[Chapter 255: Updates]
On the way back, Michael was unusually quiet. He occasionally stole glances at Daniel, who sat beside him with his eyes closed.
Michael knew that in this world, money and status could buy many things. But they absolutely could not buy the kind of transcendent power he had just witnessed.
"Mr. Cross," Michael suddenly spoke, his voice a bit raspy. "I think... I need some long-term protection. No matter the price, I want to hire you as my personal occult consultant."
Daniel opened his eyes, a playful curve tugging at the corner of his mouth. "What you really want isn't an occult consultant; it's protection for your life, isn't it?"
Michael gave a bitter smile. "Yes. You should have heard about my current situation."
Daniel nodded. "Yes, I'm well aware."
"So, can you help me?" Michael asked hopefully.
"I can't offer any help with your circumstances directly. But..." Daniel flipped his hand, producing several Seals and a bracelet. "When your life is in danger, these can save you a few times."
Michael's eyes lit up. "How much?"
Daniel smiled. "Consider it payment for bringing me here."
Michael was stunned. This was the first time he'd met someone like Daniel. It completely overturned his worldview.
"Thank you, Mr. Cross." Michael took the items and thanked him with utmost sincerity.
...
When the plane landed at Los Angeles airport, it was already late at night. Before parting, Daniel said, "In 2009, you will face a great calamity. Whether you survive it depends on your own destiny."
Michael's whole body trembled. He hurriedly asked, "Mr. Cross, can I request your help when that time comes?"
Daniel smiled. "Perhaps. We'll see when the time comes."
Although Daniel didn't give a direct yes, he didn't clearly refuse either.
Hope swelled in Michael's heart as he thanked Daniel once more.
"I'm off." Daniel turned away, waving casually without looking back. After a few steps, he vanished from Michael's sight.
"Si... Sir..." Only after Daniel was gone did a bodyguard finally speak. "Who is this Mr. Cross? How... how can he fly?!"
Even though Daniel was out of sight, Michael kept staring in the direction he had left.
"I don't know," Michael said softly, "but I feel like he's my savior."
...
Late that night, in Beverly Hills, Daniel's figure silently descended into the villa's garden.
Returning to the living room, the house was very quiet. He took out his phone to check. The screen was still surrounded by a faint pink glow -- the sign of Chris's evolution. Three days had passed, and she still showed no signs of waking.
Daniel walked into the study and took out a crystal bottle containing Primordial Regenerative Marrow. Inside, a silver-gray liquid swayed softly under the light, exuding a vitality that quickened the heartbeat.
This kind of material was practically a miracle.
He recalled the Sacred Alchemical Transmutation in his mind and focused on a formula called the "Regenerative Elixir."
[Regenerative Elixir: Grade Five Elixir.]
[Effect: Brings dead flesh back to life and restores tissue to bare bone. As long as the recipient retains even a single breath of life, missing limbs and destroyed organs can regenerate within a short time.]
Although Daniel also had some other healing elixirs whose effects were miraculous by modern standards, they paled in comparison to the Regenerative Elixir.
The Regenerative Elixir was true life-saving divine medicine.
And Primordial Regenerative Marrow was its essential main ingredient.
This elixir was a formula Daniel only obtained after upgrading his Sacred Alchemical Transmutation to Grade Five. He hadn't expected to acquire its main ingredient so quickly.
Daniel pulled out pen and paper and quickly listed over a dozen auxiliary materials: Millennium Mandrake Root, Phoenix Tendril Vine, Frost Lotus Rhizome, Everflame Blossom, Morning Dew of the Vernal Equinox...
While still rare, these auxiliary herbs were easier to find than the main ingredient.
At this hour, it should be morning across the Atlantic.
...
Daniel dialed Marcus Hale's number.
The phone rang a few times before Marcus answered quickly.
"Mr. Cross, why are you calling so late? It must be the middle of the night in Los Angeles, right?" Marcus's voice held a hint of surprise.
Daniel got straight to the point. "Marcus, I sent you a list in the forum. I need as many of those medicinal herbs as you can get."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
A few minutes later, Marcus's tone turned solemn. "Mr. Cross, the items on this list... they're a bit tricky."
"How so?" Daniel asked.
"Millennium Mandrake Root, Phoenix Tendril Vine, and Morning Dew of the Vernal Equinox are manageable -- I know where to find them. But Frost Lotus Rhizome and Everflame Blossom? I've never heard of those. I'll have to ask my grandfather."
"Fine," Daniel said calmly. "Get back to me as soon as you can."
...
The next day, Daniel awoke to a new email from Marcus.
Marcus had barely managed to identify those herbs, but they were just as rare and required proper inquiries within his circles. He promised to contact Daniel immediately when there was news.
Daniel felt somewhat helpless. Finding a few such medicinal herbs was extremely difficult in this age. And these weren't even the main ingredients.
If he had tasked Marcus with finding the Primordial Regenerative Marrow, he likely wouldn't find it in a lifetime.
---
Amanda Seyfried and Jessica Alba had been very busy lately. Even though their work was just voice acting, both performed with exceptional professionalism.
To fit their roles in Happy Feet and Cars, they not only hired specialized vocal coaches but attended several deep-dive voice acting technique classes.
This kind of family-friendly animated blockbuster, though it didn't require them to appear on-screen, had an immense lasting impact.
Amanda understood this very well.
Especially since V for Vendetta had finished editing and entered the promotion phase, scheduled for a December release. She needed to maintain her popularity, waiting for the year-end explosion.
...
In New York, Anne Hathaway had officially joined the cast of The Devil Wears Prada.
Molly's briefing mentioned Anne's state was surprisingly good. Even under the pressure of Meryl Streep's commanding presence, she still held her own flawlessly in scenes.
...
Rachel's Walk the Line was leading the pack. Post-production was nearing completion. To push for awards season, 20th Century Fox moved the release date up to mid-November.
Rachel was now known as Hollywood's recognized "Hardworker," turning down all parties to focus fully on post-production ADR.
...
As for Miranda, life seemed to have returned to where it started.
She still went to work at the hospital every day, handling tedious cases.
But in the eyes of others, this female director was becoming more and more captivating.
After taking the Elixirs, her skin glowed with an ebony-like radiance. Every gesture exuded a charm unique to mature women.
And this charm, when facing Daniel, transformed into extreme tenderness.
Daniel's Body Enhancement had now reached the fourth tier, and his physical strength and explosive power far exceeded those of ordinary people.
Every intimate moment was a challenge for Miranda, both physically and mentally.
Her original sharpness as a career woman was shattered before Daniel's powerful physique.
Now, she was becoming increasingly submissive to Daniel, even bordering on blind obsession.
*****
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