Ultimate Evolution I Became the Master of the World

"Hey, can you weld this thing shut? Doesn't have to be perfect, just seal it up," Michael said as he pulled up to a hardware store that was still open and asked the owner to weld the golden box shut.

As the owner got to work with the welder, the gold leaf on the box started to melt, and crimson blood began to seep out.

"What the heck? It's bleeding?" the shop owner exclaimed, clearly shocked.

"It's just chicken blood, used to ward off evil spirits," Michael lied smoothly.

"Got it." The shop owner didn't ask any more questions, as long as he was getting paid.

'If this thing isn't welded shut, the ghost's power will leak out. Good thing Ethan's ghost blood is keeping it in check for now, but that won't last forever. Once the blood runs out, the ghost will definitely escape again. I need to seal this gap to be safe,' Michael thought to himself.

Not wanting to take any chances, he had come straight to get the box welded shut. Any delay could mean the ghost escaping.

After paying, Michael took the box and headed back to his car.

"What's that? Looks important, like it's made of gold," Jane asked, curious.

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't. This is really important to me," Michael replied.

Jane was smart. Seeing Michael's serious expression, she didn't press any further.

Soon, they drove into a neighborhood.

"Come on in, make yourself at home. This is my rented place. I usually live alone, but you can stay here whenever you want," Jane said.

"I won't be here long. I'll leave in a few days. Also, keep my stuff confidential. Talking about it won't do you any good," Michael said seriously.

He was mainly worried Jane might spill the beans about the golden box. For now, it was his most precious possession.

"I'm gonna take a shower. Be yourself," Michael said.

Jane was taken aback. Shouldn't I be the one saying that?

"Can I borrow your car? I need to buy some stuff. I haven't had dinner yet," Jane asked.

"Sure, take it. I'm a bit hungry too," Michael replied.

"Okay, take your time showering. I'll be back soon," Jane said with a smile as she grabbed the car keys and left.

Michael watched her leave and thought for a moment. Having her around for a bit wasn't bad, and he had confirmed she wasn't a ghost.

Having someone to help with daily life was reassuring. Of course, in return, he had to ensure Jane's safety, at least while they were living together.

'By the way, if gold can restrain ghosts, then the demand for gold will skyrocket, and prices will keep rising. Ethan mentioned gold prices have been climbing fast recently. I have over ten million dollars in cash right now. If I don't need to use it immediately, I could try buying gold. Even if I don't make much, earning a couple of million dollars would be good.'

'Well, I can ask Jane about this later. She's an accountant and should know about finance,' he thought to himself.

While showering, Michael looked at the welded golden box and began planning his next steps.

'Ethan needs some time to contact buyers, but he mentioned a club that only Ghost Handlers can join. I need to look into that.'

'But the situation with Interpol seems more complicated than I thought. Besides finding a way to restrain the ghost's revival, my second goal is to figure out my stance and identity.'

'Should I become a free Ghost Handler and join that club, or should I willingly become an Interpol agent?'

Michael thought, 'This step is crucial, but the specific choice depends on the risks and benefits. Only by understanding the situation and comparing them can I make the right decision.'

He thought for a moment and decided to make a call to Interpol of Asia.

The operator was still Freya.

"Is this Michael?" Freya seemed to be eating something.

"Yeah, it's me," Michael replied.

"I got your action report today. The police in Astoria said you encountered a paranormal incident at Serenity Mall. How did it go?" Freya flipped through the report records and asked, "Did a new ghost show up?" Michael said, "Your intel is pretty solid. It hasn't even been two hours, and you've already got the news."

"That's because someone reported it. The police files are uploaded immediately. Also, the manager who accused you of extortion has been confirmed to have falsely accused you. He withdrew the case and admitted his mistake. He's been sentenced to six months in jail. You have no objections, right?" Freya said.

"I'm not an Interpol agent yet. What objections could I have? I've already resolved the paranormal incident. You don't need to worry. I called mainly to understand what Interpol is all about," Michael said.

Freya thought for a moment and said, "From what I know, Interpol agents are a special police force that keeps local security in check. They can mobilize all police forces in their area and even request military help if needed. They have a lot of operational freedom but have to stick to their city and handle all paranormal incidents there."

"Is that it?" Michael asked.

"You're asking about the perks, right?" Freya continued, "The benefits for Interpol agents vary by country. In Asia, besides the job-related perks, there's also a response allowance. Each paranormal incident is worth up to a million dollars. It starts from two hundred thousand, and one million is the latest standard. Plus, they get access to 220 pounds of gold. If they successfully contain a ghost, they earn a commendation, a ten million dollar reward, and an increase in their gold allocation. Free housing and care for relatives are local matters, so I won't go into detail."

"What about intel?" Michael asked, "Ghosts are popping up everywhere. Don't tell me countries aren't researching and analyzing them."

Freya replied, "That part is still experimental. I don't know much, but I can assure you that if any research results come out, you'll be the first to know." Hearing this, Michael pondered.

As expected, countries were researching this, but they hadn't made any breakthrough progress yet. They might have results but haven't disclosed them. However, the benefits of becoming an Interpol agent are indeed good. Although the money wasn't a lot, it's sufficient.

Most importantly, Interpol agents had high authority and status.

"What about the duties and responsibilities of becoming an Interpol agent?" Michael asked.

Freya replied, "If you want to become an Interpol agent, I can arrange for someone to contact you and fill you in on everything you want to know. But becoming a formal Interpol agent requires systematic training and a mental evaluation. It's not that easy.

Especially the mental evaluation, which is very important. I've asked about your mental state several times because, in most cases, those who handle ghosts are subtly influenced by them. This influence is irreversible. Some people are severely affected, leading to mental breakdowns, collapse, or even self-destruction."

"Some can't handle the mental pressure, leading to schizophrenia and becoming complete lunatics," she added.

"Are you saying that most Ghost Handlers are mentally unstable?" Michael frowned.

Freya replied, "No, you can't see them as unstable. Maybe, in their eyes, we're the ones who are abnormal. They've just been influenced by the ghosts, which you can understand, right? They don't even know they'll end up like this." "Also, our conversation records will be sent to a specialist for analysis to evaluate your mental state. I can assure you that your mental condition is good and you're not significantly influenced by the ghost. So, I hope you will become an Interpol agent and serve the country," Freya explained patiently.

"I'll think about it. Alright, that's it for today. I'll contact you if I have any more questions." Michael hung up the phone after asking.

Hearing Michael hang up, Freya's pen paused and she frowned.

Captain Alessio walked over and said in a deep voice, "Freya, how's Michael? He's very promising. Don't give up on him. Keep close. He just became a Ghost Handler and successfully resolved a paranormal incident. I read the report, it's impressive. Containing a high-level ghost within half an hour is something even experienced agents can't always do."

"Although he collaborated with that Ghost Handler named Ethan, we can't deny his contribution," he added.

He had a few photos in his hand, all taken by surveillance cameras. One of them showed Michael getting out of the car to weld the golden box shut. "Captain, he's already in contact with other Ghost Handlers. He might be wavering and may not join Interpol smoothly," Freya said.

"But he doesn't dislike Interpol, right? After all, Nikolai saved his life. He has a good impression of Interpol, I can sense that. If it were someone else, they might curse Interpol. Some even want to strangle the operator," Alessio laughed. Freya said, "You're right, Captain. I'll make sure to recruit Michael into Interpol."

Alessio said, "Be mindful of the approach, especially regarding his mental state. The mental pressure of being a Ghost Handler is immense. Knowing they're close to death, people can easily go down the wrong path. You can't force Michael to comply, start with mutually beneficial cooperation. It's working well so far."

Then he added, "He's not an Interpol agent yet, but he helped the country resolve a paranormal incident. If he poses no threat, you can maintain this cooperative relationship until he's willing to join Interpol."