347 Strange Theft
Looking at the open iron cabinet, Lumian found it absurd and surreal.
The thief had entered the house without taking the most valuable Flog boxing glove, nor did they flip through Auroreâs grimoires to see if there were any banknotes inside. They had only taken a mineral specimen that didnât look like a gem at all.
Disregarding the traps, if the thief were truly a Marauder with Beyonder powers, he wouldnât have given up on the boxing gloves made of unique materials and capable of powerful abilities. If he were just an ordinary thief, he wouldnât have just taken the Earth Blood ore. He might have even casually thrown the seemingly worthless item to the ground.
All of this led Lumian to suspect that the thieving intruder had only one motive: take away the Earth Blood ore!
The other party clearly knew what was special about the mineral specimen and was attempting to exploit it!
âTermiboros, who stole the Earth Blood ore?â Lumian couldnât identify any suspect no matter how hard he thought.
Apart from dealing with Guillaume BĂ©net a few days ago when he retrieved the Earth Blood ore and handed it to Franca, he kept the mineral specimen in the safe house. He never carried it with him to avoid being targeted.
Of course, the thief might have divined or prophesied to narrow down the area. He searched every room and finally found the target item.
Termiborosâs magnificent voice suddenly resounded.
âI donât know.â
Donât know⊠Lumian was alarmed.
This answer was meaningless, but coming from Termiboros meant many things.
While Termiboros, sealed within Lumianâs body, couldnât exert any direct power, his angelic nature granted Him unique insights. As an angel of the Inevitability domain, He possessed an uncanny ability to detect problems and traces that eluded many Low-Sequence Beyonders through Low-Sequence Beyondersâs eyes and fate.
But now, He claimed ignorance!
This revelation carried significant weight, suggesting that whoever had stolen the Earth Blood ore was no ordinary individual. It hinted at the involvement of a high-level power, possibly tied to a secret organization or cult.
Hiss, I have to write a letter and inform Madam Magician about this. After all, she once predicted that the Earth Blood ore would bring me some misfortune. However, the item is lost before the misfortune arrived⊠Lumian had initially hesitated to burden his Major Arcana card holder with this matter, as he didnât attach much value to the mineral specimen. Its applications were limited, and its loss seemed inconsequential. However, with the situation taking a bizarre turn, he couldnât simply dismiss it.
In the world of mysticism, negligence often led to painful lessons.
Truth be told, Lumian didnât harbor anger over the loss of his possession, nor did he feel compelled to retrieve it. Though the Earth Blood ore might lead to fortuitous encounters, it remained an abstract concept, difficult to quantify or cherish.
Moreover, Madam Magicianâs warning of potential misfortune made him view its loss as a means to mitigate risk.
Lumian meticulously inspected the safe house once more, confirming that none of the traps had been triggered. Only the Earth Blood ore had vanished. He settled down to compose a letter.
This time, the summoned puppet messenger displayed a less frigid demeanor, no longer suppressing intense emotions.
In mere minutes, Madam Magicianâs response arrived, concise and to the point: âThereâs indeed something amiss in this matter. I canât identify the thief of the Earth Blood ore either. If youâre not fearful, you can venture to the entrance of Salle de Bal Unique and seek anyone with a monocle in their right eye. Even if they arenât the culprits, they should possess knowledge of the suspect. If you find it too risky, exercise patience. Someone will inquire on your behalf.â
Salle de Bal Unique⊠That makes sense. The Sequence preceding a swindler is Marauder. Could those monocle-wearing individuals hold sway over all the thieves wielding Beyonder powers in Trier? Lumian pondered this in silence.
Auroreâs grimoires had mentioned that Marauder occupied Sequence 9 on one of the paths of the divine. Above Marauder was Swindler, and further up was Cryptologist.
After careful consideration, Lumian opted to wait for someone to inquire on his behalf. He had no immediate need for the Earth Blood ore.
The thought of Salle de Bal Unique, Monette, the monocle-wearing Islander swindler, and the swindlers who emulated his style sent shivers down his spine. He preferred to avoid any unnecessary contact for the time being.
After burning the letter, Lumian shifted his attention to the iron cabinet, the repository of Auroreâs grimoires, Flog boxing gloves, and various other items.
The once-secure safe house had become compromised, and he needed to find a new location for these possessions.
Iâll take Flog with me. Iâll carry the rest if I can, and sell whatâs sellable. If not, Iâll secure another safe house⊠For Auroreâs grimoires and the gold, Iâll rent an anonymous safe deposit box at a large bank for their safekeeping⊠When this propertyâs current lease expires, I wouldnât renew it⊠Lumian had a clear strategy in mind.
His plan encompassed the items he couldnât easily transport or wished to part with, which primarily included the five ritualistic hides, in addition to Auroreâs grimoires and his accumulated gold. Finding a new home for these items was a priority, along with securing another safe house for himself.
With these considerations in mind, Lumian began drafting a letter addressed to Hela.
In the letter, he revealed that he had acquired information about the approximate location of the Samaritan Womenâs Spring through a secretive channel. The information source had tasked him with venturing underground to retrieve a genuine bottle of water from the spring.
However, as Lumian was writing, he felt a sense of puzzlement.
It seemed unnecessary for him to be directly involved when he could have entrusted Hela with the task of obtaining the spring water on his behalf.
Madam Justice should have considered this. Why am I required to descend into the fourth level of the catacombs personally? Is it because of the perceived difficulty Hela might encounter in procuring the water by herself? She needs my assistance?
Whatâs so special about me? Apart from the angel sealed within me, my Sequence isnât highâŠ
Madame Helaâs Sequence is relatively high. Itâs relatively dangerous for her to approach the Samaritan Womenâs Spring and she will be prone to madness. Am I responsible for monitoring her condition and awaken her if needed?
I previously believed that Madame Hela was at least a Sequence 4. She claimed she could resolve the Cordu problem before the descent ritual, but now it appears she hasnât ascended to a demigod. Otherwise, she wouldnât be able to enter the fourth level of the catacombs, let alone approach the Samaritan Womenâs Spring⊠Does she possess a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact or a mystical item equivalent to a saint? Lumian combed through the entire situation and made some guesses and judgments.
Continuing to write, Lumian used the information providerâs request as a pretext to express his personal desire to enter the ancient tomb.
After the summoning ritual, the skull, crafted from pure silver and radiating a gentle glow, retrieved the letter and departed.
Before long, a messenger returned with Helaâs response: âNo problem. Iâll meet you at the gates of the Death Empire at 4 p.m. tomorrow.â
Phew⊠Lumian exhaled a sigh of relief, his body trembling with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
His adventurous spirit and penchant for experimentation had always defined him. The bizarre vanishing of the couple in the catacombs had etched a profound mark on his psyche.
âŠ
The next morning, at 11 Rue des Fontaines.
Lumian dutifully arrived at Gardner Martinâs villa and reported the details of his meeting with Count Poufer and the other Black Cat members.
Inside, Gardner Martin, unusually excited, sat behind his desk and spoke with a hint of joy,
âDespite your claim of lacking artistic inclination, your background allows you to converse with them effectively. Thatâs precisely why I chose you instead of Albus.
âI was concerned you might not exhibit enough generosity, but you handled it admirably. You even sponsored them with 4,000 verl dâor on your first visit.â
Gardner Martin, the Commanding Officer of the Iron and Blood Cross Order, implied that Lumianâs status as the younger brother of best-selling author Aurore Lee, even without artistic inclination, provided him with a wealth of insider knowledge about the scandals, grudges, and grievances within the literary and artistic circles.
Lumian, however, didnât waste any time and cut straight to the point. âWhat I donât understand is why the Kingâs Pie game gave me a sense of danger. I even had a few nightmares last night.â
Gardner Martin nodded thoughtfully.
âThatâs because Poufer is quite unique. He bears a striking resemblance to his ancestor, Vermonda. They share a strong blood connection, which allows them to bypass many crucial steps during a ritual.â
âHas his ancestor turned into an evil spirit? How can he still accept sacrifices after centuries?â Lumian asked, basing his question on logical reasoning, without mentioning Mr. Kâs account.
Gardner Martin responded with solemnity, âThatâs something you should investigate when you approach Poufer. Donât worry; as long as you donât participate in the Kingâs Pie game every two or three days, the only aftereffect youâll experience is those nightmares. Keep that sense of danger intact and resist becoming a king. Itâs easier for you to become a king than anyone else, except for Poufer himself. If youâre uncertain about making the right choice, let Poufer choose first.â
The Iron and Blood Cross Order wants to uncover the whereabouts of the mysterious Vermonda Sauron, who has been missing for centuries? Heh heh, why didnât they warn me about the dangers of the Kingâs Pie game beforehand and advise me to be the last to make a choice? Lumian suspected that Gardner Martin hadnât mentioned it to confirm a crucial matter.
âŠ
In the afternoon, near the Trier Opera House, within a concealed quarry cave, Franca and Jenna, wearing half-masks, once again met the Warlock in the black robe.
He was the same client who had previously commissioned the investigation of the disappearance of the Deep Valley Cloisterâs gatekeeper.
Franca scanned their surroundings, her voice intentionally hoarse as she spoke,
âWeâve made some progress in our investigation regarding the disappearance of the Deep Valley Cloisterâs gatekeeper. We wish to discuss it with you privately.â
The man fell silent for over ten seconds before finally nodding. âVery well.â
Their iron-masked skeletal escort led them, along with the client, into a secluded âconversation roomâ within the quarry cave.
âŠ
With an hour left until their agreed meeting time, Lumian equipped himself with a carbide lamp and entered the market districtâs corresponding entrance to Underground Trier.