In the cold, frigid hall, Klein suddenly shivered, withdrew his gaze, and said to Miss Bodyguard:
"Let's go back."
Based on the copper whistle's reaction just now, the innermost room very likely contained a terrifying evil spirit, its danger level probably far exceeding that of the Puppet Master Rosago and Hurricane General Qilings. It had lingered there for hundreds or even thousands of years, possibly equivalent to a high-Sequence powerhouse. If its power hadn't found it difficult to seep out of the room, he would already be dead. Even if Miss Bodyguard was among the elite of Sequence 5, the two of them together would still stand almost no chance of turning the tables. A person needed self-awareness and shouldn't be tempted by the "treasure" of a potential Beyonder's leftover characteristics and magical items. Greed so often led to death. Klein silently found reasons, persuading himself.
Miss Bodyguard tilted her head to glance at him, her gaze emotionless as she asked:
"What next?"
What next? Klein quietly gritted his teeth, then chose his words carefully:
"Have Miller Carter report it to the police. Who knows when that evil spirit might break free — the sooner it's dealt with, the better. No, that won't work. Mr. Carter doesn't know enough. If the police are alerted this way, the department won't take it seriously enough. The first team sent to investigate and explore would suffer heavy casualties, and might even inadvertently help the evil spirit break its bonds. Besides, having seen statues like those, a detective like me might be silenced… Um… Did you see the white bones and the spiritual glow inside the room?"
Miss Bodyguard turned her gaze back toward the dark passageway beyond the half-open stone door, giving the faintest nod.
Klein's thoughts raced:
"I suspect those are the remains of previous explorers, killed by the evil spirit inside that room. Among them, a Beyonder left behind magical items. This may be connected to the baronial family that originally lived in the house outside. I plan to find out their surname, search the library for records, and track down their descendants to see if I can obtain any useful leads."
"Once I've established the preliminary situation, I'll make a decision based on the severity. I might acquire some explosives and destroy the entrance to prevent anyone else from going in, or I might send an anonymous letter to the police department describing the evil spirit's existence in detail. However, I'd need to figure out a way to mitigate the risks in advance."
"None of this is particularly urgent. There's no need to rush."
Miss Bodyguard listened quietly, then looked ahead and said in a distant, drifting tone:
"Aren't you considering organizing a team to cleanse that evil spirit?"
"Even without leftover magical items, the remnants after an evil spirit dissipates would still be quite valuable."
This is the most I've ever heard you say… probably… Klein answered without hesitation: "The risk is too high. I believe my life and health are more important."
He organized his thoughts and added:
"The most powerful person I know is you, and from what just happened, you don't seem to be a match for that evil spirit either. I can't imagine what other solution there is besides reporting it to the police."
Miss Bodyguard turned around, her pale face slightly translucent.
"You still have your sanity," she remarked calmly and indifferently, then drifted toward the exit of the ancient hall.
Other than possibly being influenced by the "True Creator," in what way do I seem like a madman? Klein grumbled inwardly, carrying the lantern and cane as he followed closely behind Miss Bodyguard. Throughout the entire process, he constantly felt as though he were being watched by icy eyes from within the dark passageway.
It was only after they had stepped through that ancient stone gate that the feeling abruptly vanished.
Klein turned around, closed the heavy door, and sealed the inverted candelabra, the blade-like brands, and the eerie six-god statue all inside, letting them continue their "slumber" in a thousand-year unchanging darkness and silence.
He brushed the dust off his clothes, switched the lantern to his other hand, then quickly made his way back to Miller Carter's basement. Miss Bodyguard had already habitually vanished into thin air.
Miller Carter was pacing in the basement. Seeing Klein emerge, he immediately asked:
"How is it? What's the situation in there?"
Klein had already prepared his story. He put on an expression of lingering fear and said:
"It's very bad. There are a great many snakes, and parts of the place have collapsed. I intend to gather some information, assemble a proper team, and make thorough preparations before attempting a second exploration. In the meantime, you'd best not send anyone inside. Trust me, the number of venomous snakes is beyond what you can imagine."
The old gentleman, Miller, drew a sharp breath and asked with a hint of dread:
"Will they slither over this way?"
"Do you know any professionals who deal with snakes?"
Klein nodded at once. "I'll find someone to cooperate with and handle this matter as best I can. It's already the cold season of autumn, and the snakes are reluctant to move. As long as you don't send people in to disturb them, there shouldn't be any problem."
"Good. Please hurry. During this time, I'll keep this door firmly shut and not let anyone inside." Upon hearing this, Miller relaxed slightly.
Seeing that his truthful but incomplete account had successfully intimidated his employer, Klein quickly set down the lantern and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Next, I'll be gathering information and making a preliminary assessment of the layout of that underground structure before attempting another exploration."
"To do that, I'll need you to tell me who the original owner of this property was — which viscount."
It was precisely because of the former aristocratic provenance that Miller had purchased the building. He answered without hesitation:
"Viscount Ponder."
"What do you know about him and his family?" Klein pressed, adopting a professional manner.
Miller pondered for a moment, then said: