The scene before him was so ordinary that Patton didn't find anything odd about it.
Although he vaguely felt a hint of familiarity, he didn't think it was worth wondering about: How could the scenery he saw every day not feel a little familiar?
His gaze drifted upward toward the sky, and there it was—the crimson moon hanging silently, pouring out its light, involuntarily calming the soul.
At that moment, it was as if Patton had shed an invisible, heavy burden. His mind and body felt exceptionally light. The panic, anxiety, and irritation of before had vanished.
His spiritual intuition told him that the matter with Funar was over. It wouldn't affect his life anymore.
"
Without that worry and tension, he felt fatigue flood out from the depths of his soul like a torrent, drowning his mind, his limbs, every single cell of his body.
Patton couldn't help but cover his mouth with the back of his hand and yawn, but a comfortable smile appeared on his face.
He didn't linger in the study. He turned and left, made his way back to the bedroom, enjoyed a relaxing bath, and drank a small glass of red wine.
That night, Patton didn't dream. He slept exceptionally soundly.
When he woke up in the morning, his spirits were high, and pleasure surged within him, as if he had been given a new life.
Glancing at his wife, who was still sound asleep beside him, Patton carefully got up, got dressed, and took a stroll near his home.
He had never realized how wonderful his neighborhood was: The air was fresh, the environment was peaceful, the scenery was pleasant, and even the passersby were so refined.
This lifted Patton's spirits even more. He deeply felt, once again, that the matter with Funar was over, and he had returned to his ordinary, tranquil life.
Maintaining this mood, he returned home and had breakfast with his wife and children.
During the meal, he even told his wife a joke from the newspaper and fulfilled a small request from his children.
Seeing the smiles on his wife and children's faces, Patton felt genuinely satisfied.
Then he put on his coat and hat, picked up his cane, went out, and took a horse-drawn omnibus to the "Loen Ancient Relics Collection and Protection Foundation" on the edge of the city.
Entering his office, Patton got back into his old routine. Instead of rushing to work, he first prepared some black tea with strange herbs for himself.
Sipping his tea, he leisurely finished reading a few newspapers that his family didn't subscribe to. Only then did he pick up the letters and documents he had received and began to review them one by one.
This kind of flow, this kind of rhythm, made him feel incredibly comfortable.
The only dissonant note was that Patton was still a little worried about receiving another letter from Funar.
But that worry didn't come true.
About a quarter of an hour later, there was a knock at his office door.
"Come in," Patton said, lifting his cup and taking a sip of tea.
The person who pushed the door open was Pacheco Dawn, the deputy director of the Compliance Department. His appearance was ordinary and unremarkable, but he gave off a friendly feeling.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Pacheco asked, standing at the door.
"Very well," Patton replied without hiding it.
Pacheco nodded and said with a smile: "It seems you've truly shaken off the influence of this matter."
Patton didn't mention the "nightmare" he had. Instead, he asked: "What about you?"
"I slept very well too," Pacheco replied with a smile. "The police have fully taken over the case. Apparently, they found Funar last night, but unfortunately, it seems he met with misfortune."
"Poor man. May he find peace," Patton said, without the usual 'may the Lord bless him,' because Funar had abandoned his faith in the Lord of Storms. If there was any 'blessing,' it would surely be lightning and storms.
Having said that, recalling the help Pacheco had provided and his amiable demeanor, Patton took the initiative: "How about lunch together?"
"Are you treating?" Pacheco asked with a smile.
"Of course. I'm very happy to have made a friend like you," Patton said, standing up and giving a gentlemanly bow.