Chapter 1013: Individual Growth

The 36 Zouteland Street of the past was just filled with a cement

foundation, with each floor's two windows forming the shape of an arch

with their covers being shut. It had the architectural traits of

post-1300s of the Fifth Epoch, and the natural lighting wasn't very

good.

After its reconstruction, the bottom floor had a small sheltered porch

with two oriel windows that extended to the second floor. The thinner

portion of the window frames had a wall and a decorative column that

supported a thin stone beam. Above the oriel window was a parapet that

connected straight to the third floor.

This was a three-story architectural style that had been made popular in

recent years.

His thoughts seemingly going adrift, Leonard had a feeling that he had

come to the wrong place.

After falling into a daze for about ten seconds, he stepped into 36

Zouteland Street with a silver inlaid cane. Following that, he walked up

the stairs, turned around a bend, and saw the black door and vertical

signboard:

"Blackthorn Security Company."

When he arrived, he seemed to gradually find a sense of familiarity. He

sped up his pace and pushed open the ajar door.

A brown-haired girl who held the Tingen City Honest Paper up vertically

on the desk moved the papers to the side when she heard the unconcealed

footsteps, revealing a smooth forehead, light-brown eyes, and a pretty

face.

"...Good afternoon, Rozanne," Leonard greeted somewhat hesitantly.

Rozanne first wore a look of surprise before her expression fell. She

said in an abnormally cold tone, "Good afternoon. "Congratulations on

avenging Captain and Klein."

Leonard widened his mouth, at a loss for a response. He didn't even

press down on his top hat despite his dislike of wearing hats.

He forced a smile and nodded slightly. Then, he went forward in silence,

passing Rozanne, planning to enter the door beyond the partition.

Just as he was about to enter the office, he suddenly heard Rozanne say

rather softly behind him, "Live well..."

Leonard slowed down his pace slightly before nodding his head heavily.

When he entered the interior, he instantly saw Frye standing by the

captain's office.

This Corpse Collector still had a paleness that resulted from not being

under the sun for a long while. He had black hair.

Leonard solemnly looked at him for a few seconds before exhaling, trying

hard to coolly smile.

"Long time no see."

"Good afternoon, long time no see." Frye pointed to the captain's

office. "I've already received the telegram and know of your request.

I'll get two team members to carry out the operation with you. Also, you

need to fill in a Sealed Artifact request form."

Slightly surprised, Leonard said with a smile, "You're the captain now?

You aren't as silent as before..."

Leonard had actually finished digesting his Soul Assurer potion and

could advance to Sequence 5 Spirit Warlock, but to obtain the power of

that drop of the Eternal Blazing Sun's blood, he deliberately kept it a

secret. He continued placating the souls around Backlund and finally,

through his hard work, found an opportunity to come to Tingen.

Yes," Frye said with a gentle nod. "Actually, I don't like to speak

much, but I have to do so as the captain."

Leonard nodded slightly.

"When did you become a captain? Why haven't I heard of it..."

"Recently," Frye succinctly replied before giving an explanation.

"Shortly after you left, I became a Sequence 8 Gravedigger. I finally

advanced to Spirit Medium last month. And it just so happened that the

previous captain was transferred away."

"That's fast..." Before Leonard could finish his sentence, he had

punched himself in the head. "Look at my memory. I forgot that Klein had

already shared some experiences with everyone."

He lowered his right hand and said to Frye with a smile, "In that case,

you still have room and time to make further progress. Perhaps you might

become a deacon."

Frye shot a look at him and retracted his gaze.

"I'll likely not choose to continue advancing."

"Why?" Leonard took a few steps out and came to Frye's side, asking in

puzzlement.

Frye looked up at the ceiling and said in a calm and heavy voice, "I

wish to stay here.

"Protecting this place, always."

Leonard fell silent and didn't give a response.

He observed his surroundings and felt that there were quite significant

changes, but there were also many things that remained immutable.

Frye fell silent for a while before saying, "I'll dispatch two members

to follow you."

As he spoke, he headed for the basement. Leonard then subconsciously

followed by the side.

The office right at the bottom had its door open. A few Nighthawks were

in there playing cards---Fighting Evil.

When they sensed their captain approaching, they hurriedly put down

their poker cards and stood up.

Leonard swept his gaze across them and saw two familiar faces. They were

Royale, with her smooth black hair, and the white-haired, black-eyed

Seeka.

At the same time, he also saw a few unfamiliar faces. He saw the pence,

soli, and poker cards on the table.

For a moment, he felt his mind adrift as his vision blurred up.

In the Rorsted Archipelago waters, in a small harbor neighboring a

fishing village, at the bottom of the Future.

Frank Lee rolled up his sleeves and crossed his arms, seriously looking

at the mushroom in front of him.

The mushroom, together with its cap, stood at a height of 1.8 meters

tall. Its white surface had a few bright red spots that resembled eyes,

a nose, and a mouth.

Apart from that, its stem had protruding spores. They had thick and

strong-looking white hypha that resembled tentacles.

Frank sized up this gigantic mushroom and surveyed the area, looking at

the wooden walls, floorboards, and the mushrooms of different shapes and

sizes before saying to Artisan Cielf, "Not bad. This experiment has made

progress again. This mushroom has a strong inclination to reproduce, and

this will make it hungry, making it eager to replenish itself with

monster flesh and blood.

"Be it roasting or boiling, these can cease its activity, making it not

as dangerous.

"Hmm, how does it taste? Didn't you try it? The offspring that it

produces have random flavors: beef, fish, and malt. Some are even filled

with milk. One of them is enough to satisfy any requirements for

breakfast. See, the crew no longer enjoy drinking anymore. There are

mushrooms that can be plucked everywhere... I believe that when out in

the wilderness, to fill one's stomach, one has to carry dry rations and

hunt wild beasts. That's just too troublesome. If we can let our bodies

grow mushrooms, wouldn't it save the hassle?"

Artisan Cielf was a lot thinner than back when he was in Bayam. His eye

sockets were deep and his eyes vacant. They were lacking in life.

Upon hearing Frank's words, he seemed to recall something as his body

trembled. He silently crouched down and opened his mouth, producing

retching noises.

"Are you okay? I know it was tough on you. I'm really grateful for all

you've done recently," Frank said sincerely to the Artisan. "If it

wasn't for you, the mushrooms wouldn't have such a strong inclination

towards reproduction. Also, they have obtained abnormally strong

vitality under the moonlight, allowing themselves to purify themselves.

This effectively eliminated the poison that accumulates from devouring

monsters. The only problem is that there's no moonlight in pure

darkness. This is the next problem that we need to resolve."

Cielf didn't say a word. After he finished vomiting, he immediately

stood up and turned to rush outside. However, a thick and strong white

hypha reached out and pulled him back.

"R-return my mystical items to me! I want to die with these mushrooms!"

he yelled frantically, his voice softening as his mouth was covered.

At this moment, green vines rapidly retreated from a certain spot of the

fishing village, as though it was growing in reverse.

Cattleya walked out of it, her eyes dark purple with some silver hints

to them.

Her ears continued resounding with the illusory ravings of the Hidden

Sage; however, she no longer found it terrifying. She didn't find it

unacceptable like before. Wherever she looked, there were countless

indescribable figures looking as if they were shadows stacked upon each

other, like an invisible gaze that was cast over from an unknown

location.

Compared to the past, she could already see the unknown existence hidden

behind the curtains. She could see the moons high up in the sky that

were of different colors. They were either blood-red, silver, dark

brown, or ghostly-blue, resembling eyes that looked down upon the land.

Cattleya's mind hummed as she hurriedly retracted her gaze, afraid to

look further.

She had already dissected the Snake of Fate's blood and completed the

ritual. Through that, she had obtained godhood, becoming a Sequence 4

Mysticologist of the Mystery Pryer pathway!

However, she remembered the Queen's warning:

Among all the Sequence 4 Beyonders of the twenty-two pathways,

Mysticologist was the "job" that encountered danger the easiest. It was

because they often saw things that they shouldn't see, hear things they

shouldn't hear, and be aware of secrets they shouldn't be aware of.

Therefore, a Mysticologist needed to know how to curb their curiosity

and control their respective actions in order to live long.

Removing the heavy glasses she hung on her clothes, Cattleya wore it,

but all the various things she saw in the real world didn't vanish.

She curled her lips in satisfaction in a self-deprecating manner. She

knew that the item could no longer seal her ability of prying into

secrets.

She closed her eyes before opening them. Her eyes had turned black, no

longer having the mysterious dark purple and silver hues.

Phew... Cattleya heaved a sigh of relief and slowly walked to the Future

as though she had simply gone out for a stroll.

She didn't wish to announce her becoming a demigod, and she had no

intention of quickly becoming the fifth royal over the seas. To her,

this was a trump card in this dangerous world, one that she had to keep

close to her chest.

South of the Bridge, Rose Street.

The carriage that Emlyn was on drove down the street when he saw the

blurry figure in a white shirt and black vest with slightly messy hair

appear opposite him. It was that wraith-like young man.

"Long time no see, Mr. Maric," Emlyn said with an unsurprised smile.

Maric nodded slightly.

"I'm here to tell you that we've already made the preparations. We can

discuss the actual operation."