Lord of the Mysteries Chapter 1425 - In Modern Day 23

“These dried mushrooms, they don’t exactly look... appetizing.” Rozanne examines the bag of shriveled fungi in my palm with a serious expression for several seconds before offering a hesitant reply. It is plain that she feels a bit uneasy describing the mushrooms as black and desiccated—it rings silent alarm bells, and they certainly don’t inspire much of an appetite. After all, my intentions in offering them were perfectly well-meaning.

Hehe... I seize the moment to steer the conversation elsewhere.

“What is the name of your drink?”

Rozanne pivots, snatching the beverage bottle from the desk. With a beaming smile, she remarks, “This is it! The aesthetic is quite cool, don’t you think?”

The container features a sleek layout adorned with a footprint motive. The name clearly reads:

“Reporter.”

That is different from the one I have... I offer a polite compliment, “It looks nice.”

Rozanne twists the cap, which had been previously opened, as though she intends to take a sip.

My instincts scream at me to intervene, but once I open my mouth, I realize I lack any justifiable reason to stop her.

Moreover, a third of the Reporter drink is already missing, meaning Rozanne has clearly consumed some. Any attempt to halt her now would be futile.

Gulp... Rozanne lowers the bottle and replaces the cap.

“It tastes just fine. Why don't you try some?”

“Sure, sure,” I respond with a dismissive tone.

Rozanne doesn't press the issue. Instead, she gestures toward the remaining bottles tucked inside the plastic bag.

“You’re free to swap it for a different bottle.”

“There’s really no need,” I retort instantly.

Regardless, I have no intention of drinking it. Whether or not I trade the bottle makes no difference to me.

After mulling it over for a couple of seconds, I lock eyes with Rozanne and probe, “How do you feel after drinking that? Any strange sensations?”

“Strange sensations? Do you think this is some kind of medicine? Honestly, it’s just mildly sweet and quite refreshing. Once it’s chilled, the aroma will definitely improve,” Rozanne says, sounding mildly irritated.

She doesn’t appear to be deceiving me... That means she likely didn’t inherit any supernatural abilities from the Reporter beverage... I subconsciously scan the office, noting that while my coworkers have all partaken in Rozanne’s drinks to varying degrees, none of them show any signs of irregularity.

Not a single one of them acts dazed or confused.

Could it be that only the Assassin tonic I grabbed previously possesses unique properties? I wonder if I should consider that good fortune or not... I squash my doubts and wave the Instigator brew in my hand instead.

“I really should get back to my work.”

“Go right ahead. Don’t let me hold you up,” Rozanne says, waving a hand airily.

Returning to my workstation, I settle into my chair. I stare at the Instigator drink before me, lost in reflection.

After roughly twenty seconds pass, I pull over my large water mug, which I usually keep handy for big, refreshing gulps. I unscrew the Instigator lid and decant the liquid inside.

Though drinking this concoction isn't part of my plan, I cannot help but wonder what the liquid looks like and if it harbors any hidden power.

Splash. I empty the entire bottle into my mug.

That is an awfully small amount, isn’t it? That is definitively not 500 milliliters! I find myself losing respect for this manufacturer.

My vessel isn't exactly small, yet typically it cannot even hold a full 550ml bottle of mineral water.

In other words, while the bottle appeared full of “Instigator,” the company had evidently been skimping on the volume!

Hmm, the liquid is dark blue. It is translucent, and frankly, quite alluring... I study the contents of the mug closely to gather some baseline intel.

Beyond that, the liquid seems entirely ordinary, at least at first glance.

After some deliberation, I decide to toss something into the mixture just to see if it triggers an reaction.

What should I add? I cast a glance around, and suddenly, inspiration strikes.

Those dried mushrooms!

I wasn't planning on eating them anyway, so using them as experimental subjects feels appropriate.

I really am brilliant!

Without a moment’s hesitation, I rip open the package and drop the black mushrooms into the dark blue liquid, watching as they begin to stretch and expand somewhat.

Nothing happens at all. I start to suspect I have been overthinking the entire matter.

Vibrations from my work chat group suddenly cut through my thoughts. I settle into the grind.

Roughly fifteen minutes pass, and finally finishing my task, I tilt my head back to stretch my stiff neck.

All of a sudden, I spot a mushroom!

A white, tender specimen dotted with red stars sits right there!

...Where did that come from? I look closer and realize it is growing inside my mug.

It is roughly palm-sized. Its skin—no, its entire exterior—is incredibly soft and supple. On its cap, smaller mushrooms of the same species are sprouting, mimicking appendages like hands and feet.

What in the world is this? I am utterly bewildered.

Just then, the mushroom sways, its head rising as if it were looking around.

Two larger, red-starred spots that look like eyes meet my gaze.

Just like that, I stare at it, and it seems to be staring right back.

Several seconds later, the thing stretches out its many “limbs” and, using the rim of my mug for leverage, scrambles out.

In the next heartbeat, it leaps to the floor and darts madly toward the office exit.

What the hell... I am completely stunned.

At the same moment, I notice a secondary issue: all the Instigator liquid has vanished from my mug.

Almost purely on instinct, I jump up and give chase.

I suspect this is the result of the Instigator fluid fusing with the dried mushrooms!

I have to fix this mess I've caused, and I need to do it immediately!

The creature is tiny and moves with incredible speed. It zips through the office unnoticed, completely uninhibited. I, on the other hand, am forced to slow down as colleagues stop me repeatedly.

Even though the creature's steps are clearly smaller than mine, it still manages to bolt out of the building.

It... it charged straight into the neighboring office!

I instinctually follow.

Just then, the security guard stationed at the door blocks my path.

“What do you want?” the tall, muscular guard queries.

My mind races to concoct a plausible excuse:

“I’m looking for Vice President Wu.”

“Vice President Wu?” The guard eyes me with suspicion. “I’ll have to check with the front desk.”

While he heads toward the reception, I inch toward the doorway and peek inside.

My jaw drops at the sight.

The staff in the next office are all decked out in black hooded robes or bizarre outfits. They are performing some sort of synchronized dance that reminds me of an “Employees’ Business Routine.”

A cosplay event? A masquerade? It is only nine in the morning... I am entirely lost again, too dazed to even sneak inside.

“What is your manager up to?” I ask when the guard returns.

The whole thing is so bizarre!

The guard shrugs his shoulders.

“I truthfully have no clue.”

“I’m just here for the paycheck.”

Tsk, the moment I hear that, it’s obvious he’s trying to distance himself from the madness... I press further, “Is your boss in there too?”

“Yeah, that one over there, the guy who isn’t wearing anything,” the guard remarks with total indifference.

I focus my gaze, and a muscle in my cheek twitches uncontrollably.

Pervert!