mission in the McCarthy Manor will be completed.” Mag narrowed his eyes. Even with his senses, it was hard for him to detect this robot’s existence.

“I have already gotten first-hand data from their R&D Department. If we have the materials, I can replicate one for you right now,” the system answered lazily.

“Excellent. Then, you shall make the Gardner’s intel according to the model.” Mag smiled. It felt great to have shortcuts and external help.

On his first day at work, Mag received the message from the head chef at 6:30 a.m. that he was required to make the Explosive Beef Balls for breakfast. It was requested by many of the masters and mistresses. He was also required to make the charcoal-grilled mutton ribs and stir-fried pig’s kidney for lunch.

“Holy moly. This is worse than being a slave. They are squeezing me dry on my first day. The capitalists’ hearts are indeed dark,” Mag murmured inwardly as he changed into his chef’s suit.

The back kitchen of the McCarthy Family looked like another villa on the exterior. It was split into three levels according to cooking methods. The third floor’s floor area was the smallest. It was the baking zone. The second floor was the dedicated area for the special chefs. The first floor was for the rest. It was the biggest and had the most number of cooks.

Mag caused a commotion when he arrived.

After all, Mag was very popular right now. He was a celebrity chef.

The formal chefs all had great culinary skills, so they didn’t care much for Mag. They had all kinds of culinary competitions’ champions there.

However, those sous chefs, apprentices and female cooks loved Mag. They were all staring at him with bright eyes. If they were not at work where the rules were strict, they would have rushed over to ask him for his signature and a photograph together.

Mag had never imagined that he would be treated like a movie star one day.

He went straight to the second floor and to the special workbench that the head chef had arranged for him. There were already two pretty lady cooks and two young cooks waiting for him.

A special chef had a high status in the McCarthy Manor’s back kitchen. They were ranked just beneath the head chef and there were only eight special chefs in the entire back kitchen.

Every special chef had a few cooks who were his assistants. These were the young cooks working under him.

“Mr. Hades.” The four of them greeted Mag when he walked over. There was even a gleam in the two lady cooks’ eyes.

The other special chefs were all much older. Moreover, they spent most of their lives in the kitchen, which made them rather greasy.

However, Mr. Hades looked even more handsome in real life. His skin was smooth and tender and his demeanor was noble. He was just like a prince of the kitchen!

Mag got to know them on a basic level. He didn’t mind the existence of help cooks. Being a professional chef, cooking wasn’t a one-man show. With people helping out with the details, it could save the chef a lot of time and effort.

The four of them looked so ecstatic. He wondered how they would feel if they knew that they would only be here for one day?

The back kitchen quickly sent over a set of fresh unchilled beef according to Mag’s wishes. Mag hit it doubly fast and finished cooking a big pot

Mag left the plating to the two lady cooks and clocked off.

“Working for others is also rather pleasant.” He walked on the path back to the dormity. His first working experience had been pleasant.

***

“Mr. Hades is so formidable! He didn’t rest at all in between the 26,000 strikes!”

“I tried to grab his iron rod earlier. Hmm, it’s huge. I can’t lift it with one hand.”

“He’s indeed the man who has received the first full marks in the Top Chef Competition’s history. He’s extremely skillful. I’m going to call him the strongest chef!”

The help cooks were still immersed in their shock. Their admiration for Mag was overwhelming.

Hundreds of the McCarthy Family’s core members lived in the McCarthy Manor compound. They wouldn’t have their meals together if there weren’t any special occasions. The back kitchen would send their meals to them according to their individual requests.

For that morning, the most requested item was Hades’ handmade Explosive Beef Balls.

“Mm… it’s so hot!”

Norma asked for two helpings of the Explosive Beef Balls. She ate one and a half helpings and the little maid ate half a helping.

After experiencing the happy sensation of the piping hot soup exploding in her mouth, Norma sighed with tears in her eyes. “But… it’s so nice.”

A bowl of Explosive Beef Balls had successfully refreshed the breakfast menu for many people in the McCarthy Family. It attracted countless praises.

***

Mag made 20 helpings of charcoal-grilled mutton ribs and stir-fried pig’s kidney each for lunch.

He was the busiest among the eight special chefs on the second floor.

Mag had seen a jealous green in those old masters’ eyes and heard some sarcastic complaints.

But was Mag someone who cared about that?

He was already prepared to escape.

He couldn’t care less about these old fogeys.

After cooking lunch, Mag removed his apron and left the kitchen relaxedly.

Although 20 servings of mutton ribs and stir-fried kidneys seemed like a lot of work, it was a breeze to Boss Mag who was used to making dozens of dishes for hundreds of customers each meal.

“Come to my place after you are done cooking.”

Mag’s bangle vibrated after he walked out of the kitchen’s building. He received a message from Norma.

A familiar driverless car stopped in front of him.

Mag had ascertained that the place she meant was her house and not her room before boarding the car.

Mag received another message when the car just started. It wasn’t Norma this time. It was Nancy, “Are you free in the afternoon? Let’s have tea together. Come to my place?”

“Am I so highly sought after?” Mag couldn’t help but recap what he had done in the past few days. He could only conclude that it was his overwhelming personal charm.

“I’m sorry. I have already boarded Norma’s car and the door is locked,” Mag replied to Nancy.

Nancy didn’t answer. Mag guessed that she was most probably angry.

However, he didn’t care at all. She wasn’t his woman. She could get angry for all she wanted. It had nothing to do with him.

The driverless car stopped in front of the villa. Mag stepped out and it was still that kitten-eared little maid who came to welcome him.

“Mr. Hades, please follow me.” The little maid smiled sweetly as she welcomed Mag into the villa.

Norma was sitting up properly and drinking tea in the hall. Gardner sat across from her with a voluptuous beautiful woman.

The beautiful woman looked like she was in her early thirties. She had a pair of flirty eyes just like Norma, but her mature charm was what a young girl like Norma couldn’t compare with. She had a slender waist that made her boobs look even perkier. Her waist to hips ratio was the kind that could take a man’s life.

1

Her skin was so supple that it looked like one could squeeze water out of it. She heard the sound of footsteps and turned around to cast a glance at Mag with a smile. She was so charming, yet she seemed unattainable at the same time.

This was obviously Norma’s mom. It was a pity that the little girl had learned nothing from her.

If Gardner praised Mag’s culinary skills again, then he would reply, “Your wife is not bad either.”

Mag’s expression was calm. He was a man who had met plenty of women before, so he wasn’t going to be mesmerized by a mature lady. After looking at her briefly, he retracted his gaze and stood still a few meters away from them.

A hint of surprise appeared in the lady’s eyes. This man was young but his concentration was even stronger than those big families’ wily old foxes. He didn’t even spare her a second glance.

She didn’t believe that there was any man in this world whom she couldn’t mesmerize. She would test him again when she got a chance.

“You’re here.” Norma’s eyes lit up when she saw Mag. However, she stole a glance at Gardner before saying in a lower voice, “We’re having a small gathering this afternoon. You will be responsible for our meals.”

“This is overtime work. You have to pay me extra,” Mag almost said that out loud.

Being an employee, he couldn’t simply reject.

Norma’s family’s status could indeed make him cook for them whenever they felt like it. They were super privileged people in the privileged class.

“Yes.” Mag followed the little maid to the kitchen.

“This chef is young.” The beautiful lady spoke up behind him.

But I am good. Mag followed the little maid into the kitchen and began to grill the mutton ribs, stir-fry the kidneys and cook two helpings of vegetarian dishes. This meal was considered completed.

The chef didn’t need to be present when his employers ate. Mag took two photographs and set the nanorobot out for it to move around before taking the driverless car back to the dormitory.

“I have already received exact information that Congressman Tamm’s kidnapping was planned by Gardner. He’s now being held at this place. I’m going to leave the McCarthy Manor now. Meet me at the rendezvous point.” Mag sent a message to Xi before leaving the dormitory and walking straight for the McCarthy Manor’s gates.

The McCarthy Manor’s compound couldn’t be entered or left easily, but Mag got a resignation form and successfully left the manor.

After turning into a street corner, Mag got into Xi’s flying car and sent Nancy a heartfelt resignation letter.

Dear Miss Nancy,

I will have already left by the time you have seen this letter.

I am still that youth who yearns for freedom. I like poems and far away places.

You are very good. The McCarthy Manor is also very good, but living this way isn’t suitable for me.

I’ll see you around.

—Hades.

“Where are we going?” Xi asked Mag.

“This place.” Mag sent a set of coordinates to Nancy.

It was Penck Town that was 1,800 kilometers northwest of Tucker City.

The flying car entered into stealth mode and left Tucker City.

“You’re… you really should become a spy,” Xi said to Mag seriously as the flying car left Tucker City.

After Congressman Tamm disappeared, the military had tried to investigate, but they had failed to find out anything.

Meanwhile, Mag had only entered the McCarthy Manor for less than two days and he had already obtained the important information of the location where Congressman Tamm was locked up from Gardner.

“You should know that I was a soldier before I became a chef,” Mag calmly said, “This is simply my professional standard and it’s nothing to be surprised about.”

Xi nodded in agreement. She didn’t think that Mag was boasting at all.

On the other hand, Nancy stared at the resignation letter that she had just received with a shocked expression.

“Young Mistress, Hades has already left the compound. He left his employment pass and uniform in the dormitory. From the surveillance cameras, we saw that he left via the front gates.” Baussaint strode in and reported with equally unconcealed shock on his face.

“How dare he?!”

This was the thought that the two of them had.

Nancy was worried. Hades had antagonized the Dixon Family and they couldn’t wait to kill him.

She even used her private fighter jet to make sure that he could safely arrive at the McCarthy Manor. She could protect him as long as he was in the McCarthy Manor.

However, he chose to leave secretly, and he only sent her his resignation letter after he left.

“It must be Norma. She pushed him too hard and that’s why he can’t get used to the plutocrats’ family lifestyle and chose to leave.” Nancy was annoyed and worried as she instructed Baussaint. “Send some men to look for him and suppress this matter first. Don’t let anyone else know about it.”

“Yes, Young Mistress.” Baussaint went away with his order. He couldn’t help complaining inwardly. Tons of people wanted to enter the McCarthy Manor, yet this fellow left even before he finished one day as the special chef. How could he be so carefree?

Nancy sent a few messages to Mag, but they all showed that the sending had failed with a red “!”.

“He actually blocked me?!”

Nancy raised her eyebrows and she looked angry.

***

Mag didn’t block Nancy. He had destroyed the bangle instead.

The identity of “Hades” had already completed his mission. It was reasonable for a person who didn’t exist in the first place to disappear.

Penck Town was a forgotten industrial town.

500 years ago, this place had once prospered because it produced a kind of mineral called “Black Gold”. However, within a short 100 years, the mine was depleted and this place faded fast. Many gigantic mining equipment and factories that were buried in the sands were left behind.

No one lives here anymore.

The flying car hovered high up in the air about 16 kilometers away. Mag looked at the abandoned industrial town and said, “This is a secret base of the Immortels. According to Gardner, they sent Congressman Tamm here right after they kidnapped him 10 days ago, but I’m not sure if Congressman Tamm is still in there right now.”

From the insider intel that the system stole from the Immortels, Mag was sure that Congressman Tamm was still being held up here. However, it was unknown whether he was dead or alive.

Xi frowned slightly as she looked at the faraway town and said, “I believe we need reinforcements. The terrain here is complicated and we don’t have any intel about it. Once we act rashly and alert the enemy, they could leave directly through the secret tunnels, or kill the congressman.”

“There’s no need for that. Reinforcements would only be a burden. Same rules as before. You will cover me while I go in for the rescue.” Mag opened the car door and leaped out. A black heavy sword appeared underneath his feet as he dived downwards. He flew very close to the ground at an extremely high speed as he approached the small town rapidly.

“You…” Xi stared at the flying sword that disappeared from her vision and closed her mouth in exasperation. She couldn’t control Mag and she was already used to that.

However, to play safe, she placed the bullpup assault rifle on the car and aimed it at the town as she reported to Ferdinand about the situation and asked how to handle it.

“Follow his lead and give him your full support,” Ferdinand only replied to her with nine words.

Xi knew what to do now. She no longer hesitated. She sent out the scouting robot, so that she could do her assistance work better.

Mag had the map of the troops stationed here in his head. He avoided the sentries and spell formations and got into the town easily.

The other reason why he was so confident was because there were only two 10th-tier powerhouses guarding this place. It would be easy for him to handle.

The importance of a secret base was its secrecy.

The military was so powerful, yet they didn’t know that the Immortels had a base hidden in this abandoned town.

Even if an Almost-Extraordinaire powerhouse came, with two 10th-tier powerhouses together with all kinds of high tech equipment stationed here, it would be hard to conquer this base without a map of the troops’ positions. They would have plenty of time to react.

Outside of a deserted mine, Mag pressed himself against the wall and slowly released the guard, who was already dead.

After getting the access token, changing his clothes and copying the dead guard’s face, Mag walked openly into the secret base that was underground.

This base was upgraded from a mine. It was 1,000 meters deep underground and guarded by layers of concealing spell formations. There was no way to investigate it from the outside.

With his disguise, Mag successfully got into the mine and quickly found a new target, an 8th-tier captain. He switched to a skin that had a higher authority.

He came for a rescue mission, so ensuring the hostage’s safety was the most important issue.

The internal structure was very complicated. Even though Mag got a higher level access token, he was still blocked from the cell of the important prisoners.

Mag used the system’s copycat voice to ask the two guards standing at the door, “Have you checked on the prisoner’s condition in the morning?”

A guard nodded and replied, “We have checked. The hostage’s condition is good.”

Mag nodded before killing those two guards.

Under his broad sleeve, the “Fat Head Fish” flashed, and the thick alloy door shattered and crashed to the ground.

The alarm rang and the assault rifle blasted out with blue flames, making the “dadada” sounds of gunshots.

The sword flashed and the assault rifle was cut into two, rendering it useless.

Mag dashed into the prison and his gaze swept across the small windows of the cells. He finally found his target at the last window.

Mag slashed open the alloy door with his knife again and went into the room.

In the cramped room, a disheveled middle-aged man sat upright in the corner and looked at Mag coldly. “Who are you?”

“Someone who is here to save you.” Mag went forward to help him up.

Congressman Tamm avoided Mag’s hand and said, “Go away. There is a bomb on this lock. It will explode as soon as I get out of this cell. I will harm you instead.”

Mag looked at the intricate cuffs on his hands and legs with a frown. This was indeed evil.

“System, how shall I cut it open?”

“This strike isn’t easy. The two cuffs are connected. If you cut the one above, the bottom one will explode. If you cut the bottom one, the one above will explode. You have to cut them both at the same time.”

“You just need to tell me where to cut. I am very fast. It won’t be able to react,” Mag said inwardly.

Dense sounds of footsteps had already rung out beyond the prison with all kinds of weapons’ loading sounds joining in.

Congressman Tamm hurried Mag. “Go right now. You won’t be able to leave after they surround this place.”

In the next moment, Mag saw two thin red lines appear on Tamm’s hand and leg cuffs.

He slashed his sword and the two cuffs split into two instantly.

1

Congressman Tamm stared at the cuffs dumbfoundedly. He only regained his wits after some time. They actually didn’t explode.

“Let’s go.” Mag put an emergency protective shield on Congressman Tamm’s wrist. After activating it, a faint golden protective shield formed around his body. It could take one run of bullets from an assault rifle, but it could only last for one minute which was an extremely short amount of time.

The flying sword flew out first. A cold gleam flashed across and the hallway became quiet instantly.

Bullets, assault rifles, men, sabers, swords… they were all cut into halves in the hallway.

Mag grabbed onto Congressman Tamm and stepped into the walkway. It only took them one step to reach the door.

“Who are you?!”

At the entrance of the walkway, a man wearing a black ghost mask was grabbing his severed left arm. There was fear in his hoarse voice. He stared at Mag who was holding onto Congressman Tamm.

Mag raised his hand at him.

That man instinctively released a protective shield in front of him.

A sword entered from his back and went right through.

“This…”

Congressman Tamm couldn’t be more shocked. This 10th-tier powerhouse had died so miserably.

Mag dashed out with Congressman Tamm and he killed whoever was in his way. It only took him five minutes to slaughter the entire secret base before he returned to Xi’s position.

“You’re so fast!”

The flying car had already switched into a battleship. Xi ascertained Congressman Tamm’s identity before getting the terrified Congressman Tamm onto the battleship.

Although she didn’t see how Mag got into the base to rescue Congressman Tamm, it still shocked her that he only used five minutes to achieve the feat.

While she… did nothing at all.

“There are still over 10 prisoners in the base. Their identities are unknown but they all have cuffs with bombs on them.” Mag showed the base’s interior terrain to Xi. “Do you want to save them?”

Xi cast a quick look at the cuffs on Congressman Tamm. Their cut was clean and there were complicated wirings inside them.

“Our mission is to rescue Congressman Tamm. What we need to do now is to make sure that the congressman is safe. I will report about the situation here. Others will come to handle this.” Xi started the battleship decisively, and quickly climbed up and left.

Mag glanced at Xi with admiration before taking a bottle of happy water and sitting down at the side.

The bangle’s interface showed the silent images of the base’s interior. Three minutes later, a ghostly figure walked out from the shadows and checked through all the cells. Suddenly, he turned towards the camera. A golden ghost’s face instantly came close and the camera exploded right away. The image disappeared.

An Extraordinaire rushed to the scene five minutes after the base sent out the alert.

That one second look through the camera made Mag certain that he wasn’t his match.

Just like how he triumphed over the 10th-tier, if a real Extraordinaire wanted to catch him, it would be total oppression.

“Who are you guys?”

Congressman Tamm slowly recovered after he drank some hot water. Then, he asked them this question testingly.

After Xi set up the auto-pilot, she got up and saluted to Congressman Tamm. “Hello, Congressman Tamm. I am Major Xi from the military. I was given the orders to rescue you. You are safe now. We’ll send you to the military’s hospital for your recovery.”

Congressman Tamm obviously heaved a breath of relief after he heard that they were from the military. He gratefully said, “Thank you for your rescue.”

There were many visible wounds on his body, so it was obvious that he had suffered greatly in that base during this period.

Xi got her tools and removed the cuffs from his wrists and legs. She locked them in an explosion-proof box. According to Xi, the explosive power of these cuffs could blow this battleship into bits.

Then, Xi gave him some emergency treatment to make sure that he was in a stable condition.

Mag seemed to be resting, but, in actuality, he was digesting the new information that the system got from the Immortels’ intranet through the secret base.

Although the Underground City’s top ten plutocrats weren’t the good guys, Mag didn’t actually hate them. However, he couldn’t wait to get rid of that “Immortel” organization.

This organization had reached out too far. They had even crossed over to the Norland Continent and killed the elven queen.

That was Irina’s mother, his mother-in-law, after all.

Even though his mother-in-law had never given their marriage her blessings, she didn’t torture him either.

He had to avenge his mother-in-law’s death!

Furthermore, judging from the internal information that the system received, the Immortels had a “Hunting Gods” plan and their targets were the Norland Continent’s gods.

The Immortels were seeking immortality and the gods were immortal. They could even reincarnate after they died.

Mag highly suspected that the Norland Continent’s continuous subversion and the decline of the gods had a lot to do with the Immortels.

In this lifetime, in the gods’ reincarnation cycle, the God of the Sea and the Goddess of Life had already reincarnated successfully. Hence, the Immortels couldn’t wait to start another round of “Hunting the Gods”.

If he let the Immortels do as they please, the Norland Continent would descend into war again and the gods would fall again.

“This is hard…” Mag sighed inwardly. The Immortels had 10 Hall Masters, all of them were Extraordinaire powerhouses. There were even more than 50 Almost-Extraordinaire powerhouses in the group.

As for how many Almost-Extraordinaire mechs they had, even the system didn’t have the exact data.

The Underground City’s military didn’t have to act, just the Immortels alone were enough to annihilate the entire Norland Continent.

The disparity between the two worlds made one feel so hopeless.

This was perhaps why Ferdinand dared to let him enter Underground City and even gave him a chance to go read the sacred stele.

So what if he becomes a god?

There would be only one god on the Norland Continent. How was he going to stop the Underground City’s few millions strong military?

Soon afterwards, the battleship descended and landed.

Xi got off the battleship with Congressman Tamm.

“The Marshal wants to talk to you.” Around 10 minutes later, Xi returned to the battleship and called Ferdinand.

“Well-done. You’ve completed your mission. Congressman Tamm has returned safely. I’m proud of you,” Ferdinand said to Mag with appreciation.

“The mission is completed, so when will you give me the reward?” Mag asked directly.

“I have already made the arrangements. Xi will tell you what to do. I look forward to your next mission’s performance.” Ferdinand ended the call with a smile.

Mag looked at Xi.

“This is your new identity. Tomorrow, outstanding representatives from everywhere will go to the sacred stele’s world to read it. You will enter with this identity.” Xi passed a new identity bangle to Mag.

“Representatives from everywhere? What happened to this person?” Mag accepted the bangle and frowned.

“This guy is a rural bully. His behavior was erratic and he killed many people. He received this quota because he sucked up to the rich and powerful. He was killed on his way here, so it’s reasonable for you to take over his position, right?”

“It’s rather reasonable.” Mag nodded.

Furthermore, the military wouldn’t be involved at all. Even if something happened to him at the sacred stele world, the military wouldn’t be involved either.

“After leaving the military base, I’ll send you to this hotel. You simply need to follow the representatives’ delegation into the arena.” Xi looked at Mag and said with a serious expression, “Remember what you need to take note of when you’re reading the sacred stele. Do not try to do anything to the sacred stele. There are many advanced spell formations in the sacred stele world and three Extraordinaire powerhouses are guarding it. You’ll be killed on the spot once you break the rules.”

“I got it.” Mag nodded. He knew all that better than Xi, including the types of spell formations that were set there.

Mag received a chance to comprehend the sacred stele after completing his first Underground City’s mission.

It sounded like a very sophisticated reward.

However, when he found out that even a country bumpkin could get a chance to comprehend the stele just by sucking up to the rich and powerful, his anticipation was already much lower.

Of course, something like destiny was hard to fathom.

Every Extraordinaire had an exciting and great sacred stele comprehension journey on their way to becoming a god.

Xi sent Mag out of the military base in a car and went straight for the delegations’ hotel.

Mag changed his look, took his new bangle and sashayed into the hotel.

In the hotel room, Mag turned on the shielding device that Xi gave him before taking a bath and lying on the bed comfortably.

Five days had already passed for this current Underground City’s trip. Fortunately, he had already completed his first mission with the system’s help. He had to return to the Norland Continent, regardless of if he could comprehend the stele or not.

He already missed his wife, kids and his warm bed at home.

He had roughly gotten a glimpse of the Underground World. The discrepancies between the two worlds got increasingly scarier as he discovered more about Underground City.

As the gods began to reincarnate, under the lead of the Immortels the collision of the two worlds was inevitable.

Even though Ferdinand wanted to reduce the plutocrats’ power, he still wasn’t strong enough. Even the military wasn’t united as one, so he was an unreliable ally.

Mag had already thought of a retreat plan. If war really broke out between the two worlds, he would send Amy and the ladies up to the moon first and then destroy the teleportation portal to cut off the connection between the two worlds.

He even considered that the teleportation portal that was destroyed on the Moon Nation could have been deliberately caused by the previous round of Underground City’s invasion.

***

“He actually blocked me?!”

Norma stared at the red exclamation mark in a daze before saying angrily, “No man in this world can block me! I’m going to ask him personally!”

“Young Mistress, there might be some misunderstandings…” The little maid followed after Norma, who left in a huff and tried to calm her down.

“Hmph. He’d better be able to explain it. Otherwise… Hmph.” Norma got into the car and went straight for the chefs’ dormitory.

After pressing the doorbell for a long time, Norma knocked on the door and shouted, “Hades, come out! You’d better come out right now!”

The room was still silent.

The chefs staying in the neighboring dormitories, came out to take a look. After seeing that it was Miss Norma, they quickly closed the door and pretended not to have seen anything.

Soon, Baussaint arrived and said with an appeasing expression, “Miss Norma, Mr. Hades was invited by Miss Nancy to prepare a banquet. He’s not in the dormitory right now.”

“Nancy brought him away?” Norma’s gaze turned cold. “No wonder he dared to block me. He’s prepared to be Nancy’s loyal dog faithfully! Hmph, I want to see where Nancy is going to hide you.”

“Where’s Nancy?” Norma asked Baussaint.

“Miss Nancy…” Baussaint was in a difficult place. Miss Nancy wanted him to search for Hades secretly, and he had to calm Miss Norma down at the same time. He was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Meanwhile, Hades had simply left carefreely.

“You don’t have to tell me. I know where she is.” Norma went downstairs and headed straight for Nancy’s villa.

Nancy was about to board her flying car when Norma stood in front of her car and placed her hands on her waist. “Where have you hidden Hades?”

“Does it concern you?” Nancy asked coldly. She was still angry at Norma for forcing Mag to leave. How dare she come here to question her?

“Are you going to elope with him?” Norma shifted her eyes before rushing forward to open the car’s door. There was no one else in the car.

A long ruler appeared in Nancy’s hand as she coldly said to Norma, “I’m not in a good mood. Don’t blame me for being harsh on you if you continue to antagonize me.”

Sensing the murderous intent from Nancy’s eyes and seeing the ruler in her hand, Norma’s presence became weaker instantly. She closed the door and took two steps backwards, but she still stubbornly said, “Why are you being so fierce? I’m telling you now that you can’t hide him. I am going to look for him!”

1

Nancy got into her car with a cold expression. She hit the accelerator and the silver flying car shot into the air.

“Fierce woman. You’re going to die as a spinster.” Norma made a face towards the sky. She sized up the villa with a frown. She finally suppressed her urge to barge in to search for Mag.

Nancy wasn’t stupid. She wasn’t going to hide a chef in her villa.

Where would he be then?

“Help me check where he is now.” Norma instructed the little maid.

***

“Weird. How did the military discover that secret base? They even rescued him within such a short period of time.”

“Big Brother, the Immortels suspect that we leaked out their information. What shall we do now?”

“Hmph. What does this matter have to do with us? Go and check what exactly went wrong personally. Don’t let this matter affect our family.”

“Yes. I’ll go right now.”

Gardner left the McCarthy Manor quickly.

***

The military swiftly issued a breaking news: Congressman Tamm who was kidnapped 10 days ago has been successfully rescued and this incident was suspected to be linked with the mysterious organization, the Immortels.

This news created a huge uproar, shocking all the plutocrats.

This was the first time that the military incorporated the Immortels as a violent organization. Even though the words used were cautious, the stance shown was clear.

***

The next morning, Mag took the flying bus with the delegation to the sacred stele’s world.

The sacred stele came from the heavens and made Underground City advance into a civilization rapidly from a savage world. They climbed the technology tree and became the advanced civilization that they were now.

It could be said that the sacred stele was the core of the Underground World and its maker as well.

Hence, even though the different powers in Underground City were fighting each other, they were unified when it came to the protection of the sacred stele.

For the past tens of thousands of years, the rules that flowed out of the sacred stele had created an ethereal sacred stele’s world around it. It was covered with mist and clouds. It looked like a fairyland when one looked in.

Furthermore, no sky castles were allowed in the sky within a 30 kilometer distance from the sacred stele.

Hence, the 9,000 meters tall sacred stele that stood in the center of Tucker City, looked gigantic.

How tall was 9,000 meters?

Mag had once went up the 828 meters tall Burj Khalifa, and this sacred stele was taller than 10 Burj Khalifas stacked on top of one another.

Of course, if it wasn’t obvious enough, this sacred stele would have been ignored when it landed from the sky back then and the story would have ended at that point.

Mag was completely inconspicuous in the crowd. After sucking in an ethereal fairy wisp, he swiped his bangle and entered into the misty entrance.

The seemingly long entrance seemed to lead them into another space as soon as they stepped in. The internal space was much bigger than the clouds that one could see from the outside.

“It’s abstruse.” Mag praised inwardly before looking up instinctively.

The gigantic stele that stood in between heaven and earth made one feel small.

It looked like metal and rock at the same time. Ancient and rustic runes spiraled upwards around it.

Then…

He was stunned.

“F*ck!”

He couldn’t help swearing.

On that sacred stele, written in Chinese characters:

“Since the beginning of ancient times, who was there to lead the flow of life? Where did the world come into being before it took shape?

Chapter 2487: Since the Beginning of Ancient Times, Who Was There To Lead the Flow of Life? Where Did the World Come Into Being Before It Took Shape?

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Mag returned to the dormitory and then sent a message to Xi: “Everything proceeded smoothly.”

He attached two photographs. One was Norma munching on the rib indulgently. The other was Gardner drinking the red wine and eating the rib.

“What’s your next step?” Xi replied quickly.

“I think if the McCarthy Family is indeed involved in Congressman Tamm’s kidnapping, then Gardner must be the one in control behind the scenes. I have already gained Norma’s trust and I have the chance to get close to Gardner. But, I’ll need someone who can help me hack into the McCarthy bangles.” Mag’s plan was very simple. It was to make the receiving of the evidence reasonable.

He had the encrypted letter between Gardner and the head of the McCarthy Family. Now, he only needed to let Xi and Ferdinand think that the methods he used to get the intel were reasonable and wouldn’t suspect that he had other assistance.

!!

Xi was silent for a few minutes before replying, “Tomorrow at six a.m., someone will send a deciphering robot to the third tree outside of your dormitory. This is a standalone version. I’ll send its operation tutorial to your bangle, so that you can learn how to use it on your own.”

“Alright.” Mag closed the chat interface.

***

Gardner said to the stern-looking man sitting across from him, “Big Brother, the Dixon Family was dumped into hot waters by this incident. I’m afraid Ferdinand is behind all of this. We have to be more careful.”

Archie said in a low voice, “Haha. Now they all think that it’s us who is behind all of this. Nancy has brought that fellow back and even though his background check is fine, you have to be careful too.”

“I have just met that kid. His culinary skills are indeed not bad and he was able to gain Nancy’s favor. Furthermore, at his young age, he shouldn’t be Ferdinand’s man.” Gardner shook his head slightly. His expression also turned grave. “However, regarding ‘The Adjudicator’, I’m afraid we have to join in on the Dixon Family’s assasination plan. Regardless of if he is Ferdinand’s man or not, he has broken the rules. We have to kill it in the cradle.”

“I’ll leave this matter to you, but we don’t have to hurry about that. There are many in the Dixon Family who can’t wait to seek revenge.”

***

“Why is the mutton rib so divine? It’s simply too scrumptious…”

Norma slumped over the sofa with a glass of happy water as she sipped and lamented at the same time.

“Mr. Hades is the best chef that I have ever met. He’s just like a god.” The little maid’s eyes were filled with little stars.

“We’ve had the grilled mutton ribs, so it will be the handmade Explosive Beef Balls next.” Norma turned her head to the side and instructed the maid. “Go and tell the back kitchen to keep a cow back for me. I want it to be alive. We’re going to have the beef balls tomorrow.”

“Oh yes.” The little maid nodded and went out to make a call excitedly.

***

Nancy pinched her glabella with a headache after she heard Baussaint’s report. “Norma is really incorrigible…”

However, Norma didn’t seem to have made things difficult for Mag. She sent him back to the dormitory after he made the charcoal-grilled mutton ribs for her.

But, it still annoyed her. Why should Norma get to use the man, whom she brought back, first?

Furthermore, according to the rules, Hades would only start work officially tomorrow. She was bullying him by making him cook two meals today.

“Seems like I have to talk to her tomorrow to let her know whose man he is,” Nancy thought to herself.

***

Early the next morning, Mag successfully received that deciphering robot that was disguised as a beetle under the tree.

After returning to his room, Mag opened up that beetle which was about the size of a fingernail, and received an even smaller metal cube.

After clicking on the activation code that Xi sent him last night, the silver metal cube flashed slightly and a corner flipped up. A message appeared on the bangle reading:

“The 7th generation nano deciphering robot: This robot has the deciphering bangle…”

The introduction was very long, but the usage was easy.

This was a standalone version of the nano robot and it could only be used one time.

“System, analyze how this little thing works, then we will find a random bangle to test it out on. After we apply the data template, our mission in the McCarthy Manor will be completed.” Mag narrowed his eyes. Even with his senses, it was hard for him to detect this robot’s existence.

“I have already gotten first-hand data from their R&D Department. If we have the materials, I can replicate one for you right now,” the system answered lazily.

“Excellent. Then, you shall make the Gardner’s intel according to the model.” Mag smiled. It felt great to have shortcuts and external help.

On his first day at work, Mag received the message from the head chef at 6:30 a.m. that he was required to make the Explosive Beef Balls for breakfast. It was requested by many of the masters and mistresses. He was also required to make the charcoal-grilled mutton ribs and stir-fried pig’s kidney for lunch.

“Holy moly. This is worse than being a slave. They are squeezing me dry on my first day. The capitalists’ hearts are indeed dark,” Mag murmured inwardly as he changed into his chef’s suit.

The back kitchen of the McCarthy Family looked like another villa on the exterior. It was split into three levels according to cooking methods. The third floor’s floor area was the smallest. It was the baking zone. The second floor was the dedicated area for the special chefs. The first floor was for the rest. It was the biggest and had the most number of cooks.

Mag caused a commotion when he arrived.

After all, Mag was very popular right now. He was a celebrity chef.

The formal chefs all had great culinary skills, so they didn’t care much for Mag. They had all kinds of culinary competitions’ champions there.

However, those sous chefs, apprentices and female cooks loved Mag. They were all staring at him with bright eyes. If they were not at work where the rules were strict, they would have rushed over to ask him for his signature and a photograph together.

Mag had never imagined that he would be treated like a movie star one day.

He went straight to the second floor and to the special workbench that the head chef had arranged for him. There were already two pretty lady cooks and two young cooks waiting for him.

A special chef had a high status in the McCarthy Manor’s back kitchen. They were ranked just beneath the head chef and there were only eight special chefs in the entire back kitchen.

Every special chef had a few cooks who were his assistants. These were the young cooks working under him.

“Mr. Hades.” The four of them greeted Mag when he walked over. There was even a gleam in the two lady cooks’ eyes.

The other special chefs were all much older. Moreover, they spent most of their lives in the kitchen, which made them rather greasy.

However, Mr. Hades looked even more handsome in real life. His skin was smooth and tender and his demeanor was noble. He was just like a prince of the kitchen!

Mag got to know them on a basic level. He didn’t mind the existence of help cooks. Being a professional chef, cooking wasn’t a one-man show. With people helping out with the details, it could save the chef a lot of time and effort.

The four of them looked so ecstatic. He wondered how they would feel if they knew that they would only be here for one day?

The back kitchen quickly sent over a set of fresh unchilled beef according to Mag’s wishes. Mag hit it doubly fast and finished cooking a big pot

Mag left the plating to the two lady cooks and clocked off.

“Working for others is also rather pleasant.” He walked on the path back to the dormity. His first working experience had been pleasant.

***

“Mr. Hades is so formidable! He didn’t rest at all in between the 26,000 strikes!”

“I tried to grab his iron rod earlier. Hmm, it’s huge. I can’t lift it with one hand.”

“He’s indeed the man who has received the first full marks in the Top Chef Competition’s history. He’s extremely skillful. I’m going to call him the strongest chef!”

The help cooks were still immersed in their shock. Their admiration for Mag was overwhelming.

Hundreds of the McCarthy Family’s core members lived in the McCarthy Manor compound. They wouldn’t have their meals together if there weren’t any special occasions. The back kitchen would send their meals to them according to their individual requests.

For that morning, the most requested item was Hades’ handmade Explosive Beef Balls.

“Mm… it’s so hot!”

Norma asked for two helpings of the Explosive Beef Balls. She ate one and a half helpings and the little maid ate half a helping.

After experiencing the happy sensation of the piping hot soup exploding in her mouth, Norma sighed with tears in her eyes. “But… it’s so nice.”

A bowl of Explosive Beef Balls had successfully refreshed the breakfast menu for many people in the McCarthy Family. It attracted countless praises.

***

Mag made 20 helpings of charcoal-grilled mutton ribs and stir-fried pig’s kidney each for lunch.

He was the busiest among the eight special chefs on the second floor.

Mag had seen a jealous green in those old masters’ eyes and heard some sarcastic complaints.

But was Mag someone who cared about that?

He was already prepared to escape.

He couldn’t care less about these old fogeys.

After cooking lunch, Mag removed his apron and left the kitchen relaxedly.

Although 20 servings of mutton ribs and stir-fried kidneys seemed like a lot of work, it was a breeze to Boss Mag who was used to making dozens of dishes for hundreds of customers each meal.

“Come to my place after you are done cooking.”

Mag’s bangle vibrated after he walked out of the kitchen’s building. He received a message from Norma.

A familiar driverless car stopped in front of him.

Mag had ascertained that the place she meant was her house and not her room before boarding the car.

Mag received another message when the car just started. It wasn’t Norma this time. It was Nancy, “Are you free in the afternoon? Let’s have tea together. Come to my place?”

“Am I so highly sought after?” Mag couldn’t help but recap what he had done in the past few days. He could only conclude that it was his overwhelming personal charm.

“I’m sorry. I have already boarded Norma’s car and the door is locked,” Mag replied to Nancy.

Nancy didn’t answer. Mag guessed that she was most probably angry.

However, he didn’t care at all. She wasn’t his woman. She could get angry for all she wanted. It had nothing to do with him.

The driverless car stopped in front of the villa. Mag stepped out and it was still that kitten-eared little maid who came to welcome him.

“Mr. Hades, please follow me.” The little maid smiled sweetly as she welcomed Mag into the villa.

Norma was sitting up properly and drinking tea in the hall. Gardner sat across from her with a voluptuous beautiful woman.

The beautiful woman looked like she was in her early thirties. She had a pair of flirty eyes just like Norma, but her mature charm was what a young girl like Norma couldn’t compare with. She had a slender waist that made her boobs look even perkier. Her waist to hips ratio was the kind that could take a man’s life.

1

Her skin was so supple that it looked like one could squeeze water out of it. She heard the sound of footsteps and turned around to cast a glance at Mag with a smile. She was so charming, yet she seemed unattainable at the same time.

This was obviously Norma’s mom. It was a pity that the little girl had learned nothing from her.

If Gardner praised Mag’s culinary skills again, then he would reply, “Your wife is not bad either.”

Mag’s expression was calm. He was a man who had met plenty of women before, so he wasn’t going to be mesmerized by a mature lady. After looking at her briefly, he retracted his gaze and stood still a few meters away from them.

A hint of surprise appeared in the lady’s eyes. This man was young but his concentration was even stronger than those big families’ wily old foxes. He didn’t even spare her a second glance.

She didn’t believe that there was any man in this world whom she couldn’t mesmerize. She would test him again when she got a chance.

“You’re here.” Norma’s eyes lit up when she saw Mag. However, she stole a glance at Gardner before saying in a lower voice, “We’re having a small gathering this afternoon. You will be responsible for our meals.”

“This is overtime work. You have to pay me extra,” Mag almost said that out loud.

Being an employee, he couldn’t simply reject.

Norma’s family’s status could indeed make him cook for them whenever they felt like it. They were super privileged people in the privileged class.

“Yes.” Mag followed the little maid to the kitchen.

“This chef is young.” The beautiful lady spoke up behind him.

But I am good. Mag followed the little maid into the kitchen and began to grill the mutton ribs, stir-fry the kidneys and cook two helpings of vegetarian dishes. This meal was considered completed.

The chef didn’t need to be present when his employers ate. Mag took two photographs and set the nanorobot out for it to move around before taking the driverless car back to the dormitory.

“I have already received exact information that Congressman Tamm’s kidnapping was planned by Gardner. He’s now being held at this place. I’m going to leave the McCarthy Manor now. Meet me at the rendezvous point.” Mag sent a message to Xi before leaving the dormitory and walking straight for the McCarthy Manor’s gates.

The McCarthy Manor’s compound couldn’t be entered or left easily, but Mag got a resignation form and successfully left the manor.

After turning into a street corner, Mag got into Xi’s flying car and sent Nancy a heartfelt resignation letter.

Dear Miss Nancy,

I will have already left by the time you have seen this letter.

I am still that youth who yearns for freedom. I like poems and far away places.

You are very good. The McCarthy Manor is also very good, but living this way isn’t suitable for me.

I’ll see you around.

—Hades.

“Where are we going?” Xi asked Mag.

“This place.” Mag sent a set of coordinates to Nancy.

It was Penck Town that was 1,800 kilometers northwest of Tucker City.

The flying car entered into stealth mode and left Tucker City.

“You’re… you really should become a spy,” Xi said to Mag seriously as the flying car left Tucker City.

After Congressman Tamm disappeared, the military had tried to investigate, but they had failed to find out anything.

Meanwhile, Mag had only entered the McCarthy Manor for less than two days and he had already obtained the important information of the location where Congressman Tamm was locked up from Gardner.

“You should know that I was a soldier before I became a chef,” Mag calmly said, “This is simply my professional standard and it’s nothing to be surprised about.”

Xi nodded in agreement. She didn’t think that Mag was boasting at all.

On the other hand, Nancy stared at the resignation letter that she had just received with a shocked expression.

“Young Mistress, Hades has already left the compound. He left his employment pass and uniform in the dormitory. From the surveillance cameras, we saw that he left via the front gates.” Baussaint strode in and reported with equally unconcealed shock on his face.

“How dare he?!”

This was the thought that the two of them had.

Nancy was worried. Hades had antagonized the Dixon Family and they couldn’t wait to kill him.

She even used her private fighter jet to make sure that he could safely arrive at the McCarthy Manor. She could protect him as long as he was in the McCarthy Manor.

However, he chose to leave secretly, and he only sent her his resignation letter after he left.

“It must be Norma. She pushed him too hard and that’s why he can’t get used to the plutocrats’ family lifestyle and chose to leave.” Nancy was annoyed and worried as she instructed Baussaint. “Send some men to look for him and suppress this matter first. Don’t let anyone else know about it.”

“Yes, Young Mistress.” Baussaint went away with his order. He couldn’t help complaining inwardly. Tons of people wanted to enter the McCarthy Manor, yet this fellow left even before he finished one day as the special chef. How could he be so carefree?

Nancy sent a few messages to Mag, but they all showed that the sending had failed with a red “!”.

“He actually blocked me?!”

Nancy raised her eyebrows and she looked angry.

***

Mag didn’t block Nancy. He had destroyed the bangle instead.

The identity of “Hades” had already completed his mission. It was reasonable for a person who didn’t exist in the first place to disappear.

Penck Town was a forgotten industrial town.

500 years ago, this place had once prospered because it produced a kind of mineral called “Black Gold”. However, within a short 100 years, the mine was depleted and this place faded fast. Many gigantic mining equipment and factories that were buried in the sands were left behind.

No one lives here anymore.

The flying car hovered high up in the air about 16 kilometers away. Mag looked at the abandoned industrial town and said, “This is a secret base of the Immortels. According to Gardner, they sent Congressman Tamm here right after they kidnapped him 10 days ago, but I’m not sure if Congressman Tamm is still in there right now.”

From the insider intel that the system stole from the Immortels, Mag was sure that Congressman Tamm was still being held up here. However, it was unknown whether he was dead or alive.

Xi frowned slightly as she looked at the faraway town and said, “I believe we need reinforcements. The terrain here is complicated and we don’t have any intel about it. Once we act rashly and alert the enemy, they could leave directly through the secret tunnels, or kill the congressman.”

“There’s no need for that. Reinforcements would only be a burden. Same rules as before. You will cover me while I go in for the rescue.” Mag opened the car door and leaped out. A black heavy sword appeared underneath his feet as he dived downwards. He flew very close to the ground at an extremely high speed as he approached the small town rapidly.

“You…” Xi stared at the flying sword that disappeared from her vision and closed her mouth in exasperation. She couldn’t control Mag and she was already used to that.

However, to play safe, she placed the bullpup assault rifle on the car and aimed it at the town as she reported to Ferdinand about the situation and asked how to handle it.

“Follow his lead and give him your full support,” Ferdinand only replied to her with nine words.

Xi knew what to do now. She no longer hesitated. She sent out the scouting robot, so that she could do her assistance work better.

Mag had the map of the troops stationed here in his head. He avoided the sentries and spell formations and got into the town easily.

The other reason why he was so confident was because there were only two 10th-tier powerhouses guarding this place. It would be easy for him to handle.

The importance of a secret base was its secrecy.

The military was so powerful, yet they didn’t know that the Immortels had a base hidden in this abandoned town.

Even if an Almost-Extraordinaire powerhouse came, with two 10th-tier powerhouses together with all kinds of high tech equipment stationed here, it would be hard to conquer this base without a map of the troops’ positions. They would have plenty of time to react.

Outside of a deserted mine, Mag pressed himself against the wall and slowly released the guard, who was already dead.

After getting the access token, changing his clothes and copying the dead guard’s face, Mag walked openly into the secret base that was underground.

This base was upgraded from a mine. It was 1,000 meters deep underground and guarded by layers of concealing spell formations. There was no way to investigate it from the outside.

With his disguise, Mag successfully got into the mine and quickly found a new target, an 8th-tier captain. He switched to a skin that had a higher authority.

He came for a rescue mission, so ensuring the hostage’s safety was the most important issue.

The internal structure was very complicated. Even though Mag got a higher level access token, he was still blocked from the cell of the important prisoners.

Mag used the system’s copycat voice to ask the two guards standing at the door, “Have you checked on the prisoner’s condition in the morning?”

A guard nodded and replied, “We have checked. The hostage’s condition is good.”

Mag nodded before killing those two guards.

Under his broad sleeve, the “Fat Head Fish” flashed, and the thick alloy door shattered and crashed to the ground.

The alarm rang and the assault rifle blasted out with blue flames, making the “dadada” sounds of gunshots.

The sword flashed and the assault rifle was cut into two, rendering it useless.

Mag dashed into the prison and his gaze swept across the small windows of the cells. He finally found his target at the last window.

Mag slashed open the alloy door with his knife again and went into the room.

In the cramped room, a disheveled middle-aged man sat upright in the corner and looked at Mag coldly. “Who are you?”

“Someone who is here to save you.” Mag went forward to help him up.

Congressman Tamm avoided Mag’s hand and said, “Go away. There is a bomb on this lock. It will explode as soon as I get out of this cell. I will harm you instead.”

Mag looked at the intricate cuffs on his hands and legs with a frown. This was indeed evil.

“System, how shall I cut it open?”

“This strike isn’t easy. The two cuffs are connected. If you cut the one above, the bottom one will explode. If you cut the bottom one, the one above will explode. You have to cut them both at the same time.”

“You just need to tell me where to cut. I am very fast. It won’t be able to react,” Mag said inwardly.

Dense sounds of footsteps had already rung out beyond the prison with all kinds of weapons’ loading sounds joining in.

Congressman Tamm hurried Mag. “Go right now. You won’t be able to leave after they surround this place.”

In the next moment, Mag saw two thin red lines appear on Tamm’s hand and leg cuffs.

He slashed his sword and the two cuffs split into two instantly.

1

Congressman Tamm stared at the cuffs dumbfoundedly. He only regained his wits after some time. They actually didn’t explode.

“Let’s go.” Mag put an emergency protective shield on Congressman Tamm’s wrist. After activating it, a faint golden protective shield formed around his body. It could take one run of bullets from an assault rifle, but it could only last for one minute which was an extremely short amount of time.

The flying sword flew out first. A cold gleam flashed across and the hallway became quiet instantly.

Bullets, assault rifles, men, sabers, swords… they were all cut into halves in the hallway.

Mag grabbed onto Congressman Tamm and stepped into the walkway. It only took them one step to reach the door.

“Who are you?!”

At the entrance of the walkway, a man wearing a black ghost mask was grabbing his severed left arm. There was fear in his hoarse voice. He stared at Mag who was holding onto Congressman Tamm.

Mag raised his hand at him.

That man instinctively released a protective shield in front of him.

A sword entered from his back and went right through.

“This…”

Congressman Tamm couldn’t be more shocked. This 10th-tier powerhouse had died so miserably.

Mag dashed out with Congressman Tamm and he killed whoever was in his way. It only took him five minutes to slaughter the entire secret base before he returned to Xi’s position.

“You’re so fast!”

The flying car had already switched into a battleship. Xi ascertained Congressman Tamm’s identity before getting the terrified Congressman Tamm onto the battleship.

Although she didn’t see how Mag got into the base to rescue Congressman Tamm, it still shocked her that he only used five minutes to achieve the feat.

While she… did nothing at all.

“There are still over 10 prisoners in the base. Their identities are unknown but they all have cuffs with bombs on them.” Mag showed the base’s interior terrain to Xi. “Do you want to save them?”

Xi cast a quick look at the cuffs on Congressman Tamm. Their cut was clean and there were complicated wirings inside them.

“Our mission is to rescue Congressman Tamm. What we need to do now is to make sure that the congressman is safe. I will report about the situation here. Others will come to handle this.” Xi started the battleship decisively, and quickly climbed up and left.

Mag glanced at Xi with admiration before taking a bottle of happy water and sitting down at the side.

The bangle’s interface showed the silent images of the base’s interior. Three minutes later, a ghostly figure walked out from the shadows and checked through all the cells. Suddenly, he turned towards the camera. A golden ghost’s face instantly came close and the camera exploded right away. The image disappeared.

An Extraordinaire rushed to the scene five minutes after the base sent out the alert.

That one second look through the camera made Mag certain that he wasn’t his match.

Just like how he triumphed over the 10th-tier, if a real Extraordinaire wanted to catch him, it would be total oppression.

“Who are you guys?”

Congressman Tamm slowly recovered after he drank some hot water. Then, he asked them this question testingly.

After Xi set up the auto-pilot, she got up and saluted to Congressman Tamm. “Hello, Congressman Tamm. I am Major Xi from the military. I was given the orders to rescue you. You are safe now. We’ll send you to the military’s hospital for your recovery.”

Congressman Tamm obviously heaved a breath of relief after he heard that they were from the military. He gratefully said, “Thank you for your rescue.”

There were many visible wounds on his body, so it was obvious that he had suffered greatly in that base during this period.

Xi got her tools and removed the cuffs from his wrists and legs. She locked them in an explosion-proof box. According to Xi, the explosive power of these cuffs could blow this battleship into bits.

Then, Xi gave him some emergency treatment to make sure that he was in a stable condition.

Mag seemed to be resting, but, in actuality, he was digesting the new information that the system got from the Immortels’ intranet through the secret base.

Although the Underground City’s top ten plutocrats weren’t the good guys, Mag didn’t actually hate them. However, he couldn’t wait to get rid of that “Immortel” organization.

This organization had reached out too far. They had even crossed over to the Norland Continent and killed the elven queen.

That was Irina’s mother, his mother-in-law, after all.

Even though his mother-in-law had never given their marriage her blessings, she didn’t torture him either.

He had to avenge his mother-in-law’s death!

Furthermore, judging from the internal information that the system received, the Immortels had a “Hunting Gods” plan and their targets were the Norland Continent’s gods.

The Immortels were seeking immortality and the gods were immortal. They could even reincarnate after they died.

Mag highly suspected that the Norland Continent’s continuous subversion and the decline of the gods had a lot to do with the Immortels.

In this lifetime, in the gods’ reincarnation cycle, the God of the Sea and the Goddess of Life had already reincarnated successfully. Hence, the Immortels couldn’t wait to start another round of “Hunting the Gods”.

If he let the Immortels do as they please, the Norland Continent would descend into war again and the gods would fall again.

“This is hard…” Mag sighed inwardly. The Immortels had 10 Hall Masters, all of them were Extraordinaire powerhouses. There were even more than 50 Almost-Extraordinaire powerhouses in the group.

As for how many Almost-Extraordinaire mechs they had, even the system didn’t have the exact data.

The Underground City’s military didn’t have to act, just the Immortels alone were enough to annihilate the entire Norland Continent.

The disparity between the two worlds made one feel so hopeless.

This was perhaps why Ferdinand dared to let him enter Underground City and even gave him a chance to go read the sacred stele.

So what if he becomes a god?

There would be only one god on the Norland Continent. How was he going to stop the Underground City’s few millions strong military?

Soon afterwards, the battleship descended and landed.

Xi got off the battleship with Congressman Tamm.

“The Marshal wants to talk to you.” Around 10 minutes later, Xi returned to the battleship and called Ferdinand.

“Well-done. You’ve completed your mission. Congressman Tamm has returned safely. I’m proud of you,” Ferdinand said to Mag with appreciation.

“The mission is completed, so when will you give me the reward?” Mag asked directly.

“I have already made the arrangements. Xi will tell you what to do. I look forward to your next mission’s performance.” Ferdinand ended the call with a smile.

Mag looked at Xi.

“This is your new identity. Tomorrow, outstanding representatives from everywhere will go to the sacred stele’s world to read it. You will enter with this identity.” Xi passed a new identity bangle to Mag.

“Representatives from everywhere? What happened to this person?” Mag accepted the bangle and frowned.

“This guy is a rural bully. His behavior was erratic and he killed many people. He received this quota because he sucked up to the rich and powerful. He was killed on his way here, so it’s reasonable for you to take over his position, right?”

“It’s rather reasonable.” Mag nodded.

Furthermore, the military wouldn’t be involved at all. Even if something happened to him at the sacred stele world, the military wouldn’t be involved either.

“After leaving the military base, I’ll send you to this hotel. You simply need to follow the representatives’ delegation into the arena.” Xi looked at Mag and said with a serious expression, “Remember what you need to take note of when you’re reading the sacred stele. Do not try to do anything to the sacred stele. There are many advanced spell formations in the sacred stele world and three Extraordinaire powerhouses are guarding it. You’ll be killed on the spot once you break the rules.”

“I got it.” Mag nodded. He knew all that better than Xi, including the types of spell formations that were set there.

Mag received a chance to comprehend the sacred stele after completing his first Underground City’s mission.

It sounded like a very sophisticated reward.

However, when he found out that even a country bumpkin could get a chance to comprehend the stele just by sucking up to the rich and powerful, his anticipation was already much lower.

Of course, something like destiny was hard to fathom.

Every Extraordinaire had an exciting and great sacred stele comprehension journey on their way to becoming a god.

Xi sent Mag out of the military base in a car and went straight for the delegations’ hotel.

Mag changed his look, took his new bangle and sashayed into the hotel.

In the hotel room, Mag turned on the shielding device that Xi gave him before taking a bath and lying on the bed comfortably.

Five days had already passed for this current Underground City’s trip. Fortunately, he had already completed his first mission with the system’s help. He had to return to the Norland Continent, regardless of if he could comprehend the stele or not.

He already missed his wife, kids and his warm bed at home.

He had roughly gotten a glimpse of the Underground World. The discrepancies between the two worlds got increasingly scarier as he discovered more about Underground City.

As the gods began to reincarnate, under the lead of the Immortels the collision of the two worlds was inevitable.

Even though Ferdinand wanted to reduce the plutocrats’ power, he still wasn’t strong enough. Even the military wasn’t united as one, so he was an unreliable ally.

Mag had already thought of a retreat plan. If war really broke out between the two worlds, he would send Amy and the ladies up to the moon first and then destroy the teleportation portal to cut off the connection between the two worlds.

He even considered that the teleportation portal that was destroyed on the Moon Nation could have been deliberately caused by the previous round of Underground City’s invasion.

***

“He actually blocked me?!”

Norma stared at the red exclamation mark in a daze before saying angrily, “No man in this world can block me! I’m going to ask him personally!”

“Young Mistress, there might be some misunderstandings…” The little maid followed after Norma, who left in a huff and tried to calm her down.

“Hmph. He’d better be able to explain it. Otherwise… Hmph.” Norma got into the car and went straight for the chefs’ dormitory.

After pressing the doorbell for a long time, Norma knocked on the door and shouted, “Hades, come out! You’d better come out right now!”

The room was still silent.

The chefs staying in the neighboring dormitories, came out to take a look. After seeing that it was Miss Norma, they quickly closed the door and pretended not to have seen anything.

Soon, Baussaint arrived and said with an appeasing expression, “Miss Norma, Mr. Hades was invited by Miss Nancy to prepare a banquet. He’s not in the dormitory right now.”

“Nancy brought him away?” Norma’s gaze turned cold. “No wonder he dared to block me. He’s prepared to be Nancy’s loyal dog faithfully! Hmph, I want to see where Nancy is going to hide you.”

“Where’s Nancy?” Norma asked Baussaint.

“Miss Nancy…” Baussaint was in a difficult place. Miss Nancy wanted him to search for Hades secretly, and he had to calm Miss Norma down at the same time. He was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Meanwhile, Hades had simply left carefreely.

“You don’t have to tell me. I know where she is.” Norma went downstairs and headed straight for Nancy’s villa.

Nancy was about to board her flying car when Norma stood in front of her car and placed her hands on her waist. “Where have you hidden Hades?”

“Does it concern you?” Nancy asked coldly. She was still angry at Norma for forcing Mag to leave. How dare she come here to question her?

“Are you going to elope with him?” Norma shifted her eyes before rushing forward to open the car’s door. There was no one else in the car.

A long ruler appeared in Nancy’s hand as she coldly said to Norma, “I’m not in a good mood. Don’t blame me for being harsh on you if you continue to antagonize me.”

Sensing the murderous intent from Nancy’s eyes and seeing the ruler in her hand, Norma’s presence became weaker instantly. She closed the door and took two steps backwards, but she still stubbornly said, “Why are you being so fierce? I’m telling you now that you can’t hide him. I am going to look for him!”

1

Nancy got into her car with a cold expression. She hit the accelerator and the silver flying car shot into the air.

“Fierce woman. You’re going to die as a spinster.” Norma made a face towards the sky. She sized up the villa with a frown. She finally suppressed her urge to barge in to search for Mag.

Nancy wasn’t stupid. She wasn’t going to hide a chef in her villa.

Where would he be then?

“Help me check where he is now.” Norma instructed the little maid.

***

“Weird. How did the military discover that secret base? They even rescued him within such a short period of time.”

“Big Brother, the Immortels suspect that we leaked out their information. What shall we do now?”

“Hmph. What does this matter have to do with us? Go and check what exactly went wrong personally. Don’t let this matter affect our family.”

“Yes. I’ll go right now.”

Gardner left the McCarthy Manor quickly.

***

The military swiftly issued a breaking news: Congressman Tamm who was kidnapped 10 days ago has been successfully rescued and this incident was suspected to be linked with the mysterious organization, the Immortels.

This news created a huge uproar, shocking all the plutocrats.

This was the first time that the military incorporated the Immortels as a violent organization. Even though the words used were cautious, the stance shown was clear.

***

The next morning, Mag took the flying bus with the delegation to the sacred stele’s world.

The sacred stele came from the heavens and made Underground City advance into a civilization rapidly from a savage world. They climbed the technology tree and became the advanced civilization that they were now.

It could be said that the sacred stele was the core of the Underground World and its maker as well.

Hence, even though the different powers in Underground City were fighting each other, they were unified when it came to the protection of the sacred stele.

For the past tens of thousands of years, the rules that flowed out of the sacred stele had created an ethereal sacred stele’s world around it. It was covered with mist and clouds. It looked like a fairyland when one looked in.

Furthermore, no sky castles were allowed in the sky within a 30 kilometer distance from the sacred stele.

Hence, the 9,000 meters tall sacred stele that stood in the center of Tucker City, looked gigantic.

How tall was 9,000 meters?

Mag had once went up the 828 meters tall Burj Khalifa, and this sacred stele was taller than 10 Burj Khalifas stacked on top of one another.

Of course, if it wasn’t obvious enough, this sacred stele would have been ignored when it landed from the sky back then and the story would have ended at that point.

Mag was completely inconspicuous in the crowd. After sucking in an ethereal fairy wisp, he swiped his bangle and entered into the misty entrance.

The seemingly long entrance seemed to lead them into another space as soon as they stepped in. The internal space was much bigger than the clouds that one could see from the outside.

“It’s abstruse.” Mag praised inwardly before looking up instinctively.

The gigantic stele that stood in between heaven and earth made one feel small.

It looked like metal and rock at the same time. Ancient and rustic runes spiraled upwards around it.

Then…

He was stunned.

“F*ck!”

He couldn’t help swearing.

On that sacred stele, written in Chinese characters:

“Since the beginning of ancient times, who was there to lead the flow of life? Where did the world come into being before it took shape?