Lanerius

After weighing the pros and cons, Luther finally decided to stay the night at the asylum.

After all, the captain had a point; if he still carried the title of a mentally ill person before the welcome banquet, the scene during his self-introduction would be more than a little awkward.

"This Doctor Wilder is truly terrible! He didn't help you at all during your treatment, and now that you need him, he's only added so much trouble for you!"

Cecilia seemed very dissatisfied with this. She had originally wanted to stay the night with Luther, but was sternly refused. For one, it wouldn't look good for a young girl to spend the night in such a place; for another, she still had classes tomorrow. So, despite her extreme reluctance, she was led out of the asylum gates by Luther and put into a carriage to head home.

After sending his sister away, Luther returned to the inpatient department of the asylum, staying in the office with Doctor Wilder until he finished his shift in the evening, and was treated to a meal that could only be described as a disastrous patient dinner. Afterward, Doctor Wilder arranged a room and a roommate for Luther.

"I am very sorry, Mr. Rondal, but the single rooms are full, so you will have to make do here for the night. This is your roommate, Hood Eugen... Rest assured, his condition is very stable. He enjoys chatting with patients, but he is unwilling to communicate with us doctors."

Inside a double room on the third floor, Wilder pointed to the patient on the bed by the window and said to Luther.

Luther looked in the direction he pointed and saw a man who appeared quite normal. He had a thin face and light yellow hair that was kept clean and tidy. Hearing someone mention him, he turned his head, gave the two of them a faint glance with his gray-blue eyes, and then turned back without saying a word.

"See, he is completely non-aggressive."

Wilder said, "Your bedding is brand new and you can use it as you please. I will be patrolling the third floor tonight and will come to check on you from time to time. Please rest assured and spend the night here; as long as I confirm that you do not have an episode throughout the night, I will sign your certificate of mental recovery first thing tomorrow morning."

"Alright, thank you for your hard work, Doctor Wilder."

Since things had come to this, Luther didn't stand on ceremony. After thanking him and seeing Doctor Wilder off, he lay down on the asylum bed without any hesitation.

Ah, this mattress, this familiar touch...

He was just about to take off his coat when he suddenly remembered that his holster was still hanging on the shirt underneath. It wouldn't be appropriate to expose it, so he simply lay down fully clothed, staring up at the ceiling of the ward with his hands behind his head, letting his mind go blank.

Hood Eugen, off to the side, ignored him and continued to watch the night sky outside the window.

The sky gradually darkened, and the crimson The Moon slowly rose, casting crimson grids onto the floor through the barred windows of the psychiatric ward.

The room was very quiet, and neither Luther nor his roommate spoke. There was only the sound of Doctor Wilder's footsteps patrolling the corridor outside from time to time, and the vague shouting of a patient in a distant ward.

Luther's eyelids gradually grew heavy, and sleepiness washed over him.

What should I do, take off my clothes to sleep?

But I have a holster on me, though, it shouldn't matter if a madman sees it...

Just as he was thinking this, he heard footsteps in the corridor outside once again.

Hmm, it's Doctor Wilder coming back again, he really is hardworking... Wait? It doesn't seem to be him.

Luther detected something wrong from the sound of the footsteps.

Doctor Wilder was getting on in years, and his pace was relatively slow, but these footsteps were very light and swift—it was clearly the pace of a young man.

Is someone going to the bathroom, or is it another doctor...

Just as Luther was thinking this, he heard the footsteps stop at the door of his ward. Then, with a "clatter," the door was pushed open. Orange light illuminated the ward, and a young man walked in, holding a gas lamp in one hand and a bag in the other.

"Hi, good evening!"

The corners of his mouth turned up, and he didn't care at all about Luther's surprise; instead, he waved at him in greeting, as if Luther were an acquaintance he knew.

"You..."

Luther couldn't help but sit up, looking at the young man with some astonishment. For some reason, he felt that this young man looked somewhat familiar.

Who is he, and why is he entering a psychiatric ward in the middle of the night?

Just as Luther was about to ask, Hood Eugen, who was on the bed by the window in the depths of the room, suddenly sighed. He took a silver bell out from under his pillow, held it up, and shook it gently.

"Ding-a-ling..."

A clear sound echoed in the ward. This sound was very peculiar; it seemed to pierce through his body and ring directly in his mind.

Luther jolted violently, his body losing control. He felt the world suddenly become blurry, and other sounds seemed to come from a distant place, with only the sound of the bell echoing in his mind, until—

"Whoosh..."

The sound of an Illusory Sea Tide rose, drowning out the sound of the bell and clearing his consciousness, allowing him to hear the conversation between the two.

"Lanerius, why are you running over to my place in the middle of the night instead of doing your swindling?"

Hood Eugen looked at the young man with dissatisfaction and said, "I saw it in the newspaper; your scam is truly comprehensive. You even put out advertisements for the Iron Ore Company's stock offering."

Lanerius?

Iron Ore Company stock offering?

Right, it's that person from the newspaper!

Luther finally recalled and understood why he felt this face was somewhat familiar. A broad forehead, an ordinary face, round glasses, and that hint of what seemed to be a mocking smile... This was exactly the appearance of the person in charge of the iron ore company from the newspaper that Roshan had shown him last time.

Wait a minute, what did Hood Eugen mean by that? Is the iron ore company a scam?

He looks so normal; could it be that he isn't crazy at all?

And his item was actually able to hypnotize me... It seems to be something related to mysticism, perhaps a Sealed artifact.

And his relationship with Lanerius...

Countless pieces of information flooded Luther's brain in a short period of time. He analyzed them rapidly, not acting rashly, but continuing to pretend to be under control while listening to the two men's conversation.

"Heh heh... that scam has already been reaped."

Lanerius patted the bulging bag in his hand, smiling very viciously, "Thanks to those greedy and stupid guys... to be honest, I've had enough fun, and I'm preparing to leave Tingen."

"So, are you here to say goodbye to me? Heh, I have nothing to say to someone like you."

"Don't be so heartless. When you used me to frame your companion and seize his Beyonder item, weren't you full of gratitude toward me?"

Lanerius smiled and pointed at the bell in Hood Eugen's hand, directly exposing the other man's dirty secrets.

Hood Eugen's expression shifted, followed by a cold sneer.

It seems neither of these guys is anything good...

Luther thought to himself.

But at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a bit curious: what exactly was Lanerius's purpose in coming here in the middle of the night?