The past was built upon collecting unique characteristics.

More money?

Charlotte was momentarily taken aback by the person's blunt request.

It's not because the request is too outrageous or excessive, but rather because it's too ordinary.

She had expected the other party to ask for a higher price, one that was harder to measure in monetary terms, such as a favor from the White family. But it turned out to be just an ordinary request.

In this extraordinary world, problems that can be solved with money are often not really "problems." The real troubles that money can't solve are the ones that are truly fatal.

"Of course, the compensation will definitely satisfy you, sir." Charlotte snapped out of her reverie and immediately made her promise, her tone returning to its previous composure.

After saying that, she took out a wallet with an inlaid badge from her purse, deftly counted out five hundred gold pounds from a thick stack of banknotes, and placed it on the table.

"This 500 gold pounds is just a deposit. After the matter is successfully completed, we will pay you another 500 gold pounds as the final payment."

Seeing several banknotes bearing the image of Baylor III being placed on the table, Morian's eyes lit up slightly.

That's a big investment.

It's important to know that the price for a regular commission is usually only around 1-2 pounds, and even for more challenging commissions, it will not exceed 10 gold pounds at a time. This deposit is almost equivalent to the firm's entire month's income.

Take Beth, where he lived, for example. The residents' monthly living expenses usually did not exceed thirty or forty gold pounds, even with the occasional improvement in their diet. A well-made suit usually cost around eight gold pounds, and daily bread purchases only cost a few shillings at most. It can be seen that five hundred gold pounds was a huge sum of money.

Morian did not agree immediately, lest he appear overly eager. Instead, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and used the time to weigh the pros and cons.

Speaking of which, it seems that this month's rent hasn't been paid yet. Mrs. Elena reminded me about it just a few days ago. Besides, if this key really works on the containment space, it's not like it's not worth the risk.

After pondering for a while, Morian finally smiled calmly and reached out to put away the key and the deposit together.

"It's a very interesting case, and they've assigned me to take it."

"But I have one condition." He changed the subject.

Charlotte visibly relaxed and quickly stood up, giving a noble bow: "Thank you very much. As for your conditions, please feel free to name them."

"Once it's done, you don't need to pay the remaining half. In exchange, I'll keep the key. What do you think?" Morian asked sincerely.

Although I made the request myself, I'm honestly not sure if the other party would readily agree.

Magical items are rare to begin with, and exchanging this key for only 500 pounds seems like a sure-fire way to make a profit, and the profit won't be small.

However, if it were simply a matter of monetary reward, Morian might not have dared to take on the commission even if the price were doubled. His final decision to accept the commission was mainly based on two considerations.

Firstly, he was attracted by the key's unique nature—a magical item that allowed him to "run away" at any time, which was perfect for him. Secondly, he wanted to use this opportunity to gain some favor with the White family.

In a place like Bet City, personal connections are often more valuable than money.

In addition to these, there is an ultimate goal: to "go home".

To his surprise, Charlotte seemed unconcerned about these gains and losses.

"I understand. Let's do as you say. This key is also a reflection of the family's expectations for you." Charlotte readily agreed, not forgetting to tease, "Or rather... how should I address you? Mr. Anthony, or Mr. Eagle?"

The girl smiled faintly, a sly glint in her emerald eyes, while Morian sighed helplessly.

Just call me Morian.

……

After briefly discussing some details about the case itself, the two officially ended their conversation.

Morian quickly stood up and saw his guest off with a smile.

As soon as the girl's car disappeared around the street corner, the "integration" of the characteristics was completed.

After hanging up the "Closed for Business" sign and closing the door, he finally felt at ease and checked the new ability he had just acquired.

[Feature integration complete]

[Gain new ability: Traverse (Beginner)]

[Allows short-distance instantaneous travel within visible space, during which obstacles can be traversed and terrain differences can be ignored; limited to three uses per day.]

"Hmm, I'm familiar with this. To put it simply, it's called Flash..." Morian muttered to himself.

The effect is simple, but its advantage lies in its practicality.

He rushed back to his study, first gripping the silver key tightly in his hand, then taking seven steady steps forward, listening to the unknown murmurs that echoed in his ears.

The voice seemed both near and far, its gender indistinguishable, and it didn't belong to any language; it was as indistinct as someone whispering in the background.

As the continuous murmurs began to echo in his mind, Morian joined in, silently repeating them as well, and took a step forward.

It was at this step that the surrounding scenery underwent a dramatic transformation.

What appeared before them was no longer the scholarly study of the firm, but instead boundless darkness and a dense, all-encompassing mist, as if they had stepped into a non-human place.

The seven large doors standing in front are all covered with strange dark patterns, and each door has a different symbol. Just one glance is enough to make one feel dizzy and mesmerized.

"Hopefully this key will actually work."

Morian shifted his gaze elsewhere and, with a nervous heart, tried to push open the first door. When his hand touched it, he actually felt the object move with a little force!

If things had gone according to plan, the door panel would have been incredibly heavy and difficult to move at this point.

After a brief hesitation, Morian stepped inside and warily scanned the changes around him.

The interior space was initially cramped, but it quickly opened up, with the dome so high that it was invisible.

At the central altar, a colossal figure was tightly bound by three gleaming chains, its claws embedded in darkness, and the chilling glint of its sharp fangs particularly menacing.

What kind of creature is this?! Morian's pupils suddenly contracted, and he subconsciously compared the figure in front of him with the creatures he had seen before.

He could only vaguely see a general outline and conspicuous features, and could not make out the specific appearance of the figure in front of him.

Is it because my current rank is not high enough?

[Choose whether to release Him from the bondage of "Radin"]

"I'm sure," Morian replied without hesitation.

[Containment Item Name: Fenrir, the World-Destroying Demon Wolf]

[Level: Incalculable]

……

The next moment, the entire space shook violently, and one of the three restraints, the golden chain binding the giant beast's waist, gradually dimmed and then broke off and fell to the ground with a piercing cracking sound.

The information in front of me changed again.

[Awakening progress: 33%]

[Acquired Ability: "Destroy the Root"]

[Limited to once every six months, this ability renders damage inflicted by the user ignoring all means of survival and penetrating all defensive actions.]

[Acquired Ability: "Wolf Soul"]

[A demonic wolf spirit resides within the body, allowing it to attach itself to weapons.]

It's impossible to tell what it is. Could it be that something incredible has been unsealed?

As he gazed at the lines of description, Morian could only manage a bitter smile, fearing that he might be executed as a heretic by the world in the future.

After freeing himself from one of the restraints, he looked up again at the figure that was tens of meters tall. The wolf's body hair, as thick as steel needles, and its exaggerated jaw were clearly visible.

The most eerie thing is the "shadow" attached to the body surface. That vast expanse of nothingness seems bottomless and exudes a chilling aura.

It seems that this guy will only wake up in his full form once the lockdown is completely lifted.

And that key, its subsequent "growth" is the most crucial aspect.

Morian withdrew his gaze, took seven steps backward, and silently followed the murmured words in his mind before exiting this eerie space.

The surrounding scenery faded as if flowing backward, the darkness and fog dissipated, and familiar things in the study reappeared.

Since he had arranged to conduct the formal investigation with Charlotte three days later, he had ample time in the meantime to undertake some preparatory work on his own.

If we do nothing and wait three days before going to the site with the other party to investigate, there is undoubtedly a risk of alerting them.

After all, obtaining a permit from the police to enter the site requires prior notification, and it's difficult to guarantee that the information won't be leaked, thus giving some people an opportunity to take advantage.

In comparison, it is safer and more discreet for someone to secretly scout the location beforehand.

Over the next two days, Morian first visited the detective in charge of the case, obtaining some information as an advisor to the White family. He then visited businesses near the crime scene in plain clothes, trying to gather details that the police might have overlooked.

The actual operation did not begin until the night before the agreed date.

Deep in the dark alley, a bloated figure was fast asleep, wrapped in a yellowed blanket.

After several days of observation, Morian discovered that Old Brown's life was unusually regular. As a homeless man, he would go to the street opposite the scene of the incident to beg every day at a set time, and it was very likely that he was wandering around the scene on the day of the incident.

Morian tiptoed, then knelt down and gently woke the drowsy old man, offering a polite greeting:

Good evening, Mr. Brown.

The blanket shifted, revealing a face that hadn't been groomed for days. Perhaps because his sleep had been disturbed, Old Brown's eyes held a hint of bewilderment before quickly showing impatience.

Morian didn't offer food directly. Judging from the empty bottles scattered around, the other person wasn't a starving person from the lowest rungs of society and might be averse to casual handouts. So he simply pulled out a shiny gold pound from his coat pocket.

Equivalent exchange applies in any scenario.

"Please give me some information." He put on a friendly smile and pushed a gold pound in front of old Brown.

"Not bad, you have some sense." The old man hummed twice, then contentedly put the gold pound into his pocket.

"Let me guess, you must be here because of that robbery and murder case not long ago, right?" Old Brown suddenly smiled mysteriously.

Seeing that Morian did not deny it, he continued, "I did see some unusual things, but I don't want to get myself into trouble."

"In other words, the information you want is very expensive."

"You'll have to pay more."

After saying that, he held up two fingers and gestured towards something.

"Bullshit!" Morian couldn't help but curse inwardly, thinking to himself, "Why does this scene seem so familiar?"

Just as he was impressed by old Brown's professionalism and was about to offer encouragement, the old man suddenly changed his mind.

"Haha, it was just a joke, don't take it to heart."

"You know, I'm different from most people who need to be busy with their own things." Old Brown glanced toward the alleyway.

"When I'm bored, I usually look around to see if any noble ladies have thrown away gifts or flowers given to them by suitors. These can often be sold for a lot of money, enough for me to drink several glasses of ale."

"That's why I'm better at noticing the little details that are often overlooked than others."

"So what exactly did you see?" Morian pressed on.

"A clown, no, to be precise, several clowns wearing masks, dressed like the costumes of a theater troupe in the market." Old Brown deliberately lowered his voice, "Despite their brightly colored clothes, when they approached the building, it was as if no one around them noticed them at all."

Some kind of invisibility ability? No, it's more like weakening one's own presence in the surrounding environment... Morian listened thoughtfully, his thoughts gradually drifting.

"Back when I was working on ships, I heard people mention this group," Old Brown recalled for a moment, then shrugged. "They called themselves the Elysium Society."

"A group of fanatics with bizarre behavior, no basis, and unclear motives; nobody knows what's going on in their heads."

Maurian stroked his chin, silently memorizing the organization's name, but then quickly found it suspicious:

"How do you, a homeless person, know about these kinds of rumors?"

Faced with the sudden questioning, old Brown did not offer an explanation, but simply reached into his pocket, pulled out an antique-looking dagger, and made as if to draw it.

"Kid, I was once known as 'Lightning'! I've encountered far more of the unknown than you can imagine."

The moment he drew the blade, the old man's cloudy eyes seemed to sharpen, as if it were indeed true.

However, when he looked up at the young man in front of him, he found that the other man was looking him up and down, and the doubt on his face was almost palpable.

Clearly, it is utterly unconvincing for an elderly homeless man whose weight far exceeds that of an average person to say such a thing.

"Alright, Mr. Lightning, is there any other information you'd like to share?" Morian stopped probing and reluctantly followed up on his question.

"An old wretch like me will just stay wherever it's warm and sheltered from the wind. What could I possibly have to reveal?" Old Brown didn't mind. Instead, he put away his dagger, packed his belongings for his wanderings into a bag, and prepared to find a new place to stay. "But since I've taken your money, I'll give you some advice."

"Stay away from those guys unless you want to turn into a pile of ashes."

Morian didn't answer, processing this information on his own.

"Thank you for your message, sir." He nodded, asked no further questions, and gently placed another gold pound on the ground in front of the old man before turning and disappearing into the shadows.