Mr. Death in the Steam World

The child from the shantytown had never been to a hotel, but she knew the way to the city.

The little girl followed the scrap cart several times and learned the way.

"Don't wander off," she said. "I'll be right back."

After saying that, she turned and crawled out of the shed.

Melina was still somewhat dazed—although she remembered the girl, how did she know she was here?

She looked at the marks on her hand and was somewhat taken aback.

Before anyone knew it, the flame flowers became even brighter.

……

The little girl ran wildly along the path at a great speed, attracting the attention of many passersby.

With the help of several passersby, she soon spotted the sign for the Swallow Hotel.

In her haste, she rushed over and pushed open the door, nearly bumping into the landlady who was mopping the floor.

"Oh dear! Where did this come from—" The proprietress looked down and saw the little girl's face clearly. Her voice paused, and her brows furrowed.

"Child, what's wrong? Who bullied you?"

"I'm looking for... looking for someone," the little girl gasped, her words broken. "A young man, very handsome, whose fingers probably shoot fire... and a priest, wearing a black robe..."

The proprietress paused for a moment, then turned around and shouted upstairs.

"Father! Someone is looking for you!"

A moment later, Moen and Arthur came down the stairs.

Moen recognized the little girl immediately; she was the one who had given him candy in the shantytown yesterday.

"What's wrong?"

The little girl ran up to him, looked up at him, and her eyes shone with a quick and bright light.

"The miners are searching the shantytowns," she said quickly, as if she were in a hurry.

"Many men in black robes, and a leader with a scar on his face; they seem to be looking for someone..."

"I... I guess they're looking for Mai—one of my older sisters disappeared from the shantytown a few days ago. The adults said she was taken away by people from the mine..."

She took a deep breath and poured out the rest of her words in one go.

"I found her. She was hiding in an old shed next to a pile of rubble. She was covered in injuries and looked terrified."

"You're so handsome, please go save her quickly! I'm afraid those people will find her there soon!"

Moen was momentarily confused; what was all this about?

Emily, who was behind him, came out after hearing the noise and patted Moen on the shoulder.

The little girl watched as Moen's expression changed from bewilderment to surprise to seriousness, and finally she nodded to him.

"I understand—uh, what's your name?"

"Sai, what about you, big brother?"

"Moen, thank you, Sai. The gods will surely bless a kind child like you. Leave the rest to me."

Sai didn't know why Moen was thanking her, but she knew her sister Melina was saved.

She quickly described Melina's location to Moen and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, brother..."

Suddenly, Sai felt dizzy and fainted on the spot. Moen quickly supported her, his face looking rather pale.

"Mr. Arthur, what's going on here!"

Arthur frowned as he examined Sai and finally found a blooming flower of fire on the back of her neck.

"This mark is exactly the same as the one on Phils's hand. That Melina is probably the third candidate."

He waved his hand, and the mark disappeared on its own.

"The magic on this mark is pitifully weak; Melina is most likely not a magician."

"According to this girl, it's probably because Melina was in danger and subconsciously used her abilities as a candidate to come here to find us to rescue her. That makes sense."

"Now that her mission is over and the mark has been removed, it's normal for an ordinary person to be temporarily unable to adjust to being in a coma. She should be fine after lying in bed for a while."

Moen breathed a sigh of relief; at least nothing bad had happened.

However, it turns out that the candidates also have special abilities. What is Phils's ability? How come there is no trace of it?

The situation was urgent, and there was no time to think. He immediately set off for Melina's location.

It's safer to keep her by my side than to let her fall into Sidwin's hands.

Before long, Moen arrived at the shantytown. He stopped and closed his eyes.

His spiritual intuition guided him, and he quickly found the shed where Melina was hiding.

He stopped and closed his eyes.

His spiritual intuition guided him, and he quickly found the shed where Melina was hiding. He raised his hand and gently knocked on the door frame.

"Is Miss Melina there?"

There was no response. Could it be that they've already been taken away?

Moen frowned, secretly activated his Death Eye, and was certain that Melina was inside.

He thought for a moment, then stopped knocking and instead spoke softly to the door:

"Miss Melina, I am not from the mine."

"I'm a private investigator, Saito, I've come to see you."

Upon hearing Sai's name, Moen clearly heard Melina breathe a sigh of relief and pull back the curtain.

"Where is Sai?"

"She's safe and sound, sleeping in the hotel," Moen said truthfully. "She's the one who told me you were here."

Melina didn't reply, but instead looked Moen up and down.

Moen shrugged, quite nonchalantly.

Regardless of his motives, he genuinely came to save people.

"Melina, I know you don't believe me, and that's normal."

"But I want you to see something."

He raised his right hand and pulled his sleeve up to reveal his forearm—of course, there was nothing there.

Melina's gaze fell on his arm, then quickly shifted away, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Moen offered no explanation, but instead pulled a silver exorcism medal from his pocket and dangled it in the morning light.

"This was awarded to me by the Holy Church; not everyone is qualified to receive this."

Seeing the surprise in Melina's eyes, he put the medal back in his pocket with satisfaction and added a comment.

"Miss Melina, I know another person just like you; she has the same mark on her hand."

Melina's eyes widened suddenly.

"Who are you? How do you know about the mark!"

"My name is Mohn Marcus, and I'm just an ordinary private investigator."

"The person I know has the exact same mark on her hand as you. Her name is Phils, and she's only slightly older than you."

"She's also one of those candidates?"

Moen was somewhat surprised that she knew she was a candidate.

However, judging from her blank expression, she probably only knows the name but not its meaning.

"Yes," he said. "She's the candidate besides you and Sidwin."

Melina's expression turned somewhat strange.

"That woman said that the third person had been found, in Ironcrown City... It turns out he was telling the truth."

"That woman?" Moen keenly caught this information. "Who is she?"

Melina did not answer, but instead turned her gaze to the gray sky outside the shed.

"They said that once the three of us were all there, we would be burned on the altar."

This statement indirectly confirms Fils's speculation, suggesting that the ceremony indeed requires all three candidates to be present to take place.

He stood up and extended his hand to Melina.

"Let's go, let's get out of here first."

Melina hesitated. She had been deceived too many times. When the woman in the black robe first came to the shantytown to find her, she also had a kind smile on her face.

Moen neither withdrew his hand nor urged him; he simply stood there quietly.

He knew that Melina would think it through.