Chapter 785: Coincidental encounter

Michael couldn’t hide the surprise in his eyes as he recognized the woman surfacing up with the Mermen and Mermaids from under the lake.

Those piercing blue eyes, sharp nose, and an air of mystery around them... there was no mistaking it. This was the very same woman from the day before! She was the one who retrieved the professor and claimed to be his daughter!

A gentle splash disturbed the water as the group finally surfaced and landed on the grassy shores of the lake.

"Princess Octavia apologizes for not being able to help you with your problem," said one of the Mermen, bowing to the woman.

"It’s alright. I appreciate all the help she has given me," she replied.

And it was at that moment that they all finally realized that they weren’t the only ones there.

They turned around and saw a blond-haired kid, about thirteen years old, looking at them with curious–if not shocked–eyes.

Recognition flashed across the Mermen and Mermaids’ faces as they stared at Michael. They remembered him from his visit the other day.

"Ah! What a coincidence!" said one of the Mermen. "Lady Katarina, this is precisely who we were speaking about before. He was the one who accompanied the professor during his visit to our little underwater city."

Katarina turned towards Michael, eyebrows raised. She was clearly surprised to see him, but not an unwelcome one.

Just as she said to the members of the organization, she was going to investigate everything that her father did during his visit to New Sparta. And of course, this included his brief meeting with Princess Octavia.

She retraced his steps, speaking to the same people that her father spoke to, in the hopes that she could get some clues about this mysterious protege called ’Keo’.

And it seemed that the goddess of luck answered her prayers as the person himself coincidentally appeared on the lake just as she was about to leave.

"Keo, this is Katarina," said one of the Mermen, introducing the two. "She is one of the professor’s colleagues in one of the schools he was teaching in. She was just trying to find you."

Michael raised his eyebrows. "Teaching? The professor? I don’t remember him doing that," he said.

Despite his title, Professor Lichtenstein wasn’t the type of person to teach in a school or university. Anyone would know that.

"I don’t seem to recall him having a protege either," she replied, matching his gaze.

Eventually, she gave out her hand to him.

"Hello, my name is Katarina Petrovich, and I believe this is the first time that we have met," she said, introducing herself.

Michael looked at her and finally remembered—she was in a disguise when she appeared that night. That was why she was going through with this ruse.

She used her cultivation as a Nascent Spirit Maugnetic to change her face to become unrecognizable to her true one.

So, she thought that Michael hadn’t recognized her and that in his perspective, this was the first time they had met.

But thanks to his Drone Vision, he saw right through her disguise. He knew her true face, and it was exactly the face he was looking at now.

Michael slowly held out his hand and replied, "Keo. Nice to meet you."

If she wasn’t going to tell him her true identity, then neither would he. Perhaps he could get a gleam on her true motives if he kept up this facade as the professor’s protege.

"Keo, Katarina here was just asking Princess Octavia about what happened with you and the professor after you left the lake," said one of the Mermen.

"Yes. It is important for our research as a whole," she added. "Do you know what happened with the Antique?"

Michael squinted at her. "Shouldn’t you ask the professor that yourself? Aren’t you ’colleagues’, as you say?"

Katarina nodded, not flustered by the question. "Yes, but the professor is currently away on a project that involves him travelling halfway across the world."

"He never told me anything about that," Michael said innocently.

"That’s just how the professor goes," Katarina shrugged. "He is impulsive and will often leave without a moment’s notice, much to the chagrin of everyone in his life."

Michael noticed that when she said that, there was real emotion on her face. She seemed genuinely disappointed and hurt that the professor was the way that he was.

Maybe she wasn’t lying about her being his daughter...

"Why were you asking around?" he asked her. "What do you want to gain?"

"The Antique," she answered plainly. "It has come to my attention that the Antique wasn’t in the professor’s possession before he left. I would like to know where it is, and who has it. Do you know who?"

"I know where it is," he said, pausing. "But why should I tell you?"

The Antique was with Zovirru. And after winning the bet against Sergio, this meant that the Antique should become the professor’s possession.

But with him gone, Michael now had the opportunity to get it for himself.

And since he still didn’t know if he should treat Katarina—if that was even her real name—as his friend or foe.

"It’s a matter of great importance," she said gravely. "Our...school...will use the information we gathered from the Antique to educate some students that need some correction. It is not an exaggeration to say that there are lives at stake here."

Michael raised his eyebrows.

He could read between the lines. This ’school’ she was talking about was probably the secret organization that she and the professor were a part of.

So they need the Antique to...teach some misguided people?

He was very curious about what kind of group would have a sun with eight distinct rays as its emblem.

And perhaps, if he could slowly gain Katarina’s trust, then he could figure out what kind of secret organization they were in, as well as their goals.

"Alright. I’ll tell you but on one condition."

She stayed silent, waiting for his next words.

"I want to study the Antique first. I want to get my hands on it," he said.

Katarina considered it for a second before giving her approval. "Alright," she said. "That can be arranged."

From her perspective, it was harmless.

But of course, Michael hoped for something more.

He knew that by touching the Antique, ChatJK5 could analyze the information written on it and possibly decipher it into something that he could understand.

"The bone is with Zovirru for safekeeping. But it’s already decided that it is officially the professor’s possession."

Katarina nodded. "Then shall we depart? It is best if we get there as soon as possible."

Michael agreed.

"Princess Octavia wishes you luck on your journey," said one of the Mermaid attendants on the group. "Unfortunately, she is too busy speaking with one of her sisters as of this moment. If not, she would have liked to join you in your mission."

Sister? That must be Serena,

he guessed.

Sorry, Serena. But I have to deal with the Antique first before I meet with you.

He would also be delaying Jaku’s Mini Drone attachment for his katana, but he was pretty sure that Jaku wouldn’t even care. The Dragonborn would actually be happy since he’d get to stay in bed longer.