Lost and Found

Passing through the bar and exiting via the back door, a flight of stairs leading to the second floor appeared before them.

However, Officer Natalie didn't go upstairs. Instead, she led Lynch around to a small door beneath the staircase.

Inside was just an ordinary utility room, but when the lady officer pulled a lever on the wall, it ceased to be ordinary.

Amidst the clattering and grinding of gears within the wall, the opposite wall split open to reveal a doorway, behind which a spiral staircase wound downward.

A secret base for a secret organization.

Lynch instantly felt as if he had arrived at the Men in Black headquarters. His heart quickened with excitement. Taking a deep breath to suppress his overexcited nerves, he followed the lady officer through the hidden door.

The hidden door swung shut behind them, yet light remained.

Beneath grated glass shades, gas nozzles hissed as they spat flames, tracing downward along the wall and illuminating the deep, shadowy corridor.

“I’ve already reported your situation to him. Although it's a bit troublesome, there should be a solution. He'll explain everything to you shortly, so don't worry.”

Lynch managed a faint smile. His current mood felt akin to walking to the hospital to pick up a pathology report; no matter how big-hearted someone was, feeling uneasy was unavoidable. The path ahead seemed exceptionally long.

At the bottom of the stairs lay five or six forks in the subterranean path. Knowing he was an outsider, Lynch kept his eyes forward and followed closely behind Officer Natalie, turning down one of the paths to the left.

This was a typical underground corridor. Even with gas lamps burning along the walls, it still possessed a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere. Not far ahead, a door stood ajar, spilling warm orange light from within.

Natalie knocked on the door. From inside came a man's voice marked by a heavy nasal tone—the distinctive accent of Norin, the capital of Lande.

“Come in.”

The voice carried a stern edge that gave one a headache just hearing it. Lynch instinctively frowned, but followed Natalie inside nonetheless.

Inside was a quintessential office: a large desk, towering bookcases, a high-backed leather chair, and two long sofas facing it. Two gas lamps extended from the walls, brightening the entire room.

A middle-aged man sat behind the desk, his hair combed neatly straight back. He wore a white shirt, while his suit jacket and top hat hung on a coat rack. Wearing a monocle, he had a walking cane propped beside his desk.

The man wore a grave expression as he read a report on the desk. The moment Lynch laid eyes on him, a heavy, suffocating pressure washed over him, setting his heart racing and breaking his palms into a cold sweat.

‘Travel Companion, what's going on?’

【That is an alert from your inspiration, Awakened. You have sensed the mystery latent within him.】

‘A Soul Severer? But why didn't I get this feeling from Natalie?’

【He is far more powerful.】

“Please have a seat, Mr. Lynch Levive.”

The man rose, nodded, and gestured toward the sofa opposite him before closing the report on the desk.

“I am Victor, the officer in charge of the Watchers in Rhine City, codename V. You may call me Mr. V, or simply address me as Victor.”

Lynch gave a slight bow and sat down beside Natalie.

“I am already aware of yesterday's situation, so let's get straight to the point and discuss your ordeal. This case has been preliminarily determined to be a sacrificial ritual orchestrated by followers of the evil god Ancient Flicker.”

Last night, Lynch had thoroughly searched the original owner's memories regarding evil gods and cultists. Evil gods, much like mystery itself, circulated among the common folk only as legends and folklore, while cultists were viewed as a bunch of madmen poisoned by an obsession with evil god stories, hiding among the public to wreak havoc.

This was how the vast majority of people perceived taboo knowledge concerning mystery; few genuinely believed that beyond common sense, countless horrors lurked in the dark. Thus, even though he already bore an evil god's mark, he couldn't help but ask, “Are there really so many evil gods in the world? What exactly are they?”

“A great many. Aside from the ancient and mysterious fallen gods, there are hundreds of evil gods lurking as Great Old Ones within the memories of the Dreamlands. As for what they are, someone will explain that to you later. Among the evil gods, the Ancient Flicker isn't particularly powerful, but because it once usurped authorities related to dissemination and propagation for a time, it has quite a few cultist followers, including some newly emerged capi—capi...”

“Capitalists?” Lynch somewhat understood why someone of Randall's status had turned into a cultist.

“Precisely. You have received a secondary education after all.” Mr. V nodded. “So they possess ample funds, making their clandestine troublemaking unsurprising. Honestly, if it were merely a few sacrifices, we generally wouldn't intervene too seriously—that falls under the duty of ordinary police.”

“Ahem.” Lynch's expression turned somewhat strange.

“Mr. Levive, that is simply the reality. Cultists who merely hold a few sacrifices to appease evil gods are the most harmless sort. Killing a handful of ordinary people—if not for public repercussions, I'd gladly award each of them a medal. Regrettably, they usually harbor far more complicated and perilous objectives, and those are the cases where we must step in. Otherwise, if we mobilized over every few sacrificed commoners, even ten times our personnel wouldn't suffice.”

Thinking of the difference between ordinary police and special tactical units, Lynch nodded nonetheless.

“Now, let us discuss your own situation. I know that you must complete your soul alienation within a month in order to survive. Natalie hopes I can help resolve this problem, but regrettably, in theory, that is impossible.”

Lynch maintained a calm expression; he had not missed the key phrase 'in theory.'

“Soul alienation requires using a deity that resonates with your inner self as a template, whether that deity is one of the twelve major gods reigning on high or an ancient fallen god of the distant past. You need to read sacred information from the mystery they left behind in the Dreamlands, yet the holy mysteries capable of facilitating your initial soul alienation are exceedingly rare. Among them, the easiest to encounter are the initial holy mysteries of the twelve major gods, but those are held entirely within the grasp of their respective churches. They maintain strict control over them. Even if one becomes a devout follower of a major god, it takes years of trials to qualify to access a holy mystery. One month is far from enough.”

Lynch pressed his lips together. Even though he knew Victor might be adopting a bargaining posture, he was still nervous; after all, this directly involved his life and death. Moreover, every word Victor said was reasonable. Something so fundamental to an organization's cohesion wouldn't be easily shared with outsiders if positions were reversed.

“It seems you understand. It's not that there's no room for negotiation, but it requires an exchange of interests, and the price is steep. It simply isn't worth paying for an ordinary civilian, even one whom Natalie views favorably. No one would approve such a request; there is no room for discussion.”

“Sir...”

Officer Natalie jerked her head up, frowning as she tried to say something, but before the words could leave her mouth, Lynch stomped hard on her foot. The lady officer hesitated for a moment before lowering her head again, shooting Lynch a fierce glare.

“Therefore, Natalie's request cannot be approved—unless a member of the royal family or a high-ranking government official speaks up, or there is indeed a valid reason for the kingdom to bear this cost.” Mr. V rested his chin on his interlaced fingers and stared intently at Lynch. “Do you have one?”

Lynch felt a jolt in his mind, suddenly catching on to the hint. He smiled and nodded. “I do.”

“Oh?”

“Randall has a ‘master’ behind him who is specifically targeting me. He even deliberately sent me a letter just now as proof. He isn't a madman, and I've never interacted with him before, so his targeting me must serve a purpose. We must uncover that purpose and determine what threat he poses to the kingdom and His Majesty the King's subjects by using my death. Therefore, the investigation must continue, which falls squarely under the duty of the Watchers. And I am the breakthrough point for that investigation—a breakthrough point that must remain alive.”

“I see. That does make some sense. In other words, your survival is directly tied to the investigation of this case, and perhaps even to the safety of the kingdom. Considering the kingdom's interests, your survival must be guaranteed; otherwise, the leads would go cold.”

“Yes.”

“Then we have no other choice. Natalie, you will continue coordinating with Mr. Levive. The moment there is progress, you are to launch a follow-up investigation immediately. In the meantime, to ensure Mr. Lynch's survival...”

Even though he already felt confident, Lynch held his breath in suspense. He then saw Mr. V take a pre-prepared large envelope from a drawer and casually toss it over, landing squarely on the coffee table before him.

“A letter of introduction from the Watchers. Although the Land Court and the churches of the major gods share only a cooperative relationship, Lande is, after all, one of the seven great powers. The major factions will extend sufficient respect. With this letter of introduction, as long as your soul is compatible, they will not make things difficult for a mere initial soul alienation. If your soul truly isn't compatible with any of the twelve major gods, go find Natalie. She will introduce you to several secret societies where you can find holy mysteries left by some of the fallen gods. This letter of introduction works on those secret societies as well—well, partially.”

Lynch looked at the envelope, then back at Mr. V, knowing he now owed an enormous favor. Just hearing about its weight made its value clear, not to mention it was directly tied to his life—calling it priceless was no exaggeration. Although Victor had put on a tough posture throughout, having the document ready in advance spoke volumes about his true stance.

Lynch thought for a moment and said nothing. He stood, bowed deeply, and pulled the envelope toward himself. He had never liked being indebted to others, especially for such a massive favor, and had already resolved in his heart to repay it in full should the opportunity arise.

“It really isn't as serious as you think. A person cannot choose two divine templates for alienation, so you can only use it once. The Watchers only need to trade favors with a single faction, rather than all of them.” Mr. V offered a few casual words of comfort before tapping on his desk. “Now, we need to discuss the second, more serious issue: Natalie's request regarding the expense for the mystery relic.”

The corner of Lynch's mouth twitched. He sat up straight like an obedient schoolchild, hands on his knees, his expression utterly focused.

“These requests are neither compliant nor reasonable. Natalie Angel, I am deeply disappointed that you would make such demands. The Ghost of the Dannis Residence is stolen property belonging to the Randall family; although you found it, it has nothing to do with you and should rightfully be confiscated. No compensation can be provided. As for that statue, it is contraband belonging to cultists. Mr. Levive purchased it, and not holding him accountable for dealing in hazardous items is already leniency on our part. Yet you expect a reimbursement of the six pounds he paid for it? Under what regulation are you submitting this? Who do you think would approve such an unreasonable request? Find it for me in the protocol manual, and I'll approve the funds right this second.”

The lady officer's face flushed crimson, her head bowed without a word to say.

Lynch sighed softly to himself. Though he had prepared mentally, he was in dire need of money right now, so a bit of disappointment was inevitable. Still, glancing at Officer Natalie beside him, warmth filled his chest. It turned out that beneath her nonchalant exterior, she genuinely cared about everything. She was a true friend.

“Furthermore, Natalie Angel, your report contains an even more serious mistake.”

The lady officer blinked in dazed confusion.

V tapped on the report, his tone emphasizing every word. “You mentioned that in order to track down the statue, you commissioned a private investigator from the public to assist in the case. You cannot simply report something like this verbally. Why don't I see it in your report? Where did you write it?”

Lynch's eyes lit up. He drew a sharp breath, realizing for the first time that there were intriguing individuals among bureaucrats. Officer Natalie, however, tilted her head in utter bewilderment, as though visible question marks were popping above her head, as if asking: When did I ever say that?

“Moreover, when hiring a private investigator, did you apply for an appropriation of commission fees in advance? If not, did you expect him to work for free, or were you planning to pay out of your own pocket?”

V tossed the report back to Natalie in apparent irritation.

“Take it back and rewrite it! Fully detail how you commissioned a private investigator to aid the investigation; your superiors shouldn't have to guess. In addition, submit an explanatory statement and a self-reflection. Even if last night's emergency prevented you from applying in advance, what were you doing all morning? Did you need me to remind you? Once written, submit it along with the appropriation request. No, give me the appropriation request right now so we can settle his commission immediately. Our government agency cannot owe debts to citizens. By the way, how much was the commission?”

By now, Natalie finally caught on. She shot Lynch a sharp glare and whispered, “Six pounds and fifteen shillings.”

“Say that again? Do you know what six pounds means?” V gave an odd expression. “It means I would have to write an explanatory statement and a self-reflection to headquarters. When that happens, I'll be the one sitting in your seat getting scolded! Is that what you want to see? Therefore, four pounds at most—no room for discussion.”

“Four pounds is more than enough.”

Lynch let out a long breath of relief. With three pounds to work with, most of his problems could be resolved, at least ensuring he wouldn't starve on the street or end up sleeping on the curb.

“Now that is where you are wrong, Mr. Lynch Levive.” V's face darkened as he said sternly, “Are you not planning to continue serving the kingdom and His Majesty Emperor Rudolph?”

“Pardon?”

“Or do you believe the Watchers would mistreat our partners?” V tapped the desk. “As agreed earlier, you will continue cooperating with Natalie in tracking down this case. That makes this a second commission separate from tracing the statue. As for the fee... government departments aren't swimming in wealth either, so you must understand our constraints. Let's provide an advance of six pounds for now, and if circumstances change later, we will adjust accordingly. Natalie, write up the appropriation request for this portion as well so the funds can be disbursed together. Also, regarding the two commissions from last night and today, draw up two commission contracts shortly and complete all formalities. We must be worthy of His Majesty the King's trust and stand up to the scrutiny of the House of Commons.”

Cold sweat ran down Lynch's neck, and only a single thought lingered in his mind.

So administrative regulations could be played like this.

What's more, an official in an otherworldly bureaucracy was this adept at gaming the system—capable of justifying everything forwards and backwards while keeping the paperwork immaculate, leaving not a shred of fault to be found.

In any case, he finally had money in his pocket. Damn you, Randall! Heh-heh, the money you swindled out of me is finally back!

“I advise you not to celebrate too soon, Mr. Levive, because you will soon realize that in the world of mystery, ten pounds is practically abject poverty. You won't even be able to afford a single mildly useful item.”

Only then did Mr. V lean back in his chair, revealing a gentle smile.

“Mr. Lynch, what I said at the beginning was not a pretense; that truly is our standard protocol. However, through your actions last night, you earned our respect. We believe you are qualified to be a collaborator of the Watchers and worthy of this letter of introduction. Therefore, I sincerely look forward to the opportunity of continuing our partnership a month from now. As for the reimbursement, according to regulations, we indeed cannot give you a single penny—but commission fees for cooperation are another matter entirely. After all, you did us a tremendous favor.”

Lynch stood up, pressed his hat to his chest, and bowed once more. “I will firmly remember this kindness.”

“Haha, no need to be so polite. Go upstairs, have a few drinks, and enjoy yourselves. I won't spoil the young people's fun.”

Smiles graced both their faces. Only Officer Natalie stared down at the report on the desk, sinking into deep despair.