Mystery: The Undead Don't Die from Linking the Fire

Chapter 138 The enemy not only refused to surrender, but also dared to fight back!

Hillston District, Seventh Avenue, Island's home.

At this moment, although it was already dinner time, only a single ordinary candle was lit in the room. The candle sat in the center of the coffee table, its dim yellow flame flickering gently, dispelling the darkness in the living room.

Islant wasn't surprised; she knew this was one of the abilities of a psychiatrist, originally intended for Miss Audrey. But now, all of this preparation had lost its meaning—at least in her view.

"She refused?"

Sitting on the sofa next to the coffee table, Hilbert, with his brownish complexion and some southern continental ancestry, frowned and asked.

"Yes."

Island nodded and described the situation, saying with a hint of helplessness, "I could sense that Miss Audrey was very eager to join this 'Psychological Seminar.' But due to pressure from Viscount Black and her brother, Lord Hilbert, she was forced to give it up."

Hilbert rubbed his temples and sighed:

"These aristocratic young ladies are like that; they're easily influenced by the outside world and find it hard to stick to their own judgment. But that's alright, we're not in a hurry. At least Miss Audrey still insists that you be her psychology tutor, so you should continue to teach her as usual. Hmm, you can try to subtly change her views."

"Our lovely Miss Audrey is almost an adult, isn't she? Girls of this age often have a rebellious streak; the more you forbid them from doing something, the more they want to do it. The more Viscount Black and Lord Hilbert try to stop her, the more it fuels her interest in the seminar."

"no problem."

The petite Miss Islant, with her adorable baby face, smiled slightly and said, "I will help Miss Audrey 'break through' these worldly constraints. Shouldn't a count's daughter have enough personality?"

No matter what, at least Miss Audrey must break up with that vulgar Viscount Black! Islant thought to herself.

"Oh, right."

Islant looked at Hilbert with a hint of pride, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said, "I feel that I have completely digested my potion, and I would like to apply for promotion to Sequence 7 psychiatrist."

Island's expression was one of immense pride, with a hint of smugness. However, contrary to her expectations, Hilbert did not seem pleased by her promotion; instead, he appeared surprised and astonished.

"So fast?"

Islant paused for a moment, seemingly unaware that something was amiss:

"What? So fast?"

"Feel sorry."

Hilbert sighed softly, adjusted the candle wick, and made the light a little brighter.

Just as Islant was about to ask what was going on, she suddenly felt a wave of confusion. She had been hypnotized, once again.

Wearing a grey tailcoat, Mr. Stephen Hampston, who looked to be in his thirties, walked up behind Hilbert, gently wrapped his arms around his neck, and breathed into Hilbert's ear:

"This woman's talent is truly remarkable. She's already mastered it again in just a few months. How about we promote her?"

"Dear Stephen."

Hilbert gave a wry smile and sighed, "You know I can't. Once she becomes a psychologist, she might break free from the shackles of suggestion, which would be devastating for her!"

"Just her?"

Stephen leaned close to Hilbert's ear and chuckled, "The same goes for us, right? If she regains her memories, do you think she'll go on a rampage and take revenge on us? What a pitiful woman. Once she gets those unbearable memories back, she'll probably go completely insane, won't she?"

Hilbert's expression darkened, and he calmly said:

"This is a necessary sacrifice."

……

Hugh changed into the Twilight Suit, which was said to have anti-divination abilities, and came into the living room. He touched the three rings on his right hand and solemnly said:

"Ember, I'm ready!"

"it is good."

Ember nodded slightly, reached out and firmly grasped Hugh's arm, simultaneously raising his right hand. On his right index finger was a ring, inlaid with a crystal so transparent it was almost ethereal. Ember gazed at the ring and whispered in ancient Hermes:

"Door."

The ring instantly emitted a faint, ethereal blue light, blurring their figures to the point of near-invisibility. At the same time, they entered a mysterious spirit realm. In that strange world beyond reality, they saw indescribable forms, some so transparent they seemed nonexistent, and beams of clear light of different colors, brimming with boundless knowledge, as if inviting them to immerse themselves in it.

The embers did not linger on the light that seemed to contain endless knowledge, but instead took a step in a certain direction. In just a few breaths, they had left their transparent and illusory state and returned to reality, back to Backlund.

However, they were not in Hillston at the moment, but rather on the side of the perimeter wall of a luxury villa in Queens. It was already evening, and the gas streetlights were beginning to turn on, casting a hazy glow in the light snowflakes falling from the sky.

Sensing their arrival, a pale white jellyfish drifted down from the sky and landed beside them. Because it had been there for so long, its umbrella hat was covered in a thick layer of snow.

Hugh gently hugged the little jellyfish, brushed the snow off her umbrella hat, and whispered:

"Thank you for your hard work, Curaris."

"Splash splash~"

Kuraris swayed her body gently, her tentacles dancing in the air, seemingly very happy.

Ember shook his head and used his "Open Door" ability to pass through the wall first. Hugh didn't waste any time either, turning to the page in Lymanor's travel journal that recorded the "Open Door" ability, transforming into a phantom, and passing through the wall.

As they passed through the wall, they were met with a carriage parked in the courtyard. On the carriage was a prominent coat of arms, featuring a flower and two rings—truly the noble coat of arms of the Viscount Stratford!

"This is it! Now we just need to find out which room he's in!"

Xiu stared intently at the villa gate with lights emanating from it in the distance, her heart pounding with uncontrollable excitement. The mystery that had plagued her and her family for years, the one that had caused their destruction, might finally be solved today!

The only thing holding them back now was the sheer size of Viscount Stratford's villa. It looked to have at least dozens of rooms, meaning finding their target would be troublesome, but thankfully they didn't need to search every single room.

"Kuralis".

Yu Jin thought for a moment and asked, "Which room is the target in?"

"Splash splash~"

Kuraris, who had flown over the wall, extended a tentacle and pointed to a room on the third floor near a window. Without waiting for Ember's instructions, she floated over and landed at the glowing window to show Ember and Kuraris the way.

With a light leap, Ember reached the height of the third-floor wall and used his ability to open doors to pass through it. Hugh was slightly slower, but he also reached the third floor with a few kicks against the wall and, with the help of Lemanor's Travel Notes, entered the house as well.

The frigid air was kept out by the windows and walls; outside, it was freezing cold, and light snow was falling. Inside, however, it was warm and cozy, with charcoal burning in the elegant fireplace, its warmth spreading throughout the room via the main road.

Meanwhile, a middle-aged gentleman sat comfortably at his desk. By the warm fireplace, he held a dark, round-bellied fountain pen and unfolded a sheet of paper, seemingly writing something.

He wasn't wearing his usual white wig, revealing a high hairline and rather messy black hair. But Hugh could still recognize him at a glance—it was Viscount Stratford!

However, thanks to the effects of the Sleeping Dragon Emblem Ring and the Phantom Limb Ring, he was completely unaware that someone had infiltrated his study. But this was only temporary—the study, though large, wasn't large enough for him, sitting at his desk, to be five meters away from Ember.

Although Viscount Stratford failed to detect Ember's intrusion, the intermingling light from the two gas lamps on the wall created a daytime-like atmosphere. However, within this bright light, two shadows suddenly appeared, partially blocking the light, causing Viscount Stratford, who was leisurely writing a letter, to his pupils to shrink sharply!

But he did not act rashly or react excessively. Instead, he calmly muttered to himself:

"Ah, how nostalgic, this is something she gave me..."

As Viscount Stratford spoke, he pulled open a drawer, reached inside, and retrieved an item. Hugh, with his vision enhanced by the "Interrogator" potion, clearly saw the item's appearance:

This is a cross ornament covered in verdigris, with several sharp spikes protruding from it, as if it had once pierced someone. Its style and characteristics are unique to the countries of the Northern Continent in the Fifth Era, presenting an ancient charm.

As Viscount Strford spoke of his remembrance, he grasped one of the fingers of the verdigris cross and pressed it against one of the spikes.

His bright red blood immediately flowed out, instantly absorbed by the spikes and seeping into the object. The mottled verdigris on the surface of the cross began to crumble and peel away rapidly, revealing the solidified light beneath. In just a second or two, the object held by Viscount Stratford had transformed into a radiant cross!

It emitted a pure, flawless light, making the already bright study even brighter! The shadows cast by the presence of Yu Jin and Hugh quickly receded, and the light even penetrated the windows, illuminating the surrounding area for dozens of meters as if it were daytime. The dark spots in the corners and under the trees in the garden evaporated as quickly as water!

And all of this happened in the blink of an eye, in no more than two seconds!

"not good!"

Xiu's expression changed slightly as she immediately realized that she and her companion had been exposed, and that this 'light' would inevitably alert the surrounding officials who were extraordinary! Two dazzling 'lightnings' immediately flashed in her eyes—the ability she gained after advancing to Sequence 7 Interrogator.

"Mental piercing!"

Unfortunately, it was too late.

At the very moment he realized he was being attacked, Viscount Stratford had already covered his body with a layer of holy armor formed from pure light! Yet Hugh's attack, at Sequence 7, couldn't even leave a trace on the surface of this holy armor!

"The interrogator?"

Viscount Stratford immediately recognized the source of this ability. Looking at the petite girl, a cruel smile crept across his lips. "You dare to assassinate me, a mere Sequence 7?"

He had originally intended to swiftly and decisively kill her, a power he was fully capable of possessing a level 1 sealed artifact. But now he had changed his mind! He wanted to capture her alive, torture her thoroughly, and force her to reveal who was behind it all!

The thought had barely formed in his mind when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a mocking smile on the petite girl's face. Viscount Stratford's pupils constricted, as if he had finally remembered something. But the next second, a sharp pain shot through his chest.

He instinctively looked down, and a chilling, icy blue longsword pierced his chest, piercing through the sacred armor he wore, forged from radiance. He finally remembered what he'd forgotten: there were two people who had come to assassinate him!

"How is that possible..."

Viscount Stratford was filled with astonishment and disbelief. This was a level 1 sealed artifact, and the divine armor it formed was powerful enough to withstand the attack of a demigod! Yet now, it was as fragile as a piece of paper, easily pierced through.

However, this thought was fleeting, for he hadn't even had time to process it further. A tremendous force came from behind, as if someone had kicked him hard in the back, thereby pulling the sword out.

But correspondingly, Viscount Stefford's body was also sent flying instantly.

boom!

Severely injured and unable to recover, Viscount Stratford crashed to the ground like a helpless leaf blown away by the wind. He could no longer hold onto the 'Radiant Cross' and could only let it fly out of his palm, falling with a thud a meter away.

The spike, stained with blood, detached from its corresponding finger, and the mottled verdigris once again covered the surface of the cross, its flawless luster vanishing. But he was, after all, a Sequence 5 Extraordinary, and even severely wounded, he still endured the excruciating pain as he crawled toward the cross.

Because he knew that only by obtaining that cross could he have a chance to live!

Seeing this, Hugh immediately followed up with a "Mental Pierce" on Viscount Stratford, causing a sudden sharp pain in the Stratford's head, as if a sharp dagger had been plunged into it and stirred around.

She dared not let Viscount Stratford regain control of the cross, and while casting 'Mental Pierce,' she quickly reached for the verdigris-covered cross. But the moment her fingers touched the object, it was like touching fire, hot and scorching, burning her soul.

Hugh gritted his teeth, enduring the searing pain in his soul, and with a forceful push of his small hand, he moved the cross further away.

"No!"

Viscount Stratford, his vision blurred by excruciating pain, witnessed this scene and cried out in anguish. But the next second, out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to catch a glimpse of that icy blue longsword, which sliced ​​straight across his shoulders.

Intense pain surged through his nerves once more, but this time Viscount Stratford didn't even know where the pain was coming from, or rather, he was in pain all over, because his limbs were all separating from his body at the same time!

"Aaaaaahh ...

Viscount Stratford's chilling screams of agony filled the room, sending shivers down one's spine.

Even Lianxiu was taken aback by this scene and whispered:

Is it necessary?

"No?"

Ember asked a question that left Hugh speechless, then asked again, "What happened just now?"

"I have no idea."

Hugh looked at the cross on the ground, frowned, and said, "It burns me like fire; it refuses my touch."

Ember raised an eyebrow slightly, stepped forward, and grabbed the cross, but unlike what Hugh had said, he felt nothing. Ember didn't bother to think about it further, so he simply grasped the cross and sent it into his soul space with a flick of his wrist.

Just as Hugh was about to speak, hurried footsteps suddenly came from the corridor, clearly indicating that the battle had alerted the servants of the mansion.

Hugh's expression changed slightly, and he quickly flipped the notebook in his hand to the page that recorded astrology—this ability had the power to interfere with divination, and it was now perfect for finishing things off.

After doing all this, Hugh subconsciously turned his gaze to Ember, who understood immediately, having already considered this before they acted. Ember grabbed Viscount Stratford, who had been reduced to a human stump, with one hand and Hugh's arm with the other.

At the same time, a ring on his hand emitted a pale blue, ethereal light. In an instant, their figures became transparent and vanished from the spot.

At the same time, knocking and anxious shouts came from outside the door, but there was no response from inside the study for a long time. Finally, a young man who was clearly not dressed as a servant and had a cold face burst open the door. He saw the study in chaos because of the fight just now, and limbs with obvious characteristics of Viscount Stratford's clothing lying in a pool of blood.

As for Viscount Stratford's body and head, they had vanished without a trace.

"Call the police! Call the police now!"

A servant screamed in panic.

"Don't call the police!"

The stern-faced young man rebuked, "Viscount Stratford is the head of the royal guard. The royal family will be responsible for investigating this matter. No one is allowed to leave this house without my permission!"

……

Meanwhile, in just two or three breaths, Ember and his team appeared in an abandoned warehouse in the dock area. This was a location that Hugh had personally inspected in the afternoon—the entire process had been meticulously rehearsed.

"Let's begin."

Yu Jin nodded slightly to Xiu, who, without hesitation, quickly lit a prepared candle and turned to the "Mind Reading" page in his travel journal. Meanwhile, Viscount Stratford, now reduced to a human stump, was still struggling and wriggling away in agony.

When Hugh came to his side with the candle, Viscount Stratford's eyes suddenly became glazed, and only the candlelight remained in his gaze.

Hugh asked quickly:

Do you know Masendill?

"know."

"who is he?"

"He was the former head of the palace guard."

Hugh took a deep breath and began to work on the more critical and potentially resistant areas:

What caused Masendill's death?

Viscount Strfford did not answer Hugh's question immediately, and seemed to struggle for a moment before saying:

"He discovered His Majesty the King's secret and attempted to inform the three major churches, but failed and was executed on the spot."

Xiu's expression shifted slightly, and he instinctively pressed for an answer:

What is the king's secret?

"Yes……"

Suddenly, Viscount Stratford's body trembled violently, and his dazed eyes regained their light. Then, he disintegrated from the smallest detail, instantly collapsing into a "firework." The blood-red "firework" shot high into the sky, exploded with a deafening roar, and illuminated the night.

Hugh's expression changed slightly; he immediately realized something was wrong and flipped his notebook to another page that recorded "astrology" to perform a reverse divination.

A moment later, Ember grabbed her shoulder, and the two figures quickly disappeared from the spot.

Not long after they disappeared, a figure dressed in a formal suit, draped in a cloak, with extremely long toes, and dressed out of touch with the times, appeared on the scene with an extremely gloomy expression.

And this person was none other than Prince Grove Augustus of Sonia, one of the few remaining demigods in the royal family!

Before long, the figure of a woman in a black evening gown swiftly appeared, her face obscured by a golden mask. Grove clearly recognized her; she was one of the few demigods in the royal family.

The female saint seemed unaware of the situation and inquired:

"What's going on?"

"It is Viscount Steward."

Grove Augustus said in a deep voice, "He's dead! All traces have been erased, both at the crime scene and here. The other party has performed anti-divination, and all spirits at the scene have been eliminated beforehand. Just like the previous times, I can't find any clues."

The female saint remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Return to the palace first; His Majesty wishes to see you."

"it is good."

Grove Augustus's face was ashen, just like before; he was still to take full responsibility for this incident.

(End of this chapter)