"The Soul-Soothing Silver Key"

July 11, Wednesday, morning.

As arranged by the bishop, we are to go to Tingen today to retrieve the Antigonus family notes.

It was only at this point that Xia'er prepared to complete the side quest assigned by Mr. Fool.

A sacrificial ceremony was held for Mr. Fool.

Martin personally brought Charleneport noodles, white bread, Dixie pies, and other food.

Although the manservant guessed that his young master might be planning some strange occult experiment again, the food was so safe that he didn't feel like dissuading him. He simply reminded him that it was best not to waste the food and that he would take care of any leftovers.

Chael lit four candles and prayed as the Fool had instructed.

"A fool who doesn't belong to this era,"

"You are the mysterious ruler above the gray fog."

"You are the king of yellow and black who holds the key to good fortune."

"I beg for your help."

"I pray for your favor."

"I pray that you will grant me a sweet dream."

He didn't care at all whether it was strange to pray for a good dream in the morning.

Above the gray fog, Klein heard the prayers of angels. He began to meditate, observing the somewhat blurry images of the prayers.

It was a man dressed in a black robe, who looked at the flickering firelight and prayed softly.

Klein was able to tell that this was the "angel," the one who had agreed most readily and completed the ritual last.

"I see."

Klein had a sudden thought and relayed the answer.

I understand... I understand... I understand...

A series of indistinct sounds echoed continuously.

Chael lowered his head and pondered for a moment, concluding that even as a listener, hearing such a voice would not do him any good.

He wasn't too disappointed, so he picked up the Dixie pie next to the candle and started eating it.

Gollum~

Above the gray fog, before the scene disappeared, Klein, who hadn't eaten breakfast yet, looked at the generously filled Dixie pie and couldn't help but feel a little hungry.

hateful!

These offerings should also be dedicated to the gods, right?

After completing the ritual (having eaten).

Chael handed the remaining three untouched portions of food to Martin.

He arrived at St. Samuel's Cathedral, met the three Night Watchers, greeted them, and then received a Level 3 sealed artifact, number 3-089, from Bishop Elektra, named "The Soul-Soothing Silver Key".

Its appearance: It is a bone china spoon about 15 centimeters long, with three obsidian stones arranged in a triangle at the end of the handle.

Extraordinary characteristics correspond to: Audience pathway sequence 7 psychologist.

The negative effect is: emotional exhaustion!

After each use, the user will temporarily lose the ability to perceive a specific emotion (randomly losing one of joy/anger/sorrow/happiness), lasting for 12 hours.

Frequent use may lead to permanent emotional loss.

Passive negative effect: Within a 5-meter radius, the anxiety/fear of all creatures will be automatically weakened to some extent, making it easier for the group to enter a state of rational negotiation.

Xia Er fell in love with this level 3 sealed artifact at first sight.

Isn't this a magical artifact?

Even if it goes too far, it seems that it's easier to be forgiven for the sake of the sealed artifact.

"Alison should have taught you how to create a closed spiritual environment by soaking it in night-blooming jasmine essential oil, and taking it out when needed to soothe an out-of-control spirit and mind."

Bishop Elektra instructed Chael to string the keys together with silk thread, soak them in a small bottle filled with essential oil, and finally hang them around her neck.

He then introduced Chael to the three main night watchmen in charge of this operation:

"El Hassen, Borgia, Lorota, they are all experienced night watchmen, you still have time to get to know each other."

"Once the sealed item 2-049 has been transferred into a specially made sealing container, you will set off for Tingen."

Two Night Path Sequence 8 Midnight Poets, and one Death Path Sequence 8 Gravedigger, very much in the style of the Church of the Night.

"Three seniors, I wish us a successful trip."

Shael addressed the three night watchmen.

El Hassen and the other two exchanged glances. They gave Bishop Elektra face and exchanged friendly pleasantries with Shael, intending to take good care of the newcomer on the road and prevent any problems from arising with the Level 3 sealed artifact.

After a period of adjustment and waiting, Bishop Elektra walked over carrying a black box. During this time, his body stiffened slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

Through his spiritual vision, Xia Er could see that the spirits surrounding the bishop pushed him when his body was affected by the sealed object and became stiff.

He curiously moved closer, but his movements became stiff and his thoughts sluggish. Unsurprisingly, he was taken control.

Then he was pushed away by Bishop Elektra in a bad mood.

"Why do you want to try everything?"

......

Because of Chael's indirect influence, the church made a decision ahead of time.

At Backlund train station, watching three seniors constantly bending their arms, then straightening them, occasionally stiffening, and then giving each other a push to release their restraints, was... a bit of an eyesore in a train station.

If they hadn't presented their official identification, they would have been detained and questioned by the staff on duty long ago.

Chael wanted to keep a safe distance from them, but Ms. Lolota pulled him over and took his arm. Considering that a newcomer shouldn't watch his seniors make a fool of themselves and should share the hardships together, Chael agreed.

When the next time the stun was applied to Lolota, Chael reached out and pulled the woman around the waist, thus dispelling the stun.

So that's how it can be done?

The two grown men, Al Hassen and Borgia, exchanged a glance, then simultaneously saw a hint of disgust in each other's eyes. They preferred to continue being stared at rather than have any physical intimacy, not even the simplest act of holding hands.

Four people in one iron box rode on a steam train, reimbursed by the government, directly occupying an entire carriage.

They managed to deliver the sealed item '2-049' to Tinggen within a single day, despite great difficulty.

The only difference was that the task of carrying the suitcase was given to Xia Er. He carried the black iron suitcase in one hand and hugged the good-looking senior in the other. The burden of life was all on the shoulders of the newcomer, making him a little breathless. Perhaps this is the price that must be paid for growing up.

Tingen City, Blackthorn Security Company, Chanis Gate Guard Room.

Dunn Smith went to find Klein to cooperate with the operation, leaving Leonard Mitchell to accompany the four people who came from Backlund. Xia Erduo glanced at the poet classmate a few times. He had dark hair and blue eyes, and was handsome and dashing. He was quite a beauty.

Leonard noticed Xia'er's gaze, but didn't care about being looked at. He was obviously used to being the center of attention and gave a confident and easygoing smile.

Although he was still doing "arm bend and stretch exercises," it did not affect his elegant and composed demeanor in the slightest.

Not long after...

Klein followed Dunn into the duty room, where Dunn gave a brief introduction to everyone:

"Klein Moretti has a remarkable connection to the Antigonus Notebooks."

"These are colleagues from the Backlund parish."

"Al Hassen, a guy as old as me."

"Borgia".

"Lady Lolota, the sharpshooter."

"Bennett Maynard".

Klein looked at the people in the photos as Dunn introduced them: a man similar to the captain, a cold-looking man with a scar on his face, a black-haired woman in her thirties dressed in androgynous clothing, and finally... the person was looking at him, with very attractive icy blue eyes.

"Let's go, everyone, and finish the mission as soon as possible."

"Al Hassen, the leader of Backlund's squad, stood up and spoke."

While Klein was still wondering where the sealed artifact 2-049 was.

"I really hope this all ends soon."

"This way I'll still have time to wander around Tingen."

Xia Er stretched and gently pushed the black iron box under the table out with her foot.

Boom!

His body stiffened until Lolota nudged him, at which point he returned to normal.

"This little guy holds a grudge."

As she spoke, Xia Er picked up the box, her fingers tracing the star and red moon markings engraved on it.

"Seal Item 2-049 possesses the characteristics of being alive; do not provoke it."

"And you absolutely mustn't kick it!"

El Hassen glared at the newcomer and took the iron box from Xia El's hands.

"If it breaks so easily, I'm definitely going to give those guys in the 'props team' a piece of my mind when I get back."

Xia Er muttered something under his breath, which made even the mature and composed El Hassen chuckle.

How can someone describe their fellow church members as part of the props team?

If it breaks from just a touch, he'll go back and cause trouble.

A quick tidy-up.

The group began to move, starting to leave the underground duty room of Blackthorn Security Company.

dong dong!

From time to time, loud banging sounds would come from the metal boxes on the road, and then a person would be randomly selected and frozen.

Of the seven players on the field, Klein is selected once every three times.

After he was chosen for the second time, Shael simply walked over to Klein's side. When Klein politely smiled and asked what he wanted, Shael tapped the surface of the iron box and then darted to Klein's side.

Boom boom boom!

The puppets inside the iron box smashed several bulges into the iron box.

However, this time it was Klein who was being controlled, even though he hadn't done anything.

Klein was given a playful shove by Leonard. He turned around resentfully and found that Xia Er had already darted five meters away, holding a notebook and seemingly writing something down.

Once aboard the carriage, Klein was about to say something when Shael flipped through the mission briefing and casually remarked:

"Mr. Moretti, the files show you are a survivor of the Antigonus Notebook incident?"

He twirled the pen in his hand and pointed to the temporarily silent iron box on the ground:

"It seems it has a special interest in you."

"Perhaps you two could become friends."

Klein looked embarrassed, and Leonard wanted to make a joke too. However, they both noticed that the pen in Xia'er's hand had stopped spinning and almost fell to the ground, but he himself didn't seem to react.

Lorota, standing nearby, nudged Shael, releasing him from his stunned state. Seeing this, Leonard couldn't help but say:

"This sealed artifact is truly peculiar."

"Klein, it seems it doesn't want to be your friend."

"I..."

Klein was speechless; who would want to be friends with such a bizarre sealed object?

After this little incident, the atmosphere inside the carriage gradually quieted down.

After that, no one spoke again. Only Lolota told Chael to keep an eye on her, and then she relaxed and began to enjoy the less-than-ideal scenery of Tingen's streets.

Before long, the group arrived at their target building.

The two captains went in first. The sealed artifact 2-049 sensed the aura of the descendant of Antigonus and went into a berserk state. Both of them were controlled at the same time. Lolota helped by pushing Dunn, and Shael pushed Klein, who was unlucky enough to be affected again.

"I suggest that after this mission, you pray to the goddess or perform a purification ritual."

"There's definitely something strange about you that 2-409 can smell, or maybe something else is noticing you."

As Xia Er spoke, he suddenly found fate quite interesting.

If the Sequence 1 old man parasitizing Leonard did not lack the characteristics of the Sequence 2 Trojan Horse, he should have been able to notice the special features of Klein, right?

Can Klein say he didn't do anything in the Blackthorn Security Company's restroom?

But He lacked authority over destiny and thus failed to detect the gray mist aura emanating from Klein.

Shael leaned closer to Klein and sniffed him, then withdrew in disgust.

Klein's fist hardened, while Leonard laughed heartily on the side.

Confirming the old man's existence was also quite simple.

The temperament of an ordinary orphan is different from that of the protagonist in the "Grandpa with You" genre.

It would be difficult for Xia Er not to notice.

"Doesn't it only affect one person at a time?"

Klein forcefully changed the subject.

He was, of course, still somewhat shaken.

He was just about to step forward to help when he was arrested again, as if they were waiting for him.

"Level 2 sealed artifacts are hardly safe."

"If I throw it hard, it might get so angry that it takes control of all of us at once."

As Xia'er spoke, she felt Borgia's sharp gaze and quickly used Klein's body to shield herself.

"Senior Borgia, I was just kidding."

Klein awkwardly met that hawk-like gaze.

This guy's a bit too outgoing, isn't he?

Why did he feel like the other party was using him as a tool to collect data from 2-049?

Klein moved aside to make way for Shael behind him, intending to keep his distance from the guy.

Xia Er also consciously kept his distance from the iron box; he wasn't the one who could wipe out the entire party.

After everyone was searched around the room, they returned to the carriage. Al Hassen placed the iron box on the ground, turned the switch, and released the spiritual lock.

With a crash, the box tipped over, and a brown wooden puppet arm emerged, then slowly crawled out. Its face was covered in thick paint, and it had a clown nose. It turned its head and looked at Klein, giving him a comical smile.

Klein felt a chill run down his spine; he was restrained again, this time without even a chance to call for help.

The sealed artifact's power seemed to have increased. Klein felt himself slowly sinking into an abyss. He wanted to cry for help, but the words stuck in his throat, his heart filled with terror.

Chael laughed out loud, and the clown doll turned its head. He was also controlled, and his smile froze.

Leonard, who also wanted to laugh, silently covered his mouth, lowered his head, and didn't forget to give him a push.

"help me!"

After being pushed, Klein finally returned to normal. His earlier cry for help, which had been stuck, was now sharp and filled with terror.

Immediately afterward, Chael was also pushed, continuing his interrupted laughter.

I feel sorry for Mr. Fool...