Spirit Detective

Ye Yan felt it was a great pity as well.

Although the core content of On the Origin of Species written by the Darwin of this world differed vastly from the original version, it was still a book related to "home."

It was just that Ye Yan had no way to name it.

The reason was simple.

The copy of On the Origin of Species Ye Yan obtained was a pirated version; without the original author's authorization, he could not disseminate the knowledge within, and naturally, he could not name it.

"If only I could meet the Darwin of this world," Ye Yan muttered to himself. "But he has been in exile for over twenty years; I wonder if he is still alive?"

Unlike the Darwin of the original world, the Darwin of this world was not named Charles, but Bird Darwin.

He published On the Origin of Species in 1858, was subsequently convicted and imprisoned, and in the same year, he and Wallace were exiled to Australia.

The Darwin of original history passed away in 1882; having been exiled in this world, he would likely have departed even earlier.

Just then, a call echoed from within his heart.

"Sir, I am about to dissipate. I long to see you one last time, yet I cannot find your figure."

Daphne was going to disappear?

Ye Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly bid farewell to the bookstore.

As Daphne's summoner, Ye Yan and the maiden shared an innate connection, allowing her to call out to him within his mind.

He had also discovered that the maiden's spirit body was much like the Cursed Walking Corpse he had encountered, both radiating an icy aura, though hers was far gentler and lacked such intense aggression.

Thus, Daphne's abilities differed from those of the walking corpses.

While she could not release that frigid field of pressure, she could walk through the night and conceal her tracks.

At this moment, the night was already deep.

When he arrived at the Unicorn Court, breathless, the trial seemed to have concluded, yet a curious crowd still surrounded the maiden's spirit body, clicking their tongues in wonder.

"How miraculous, this is truly the complete spirit body of a girl who died twenty years ago," a gentleman's eyes shimmered with excitement. "It is simply incredible; even the mediumship of a spiritualist could not achieve this!"

"Does this mean I have a chance to see my father?"

A noblewoman's voice carried hope and trepidation, a complex expression surfacing on her powdered face.

"Oh... she seems to be dissipating."

Someone suddenly exclaimed, drawing the attention of those around, who soon noticed it as well.

"Daphne!"

Having finally seen the daughter she longed for, only to face another parting, Daphne's mother felt her eyes redden, and she could not help but weep again.

Daphne's spirit body had begun to grow transparent; unable to reach out and wipe the tears from her mother's face, she could only comfort her with words.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, she turned sharply toward the entrance of the court.

"Sir!"

This call caused everyone to turn their heads in unison.

Stared at by dozens of eyes, Ye Yan's footsteps faltered, but he steeled himself and walked forward.

Lestrade, who had been waiting there, saw the situation and quickly pushed through the crowd to pull Ye Yan over.

"Newman, look, what is wrong with Daphne? Is she... is she about to..."

Ye Yan understood the detective's unspoken worry, but he could not be certain of the situation himself; he would have to wait until he spoke with Daphne to know for sure.

"Daphne, are you returning?"

"Yes, I am returning."

The maiden's voice was as erratic as a sea breeze. "My remains are buried in the deep sea. It was you who summoned my reflection, giving me the chance to seek revenge and to retrieve the remains that I and my sisters left in this world."

Her tone was calm, yet it made Ye Yan's heart tighten.

"You are the eternal benefactor of us Shadow Maidens, sir." As she spoke, Daphne cupped her hands, and moonlight condensed into tiny frost crystals upon her long eyelashes.

A single tear slid from the corner of her eye.

As it fell, it merged with the moonlight, solidifying into a pearl shimmering with mist.

"Should you need my help, please summon me at any time."

Ye Yan carefully took the pearl.

The surface of the pearl rippled with lunar halos, like a mirage in a dream. Had it not been for the icy touch in his palm, he would have thought it merely a projection.

"A relic from one who drowned, a tear of a maiden's sorrow, a gift from the deep sea..."

Daphne avoided the eyes of the crowd, whispering in the depths of his heart. "When the sun and moon exchange, place them upon the memories of death; this is the ritual to summon the Shadow Maiden."

"And this pearl, formed from my tears..." The maiden's voice grew fainter. "Simply place it under the moonlight... no other sacrifice is needed... and you may call me to your side..."

With that, Daphne's spirit body dissipated completely.

In her final moment, she cast a lingering glance at her mother, then transformed into a mist shimmering with faint light, vanishing into the air before the court.

[The deceased maiden, as a spirit, accused the living of her murder in court...]

The fifth diary entry finally reached its conclusion.

[The maiden of the dead has finally attained her wish.

But she is a soul slumbering in the deep ocean; her reflection is destined to remain only within the mercy of a pearl.

She cannot linger in this world, nor can she covet its warmth.]

[You have successfully completed the fifth diary entry and earned the right to name a selected book.]

The incident finally came to an end. Before Ye Yan could even organize the day's gains, Daphne's mother stumbled forward, her trembling hands gripping his sleeve tightly.

"You... are you able to summon my daughter's spirit again?" Her eyes were brimming with tears, her voice so choked with emotion that she could barely form a complete sentence.

Ye Yan hesitated for a moment, then gave a gentle nod. "Yes, Madam."

"Thank goodness, thank goodness."

The old woman was incoherent with excitement, and tears finally spilled from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks.

Lestrade, standing to the side, also showed a look of joy, but when he scanned his surroundings and saw the sudden, fanatical light igniting in the eyes of the onlookers, his expression shifted instantly.

"Sir!" A gentleman pushed to the front. "I am willing to pay a heavy price for you to summon my father; the matter of the family inheritance must be clarified!"

"No, help me first!" A noblewoman wearing a veil completely abandoned her elegance, pushing others aside. "My fiancé promised me before he set sail..."

"Move aside! My son has only been gone for a month..."

The crowd surged forward like a tide. Detective Lestrade was quick-witted, grabbing Ye Yan by the arm.

"Let's go!" he hissed, practically dragging Ye Yan as they bolted toward the side exit. Behind them, arguments, shouts, and curses wove together into a chaotic sea of noise.

"Hey! Over here!"

Dr. Watson leaned halfway out of a carriage parked at the street corner, waving at them vigorously.

Ye Yan's eyes lit up as if he had seen a savior.

To someone being hunted and intercepted, that flicker of warm orange light from the carriage was like a lighthouse in a storm.

"Dr. Watson!"

Leveraging the strength of Watson's arm, Ye Yan followed Lestrade and leaped into the carriage.

As Ye Yan scrambled into the cabin, panting, he was met head-on by the sharp gaze of Holmes. The famous detective was studying him with an expression that bordered on scrutiny.

"Hold on tight, lads!"

Old Jack's booming voice came from outside.

He cracked his whip, and the two chestnut horses responded immediately. The crisp sound of hooves clattered against the road, and the carriage soon left the pursuing crowd far behind.

"Since you knew to leave the Unicorn Court early, why did you return, my friend?"

Holmes stared at Ye Yan, his voice so calm it was almost biting. "Did you not foresee how much trouble would come knocking after today?"

"I..."

Ye Yan, who was gripping the handrail to steady himself, did not know how to answer.

"Ah, it seems you truly have no concept of it."

Holmes shook his head slightly. "Allow me to break the unfortunate news to you: after today, your reputation as a Spirit Detective will spread across all of Great Britain."