Mystery: When the Fool Meets the Masked Fool

Chapter 471 Long Live the Trash Can

After reading the file, Dunn flipped through it and turned to the second file sheet that followed.

[Temporary File: A001]

Temporary Number: 2-701

[Appearance Description: It is roughly a cylinder about half a meter in diameter, with a glass cube at the top that can display images. Below are wheels and tracks. It is equipped with various detection tools and simple weapons, and is suspected to originate from a steam-powered church.]

It calls itself A001, but its usage is currently unknown, and it's uncertain whether it's a manipulated doll or simply an extraordinary item.

[Upon their first meeting, it displayed considerable hostility towards humans. However, after interacting with the magician who called himself "Merlin Hermes," it became docile, humble, and polite.]

They did not linger in the city and left quickly. The night watch team attempted to stop them, but all attempts failed.

[The current risk level is low.]

[Temporary File: Face Window]

Temporary Number: 1-702

[Appearance Description: A white ceramic window, the era of its pattern is currently unclear. It is entirely white with a small amount of fine gold sand mixed in. The window is a double-opening design. In the very center of the window is a human face, perfectly aligned with both windows, separated by a crack. The left half of the face has a calm expression with a slight upturn at the corners of the mouth, while the right half depicts a weeping face with tears flowing from it, and a few fine gold sands are visible.]

[An extraordinary item, whose specific name and code name are unknown, could not be successfully contained.]

According to users, it appears randomly on the windows of a house.

If someone opens a window at this time, they will randomly see either sunshine or dark clouds. If they see sunshine, their luck will be very good all day; but if they see dark clouds, their luck will be quite bad all day.

[Case 1: A gambler opened his window and saw the sunlight. For the next 24 hours, he won every bet at the gambling table and even found a smiling gold coin.]

[Case 2: The same gambler saw the window again three days later and excitedly pushed it open, only to see dark clouds. Two hours later, while passing a partially collapsed building, he was struck by falling bricks and tiles, resulting in paralysis of his lower limbs.]

After discussion, the night watch team determined that this was a highly dangerous extraordinary item, falling within the category of Level 1 sealed artifacts.

Dunn organized the two files in his hands and wrote the last paragraph in his report:

"Aside from 2-701, which has already left, the remaining two are typical magical items that need to be sealed and are clearly beyond the level of a level 2 sealed item. We hope that the Archbishop and the senior deacon will come to handle them personally or provide an effective sealing method."

He then found a file folder, stacked the three handwritten files and reports together, put them in the folder, sealed it, and stamped it with his own seal.

“Please give this to Ms. Slo and ask her to mail it to the Holy Church.” Dunn handed the file folder to Daly.

"You actually want me to go find another woman?" Daly whispered in Dunn's ear as she took the file folder. "You're really playing games."

After saying that, she took the file folder and left Dunn's office with a smile.

Dunn's ears turned a little red, and he forced himself to take a sip of his coffee.

Old Neil first watched this scene with a smile, his face full of kindness. Then, in order to help Dunn out of the predicament, he took the initiative to start a conversation: "I feel that window might be absorbing people's luck."

Upon hearing the serious matter, Dunn immediately suppressed the slight upturn of his lips: "Why do you say that?"

Upon hearing this speculation, Daly, who had just returned, stopped teasing Dunn and instead looked at Old Neil, waiting for him to continue.

“There’s no concrete evidence, it’s just a feeling,” Old Neil said, as he untied the pendant wrapped around his right hand. “Every time we encounter this situation, we always feel that this door has brought good luck or bad luck to the victim.”

"But if you absorb good luck, wouldn't the victim become unlucky? If you absorb bad luck, wouldn't the people involved become lucky?"

"So that fully automatic wish-granting machine is probably collecting wishes?" Dunn tried to think like Old Neil.

“It’s not impossible,” Old Neil replied.

After saying that, Old Neil put down the silver pendant with the trash can hanging at one end, letting it dangle on the table. He closed his eyes and silently recited in his heart.

“My deduction was correct… my deduction was correct…” A few seconds later, he reopened his eyes and saw that the pendant was motionless. “Well, okay, it seems that item is of a much higher rank than mine.” Old Neil shrugged.

There's nothing that can be done about it, after all, he's only a Sequence Nine.

"So should we send another telegram now?" Daly asked uncertainly.

“The Sanctuary is not without its spymen,” Old Neil said with a smile, shaking his head. “And they are certainly of much higher rank than me, so naturally they can see much further than I can.”

After saying that, he closed his eyes again and began the divination once more.

This time, he added at the end, "My trash can friends, please bless me."

When I opened my eyes again, I saw a silver trash can pendant at the end gently rotating clockwise.

They gave an affirmative answer to his divination.

Old Neil looked at the trash can on the pendant and laughed even harder.

Even though he was just an old man in his twilight years, he still had the right to choose what guided him. Perhaps one's fate is predetermined, but one can still choose what leads them forward.

Praise the great king, one bucket; praise the king of garbage.
Long live the trash can!

…………

In the Kingdom of Loen, in East Chestershire, in a woodland.

Farmers from nearby villages gathered here to pick the unusual mushrooms that grew from tree roots, decaying wood, and bushes.

This was Audrey's territory, but Audrey secretly guided some local farmers to lead the way, guiding refugees who had also come to the area to gather these foods.

Even knowing it was all fake, Audrey still hoped that ordinary people could live better lives.

No matter what you can do, or how much you can accomplish.

At the very least, one should have a clear conscience.

The farmers formed small teams and efficiently harvested the mushrooms, which were either covered in gold flecks or had fatty patterns. They divided the mushrooms into two groups: a small portion for their own consumption, and the majority to be sold to grain merchants waiting outside the woodland in exchange for gold pounds to buy necessities such as salt and cloth.

These farmers didn't go too far; aside from the mushrooms, they only took some of the fruit growing on the trees, leaving enough for the woodland keepers to hand over.

Audrey watched this scene from the shadows, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Audrey came here partly to escape the war, and partly to lure out Herwin Lambis, who was lurking in the shadows.

A few months after being "hypnotized," Audrey pretended for a while that she was genuinely unaware of it. But recently, she has started to act as if she is aware of it, returning to her usual self and continuing to keep a certain distance from the nobles and princes.

It's safe to assume that Herwin Rambis, who's lurking in the shadows, will be unable to contain himself.

Audrey thought to herself.

Actually, I no longer need to cooperate with Edsack... oh no, I mean Miss Elsalis.

Giving an extraordinary individual with intellectual abilities two months to prepare was indeed...

Audrey turned and walked towards her own villa.

P.S.: Oh no, it's almost the end of the month and I forgot to ask for monthly votes!

Now, let me ask for your monthly votes!

(End of this chapter)