I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

The system's cold, indifferent text appeared, and Lu Ban clicked "Yes" without hesitation.

In an instant, countless sparks ignited from Lu Ban's fingertips, and suddenly, he was enveloped in a dazzling flash.

Click—

The clock moved a notch, and Lu Ban saw the surrounding scenery distorted, as if being sucked into the clock face and converging towards a point. He felt time slow down, and everything flashed by as if in slow motion.

The time flow in this alternate world is different from that in the main world.

[Time ratio: 2:1]

[Heading to the ruined capital]

The world was shrouded in shadow, and all Lu Ban could see were hazy shadows. These shadows took on different shapes: some looked like struggling people, some like ferocious monsters, and some were just like clouds and mist, their forms indistinct.

All the shadows wanted to break through the barriers and rush towards Lu Ban; they were in pain, twisted, struggled, and disregarded everything.

However, the next moment, accompanied by a heavy, grand, indifferent bell toll, all these shadows were imprisoned back inside.

Lu Ban saw a huge, rust-red planet suspended high in the sky, but he couldn't make out its shape before he plummeted downwards.

bang——

With a crisp thud, Lu Ban sat down in a chair.

As his vision gradually cleared, he found himself in a hall.

The hall looked quite old; there were thick cobwebs in the corners, and the wood had become loose and fragile after being damp, moldy, and scorched by the sun. Even the chair Lu Ban was sitting on had an old, greasy feel to it. He remembered that when he went back to his hometown, the handle of the hoe he found in that dilapidated house had the same feel.

The tabletop felt a little soft, as if it had just been soaked in water for a long time and then pulled out, dried by the wind, and had not yet seen the sun.

Even though it's daytime, it still feels gloomy and cold.

"You've arrived."

A familiar voice rang out beside me.

Chapter 611 Inheritance

Following the sound, Lu Ban saw Xi Ya.

She looked somewhat haggard, her face pale, as if she hadn't eaten for several days. She was still wearing that heavy armor, but now it was covered in shocking scars. It was hard to imagine what kind of battle could have left those scars, even with magical protection.

Fortunately, after seeing Lu Ban, Xi Ya's eyes brightened up a bit.

"I was attacked while investigating a case involving cultists who summoned a certain type of evil god's familiar, which took a while."

Xia noticed Lu Ban's gaze and explained.

"Where is this place?"

Lu Ban didn't know if Xi Ya had arrived earlier than him, so he asked.

The hall appeared to be used for receiving guests. On the opposite wall hung an oil painting; the scene in it was familiar to Lu Ban—it was a scene from the ancient capital's "Shadow of Terror," a terrifying shadow spreading through people's bodies, horrifying and eerie.

If the seal held by the ancient capital weakens, then this painting alone would be enough to attract some dangerous monsters.

Now that it can be hung here so openly, it at least means that there are no problems in the ancient capital for the time being.

However, placing such a thing in the area for welcoming guests shows that the homeowner has a rather eccentric personality.

"This should be the mansion."

Sia looked around, stood up, and casually cast a detection spell.

A moment later, she looked toward the closed door.

"Someone's coming."

The next moment, there was a knock on the door.

A person pushed open the door and entered. Lu Ban saw that it was an old butler, dressed in a respectable suit, wearing a monocle, and with his hair slicked back. He looked like a very skilled butler.

"Guests, my master invites you to come over."

The old butler bowed to the two of them and then said.

"Row."

Lu Ban and Xi Ya exchanged a glance, then got up and followed the old butler forward.

The mansion was indeed very old; the walls and pillars smelled of decay and seemed to have been soaked in water for a long time. They were soft to the touch and had a musty, rancid odor.

The corridor was simply and unpretentiously furnished, not as eerie as the reception room, but every now and then, you could still see an oil painting depicting the gloomy and creepy scenes in works about the ancient capital.

"Does your owner really like ancient capitals?"

Lu Ban suddenly spoke up and asked.

"The master was fond of collecting rare items during his lifetime, and Mr. Gudu's works are naturally precious."

The old butler did not turn around, but answered in a polite and elegant tone.

Is it valuable?

Lu Ban wasn't quite sure. He only knew that the works in the ancient capital were very popular, but he didn't know who painted them or what their origins were.

"Mr. Gudu has been silent for many years, and there are not many of his original works left in the world. These paintings were created for Mr. Gudu by well-known painters at the time, and they are very valuable."

The old butler explained.

"for many years?"

Xia looked slightly confused; she seemed to have thought of something, but she held back from speaking. Gu Jiao

After walking for a short while, the two arrived at a building that resembled a restaurant.

This room was larger than the previous one, with a long table around which some people were seated. A huge crystal chandelier hung from the high dome of the dining room, its gleaming light making the gloomy old house much brighter.

However, the restaurant still exuded a damp smell, as if it had just been salvaged from the seabed, which added a touch of gloom and desolation to the seemingly magnificent hall.

The restaurant had windows, and Lu Ban glanced casually out the window. It was a lush forest, and despite the intense sunlight, the dense woods still gave off a depressing feeling, making it hard to breathe.

If it weren't for this view, Lu Ban might have thought that this mansion was located at the bottom of the sea, a place where some dragon king was serving his meals.

He turned his gaze back into the house.

There are four people in the room.

One of the middle-aged men stood by the window, dressed in a respectable suit with a gold chain extending from his pocket to his vest. He cautiously observed the people in the room and occasionally took out his pocket watch, which was attached to the gold chain, to check the time—despite the impressive wall clock in the dining room.

A young woman sat in a chair near the head of the table. She was young and beautiful, with light makeup and a plain-colored cheongsam that fit her figure well. When she saw the old butler bring Lu Ban and Xi Ya in, she subconsciously bit her lower lip and looked at them with the eyes of a wounded little animal.

A man in his fifties leaned against a sofa, his suit jacket hanging loosely, giving him a carefree and unruly air. His hair was messy like seaweed, but he was very strong, like a bull. When he saw Lu Ban and Xi Ya come in, he narrowed his eyes slightly and looked them over as if he were being appraised.

The last person was a noblewoman, dressed in a flamboyant manner, trying to use makeup to cover up the signs of aging. She was wearing a fur coat, holding a fan, and sitting directly opposite the main seat. When she noticed Lu Ban, her eyes lit up, but she quickly covered her expression with her fan.

The butler quickly introduced these people to Lu Ban and Xi Ya.

The man holding the pocket watch was named Rum, the eldest son of the deceased. He ran a tobacco business in the ruined city and was quite wealthy.

The young woman was Lily, the deceased's lover. She was originally just a maid who took care of the deceased, but later became the mistress for various reasons. At this moment, she was the one most feared by the deceased's children.

The fifty-year-old man was Gao De, the deceased's business partner and friend. He ostensibly came to mourn the deceased, but his true purpose remained unknown.

The last noblewoman was Emma, ​​the deceased's eldest daughter, who only knew how to indulge in debauchery and fool around with young and handsome men. This time, she had obviously returned for the inheritance.

"We'll be complete with just two more people."

The old steward glanced at the group and said.

Who's missing?

Lu Ban asked.

"Hmm, we're still missing Master Byron, who will be in charge of the ceremony, and detectives from the Drizzt Detective Agency."

The old butler answered.

Upon hearing this reply, Lu Ban nodded slightly.

Leaving aside Drizzt for now, Master Byron, who was in charge of the ritual, was probably a successor of the Crane Cry School. This mission did not require any investigation; all that was needed was to survive until the end of the Night of the Summoning. The difficulty of the Ascension meant that there was a high possibility of encountering things related to the Great Old Ones. Therefore, Lu Ban guessed that Master Byron should be the most crucial figure in this mission.

After waiting a moment, the old butler seemed to sense something and left the restaurant with steady steps. Then, he led someone in.

"Let me introduce you all. This is the great detective from the Trist Detective Agency."

The old butler explained.

The other four people gave the newcomer a deep look, all revealing expressions of vigilance or awe.

Only Lu Ban and Xi Ya's expressions turned serious upon seeing the great detective.

Because that person was not Drizzt.

Chapter 612 Stormy Mountain Villa

The man wore a deerstalker hat, a double-breasted coat, a long cloak, and shiny leather shoes. He carried a briar pipe and was dressed like Drizzt.

But this is not Drizzt.

Lu Ban recognized him at first glance; this was Stone, the young man who once stirred up a bloody storm in the gangsters of the ruined capital.

However, he is now close to Twisted Fate in age and looks more mature and capable, just like Twisted Fate back then.

Stone's gaze swept across the room, and he quickly noticed Lu Ban and Xia. His expression did not change. He simply walked into the room, lit the tobacco in his pipe, took a deep breath, and then spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have been commissioned by Mr. Browning to conduct an investigation after his death."

Upon hearing Stone's words, the flamboyant lady was the first to speak.

"Investigate? Investigate what? My father died of a heart attack, a fact that his attending physician, Roger, also emphasized. I don't think there's any need to invite a detective to investigate."

She didn't seem happy about the appearance of the detective Stone.

“I haven’t even said what I’m investigating yet, Ms. Emma.”

Stone chuckled, causing the noblewoman's expression to stiffen and her eyes to become uneasy.

"Don't worry, I'm investigating the legacy Mr. Browning left in this house."

"heritage?"

Upon hearing this word, Rum, the eldest son who was holding a pocket watch, had a bright look in his eyes.