May 13, 1399, 9:10 PM.
The silver moon had already risen, shining in tandem with the red moon.
Three speeding carriages burst through the thick dust and fog of the gray fog zone, merging into the thinning traffic on Rhine Avenue.
The team from the Hall of Order had departed, their target: the Randall mansion located on Affen Lane in the Iris District.
Lynch sat opposite Officer Natalie in the police carriage, clutching the red ring box and stroking the surface of the ring. A faint, searing heat radiated from his fingertips.
【Deeply listen to the mystical memory, and your spirit will be impacted, Awakened.】
Will it be severe?
【Your will is strong; this memory will not cause irreversible effects.】
I understand. Then let's do it.
It was not a reckless adventure on Lynch's part, but rather a lack of other options. He knew he was currently just an ordinary person, and aside from the voice in his head, he had no defense against the mystical. Although he had accepted the officer's invitation, he did not like leaving his fate to be decided by others.
From Granville's records, he inferred that this object was a mystery relic that an ordinary person could use; for his current situation, it was a straw to grasp while drowning.
With a weapon, even a useless mystery relic, he felt a bit more confident.
Therefore, hearing that the cost was not too severe, he chose to accept it immediately.
Gritting his teeth, he held his breath.
The next moment, countless chaotic light and shadows emerged in his mind, and an extremely bizarre, rustling whisper echoed in his ears.
It was the feeling of countless twisted fragments of light and shadow overlapping and flooding his brain simultaneously.
In an instant, his mind was filled with raging flames, burning human figures, terrified screams, and desperate roars.
Fear gripped his heart instantly; it was only for a second, but his shirt was already soaked with sweat.
The sense of dread grew stronger, but fortunately, the female voice sounded again, gentle and soothing, easily dispelling the fear that had taken root in his heart.
【The Passion of the Blazing Lady, burns the soul, manifests as flame. Containment method: no wearer.】
Lynch smiled stiffly at Officer Natalie opposite him, feeling a sense of relief in his heart: So it burns the soul when worn? And then you become covered in flames like the person in the vision?
【Yes, Awakened.】
Will the wearer die?
【If worn for a long time, yes.】
Thanks.
Lynch withdrew his finger and, looking up, saw Officer Natalie opposite him narrowing her eyes and staring at him.
"Do you really want to test if your inspiration is sharp? How did it go?"
Lynch just smiled.
"I admit your will to survive and analytical ability are admirable, but sharp inspiration is determined at birth. You can't possibly tell me you have it too. Such people make up less than one in ten thousand. If you don't have it, you don't have it; feeling nothing is normal."
"I was just curious about a mystery relic for the first time. Can you tell what this thing is?"
The officer glared at him and said grumpily, "My inspiration is very low; I can't tell either."
Lynch nodded and handed the ring box to her, open. The officer took it as well.
The moment she touched it, the officer's movements paused, and she glared at him with a fierce look, but she still took the ring box.
Hmm? What's wrong? Wait, the ring? A lady? What am I doing?
Lynch felt his face burning and coughed twice, saying, "Isn't this a dangerous mystery relic? Shouldn't the police confiscate it?"
The officer let out a fierce, cold huff, examined it carefully, closed it, and threw it back.
"A fear grade mystery relic, and it's in a contained state. The danger is extremely low, and private ownership is not prohibited, but you are responsible for any consequences if it goes out of control."
"So?"
"You keep it for now, and we'll decide after the incident is over." The officer sighed, looking elsewhere as she explained, "Although I don't know what effects it has, since Granville carried it with him and was prepared to use it, it means that keeping it and using it temporarily will not pose a fatal threat to the holder. So you keep it for now. If you encounter life-threatening danger later, consider whether to put it on; you might have a chance to save your life. Additionally, Mr. Levive, have you considered one thing?"
"Hmm?"
"What if you actually survive after the incident ends?" The officer said with a touch of gloating, "Your six pounds definitely won't come back, you won't get the commission fee either, and I can't watch you looting money at the Randall household. How will you live on three and a half shillings?"
Lynch opened his mouth, suddenly feeling that this world was filled with dark malice.
"This item is allowed for ordinary civilians to hold. If it's determined after the fact that it's unrelated to the incident, I will introduce you to a shop that deals in mystery relics. You can sell it and use the money to stay away from the mystical world and live a good life. That is the happiest ending."
"There are shops like that?"
"Yes, but you need an introduction from someone in the mystical world; otherwise, they don't open such services to ordinary people. Remember, you must go to that specific shop. I don't want mystery relics falling into the hands of people with evil hearts."
"I understand." Finally having a bit of self-preservation, Lynch gripped the ring box tightly: "I will keep it safe, but, fear grade? Contained state?"
Officer Natalie pondered for a moment and said in a low voice, "In Lande, not just for mystery relics, all mysticism uses a unified standard, divided into five grades according to their danger, destructive power, duration, and influence on public perception: fear grade, destruction grade, disaster grade, annihilation grade, and manifestation grade. Some countries also use E to A to classify them. This information is never publicized, but it is not forbidden for ordinary civilians to know."
"Fear grade mysteries are mostly those that, even if known by ordinary people, will not cause the mystical to go out of control; they circulate among the people as horror stories. Even if they go out of control, they only cause panic in a small area, at most killing a few people involved. When such mysteries are in a contained state, ordinary people generally do not face life-threatening danger even if they possess them. The reading I got from this ring is fear grade."
"For destruction grade, information flow must be strictly controlled to prevent ordinary people from knowing. If they go out of control, they will cause damage to the ordinary order of life. If ordinary people come into contact with such mystery relics in a contained state for a long time, they are very likely to fall into permanent madness within three to five years. Once used, there is a very high probability of immediate death."
"For disaster grade mysteries, information must be strictly controlled; it is generally believed that only Soul Severers and special individuals can know of them. Once out of control, they will cause harm equivalent to natural disasters like earthquakes or floods. If ordinary people are in contact with them for a long time, even if the mystery is in a contained state, they will be tainted by filth and fall into madness within six months. For mysteries of this level and above, the seven kingdoms and the twelve main churches have unified agencies specifically for containment, and they are not easily leaked. We Watchers in the Wheatfield are the special agency for Lande."
His own encounter seemed so mild compared to these descriptions. Thinking that his surroundings might be filled with similar mobile disasters, Lynch felt a chill run down his spine. But he couldn't help but want to hear more, and asked, "What about annihilation grade and manifestation grade?"
The officer shook her head: "The remaining two types, even the classification information is forbidden to be disclosed to ordinary people, and it is impossible for ordinary people to see them; otherwise, it would be a disaster."
"Alright, but you mentioned a contained state earlier?"
"Yes, a contained state is the safest state for a mystery relic, and its impact on reality is within a controllable range. Once used or if the containment conditions are destroyed, it will enter an active state. Its effects and side effects will begin to manifest, and the degree of pollution to reality will also skyrocket. If you stop using it at this time and restore the containment conditions, you can immediately soothe the mystery relic and return it to a contained state without any irreversible results; otherwise, it will slide into an uncontrolled state."
Lynch began to understand what the containment method for The Passion of the Blazing Lady meant. It should be that putting it on enters the active state to take effect, and taking it off restores the contained state; it was unexpectedly safe.
"That is the most dangerous situation. An uncontrolled mystery relic will crazily radiate filthy power outward, while simultaneously expanding its own effects to the maximum. In this state, normal means can no longer soothe the mystery relic; you must listen to their memories and enter the world of their memories to suppress them."
"How do you suppress them?"
"Every mystery relic is different; you can only grope your way through their memories." Officer Natalie sighed and added, "Or if your inspiration is sharp enough, you can interpret its information within the memories to determine the way to suppress it. That is why such people can significantly improve the survival ability of us hunters. Unfortunately..."
"In short, that statue should be some kind of fear grade or destruction grade mystery relic. Your encounter today was someone letting it enter an active state, linking it to you victims. Find it, and then find a way to terminate its activity. After the effect stops, there is a certain possibility you will return to normal."
"It shouldn't be an uncontrolled mystery relic, right?"
"I hope not; that is the most serious situation." The officer's expression darkened, and she looked at the two moons outside the window, saying softly, "However, as long as I find it, even if it is an uncontrolled mystery relic, I will suppress it within the remaining two and a half hours."
Lynch pursed his lips and lowered his head: "Thank you."
"That is the respect you deserve, and it is my responsibility."
During their conversation, the chimneys and huge factories outside the window gradually decreased, and the pungent, scorched smell in the air gradually became fresh.
Lynch understood that he had moved away from the heavily polluted gray fog zone, passed through a corner of the Valley District, and formally entered the Iris District, where the wealthy lived.
Through the carriage window, the buildings outside became increasingly exquisite and beautiful, with lush vegetation and greenery.
At the end of the road below them, a two-story, exquisite mansion stood in the dual-colored moonlight.
The magnificent Victorian-style building was brightly lit, quiet and peaceful.
However, looking at it from afar, Lynch felt an indescribable sense of oppression coming from the mansion.
It was like the stifling, heavy feeling before a storm.
"Is this the Randall mansion?"
Officer Natalie's voice interrupted his gaze.
"Yes, I've been here once before."
Lynch nodded, feeling his heart beating exceptionally fast. He checked his pocket watch; it had been a fifty-minute carriage ride.
10:00 PM. Two-hour countdown.
Officer Natalie waved her hand, and more than a dozen police officers surrounded the mansion.
"We're going in, too."
"Yes."
Lynch nodded firmly, gripped his cane, and took a deep breath.
He stepped out with a long stride.
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