My bloodline yearns for progress.

Chapter 98 Gargoyle (First Update, Please Subscribe)

Otto wondered why Romeo hadn't taken these books with him, just like the coats.

Thinking of this, he immediately glanced through it briefly.

After confirming that there were no notes or letters hidden in the books, they were simply put back in their original places one by one.

Otto likes money and wants money.

For an adventurer, money means better equipment, better potions, and a higher chance of survival in dangerous missions and quests.

But Otto did not intend to accumulate resources for himself in this way.

There are things that should be done and things that shouldn't be done. In Otto's view, taking the victim's belongings to exchange for money was one of the things that shouldn't be done.

Of course, no one was watching Otto, and Otto knew that.

He was all alone here, along with a few animal friends that only he could perceive.

Even if he takes all these books, no one will know. He can even ask Micah to find a market for them and get the money quickly.

But Otto knew in his heart that if he continued to indulge his greed and let his appetite grow little by little, sooner or later, his greedy desires would devour his bottom line.

Otto didn't want to end up like the captain of the Bunnyfoot Boys.

That guy met his end because he was too greedy.

Moreover, if Otto takes these books away, he might lose the trust of the Soul-Crossing Black Cat.

Just as Otto was taking action, his actions drew the ire of the Magical Ape.

[The Magical Ape says, "You're such a hypocrite."]

The Demonic Ape's hint was tinged with disdain.

The Magical Ape thought, "These books are a waste to leave here. We might as well sell them for some money and buy some good materials. Anyway, Juliet is dead, so she won't need these books."

However, the mockery of the Magic Ape drew the ire of the Soul-Crossing Black Cat.

[The black cat that carries souls states that the belongings of the deceased should be respected.]

[The Soul-Crossing Black Cat declares that although it too is a fantasy species that has embarked on the path of chaos, it is ashamed to associate with the Magic-Pseudo-Ape!]

Despite the dissatisfaction of the Soul-Crossing Black Cat, the Magic-Imitation Demon Ape seemed unfazed.

The Magical Ape says, "Can respect put food on the table? Can respect buy strength? In this dog-eat-dog world, only power and wealth matter!"

The debate between the two fantasy creatures continued to unfold before Otto's eyes until the Moonlit Hound stepped forward.

[The Moonlit Hound declares that what's more important than power and wealth are bottom lines and principles. A human who loses their bottom line, no matter how powerful they are, is nothing more than a monster in human skin!]

The three fantasy creatures argued endlessly, but Otto ignored them and continued searching the living room.

He checked the gaps in the sofa, the drawers of the coffee table, and under the carpet, but found nothing useful.

Just as Otto was about to go to the bedroom to check, the black cat's message appeared again.

This time, her hint carried a clear hint of wariness.

[The Soul-Crossing Black Cat is hinting that the gargoyle ornament in the upper right corner of the bookshelf seems to conceal some kind of mechanism.]

Upon hearing this, Otto suddenly stood up and immediately looked up at the upper right corner of the bookshelf.

Sure enough, there was a gargoyle statue there.

The statue is small, only about the size of a palm, and is carved from gray stone.

The gargoyle has a ferocious appearance, with a humanoid body, scarlet eyes, sharp fangs, and a pair of large wings. Its claws are tightly gripping a stone, and its mouth is wide open, as if it is emitting a silent roar.

Gargoyles are a legendary, fantastical species, and Otto had often heard tales about them since childhood.

In legends, gargoyles are the guardians of their dwellings. They turn into statues during the day and come to life at night to protect the safety of their homes.

Their claws can tear apart all misfortune, and their shrieks can drive away all calamities; they are symbols of a kind of guardian totem.

In Otto's village, almost every household would buy baptized gargoyle statues from various temples and churches to display in their homes for blessings during the celebration of the Kingdom of Thorne's birth festival.

It's perfectly reasonable for such decorations to appear in shops.

But since the black cat that ferrys souls mentioned this ornament, it's probably not that simple.

The black cat's perception has never been wrong.

With that in mind, Otto moved a stool over, stepped on it, and carefully took the gargoyle statue off the bookshelf.

The statue was heavy, with a somewhat rough surface and the cool touch characteristic of stone.

He fiddled with it for a while, turning its head and prying at its wings, but there was no reaction.

The statue remained the same ordinary stone statue, without any abnormalities.

Just then, the Magical Ape seemed to have deciphered some clues.

The magic-simulating ape adjusted its monocle and carefully scanned the gargoyle statue.

The Magic-Pseudo-Ape detected strange magical fluctuations. It was certain that this was not an ordinary mechanism, but a complex alchemical linkage mechanism.

"Alchemy linkage mechanism?"

What does that mean?

Otto asked the magic-mimicking ape with some curiosity.

Fortunately, this time the Magic Ape didn't mock Otto; instead, it patiently gave him hints.

The Magical Ape stated that a single gargoyle statue would not exhibit any unusual changes, nor would it show any noticeable magical fluctuations.

The Magic-Phantom Ape explained the truth to you: unless a matching gargoyle statue is placed in front of it as an activator, allowing magic to flow between them and form a complete magic cycle, the mechanism can be triggered.

Clearly, the Magic Ape's analytical abilities were put to full use at this moment, finally providing Otto with some clues.

"Are they in pairs?"

Otto frowned.

"So, there's another gargoyle statue that's exactly the same?"

Just as Otto was wondering, the Moonlit Hound expressed its disappointment.

The Moonlit Hound couldn't sense the presence of the other gargoyle statue in the tailor shop. It sadly remarked, "It seems we'll have no chance to uncover the secrets behind this gargoyle mechanism."

Upon seeing this message, Otto felt a pang of regret.

He examined the gargoyle statue from all angles.

"Clearly, the other gargoyle statue must be in Romeo's hands."

He took the starter with him to prevent others from discovering the mechanism.

He shook his head helplessly, preparing to put the gargoyle statue back on the bookshelf.

But at that moment, the Magical Ape gave a new hint.

The Magic Ape's lips curled into a slight smile, as if to say, "Who says you can't open the mechanism without a starter?"