"What's up with Pei Yan?" Ye Jiumu asked while shaking the sand out of his ears after hearing Qi Weidong's words.

"Buli just came to tell me, she saw Pei Yan diving vigorously into the sea. At first, she didn't think much of it, but it's been twenty minutes, and she still hasn't seen him come up, so she started worrying and asked me to check if he's drowning!" Qi Weidong said, looking towards the sea with some concern.

"Oh, it's about that!" Ye Jiumu breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Don't worry, he mentioned to me earlier that he's using this chance to try out new diving equipment, but it's been twenty minutes?" After saying this, he turned to the best swimmer among them, Jiang Feiyang, and said, "Old Jiang, why don't you go check it out just to be safe!"

"All right!"

Pei Yan had no idea his actions had caused concern among his companions. At the moment, he was immersed in the thrill of freely diving under the sea.

Since the battle with the monsters from the other dimension in the fishpond, Pei Yan had identified his shortcomings in underwater combat. Recognizing a problem means you have to solve it. Through analysis and discussion with Engineer Li and his internal system, he found out there isn't any advanced underwater breathing equipment available. Eventually, he realized after the system's hint that his awakened abilities could allow him to directly absorb the entire diving tank into his body. The system could store it without damaging its external structure, thus providing him with air during underwater battles. Afterwards, he could expel the tank, refill it with air, and be ready again.

This seemingly clumsy method was actually the most feasible approach at present. So, Pei Yan absorbed seven diving tanks, which provided enough air for four to five hours of underwater activity, allowing him to handle any combat with ease.

This trip to the seaside was the perfect opportunity to test the equipment's effect. That's why he was so excited. After swimming to a sea area away from regular tourists, he took a deep breath and dived into the ocean while no one was watching. His mask activated, expelling the sea water from his helmet, and continuous air was supplied through the respiratory system.

Without fully mechanizing his body, Pei Yan freely swam in the sea. After adapting to the underwater environment, he partially mechanized his hands and feet unseen, driving propellers to swiftly move along the seabed, sometimes stirring the sand, sometimes chasing after newly discovered schools of fish. Engrossed in fun, he completely lost track of time.

When Jiang Feiyang, who was worried, dove to the seabed, he almost choked on water out of anger upon seeing Pei Yan happily playing while chasing a sea fish.

As night fell, everyone gathered around a long table inside the seaside villa they booked in advance.

Hu Wenjun arrived through the Teleportation Array just before dinner. This was the first full-team gathering since Pei Yan joined the team.

The barbecue grill was set up, and the long table was filled with half-prepared barbecue bought from outside and some delivered food. Without outsiders around, Shangxing used his abilities to create a clone specifically for the barbecue and serving!

Cases of beer were dragged in, along with plenty of red and white wine. One bottle after another was opened, and Pei Yan boldly picked up a beer bottle, drinking straight from it. Since joining the Investigation Hall, besides his growing abilities, his alcohol tolerance had increased significantly. If before he would be tipsy after two or three bottles, now he had developed a Northeasterner's passive trait, requiring at least a dozen bottles to knock him under the table.

At the table, men exchanged drinks and chatted heartily, while women whispered together. Hu Wenjun, in high spirits, held a microphone and sang in Cantonese that Pei Yan couldn't understand, nor could the Cantonese appreciate, yet the tune of Beyond's "Boundless Ocean, Vast Skies" was quite fitting. Meanwhile, Pei Yan was engrossed in battling the paddle crabs on his plate.

"Come, eat some fish! You caught this one!" Wang Wenze said, placing a grilled fish cooked by Shangxing's clone in front of Pei Yan and taking a sip of freshly opened chilled beer.

"I don't eat fish. You can have it!" Ever since being forced to eat fish for an entire day, Pei Yan developed a strong aversion to fish. Until now, he hadn't noticed any changes in his body and realized that the little girl really was teasing him.

Throwing the empty crab shell aside, Pei Yan raised a beer bottle, clinking it with Wang Wenze's before downing the rest of the bottle, then moved on to the garlic baked oysters on the table.

It was then, after passing the microphone to Xia Yu, Hu Wenjun sat beside Pei Yan, threw an arm over his shoulder, and quietly said, "The video materials you sent have been reviewed by the hall. They are very pleased with your abilities! Before I came, Engineer Li asked me to inform you that the next phase of equipment prepared for you has been approved. This batch of equipment is indeed quite precious! As soon as you awaken to the second tier, you can absorb them!"

"Hmm!" Pei Yan, smelling the alcohol on Captain Hu's breath, turned to see his happy expression, knowing he was genuinely pleased for him. He nodded while filling two glasses with beer, both of them drinking in tacit agreement, before Pei Yan put down the empty glass and asked, "Can't they just do it like last time and send the equipment to me early, so I can absorb it whenever I awaken?"

In response, Hu Wenjun shook his head, adorably held up both hands, gesturing with ten fingers, while saying, "No can do. The equipment this time is too large and heavy. Even if you wore ten ring-like storage devices on your fingers, it wouldn't be enough to fit them all."

"Got it!" Pei Yan replied, and the two leaned their heads together, idly discussing the latest rumors in the hall. Hu Wenjun appeared drunk, but was actually trying to extract some information from Pei Yan. Recently, frequent personnel changes in the upper echelons of the hall puzzled even an old investigator like him, who couldn't see what was about to happen, yet had a gut feeling something major was brewing. Considering the various incidents that had occurred since Pei Yan joined the hall, he suspected this big event might involve Pei Yan.

Regrettably, despite trying for quite some time, every time he reached a key question, Pei Yan skillfully changed the topic. While lamenting how the boy had matured and become more sophisticated, Hu Wenjun became more convinced that whatever it was, it likely involved Pei Yan.

While the two bantered back and forth, the people seated around them had been eavesdropping for some time, gathering bits and pieces. Ye Jiumu slammed his glass on the table, saying, "Captain Hu, Team Leader! What does our future look like based on this trend?"

Upon hearing this, everyone, including Xia Yu who had been singing, fell silent, looking at the two leaders at the table, waiting for their insight. Ye Jiumu voiced the greatest confusion everyone had had in recent times. It was clear to them all they could not return to the way things were.

Unlike before, where dimensional rifts appeared sporadically, since the interdimensional assault incident, frequent rift openings had become the norm. Faced with uncertainty about their future and what changes this world would undergo, everyone on the team was filled with unease and worry.