Struggle

“Is this the statue you are talking about, Officer Angel?”

Lynch handed over a photograph that the client had provided.

The black and white photo was somewhat blurry. The object on it looked like a six legged toad crouching on the ground, with thick, powerful limbs covered in dense fur, yet it had a human face on its head.

The design was not particularly bizarre, but even just looking at the photo, Lynch still felt an inexplicable panic, as if it were a premonition before a terrifying natural disaster.

He found it hard to even understand why the original Lynch would have accepted the commission upon seeing this photo instead of running as far away as possible.

“I am not certain. I have never seen it either, but according to the description, it should be correct. It is a statue of the Ancient Flicker.”

“Ancient Flicker?”

Officer Angel frowned, sat up straight, and said seriously:

“For living beings, the more forbidden knowledge one knows, the closer one gets to madness and loss of control. According to the Watchers' regulations, it is not allowed to be disclosed to ordinary people, and frankly, I no longer believe your cooperation has any value. But since you insist on facing the end with your eyes open, I will disclose a portion at my discretion.”

No value? What did that mean?

Lynch frowned and reviewed the relevant memories of the original Lynch in his mind again. Did this not count as a lead?

The officer said in a deep voice: “You must have heard of the Dreamlands. It is the collective memory of all living beings, harboring not only the gods who fell during the past four eras but also the fearful things from the memories of living beings over millions of years. So-called mystery is actually the manifestation of these ancient memories from the Dreamlands.”

“Objects, living beings, text, sounds, images—mystery can appear in any form. If left to exist uncontrolled, it will form a mystery event, continuously spreading the filth of the Dreamlands to the surroundings, causing affected people to fall into insane self destruction and causing massive disasters.”

“The Ancient Flicker was one of the evil gods of the barbaric Second Era; we call them Great Old Ones. This statue is a mystery relic related to him, but what exactly it is, we do not know yet.”

Lynch was stunned: “You do not know? Why?”

“Why? Identifying relics requires keen inspiration to interpret mystery memories. Do you know what that means? Being able to quickly discover and understand mystery not only solves most problems but also allows one to find the most targeted countermeasures during a confrontation. You cannot understand how important such a comrade is to a hunter.”

“Is it hard to do?”

“Of course.” Officer Angel sneered with dissatisfaction, “At the very least, an ordinary person certainly cannot do it.”

“Uh, true.” Lynch glanced at the Judgment of Vigen and continued to ask: “So I was affected by the filth?”

“No, you were not. Indeed, some relics can radiate filth while in containment and cause death within hours, but that must be the effect of a high level relic. A relic of that level should have triggered a massive disaster in five days. We judge that this statue is not of a very high level, so it should not be simple filth radiation. Instead, someone used the statue as a tool to do something to you all, forming this mystery event and making you commit suicide repeatedly within eight hours.”

“Why?”

“That is what I want to figure out. The deaths of a few ordinary civilians are not worth the Watchers' attention, but if the situation escalates, there will be trouble. Five days ago, someone secretly brought the statue into Rhine City. That person died in an inn, and the statue flowed into the hands of ordinary people. All seven known associates are dead; you are the only one still alive.”

“I asked just now, what if the suicide did not fully kill me?”

Officer Angel's expression was complex. She shook her head and said: “Do not harbor any luck. Suicide is just the beginning. Look at your hand, your left hand.”

Lynch looked down, feeling his heart go cold.

Without him noticing, his left hand had become withered and gaunt.

It looked exactly like a withered tree root.

Yet he had felt absolutely nothing until this very moment.

Pulling up his sleeve, he saw that the entire left forearm up to the elbow had turned into this state.

It had been perfectly normal just minutes ago when he was hanging.

The fear of death spread quietly in his heart, making him subconsciously clutch the red moon pendant on his chest. Perhaps it was a mark left by his previous life, but the moment he held the pendant, the fear and chaos in his heart quickly receded, allowing him to calm down again.

“Now do you know the severity of the problem?” Officer Natalie sighed, stood up, and said, “Get some good sleep, Lynch Levive. If you can still wake up tomorrow, it means everything is over. I have solved the event; tonight was just a nightmare. If you cannot wake up... that may not necessarily be a misfortune.”

“Wait, do you not need my cooperation?” Lynch was stunned, “Maybe I can provide other associates.”

“You?” The officer's tone carried a hint of mockery, “Can you really provide them? Try saying it.”

“On April 8, 1399, I received a commission from a client to help him...”

“Who was the client?”

“It was...”

Lynch suddenly faltered. He found that he had no idea at all.

In the original Lynch's memories, he only remembered having a ‘client’, but there was no identity or face whatsoever.

This was not normal; all other memories were very detailed.

Carefully recalling it again, all memories related to this commission had become extremely blurry.

Including how he completed it—he did not know; he only remembered the result that it was completed.

It was as if the process had been erased.

Yet other memories were relatively much clearer.

In such a bizarre situation, he had recalled it several times before but had inexplicably overlooked it.

It was as if something was clouding his reason, making him not think about these things.

This discovery left him frozen on the sofa, unable to react for a long time.

Feeling a chill down his spine, he looked up at Officer Natalie, then abruptly lowered his head to flip through his notebook.

It was his task record book; it should have the records of the client and the mission execution.

However, opening the last page of the record book, Lynch felt his blood vessels tighten and a chill permeate his body.

It felt as if his blood had frozen.

Because the entire page of the notebook was densely filled with words.

I am here.

I am here I am here I am here.

For a moment, Lynch even forgot to breathe, staring blankly at Officer Angel opposite him.

The officer looked at the notebook and revealed a smile that said 'as expected'.

“This is the norm, Lynch Levive. From the very beginning, you have been affected by the filth of mystery, and your memory and cognition have been interfered with.”

Lynch's voice was exceptionally dry: “But I did not even see the statue at that time.”

“Do not constrain mystery with common sense. Many connections are conceptual, regardless of whether you saw it or not.”

Lynch felt cold sweat crawling down his back.

Witness, what is going on here?

【This is your journey. I will only be by your side, witnessing your every choice. It has always been so.】

So it means no matter what I do, you will only remind me to pay attention to the mysteries I encounter on the journey?

【Not just that, but that is indeed the case for now. I wish you a pleasant journey, Awakened One.】

Right, only I can be responsible for my new journey. I can only rely on my own struggle.

Lynch gritted his teeth, his mind rapidly thinking about everything that had happened to him.

He had not spent all those years exposed to mystery games, movies, and television for nothing. Although the information was fragmented, the validity of the knowledge would not easily change.

No matter who you are, you want me to die? Dream on.

I will root you out.

Seeing that Lynch looked as if he had been scared silly, Officer Natalie shook her head: “Although I know it is unlikely, let me ask one more thing: regarding this matter, do you have any other clear memories?”

Lynch frowned and thought: “Does having dinner at Lattis Kitchen count? That is the earliest clear memory I can trace for tonight.”

Officer Natalie's mouth twitched, and she turned to walk toward the door.

“Wait, you are going to continue the investigation, right? I will go with you. I do not want to wait for death; I want to continue to get to the bottom of this.”

“You? On what grounds? You are just an ordinary person.”

The officer looked back, squinting her eyes as she scrutinized the stiff faced Lynch:

“What can you do if you follow? Can you fight or perceive mystery? Or can you help me find the statue? Recognize your own abilities. You will be of no use if you follow. Staying at home and waiting might give you a sliver of a chance to survive.”

“Fight, perceive mystery, find the statue—I do not know if I can do it, but at least I still have a brain.” A shut in also has the abilities of a shut in, Lynch said through gritted teeth, “Do not forget, I am a private investigator. I will use my own methods to win back my life.”

“Again with this. I have seen many people like you who think about making pointless struggles, but the end result will only harm themselves and others.” The officer glanced at Lynch with a sneer and turned to leave, “Ordinary people should have the self awareness of ordinary people. Do not add trouble to others without reason.”

“Then I will go myself.” Lynch said in a low voice, “Even if I die, I will die on the road of struggle. No one can make me wait for death at home.”

“Suit yourself. It is not that I look down on you, but the world of mystery is not something an ordinary person like you can understand. Stay home obediently. Sometimes acting recklessly is more dangerous to yourself and others. I will do my best to investigate and strive to preserve your life.”

“Then let us make a bet. I will definitely find the statue and save my own life.”

“Very well. If you win, I will agree to anything. So, farewell, Mr. Lynch Levive. I hope it is not a final goodbye.”

Officer Natalie Angel tipped her hat, bowed slightly to Lynch, and turned away, carrying her sword.

Lynch sat blankly on the sofa, his mind in a chaotic mess for a long time before he pounded the sofa: Witness, you are still there, right?

【Always here.】

The gentle female voice was peaceful and soothing, making the fear of death in Lynch's heart quickly dissipate. Hearing this voice, he could not help but calm down.

You can guide me to discover the mystery around me, right?

【Yes.】

“Good, then I will take you with me to witness my journey of awakening.”

Lynch stood up abruptly and walked to the wardrobe. After a moment of thought, he put on the most traditional gentleman's formal wear of the Kingdom of Lande.

Even if he were to die in the end, he would leave with the most decent posture.

He tied his bowtie, put on his jacket, threw on his trench coat, and then put on his cheap top hat.

Hm, one more look at this handsome young man in the mirror.

Picking up the cheapest walking stick beside the cabinet, he poked the ground, then fished out a shriveled money bag from under the shoe cabinet at the door. Lynch nodded and gripped the handle of the office door.

His heart was pounding, and cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck.

He knew that outside the door was a dangerous new world.

Steam and flames, eerie mystery.

And those indescribable things ubiquitous in the darkness.

Well then, Lynch is coming.

Pushing open the door, he was greeted by two moons.

The silver moon hung in the sky, and the red moon hung high in the firmament.

The crimson moon was like a plate filled with fresh blood, making everything take on the color of blood.

Behind him was his old apartment, with the lights off in several windows.

Outside the door was a large intersection, with well dressed gentlemen and ladies, homeless people in rags, peddlers pushing carts selling goods, newsboys running wildly waving newspapers, and a young lady beckoning mysteriously at the corner of a dark alley. The crowd was coming and going, bustling with activity.

In the distance, the thick, long chimneys of the factories pointed toward the red moon like fangs, spewing billowing black smoke day and night.

The ground shook, a huge steam locomotive roared past with white fog, and the sound of the station bell faintly drifted from the direction of the station.

On the bluestone street, carriages rang their dull bells as they traveled between numerous Victorian style buildings.

A row of heavy gas street lamps flickered on and off, uncertain.

Is this my new world?

Three black carriages were parked outside the apartment building, bearing the emblem of the Hall of Order—two swords and a shield.

More than a dozen Rhine police officers in double breasted blue uniforms were rushing into the carriages, leaving with Officer Natalie.

How should I investigate?

Lynch pondered the fragmented knowledge he had learned before and asked and answered in his heart.

“Step one, return to the relevant location.”

Lattis Kitchen, the best restaurant in the area.

I had dinner here on my way home, so it is very likely that someone here saw me. I will start from here to win back my life.

Before leaving, Lynch looked up at the red moon in the sky. At this moment, he recalled those days spent floating in the red mist, accompanied only by the blood moon in the sky.

Clutching the pendant on his chest, Lynch smiled at the red moon in the sky.

You will continue to watch me, right?

The red moon remained hanging high, as mysterious as it had always been.