Randall Mansion

Mick Randall, thirty eight, single.

He lived in the mansion with over a dozen servants.

This was the information quickly retrieved from the Hall of Order, with a background as clean as a newborn baby.

Officer Angel tore the meaningless resume to shreds, kicked open the courtyard gate, and led her team inside.

The closer they got to the mansion, the more pronounced the feeling of oppression in Lynch's heart became.

He did not even need to ask a witness to understand that this was the mystical aura perceived by his inspiration. It was so distinct, far stronger than the feeling he had when looking at the photograph.

【Yes, Awakened. You have already sensed mystical filth, at least in two locations.】

Hmm? Two mystery relics? Or at least two?

【The rest also come from mystical filth, but they are not necessarily mystery relics.】

Understood. Can I know what they are?

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Lynch felt the gentle voice pause for half a second before answering as it always did:

【You can only distinguish them when you are close enough.】

It seems one shouldn't be too greedy. Thanks.

While he was thinking this, the group of blue uniforms had already rushed in, yet there was no movement within the mansion.

Not a single servant appeared, though the lights within the house remained lit.

Officer Natalie, beside him, showed no sign of abnormality. Dressed in her trench coat and hat, she carried her sword with firm, steady steps.

"Is it alright for them to follow us inside?" Lynch asked softly.

"Merely looking or briefly touching does not count as establishing a connection, so they won't be affected. I won't let them throw their lives away," Officer Natalie shook her head. "However, the atmosphere here is clearly wrong. If an accident happens, keep yourself safe. Also, as an ordinary person, absolutely do not wander off."

Lynch nodded. He guessed that the reason this lady had been so unfriendly earlier tonight was because she had been tricked in such a way before, but he did not ask further, merely following closely behind the officer.

The mansion's front door was wide open, and it was brightly lit inside.

A thin man in a black suit stood in the center of the hall, directly facing the entrance, his arms spread in a welcoming gesture.

Mick Randall.

Lynch narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Randall from a few meters away.

He was the one who had almost made him die again.

Anger surged in his heart, and Lynch wanted to rush over and punch that clean face hard, but he could only keep taking deep breaths, restraining his intense emotions.

"Welcome."

Randall tipped his hat and bowed, his smile as constant as ever:

"Mr. Levive, I am very happy to see you again. I thought we would meet again at Lattis Kitchen."

"It is not too late to meet now, Mr. Randall." Lynch slowly loosened his clenched fist, took off his hat, and bowed as well, speaking as calmly as possible. "At least we are standing here before the countdown ends. Even taking a few detours was worth it."

"It is a bit late, hehe." Randall smiled and gestured toward the stairs behind him, "Then please, come in. I have prepared top quality black tea for the two of you as a farewell gift for Mr. Levive. I hope you will honor me with your presence."

"I am in no mood for tea, especially with you." Officer Natalie walked toward the entrance with her sword, expressionless. "Where are the servants in the mansion?"

"At such a late hour, they have naturally gone to rest. Their work is already finished."

The officer's face darkened. She likely assumed the servants had met the same fate as Granville. She said in a low, grim voice:

"Hand over the statue, and I can spare you from the death penalty."

Randall spread his hands: "Mr. Levive can testify; I have had no opportunity to see any statue, hehehe."

"Then..."

Just as Lynch thought Officer Natalie was about to say something, she suddenly lunged forward, appearing in front of Randall in an instant, and smashed a fist into his face.

Thwack. Her fist passed straight through Randall's head as if he were a mere phantom.

A holographic projection? Lynch was shocked, swallowing the gasp that had reached his lips.

A knee strike followed, but the effect was the same; it passed straight through Randall's body.

"Rough, truly too rough."

Randall smiled and brushed off his clothes, shaking his head:

"Officer, this is not a proper way to treat a law abiding citizen of the kingdom."

"A mystery relic effect that allows for intangibility? Fine." Officer Natalie watched Randall, struggling to breathe deeply and calm her emotions, then pointed into the mansion. "Search. Find the statue."

The dozen blue uniforms behind her immediately swarmed forward, bypassing Randall at the door.

Randall did not stop them at all, standing beside Lynch and Officer Natalie like a gentleman, whispering: "Officer, do you not intend to continue trying?"

"Hmph, I have no interest in wasting..."

Before she finished speaking, her boot swept across Randall's head, her long leg creating a whistling sound in the air, but once again, it passed through his smiling face.

"Hehe, what a pity. If you wish to continue trying, Officer, I am always ready to cooperate." Randall was as attentive as a law abiding citizen. "If you are tired, let them search slowly. I will accompany you two in the living room. Rest assured, I have plenty of patience. Please."

Officer Natalie took a deep breath, calmed her heaving chest, placed her right hand on her sword hilt, and leaned forward slightly.

Randall patted his clothes, not bothering to look again, and turned toward the stairs.

The officer's gaze turned cold. Just as she was about to draw her sword, a hand suddenly gripped her wrist.

Her fierce eyes turned to Lynch. The hostility in them made his heart jump, but he only stared at her, squeezing her wrist with force: "Be patient for now and see what happens."

"Hmph."

Her tensed wrist relaxed. Officer Natalie tossed her long hair, kept a straight face, and followed Randall up to the second floor.

Lynch followed immediately, thinking to himself that at their current distance, if Randall was carrying a mystery relic, she should be able to distinguish it now.

【It is not me distinguishing, it is you, Awakened. Your perception range is about three meters.】

So this inspiration is still mine, and you just strengthened it for me?

【Yes, everything is based on your own abilities.】

Understood. Thanks, travel companion. This proves Officer Natalie's judgment was mistaken. I understand. I will continue to rely on you later.

Upon reaching the second floor, they found the living room. It was a very spacious open room. On the far wall hung a row of massive oil paintings, all portraits of the ancestors of the Randall family.

The living room was luxuriously decorated with valuable antiques on the shelves, and brightly colored sofas sat in the center.

"Please, both of you." Randall looked at the clock and smiled. "Oh my, it is ten ten. How much time is left, Mr. Levive?"

Lynch invited Officer Natalie to take a seat before pulling up his sleeve to reveal his withered arm.

"One hour and fifty minutes... hiss."

As he pulled it up, Lynch's heart tightened. Officer Natalie beside him also clenched her fists, her breathing becoming heavy.

The withering on his arm had unknowingly spread to his armpit and was now moving toward his heart.

"That is why I said it was a bit late, Mr. Levive." Randall chuckled. "Sigh, I feel sad for you just looking at it. Is there anything I can do to help you? Hehe, please feel free to ask, and I will certainly do my best to satisfy your... dying wish."

Watching the footsteps of death rapidly approaching, Lynch's face turned grim. He gripped the armrest of the sofa tightly and said in a cold voice: "Fine. Bring out the statue."

"Do not make such baseless claims in the future, though you do not have a future anyway, hehe." Randall smiled, "You have not completed my commission yet, so how could I have the statue?"

"Hmph, I do not want a verbal argument, Mr. Randall, but I do not understand. I do not recall offending you anywhere. Why specifically target me this time?"

"Hmm? You are very sensitive, Mr. Levive."

"My name was on Granville's deathbed note, Mr. L." Lynch said with a dark face. "The statue was a gift specifically for me, and those other people were merely implicated in the process. It seems I have at most one or two hours left, and you do not seem to mind Officer Angel's attitude. As a gentleman, should you not satisfy the final wish of a dying man?"

"To be honest, if possible, I would not have wanted to involve you." Randall shook his head. "It is a pity that I have no choice. This is necessary. I will tell you the reason when I mourn you in the future."

Lynch gritted his teeth: "Am I to go to the grave with questions?"

"I am sorry, but this is a predetermined result. You cannot find the statue; I am confident of that. Therefore, Mr. Levive, you will surely die tonight. And you, Officer, since you cannot find any concrete evidence, you cannot press charges against me. On the contrary, I will file a complaint in the House of Commons regarding your violent conduct. You had better consider how to explain yourself then, hehehe."

Lynch said in a low voice: "So I can only wait for death?"

Before he finished speaking, a blue uniform rushed over and whispered a few words in Officer Natalie's ear.

The veins on the officer's hand gripping the sofa stood out. Clearly, the search results were not ideal. She looked at Lynch with sympathy and said in a low voice: "Search again. Search every corner."

Randall spread his hands and said leisurely: "It seems there is no need for me to say anything more. I just said you could not find the statue. Rest assured, I will mourn at your tombstone."

"Thanks, but I prefer to do that myself." Lynch stared at Randall's smiling face and sneered softly: "Then answer one last question for me."

"Very well, I am generous."

"You are so certain that we cannot find the statue. Is that related to the fact that there are at least two mystery relics in this building?" Lynch stared at Randall without blinking. "Can you explain, besides the mystery relic you are using to protect yourself, what is the source of the other mystical filth?"

Officer Natalie looked at Lynch with a strange expression, while Randall's smile froze. He instinctively took a step back, looking at the cold looking Lynch with suspicion.

"I am sorry, generous Mr. Randall. I have seen through your tricks."