Spiritism Sect

After readily accepting the investigation.

Two more options then appeared before Roger.

Faced with the perplexing Apprentice's Death, where do you plan to begin your investigation? Please select—

Option 1: Examine the wounds to determine the cause of death.

Option 2: Locate the body and search for items.

Option 3: Let's send it to the morgue first!

"I can't just touch a corpse in public..."

Roger muttered a complaint to himself.

After deciding on option three.

He then guided the figure and another colleague to lift the stretcher.

The two men carried the apprentice's body into the shadows of the hospital.

The morgue at the church hospital was a rather rudimentary place.

There are absolutely no rules or regulations here.

The only rule that is explicitly stated is:

All bodies may remain in the morgue for a maximum of 3 days.

Unclaimed persons for more than 3 days.

The church hospital will handle the case.

This First Ring is riddled with loopholes and flaws.

This has led to the emergence of many gray industries.

Roger used to work the night shift.

I once accidentally stumbled upon a scene where the morgue manager was making a deal with several men in gray.

The items in the transaction were two unclaimed bodies that had remained unclaimed for more than three days.

And in their transaction process.

The men in gray wore masks the entire time, their eyes filled with vigilance.

If Roger hadn't been so familiar with the hospital and hadn't found a great spy spot, they probably wouldn't have been able to hide it from them.

despite this.

Roger didn't gain much useful information from this deal either.

All he knew was that the gray-clad man who traded with the gloomy-eyed old man who was the administrator called himself "Mountain People".

I don't know if this is the common term used by those who buy corpses.

It's still some kind of slang.

Lost in thought.

The two had arrived at the morgue.

Because it is summer.

Recently, quite a few people have died again by chance.

The narrow morgue was filled to the brim.

The air was filled with the smell of decay.

"Just put it anywhere!"

"I have other jobs!"

The colleague quickly slipped away.

Roger was overjoyed at the sight.

He was figuring out how to get rid of this guy.

Who knew the other person would slip away first!

The morgue is a remote place in the hospital.

During the day, apart from the caregivers who move corpses, there are basically no other people who come.

As for that old man...

He usually stays at night and hides during the day.

They said they were administrators.

Even with the morgue Open the Gate, he was nowhere to be seen.

However, Roger did not relax.

He placed the stretcher in the corner of the morgue.

After making sure no one is around.

That's when he began his investigation.

Since he didn't have skills like "autopsy", the displayed options were the same as before: either check the cause of death or touch the body.

Considering that the apprentice's body has been touched by countless people along the way, it's understandable.

Roger decided to start with the wound!...

"You've expended some of your energy and time."

"Investigation successful! You have obtained the cause of death for ' The Apprentice's Death '."

"Cause of death: After a preliminary analysis of the wounds, you realize that the apprentice's cause of death was not the apparent cause of excessive bleeding."

You find 13 knife marks on his body.

However, 12 of the stab wounds were not fatal.

Only one of the cuts pierced the heart.

That was very likely the killer's first stab.

The subsequent 12 stabs might have been the other party's attempt to cover their tracks.

Anyway.

The murderer was a skilled knife user.

"New clue investigation progress +30%"

After the last message flashed by.

Roger noticed a round ball appearing in the upper left corner of his field of vision.

Some blue liquid appeared inside the sphere.

It occupies approximately one-third of the sphere's volume.

System notification.

This thing is called a "clue ball".

Any investigation or information gathering related to clues can increase the energy level of the clue ball.

It reflects the progress of the investigation.

Once the progress reaches 100%.

He might gain a clue or opportunity related to the lead! "Only 30%..."

Roger was a little disappointed.

He tried to return to his perspective of choice and reconsider "groping," but just then, footsteps sounded outside, and Roger quickly stood up! "Since the ' Ze Xiang Constellation ' passed, these heretics have become increasingly rampant."

"I just finished dealing with a series of cases committed by followers of the ' Cup of Utmost Evil ' last month, and I never expected someone to dare commit such a crime in broad daylight!"

"By the rain god above, why doesn't He just strike these cultists to death?"

"This should be a piece of cake for Him, right?"

"But it's so difficult for us mere mortals!"

"So I need some comfort!"

It was a man's voice.

His tone was full of exhaustion and complaint.

It came to the last sentence.

Suddenly, things became somewhat ambiguous.

"Please focus on your work, Mr. Scott."

It was a woman's voice with a cold tone.

"This is not your police station office, nor my director's office; this is the morgue..."

Damn it!

Does it have to be here?

"I remember there was a manager here!"

Her voice betrayed a hint of embarrassment and panic.

"It's alright."

Scott's tone was very urgent:

"Let me relax a bit before I examine the deceased."

"Respected Dean Jenny... Ah!"

"Hey, Jenny, don't be so heartless. We're husband and wife, aren't we?"

"And I've never experienced the... um... fun of being in a morgue!"

The footsteps of the man and woman were getting closer.

Roger felt a chill run down his spine!

A choice screen quickly appeared before his eyes!...

"Because you lingered in the morgue for too long, you overheard Detective Scott and Dean Jenny talking, which wasn't considered outrageous for a legally married couple."

However, considering the Rain God Church's consistent suppression of human nature.

Perhaps the couple didn't want a caregiver to overhear their intimate moments.

Please select——

Your High-Dimensional Perspective is working!...

Option 1: Hurry out of the morgue and run away without looking back.

(Option result: 70% chance of being fired)

Option 2: Walk out of the morgue normally and greet them with a surprised expression.

(Option result: 30% chance of being fired)

Option 3: Pretend to be a corpse.

(Hidden message: Detective Scott has a high level of discernment; if you enjoy a thrill, then you might want to give it a try)...

Option 4: Hide in an inconspicuous little cubicle deep inside the morgue.

(Hidden information: That's the caretaker Virgil's room. He sleeps very soundly during the day and almost never wakes up.)

In the blink of an eye.

Roger had no choice but to slip into the room.

Just three seconds after he closed the door to the cubicle.

The sound of Jenny's high heels echoed in the morgue.

This couple seems to really be planning to cause trouble in the morgue...

Roger wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

I looked at the layout of the small cubicle.

Apart from a bunk bed and the necessary furniture.

There's nothing here.

As the hidden message stated, the administrator Virgil, was indeed fast asleep in bed.

At the other end of the cubicle was a small door.

The small door likely leads to the depths of the church hospital.

That area was one Roger had never been to before.

At this moment, no choice has been made.

But Roger faced the choice of whether to stay or leave.

If you leave.

Nature is the safest.

However, this small door was not mentioned in the hidden information.

There might be something fishy going on behind this.

Roger pondered.

Or there's a hole behind the small door.

Either they're pregnant while staying in the small cubicle.

Considering that "High-Dimensional Perspective" has made many contributions since his arrival.

Roger decided to stay a little longer.

Even if it means enduring the couple's foul language.

However, it was only a few seconds later.

From inside the morgue came a woman's scolding voice. "You wrinkled my new clothes!"

"Get away!"

"Go get down to business!"

Scott grunted.

The two sides argued for a little while longer.

After a while.

The male voice said sullenly, "Precise technique, one fatal blow, he's from the Blade Sect."

"Strangeness..."

"How could a Barber Apprentice who isn't even a spiritual practitioner be targeted by the Blade Sect?"

The woman pondered for a moment and said:

"The Blade Sect?"

"Blade Tooth or the Secret Society in the Woods?"

"Or perhaps ' The Ghosts of the Day,' ' The Conquerors Alliance,' or ' Plowing and Fire '?"

She rattled off five rare terms in one breath.

Roger noticed.

Jenny said each word.

The investigation progress displayed on the "Clues Ball" will increase by about 6%.

On the data panel.

"You have gained knowledge: The Spiritism Sect (Knife)"

"Clue: You have learned about the five secret orders of the Blade Sect, and your enemy from your past life may be one of them."

"It's hard to say..."

"The Blade Sect has the largest number of members, and it is a mixed bag. In addition to the five major sects, there are many smaller sects, making it difficult for us to pinpoint the murderer based on the method of killing."

Scott sounded worried:

"Looks like this is another unsolved case!"

Jenny calmly analyzed, "Perhaps we can start with the deceased's identity."

"The people of the Blade Sect are not like those madmen of the Furnace Sect of Cup of Utmost Evil. They rarely kill randomly. I suspect that this Barber Apprentice's background is not simple either."

"Also, his teacher is the very famous barber Old Hawke, and I heard that Old Hawke intends to marry his daughter to him..."

Scott smiled:

"You mean this was a crime of passion?"

"Did someone bribe the Blade Sect to make the move?"

"In the Rain God's territory?"

His three sarcastic rhetorical questions elicited silence from Jenny.

The morgue remained quiet for a long time.

Scott seemed to realize something as well.

He then changed the subject, saying, "In any case, I will handle this case properly."

"Killing someone during the day is a provocation against the authority of the police."

"Even if they are members of the Blade Sect, I will arrest them without hesitation!"

"Jenny ..."

"Don't be too nervous. Although the person died in your hospital, it doesn't really have much to do with you."

Jenny said irritably:

"Don't forget."

"Besides being the dean, I also hold other positions within the church."

Speaking of which...

Both of them remained silent for a while.

then.

The two chatted for a while longer in the morgue.

They left after a while.

Until their footsteps faded completely into the distance.

Roger finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

He hurriedly came out of the small cubicle.

After leaving the morgue and returning to work.

He was caught and severely berated by his boss, a guy named Gorman.

To deal with the enraged Gorman.

Roger had to devote all his energy to his work.

Until the sky was full of stars.

He returned to his little nest, utterly exhausted.

"It's really hard for ordinary people to get things done."

Looking at the two completely gray "energy" gauges on the character card.

Roger gained many new insights.

After a hasty and rough dinner.

Roger regained some of his energy.

They were able to view the clue ball.

After completing the eavesdropping.

The investigation is now 80% complete.

There is another option next to it—

"Supplementary Information"

Roger thought for a moment.

I just clicked on that option without thinking.

In a completely new interface.

He saw two hovering cursors and a dotted-line sphere.

Notes are displayed.

Drag the cursor into the sphere to add information to the investigation progress.

The two cursors are:

"Hidden: The Two-Faced Man (Investigation Progress +30%)"

"Secret: Cultists (Investigation Progress +30%)"

"Investigating yourself is just cheating!"

See here.

How could Roger not understand the reasoning behind this?

It's because of a past life.

He naturally carries two hidden messages about "Barber Apprentice".

Add any one of these.

That would complete the first investigation! Now he needed to decide which option to choose! "Secret information is a consumable; it can't be used up all at once."

"The enemy was brought in by the Two-Faced Man, so let's make it that way!"

This thought came to mind.

Roger completed the operation quickly!

But after the cursor was dragged closer to the sphere...

The blue light in the latter's body surged.

The blue liquid quickly filled the entire sphere, even overflowing! Click!

A golden light flashed.

"Investigation: You have obtained new clues ' The Red-Haired Witch Coven,' ' The Ghosts of the Day,' and ' Azure Tobacco Leaf.'"

"Initial investigation successful. You have received a reward: Spiritist's Opportunity."

"The Spiritist's Opportunity: Full Moon Night, Dock District, Merkel's Abandoned Distillery"

Investigation findings: Through some kind of covert technique.

You eventually learn that the deceased was simultaneously loyal to three secret organizations: the Red-Haired Witch Coven, the Ghosts of the Day, and the Azure Tobacco Leaf.

Among them, the ' Ghosts of the Day ' are the secret cult of the Blade Sect.

This aligns with Detective Scott's assessment of the killer.

If you want to continue the investigation.

You can try your luck at ' Philly Bar ' or ' White Shark Ship ' in the dock area.

"Warning: Official members of the Blade Sect have a combat strength of at least two stars. Please proceed with caution."

"So, does that mean my enemy's fighting ability is at least on par with mine now?"

Roger found it a bit tricky.

Just as he was pondering how to obtain more information from the dock area.

Lines of text reappeared on the data panel.

"Investigation: Your investigation progress has exceeded 100%, and you have unlocked a hidden opportunity (the Barber Apprentice's Belongings)."

"The Barber Apprentice's Belongings: The Tile-Roofed District, Hughes Cake Shop, the Sewers, Secret Doors and Secret Rooms"

"You have unlocked a new map: Tile-Roofed District"

See here.

Roger was overjoyed, but then he suddenly thought of something else—

"If I were to find a place to bury my belongings before I die in this lifetime."

"So, when the third time comes, will there be a chance to inherit these things?"

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

The potential for exploration in the Legacy of Time far exceeded Roger's expectations.

If Roger initially only had the mindset of making a quick buck and leaving...

Now he has adopted an extremely proper attitude.

He felt he was gradually getting into the zone! His thinking was becoming clearer!

"The dock area is a mixed bag, and there are probably even more powerful figures there."

"My current combat strength is not suitable for further investigation."

"Why not get my hands on the relics from my past life first, and then try to make contact with the 'spirit medium' system..."

After the policy is determined.

Roger pressed "Skip Night".

The next two days.

He went to work as usual.

It continued until the evening of the third day.

He slipped out of the hospital through the back door while his boss was away.

30 minutes later.

Roger arrived in Tile-Roofed District.

In a deserted alley behind "Hughes Cake Shop".

He found a narrow sewer entrance.

After some trial and error.

He found the secret door left behind by the Barber Apprentice!

The hidden door was even more crowded.

Roger couldn't even stand upright.

After a difficult crawl.

Roger reached the end of the secret chamber.

In the darkness.

He touched a wooden box.

After opening the box.

He pulled out two books and some hard objects from them.

Stuff these things into the pockets of your underwear.

Roger hurriedly left the sewers.

Then, under the cover of night, he returned home.

"Record: You have obtained ' The Barber Apprentice's Handbook '"

"You have received ' The Call of the Earth ' (an introductory book to the Breath Sect)."

You have received a small bag of gems.

"Your wealth has increased!"

"Wealth: ★★☆☆☆" (You have received a windfall that can support you to squander for six months, or to live frugally for even longer, provided you can cash it in.)

"Really."

"The fastest way to increase wealth is always through inheritance..."

Roger made a comment.

I casually opened "The Barber Apprentice's Handbook".