Inside a rental apartment.

A blank whiteboard stood before Reinhard. Although he didn’t understand the Golden Trident’s purpose, since it was in his hands, he had to figure out all the related information.

“This Trident must be a key item. If I want to take the initiative, I need to ensure I have enough information,” he mused, tapping a pen against his chin.

“So, what is Nessus? What are the Pillars of Hercules?”

Reinhard browsed online, finally finding a map—a primitive world map drawn by Herodotus, the father of Greek history, after visiting various parts of the world and interviewing ancient priests.

Reinhard stared at the map for hours, and finally, in the easternmost part of the map, he found a name!

“Pillars of Hercules.”

It was a cylindrical landmass, surrounded by two oceans, resembling a pillar connecting two continents.

As Reinhard’s finger traced downwards from the Pillars of Hercules, he suddenly saw another name below it!

“Atlantis.”

Reinhard tried comparing it with a modern world map, but finding its corresponding location was too difficult.

This was a map made from oral accounts over ten thousand years ago.

Finding its equivalent on a modern map, although possible, was only an approximation, and may not be accurate.

Reinhard looked at the whiteboard. Besides this map, he’d found a lot of related information.

First, Atlantis existed 11,600 years ago.

Second, Nessus, in ancient Greek, meant island, but it also meant a land surrounded by water.

Third, Atlantis possessed a power that was far ahead of its time.

Fourth, the king of Atlantis came from the North Mountain. His name was Atlas. He was the son of Poseidon.

Fifth, there were many other islands around Atlantis, ruled by more than ten kings. These kingdoms also possessed advanced technology beyond their time, similar to Atlantis.

Sixth, Atlantis launched a war of aggression. Just as they were about to destroy ancient athens, Zeus, the king of the gods, unleashed earthquakes and floods, destroying their arrogant kingdom.

It became a place that “ships” couldn’t reach.

Reinhard twirled his pen, his mind racing. He had read many stories, and many of them had something in common.

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They all mentioned this:

“The ocean was navigable back then.”

“Now, Atlantis is a place ‘ships’ can’t reach.”

“But most stories say Atlantis was an island, swallowed by earthquakes and floods, sinking to the bottom of the sea.”

“But if it sank to the bottom of the sea, why would ships be unable to reach it?”

“Does it simply mean that ships can’t dive that deep?”

“Maybe not, because the text also mentioned that the ocean was ‘navigable back then.’”

“The ocean back then…”

“Ships can’t reach…”

“Could it be that… Atlantis is actually on land?”

Reinhard quickly wrote this hypothesis on the whiteboard. “If Atlantis isn’t in the sea at all, then everyone searching for it in the sea, how could they find it?”

“And if it’s on land, then the location of the Pillars of Hercules…”

Knock, knock, knock.

At that moment, a rapid knocking suddenly came from outside his apartment door.

“Who is it?”

Reinhard tentatively called out.

“Checking the water meter.”

A voice came from outside.

Reinhard frowned. He instinctively grabbed the Golden Trident and retreated to the window. “Why don’t you check next door first?”

“Already checked next door.”

Reinhard didn’t hesitate. He opened the window, turned around, and jumped!

He’d deliberately chosen the second floor. And the window was facing the street. He could escape immediately if anything happened.

And the moment Reinhard jumped, the knocking on the door became more violent!

Bang!

With a loud bang, the door to his apartment was kicked open.

A black-robed figure entered the room, but there was no one there.

Seeing this, the black-robed person suddenly opened his mouth and let out a strange hiss.

“Found you.”

Then, the black-robed person rushed to the window and jumped onto the street.

He seemed to know where to go and quickly charged forward.

In just a few steps, the person in black saw Reinhard running away with the Trident!

Reinhard also noticed the person in black. “That speed?!”

Either a vampire, or a Fish-Man!

Definitely not human!

“The strange howl just now… 80% chance it’s a Fish-Man!”

Why are they after me?

Is it for the Trident?

Just as Reinhard was wondering, the man in black caught up instantly!

Reinhard reacted, stopped, turned around, and presented the Trident with both hands.

“Are you looking for this? Here you go.”

Vespa was stunned. He was indeed looking for the Trident. He was ordered by the Sea King and had even received the coordinates from him.

But facing Reinhard, Vespa hesitated and took a step back.

He wasn’t sure about Reinhard.

This person was able to escape before he arrived. He must not be ordinary.

“He’s so readily handing over the Trident now. He’s probably trying to lure me into a false sense of security, to catch me off guard. Such a deep scheme.”

Vespa often used this tactic himself, feigning weakness to lure the enemy, then striking.

Now, facing a similar situation, how could he not be cautious?

Better safe than sorry.

“Put it on the ground.”

Reinhard didn’t hesitate. He swung his arms and slammed the Trident into the ground.

He even retreated?

Vespa frowned. “He’s giving in so easily, yet he shows no fear. There must be something wrong with the Trident itself. He’s probably afraid I’ll fall for some trap. I see, clever!”

Reinhard blinked. “What is he spacing out for?”

Reinhard, of course, wasn't hiding anything. He really just wanted to give the Trident to Vespa.

Because, to Reinhard, the Trident was a hot potato. Everyone wanted it!

“I’ve already given him the Trident. Why is he still looking at me? Is he thinking about how to kill me and silence me?”

Thinking this, Reinhard cautiously extended his foot and gently kicked the Trident toward Vespa's feet.

Vespa immediately backed away!

Huh?

What do you mean, dude?

Aren’t you here for the Trident? Take it!

Vespa was now dripping with sweat. “What a sinister fellow. The Sea King’s mission really isn’t that simple.”

As a legendary Fish-Man, Vespa had been undertaking missions of increasing difficulty since his debut.

His missions started hard and kept getting harder!

How could this one be simple?

“…I wasn’t even this nervous when I infiltrated the Serpent’s Hand headquarters. This opponent is truly terrifying.”