Another level of power.
Luke carefully experienced the sensation of releasing the power of the Red Dragon. It was close to the level of Sunny at 80, though not as polished as an 80-level Sunny with all abilities honed. It could be considered equivalent to the strength of a 4-star hero.
After all, this was just the ability of the Svinburnbari Snake; it wasn't possible to truly transform into a dragon by eating a piece of dragon meat.
Luke felt the explosive energy within his body.
This feeling... was amazing!
Trolls possessed both strength and powerful regenerative abilities, and the Red Dragon had the same attributes.
Not to mention the layer of dragon scale defense.
Two strong forces combined.
Luke believed that even if he encountered danger and couldn't defeat his opponent, as long as he wasn't instantly killed, he could hold on and log in as Sunny to provide support.
Finally, he didn't have to constantly worry about his own life.
Canceling the power of the Red Dragon, Luke's body returned to its normal state, and the dragon-snake tattoo reappeared on the back of his right hand.
However, the color of the dragon-snake's right hind leg had faded significantly due to the use of the Red Dragon's power.
He just needed to feed it a small piece of dragon meat to restore it.
And there was plenty of dragon meat in Sunny's inventory in the virtual space.
Luke asked Sunny to bring him a piece of dragon meat the size of a thumbnail and placed it on the back of his right hand.
The dragon-snake extended its head and swallowed it in one gulp. Then, it imprinted itself on his skin once again, restoring the clarity of its right hind leg.
Checking the time, it was almost dawn...
He could only test the changes brought about by the arcane arts when he found the time.
Luke asked Sunny to log out while he walked back to his dormitory.
He took a refreshing shower, enjoying the comfort it brought before embracing the new day.
Just when he started feeling hungry, Kailina happened to bring breakfast.
After Kailina finished tidying up Luke's room, she looked at him sitting at the table, eating and drinking heartily, and couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Detective, I sense a significant change in your body. Your strength seems to have increased a lot, and that tattoo on your right hand...
If I hadn't recorded your features yesterday, I would've suspected you were someone else."
As a specially modified secretary, Kailina was very sensitive to external changes and had a strong ability to discern. She could sense the tremendous changes in Luke overnight, knowing that he was just an ordinary person yesterday.
But the recorded information told her that this was the Meteor Detective of the Secret Affairs Bureau.
Thus, Kailina was genuinely puzzled.
Luke looked at the dragon-snake tattoo on the back of his hand and smiled as he said to Kailina, "What you saw yesterday was just a disguise. My strength is currently being restored.
Was there anything special that happened last night or this morning?"
At this moment, Kailina's loyalty to Luke was absolute.
In response to Luke's question, she answered, "Detective, the curfew has ended outside, and the city is returning to normal. As for the situation with the Berserker Party, Captain Black Mamba has already gone there with a team to confirm.
But based on the continuous intelligence we received last night, it seems they managed to hold their ground."
"It seems the Berserker Party has some capabilities. It's worth us giving them a helping hand." Luke wiped his mouth with a napkin and then said to Kailina, "Notify our sponsors that I've invited them to a meeting at the Secret Affairs Bureau. Firstly, it's to introduce myself and build rapport with everyone, secondly, to discuss our future prospects, and thirdly, to help the Berserker Party overcome this crisis."
"I'll immediately send someone to inform them. What time should the meeting be?"
"Today... there's still a curfew at night, so have them come at 3 PM."
"Understood, Detective."
Luke pushed the utensils forward and said, "After finishing up, change into casual attire and come with me to handle the case."
Upon hearing this command, Kailina asked in confusion, "Detective, I... I'm just a clerk. Shouldn't Captain Black Mamba and Captain Pisco accompany you to handle the case?"
"Do you think bringing the two of them constitutes handling a case?"
"This..." Kailina felt unable to refute. As the key secretary of the Secret Affairs Bureau, Kailina was used to cleaning up after the two of them.
"That's settled then. You received formal magical education from a young age, so your strength should be no weaker than Black Mamba's. You only lack her combat experience and ruthlessness.
This case doesn't involve killing, so you can control the situation with your magic for me."
Since the Detective had spoken, Kailina could only respond, "Yes, Detective. I'll make the necessary preparations..."
Kailina packed the utensils into a lunchbox and then left while carrying it.
During the time Luke was waiting for Kailina, he analyzed the next steps he needed to take.
Before obtaining the bloodline through the arcane arts, Luke had a wide range of paths to choose from.
However, after acquiring the "Gluttonous" bloodline, he could only build his power system around this bloodline.
The options became more limited but also clearer.
Currently, Luke had only laid the foundation, and there was still a long way to go if he wanted to construct a towering building.
It represented the need for a massive amount of resources to be invested.
Sunny was so powerful because she stood on the shoulders of the "Player" giant.
Whatever materials she needed could easily be found in the game.
As for Luke, he didn't even have the equipment to refine dragon blood, let alone process its materials.
Even if he wanted to buy some things, he wouldn't be able to.
In this world, at this time, arcane arts were a low-level power system. The country and private research institutions wouldn't invest too much money and resources into researching a power system that relied solely on experience and luck, with almost no theoretical foundation.
With that kind of money and talent, wouldn't it be better to invest in magic, steam technology, machinery, human modification, or extraordinary cultivation...?
In the later stages of the Era of Genesis, arcane arts surpassed other power systems thanks to players "playing" with their lives.
This also resulted in many mysterious items and materials being exclusive to players.
In Luke's phone, he had the processing methods for these mysterious items and materials, but he didn't have the equipment to produce them.
Drinking dragon blood directly and making it into a drink had completely different effects.
There was also a significant difference in taste.
Hurricane City, as a globally connected port city, could provide the equipment and materials Luke needed through its ports.
However, that required money, a secret laboratory, a secure channel, and protection...
He needed so much.
As the Royal Meteor Detective of the Gold Shield Empire's Secret Affairs Bureau, he must make good use of his identity. As long as he could dig a rabbit hole that reached everywhere, even if his identity was exposed one day, he would still
thrive here.
While Luke was planning his future, Kailina, who had changed her clothes, knocked on the door and entered.
She was wearing a dress with a morning glory pattern and a pair of round-toed boots made of cowhide. She wore a lady's hat at an angle.
With white lace gloves, one could see a magic wand tucked inside the left sleeve.
"Detective, can we leave now?"
Luke put on his hat and picked up his staff. "Let's go... Let's take the back door and not attract attention."