Mystery: The Traveler Who Holds the Star Key

"boom!!"

A loud gunshot rang out in the closed living room.

The shotgun with its barrel sawed off spewed out iron pellets.

A large hole was blasted through the ferocious black ghostly figure that lunged at them.

But there was no blood.

There was only scattered black mist and a piercing shriek like fingernails scratching a blackboard.

The evil spirit did not die.

It was simply disassembled.

The next second, it was filled with even more violent resentment.

They charged again, still amidst the lingering smoke of battle.

"Physical damage immunity?"

Orion tossed the empty shotgun aside with a look of disgust and clenched his left hand tightly.

Dark red leather gloves—【Scorching Thirst】, the cracks on the surface, like parched earth, instantly lit up, and a dark gold-red magma-like luster flowed wildly beneath the skin.

The air in the entire living room instantly became hot and distorted.

Faced with the oncoming evil spirit, Orion did not retreat. Instead, like a villain collecting debts, he grabbed the evil spirit's "neck" with his left hand, which was wearing a glowing glove.

"Sizzle—!!"

It's like throwing a piece of raw meat into a red-hot iron plate.

"Aaaaaah—!!"

The once arrogant evil spirit let out a shrill scream, billowing blue smoke rose from the spot where the glove had gripped it, and its spirit body disintegrated wildly.

"Boss!"

Orion, while tightly gripping the evil spirit's struggling form, shouted impatiently without turning his head:

"This thing's trying to renege on its debt! Don't let it get away!"

There's absolutely no need to remind them.

"Smack."

A crisp snap of the fingers.

The eerie green flames in the fireplace were instantly tamed, transforming into an orange-yellow fire serpent that precisely bit the evil spirit's ankle.

[Flame Leap].

Klein's figure stepped out from the flames.

His face was expressionless, and he gripped the "Azik Bronze Whistle," which exuded a cold and deathly aura, tightly in his hand. Combining this with the Joker's precise fighting skills, he punched the evil spirit in the back.

"Buzz—"

The oppressive force of the bronze whistle descended, and the evil spirit froze.

But Orian did not press his advantage.

His face suddenly turned pale.

The side effect of "burning thirst" erupted without warning, causing the moisture in the throat to evaporate instantly and the lips to crack and bleed.

pain.

Pure, excruciating pain from being drained dry.

Driven by his biological instinct for survival, Orion instantly released his grip on the evil spirit as if he had been electrocuted, staggered back half a step, and gasped for breath.

While the evil spirit is still frozen in place.

He pulled out the bottle of high-purity magnesium powder that hadn't been used up in the underground ruins.

No hesitation.

He only made one move—he fell down completely.

The high temperature from the left hand instantly ignited the powder.

The moment this deadly "flashbang" was thrown.

Orion abruptly turned around, covered his eyes tightly, and shouted the most truthful disclaimer at his still-dazed employer behind him:

"Close your eyes!!"

"Blindness is not covered by the contract!"

"boom--!!"

A blinding white light exploded in the living room, like a miniature sun detonating indoors.

"Hiss!!"

The evil spirit's screams were so piercing they could shatter eardrums.

It felt as if it had been thrown into a steel furnace.

That gloved human was even more ruthless than a demon!

It was afraid.

It completely collapsed.

These aren't prey! They're two meat grinders in human skin!

It transformed into a wisp of desperate black smoke, rushing desperately toward the nearest floor-to-ceiling window.

It only needs to blur and penetrate as usual to escape.

Orion glanced calmly at the exquisite glass that was about to be "pierced" by the evil spirit.

The calculator in my mind instantly popped up a red warning:

Russell manufactures custom tempered glass.

If such a high-intensity spiritual turbulence passes through it, the glass structure will instantly disintegrate and shatter.

Market price: £45.

The profit from this deal is almost zero.

"oops."

A light, fleeting sigh.

Amidst that mournful howl, Orion's figure glided along the ground like a ghost.

He positioned himself precisely between the evil spirit and the window, like a gatekeeper guarding the entrance to a vault.

He was faced with that hideous ghostly face so close, trying to penetrate his body and touch the glass.

He didn't frown.

He simply raised one index finger and playfully shook it at the frantic, wandering evil spirit:

"That won't work."

Bathed in the pale green firelight, Orion flashed a bright smile that showed not only no remorse but also a hint of roguishness:

"You're carrying too much energy right now."

"Go through it... it will break."

Before he could finish speaking...

He slammed his left hand down hard.

【Trick - Freeze】.

The air in front of the window instantly froze into an ice wall.

"Thump!"

The desperate evil spirit crashed headlong into the ice wall and was violently bounced back.

Klein raised his hand expressionlessly and snapped his fingers again.

"Smack."

Several homemade "exorcism talismans," propelled by the orange flames, flew out like playing cards and accurately stuck to the back of the evil spirit.

Hermes's language resonated deeply:

"Light!"

"boom--!!"

The pure golden light instantly engulfed everything.

There was no suspense whatsoever, and there was no so-called "epic confrontation".

The unfortunate soul who was forcibly packaged as a "century-old evil spirit" by Orion didn't even have time to struggle.

Under the intense, overflowing firepower, they melted away completely, like snowflakes under the scorching sun.

Not even a speck of ashes remained.

The living room fell silent again.

Only Orion, with a look of "thank goodness the window didn't break," was leaning over the expensive glass, wiping away the fog with lingering fear.

……

"Is it... over?"

Detective Stuart, hiding behind the railing, spoke with a dry voice, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

He was still holding the specially made revolver in his hand, but the safety hadn't been released yet.

It's not that he didn't want to help.

There's absolutely no way to get involved.

From the appearance of the evil spirit, to being hit by a mixed doubles team, and then to being reduced to ashes.

The entire process takes no more than one minute.

This is hardly an exorcism.

This is nothing short of a premeditated murder.

Moreover, it was a brutal killing.

Adol fainted on the sofa.

Logo Karoman leaned against the wall, panting heavily, staring intently at the center of the living room.

Klein expressionlessly picked up the talisman fragments and stuffed them into his trench coat.

Destroy the evidence.

Orion crouched in front of the charred bullet holes.

Like a stern overseer, he smeared some plaster on the wall with his fingers and sniffed it.

"Carbonization depth of three millimeters... High-level spiritual residue."

He stood up, looked at the mess on the ground, and frowned deeply.

silence.

Five unsettling seconds of deathly silence.

"Ugh."

A very soft sigh, yet it struck Logo's heart like a heavy hammer.

"W-What happened? It's not resolved yet?"

"The problem has been solved."

Orion turned around, pointed to Klein's pocket, and looked at him with a pained expression, as if he were watching his own house burn down:

"But in order to purify this level of 'residue,' Mr. Moriarty was forced to use that thing."

"The 'Priest of Light' relic within the church... a unique item that can only be used once, and is becoming increasingly rare."

He shook his head, his tone desolate:

"This business deal was a huge loss."

Without any intention of bargaining, Orion waved his hand, gesturing to Klein:

"Boss, let's just accept our bad luck. Let's go."

The two turned and left.

This decisive retreat instantly enraged Logo Karoman.

They used a rare item to save his son, and now they expect the other party to leave at a loss?

If word gets out, who will come to the rescue of the Carloman family in the future?!

"No! Don't go!!"

The fat merchant rushed up and grabbed Orion's sleeve tightly, sweating profusely with anxiety.

"We can't let our benefactor suffer a loss! That sacred object... I'll pay for it! Three times the price! No, name your price!"

Orion stopped.

He turned his head and scrutinized Logo, who was covered in sweat.

He didn't agree immediately, but stared at me for a full three seconds.

It seems they are assessing whether the other party is qualified to compensate for this "faith".

Until Logo was about to suffocate.

The chill in Orion's eyes melted away, replaced by a polite, professional smile.

"Since Mr. Kaloman is so well-versed in etiquette, we cannot be insensitive."

"Discussing market prices is a desecration of faith... Let's just charge for the material costs."

See the picture poorly.

Orion took out a snow-white handkerchief and slowly wiped his fingers.

The previous sorrow vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, professional tone:

"Technical service fees, expedited dispatch fees, high-risk operation allowances, ammunition depletion fees..."

He paused here, then smiled and pointed to the young master on the ground, whom he had just kicked awake but who had now fainted again:

"And the 'shock-induced awakening therapy' provided to your son."

Orion gave a slight bow, his posture so elegant it was as if he were inviting the other person to dinner, not robbing them.

"Honest and affordable, fixed price."

"200 pounds."

"How many?!"

Stuart, standing next to him, almost bit his tongue.

The most you can get for an exorcism on the market is £50!

This is... no, this is robbery!

But Logo Karoman did not hesitate at all.

Instead of fear, his eyes shone with the ecstasy of finally encountering a true expert.

The nightmare that had plagued the family for half a month was physically removed within minutes.

Clean, neat, and with after-sales treatment.

That efficiency, that method.

Let alone 200 pounds, even 500 pounds.

In the eyes of an anxious father and tycoon, it was an "absolutely bargain price."

"No problem! Absolutely no problem!!"

Logo Kaloman swiftly pulled out his checkbook, his movements as fluid as if he were signing for a shipment of top-quality rubies that had just arrived in port.

The pen flew across the paper as the check was torn off and presented with both hands.

He gripped Orion's hand tightly, shaking it vigorously, his face a mixture of ecstatic joy and lingering fear from having won the gamble.

"Excellent value for money!!"

"The nightmare that tormented my son and me for half a month... you solved it in minutes!"

"Hiring the Moriarty Detective Agency... was the best decision I've ever made in my life!!"

Stuart, who was still calculating the accounts, was completely dumbfounded.

This was the first time he had ever seen someone get ripped off for 200 pounds and still be laughing like they'd found a gold nugget...