262 Dream (1/2)
In the cold and gloomy hall, Klein suddenly shivered. He retracted his gaze and said to Miss Bodyguard, ”Let's return.”
From the way Azik's copper whistle reacted, it's likely that the room contains a terrifying evil spirit. Its danger level is highly likely to be above that of Nimblewright Master Rosago and Rear Admiral Hurricane Qilangos… It's been roaming these confines for centuries to thousands of years. Perhaps it's already equivalent to a High-Sequence Beyonder. If it wasn't for its experiencing difficulties in letting its powers escape the room, I would already be dead… Even if Miss Bodyguard is a powerful Sequence 5, there's no hope of us turning the tides of battle with our powers combined… One needs to be aware of one's strength. I cannot be enticed by the suspected Beyonder characteristics and mystical items left in there… Greed often leads to death… Klein silently came up with a reason to convince himself.
Miss Bodyguard turned her head to look at him. Without much emotion in her eyes, she asked, ”What happens next?”
Next? Klein silently gritted his teeth and said with deliberation, ”Let Millet Carter get the police. Who knows when this evil spirit will escape. It's best to finish it as soon as possible. No, that won't work. Mr. Carter doesn't know enough. By informing the police this way, the police department won't pay enough attention to it. The first batch of people who come to explore this place will suffer heavy casualties, and they might even indirectly help the evil spirit escape from its restraints. Also, for me to see these statues, a detective like me might be silenced… Uh… Did you see the bones and spiritual light in the room?”
Miss Bodyguard once again cast her gaze towards the dark path behind the ajar stone door, and very slightly nodded her head.
Klein thought quickly and said, ”My guess is that these are the corpses of the explorers from before. They were killed by the evil spirit in that room, and one of the Beyonders left behind some mystical items. This might have had something to do with the viscount family that lived beyond this premises. I plan to inquire about their last names, go to the library, and look for information about their descendants. Perhaps, I might gain some valuable clues.
”After coming to a preliminary confirmation of the situation, I'll make a choice based on the severity of the situation. I might get some explosives, destroy the door, or send an anonymous letter to the police, detailing the existence of the evil spirit. However, I'll have to think of a way to avoid the risk ahead of time.
”This isn't too urgent. I can take my time.”
Miss Bodyguard quietly listened to what Klein had to say. Looking ahead, she said in an ethereal voice, ”Are you not considering to get people to exorcise this evil spirit?
”Even if there were no mystical items left behind, the remains after the evil spirit dissipates are still precious enough.”
It's the first time I've seen you talk so much… Probably… Klein replied without hesitation, ”The risk is too high. I think my life and health are more important.”
He organized his words and added, ”The most powerful person I know is you. And from your performance just now, you don't seem to be a match for that evil spirit. I can't imagine any other way of finishing it, other than calling the police.”
Miss Bodyguard turned around, her pale face somewhat translucent.
”You still have some sense,” she commented calmly, then drifted toward the exit of the ancient hall.
Other than being suspected to be under the True Creator's influence, in what way do I look like a madman? Klein silently lampooned. He held the lantern and cane and followed behind Miss Bodyguard. Throughout the entire process, he felt as if he was being watched by the cold eyes of the dark corridor.
It was only when they walked out of the stone door that suffused an ancient aura did the feeling suddenly disappear.
Klein turned around and closed the door, sealing the inverted candlesticks, scuffed marks, and the creepy statues of the six deities, allowing them to continue their thousand-year-long ”slumber” in that unchanging darkness and silence.
Patting the dust off his clothes, he switched the lantern in his other hand and hurried back to Millet Carter's basement. As for Miss Bodyguard, she had disappeared into thin air as usual.
Millet Carter was pacing about in the basement. When he saw Klein exit, he hurriedly asked, ”How is it? What's the situation inside?”
Klein had long thought of an excuse as he said with an expression of fear, ”Terrible, there are a lot of snakes in there, and many spots have collapsed. I plan to gather some information, gather some manpower, and once preparations are done, do another round of exploration. During this period of time, it's best that you don't send anyone in. Believe me, there are more venomous snakes in there than you can imagine.”
Millet drew a gasp and asked in fear, ”Will they slither out?
”Do you know any experts that can deal with the snakes?”
Klein immediately nodded. ”I'll get people to help and try my best to deal with this matter. It's the cold autumn now, and the snakes aren't willing to move. As long as you don't send anyone to disturb them, nothing will happen.”
”Okay, please hurry. I'll close this door and prevent anyone from entering.” Hearing that, Millet relaxed a little.
When Klein saw that his employer was truly intimidated by what he said, he quickly put down the lantern, nudged his gold-rimmed spectacles and said, ”Next up, I'll gather some information. I'll first gain a preliminary understanding of the layout of the underground structure before I explore it again.
”That requires you to tell me which viscount was the original owner of this house.”
Millet had bought this building precisely because it was an estate of a former noble, so he answered immediately, ”Viscount Pound.”
”What do you know about him and his family?” Klein asked in a professional manner.
Millet pondered and said, ”Not much. I only know that he won his aristocratic title in the Battle of the Violated Oath. It once enjoyed an illustrious period, but decades later, suddenly declined due to unknown reasons. The family kept losing its heirs, causing it to eventually have to seek out distant relatives to keep the aristocratic title. And the new Viscount Pound is, heh heh. He squandered most of the family's fortune, and he was demoted to baronet by the king. He's probably still in Backlund and can go bankrupt at any moment.”
Battle of the Violated Oath? The Battle of the Violated Oath that began in 738 during the Fifth Epoch? Having successfully graduated as a history student, Klein instinctively recalled the corresponding knowledge.
The war that happened about six centuries ago was a war involving religion. The southern Feynapotter Kingdom originally believed in both Mother Earth and the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, but due to some influencing factors, the two churches began to be at odds with each other, and their believers often clashed.
During that period, its two neighbors in the north, the Loen Kingdom and the Intis Kingdom, seized the opportunity to start a war in the name of protecting freedom of religion. In the later stages of the war, the Feysac Empire joined the fray and attempted to destroy the ploy by Loen and Intis. However, they still failed to turn the situation around.
The result of the war was that the border between Leon and Feynapotter, as well as Intis and Feynapotter, countries such as Lenburg, Masin, and Segar, gained independence. They mainly believed in the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, leaving the Church of Mother Earth as the only religion in the Feynapotter Kingdom.