Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 242 Illusion and Realm

The work diary didn't contain much, but it was enough. Li Wei silently read it through. Then Katie and the old man each took a look at the contents.

"How terrifying... They actually pushed people into a furnace? How could they do something so heinous?"

Katie looked at her work diary with an incredulous expression.

"If it really was that god who ordered them to do it, then it must be an evil god!"

"………………………"

The old man didn't speak, but his trembling hands and blurry eyes showed that this had a great impact on him.

"Well... how should I put it, that's about it..."

Hearing Katie's sentiments, Levi shrugged. Indeed, Katie's thinking was the mainstream nowadays. However, what Levi couldn't tell her was that, according to the intelligence he had obtained from "The Wisdom of Solomon," in Solomon's time, using people as sacrifices was the norm.

Moreover, the reasons for each sacrifice are different in each place.

Some would bring their captives to be sacrificed before the idols to prove their bravery to the gods.

Some would also bring their servants, wives, concubines, and slaves and kill them all, as a gift to the gods.

According to King Solomon's recollections, there were even places where those who had made great contributions and possessed immense prestige and reputation would be sacrificed in their old age, signifying that their souls would be able to remain with God after death.

So you see, regardless of whether people are treated as spoils of war.

They still treat people as gifts.

Or it means treating people as human beings.

There are 180 excuses for human sacrifice... Judging from the fact that the god actually ordered the miners to create divine bodies, this god is probably an old man from that era. Perhaps in his view, sacrifice is not evil at all...

Of course, Li Wei had no intention of judging him from the perspective of justice or evil; all he needed to know was that this was a guy who could harm humanity.

If something harms humanity, whether it's good or evil, eliminate it!

But more importantly, where did Alice go?
“Da da da da da—!”

Whether by coincidence or not, just as this thought crossed Li Wei's mind, he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps outside.

"Someone!"

Hearing footsteps, the three rushed out of the office, and then saw a shadow quickly leave through the other door. Only the swinging door made a "bang" as it slammed shut.

"It must be Alice! Go after her!"

At this moment, Katie also got excited and was about to rush over, but Levi was quick-witted and grabbed her collar.

"You just wait—wait!"

The moment he grabbed Katie's collar, Levi felt as if he were being pulled along by a heavy car, and he almost flew into the air.

Fortunately, Katie stopped quickly, but even so, Levi still bumped into her.

Small, soft, and fragrant... I don't have time to feel this, my arm is about to break!
Even if the attributes are quantified, my body is still mostly at the level of an ordinary person!

An ordinary person simply cannot hold onto a speeding truck with one hand.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Li Wei, are you alright?"

"Hmm, it should be... alright..."

Li Wei moved his right wrist, feeling like it was about to dislocate. No, a muscle strain was probably inevitable…

Ouch... This is killing me.

Sure enough, any game that doesn't involve friendly fire is a terrible game.

Katie seemed to sense Levi's pain, and now she stood there sheepishly, looking at him cautiously like a puppy that had done something wrong. The old man beside them, however, watched this scene and let out a soft snort.

"Seriously, this is what happens when young people don't exercise. You got injured from such a small thing?"

Hehe... If you did that, you'd probably be paralyzed from the waist down.

Li Wei rolled his eyes, then stretched his arms and wrists.

Well, it's alright, it's not a big problem...

"Hmm, it's okay, it should be fine."

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Li Wei, but over there…”

That's why I asked you to wait a moment.

Li Wei sighed.

"We just got here, and we've found Alice so quickly? Do you think that's possible?"

"Hey?"

"Besides, we didn't even see who it was. We only saw a shadow. We didn't hear any footsteps coming from it either. It's not like she was hiding there watching us fight and then ran away."

"ah……………"

Incidentally, Levi had also been using the puppet bird for reconnaissance and detection, but hadn't detected Alice's soul signal at all. Therefore, he was more inclined to believe it was some kind of artificially created illusion than a human being.

Hmm... it shouldn't be man-made either?

"In short, don't just rush in headlong. The situation here is unclear, so it's best to be careful."

If Li Wei hadn't almost strained his muscles while trying to catch Katie, he would have blasted her with a single burst from the unmanned turret.

This is also Li Wei's only weakness at present. He is a [Puppeteer]. No matter how powerful the puppet is, it cannot do without his control. However, once Li Wei himself is disturbed, the reaction of the mechanisms around him will slow down and become unable to function.

After all, they are controlled by Li Wei, and are not really the kind of unmanned combat platforms in science fiction games. Even if they have [mimicry control], the range of autonomous action they can take is very limited, and they are not as mature as AI.

I wonder if we'll ever create dolls with self-awareness in the future?
I remember there was something similar in the anime, where the puppets that had gained self-awareness fought each other in a chaotic mess over something.

If that's the case, then forget it.

"In short, don't be too reckless, be careful, and even if you see something, don't run over immediately."

“Okay.” Katie nodded obediently and followed behind Levi. Then Levi recalled the three steel crabs and walked towards the location of the figure.

Stepping out of the side door and looking along the tracks, you can see the mine shaft located on the cliff not far away, with several mine carts lying haphazardly on the ground around it—as well as a series of footprints leading into the mine shaft.

"...It looks like a trap no matter how you look at it."

Seeing this scene, Li Wei muttered a complaint under his breath, or rather, this thing was such an obvious trap that he didn't even want to complain anymore.

But then again...

"Old man."

"what's up?"

"Just how big is that statue?"

"Um…………………"

Faced with Li Wei's question, the old man, though unsure why he asked, frowned and began to think.

"I don't remember very clearly now, since I was too young at the time, but I remember my father saying that it would be bigger than the smelting plant."

"Bigger than a smelter?"

Hearing this, Katie turned around in surprise to look at the smelting plant they had just come from. This huge smelting plant was about two or three stories high, and this was even taller than it.

"No wonder the entrance to this mine is so big."

Li Wei looked at the pitch-black mine shaft before him and snorted coldly. This place was less like a mine shaft and more like an airplane hangar in size. The semi-circular entrance occupied almost half of the slope. Standing in front of it, it felt as if the entire valley was a huge monster, and the enormous mine shaft in front of him was its gaping maw, waiting for its prey to walk in and die.

But they just couldn't refuse to go in...

Li Wei thought for a moment, then took out a piece of origami from his pocket and placed it at the entrance of the hole.

"Okay, let's go in."

Li Wei turned on the gas lamp and was the first to go inside.

The mine was pitch black.

The dim gas lamps could only illuminate a small area, revealing tracks, stones, and dust. The three of them followed the trail of tiny footprints on the ground.

As the old man walked on… his expression gradually became strange.

"Wait, I remember this passage, here..."

"Ok?"

"This... seems to be the road leading to the church..."

"church?"

“……………………!”

The next instant, the gas lamp Li Wei was carrying suddenly went out, plunging the three of them into darkness.

A moment later, a dazzling light shone forth.

Faced with the sudden, blinding light emerging from the darkness, all three hurriedly reached out to shield their eyes.

After a moment, the three of them, having adjusted to the light, lowered their hands and cautiously looked around.

Then, they were all stunned.

"What is this...?"

Katie stared in disbelief at her surroundings, uttering a blank expression. Levi, however, could understand her thoughts. What appeared before them was no longer the dark, lifeless mine, but a lush, green meadow.

The warm sunlight streamed down from the sky, shining upon the three of them. In the distance, there were even shady green trees.

Is this an illusion? Or reality?
Li Wei reached out and touched the grass on the ground. It felt soft and seemed no different from real grass.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from behind the three of them.

"I'm late, I'm late, I'm late..."

This sound is…

Upon hearing the voice, Li Wei's lips twitched slightly, then he turned around to look behind him. There, he saw a rabbit, as tall as them, pure white with red eyes, hopping and skipping towards them.

"Huh? A rabbit?"

Katie looked completely bewildered at the rabbit in front of her, while the old man beside her gripped his hunting rifle tightly, staring at the rabbit, clearly unsure of what to do as well.

"I'm late! I'm going to be late!"

As they were talking, the white rabbit came up to the three of them, stopped, and stared at them.

"Being late will get you executed by the Queen! It's all your fault for blocking my way, I'm going to be late!"

"Hey? Hey?"

"It's all your fault!"

The rabbit seemed quite agitated at this moment. It glared angrily at the three of them, then grinned, revealing its sharp teeth.

"However, if I present your heads as a gift to the Queen, she will surely forgive me..."

As the rabbit spoke, its body gradually began to contort, its snow-white fur turning black. At the same time, the surrounding lush green grass gradually withered and turned into a desolate wasteland.

The rabbit's paws and feet gradually grew as long as those of a dinosaur, with sharp, pointed claws extending from them!

At the same time, Li Wei also raised the Persuader and aimed it at the enemy!
I don't know what's going on, but let's take care of it first!

"As the price for blocking my way, die! You scum!"

With a furious roar, the white rabbit leaped forward and pounced on the three of them!

(End of this chapter)