Withdrawal

“Another gas pipeline explosion...”

“The pipes in Rhine City are just too old; they’re always blowing up...”

The whispers reaching his ears made Lynch feel a sense of oppression. The red-haired woman he had been laughing and chatting with just a few hours ago had ended up in such a state.

A white sheet covered the stretcher, hiding the body from head to toe. Dark red blood seeped from beneath the cloth, accompanied by the smell of something burnt.

Having witnessed the passing of a life he knew, Lynch couldn't help but feel a wave of sorrow.

Yet, he felt more confused and unsettled than anything else.

How could this be such a coincidence, just like the fire at the Hall of Order?

It felt as if the events of the night before last were repeating themselves. Everything seemed to be orchestrated, and at every turn, he hit a wall. He was like a fly trapped in a spiderweb, struggling harder only to sink deeper, until finally being consumed by the net in total silence.

Yet, there was no sign of direct interference.

Furthermore, only the archbishop and he knew about the actual investigation; it couldn't have leaked, nor should he have been targeted. Besides, tracking the relic’s trail before closing time was a completely last-minute decision. Even if Officer Natalie wanted to leak it, she wouldn't have had the time.

What on earth was going on? Was someone truly pulling the strings from behind the scenes?

The more Lynch thought about it, the more dangerous his situation felt. His mind became increasingly chaotic until someone tugged at his sleeve.

He turned around to see Officer Natalie’s peculiar expression and... a pair of dazzling red locks.

Madam Bessie had appeared silently behind him, watching him as he stood in deep, gloomy thought beside the corpse alongside Officer Natalie.

Huh? What was going on? She wasn't the one who died?

Lynch opened his mouth, pointing at the red-haired woman and then at the body behind her.

“Oh, that? I don't know them. Probably a customer I served before. They said they wanted to talk to me, and then they just exploded in front of me. I suppose it’s a case of a commoner having their mind eroded by a mystery relic. That sort of thing is quite common, though this person’s end was a bit more dramatic. The police officers say they were hiding explosives on their person, and they’re currently investigating their identity.”

Madam Bessie’s demeanor was quite calm, even more relaxed than the onlookers around them, as if nothing had happened at all.

“You exploded and you’re perfectly fine?”

Lynch looked at the shattered glass doors and windows, then back at Madam Bessie. After such a massive explosion, the red-haired woman was still dressed exactly as she had been at lunch. Not only was her clothing free of dirt and damage, but even her hair wasn't messy. She was even still holding that ivory pipe, looking poised and elegant.

“You underestimate the power of a Soul Severer, especially Madam Bessie. With her ability to protect herself, she wouldn't be harmed even if I were the one blown up.” Officer Natalie patted Lynch’s shoulder and turned to explain to Bessie, “We’ve encountered some situations today, and he’s a bit overstressed. Please don't mind him.”

“Pfft, I don't mind at all. Natalie, your little partner is quite cute, actually worrying for me. Young man, I like you. From now on, whenever you buy or sell things, I’ll give you a ten percent discount.”

“Wait, don't trick me. You can't just calculate it like that when selling things.” Lynch blurted out instinctively.

“Haha, you were just staring blankly, and now your reaction is suddenly so quick.” Madam Bessie showed no sign of being bothered that her shop had just been bombed, taking Officer Natalie’s arm as she said, “Let’s go to the back. Let’s finish your business first. I’m afraid I’ll have to close up shop for a few days.”

So, I was just playing a game of wits with thin air? The accident here actually has nothing to do with our business at all.

Tch, a bit embarrassing, but it’s always a good thing when someone you know hasn't died.

Lynch followed them, letting out a soft sigh and chuckling at himself as he entered the shop.

The cluttered little shop had become even worse, with all the merchandise overturned on the floor. No wonder she needed to close for a few days.

Madam Bessie didn't seem distressed at all, walking briskly toward the back. However, they had only made it halfway when a shout from the blue uniforms came from behind them.

“Ma’am, Madam Bessie, please wait a moment. There’s a question we need to verify with you. Do you recognize the name Donnie Narton?”

“Never heard of it. Is that the one who exploded? What did he do?”

“A newspaper reporter. It’s said he’s been missing for several days.”

“I truly don't remember. My apologies, Officer.”

The blue uniforms left, disappointed. Madam Bessie led the two around the debris and ducked into a small door behind the counter. A narrow corridor appeared before Lynch, and at its end stood an old, dark red wooden door.

It was rough and heavy, with a strange skull painted on it, emanating an eerie aura.

【The Gate of Blood, my blood and soul will guide the way and bring you to my side.】

“To avoid accidental contact by commoners and to prevent accidents like the one earlier, all mystery-related facilities and items are stored separately. Follow me.” The red-haired woman said, taking out a sewing needle to prick her finger and smearing a drop of blood on the skull’s forehead.

Two lines of blood flowed down from the eye sockets. Lynch smelled a rich, bloody scent, and then the heavy wooden door slowly opened, revealing a pitch-black space behind it.

“Wait a moment.”

Madam Bessie entered first, as if walking into a normal room, and then the sound of a lever being pulled echoed, followed by lights coming on.

The moment the door opened, Lynch felt a sharp pain between his eyebrows, a buzzing in his ears, and countless light and shadow distortions before his eyes. He felt a wave of dizziness, as if he might faint at any moment. Only after a few seconds did the discomfort gradually fade. He rubbed his brow, which still felt a phantom pain, and smiled at the worried officer, signaling that he was fine.

‘Travel Companion, what’s going on?’

【The gate distorts the distance between two points, allowing you to directly contact another location.】

‘So this is Doraemon’s Anywhere Door?’

The female voice was silent for a moment before continuing:

【No, both sides require fixation.】

‘Hiss, you’ve been peeking at my memories, haven't you? Remember to pretend you didn't see what you shouldn't have. Then why do I have a headache?’

【There are eleven sources of mysterious filth behind the gate, causing overly intense stimulation. Do you need me to display the mystery relics for you one by one?】

‘Never mind, I won't pry into that privacy.’

“Are you alright, Lynch?” The officer had already steadied his arm, speaking loudly. “Bessie, Lynch is...”

“Don't worry, it’s a normal phenomenon for someone with keen inspiration. It will pass in a moment.” Madam Bessie had already walked out after lighting the lamps, but she paused, stunned. “You recovered? So quickly? That’s impossible. I have disaster-grade items stored in here...”

“Hm? You have what?” Natalie raised an eyebrow.

“Ahem, I meant destruction-grade mystery relics. Those who cannot perceive them aren't affected, but for someone who can, how could they recover so quickly?”

“Maybe because my brain is slower than others.” Lynch shrugged, muttering to himself, ‘So you’re saying I recover faster than others?’

【Yes. Your will is strong enough to quickly adapt to abnormal stimuli, not limited to just the mysterious.】

“There’s no such thing as that.”

Madam Bessie studied Lynch for a moment, setting aside her surprise for now, and led them into the opened Gate of Blood. Behind the door was a spacious room with no windows, but gas pipes extended from the walls, casting a warm light throughout the space. Only a single red wooden door stood in a corner, not against any wall, looking quite eerie.

A row of metal cabinets stood against the wall, emanating a sense of the ominous and mysterious. In the center of the room was a circular platform raised from the ground, resembling an altar, engraved with complex patterns.

“The item.”

Bessie took the box from Officer Natalie, stroked it for a moment, and said, “Hm, William’s Holiday Surprise. The containment method is to ensure the packaging remains intact and the ribbon is tied.”

With that, she placed the mystery relic on the altar, folded her arms, and watched it, lost in thought.

“You need to track the mystery relic’s path, right?”

“Correct.” Both nodded in unison.

“Phew, mystery relics may seem like physical entities, but they are actually just manifestations of memories from the Dreamlands. Therefore, the carrying and transfer of a relic is not, in conceptual terms, the physical transport of an item, but the carrying of a memory.”

Lynch felt like he was back in a university advanced calculus class; the only thought in his head was, what is she talking about?

“So, to see the mysterious path clearly, we first need a light that can guide my gaze to focus on the mystery.”

As she spoke, the red-haired woman carefully retrieved twelve black candles from a nearby cabinet, fixing them one by one around the altar.

“The black falcon is a semi-mysterious creature from the New World that loves to devour creatures contaminated by mysterious filth. Even from hundreds of meters in the air, it can keenly detect subtle mysterious trails on the ground. Integrating its soul into the candles perfectly satisfies our requirements.”

The candles were lit one by one. Lynch didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt as though he heard the sound of wings flapping and sharp, clear shrieks.

“Mysterious trails are too illusory for mortal eyes to perceive, so we need to guide the mystery to leave a fleeting, illusory mark in reality.”

This time, she brought over a small incense burner, grabbed a handful of dried leaves, stuffed them inside, and lit them.

“Dream-catcher grass is a standard mysterious plant. It blooms once in a lifetime and can guide the mysterious memories of the Dreamlands to manifest temporarily. Unfortunately, it manifests everything nearby indiscriminately, but if you add the sap of the human-faced sunflower, it gains directionality.”

She opened a small glass bottle and dripped three drops of liquid into the incense burner. With a soft pop, blue-purple smoke rose, but it seemed restricted, circling above the altar without spreading outward at all.

“Help me turn off the lights.”

Lynch turned off the gas lamps as instructed, leaving only the ring of candlelight around the altar. The red-haired woman sat cross-legged beside it, clapped her hands, and a crystal ball floated up before her as if being held.

“Now, I have found you.”

Madam Bessie wiped her eyelids with her index fingers, then pressed them onto the crystal ball, pushing it to float within the blue-purple mist. Her gaze followed the crystal ball closely, a strange smile playing on her lips. The atmosphere became increasingly elusive, causing Lynch and Natalie to hold their breath.

‘Travel Companion, Travel Companion, she isn't using some authority or ability, right? Why does it look like magic?’

【Arcane arts. Utilizing special mysterious techniques, she is using one of them.】

‘Can I use them too?’ Lynch was filled with anticipation.

【Not right now.】

‘So, after I alienate my soul, I can?’

【Yes. I wish you success.】

“Heh, I’ve found you, my dear.”

As Lynch was bothering the voice in his head, Madam Bessie, within the blue mist, suddenly moved, whispering softly. At the same time, the movement pushing the crystal ball grew faster, but the amplitude became smaller.

“You are right here, I see you, your trail... thorn flower... ah~~”

The dreamlike voice was suddenly cut off. Madam Bessie let out a shrill scream, jerked upright, kicked the mystery relic away, grabbed a basin of water from the side, and frantically doused all the candles. Then, she smashed the crystal ball against the ground, shattering it into pieces. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed by the altar.

However, the next moment, she jumped up again, grabbed a hammer, and slammed it repeatedly against the altar. After three heavy blows, she shattered the stone platform into pieces, threw the hammer away, and slumped to the ground again, curling into a ball while clutching her head, whispering incessantly: “He is watching me, he is watching me, he...”

“Bessie, wake up.”

Natalie held the red-haired woman tightly, and only then did Lynch see her face clearly.

The red-haired woman had long since lost her earlier composure; she was terrified, the corners of her eyes split, with fresh blood seeping from the wounds.

“He found me, he found me! It’s too terrifying. Phew, it’s okay, I’m fine. Just one step away. Phew, Natalie, phew, I escaped.”

“What exactly happened? What did you see?” The officer held Madam Bessie, gently patting her back to soothe her spirit.

“I disturbed an evil and terrifying existence and was almost caught by it.” The red-haired woman broke free from Officer Natalie’s embrace, grabbed her hand, and shouted, “Listen, Natalie, whatever it is you are investigating, stop immediately. Stay as far away from this as you can.”

“What did you see?” The officer asked in a deep voice.

“I don't know. I didn't see clearly. If I had, I wouldn't have made it back. But that evil will... it’s too terrifying. No, that is absolutely not something we should touch. That damned mystery relic is linked to this horrific will. The case you are investigating is closely related to it—no, it is directly related! God, what kind of case are you looking into? Why would you establish a direct link to such an existence? Stop now, stay away from this case immediately, or you will eventually be found by this will.”

“Bessie, this isn't our first time facing cultists who worship evil gods.”

“It’s different. It is absolutely different. Our souls, everything we are, will be devoured by it. No one can escape. It’s too terrifying! Hurry, stop now! Also, take that piece of trash away. Quickly! I will never touch it again, never.”

“Okay, okay, we won't touch it. None of us will.” Natalie gently wiped the blood from the corners of Madam Bessie’s eyes. “Are you alright? Will you suffer any lasting effects?”

“I’m fine. Don't worry about me. I’m a professional; when I say I escaped, I escaped. Fortunately, I only sensed a trace of its aura through the trail. Even so, I need at least half a month of rest; the mental shock was too great. I need to begin meditating now, or I’ll suffer permanent damage. You must remember what I said—do not touch this case again.”

“I understand. Don't worry, I’ll ask Victor for leave as soon as I return.”

Natalie comforted her for a while, then picked up the mystery relic. She exchanged a glance with Lynch, and they returned to the outside world through the Gate of Blood.

In Madam Bessie’s shop, the police were still finishing their final records. The two did not disturb the busy officers and walked all the way to the banks of the Lande River.

It was already past four in the afternoon, but the sun still shone warmly, temporarily dispelling the chill in their chests.

Looking at the mystery expert who had been so calm just moments ago, only to be driven to the brink of madness, and realizing the reason wasn't even being targeted but merely noticed, Lynch finally had a visceral understanding of the danger he was facing.

An Ancient Flicker had glanced at him once, and he was already near death. If he continued to investigate, he would likely face something even more terrifying.

A life of nine deaths and one survival.

But he couldn't give up now. If he gave up, he wouldn't get the red moon memory, and he would die within a month.

It was death if he retreated and death if he moved forward. Rather than shrinking back and waiting for death, he might as well stand tall and fight; perhaps he could survive.

It was just that the danger now exceeded expectations. She...

Lynch turned his gaze to Officer Natalie. She was clearly still reeling from the shock, lost in her own deep contemplation.

I must fight to the death to survive, but she doesn't have to. I underestimated the danger earlier and intended to rely on her help, but now that I know how dangerous it is, it would be a disservice to my savior to drag her into this. I must find a way to make her quit. I am the only one who needs to risk my life.

But with her personality, I fear it will be difficult...

“My apologies, Lynch.” As these thoughts turned in his mind, Officer Natalie’s voice reached his ears. “I am withdrawing.”

Hm? Lynch was momentarily stunned.

“My father died during an incident where an evil god manifested. I do not wish to be dragged into similar cases again.” The officer lowered her head, her voice heavy. “Bessie was right; this is no longer an enemy we should be dealing with. I will explain the situation to Victor and let him figure out how to resolve the follow-up investigation.”

Lynch’s lips moved, but he said nothing, feeling a sense of relief instead.

“You shouldn't continue as a consultant either. Rest well for the next two days. I’ll ask around about the red moon memory you need; perhaps I can find it. I’m heading back to the club. I’ll come find you in a couple of days. Don't run around during this time, and wait for my news at 221.” Officer Natalie looked up, gave Lynch a deep look, and revealed a faint smile. She removed her hat and bowed slightly. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Lynch.”

“Hm.” Lynch did not refuse; he knew this was a good opportunity for the officer to withdraw safely.

She didn't know about his mission, which was why she wanted him to quit as well. This was fine; he didn't have to struggle with how to convince her to leave.

As for himself, he never once thought of giving up. On the contrary, a fighting spirit welled up within him.

I’ll go home tonight, organize the clues, and continue the fight tomorrow.

I have a gun and a ring now; at least I have some self-preservation power. Let me see just how terrifying you really are.

Lynch touched his two assets and smiled.

Besides them, I have an even greater support, don't I, Travel Companion?

【No, Lynch. I am only...】

‘I know, you are only a witness. You won't provide me with any substantial help. I’m already mentally prepared for that, but you will stay by my side and watch me, just like before, right?’

Silence.

‘Tch, you’re not falling for it. I can't get it out of you.’ Lynch curled his lip. ‘Never mind if it’s like before, you’ll at least stay with me, right?’

【Yes.】

‘That’s enough. Let’s go home. Tomorrow, we will continue to witness the scenery of this world together.’

Muttering to himself, Lynch bowed deeply to Officer Natalie’s retreating figure, turned, and headed home.