Chapter 135: It's Been Over a Minute (Fifth Update)

"Captain, that's exactly the question I hoped you'd ask!" Klein nodded seriously. "I feel better—I even think I can pass the Church's examination now. It's an indescribable feeling and confidence."

Thinking his previous answer might have been a bit vague, he couldn't help adding, "Maybe the name of the potion really is the key. When I strictly follow the 'Seer's Creed' I've summarized and act as a seer, everything becomes wonderful and easy. Hmm, I can now open Spirit Vision in a more concealed way."

Dunn frowned slightly, his gaze turning inward as if he were thinking aloud. "The name of the potion..."

After more than ten seconds, he looked back at Klein. "Do you need to go back and tell your family? Sunday is the day after you stand guard at Chanis Gate—you were supposed to have a day off."

Considering that Elizabeth was his sister's friend and he had promised to resolve the issue within a week, Klein didn't hesitate. "There's no need to waste time like that. When we set off, we can have the carriage take a detour past Narcissus Street."

"Alright, go find Frye. I'll fill out the application form and retrieve Sealed Artifact '3-0782'." Dunn pointed at the rest room across the hall.

Frye was a Corpse Collector; unlike a Sleepless, he didn't have boundless energy. If he had time, he'd often take a nap.

I fill out the application myself, sign it myself, then pick it up myself... Captain, this management system has a loophole... Klein grumbled inwardly but said nothing. He took his hat, left Dunn's office, and knocked on the door across the hall.

After three knocks, Frye opened the door, looking at Klein with puzzlement. "What's the matter?"

Since he'd just been napping, his hair was a bit messy and his shirt wasn't tucked in neatly, which somewhat diluted his cold, gloomy aura.

But still, he looked like a dead man who'd just climbed out of a coffin... Klein suppressed a smile and answered matter-of-factly, "There's a case involving a wraith. The captain hopes you can help."

"Alright." Frye automatically raised his hand to smooth his messy hair, returning to his usual unapproachable, gloomy self.

When he had finished dressing, they had been sitting in the reception hall sofa area for only seven or eight minutes when they felt the surroundings grow warm and pure, as if bathed in sunlight.

Then they saw Dunn Smith emerge from the partition, holding a palm-sized ancient emblem in his hand.

The emblem was dark gold, engraved with the symbol of the sun, with lines extending to the edges. It was the Sealed Artifact "3-0782" from the Intis Republic, originally called the "Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem."

—Intis was the country that Roselle had changed from an empire to a republic and then back to an empire. Now it had a stable republican system, located on the west coast of the Northern Continent, bordering the Loën Kingdom via the Inter-sea and the Hornacis Mountains.

Since the founding of Intis, the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun had been dominant, suppressing the Church of the God of Craftsmanship until it changed its name to the Church of Steam and Machinery. Thus, the country was also known as the Sun Kingdom.

"Let's set off. Frye, you handle the carriage. Ziszer can't endure such a long purification from the emblem." Dunn instructed calmly.

Ziszer Francis was a civilian staff responsible for purchasing and supplies, and he also doubled as a coachman. But he was an ordinary person and couldn't stay within fifteen meters of Sealed Artifact "3-0782" for more than an hour. From Zoutland Street to Lamud Town, as Klein knew, took at least two and a half hours, not including the detour to Narcissus Street.

"Alright." Frye didn't refuse, just checked his belongings once more.

…………

When the sunset tinged the church spire gold, the Nighthawks' carriage, having made a detour past Narcissus Street, finally arrived in Lamud.

This town lay northwest of Tingen. Many buildings still retained features from the pre-steam era, with almost no factories; it was a trading hub for all the surrounding villages.

After parking the carriage at the town inn, Dunn glanced at the barbershop across the street and said, "I just asked the locals. It's only a quarter-hour walk to the abandoned castle on the hill. They say it belonged to the lord who ruled here in the late Fourth Epoch, but then something happened and it became like this. Of course, these are just folk legends."

"So, we'll go now, deal with the wraith before dark, then take turns guarding '3-0782' and keep it away from ordinary people?"

It had been a full three hours since Dunn obtained the "Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem," nearing the limit for Beyonders. Soon they'd have to separate to allow each other time to recover.

"Alright," Frye replied briefly.

"No problem." Klein quietly touched the "Slumber Charm" and "Soul-Soothing Charm" in his pocket.

Three Nighthawks in thin black trench coats and matching top hats or felt hats walked through the town's streets and turned onto a path up the hill. The road was overgrown with weeds and bushes, but it was wide enough for two carriages to pass.

Soon they saw a castle with fallen walls, the remaining walls covered in green vines, with mottled patches where the stone was exposed.

Before they even got close, Klein felt a piercing cold, and goosebumps rose on his arms.

"Indeed, a wraith," Frye said flatly, staring at the castle.

Dunn turned his head to look at the new Nighthawk and chuckled. "Don't worry. With '3-0782' and Frye, the wraith won't cause much trouble."

Holding a specially modified revolver in one hand and the Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem in the other, he stepped toward the ruin.

Klein followed closely, ready to pull the trigger, swing his cane, or use a charm at any moment.