Dark Moon

Chapter 50: Dark Moon

A temporary butler who had crawled out of the graveyard?

"Could it be that every new student was assigned a corresponding butler?" Han Dong asked curiously.

"That's right. Our Graveyard Management Committee was responsible for receiving Knight-Errants, as well as maintaining the inner island's sanitation and basic security."

"The Graveyard Management Committee..."

Han Dong did his best to accept all this and followed the graveyard butler toward the main building.

Obvious livor mortis had appeared across the body's surface, and some wounds had partially decayed. Without the function of blood cells, the body was clearly in a state of 'death.' Why was it still able to carry out normal physiological activity?

If I had the chance and equipment, I'd really like to examine their cellular structure.

Limited by the available experimental equipment, Han Dong could not conduct proper cellular research.

Once he had sufficient funds and understood the Holy City's science and technology, he also planned to carry out in-depth biological research on these strange magical creatures.

On the way to the main building, the graveyard butler gave him a detailed introduction to some basic information about the Mysticism Department.

"The Mysticism Department's main building—Dark Moon Tower—was renovated and expanded thirty years ago by the department head and chief of staff of the Plague Knights, Mr. Black and White.

By setting up the 'Dark Moon,' the tower and its surrounding auxiliary buildings were completely concealed. It is the tallest building in the Royal Knights Academy.

It is divided into four major levels and fourteen important areas."

"The Plague Knights' chief of staff!?"

This was the second Knight Order Han Dong had heard of.

Moreover, a position such as "chief of staff" was most likely the second-highest seat within a Knight Order, showing just how elevated his status was.

The graveyard butler spoke with considerable pride:

"Although the Plague Knights were not the strongest among the thirteen Knight Orders, they were an indispensable special organization. Mr. Black and White's existence was incomparably important to the entire Holy City."

"Hmm... thirteen Knight Orders? No wonder Barton Fogg wanted to recruit me into the Black Rose Knights he belonged to after learning that I had passed a four-star novice event."

The butler continued:

"With Dark Moon Tower as its central structure, the Mysticism Department also possessed four major auxiliary areas—Dark Moon Forest, the Great Cemetery, the Old Sewers, and Dead Water Swamp.

Each auxiliary area had its own purpose. You would naturally come to understand them in the future.

One special reminder: be careful around the Old Sewers and Dead Water Swamp. Entering them rashly could put your life in danger."

"Understood."

Han Dong now had a rough understanding of the Mysticism Department's territory.

"Excuse me, if you live in a graveyard, won't you become ghouls?"

The butler replied with a smile, "Under the protection of the 'Dark Moon,' we will not be disturbed by anything beyond the city walls..."

"Dark Moon."

Han Dong looked up.

A black moon resembling a lunar eclipse hung in the sky, its center completely black, with only a white halo outlining its circular shape.

The shroud of the Dark Moon concealed every area of the Mysticism Department from the outside world, while completely isolating the Mind Influence emitted by higher lifeforms beyond the city walls.

It took half an hour to cross the graveyard.

They finally arrived at a side entrance to Dark Moon Tower, sealed by a heavy black iron gate.

He turned the valve.

The gate opened.

Beyond it was not a tower lobby filled with Knight-Errants.

It was an elevator chamber.

More than ten old elevators had been installed here.

Each elevator corresponded to different levels and areas.

Additionally, a corresponding serial number had to be entered on the brass key panel before an elevator would operate normally.

"Elevators are a fast and safe way to move around inside the tower.

They can help you bypass certain dangerous areas and reach wherever you wish to go directly... After enrolling, I suggest you memorize the various elevator serial numbers as soon as possible. It will save you a great deal of trouble."

"All right."

The elevator stopped around the tower's Mid-level Zone.

The graveyard butler had no intention of leading the way any further and gestured ahead.

"Up ahead is the temporary gathering room for Knight-Errants. Once inside, hand over your testing item.

After all the Knight-Errants of this year have completed their tests, the results will be announced inside, followed by introductions and mentor selection."

"Thank you."

Mentor selection.

As an associate professor and graduate advisor at a university, Han Dong naturally understood what mentor selection was.

After graduate students were admitted, the department's teachers and the students who had passed this year's examination would sit together in a conference room.

They would discuss academics and personal interests, then select suitable mentors based on the students' personalities and directions of interest.

"I'll take a look first."

Han Dong knew nothing about the teachers in the Mysticism Department.

At present, he only knew of one—the department head mentioned by the butler, Mr. Black and White... It would not be easy to study under a mentor at the dean's level.

Creak~

Pushing open the ebony wooden door at the end of the passageway.

A large round-table council hall came into view.

It had a two-level design.

A candle chandelier with more than a hundred branches hung from the ceiling. Its branches resembled human arms, with palms holding the candles.

The first level was a round-table area for Knight-Errants. The enormous black stone table could accommodate sixty students, and each student's file had been placed on its surface to make it easier for them to find their seats.

The design of the second level was rather strange. More than ten seats were embedded in the walls, allowing the teachers to sit suspended in the air.

More than twenty Knight-Errants had already gathered here.

Most of them had European features. Even though their hair colors differed, they all had the same pale skin.

Furthermore, most of their clothing and accessories indicated that they were not commoners, but members of the younger generation from middle- and upper-class families like Edward's.

Han Dong's commoner attire was especially conspicuous in such a setting.

Of course, everyone who had made it here was a qualified Knight-Errant who had passed layer after layer of tests. No one judged others by appearance. At most, they quietly mocked Han Dong's physical condition.

However, students like Han Dong, without obvious injuries on the surface of their bodies, were still rare.

Most students had been injured during the tests arranged by the Mysticism Department, with some even suffering severe injuries.

After Han Dong placed the iron box corresponding to his test into the matching groove on the table, it sank down by itself amid the sound of turning gears and was sent to the relevant department for review.

Most people were deeply dissatisfied with the dangerous tests imposed by the Mysticism Department, and complaints filled the room.

For example, there was a male student beside Han Dong.

A large wound ran across his waist and abdomen. The bleeding had been stopped through special means, and he was using a special stitching technique to sew up his blood vessels and outer wounds himself.

Naturally, as he stitched himself up, he kept spouting profanity.

"Such individual tests were different from group cooperation in the Fate event... If one's own abilities were insufficient, it truly was very dangerous."