Five days passed, and Russell successfully acquired the duplex apartment in Yulong Garden. All other procedures, including the transfer of ownership, were completed with remarkable speed, thanks to the "enthusiastic" help of Director He. It's undeniable: having connections in high places has always made things significantly easier, and it's no wonder that so many people in today's society are drawn to the allure of power.

In retrospect, keeping Director He close felt like a strategic move for Russell. In modern society, mere physical power is insufficient when faced with military might and a large police presence dedicated to maintaining stability.

Stepping once again into the expensive square footage of his new duplex, Russell felt a rush of sentiments. Once upon a time, he scrupulously calculated how to spend a hundred or so yuan. Now, he had spent over seven million yuan in the blink of an eye, acquiring only a duplex spread over two floors totaling just over two hundred square meters.

Had this hefty sum been spent back in his hometown, it would have easily built a twenty-story building, not just two floors. Such was the disparity.

Of course, the satisfaction and comfort that came with spending a substantial amount were profoundly different.

The lower floor featured a spacious master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a guest room, a small study, two living areas, and two balconies. Although not large, the overall layout and design were suitable and practical.

Upstairs, accessible by a spiral staircase, a "magnificent" swimming pool greeted the eye.

The pool, measuring 9 by 13 meters and only 0.3 meters deep, occupied almost the entire upper floor, leaving a 50-centimeter-wide edge around it for walking. The drainage, water supply, and water circulation systems were well-implemented.

Once filled with water, it would become a classic indoor fish pond—something Russell had been eagerly waiting for.

Choosing this location for the fish pond was far more discreet than planning to build it in Sister He’s villa backyard.

The windows of this floor were made of frosted opaque glass, styled with blinds. When tilted slightly downwards, anyone outside would see nothing unless they pressed their eyes close to the window.

The door between the lower and upper floors was an advanced high-tech alloy steel door.

It required no keys, only palm print or retina recognition, completing the process in a mere second. Convenient and safe, there was no other way to access the upper floor without destroying the door—an unlikely feat without triggering Yulong Garden’s vigilant security.

More importantly, Lu Deshuang had perfectly implemented the most crucial "set point" Russell had specified: an escape route for the Ice Crystal Fish.

If the fish detected danger, it could retreat through a concealed escape route, hiding deep within the floor layers.

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Without extreme measures like breaking open the floor, capturing it would be impossible. Even if someone attempted such force, Yulong Garden's security would quickly respond.

The escape route was essential due to the Ice Crystal Fish's rarity.

Russell was confident that aside from the one fish he owned, no others existed on Earth. If it were taken, his efforts in cultivation would be in vain. This was why he had invested so heavily, deliberating where to place the fish pond in Yulong Garden.

Russell spent the entire morning on the new home's layout and decor. Sister He's arrival further assisted in selecting furniture and other decorations.

By afternoon, under the influence of financial power, the two-story duplex had been redecorated to be more pleasing. The lower floor embraced a cream and light yellow fabric theme, creating a brighter, warmer atmosphere. As for the upstairs fish pond, Russell made a call to summon craftsmen from the previous workshop, who used machinery to engrave pre-designed patterns onto the pool's floor.

By dusk, with nightfall approaching, Russell's intricate "Heavenly Witch Spirit Trap Array" was finally complete with all its complex steps.

In constructing the array pattern, machines delivered precision and efficiency surpassing even ancient masters, greatly enhancing the setup!

"Ah Ming, are you sure there's no problem with this duplex? I've heard many rumors about it, saying it’s haunted and noisy at night. Otherwise, why would the previous owner sell it so cheaply yet have no takers?"

When it comes to ghostly tales, no matter how outstanding and unique women are, they all share one common trait: fear.

"No worries, I've told you before, my grandfather's grandfather was a disciple of Zhong Kui, the Heavenly Master. I'm naturally not afraid of such minor things; I can really catch..." Russell boasted loudly without a script.

"Stop it, stop it... I don't want to hear it." Hera suddenly became frightened, covering her ears, shaking her head until Russell ceased speaking. She playfully hit her mischievous younger brother, chiding, "You’re just trying to scare your sister on purpose, right? I see through you."

"Hehe." Russell scratched his head, laughing. He hadn't expected Sister He to show such a charmingly girlish side, which he found quite endearing. Her teasing demeanor almost short-circuited his brain.

"All you do is smile foolishly." Hera found herself helpless against this cheeky brother. Checking the time, she hesitantly said, "Ah Ming, I can't have dinner with you tonight for your new home. I need to head back and work on plans. Don’t push yourself too hard tonight; if you’re scared, you can stay at my place, I won't ridicule you."

"Oh." A faint disappointment arose as Russell sent Hera off, but upon returning upstairs, the disappointment vanished.

His face showed only mild excitement; this was a crucial moment in completing the Spirit Trap Array. Despite his confidence in the machines' precision, it was his first attempt, so he felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

He stepped into the shallow pool's bottom, protected by multiple waterproof layers. The topmost layer was etched with arcane, complex glyphs, with four rectangular slots left at each corner of the pool.

These slots were clearly for embedding the array's focal stones—yes, focal stones. The Heavenly Witch Spirit Trap was the simplest of arrays, having no primary focal point, relying on the four secondary stones set in the pool's corners.

With a mixture of trepidation and determination, Russell placed the stones one by one until the last was secured in its slot.

Immediately, the room transformed. The array's center caused a soft blue-green glow to emanate from the pool's corners. As Russell gaped and Caesar's expression grew serious...

A "hum" reverberated, seemingly expanding in his mind, as a lush green barrier enveloped the entire fish pond.

Then—intense winds erupted!

At the instant the barrier formed, external airflow, beyond the blinds, was drawn in by the array, creating a small yet fierce whirlwind, sucked into the pond by an invisible force.