Lucky Compass

[Consume this Coordinate Mark to ascend the staircase?]

Ye Yan chose "Yes" without hesitation.

In an instant, a cool and peculiar sensation flooded into his mind, like thick fog piled above his head finally being swept away, like a lost boat catching sight of the bright morning star.

A mysterious compass appeared in his heart.

[Luck Compass (Tier One)]

[All living beings possess a compass. Some spend their entire lives without ever glimpsing it, yet fortunate you already hold it in your hand.]

[Recorded Coordinates: 0/3]

Somewhere in the unseen, Ye Yan sensed a direction drawing him forward, as though separated by a galaxy, its light hazy like a dream from another lifetime.

It was the direction of "home," but it was vague and invisible.

At the starting point of the path, a silver thread extended straight ahead. It was the Path Home formed by the consumed mark, though it looked like a strand of silk because it was so thin.

This was the first skill Ye Yan had gained after ascending the staircase of the Principle of Guidance—the Luck Compass.

Its ability was simple.

As long as he obtained a "coordinate" bearing the target's mark, the Luck Compass could provide an accurate direction.

That coordinate could be either a person or an object.

Ye Yan was no fool. He quickly realized that the Coordinate Mark consumed to ascend the staircase had come from Lestrade.

The earlier diary had referred to Lestrade as "the detective," while Sherlock Holmes Casebook had come from "home." Combined with when he had obtained the Fragment of Inside and Outside—

The answer was obvious.

If that was the case...

Had what he said earlier moved the detective, who served as the "coordinate," changing some thought in his heart and leading him to make a different decision?

Why did this feel like the butterfly effect?

This so-called Coordinate Mark seemed to refer to his ability to interfere with the development of major characters.

After some thought, Ye Yan took the Mysterious Key from his Consciousness Space and tried placing it atop the compass.

[A recordable coordinate discovered. Store it?]

He stared at the mysterious key in his hand.

The brass bow gleamed with an enchanting metallic luster beneath the lamp, like a silent temptation.

"Yes."

An inexplicable connection instantly formed between the key and the compass. Following the needle's direction, Ye Yan saw a very familiar apartment.

Isn't that Apartment 222, where I live?

With a doubtful attitude, Ye Yan felt his way downstairs and searched around according to the compass's instructions.

"Hm?"

This was different from when the patrolmen had escorted him to the police station during the day.

Though there was only an ordinary stairwell between the first and second floors, Ye Yan felt that something connected to him existed here.

He simply could neither see nor touch it.

"Should I try the key?"

Ye Yan took the key from his Consciousness Space and extended it toward the empty air ahead.

The key passed through without obstruction.

"Maybe... I'm missing the opportunity to open the door?"

In the past, Ye Yan would not have cared about such an ethereal feeling. But this change had only appeared after he ascended the staircase of the Principle of Guidance.

His sixth sense seemed to have become sharper.

It was as though someone were whispering in his ear in the darkness, reminding him which path was the right one.

Perhaps—

What the Principle of Guidance had granted him was more than just skills...

It had also given him something even more hidden.

Ye Yan glanced once more at the Mysterious Key resting in his palm, then went back upstairs and locked it in a drawer.

He did not sleep all night.

When the sun rose the next day, Ye Yan noticed that the Mysterious Key had returned to his Consciousness Space. In his good mood, the corners of his lips unconsciously curved upward.

Very good.

It seemed he truly was the key's owner.

Even if he could not open the door to Samsara Bookstore for now, he no longer had to worry about someone else getting there first.

Ye Yan got up, full of energy.

He planned to do some odd jobs to earn money and grab breakfast along the way, but he had forgotten that he was still under the detective's supervision.

As a result, Old Jack stopped him at the door.

"Young Master Sherlock is preparing to go to Jersey Island to search for clues. Both you and I need to go with him."

Ye Yan was amazed by the detective's formidable efficiency.

In My Uncle Jules, the protagonist's family encountered Jules selling oysters while traveling by ship to Jersey Island. Yet only a day had passed, and the detective had already learned that Jules had appeared there.

"How are we getting there?"

Of course Ye Yan would not refuse. In fact, he also wanted to find Jules, preferably before anyone else did.

There was something he wanted to confirm.

"By the Underground, of course," Old Jack said excitedly.

A steam locomotive billowed thick black smoke as it rolled into Baker Street Station. The pungent smell of kerosene spread across the platform, mingling strangely with the scent of perfume.

Ye Yan could not help wrinkling his nose.

Through the blurred glass windows, he saw factory chimneys towering like giant trees amid the smog.

After more than two hours, the three of them traveled from Baker Street Station on the Metropolitan Line to Farringdon Station, then transferred to Tower Hill Station.

The crude iron carriages and filthy surroundings were unbearable.

By the time the train finally came to a stop at Tower Hill Station, the novelty of riding a steam locomotive had been completely drowned out by the sound of Ye Yan vomiting.

"Oh, it's all right, little Ewan."

Old Jack laughed heartily and patted Ye Yan on the back.

"Everyone feels uncomfortable their first time riding one. You'll get used to it after a few more trips."

Holmes merely smoked his pipe in silence.

The detective had barely spoken throughout the journey. Though he had never been a talkative man, Ye Yan felt that he had become increasingly preoccupied ever since leaving London.

Unlike the Underground's speed, the voyage from London's docks to Jersey Island was long and rough.

At this time of year, the English Channel was windy and turbulent.

Their luck was not particularly good, either. They even encountered a delay along the way.

The only good news was that Ye Yan did not get seasick.

During the voyage, Holmes gave him an interesting book to pass the time.

Beginner's Guide to Occultism

The book introduced the three major occult organizations currently existing in England, including the mysterious powers they possessed.

It also covered the Supernatural Management Act the detective had mentioned. After skimming through it, Ye Yan could not help feeling speechless. There were simply too many bizarre crimes listed within.

In short—

The entire book did not mention the hierarchy of ability users at all. Instead, in a remarkably obscure manner, it outlined the respective paths controlled by the three major occult organizations.

The first was "Radiance," of the Church of England Sanctuary.

The second was "Secrecy," of the Royal Research Institute Asylum.

The third was "Edge," of the Supernatural Administration Bureau.

"So that's how it is..."

Ye Yan rubbed his chin and muttered, "No wonder the Administration enacted laws to regulate them. Ordinary people can mutate if they come into contact with the supernatural."

Then his gaze settled on the final warning, written in red ink:

"Beyond these three, all are Wild Paths."

The description below the warning was shocking, mixed with terrifying words such as "loss of control" and "aberration."

He gazed at the three emblems in the book: the Sanctum's Sun Wheel, the Research Institute's Ouroboros, and the Administration's Chain Sword.

Whether an awakened person's power belonged to one of the three orthodox paths or a Wild Path, they would ultimately be absorbed by one of the three major organizations.

But if an awakened ability was deemed dangerous, what awaited its bearer would be detention and imprisonment by the Supernatural Administration Bureau.

Ye Yan thought of the path of "Guidance" he was about to unlock.

The name clearly did not fit with either "Radiance" or "Edge." Perhaps it was related to the Research Institute's "Secrecy" path.

But his intuition told him that the Principle of Guidance was probably one of this world's so-called "Wild Paths" as well.

Ye Yan gently closed the book.

"It seems the awakened people here do not have the clear tier system found in games. They are judged only by the strength of their abilities."

It was different from what he had imagined.

This world's supernatural system was far too rudimentary.

"Like science in the Victorian era..." Ye Yan suddenly chuckled. "Occultism here is probably still in its undeveloped stage."