A Request for Help

According to the book, humanity divided the world's wonders into four ranks.

The lowest rank of wonders was also called artificial wonders. As long as you had the blueprints and raw materials, they could be mass-produced and put to use according to people's needs. The steam train before him was one example.

This was what Chao had never been able to figure out: for a machine powered by steam, the locomotive was remarkably compact and finely made, and it could stop and start with impressive agility—technology completely at odds with steam power. Now he understood. The thing was simply a wonder that looked like a steam train.

Anything above that was beyond human ability to create.

Third-rank wonders, for example, were also known as arcane artifacts. There could be anywhere from dozens to thousands of them. People could use them, but the artifacts themselves could not be replicated.

Second-rank wonders still fell into the same category. Aside from being even rarer, their greatest distinction was that they possessed a degree of "intelligence." The book, of course, didn't put it so plainly. The chroniclers described it as some kind of independent consciousness. Some could be understood by people, while others were completely impossible to communicate with.

If Chao hadn't seen the Myriad Machine, he would have thought this was nonsense. Now, though, he didn't dare dismiss it so easily.

As for first-rank wonders, they were unique existences.

The Myriad Machine at Graik Academy, for example.

Every first-rank wonder had its own name, and each could rightly be called legendary. Their owners were either corporate behemoths or members of the royal family and nobility. Most wonders were known only by name; their abilities and appearance were top-secret information.

Judging by the Myriad Machine's capabilities, Chao could tell that none of these first-rank wonders were to be taken lightly. They were more like powerful living beings, with the potential to affect the balance of power in the world.

The book gave no answer as to where these wonders came from.

But at least one thing was certain: the wonders of the Old Continent had already been more or less fully explored. The only way to find new ones was to develop the New Continent.

Chao found confirmation of this idea in a book titled History of Glorious Fortress.

In fact, less than three kilometers northwest of Glorious Fortress stood a huge mine. The special ore it produced was one of the essential raw materials for artificial wonders.

The mine was owned by Gaotian Mining Company, which was also the main benefactor of North City Police Station.

To Chao, the world that had once seemed so hazy suddenly became much clearer.

Though there were still many things he didn't understand, a complete thread of connections now linked the city he'd seen to this unknown world.

This trip to the academy had definitely been worthwhile.

When he returned to his secret residence on Emerald Street, Chao noticed a slip of paper pushed under the door.

He opened it. There was only one line written on it.

"I've made some progress on the matter you entrusted to me. Please come by our usual place so we can talk."

Chao transformed back into Detective's appearance and, after making sure no one was watching, pushed open the door to 375 Oak Street.

When he entered the living room, he saw Judy and Dane—and, to his surprise, a familiar face.

Miss Jenny from Yenie Holy Hall.

She was still dressed as a nun. Fine beads of sweat dotted her flushed cheeks, and she looked as if she'd rushed over in the middle of a busy day.

Jenny didn't know him, of course. At the time, he'd only been an apparition, visible only to the participants in the Paradise game.

"You're Detective Chao, the one who solved the serial murder case, right?" Jenny immediately stood and bowed to him respectfully.

Chao paused, then glanced at the other two.

"I told Miss Jenny the general story," Judy quickly explained. "Don't worry. She would never reveal anything about us to outsiders. What you asked me to find is no small matter, and after thinking it over, she was the only person I knew who might be able to help."

"Miss Judy has done Yenie Holy Hall a great service. I'm grateful to her, so why would I report either of you?" Jenny said earnestly. "I just never expected the people who broke into the hall that day to be connected to you. I thought they were mercenaries looking to make a name for themselves."

"How did the two of you meet? Would you mind telling me?" Chao asked, still bewildered.

"Heh, it's pretty simple. I've helped her report on a few difficult cases," Judy said, looking a little embarrassed.

"If it were that simple, the Jedi Brothers Newspaper wouldn't have been the only one willing to publish the stories." Jenny shook her head, then turned to Chao. "The hall's funds used to be very limited, but the number of injured workers abandoned by companies kept rising every year. We were close to being unable to carry on. Thanks to Miss Judy, who spread the word and repeatedly reported on companies abandoning injured workers, public debate grew widespread. In the end, His Excellency the Count stepped in and forced the companies to sign a medical care agreement with Yenie Holy Hall. With their support, our situation gradually improved."

"It was the least I could do." Judy rubbed her hands together. "Compared to Mr. Dane, all I can do is report on ordinary people's troubles—the stories that are easier to get access to."

"But your reports saved many people's lives." Jenny shifted to the matter at hand. "I already know what Mr. Chao wants. To be honest, if Miss Judy hadn't approached me, I would never have agreed. After all... collecting bodies sounds like something... something..."

"Something only cultists would do, right?" Chao said with a helpless smile. He was used to such misunderstandings.

"Of course, I know you're not one!" Jenny hurriedly said. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have helped Miss Judy and rescued Mr. Dane under such dangerous circumstances. Yenie Holy Hall can provide fresh bodies, but doing so would put us at some risk. The biggest problem is public opinion. If anyone found out, I'd certainly be held responsible, and my sisters' reputations would suffer too."

Chao understood. This meeting was a negotiation.

"I understand. What do you want? If it's funding, I can pay for each body—"

"I don't need money. I just want to meet someone," she interrupted.

Someone? That was an unusual request.

"Who?" Chao asked, surprised.

"Zhang... Zhang Zhiyuan." Jenny pronounced the name awkwardly.

He had to hear it several times before realizing she meant Zhang Zhiyuan.

"He's one of your people, right? The people who came to Yenie Holy Hall to investigate the serial murders that day were all your subordinates."

At that, Dane and Judy suddenly looked pained.

Right. In their minds, Zhang Zhiyuan had died in the blazing fire at the theater. Chao nodded thoughtfully. "He is. But I need to ask: why do you want to see him?"

"Zhang Zhiyuan's friend... understands the secrets of medicine! I want to ask him more! No... all the sisters at the hall want to learn from him!"

"What?" Chao really couldn't make sense of it this time.

"Well... he told me that boiling water could effectively fight the Scarlet Curse. At first, I didn't believe him, but one time, when I had some free time, I tried it—and it really worked!" Jenny grew more and more excited as she spoke. "Later, I introduced the method throughout the hall. In just one week, the death rate among critically ill patients fell by thirty percent!"

Boiling water? Chao vaguely remembered something like that. But since it had nothing to do with the serial murder case, he hadn't paid any attention to Zhang Zhiyuan's casual remark.

As she spoke, Jenny suddenly dropped to one knee. "I know these medical secrets must be worth a fortune, and that a few bodies could never be enough to repay you. But I still hope to meet him and beg his friend to teach us those secrets. This could save the lives of thousands upon thousands of people. Please, grant my request!"