“This ancient tomb is the burial site of the last emperor of the Arke Dynasty from the end of the Third Age. Although the Arke Dynasty had nearly perished due to plague and war at the time, it was still an emperor's tomb, and it buried quite a few ancient mystery relics. Those are treasures worth a fortune. Heh heh, as long as I can make it back alive this time, this big-nosed hound can finally retire.”
Don't you want to rethink what you just said? Or maybe step outside and look up to see if there is an extra star in your sky?
Watching the boorish relic hunter Jack Adams down a beer and frantically add drama to his own performance, Lynch could only sigh and watch him with a nostalgic gaze as he laughed heartily.
Actually, the atmosphere was quite good—very much the vibe before a normal mission.
Seeming to sense that the beautiful lady Selene was hard to approach, Karl Jones shifted his attention back to the languid Jenna. Accompanied by the dance music from the phonograph, the two waltzed gracefully across the open space of the recreation room.
Rooney the antique book broker and Jack the relic hunter sat side by side at the bar, chatting aimlessly with Lynch about the upcoming operation. Salin, the folklorist disguised as the bartender Tom, stood behind the bar with a blank expression, wiping glasses in silence, though Lynch always felt his eyes were darting around with ill intent.
As for Judy... that girl was still in her usual half-asleep, dazed state, hugging a tome while sitting at the bar. Yet, hidden within her muddled eyes was a strange gaze, always accompanied by a heat that reached straight to the soul, sweeping over Lynch's body again and again.
“Don't mind her, she's a fool. She often stares at people like that.” The bearded man wiped the beer foam from his beard and said in a booming voice, “She was eroded by mystery while studying ancient texts some years ago and nearly became twisted. She didn't die, but her brain was damaged; she's mostly like this dazed creature when not working. She's useless, just a piece of waste. If she weren't still able to stay clear-headed while working, we wouldn't be bringing someone like her on such a dangerous job. What a frustrating burden.”
Oh, but you were the one who brought this girl here just now, and it looks like you're the one who does it every day. Keep acting tough, I'll just watch your performance. Besides, does she roast everyone else like this too? If so, you guys must be going through people quite fast these past few days, or is it only me who can feel it?
Muttering to himself, Lynch maintained his aloof high-status demeanor and offered a noncommittal smile.
Rooney, off to the side, sighed: “But don't forget, the most valuable item must be left for Howard. We can only take what he leaves behind.”
“What's left is enough for me to enjoy for the rest of my life, hahahaha. I'm not greedy. Or are you interested in that item, Rooney?”
The refined middle-aged man shielded his moving lips with a cocktail glass, murmuring something. When he put it down, his expression had returned to calm: “I only need the ancient texts within; other things have nothing to do with me. Besides, with Ms. Selene here—heh, her sudden addition is likely to help Mayor Howard ensure no one tries to covet his share.”
“Heh, that's not it. I'm just here purely to watch the fun. I want to make sure the person behind this affair is someone else.” Lynch added fuel to the fire casually, then covered his mouth with his fan and chuckled softly, “You don't need to worry about me. I'll follow your arrangements. I assume you've already finalized the plan, so there's no need to change it because of me. Just let me know, and I will cooperate.”
“The plan is actually quite simple. Howard has already arranged everything.”
As the music ended, Karl and Jenna, who had returned to the bar, happened to hear Lynch's words. Karl eagerly pulled out a chair for Dr. Jenna to help her sit, then bowed to Lynch:
“Beautiful lady, we...”
“Karl.” Cautious Rooney tapped his glass.
“Don't worry. While dancing just now, I took the opportunity to verify it. Both Howard and Walker have confirmed Ms. Selene's identity. As for this beautiful lady joining us, our Mayor said it is currently just an intention and is still being discussed with Ms. Selene, depending on her wishes.”
Although he didn't know how this man managed to clone himself to verify it, Lynch felt relieved, knowing his excuse had successfully dispelled their suspicions. It seemed Mayor Howard wasn't mayor for nothing; he was well-versed in the art of speech, leaving room for maneuver with a simple change of words and avoiding the possibility of being trapped into revealing the truth. He truly was a considerate employer. Now, those questions he couldn't easily ask them finally had a path forward.
Rooney immediately closed his mouth, his eyes flickering as he nodded and ceased his obstruction.
“The day after tomorrow, on the night of June 20th, we depart overnight and enter the target—the undeveloped Arke tomb—on the morning of the 21st. The Arke tomb is notoriously troublesome, which is why professionals like us were gathered. We need to reach the depths of the tomb before midnight on the 21st to hold a ritual in the main chamber. Another group will be synchronized with us; I don't know the specifics, but they will enter another chamber and hold a ritual simultaneously. By using the key item you brought as a guide, the treasures hidden in that chamber will be sent to us. Once that happens, Howard will take one item, and the remaining treasures and funerary objects in the tomb will be split equally among the six of us.”
So that's how it is.
Although it wasn't very detailed, Lynch had found the final piece of the puzzle and connected everything.
Since two years ago, Prince William and Howard had learned about this mirror through some unknown channel and also found a way to contact the Swelling Daughter.
Thus, they took the opportunity of preparing for the railway project and, using some special method at the cost of national fortune and human lives, craftily created a mystery document. Through that document, they contacted the Swelling Daughter and finally traded the location of the Light of Miracles for the mirror and the full assistance of the Swelling Daughter.
The key to the specific method was the replica gemstone.
Based on the experience of entering that world last time, the entrant and their personal belongings would appear in that dream-like world, while the physical body remained in the real world. Thus, the plan was likely for the six outlaws in the internal group to carry the replica gemstones and be sucked into the dream world through those symbols. Once successful, they would hold the dream-gemstones inside the dream, while the physical replica gemstones remained in the real world.
At that point, the external group would arrive at the designated location with the replica gemstones. Lynch estimated that this location wasn't chosen randomly either; it was likely where the Swelling Daughter had stolen the mirror from in the first place. So, once both sides arrived at their targets, they would perform the ritual simultaneously. By using the replica, which shared the same origin of mystery as the mirror, they would form a suspension bridge between the two ends to send the mirror stolen by the evil god back to the real world.
It was indeed a bit complex, but Lynch managed to fill in most of the details through guesswork. If this inference was correct, the key to the problem wasn't the internal group, but the external group.
The interior was the territory of an evil god. Those wanted criminals who dared to enter, regardless of whether they had ulterior motives, would find it difficult to make any moves under the gaze of the evil god. Lynch even suspected that the moment they entered, they would be controlled by their companions—the Swelling Daughters—who would manipulate them to finish the work.
Therefore, the key to this matter lay in the external group. It was highly operable, so whether one wanted to facilitate the ritual or sabotage it, one had to keep a close eye on the external group.
Perhaps I could turn this lie into truth; actually following the external group in wouldn't be a bad idea.
It all depends on how I can convince Howard. Let me consider it further. But regardless of the method, the first step is to find the mole to put his mind at ease.
The problem is, how could such an important task be handed over to six recruited outsiders? Without a doubt, there must be Howard's true confidant among them. It's just that the confidant failed to successfully identify the mole, which is why he had me serve as a second insurance policy.
It seems finding Howard's confidant is more important than finding the mole; otherwise, nothing will be convenient.
But who could it be?
Lynch glanced around the group without leaving a trace. They were all huddled together studying the tomb information provided by Howard, seeming completely unaware of Lynch's surveillance.
Karl Jones, the most active playboy, suspected to be a spy for the Watchers.
Dr. Jenna, who was interested in nothing, suspected to be an undercover agent for the Archaeological Association.
Rooney, the cautious and clever book dealer, a Soul Severer of some major god, suspected to be an undercover agent for that church. Just now, he had seemingly unintentionally reminded me that there must be one of Howard's people among the six. Was it unintentional? Is he Howard's man, implicitly revealing his identity to me? Or is he the mole, knowing I am of the same kind, and thus revealing his identity in another way?
Salin, the swindler with strange motives, suspected of deliberately monitoring all his companions; very suspicious.
Jack Adams, the least likely to be a mole, but he deliberately created conflict with Dr. Jenna, suspected of trying to distance himself; also suspicious.
And the last one, Judy Butterfly. The mole revealed the target was the Church of the Sun, and to me, she is like a human-shaped furnace. Could she actually be a believer of the Church of the Sun disguised as a Soul Severer of the Lord of Blazing Flame?
Perhaps I can probe her first. Seeing her usual perpetually dim-witted state, maybe she's easier to fool... Hm? Where is she?
Thinking of Judy, Lynch realized that the girl hadn't joined the others in studying the map. He didn't know where she had run off to, and the others were used to it, showing no reaction.
Lynch was just about to look for her when he turned his head and was startled by a pair of dark, bruised eye sockets. Judy had already approached him at some point, hugging her book with wide eyes, staring straight at him.
What's going on?
Lynch realized he could no longer ignore this girl's weirdness. Moreover, the heat and pressure in her eyes made it impossible for him to ignore her at all.
Glancing to see that no one else was paying attention, Lynch forced himself to maintain the composure that belonged to Selene, took a deep breath, and was just about to open his mouth to ask something.
But Judy had already stepped forward and dove into his arms, huddling in as if seeking warmth.
At the same time, a hoarse, trance-like voice whispered closely against his ear.
“You are not her.”
“You are him. I found you, thief.”
The voice, which only the two of them could hear, made Lynch's scalp tingle.
What the hell, who are you?
The next moment, Lynch's vision suddenly flared, and a massive fireball rose slowly.
Rate on N.U.
