Steam Old Days: The Extraordinary Begins with a Corpse Collector

Lyndon held up three fingers and said slowly to Hughes:

"First, although I agree to cooperate, our relationship is limited to what you call research. Apart from normal and necessary research, I am still a free person."

"No problem, I agree."

Hughes agreed to Lyndon's first condition without hesitation. He didn't care about Lyndon and only wanted to complete his research.

"Secondly, I must be informed of all future research plans. You cannot conceal anything from me or deliberately go against my true wishes to achieve some purpose."

Hughes pondered this second condition for a moment, but in the end, he agreed to Lyndon's request.

Seeing that Hughes agreed with the first two answers, Lyndon couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

One must be careful around a madman like Hughes, or you might find yourself being tricked by him in the future.

"And what's your third condition?"

Hughes pressed on.

Lyndon withdrew his hand, placed his hands on his knees, and then solemnly stated his third condition.

"My last condition is..." Lyndon's eyes sharpened, "After I avenge my parents, you must cover for me and find a way out for me."

Upon hearing this, Hughes raised an eyebrow and said mockingly, "From what you're saying, you're going to kill people, and quite a few at that."

Lyndon did not hide his true thoughts, but told Hughes the truth.

"If what you say is true, then I swear here and now that anyone involved in the deaths of my parents, whether they are the mastermind or an accomplice, I will kill them all without exception!"

"Even someone as famous as Phoenix?" Hughes countered.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lyndon's voice was firm and resolute: "Revenge for wrongs, grievance for grievances, treat everyone equally."

After hearing Lyndon say those words, Hughes looked into his eyes.

There was no fear in those brown pupils, only endless depth, like the darkest ocean, sending chills down one's spine.

After some consideration, Hughes agreed to Lyndon's outrageous condition.

"Okay, if you're going to cause someone's death, I'll do my best to cover it up for you, but whether I can cover it up or not depends on how big a mess you make."

Hughes stood up from his chair and buttoned up his coat.

"So, are you going to go and cause trouble for Hornby next?"

Lyndon also stood up from his chair. He and Hughes walked side by side to the door, and then, looking at the not-so-bright sun overhead, he said, "No rush. I need to find out more. I can't just believe your side of the story. I don't want to get innocent blood on my hands."

"All right."

Hughes took a business card out of his pocket and handed it to Lyndon.

"This is my work address. You can come to me if you need anything. If I want to contact you, I'll have White notify you."

Lyndon took the business card, put it in his pocket without looking at it, and said "I know."

At this moment, Hughes said to Lyndon again:

"Have you ever thought about what you would do after killing Hornby if he really did kill your parents?"

Lyndon really couldn't answer that question right away.

He looked at the crowds coming and going outside the coffee shop, and gazed at the buildings standing tall in the gray fog, as if there was no place for him, Lyndon, to stand in this vast fog.

At this point, Hughes extended another olive branch to Lyndon.

"Why don't you go work for the police station? I have a friend there who can write you a letter of recommendation."

Lyndon, hands in his pockets, casually picked up a small pebble from beside his feet and said:

"The police department? What would I do there? There are so many rules. Or do you think I could go there to help the sheriffs investigate cases or catch fugitives?"

"Of course you can't do those."

Hughes spoke frankly and directly.

This directness left Lyndon speechless.

Lyndon could only kick the pebbles at his feet one by one into the distance.

As if realizing he had expressed himself inappropriately, Hughes coughed lightly and then added, "What I mean is, these jobs can't be done by non-professionals. I was thinking of recommending you to be a coroner."

"A coroner?"

This was the first time Lyndon had ever heard of this profession.

He couldn't help but feel a slight interest in this profession.

"Yes, coroner." Hughes paced back and forth. "The vast majority of cases handled by the Sheriff's Department are related to aliens. After each case is completed, the alien's body is first transported to the coroner for autopsy. In essence, it's not much different from your job as a body collector."

Is it okay to have frequent contact with alien corpses?

Hughes said a lot, but Lyndon only received this one sentence.

He couldn't help but think of his cheat code.

Previously, the income from the profession of corpse collector was not stable. Usually, I could only process some ordinary corpses, and the skill level gained each time was too low.

If things continue like this, who knows when I'll unlock my second profession.

If one could get into the police department through Hughes's introduction and become the so-called coroner, one would not only be able to come into constant contact with the aliens, but they would all be aliens that had already died.

While improving your proficiency, you can also ensure your safety.

In this way, the speed at which you level up will be incomparable!

"It's a sure thing, no risk at all!"

Lyndon thought to himself.

Suddenly, he noticed Hughes's gaze directed at him, so Lyndon composed himself and said to Hughes, "I'll think about it. I really won't continue doing this job as a corpse collector forever. People always want to move in a better direction. We'll talk about this later."

Hearing this, Hughes didn't press the matter further, since he had already achieved his goal.

Therefore, Hughes gave Lyndon a gentleman's bow.

"In that case, we shall part ways here. Until we meet again, Mr. Lyndon."

After saying that, Hughes turned around and strode away into the distance, disappearing like the wind, his destination unknown.

Lyndon stood there watching Hughes's back until the gray figure became a small dot in the distance and then completely disappeared from Lyndon's sight. He then turned and walked in the opposite direction from Hughes.

After leaving the coffee shop, Lyndon didn't go home, didn't go to the company, and didn't go to see Alastor.

He hailed a carriage and went straight to the largest library in the foggy city.

The Porte Library is located on the westernmost side of the central part of the new town.

It could be said that it was built right at the foot of the king.

It has the largest collection of books and documents in the United Kingdom.

Logically speaking, such a place should not allow people from the lower class like Lyndon to enter.

Indeed, the Porto Library was not open to the public; only clergy or those permitted by the church could enter.

But since the Purple Moon Reforms, the king has crippled the church, turning it into a loyal dog under the throne.

Augustus VIII then announced to the subjects of the United Kingdom of the Three Islands that from this day forward, anyone, whether poor or rich, may freely enter this sacred land filled with wisdom.

Lyndon alighted from the carriage and looked up at the library, which was five stories high, with its Gothic spires piercing the sky.

There is a tall statue on the side of the library.

The emperor sat high on his throne, wearing a crown symbolizing royal power, holding a scepter in one hand and stroking the eagle beside the throne with the other.

Originally, the statue there was built to commemorate the God of Light and Glory, one of the six great gods, who is also the principal deity of the Church of the Holy Oath.

After the Purple Moon Reformation, Augustus VIII ordered the sculpture to be removed and a new, larger sculpture to be built on the original site.

That is, a sculpture of himself, Augustus VIII.

Lyndon glanced briefly at the sculpture and then went into the library.

The library is very spacious and clean, with rows of tall bookshelves taking up most of the space.

Elegantly dressed gentlemen and ladies sat at the table, leisurely reading the books in their hands, while others climbed the suspended ladder to search for the books they wanted on the bookshelves.

"Welcome to the Porter Library. Do you have a library card?"

The moment the gatekeeper uttered his words, his expression froze.