Mystery: From the Shadow World

Chapter 8 Nightmare
Crown jellyfish, black-spotted frog.
Philip resisted the urge to rub his brow and prepared to leave, but the black-robed man spoke again, "However, it is said that there are black-spotted frogs five kilometers away on the other side of the Hoy River northeast of Tingen."

"How many people have you said this to?" Philip stood up and asked, his sapphire eyes lowered, looking at the other person with a little vigilance and speechlessness.

"Not much." The black-robed man spread out his hands and handed over a silver plate engraved with an unknown black symbol. "You don't have to overthink it. This is just a reminder. No good thing comes without risk, right?"

In response to him, the young man turned around and left in a graceful and neat manner.

This made the black-robed man, who was standing there in a daze, stunned for two seconds before he slowly clenched his fists and put his hands back into the spacious and cool robe.

"Tsk, it's only half a Sequence 9. I didn't expect it to be so troublesome. Never mind."

He put all the precious extraordinary materials on the stall into the various tools he carried with him, and prepared to end today's fishing trip, but his mind suddenly began to feel dizzy.

He covered his mouth with his hands involuntarily, then widened his eyes, as if he had discovered something, and ran away in a panic.

But then, a sleep-like song echoed in this grand space.

Please, fishing like this isn't popular these days. After leaving the Dragon Bar, Philip complained helplessly in his heart, then raised his hand to block out the sunlight that inexplicably made him feel dizzy.

The quality of the goods in this underground mall is of no problem, but they are of no use to him now. Although he saw a main material, he thought it was a trap.

"Are you going to buy the Heart-Binding Grass?"

Just as he was reviewing his harvest, a middle-aged man with deep grey eyes came to his side and asked as naturally as if they were chatting with old friends.

Why is there another one? Philip raised his eyebrows speechlessly, then nodded and said, "Sorry, sir, if you are accepting money, we can talk. If you are like the one just now, I have no interest in putting myself in danger."

"Of course, it only costs 100 pounds, but there's a prerequisite: you have to tell me what you're going to do with it."

Uncle, you're not much different from that cultist dressed up just now. Phillip paused in his frantic act of taking out the money. He looked at the expressionless man, tapping his teeth twice in frustration, and finally said,

"Sorry, no comment on that."

"Is that so?" The gray-eyed man raised his hand, touched his chin, and nodded slightly. "Indeed, after all, mixing potions is something you can't let anyone know about."

Philip originally wanted to continue talking, but after hearing what the other party said, he was completely stunned. Then, in a flash, he pretended to be puzzled and said, "Potion, what is a potion?"

"Sir, please introduce yourself." The gray-eyed man stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers. The next moment, ripples appeared in the surrounding space, and a black top hat appeared in his hand and was slowly put on.

"Nightwatchman, Dunn Smith."

I was just preparing to focus on developing myself because I didn't have to worry about the Rose School's pursuit, and then you official Beyonders showed up, right? Where's mine? Where's my map?!

Philip complained in his heart and began to think frantically, trying to find a way out, but the oppressive feeling caused by the other party's previous method made him not even have any thoughts of resistance.

"Okay, I surrender."

He raised his hands, resigned. "There's no need for this. In fact, if it weren't for your special identity as 'half Sequence 9,' I wouldn't even have come to you." Dunn's tone was calm, soothing him. "But please tell me your background."

"Half Sequence 9." Philip blinked, realizing what was happening. He then smiled bitterly, "That's not something I can decide."

"As for my origins, I'm from Backlund. My parents were both members of the Rose School's Temperance Faction, but they died. I luckily escaped and came to Tingen today. I swear, I haven't done anything wrong."

"Then why did you look for ingredients to mix the 'Prisoner' pathway potion to avenge your parents?" Dunn stared at Philip with his gray eyes.

"."

Hearing this, the latter was silent for several seconds. He then raised his hands, twitching his fingers helplessly, and said in a low voice, "I just don't want my life to be taken away without a doubt when an accident happens."

"Also, live a peaceful life."

Dunn said nothing. He simply raised his hand to hold the brim of his hat, stroking it gently with his fingers. All his actions finally turned into a gentle voice: "Sir, thank you for your cooperation."

"what?"

Philip subconsciously looked up and asked the other party, but the next moment, the world spun around him, and he sat up directly from the ground. He looked around and found that he was still in the underground mall.

What's going on here?
Just when he was confused, he was suddenly patted on the back. A handsome young man with black hair and green eyes, who looked like a romantic poet, walked up to him and squatted down. He raised his hand and touched his chin, smiling and said:
"Hello, my name is Leonard Mitchell, also a Night Watchman, 'Midnight Poet'."

"Philip Howard." Philip nodded in confusion, stood up, and looked at all the guests who were sleeping peacefully around him. He couldn't help but open his eyes wide: "Are they all hypnotized?"

"Yes, you were the first to wake up."

Leonard clapped his hands and sighed, "This is terrible! I should be living a peaceful life. After finishing things here, I have to go to the lower street of Iron Cross Street to pretend."

"Leonard."

Dunn Smith, the man from the dream, came over and interrupted the conversation. He then looked at Philip and straightened the collar of his black windbreaker. "Old Neil will be here soon. He and Frye will take care of the aftermath here. Let's go first."

"Okay." Leonard spread his hands and smiled. "Anyway, the expenses this time should be reimbursed. There's no problem with Old Neil's reimbursement application."

We? Philip twitched his lips, and when he saw the young man named Leonard smiling and gesturing for him to follow, he realized that his matter would not be left unresolved, so he had no choice but to step forward.

The few of them returned to the original secret door and went out into the outside world amid the constipated and stiff expressions of everyone in the bar. They got on a four-wheeled carriage with the police system logo "Crossed Swords, Surrounded by a Crown" painted on the side of the carriage.

The carriage began to move, and amidst the slight bumps, Dunn looked at Philip, who had just taken his seat, and said, "Mr. Howard, I think you might have some questions at this time."

Um, what else can I ask? Philip was conflicted and glanced at Leonard next to him, hoping that this enthusiastic young man could give some hints or assists at this moment.

However, the young man with black hair and blue eyes smiled without saying a word. He just turned his head very naturally to look out the window, holding up half of his face with his hand, and calmly admired the scenery that was passing by so quickly.

(End of this chapter)