I am the creator of New Life on the Earth
Chapter 176: The Crystal and the Device

Chapter 176: The Crystal and the Device

Chapter: The Crystal and the Device

The agent stood outside the glass chamber, his gaze fixed on the figures lying unconscious inside.

The room’s sterile light reflected off the glass, creating a faint glare that added to the surreal atmosphere.

His brow furrowed as he turned toward Ranger Logan, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Did you capture all three of them yourself?" he asked, his words slow and measured.

Without looking at him, Logan nodded. "Yes," he replied.

"I neutralized all three." His tone was casual, almost dismissive, as though the feat was unremarkable. "I thought they’d put up more of a fight, but there wasn’t much to them."

The agent’s eyes widened, his astonishment evident. He opened his mouth to respond, but Logan’s next words stopped him cold.

"They were nothing compared to the vampire lord," Logan added, his tone still calm. "Now that was a real fight. He was inexperienced, sure, but taking him down was... enjoyable."

The agent felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. His eyes darted toward Logan, who stood as composed as ever.

The agent’s voice trembled as he spoke. "What did you just say?" he asked, barely able to form the words. "Did you kill the vampire lord?"

Logan’s expression didn’t change. "Yes," he said matter-of-factly. "I didn’t receive an order to do so, but I was tired of his antics."

The agent’s heart pounded in his chest. "You should’ve informed the government first!" he exclaimed, his voice rising.

"Do you have any idea how long we’ve been planning to neutralize him? The amount of work, the meetings, the headaches? At the very least, the President could’ve used this to make a statement! We could’ve told the world that we eliminated a threat to the nation."

Logan finally turned to face him, raising his hands in a gesture of mock confusion. "I do things my way," he said, his tone completely devoid of apology. "That’s how I’ve always operated."

The agent clenched his fists, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface. He forced himself to remain composed, the memory of Logan’s earlier display of strength still fresh in his mind. He couldn’t afford to provoke him again.

But as the frustration churned within him, a new thought began to take shape. Wait a second, he realized.

Logan didn’t tell anyone about this. He didn’t report it, and no one else knows what happened.

A slow, sly smile spread across the agent’s face as an idea began to form. I could take credit for this.

If I spin the story right, I could claim this success as my own. The government would promote me for sure. Maybe even give me a higher position.

Lost in his thoughts, the agent began to chuckle softly to himself. His shoulders shook slightly as the absurdity of the situation gave way to the thrill of his newfound plan.

Logan’s sharp eyes caught the change in the agent’s demeanor. He turned slightly, his gaze narrowing as he observed the man’s subtle yet obvious smirk.

"You’re plotting something," Logan said flatly, his voice cutting through the agent’s thoughts like a blade.

The agent froze, his grin vanishing in an instant. He raised his hands defensively, stepping back from Logan. "No, no, you’ve got it all wrong," he stammered, his voice unconvincing.

Logan took a step closer, his imposing presence making the agent flinch. "I don’t care what schemes you’re cooking up," he said, his voice low and menacing.

"But let me make one thing clear. If any of your plans involve crossing me, I’ll hunt you down. Even if you’re in the depths of hell, I’ll find you. And I’ll make sure your punishment is something you remember long after you’re dead."

The agent’s face turned pale, his hands trembling as he tried to compose himself. "I-I understand," he stammered, nodding vigorously.

Logan gave him one final look, his dark eyes cold and unyielding.

The agent exhaled shakily, wiping the sweat from his brow. His earlier confidence was shattered, replaced by the lingering fear of Logan’s threat.

Still, the spark of ambition remained in his heart, flickering defiantly. If I play my cards right, he thought, I’ll come out on top.

Inside the glass chamber, the unconscious Power Holders and vampires lay motionless, oblivious to the schemes and conflicts brewing outside.

The hum of the machines filled the silence, a stark reminder of the experiments that continued without pause.

The tension in the Central Vista deepened as a scientist in a pristine white lab coat approached Ranger Logan.

In his hands, he carried a small, square device, polished white and equipped with a screen embedded in its center.

At the top of the device, a sleek, white antenna extended slightly, gleaming under the bright lights of the lab.

The scientist stopped in front of Logan, holding the device up for him to inspect. His voice was steady but carried a hint of excitement.

"Ranger Logan, based on all the tests we’ve conducted so far, this device appears stable and is functioning as intended."

Behind Logan, the black-suited agent, now introduced as George, took a step forward, his curiosity piqued. "Can you explain how this works?" he asked, his tone sharp but professional.

The scientist turned his head, glancing at George briefly before looking back at Logan, silently seeking permission. Logan gave a slight nod, signaling the scientist to proceed.

The scientist acknowledged Logan’s gesture and turned to face George. "Very well," he began, his voice measured as he prepared to explain the intricacies of the device.

However, there was an unmistakable air of formality in his tone as he addressed George. "Mr..." he trailed off, clearly fishing for the agent’s name.

George, catching the hint, straightened his posture and gave a small, practiced smile. "My apologies for not introducing myself earlier," he said. "My name is George."

The scientist nodded politely before continuing.

"Mr. George, through extensive studies, we’ve discovered something fascinating about the Power Holders we’ve encountered. Each one of them has a small crystal embedded in their chest."

"A crystal?" George echoed, his brows furrowing in surprise. "What kind of crystal are we talking about?"

The scientist adjusted his glasses and took a step closer to George, holding the device firmly in his hands.

"We don’t yet fully understand all of its properties," he admitted,

"but what we do know is that this crystal functions like a battery within their bodies. It absorbs and distributes energy, enabling these individuals to perform extraordinary feats. These skills are unlike anything natural—they’re entirely derived from this crystal."

George’s eyes widened as he processed the information. "And what does this crystal have to do with the device?"

The scientist’s lips curled into a faint smile, sensing George’s growing intrigue. "We’ve performed extensive tests on these crystals," he explained.

"By analyzing their properties and conducting a series of rigorous experiments, we’ve developed this device. It emits a web-like signal capable of detecting these crystals."

He held the device up for emphasis and pressed a button near the bottom of the screen. The screen lit up, displaying what appeared to be a radar interface. A moment later, a small red dot began to blink on the left side of the display.

George leaned forward, his eyes locked on the screen. "What is that?" he asked, his voice tinged with awe.

The scientist turned slightly, angling the device toward his left. "That," he said, "is a signal from the crystal embedded in Ranger Logan."

As the device came closer to Logan, the blinking red dot grew brighter, and the machine emitted a steady, rhythmic beeping sound. The closer it got to Logan, the louder and faster the beeping became.

George instinctively turned to look at Logan, who stood motionless, his face unreadable as the device confirmed his crystal’s presence.

George’s astonishment quickly turned into excitement. "This is incredible," he said, his voice nearly giddy. "You’ve created something truly remarkable! With this technology, we can locate any Power Holder, anywhere. This changes everything!"

The scientist gave a small, humble smile in response. "Thank you," he said, "but I must caution you—this technology is far from foolproof. There are still significant limitations and flaws we need to address before it can be fully relied upon."

George nodded, though his excitement didn’t diminish. His mind raced with the potential applications of the device, already envisioning how it could be used to track down rogue Power Holders.

As the beeping of the device faded into the background, the atmosphere in the room remained charged with anticipation. Logan stood silently, his towering presence adding weight to the moment.

George, still holding back his true intentions, couldn’t help but marvel at the power now at their fingertips. If perfected, this device could be a game-changer, he thought.

The scientist, however, remained cautious. His expression, though calm, carried the burden of someone who knew that the most dangerous discoveries often came with unseen consequences.

And with that, the Chapter came to an end, leaving the fate of the new technology—and those it would affect—hanging in the balance.