Tower of Erudition

Margaret came again in the evening.

I need your help with something.

Lu Yuan raised his head.

"The Infirmary at the Tower of Erudition is short of a few medicinal herbs, which we were supposed to deliver," Margaret said. "But I can't get away from here. Could you make the trip tomorrow? And while you're at it, could you take a look around the Tower of Erudition? Would you like to go and learn something?"

Lu Yuan nodded.

"No problem."

"Okay." Margaret handed over a list and a silver badge. "This badge allows you to enter the outer perimeter of the Tower of Erudition. Just hand it over to the people at the Infirmary when you get there."

She paused.

"Go early and come back early. Don't linger there too long; things haven't been peaceful lately."

Lu Yuan took the list and the badge.

"Clear."

Margaret turned and left.

Lu Yuan looked at the badge in his hand.

A legitimate reason.

There's no need for excuses; it's just too much of a coincidence.

Why.

But it suits my wishes, so it doesn't matter.

Lu Yuan put the badge away and continued organizing the medicinal herbs.

Night fell.

Lu Yuan returned to his dormitory and sat on the edge of his bed.

Outside the window, the moon rose, and the runes on the Bronze City began to glow.

A soft blue light enveloped the walls and the sky, making it seem as if one could go outside at night.

That's really rare.

Lu Yuan was organizing the information he had gathered that day.

Missing Person Case: Alchemy Department student disappeared at night without any signs of struggle, as if he walked out on his own.

The attacker: fast, strong, and has a rotten smell.

The intervals are getting shorter and shorter; the next one could be coming soon.

He needed to ascertain Laurina's condition as soon as possible.

Lu Yuan pulled out Revolver from his pocket and checked the bullets.

Six shots, all full.

The Time Bestower Pocket Watch slightly warm.

It can be activated at any time.

He put the letter away, leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes.

Tomorrow, we'll go to the Tower of Erudition.

In the early morning, sunlight slanted through the windows of the Logistics Department, casting golden patches of light on the ground.

[Sanity: 104/120 (Total)]

Lu Yuan, carrying a cloth bag full of medicinal herbs, stood at the door and adjusted the shoulder strap.

Margaret handed him a list, saying, "These herbs are urgently needed by the Infirmary of the Tower of Erudition, especially calming herbs and sedatives; the dosage has been particularly high lately."

She paused, lowered her voice, and glanced around. "I heard there's been a lot of trouble at the Alchemy Department. Many students are in poor mental condition and come to get their medication every day. When you go, be careful, don't ask too many questions, and come back after the handover."

After listening, Lu Yuan nodded slightly, carefully folded the list, and put it into his pocket.

"Clear."

Margaret glanced at him, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she hesitated, and finally just waved her hand. "Go and come back soon."

Lu Yuan stepped out of the Night Watcher outpost, a cool morning breeze brushing against his cheek.

The stronghold was located on the east side of the inner city, while the Tower of Erudition was in the northwest of the inner city, requiring at least an hour's walk.

He flagged down a public carriage at the entrance of the stronghold and gestured for it to stop.

"Go to the Tower of Erudition."

The coachman glanced at him, noticed the Night Watcher's Badge on his chest, nodded respectfully, and raised his whip.

The carriage entered the main road of the inner city.

The road is wide and clean, with tall stone buildings on both sides, carved with exquisite reliefs.

Nobles' private carriages passed by from time to time, their wheels making a dull, rhythmic sound as they rolled over the cobblestones.

The shops along the roadside had ornate signs, and their windows displayed expensive alchemical artifacts, magical items, imported spices, and silks.

Pedestrians were well-dressed and behaved elegantly, chatting in twos and threes along the street.

But Lu Yuan noticed that there were more Night Watcher on the street than yesterday.

They patrolled in twos and threes, their eyes alert, as if searching for something, their hands always on the weapons at their waists.

The carriage stopped briefly at the boundary between the inner and Outer City, where the Night Watcher had set up a checkpoint.

Lu Yuan took out his badge from his pocket, handed it to the Night Watcher checking him, and passed through smoothly.

He took back the badge, pinned it back to his chest, leaned back in the carriage, and closed his eyes to rest.

After swaying and rocking for a while, the carriage slowly came to a stop in the square in front of the Tower of Erudition.

Lu Yuan paid the fare, jumped off the carriage, and looked up at the building in front of him.

It was a huge complex of buildings, consisting of seven Great Tower. The central Main Tower was the tallest, reaching tens of meters in height, with its spire pointing straight to the sky, as if to pierce through the clouds.

The tower is made of white marble, which gleams softly in the sunlight.

The walls were covered with runes and patterns, some decorative, others emanating a faint magical aura that made one afraid to look directly at them.

The towers are connected by skywalks, like a giant spider web linking the entire complex together.

The square was bustling with people, mostly students in school robes, but also some nobles and merchants in fine clothes, all walking briskly.

A faint scent of herbs and Mo Shui filled the air, mixed with some indescribable aroma.

'This is a good place to study.'

Lu Yuan took a deep breath and strode towards the door.

Passing through the tall archway, Lu Yuan entered the interior of the Tower of Erudition.

The corridor was spacious and bright, with rows of blue-tinted glass windows embedded in the walls.

Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a dreamlike blue hue and projecting flowing spots of light onto the ground.

Tiny specks of light floated in the air.

Portraits of Scholar from various dynasties hang on both sides of the corridor, their gazes seemingly fixed on every passerby.

Lu Yuan walked along the corridor, his footsteps echoing in the empty space.

Occasionally, students would hurry by, carrying thick books, their expressions focused.

The runes on the wall flickered faintly from time to time, as if they were breathing.

The Infirmary is located on the west side of the first floor.

Lu Yuan showed the Night Watcher badge and list, and was led inside by a young apprentice.

The Infirmary was large, with more than a dozen beds and rows of medicine cabinets along the walls, with labels neatly affixed to each drawer.

A middle-aged woman in a white robe was sorting medicinal herbs when she heard footsteps and looked up.

"The Night Watcher delivering medicine?"

"Yes." Lu Yuan placed the cloth bag on the table, took out a list from his pocket, and handed it over. "The list is here."

The woman took the list and began checking the medicinal herbs one by one, her movements practiced and swift.

Lu Yuan stood to the side, his gaze sweeping over the Infirmary without making a sound.

Several students lay on hospital beds, some unconscious, some groaning softly, tossing and turning.

Their faces were all pale, their eyes were sunken, as if they hadn't had a proper rest in a long time, and their cheekbones were protruding.

Lu Yuan casually asked, "Are there a lot of patients lately?"

The woman didn't even look up, continuing to count the medicinal herbs, "There are so many, mostly Alchemy Department ones. They come every day to collect tranquilizers and sedatives."

She sighed, her tone clearly complaining. "I don't know what kind of research they're doing; their mental state is frighteningly poor. Several of them have already been hospitalized, supposedly for neurasthenia."

Lu Yuan frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on the hospital beds for a moment.

However, there was no written indication that they were indeed not Contamination.

After the woman finished counting the medicinal herbs, she signed the list and handed it back to Lu Yuan.

"Alright, no problem. You can go now."

Lu Yuan took the list, carefully folded it, and put it in his pocket, but did not leave immediately.

"Excuse me, where are the student dormitories for the Alchemy Department?"

The woman looked up at him, a hint of doubt in her eyes. "What do you need? Who are you looking for?"

"A friend," Lu Yuan said calmly, "Laurina."

The woman's expression changed instantly, a hint of surprise and respect flashing in her eyes.

"Laurina... she doesn't live in the dorms. She has her own lab, on the top floor of the Third Tower."

She paused, then added, "But if you want to find her, you'd better ask in the Alchemy Department's common area first. She's often there."

She glanced at Lu Yuan, then suddenly smiled and said, "Although you're not bad-looking, I advise you that if you admire her, you should find a better excuse, otherwise you'll be in big trouble."

Lu Yuan didn't explain, he just nodded slightly.

He then quickly left.

Following the signs, we walked through several corridors and arrived at the second floor of the Third Tower.

The corridor leading to the Third Tower is even more magnificent, with intricate alchemical patterns inlaid in the glass windows on both sides, which refract sunlight into a rainbow of colors.

The ground was paved with dark stone slabs, each engraved with intricate runes, faintly radiating Magic Power.

A faint aroma of medicinal herbs filled the air, mixed with the smells of metal and Sulfur.

This is the common area of the Alchemy Department, which includes a library, laboratories, and several lounges.

Students occasionally passed by in the corridor, most of them looking tired, walking hurriedly, with unfocused eyes.

Lu Yuan stopped at the entrance of the library and glanced inside.

Several students sat at a table, engrossed in reading thick books, their fingers mechanically turning the pages.

Their eyes were vacant, as if they were forcing themselves to concentrate, but they couldn't truly engage.

Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.

At the door of a laboratory at the end of the corridor, he saw a young girl.

She wore an Alchemy Department uniform, Deep Blue robe with silver runes embroidered on the cuffs that shimmered in the light.

Her hair was chestnut brown, casually tied back, revealing her fair neck.

She was squatting on the ground, organizing a box of experimental equipment, her movements gentle and focused.

Lu Yuan walked over, tiptoed, and asked softly, "Excuse me, where is Laurina?"

The girl raised her head, revealing a pretty face.

His eyes were light brown, and he looked at the stranger in front of him with a hint of wariness.

"I am. Who are you?"

"Lu Yuan." He took the letter out of his pocket and handed it to him. "Someone asked me to give this to you."

Laurina stared at the letter in Lu Yuan's hand, paused for a moment, and a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes.

"Could it be another admirer?" she muttered to herself.

But when she saw the design of the envelope, she paused for a moment.

This letter looks old; it doesn't seem to have been written recently.

She stood up, dusted off her hands, took the envelope, and examined it carefully.

The envelope was old, with some wear on the corners, and it was written on it, "To: Laurina, Alchemy Department, Tower of Erudition, Empire"

The handwriting is neat, but somewhat blurry, as if it had been soaked in water, and the ink has smudged.

Laurina's expression became complicated.