Chapter 2257: Demon Hunt in the Rain

Chapter 2257: Chapter 2257: Demon Hunt in the Rain

The year "1850" combined with Shard’s reading from the notebook implies that Detective Sparrow and his contact meeting in Karas Mountain likely occurred annually. This suggests that since the "grey-headed eagle" appeared in Moon Bay over a decade ago until 1850, the meetings persisted.

From this deduction, there’s a strong possibility that even before Detective Sparrow’s incident in 1853, their scheduled meetings didn’t cease.

Thus, it’s highly likely that the contact already knows of the change with the "grey-headed eagle." Since Sparrow Hamilton’s death happened a year ago, and Shard hasn’t been to Karas Mountain for a meetup during this year. Of course, it’s also possible the meetings occurred biennially.

"So, even if I were to stake out Karas Mountain now, I likely won’t wait for the contact to show up..."

Thinking this, Shard put down the photo and said to Luviya on the other side of the desk, who was reviewing "A Thousand Kinds of Fungi and Detoxification Guide":

"If I want to find Detective Sparrow’s former contact, but my understanding of them is limited to this photo and... some uncertain guesses, can you use special divination to divine the result?"

The purple-eyed girl looked at him as if he were a fool:

"Shard, you can only ask me to divine, you can’t wish to me. Even using special coins for divination requires basic information to gain extra insights."

"Can you divine if you cooperate with Miss Belindel?"

He expressed his previous intention, and Luviya unexpectedly raised an eyebrow:

"We can try, but no guarantees."

She could tell Shard cared greatly about this matter and knew he was probing into his own past:

"After the exam week is over, I’ll handle this once I reach Moon Bay. I’m unsure how powerful Bella Belindel truly is, but even a witch can’t create from nothing. You still need some basic information, or else we need to learn mind-reading to know exactly what you want us to divine."

That evening, Luviya indeed stayed at home without leaving, so when the doctor enthusiastically visited early Sunday morning, it was Luviya who opened the door for him.

This meeting at the entrance of No. 6, Saint Delan Square, didn’t feel awkward for either, so after opening the door, Luviya gave Dr. Schneider a reproachful look, making him subconsciously feel like a bad person intending to lead Shard somewhere inappropriate.

However, eventually, Luviya didn’t say anything, and she left shortly after the doctor’s arrival. But before leaving, she reminded Shard that Iluna should’ve arrived at Moon Bay yesterday, and if Shard ran into trouble, he might seek her help.

"Ready, detective?"

After seeing Luviya off and going upstairs, Dr. Schneider excitedly asked while holding a suitcase.

Shard nodded lightly:

"No problem, let’s move. Synchronize the time; my pocket watch shows 7:56 AM. I’m setting off for Moon Bay now, and at exactly 9 AM, you aim and shoot at me. Doctor, see you at Moon Bay."

Today’s weather in Moon Bay is stormy; upon leaving Dragon Nest, even before approaching the cave exit, Shard heard the torrential rain outside.

The rain-soaked city felt particularly "silent," not in a sense of soundlessness, but as if the bustling big city had become empty instantly. On the usually bustling Saint George Stone Bridge, only a few pedestrians could be seen, and after entering the city, Shard walked under his umbrella for two streets, seeing only a barefoot little boy leading his sister, running wildly through the rain.

Unable to bear it, Shard stopped them and handed his umbrella to the brother and sister who seemed a bit scared of him. Doing this brought him good luck; shortly after, he found a carriage and successfully arrived at Belindel Estate.

The rain roared, and lightning occasionally flashed overhead. The atmosphere in Belindel Estate was tense; Emilia and the Little Unicorn were waiting for Shard in the foyer, and the witch was all ready to go. Seeing Shard wanting to speak as he dried his hair with a towel, she preemptively spoke:

"I know you don’t want me involved in this. I won’t accompany you to the Bell Tower, I’ll wait with the maids at the Senator’s Club. If anything truly happens, I can rush there immediately."

The carriage was ready long before; Shard and Emilia set out first, while Miss Belindel’s group would leave later. Little Unicorn Leanna wasn’t large, so she easily climbed into the carriage and lay with her body curled. Emilia then entered the carriage, and lastly, Shard stepped in, turning to wave goodbye to the worried witch’s group at the mansion entrance. The carriage drove off into the rain, carrying them away.

The reason for the closure of the Belindel Big Bell today is due to the weather. In such terrible weather, the city center is indeed quite empty. The carriage directly sent them to the base of the bell tower. To prevent the church from easily investigating if something happened afterward, the Countess did not dismiss the tower’s guardian.

Hence, when the carriage stopped, Shard was the first to jump out and enter the bell tower. He knocked out the guardians playing cards on the ground floor, the mechanic, and two cleaners sweeping the tower. Then, he looked toward the carriage window with Emilia and the Little Unicorn and waved at them.

They were indeed very cute in this manner.

Very soon, Emilia brought the Little Unicorn into the bell tower. Just then, lightning flashed across the sky, followed by rolling thunder. The pure white little beast trembled in fear, curling into itself. Emilia immediately held its neck and comforted it softly, telling Shard:

"It is not afraid of the lightning; lightning cannot penetrate its fur. It is afraid of nature itself. Although Little Liana is not the smallest child in its species, it’s still not mature. Had it not been for me, it wouldn’t have been involved in this matter."

"It will be over soon, and then you two can have your vacation. Miss Danester didn’t say it had to return immediately, so you can spend about half a month here with it."

Shard comforted, then took out the lady’s pocket watch belonging to Miss Isabella that had been synchronized with the doctor’s time.

Because there was hardly anyone on the way, the time spent traveling by carriage was far less than planned. At this moment, there were still fifteen minutes until the agreed time with the doctor, so Shard invited Emilia to find chairs to sit down. The elf girl was uneasy, but like Shard, she said nothing more.

Though nothing had begun yet, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive. Shard was worried, and Emilia was anxious. Even though Shard wanted to say something to ease the tension, he couldn’t find a suitable topic. As he simultaneously pondered whether the doctor’s plan would encounter other problems, time seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye.

When "she" beside his ear reminded Shard that the time was near, he stood up:

"Emilia, you stay here with Little Liana and wait for me; I’ll be back soon."

The doctor couldn’t directly appear in the bell tower, and temporarily leaving Emilia so that unexpected events could occur around her was part of the plan.

Emilia nodded pitifully, and with the Little Unicorn, she watched as Shard used "Puppetry" to control the two unconscious people to stand up, have them each carry another person, and then the five "people" entered the rain together. Shard didn’t want to involve these ordinary people in the matters that followed.

Until Shard’s figure was no longer visible, Emilia closed the tower door, with a hint of fear finally showing on her face. She exchanged glances with the Little Unicorn beside her, hoping to find some courage in her companion’s eyes. However, she found the same fearful expression in the pure white beast’s azure blue eyes; it was afraid of the thunder.

"You need to be brave. Your path ahead is long; you can’t always let others worry about you."

Emilia seemed to be talking to the Little Unicorn, but it also seemed she was talking to herself. She unconsciously hugged the little beast’s neck, and the latter pressed its cheek tightly against Emilia’s body, as they encouraged each other.

"Fortunately, it is bright here; he will come back soon, and then..."

The rumbling thunder sounded, making Emilia feel as if the entire tower was trembling. She knew it was just an illusion caused by the beast trembling in her arms, but the suddenly extinguished tower lights were no illusion.

The tower walls had windows, yet hardly any light could penetrate in this heavy rain. With the cessation of the gas system, darkness and oppression descended together, and silence also fell here. Emilia no longer spoke, only holding the glowing Little Unicorn tightly, hoping Shard would return sooner.

The sound of rain became the main theme of this world. In the dim light, Emilia couldn’t help but begin to think wildly. Although the little beast’s neck in her arms provided her with warmth, she felt as if her surroundings were getting colder. She tried to shift her current thoughts from "Is something watching me?" to "Does Shard fancy me?" However, terrifying thoughts quickly and overwhelmingly occupied her mind.

She started to miss Mia, that small orange cat, even though it seemed to have no combat power. As long as the cat was by her side, she always felt as happy as if she were bathing in the brightest sunlight of spring.

"But now there’s no cat here, only the Little Unicorn."

The elf girl softly told herself, and the perceptive little beast seemed to sense being disliked, responding with an indignant "Ang~".

Just after this call, the feeling of being watched by something grew increasingly intense.

In the dim light, the sharp-eared elf girl looked around. Her excellent dark vision allowed her to see many details inside the bell tower. Thus, when she noticed the stain on the wall directly opposite her, she unwittingly perceived it as a black human shadow pressed against the wall.