Chapter 52: Floating Secret Gold

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Floating Secret Gold

Seraphina Sinclair’s fingertips tightened on the bamboo pole, her knuckles turning white.

The speck of golden light flickered in the depths, like a will-o’-the-wisp luring a traveler through the night.

Her pupils dilated unconsciously, her breath growing long and slow. A strange craving crawled up her spine, like countless tiny ants gnawing at her sanity.

"Catch it... I have to catch it..."

She heard herself murmur aloud, the voice so unfamiliar it didn’t sound like her own, yet she didn’t notice.

The bamboo pole extended forward, sending a ripple across the surface of the black water.

Just as the net was about to touch the golden light, the speck of light suddenly shot backward for the third time!

Seraphina Sinclair gritted her teeth and forcefully thrust her arm forward to follow it. She still couldn’t reach the light, but half her body was already hanging out the door.

The black mist churned beneath her feet, giving off the stench of rotting seaweed. This was the first time she had smelled the black water.

DRIP.

A drop of sweat fell into the black water, creating an almost imperceptible ripple.

’Can I still reach it?’

’It’s okay if I can’t. I can just get in the water and grab it...’

’I can just get in the water and grab it...’

’Get in the water...?’

The thought made Seraphina Sinclair break out in a cold sweat.

She frowned, instinctively took a few steps back, and plopped down on the floor.

Seraphina Sinclair shook her groggy head, narrowed her eyes, and even dropped the net to give herself a hard slap.

The fiery sting on her cheek jolted her nerves, and she finally realized that something was very wrong with her state of mind.

’Was that even me just now? Even if I wanted to know what that thing was, there’s no way I’d ever come up with an idea like ’jump in the water to grab it’!’

She knew perfectly well how dangerous the black water was!

Whether she would float or sink straight to the bottom upon jumping in was a gamble with her life.

’Did I really just think about jumping in?’

The night wind blew into the mobile cabin through the open door, sweeping over Seraphina Sinclair’s sweat-drenched body and making her feel even colder.

She took a few deep breaths, and her muddled head finally began to clear.

’What was that all about?’

’The golden light?’

Seraphina Sinclair mustered her courage and took a very careful peek, but her eyes widened the next moment.

The golden light! It... It was floating right at the water’s edge!

It was as if it were taunting her!

This time, however, aside from thinking the golden light was being exceptionally cheeky, Seraphina Sinclair felt none of the overwhelming compulsion to catch it.

’This must be the Spiritual Pollution that [Water Stopping] mentioned, right?’

’It’s actually a little terrifying.’

’Water Stopping has to be activated by use. I wasn’t under its effects just now, so is that why I was so easily bewitched by this thing?’

Seraphina Sinclair frowned, took an item out of her Silver Moon Earrings, and then put it back in.

The fogginess in her head instantly began to clear.

She’d given up on the idea before, but now, with Water Stopping active, she was once again curious to see what that thing was.

Seraphina Sinclair turned her head and glanced at the golden light.

It was still bobbing at the water’s edge closest to her, seemingly without a care.

Seraphina Sinclair quietly tightened her grip on the bamboo pole, her fingertips trembling slightly.

She took a deep breath, feeling the effects of Water Stopping. Her thoughts were now as calm as a frozen lake; she definitely wouldn’t be influenced again.

The speck of golden light cruised near the water’s surface, as if performing a provocative dance.

"I’m not falling for your tricks this time..."

Seraphina Sinclair murmured in a low voice, but her body moved as if to close the door. After getting closer, she suddenly burst into action, her other hand plunging the net into the water like a bolt of lightning!

SPLASH—!

Black water splashed everywhere. This time!

The net accurately enveloped the golden gleam.

The golden light began to struggle violently, dragging the bamboo pole and carving sharp ripples across the water’s surface.

Seraphina Sinclair almost lost her grip. She quickly braced her knee against the doorframe for leverage, grabbing the bamboo pole with both hands to match its strength!

The thing’s body was tiny, but its strength was astonishing. For a moment, it was locked in a stalemate with her.

Seraphina Sinclair gritted her teeth, the crease between her brows deepening. ’I could let it go when I failed to catch you before, but now you’re in the net...’

’And you still think you can run?!’

If she let this thing get away today, she would be so ashamed she’d have to spell her name backward from now on.

"Get up here!"

Seraphina Sinclair shouted and gave a mighty heave with all her strength. Unfortunately, the golden light exerted its own force, and they were back at a stalemate.

Seraphina Sinclair was exasperated. She focused her strength into one arm, used her free hand to pull a dagger from her Silver Moon Earrings, and clamped it between her teeth before gripping the pole with both hands again.

’This should count as ’using’ it, right?’

Strength +2!

With another powerful tug, Seraphina Sinclair hauled a glob of viscous golden liquid out of the water. It writhed frantically in the net.

In that first, sudden glance, Seraphina Sinclair didn’t get a clear look, only a rough impression of the thing’s appearance. It looked like a liquid, but it was also viscous, almost like...

Liquid metal!

Seraphina Sinclair immediately used her hands and feet to pin the net down. "Now... you can’t run away, can you!"

As if confirming her success, the system sent a notification.

[Acquired "Floating Secret Gold (B+)" x1]

B+!

Seraphina Sinclair’s eyes widened. Before she could even inspect it, the glob of liquid suddenly burst with a POP, transforming into countless golden needles that shot toward her face!

She instinctively tilted her head. A few strands of her hair were snipped off at the root, and a bloody scratch was scraped across her cheek.

’I already ’acquired’ it, so how can it still be hostile?!’

The golden liquid reformed in mid-air and shot toward the open door with a WHOOSH!

Seraphina Sinclair paused for a fraction of a second, then immediately lunged forward. Taking advantage of her height and reach, she dove and slammed the door shut!

BANG!

The ball of Secret Gold slammed hard against the door, letting out a resonant hum like a striking chime.

It shot around the room like a headless fly, making banging noises as it hit things, but it seemed to be restricted somehow and didn’t attack Seraphina Sinclair again.

Seraphina Sinclair let out a sigh of relief and muttered, "That thing’s pretty fierce..."

’I need to find something to lock it in.’

Seraphina Sinclair’s gaze swept around the cabin for a moment. Then, in a flash of inspiration, she remembered an unused iron bucket in the bathroom.

It was a freebie she’d received last time she sold some information, just like the mineral water.

Seraphina Sinclair dashed to the bathroom and back. Grabbing the iron bucket, she took a flying leap and accurately trapped the scurrying golden light beneath it.

The sound of THUD THUD impacts immediately came from inside the bucket, and the whole thing jumped and rattled on the floor.

Seraphina Sinclair threw her whole body on top of it, pressing her knees firmly against the bucket. Just as she was struggling with what to do next, she suddenly saw a system notification:

[Floating Secret Gold (B+) has been successfully contained.]

’Successfully contained?’

’What does that mean?’

Before Seraphina Sinclair could make heads or tails of it, she felt the bucket go still.

She wanted to lift it to take a look but was worried the thing would attack her again. After a moment of hesitation, she lifted it just enough to open a small crack.

As if it had been terribly wronged, the glob of liquid rolled out from the crack. It had shrunk to the size of a quail’s egg and was glowing faintly, looking pitiful.

Seraphina Sinclair paused. Frowning, she raised her hand and poked it with her dagger. It immediately wrapped itself around the tip of the blade in a fawning manner, transforming the dagger into a flowing, golden short blade.