Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty! Chapter 3 3 Supernatural Power?

As the hourglass turned, several new prompts materialized before Qiu Tu's eyes.

"Congratulations on successfully navigating the recent predicament. You've earned Yan Chen's initial trust," the system declared.

"However, his inherent suspicion means he isn't entirely convinced by the narrative you've woven. Certain inconsistencies in your story couldn't withstand scrutiny."

"Consequently, he intends to visit Qin Shuman's residence tonight to confront you directly."

"You have five hours to make your preparations."

"Ensure your fabricated story is watertight and gather suitable evidence to fight for your survival."

"The repercussions of failure are best left unsaid."

Upon the conclusion of these messages, the original countdown hourglass transformed into a small, trembling treasure chest. Simultaneously, a second countdown hourglass appeared, positioned right beside the chest.

[4:59:50]

Gazing at the new timer, Qiu Tu remained silent for a moment before a slow smile spread across his face.

He had anticipated that Yan Chen's suspicious nature would make it difficult to deceive him so easily.

This was always a precarious balancing act, a high-stakes gamble where simple passage wasn't guaranteed.

But five hours... that was significantly more generous than the two minutes he'd previously been allotted, offering him ample time to attend to other matters. Such as...

...A thorough inspection of his Golden Finger.

With this thought, Qiu Tu's attention shifted to the newly appeared treasure chest icon, and he attempted to interact with it.

In the ensuing moment, the chest vanished upon opening, revealing a piece of sea-blue, semi-transparent stone in its place.

Concurrently, two new prompts refreshed on Qiu Tu's display.

"Crisis averted, treasure chest reward acquired: Aurora Stone."

"Aurora Stone: A crucial component among the Cataclysm Materials. Once all other necessary components are gathered, various Cataclysm Potions and Props can be crafted. Examples include: 'Cataclysmic Potion,' 'Skull Talisman,' 'Old Seal,' 'Shining Prescriptive Octahedron,' and more..."

Pondering the two notifications before him, Qiu Tu fell into a brief silence, his brow eventually furrowing.

Cataclysm Materials? Cataclysmic Potion? Skull Talisman? Shining Prescriptive Octahedron?

This world wasn't as ordinary as it seemed; it possessed Supernatural Powers? This revelation came as quite a surprise to Qiu Tu.

He rapidly replayed his memories, searching for any related information, but found none.

Neither official communications from the Sanctuary nor whispers within the Planning Area had ever hinted at the existence of Supernatural Powers in this realm.

In this world, the primary means of defense were firearms, with agriculture and industry forming the backbone of the economy.

Even the major Sanctuaries, it was rumored, were established on the remnants of military factories, vast farmlands, or industrial complexes abandoned prior to the Cataclysm.

"What is happening here? Could it be... that the Supernatural Powers of this world are not common knowledge?"

"And... are the major Sanctuaries aware of this phenomenon?"

With these questions in mind, Qiu Tu meticulously sifted through his recollections once more.

This time, subtle clues began to surface.

The first hint arose from a casual remark by a colleague transferred to City Hall. They mentioned that while City Hall provided free passage for refugees from the Disaster Zone, they posed an unusual request: refugees were asked to note any dense clusters of flora and fauna encountered during their journey.

The second clue emerged from a black market dealer Qiu Tu encountered while scouring the marketplace. The merchant discreetly informed him that the military, a significant power in Xinjie City, was covertly procuring specific materials from the adjacent Disaster Zone, though the exact nature of these materials remained unknown.

The third piece of information came from Yan Chen himself during a moment of convivial inebriation. At a small celebration banquet, Yan Chen, having had a bit too much to drink, clapped his companions on the shoulder and declared, "The Cataclysm may have shattered human civilization, but it has also presented humanity with fresh opportunities." When pressed for clarification, Yan Chen merely offered a knowing smile and, by the following day, vehemently denied making any such statement.

Given the disjointed nature of these occurrences and the guarded secrecy of Sanctuary officials, Qiu Tu had previously dismissed them. However, upon piecing them together, a disquieting pattern emerged.

'Could it be... that this world, in the wake of the great Cataclysm, truly did give rise to Supernatural Powers? And that all the Sanctuaries are already privy to this reality?'

Analyzing the purpose behind the establishment of the various Planning Areas, Qiu Tu concluded they were likely intended for the collection of Cataclysm Materials and other precious resources.

The more he delved into this line of thought, the more convinced he became of his hypothesis.

This single clue opened up a cascade of further possibilities in his mind.

If the Sanctuary indeed possessed the means to induce human evolution and bestow Supernatural Powers, then perhaps Commissioner Jiang of the Municipal Committee, the influential military figure, and even Yan Chen, were all recipients of such abilities?

After all, they held critical positions and were tasked with vital missions, venturing into the perilous Planning Area on official business...

This realization placed an even greater weight of pressure upon Qiu Tu.

The truth was, the nature of Supernatural Powers in this world remained a profound mystery – their forms, their trajectories, and the sheer scope of their potent, peculiar, and wondrous effects were unknown.

Such uncertainties could exponentially increase the peril of his circumstances.

After a period of quiet contemplation, Qiu Tu drew a deep breath, expelling the heavy burden of his thoughts.

'Overthinking is futile; it's better to return my focus to researching the Golden Finger,' he mused.

Abandoning those unsettling speculations, he redirected his attention to the upper-left quadrant of his visual field.

He recalled having casually interacted with a Treasure Chest earlier, an action that had yielded a reward and provided Qiu Tu with a much-needed boost of encouragement.

Motivated, he extended his hand once more, proceeding to randomly tap on the various prompts and icons situated in the upper-left corner.

Approximately five or six clicks later, a prompt unexpectedly materialized before him.

'Golden Finger Name': Crisis Intuition (Unfixed, Refreshable)

'Golden Finger Type': Trigger Type

'Golden Finger Effect': Upon encountering a significant crisis, Crisis Intuition will activate, issuing a corresponding warning. Successful navigation of the crisis will result in a reward commensurate with its severity.

'Current Number of Refreshes': 0

Qiu Tu: ??!

'This is truly an unexpected delight!'

Qiu Tu affirmed that his random selections were merely a safeguard against overlooking any potential opportunities, as he harbored minimal expectations.

Yet, against all odds, his actions had indeed uncovered something extraordinary.

Could this be the 'true essence' of his own Golden Finger?

After scrutinizing the displayed panel for a time, Qiu Tu gained a general understanding of its nature.

He surmised that his situation was distinct from that of ordinary transmigrators.

While most transmigrators received a single, fixed Golden Finger through a random draw – which might prove beneficial or entirely useless – his own Golden Finger possessed the remarkable ability to be both persistent and 'refreshed'!

The capacity to retain a favored Golden Finger while discarding an undesirable one presented the ultimate advantage!

The sole point of regret was... the undisclosed condition for initiating a refresh.

'It appears further research is necessary,' he concluded.

With this thought, Qiu Tu resumed his 'click, click, click' endeavor.

However, his fortunate streak seemed to have concluded, as this time, regardless of how many times he clicked, no further response occurred.

'The triggering conditions must be different... perhaps?'

This line of reasoning led Qiu Tu to cease his investigation into the Golden Finger for the moment.

Having been granted a second lease on life, his current mental state was exceptionally positive: After all, he had already faced death, so transmigrating to this new world and experiencing even an additional second was a gain in his book!

Therefore... he would utilize the Golden Finger if it served him, and forge his own path if it did not!

Without succumbing to dissatisfaction or self-imposed pressure, he aimed to fully embrace this entirely new existence!

Reflecting on this, Qiu Tu offered a smile, adjusted his clothing, and then opened the bathroom door, prepared to confront the 'ally' who remained sound asleep on his bed...

[4:52:03]....