437 Fantasy-scape (1/2)
Brainiac went missing after Professor Bacon went missing.
Things started to become weird, but Sherlock was composed. He knew the truth.
The burnt down shop was cordoned off with warning tape. Occasionally, there were local residents who passed by and glanced at the shop. The gamers were no longer interested as they had searched thoroughly without finding anything.
”Lord Sherlock, do you think Brainiac is still here?” Bru said with surprise.
”I can guarantee that your loyal servants thoroughly checked the place. There are no traces of Brainiac. Even if he died in the fire, wouldn't there be ashes?”
”Normal fire is unable to kill Brainiac. An investigation has to be conducted to find out if he's still here.”
Sherlock said, and he scratched the parrot, Phoenix, on his shoulder.
Phoenix was taken aback. Then he flapped his wings and circled one time before landing among the ruins. He started searching using his claws.
Phoenix stopped at a spot and extended his leg as he said, ”Over here.”
”What's that? Lord Sherlock, is the phoenix able to find traps?” Bru asked in surprise.
”Phoenix is sensitive to Mana like a Hamster,” Sherlock explained and walked towards the parrot.
Sherlock didn't use too much effort to locate the strange spot that was pointed out by Phoenix.
A Mana Rune was imprinted on the floor. Even though the surroundings were destroyed by the fire, the Mana Rune was intact.
Sherlock squatted down and used his finger to clear the dust from the Mana Rune before examining it.
”It's a crude Mana Rune. Was it placed by the shopkeeper, meow?” Polio said in disdain as he waved his long tail and circled the Rune Mana Formation twice.
”Ha? How do you know? You only know how to control others using mental power. How would you understand Mana Runes?” the parrot, Phoenix, said sarcastically as he looked at Polio, who roared out furiously.
”Meow~”
Then Polio pounced at Phoenix.
When they recovered themselves, Sherlock was nowhere in sight.
”Lord Sherlock?” The parrot hopped as he called out suspiciously.
…
In the dream, Winterfell looked as if it was in the water with ripples.
The various passersby looked like the street scene, which gave an unreal dreamy feeling.
”Lord Sherlock? This… what is this?”
Bru was able to see the scene via Sherlock's vision with permission from him.
”This is a fantasy-scape created by someone.”
Sherlock looked at the surroundings. It was the Don't Want to Sell Clothes shop before it was burnt down.
”Who did such a thing? Isn't the Mana impression supposed to open up secret tunnels? Instead, it created a fantasy-scape for us to watch a movie?” Bru asked with frustration.
”This isn't an ordinary fantasy-scape. This is a completely immersive environment. We traveled to the fantasy-scape from reality via the Mana impression. This impression isn't easily detected by normal creatures. And at crucial moments, it can be used to protect oneself if the Mana impression isn't damaged.”
Sherlock saw the mole shopkeeper snoring in the shop. Outside the shop was the alley followed by the streets of Winterfell. From Sherlock's location, one could see the decadent Underworld creatures outside. They sat in the boxes while reading books and chatting about mathematical formulas and topics.
After the initial blurring and distortion of the images, the scene before Sherlock became clearer. It looked almost like reality.
”What if the Mana impression is damaged?” Bru suddenly asked.
”If it's damaged, the consequences are worse than death. The trapped creature can't escape from the fantasy-scape and will become lost before becoming part of the fantasy-scape,” Sherlock said with composure.
”Let's leave immediately, Lord Sherlock.”
Bru panicked and said, ”Both Polio and Phoenix were defeated by you. If they know how the damaged Mana impression will affect you, they'll destroy it.”
”Don't worry, they won't discover it.”
Sherlock had no intention to leave. He found a chair and sat down.
”This is a new technique that surfaced a few hundred years ago. Phoenix was sealed for thousands of years, while Polio was imprisoned in Bankazia for a thousand years. They were like hermits disconnected from society. How would they know such new technology?”
”But Sherlock, what if…”
Bru wanted to persuade Sherlock, but he lifted his hand to interrupt Bru.
”I have a reason for not leaving.”
Sherlock pointed to the approaching Skeleton in front. From the crack on his forehead, he was Professor Bacon.
”It's highly likely this was the lead left by Professor Bacon for Brainiac.”
Bacon looked as though he didn't see Sherlock as he walked briskly into the shop.
When Bacon entered, the mole awakened in shock.
”Welcome… Professor Bacon?”
The mole's nose quivered. He had recognized the scent of Professor Bacon.
”It has been a long time, mole shopkeeper.”
Professor Bacon looked exhausted. He walked to Sherlock's side but didn't sense the presence of Sherlock. The scene was depicting history.
”Why are you in Winterfell? Aren't you busy at college?”
The mole shopkeeper poured a cup of bloody chrysanthemum tea for Professor Bacon and wiped the table in front of him. Though the shopkeeper was blind, his nose was very sensitive.
”I have an important item to hand over to you,” Professor Bacon said nervously after looking around.
”Can I place this item here?” Professor Bacon took out a box. It was a box with a puppet kitten.
”What's this?”
The shopkeeper took the box and sniffed carefully. He couldn't figure it out.
”This is an item for my student Brainiac. If he comes here, please give it to him,” Professor Bacon said.
”Wait, I don't know your student. Did you give him my address? This isn't an easy place to find,” the shopkeeper hesitated for a while before asking.
”I didn't give him the address directly, but he will find your location. You must give the box to him,” Professor Bacon said solemnly.
”Professor Bacon, did you encounter trouble? Are you in debt? Though I don't have money, if you need help, please tell me!” the shopkeeper said with concern.
”No, you aren't able to help me, and it'll be troublesome. If I'm not careful, I'll be killed. I don't wish to implicate you.”
Professor Bacon waved his hand. The shopkeeper said, ”Ah, I see. Forget about it…”
”Okay, since you want to know, I'll tell you…” Professor Bacon said quickly.
”The incident started from Specter College…”
While Professor Bacon was speaking, the world disintegrated while his figure distorted. There was no sound.
”What's the situation?”