Your Mother Is Looking for You

Lynch still remembered; it was this brat who had nearly scared him to death in the shipwreck.

Seeing the child again, Lynch still felt a chill run down his spine.

Granted, they were victims as well, and Deep Ones apparently had their own open villages across the New Continent, but this was Middle Earth. Lynch couldn't shake the feeling that at any second, she might turn into a fish-headed freak or summon countless tentacles from R'lyeh.

“Your stare is terribly rude, human bandit.”

“Call me a bandit again and I'll invite the Yellow Apostle to beat you up,” Lynch glared at the little brat, then turned to the other brat. “Why on earth did you bring this child to the Governor's Mansion? If something goes wrong, it'll cause an international incident.”

“Before reaching adulthood, she looks no different from a human. I just brought her along for a stroll on land.” The moment Princess Chloe saw Lynch approach, she subconsciously took a step back, her eyes darting away to avoid his gaze. “I cleared it with His Grace the Duke, and Her Highness Princess Sophia knows as well. There won't be any issues.”

Uh, looks like I left quite a psychological scar on this girl last time. But you were asking for it; play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Lynch didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt. Still, noting her demeanor, Lynch had a sudden realization: “Is she going home?”

The two young ladies exchanged a surprised glance. “How did you know?”

“I've been keeping you under surveillance,” Lynch put on a sinister expression. “Preparing to ambush and slaughter you on the road. Hehehe.”

“...” Alice shook her head like an adult. “You're going to intercept and slaughter a Deep One tribe carrying Dagon on the open sea?”

Lynch scratched his head. Yeah, that does sound pretty stupid.

Staring at Lynch's sheepish look, the pint-sized lady suddenly hooked her finger at him. Lynch blinked in surprise and bent down before Alice, only for his eyes to suddenly widen in shock.

Two cool lips pressed against him.

Against his cheek, of course.

Holy crap.

Lynch's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

Even knowing full well that this little lady was a Deep One and ten years old at most, she was undeniably gorgeous. Having such a pretty girl press close to him made Lynch's heart flutter. Not that he had any improper thoughts; it was merely the natural delight of having something genuinely pure and lovely draw near.

“You avenged our people, avenged my mother and father, and eliminated the greatest peril threatening our tribe. We can finally return home in peace and face our departed kin.”

Tears welled in the young lady's eyes and her voice choked with emotion, yet a smile touched the corners of her lips:

“I don't know how you humans show gratitude. Sister Chloe said you're a detective who solves problems for payment, but I don't understand what real payment is. This is the only way I can repay you. I think Mom and Dad would be happy if they knew. Thank you, human bandit.”

Call me that again and I really am going to hit you.

Yet the young lady had already grabbed his collar, pulled him closer, and gently planted another kiss.

On his forehead, this time.

Lynch's spirit shook with a resounding tremor. In that instant, he seemed to glimpse a colossal city slumbering silently in the deep sea.

In the ancient city of R'lyeh deep within the abyss, the slumbering Great Old One, Cthulhu, waits dreaming.

【Dream of the Sea: Active only at sea. Protects the user and their vessel from attacks by marine life, including mysterious oceanic heteromorphs and sea beasts.】

Lynch was momentarily dazed.

This ability is far too nuanced. Doesn't this mean I can serve as a full-time figurehead from now on? I won't have to do anything else—just collect protection fees, stand at the bow of a ship once paid, and ward off all beasts.

No, I can't devolve into a mascot, or my neighbor will be disgraced.

【It matters not. God does not care. Go stand at the bow.】

Oh well, having it is better than not. With Call of the Water and Dream of the Sea, I can probably count as more than half a Deep One. I might go out to sea someday, and it'll definitely come in handy then.

‘Though I have to wonder, has my soul turned into a tourist check-in spot for evil gods? Anyone and everyone comes over to stamp it. Is it really okay for my soul to become this colorful, neighbor?’

【It is fine. These are merely blessings, not true marks. They hold no substantial effect on you, at most inducing schizophrenia.】

‘??? You're joking, right?’

【I am.】

Secretly rolling his eyes, Lynch rubbed Alice's head. “Thank you too. I love your gift. Have a safe journey home. If I ever get the chance to visit the New Continent, I'll stop by your tribe to see you.”

“Willwood Village! Don't you forget it!”

Alice gave a bright smile and scurried back to Princess Chloe. Lynch stood up as well, retrieving a small cloth pouch from the inner pocket of his coat and tossing it straight to Princess Chloe.

“This was my reason for looking for you today. My nerves have been strained every day lately for fear something might happen; I ought to charge you a storage fee. Now it's returned in its original condition. If anything else happens to it, it has nothing to do with me.”

Her Highness Chloe looked somewhat puzzled as she parted the pouch opening just a sliver. Warm red light immediately spilled out through the crack.

The gemstone Flaming Red Lips—the genuine article.

“You're... giving it back to me?” Chloe asked in astonishment. “Even if you claimed it was destroyed in the ancient tomb, no one would know it was a lie.”

“But I would know. There's a saying from the Mythological Era: even in a pitch-black, empty room, one must uphold their moral baseline.” Lynch patted his empty hands. “Don't let me see it again—it makes me green with envy.”

Princess Chloe looked down at the cloth pouch, offered a self-deprecating smile, and raised her hand, tossing it right back.

“You saved me from becoming a sinner in the eyes of the world without angering the Lande royal family. Like Alice, I didn't know how to repay you, but now I do. It belongs to you, Mr. Detective. Whether you sell it, keep it in your collection, or give it away as a gift is entirely up to you. Furthermore, if you ever visit the Kingdom of Salter in the future, you will be my most honored guest.”

With that, the foreign princess lifted her hem once more in a curtsy, took Alice by the hand, and turned to leave, walking back toward the animal taming stage. Lynch was left standing in place, utterly dumbfounded.

This item was a precious gem worthy of royal treasures and famous across the world. While it couldn't compare to the famous gem on a foreign queen's crown from his previous life, it was still practically priceless. Lynch estimated that if pawned or sold, it would fetch at least three to four thousand pounds, and with good luck, perhaps double or triple that.

As a Soul Severer, the prices of mystery relics he routinely dealt with were frighteningly high as well—a decent disaster grade relic would run several thousand pounds—yet none carried quite the visceral impact of this gemstone. Holding it, Lynch's heart rate became somewhat erratic.

Holy crap, my day has finally come!

I've struck it rich for real this time. Who cares about Grant, Howard, Randall, or Douglas? With this in hand, I totally blow you all out of the water.

Yet regardless of his inner thoughts, Lynch maintained a calm, indifferent expression. He weighed the cloth pouch in his hand, let out a seemingly helpless chuckle, and tucked it back into his pocket. Turning around, he casually waved his hat toward the departing young ladies and leisurely strolled back toward the forecourt. The moment his back was turned, however, the corners of his mouth curled up uncontrollably—harder to suppress than the recoil of an AK.

No rush to decide what to do with it just yet. I'll ask Miss Valente for advice; she's far more well-versed in high-end matters like this. Who knows, maybe it could be traded for an even more valuable treasure. Neighbor, am I being too greedy? No, no, no, you hoist full sail when the wind is favorable, hehe.

“What has put you in such high spirits, Mr. Levive?”

His daydream abruptly shattered, Lynch pulled his upturned mouth back into a solemn, stern composure. “Good afternoon, Archbishop Trinlais. It has been a while. You received an invitation as well, I see.”

“Even without an invitation, Locke wouldn't dare bar me at the gates; after all, I was the one who found him the finest candidate,” the elderly priest twirled his beard with a rather smug chuckle. “Looking back now, using a single Red Moon Memories in exchange for having you accomplish so much was well worth the price.”

Lynch didn't joke around, bowing with deep sincerity. “When I was in utter despair, the Church of the Black Night reached out to me. I will never forget that kindness.”

“Hehe, that was nothing. I merely find fate somewhat wondrous—the greenhorn who couldn't even land a proper blow with a sap has already accomplished so many great feats.” The elderly priest smiled, patting Lynch on the shoulder. “Child, if you have time recently, you had best pay a visit to the Black Night Cathedral.”

“Hm?”

“Preferably at night when no one is around. Offer a prayer before the sacred statue,” the elderly priest said casually. “Someone wants to see you.”

Hiss...

At that moment, Lynch's thoughts grew immensely complicated: ‘Neighbor, your mother is looking for you.’