Your Decision

“The hillmen tribe took advantage of that woman breaking into their lair to link her to Zur Baha Sahr,” Elder Bru continued. “Then, using their special methods, they turned her into a humanoid, uncontrolled mystery relic. Whenever she falls asleep, she drags everyone around her into Zur Baha Sahr’s memories, where they become sacrifices to be devoured by the memory's inhabitants.”

Hiss... That meant he had wandered into a relic's memories again yesterday. It was practically becoming an every-other-day occurrence. Was his attraction to the mysterious really that strong? Even if he wasn't tired of it, didn't these mystery relics ever get tired?

【No, they don't. My condolences.】

'Thanks for the comfort. I feel much worse now. Thank you so much.'

Lynch sighed softly, though he was beginning to believe this unfamiliar ghoul. At least in this regard, Bru was telling the truth.

“But that isn't the worst of it,” Bru added. “Eventually, that woman will lose control even further. When that happens, the people affected won't just enter a memory—they will be pulled into the actual, real-world Zur Baha Sahr.”

“Is there a difference? No residents running all over the place or ice sculptures?”

“Hmm? How do you know that?” Blood-red eyes snapped onto Lynch's face, his expression turning fierce. “You've already been inside? How could a human as weak as you come out alive?”

Lynch shrugged. “Just good luck, I suppose. My protagonist halo is pretty strong.”

“What on earth is that?” The ghoul scratched his head in a surprisingly human gesture. “Forget it, it doesn't matter. In any case, those things aren't in the real Zur Baha Sahr, but a soul fragment of Mordiggian is—and that is the hillmen's true objective.”

Lynch felt a chill run down his spine. It had already been dangerous enough in the dream, but facing an evil god directly felt like moving way too fast. Even if he activated Divine Authority, wasn't that meant for fighting powerhouses or opposing an evil god's willpower?

“Once that woman reaches her final state, they will use her to enter the real Zur Baha Sahr and offer sacrifices directly to Mordiggian, nourishing his soul fragment. If they reach that stage, stopping them will be nearly impossible.”

Lynch frowned and asked, “When will it reach that stage?”

“That depends on their progress. They need to conduct a ritual to push that woman into the final stage, but the ritual is complex and requires extensive preparation.”

Lynch had just begun to relax when Elder Bru added:

“However, they have help. With human assistance, their ritual is almost fully prepared. I cannot say for certain when they will begin—perhaps tomorrow, or perhaps it has already started.”

Lynch realized at once. It had to be the Valente family—they certainly possessed the resources to do it.

“To remedy the situation, we planned to take control of that woman yesterday so that even if they completed the ritual, we would have a way to counter them. But you stopped us.”

Lynch's voice darkened. “Can you tell me what your countermeasure is?”

Elder Bru was silent for a moment before giving an indirect answer: “We will only act at the very last moment.”

“Then... besides your so-called last resort, is there any other way?”

“There is, and that is why I met with you today.” Elder Bru glanced at Chairman Grant, who was timing the conversation with a pocket watch and nodded. Reassured, Elder Bru continued, “You have two choices: either hand over that woman, or go stop Nikolai's final transformation ritual yourself.”

The veins on Lynch's temples throbbed. “Why didn't you go stop them directly?”

Elder Bru gave him a strange look and replied with complete justification, “Nikolai is too strong. I daren't show my face.”

“Then you could expose their plot.”

“We are ghouls ourselves, and we have no proof of their intentions. They also have supporters, so going public would achieve nothing—and besides, we don't want this made public.”

“And you think I dare show my face?”

“That is your affair, nothing to do with us. If you don't dare, hand the woman over to us in exchange for your own safety. Make your decision. Either way, it is a matter for you humans; no matter the outcome, we won't be affected.”

Lynch pressed his lips together and fell silent.

Now he finally understood what had happened to the female reporter and grasped the conflict behind the Bester Mountain Tunnel.

But he wished he hadn't.

This matter was far beyond the capability of a rank one Soul Severer; it was something powerhouses should handle. He shouldn't even have listened. But pretending he hadn't heard was likely too late. Given his experience with the occult, once he learned the truth, he had already formed a strong connection to the event. From then on, he would only sink deeper—this was a trend formed by the nature of mystery, unalterable by individual will. Withdrawing was completely impossible now.

Perhaps he shouldn't have followed Grant out tonight.

【Your assumption is flawed, Lynch.】 The voice of Lady Red Moon made Lynch's heart tighten. He knew Lady Luna would only warn him when his guesses were dangerously wrong. 【The connection wasn't just formed. Refusing it now is already too late.】

'Hmm?'

【The moment you heard those two names, the connection was established. You are bound to become intertwined deeper and deeper in this event. That is the true power of mysterious filth's corruption.】

A cold shudder ran through Lynch. 'Mordiggian and Zur Baha Sahr?'

【Yes. When facing mysterious filth, establishing a connection causes one to sink deeper and deeper. Especially with your attraction to the mysterious, you will be entangled faster than anyone else, Lynch.】

Lynch gave a bitter smile and silently asked, 'Is there any way to avoid this?'

【There is. If you can cause someone else to become even more deeply entangled and place them in front of you as a shield, you might be spared deeper corruption until they die.】

'A friend?' The stern face of Officer Natalie immediately flashed in Lynch's mind. 'Neighbor, are you serious?'

【I will witness every choice you make, Lynch. Therefore, I am showing you the choice most people would make.】

'Heh, I understand.'

Pulling his attention back, Lynch turned his gaze to Chairman Grant, who had remained silent at his side. If someone of Grant's standing couldn't suppress the other party, the power of the Valente family was truly staggering.

Should he simply write up the entire affair into a mission report and hand it over to Duke Vane?

But he quickly realized that would be the foolish move.

Such a serious accusation without proof would be meaningless on paper. Besides, were those at the very top truly completely in the dark? They couldn't possibly be that oblivious. Hiring outside help at great expense was likely their way of attempting to find evidence or even a solution. Kicking the ball back to them directly would achieve nothing.

Thinking carefully about it, the solution was actually very simple: hand Maya over, and the city would be safe—or at least it would buy some time.

She was just a stranger he had saved on a whim, someone he had met only a handful of times, and she had already transformed into such an ugly half-ghoul. Search his heart as he might, he had absolutely no obligation to help her—let alone face a massive crisis himself just to protect her.

“That is all a matter for you humans. Make your own decision. I will see what you do.”

Elder Bru growled softly and stood up abruptly. His tall body writhed before shrinking down rapidly, eventually reverting back into the tiny corpse of a canary. In the carriage, only Lynch and Chairman Grant were left, looking at each other in silent speechlessness.