Chapter 14

Even from across the room, Xade could sense the danger emanating from the object in the young man's hand. It was as if the box was out of place in this world, carrying an aura that could decay everything. This was a [Relic], and Xade knew that once he saw it, he would never mistake it again.

The doctor, surveying the room, continued to speak:

"Relics can be tangible objects, but they can also be events, or even just a piece of information or a sentence. The Orthodox Church has classified [Relics] into levels, which are also accepted and recognized by the Academy. There are five levels—

Poet Level (Level 5), the information can even be sung by poets, but it will only be considered as urban legends or folk tales. The standard reference is [Poet Cohen's Manuscript];

Scribe Level (Level 4), detailed records and sealing of such [Relics] are required. The information must only exist on paper and must not be easily disseminated. The standard reference is [The Unknown's Thesis];

Keeper Level (Level 3), strictly trained keepers are responsible for guarding the information of a specific [Relic]. Under non-special circumstances, such items must be contained and used with strict caution. The standard reference is [The Keeper's Eye];

Sage Level (Level 2), only great sages can know the information and containment status. Once an uncontained item of this level is discovered, the Academy and the Orthodox Church must immediately notify each other according to the agreement. The standard reference is [The Sage's Stone];

Angel Level (Level 1), extremely dangerous. The descent of an evil deity and the失控 of an Angel Level [Relic] are generally considered to be of the same level. I am just a fifth-year correspondence student and will only learn the characteristics and containment methods of such items in the next grade. The standard reference is [The Heart of the Fallen Angel]."

"What is a standard reference?"

Xade asked.

"A standard reference is used to grade [Relics]. If the danger level exceeds the standard reference, it immediately moves to the next level."

Xade nodded in understanding, but the fact that even the highest Angel Level had a standard reference seemed to imply—

He didn't ask, as Dr. Schneider probably wouldn't know either.

He then asked in a muffled voice, holding his breath:

"So, what are we facing this time?"

"A Poet Level (Level 5) [Relic]. I have already investigated it; it is the [Countdown Pocket Watch].

Yes, it's the item in that box over there. He doesn't dare to touch it directly. By offering flesh and blood, the pocket watch allows the holder to rotate it within a certain range. Point the watch at any living being, and based on the angle of rotation, it adds a countdown status to the targeted being. The shorter the countdown, the more flesh and blood required. That's why Spire Hamilton had such a long time."

The doctor asked Xade to wait at the door, then stepped into the room, treading through the blood-soaked floor, and retrieved the box containing the [Relic]. He opened it only after returning to Xade, warning him to focus and not be influenced by the [Relic]'s power.

The box opened with a sound, and an even stronger smell of blood hit them. Inside was a box filled with blood.

Pouring out the blood, the silver pocket watch fell into Dr. Schneider's hands.

The doctor didn't open the watch cover, but Xade could see that both sides were engraved with grim skulls. Around the cover were runes, which Xade had never seen before, but he could read them, confirming that he could indeed understand all the writing in this world:

"The cost of life is the secret of flesh and blood."

At that moment, Xade tasted blood in his mouth, as if he had just bitten into raw meat. He gagged, but since he hadn't eaten breakfast, he couldn't vomit much. The doctor quickly put the watch back into the box and stored it in his briefcase.

"Is this the thing that killed Detective Spire?"

After a while, Xade murmured. The detective had rescued the original host from a life of homelessness and left him all his inheritance, so he was glad to avenge him.

"Yes, this is it. People in the countdown state know their life span but cannot reveal it to anyone, or they will die immediately. However, this [Relic] from the Fifth Era, though dangerous to ordinary people, can be neutralized by Circumancers, so it is only classified as Poet Level.

The countdown effect is restrained by various [Miracles] and [Enlightenments], so it is not highly dangerous and is considered a common Poet Level relic. Unfortunately, Mr. Spire Hamilton was just an ordinary person."

Dr. Schneider shook his head in regret:

"Actually, I have been investigating this relic for a few months. I could understand your situation in just one night. But there were too many victims. Although I saved a few, I couldn't reach Detective Spire Hamilton in time. He seems to have passed away in the early morning of the day we met. What a pity."

The next steps were simple. The two searched the nearby rooms, and the psychologist used Circumancer techniques to dispel the hallucinations caused by the Poet Level [Relic], finding all the remains and confirming the killer.

After Xade refused to kill, the doctor directly killed Bade Morrode in a dream, a process that took only a second in Xade's eyes.

After that, they left together. The doctor had written an anonymous letter and sent it through a special channel to the Wald Field in Tobask City, the police headquarters, at noon. The police would soon discover the place, which would attract the attention of the Orthodox Church.

"This area is under the jurisdiction of the Church of the Sun God. They act quickly, so we need to leave quickly."

The doctor joked as they climbed into the waiting carriage. But Xade had no mood to talk. Although he had no ties in this place, the bloody scene he had witnessed left him feeling uneasy.

This made him acutely aware of the cruelty and strangeness of this world.

They returned to the city and had a meal at the Goose Meat Restaurant in the eastern district of Tobask City. Of course, the doctor paid. Xade didn't eat much; the scene on the second floor of the sanatorium would haunt him for a long time.

They then went to the doctor's psychological clinic, located on Röntgen Avenue in the eastern district of Tobask City, a wealthy area. Although not as bustling as the city center of Saint D'Alen Square, the neighborhood was beautiful.

Dr. Bill Schneider's psychological clinic was flanked by an antique shop and a high-end tobacco shop. The clinic had three floors, with the first two for consultations and the third for the doctor's residence.

The clinic was spacious, and besides Dr. Bill Schneider, there were five other doctors he had hired, as well as receptionists, cleaners, and tea ladies, making it quite formal.

The doctor invited Xade to rest in his second-floor reception room, which was used for important patients. After the servant brought tea, the conversation continued.

Compared to a reception room, this place was more like a study, with curved walls lined with dark brown bookshelves filled with leather-bound books. The grand desk stood on a red carpet, and the fountain pen on the pen holder alone revealed the owner's wealth.

The sofa and coffee table combination was less formal than in a detective's office, but the home-style tea set made visitors feel relaxed and willing to share their troubles and secrets.

"How do you feel about this trip?"

The doctor asked, leaning naturally on a single leather sofa, his right hand resting on the armrest, his fingers on his chin.

Xade sat on a fabric sofa, the one typically used by Dr. Schneider's "patients."

"Thank you very much."

"For helping you resolve the隐患?"

"Yes."

Xade said, but his worries did not diminish.

This trip was just to avenge Detective Spire, and it also indicated that Spire's death was due to the detective's commission and did not involve the task he had entrusted to Xade. In other words, Xade still didn't know what other secrets Spire Hamilton had.

Currently, he guessed that Spire Hamilton had a mysterious identity beyond being a detective, and due to an unexpected event, he had to find someone to temporarily take over. But that secret identity was likely unrelated to the supernatural, otherwise, the detective wouldn't have known about his impending death and been unable to save himself.

Of course, there was no need to explain this to Dr. Bill Schneider. Although the morning's events had made Xade trust him to some extent, he hadn't completely let down his guard.