Long-term salvation

Chapter 45 Adams Treasure House (5/15)

After confiscating the grenades and other explosives that Abigail gave to the Adams brothers and sisters, Rod sent the three children to feed the carnivorous plants in the greenhouse and asked them not to use flamethrowers or other powerful gadgets to remove snow.

Gomez stood by and smiled heartlessly. After all, he himself was the cause of a considerable number of problems in the Adams family... Rhodes could not imagine what this family would be like without Mrs. Morticia Adams.

After sighing, Rhode suddenly noticed Bai Zi, who was still standing there. The girl seemed to be hesitant to speak, as if she had something to say. Around her neck was a cotton scarf. Like Little Red Riding Hood's, it looked a bit rough overall, but the wolf head logo on it was quite delicate, and it was obvious that the knitter had put a lot of effort into it.

"Knitted by Marian?" Rhodes asked Bai Zi in a low voice.

"Marian is learning knitting from Mrs. Adams," the gray-haired girl nodded slowly. She reached out to take the scarf and put it on Rhode, then took the latter's scarf and put it on herself. This set of movements was smooth and flowing, without a moment's hesitation. "She plans to knit one for each of us. The pattern is very beautiful."

After saying that, he remained silent for a few seconds. Bai Zi tugged at the corner of Rhodes's clothes, and a hint of embarrassment and shyness appeared on his cute face.

"Sensei, I want a road bike."

This surprised Rhode. Girls rarely stated their requests so clearly. However, considering Baizi's personality and preferences, it was quite normal. This girl was probably bored and bored recently, and her proposal was probably rejected by Yuka due to funding issues.

Looking at the girl's eager eyes, Rhodes did not refuse, but did not agree immediately. Instead, he knocked on Bai Zi's head three times.

With every knock, the wolf ears would fold down and then stand up again.

Bai Zi had a thoughtful expression.

"I never knew overly active kids could be so difficult."

As he watched Bai Zi leisurely follow the three children to the plant greenhouse, Rod complained to Gomez:

"And you actually let them use guns and explosives!"

"This is the tradition of the United States," Gomez said. "I have to let my children protect themselves when facing school bullying and shootings. Moreover, they may take over my job in the future."

"...You have successfully convinced me, Director Gomez."

"Ha!" Gomez laughed and led Rhodes to his private study. "Come on, Rhodes, that other lady has both an angel halo and wolf ears? Well... I have to say, Rhodes, the people around you are really amazing."

Go to the second floor of Adams's house, turn back and walk a few steps, and you will find Gomez's study.

Gomez's study exudes a calm and heavy luxury, but the furniture and decorations that are nearly a hundred years old are covered by haphazardly placed books and sundries. Half a cigar is crookedly stuck in the ashtray on the table, and there is a little liquid in it that looks like leftover tea.

Two rows of long, wide brown wooden bookshelves occupied the walls on both sides of the study. There was only a huge arched round window behind the desk where Gomez often worked. A little gray snow had accumulated on the outside window frame.

"Remember what I told you when you first came here?" Gomez walked to the bookshelf, his fingers tracing the backs of the books. He stopped in front of one and turned to look at Rhodes. "Many times, Panoptos XVI and I are conservatives. If it weren't for the Foundation, we would probably guard these secrets carefully, regretting it until destruction struck and we saw the hellish scene."

“But it’s different now.”

As Gomez spoke, he reached out and grabbed the back of the book, gently pulling it back. The bookshelf trembled, and wisps of dust sprayed out from between the books. Then the bookshelf slowly rotated, revealing a space just enough for the two of them to walk in side by side. Behind it was an elevator surrounded by an iron retractable fence.

"Come in, my friend."

As the elevator descended, Rhodes noticed that it lacked the awkward mechanical feel of older elevators and was more of a modern industrial product, which gave him a sense of security. As if noting Rhodes's surprise, Gomez smiled and explained:

"Ians had Atlas workers renovate this place and install an elevator and a treasure house door. Otherwise, you would have to walk down the stone steps from the basement."

"..."

"Rod," Gomez put away his smile. He stood in front of the opened elevator door with a serious and earnest expression. "Irons is not a bad person, nor is he a cold machine."

I know this better than you, Director Gomez. I even know how he died.

Rhodes didn't reply, but just nodded slightly. He saw that Gomez had already opened the Adams family's treasure house in front of him - displaying it in front of him so openly, even including the password input!

"I have a collection of seven books related to the Otherworld. The manuscripts are kept in the Foundation's storage vaults scattered around the world. Panoptos XVI and his family do this. Oh! They also have a security force called the 'Guardians of the Ruins', which is responsible for the security of specific locations."

"The Foundation has too many subordinate organizations and units, and with Atlas Corporation's entanglement, responsibilities and powers are unclear," Rhodes frowned. "This will only lead to inefficiency and waste of resources."

"We once had a discussion without Irons' knowledge. If the prophesied savior hadn't arrived by the millennium, we would make Irons the chairman of the foundation. We also planned to begin aligning and coordinating resources and research directions between Atlas Corporation and the foundation's directors in 1990."

"It's just that plans can't keep pace with changes. You have to act faster, Rhodes."

Gomez shrugged at Rhodes. Behind him, the door to the treasury slowly opened.

Under the light, dozens of gold objects buried in the pile of old gold coins are reflecting a wonderful luster, from Baroque-style gem necklaces to exquisite jewelry boxes from the Napoleonic period, and those huge and pure gems of various colors are stacked up casually. Only truly valuable collections are worthy of a small display cabinet or pedestal.

Gomez stretched out his hand and swiped through the pile of gold coins. The sound of the coins colliding with each other was particularly pleasant.

"How?" Gomez said, without turning around. "My fortune?"

"I thought you'd prefer to keep your money in the bank," Rhodes said, bending down to pick up a Spanish gold coin. "Where did you dig these up?"

"I helped the salvagers identify the treasure from the shipwreck of the Spanish Gold Fleet, the Margarita. This is my reward."

"The treasure from the Margaret shipwreck?" Rhode raised his eyebrows slightly. "Isn't it the Lady Atoka shipwreck?"

"Of course not," Gomez replied with a smile. He pushed aside the pile of gold coins and took out a gray, quaint box from the innermost part. The box was about the size of two books put together. "Forget those mundane things just now. Let me reveal the real treasure to you - an authentic page of Tesla's manuscript."

Chapter 46: History of the Kogito Foundation (6/15)

"First, I want to ask you, Rod," Gomez held the box solemnly. He gestured for Rod to drag over an empty wooden base, and then placed the box on it. "When do you think humans began to realize the existence of the afterlife? Or, in other words, when did the term 'afterlife' appear?"

"Um...you mentioned Tesla. That was probably in the late 19th or early 20th century?"

"It's 1927, the Fifth Solvay Conference," Gomez said, gently opening the box. The inside was separated from the outside world by transparent bulletproof glass. The vacuum-preserved paper had turned yellow, but the handwriting inside could still be seen clearly.

"This conference provided an opportunity for the world's brightest minds to gather together. In addition to the great debate between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr, scientists also held a secret meeting to discuss relevant information about the recently emerged 'unknown threat from another world.'"

"Nikola Tesla, despite his advanced age, traveled across the ocean to this place, bringing his research manuscripts to the scientists. He claimed to have created a 'death ray weapon' and successfully opened a thirteen-second rift to another world. There, he witnessed countless chaos and disasters, as well as the reminder of an unknown benevolent existence."

Rhodes looked at the manuscript under the glass. There were some knowledge related to the other world, but more of it described the horror and unpredictability of the creatures in the other world. It looked like the terrified ramblings of an old man after a nightmare... He could fully imagine the ridicule and misunderstanding Tesla would face at that meeting.

As he was reading, Rhodes suddenly felt the long-lost system knowledge pouring in, as if a cold hand was gripping his brain and kneading it continuously. The swelling pain from inside his body immediately spread along every nerve to his limbs - more knowledge of the other world emerged from the depths of his mind, and his physical fitness also improved slightly.

"Rod?" Looking at Rod's frown, Gomez asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

"crack……"

"what?"

"Extreme emotions originating from the depths of the souls of intelligent beings cause the inner world to tremble and tremble, bringing it into contact with the real world, blurring the boundaries between the inner and the outer, creating cracks and overflows."

Hearing Rod's whisper, Gomez opened his eyes slightly, tore off a page from the book next to him, took out a pen from the inside pocket of his vest and wanted to write it down, but just after writing a few words, he saw that Rod's face looked very bad.

"Let's leave here now. You look very bad," Gomez supported Rod, but suddenly found that the latter did not seem as strong as he had imagined, and even a little thin - how could this savior burst out with such power to destroy evil spirits and foreign objects?

"No... I'm fine," Rod waved his hand, rejecting Gomez's kindness. "Go on, I just have a headache."

After carefully observing Rod's condition, Gomez asked Rod to sit on the pile of gold coins, and took out a book from the display cabinet. The book was not very thick, but the cover had a picture of overlapping white snakes.

Gomez opened the book in front of Rod, and the Latin words on the pages glowed faintly. Rod then felt that the pain in his body seemed to be slightly relieved.

"It's the healing book of the otherworldly creature, Palvaran. Unfortunately, it can't truly cure illnesses. It can only make people feel better psychologically, like a placebo," Gomez forced a smile. "This is my collection. If you insist, then let's continue."

"please."

"In a secret meeting in 1927, Nikola Tesla defined 'another world where there is a threat of chaos' as 'the other world', meaning the other side of the real world."

Gomez put away the wooden box containing Tesla's manuscript, and while picking up the gold coins and putting them back in their place, he slowly recounted the history of the past:

"You should know that two years later, the economic depression that swept the world absorbed all of people's attention. Research on the other world, which had no support and was even ridiculed, immediately came to a standstill... After Tesla's death in 1936, research on the other world had to wait until 1948 before it could resume. But then, it encountered that idiot McCarthy."

"Wait, why did Tesla die in 1936?"

Rhode stretched out his hand to smooth his brows that had just been furrowed by pain. He exhaled slowly a few times before continuing:

"I remember he was..."

"Murdered," Gomez's voice was flat but cold. "He was murdered, and the prototype of the death ray weapon that opened the gap disappeared. My grandfather discovered his body and the hastily hidden manuscript, but unfortunately, the death ray weapon design had been burned."

Although the temperature inside Adams' treasure house was not low, Rhodes still felt a chill. He suppressed the sorrow and doubts in his heart and began to connect the discoveries he had made in recent times.

Half a minute later, Rhodes looked up and asked:

"Mobius Corporation?"

"Judging from Silent Hill and that Weasel Willy from the other day, they're just the most likely, but because of the era and the people involved, they might not be the ones. In any case, we're already far behind, Rod," Gomez said, meeting those azure eyes. "We need you, and you need us."

"I understand. We really can't waste any more time." Rhode stood up, the discomfort gradually fading as strength returned to his body. "Before dinner tonight, I will write down what I know about the other world and give it to you. And the day after tomorrow... tomorrow, I will leave here to prepare funds and recruit armed personnel."

"Oh?" Gomez raised his eyebrows slightly, his usual cynical and cunning smile returning to his face. "I thought you would do it quietly instead of telling me directly."

"Because I need your support, or rather—a business, Gomez?"

"Appreciate further details."

"I need your connections at major auction houses to help me with the antique auction, and it must remain confidential," Rhode quickly worked out the details of the plan. "Do you remember the wreck of the Margaret? I'm going to salvage her sister ship, the Lady Atoka."

"Regardless of whether you can find it or not, the cost of registering a salvage company, the salvage vessel, and all the specialized equipment alone is not cheap. It'll cost at least $300,000, and that depends on the location of the shipwreck. If it's deeper, the cost could double," Gomez warned, then smiled and asked, "Would you like me to sponsor you a little? Including the appraisal fees, the Adams Family will take 30% of the entire treasure trove."

"I can give you 30%, and I don't need your sponsorship, but you must keep it secret from Irons and other directors for at least one year," Rhodes said immediately.

"you……"

"It's not that I don't trust Ains, it's just to make things easier for the future," Rhodes said, spreading his hands with a somewhat helpless look on his face.

"I have no roots in the Foundation, Gomez. Once I become Chairman, I'll have to coordinate and manage the relationships and personnel of the directors. Without sufficient resources to prove my case, my words won't be convincing. This is a very realistic factor. You can't really let me replace Irons to lead Atlas, right? Moreover, for the next ten years, I'll even need to hide in the shadows of Atlas to protect myself."

If anything were to happen to the Cogito Foundation or Atlas Corporation in the future, Rhodes would have to maintain a sufficiently strong force as a backup, and vice versa.

This is something that both Gomez and Rod are well aware of.

In many cases, “believing in the wisdom of future generations” is itself a form of shirking responsibility...So what should we do when future generations say, “This is a problem left over from history”?

"Are you saying this as a friend?" Gomez asked.

"I'm speaking as a friend and business partner," Rod said, smiling and extending his hand to shake Gomez's. "We can work out a contract and a confidentiality agreement."

"Then I'd be happy to."

The smile on Gomez's face grew wider. He held Rod's hand tightly and said happily:

"I can't wait to see Irons' surprised expression!"

Wait, why do the directors of your foundation like to persecute Irons...

Chapter 47 Late Night Conspiracy (7/15)

In the middle of the night, the jackal came out of its den.

Sand Wolf White cautiously opened the door and quietly walked close to the wall. The wall lamp in the corridor emitted a weak, dim light, barely illuminating the path ahead. However, this provided considerable cover for the girl. She hid herself in the shadows, crouching like a wolf preparing to attack its prey. She was going to Rhode's bedroom.

Filled with a complex mix of apprehension, fear, and anticipation, the girl only dared to briefly consider the various possibilities that might arise after entering that room, lacking even the slightest courage to delve deeper... But it didn't matter; Bai Zi was already prepared.

She put on some cute lingerie.

The Adams Mansion was relatively quiet at night, with only the strange sound of wind passing through the corridor. Several slender black figures slipped into the cracks in the wall and disappeared without a trace before the girl approached. After walking like this for a few minutes, Bai Zi stood in front of Rhode's room.

After taking a few deep breaths, Bai Zi turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.

The room was full of people, and now they were all looking at Bai Zi.

"..."

Bai Zi closed the door with a stiff expression and turned around mechanically to walk back the way she came. However, before she took half a step, she was dragged into the room by Rhodes.

"Wait, Shiroko, your face—Ah! Why are you biting me?!"

Looking at the sullen Bai Zi, Rhode shook his palm, revealing a row of neat teeth marks. Furthermore, his waist bore several bruises from being pinched with varying degrees of force, and he even had a slap on his back from a tentacle.

"This is the fate of playing with a girl's heart. Be careful that one day someone will stab you to death at the entrance, or lock you up in the emperor's chambers and never see the sun again."

Little Red Riding Hood said this sinisterly, but she was immediately hit by the sofa cushion thrown by Rhode. She let out a cute cry and fell back into Noah's arms, while Rhode said unhappily:

"Don't say such horrible things."

After looking around at the girls sitting on the beds or chairs, Rhodes took out a few maps and spread them on the floor, and found a few chess pieces to use as marking points.

"My beautiful, lovely, yet moody ladies, we are officially beginning the process of raising funds and building our armed forces. First, we will provide precise empowerment to expand into new sectors in the industry and achieve greater and stronger business... Don't throw the pillow! That's the height I've adjusted. I can't sleep without it!"

"Ahem," Rhodes coughed lightly and started to talk about business:

"This is a map of Chicago, and that's where we're going next—Chicago! It's a metropolis with a long tradition of gangsters. We need to take a little money from those unjust people to achieve wealth redistribution and contribute to humanity's fight against the tide of the other world. Ahem, in short—we're going to rob a gangster bank."

Bai Zi's wolf ears immediately popped up, standing straight up, and his eyes gleamed with brilliance.

"I have no experience robbing a bank, and I'm sure none of you here have either, but yes!" Rhode pushed Baizi in front of everyone and rang a colorful flower behind her, saying with a smile, "Our Sand Wolf Baizi is very experienced in this! So, I'll only be responsible for arranging the retreat route. Next, she'll explain the preliminary preparations to us."

It's also for the sake of his own bicycle... Bai Zi took a deep breath, met the gazes of his companions, and said:

"A bank robbery is divided into three main phases: preparation, execution, and cleanup. The preparation phase can be further divided into observation, planning, and procurement of supplies..."

Listening to Bai Zi clearly describing her robbery experience, Cong Bai pointed at the map with her delicate fingers, as if with a tremendous amount of force. As she continued to speak, a nearly perfect robbery plan was slowly being outlined.

Looking at the chatty Baizi, Rhodes breathed a sigh of relief. He was actually a little worried that this Baizi might have the memory of the big Baizi (Albino·Terror) or be influenced by the latter, making his personality a little gloomier, but it seems that is not the case at the moment.