What had Dokule seen?
He saw a deer head and a painting hanging at staggered positions on opposite walls of the corridor.
The deer head looked like an ordinary taxidermy specimen, except that it bared fangs. That one small change turned what should have been a gentle deer into a hideous, man-eating monster.
The painting was entirely crimson. It depicted nothing specific, just an expanse of crimson that made anyone looking at it feel an involuntary chill down their spine.
The reporter was no exception. He felt deeply uneasy.
But a moment later, he sneered inwardly.
Fraud!
Cheap tricks!
The reporter was filled with contempt.
Arthur naturally noticed the contempt flash across Dokule's face again, but he certainly wasn't going to explain that the deer head's fangs concealed a device installed inside it that spewed fire, while three spears lay behind the crimson painting. The crimson made people instinctively avert their eyes, causing them to overlook the deadly trap hidden there.
Without a doubt, these were all Old Charlie's arrangements.
"A medium must take care of his own safety!"
Old Charlie had always said that, and he had lived by it too.
Of course, Arthur had disabled the traps for now.
He didn't care whether someone like Dokule lived or died.
Scott, however, was a genuinely decent man. Even now, he was still worried about Arthur. Arthur believed Scott must have understood how dire his own situation was, yet he was still concerned for Arthur despite that. It was enough to prove his kind heart. Even if Scott might have been the reason this had all started, someone so kindhearted shouldn't be subjected to flames and spears.
As for the other two?
Fontel and Wiggins, whom Dokule had apparently hired?
Judging by their expressions, one was genuinely interested in Arthur as a medium, while the other was simply doing a job for money.
The two counted as somewhat innocent, so they shouldn't be subjected to these things either.
Besides, he still needed them to serve as witnesses to what came next.
Arthur, who needed more XP, was exceptionally forgiving at that moment.
Completely unaware of how Arthur had classified them, the two young men swept astonished, excited gazes over the fanged deer head and the crimson painting before their attention was drawn to the full suit of armor, the doll, and the torture implements in the hall.
The full suit of armor was in the style of the late Sacred Empire. Its visor exposed only the eyes, and its overall construction was heavy and sturdy. Repairs had been made at the center of the back, making it clear how its former owner had died.
The doll, meanwhile, was exquisitely crafted, with a white lace dress and large eyes. But as they stared at it, both men felt that it was looking back at them. Unease made them hurriedly turn toward the torture implements beside it, only to feel even more uncomfortable.
Dark red stains still lingered on the small knives, and a rusty meat hook made their scalps prickle.
In fact, it wasn't just those two who felt uncomfortable. Even the consistently scornful Dokule felt his throat tighten and unconsciously undid a button on his shirt.
Seeing this, the amusement in Arthur's eyes deepened.
He had to admit that Old Charlie's arrangements were superb.
As expected of an experienced medium, every detail struck right at the heart, drawing people unwittingly into the snare of fear.
Arthur praised him inwardly while walking toward the door of the smaller sitting room without betraying a thing. Strictly speaking, this was where the medium actually worked. Old Charlie usually performed divinations, answered questions, and so on for visiting guests here.
Of course, Old Charlie had also made a few arrangements here to deal with ill-intentioned visitors.
One of them happened to be perfect for handling someone like Dokule!
With his back to the others, Arthur turned the doorknob.
Then, just as he pushed the door open, he lightly pressed the lock cylinder.
Whoosh!
An inflated pig's bladder coated in white phosphorus immediately shot out through the gap in the door.
Fwoosh!
The white phosphorus ignited instantly. Carried by the force that had launched it, the inflated bladder sailed through the air like a ball of ghostly fire passing through the door and hurtling straight toward Dokule and the other three.
"Aaaah!"
The two hired men, whose fear had already been stirred by the oppressive atmosphere, immediately screamed at the sight.
Scott's face was tense as well.
Dokule, whom the ghostly fire was targeting, turned pale and backed away repeatedly.
Only Arthur turned around calmly, fixing Dokule with a cold stare.
"My servant, stand down!"
Arthur deliberately timed his words so that the white phosphorus finished burning through the bladder just as it reached Dokule and the others.
But to the four watching, it looked as though the ghostly fire had truly obeyed Arthur's command and withdrawn.
The two onlookers cried out again, marveling at this miraculous sight.
Scott, however, smiled.
Just as I thought. Arthur has perfectly inherited Mr. Charlie's bloodline. Perhaps he'll grow into a true "master."
Dokule's heart clenched. He realized things were slipping beyond his control.
The malicious reporter immediately tried to speak, but Arthur cut him off coldly-
"Arthur..."
"You came here with ill intent!
Otherwise, my servant would never have become so agitated!"
Arthur stood perfectly straight, staring at Dokule with an expressionless face. Surrounded by all those terrifying arrangements, he exuded an inexplicable air that frightened the already uneasy Dokule into taking another step back.
Arthur didn't press him immediately.
He remained where he was and tilted his head as though listening to someone telling him something.
"Greed?"
"Yes, I understand."
As he spoke, his brow furrowed, and deep disgust appeared in his gaze as he looked at Dokule. His voice grew colder still.
"Get out! You are no longer welcome here!"
Creak!
The front door of 2 Kirk Street swung open.
Under Arthur's cold gaze, the anxious, frightened Dokule immediately felt a chill rise from the depths of his heart.
Without hesitation, the reporter scrambled toward the exit.
Only when Dokule was about to leave 2 Kirk Street and feel the sunshine outside did his courage return.
He told himself that this wasn't his home ground!
The newspaper was!
Once I get back, I'll be sure to write a "thorough" report!
Dokule gritted his teeth as he thought this.
But Arthur saw his tightly pressed lips and hate-filled eyes through a mirror concealed in the room.
Arthur immediately narrowed his eyes.
He had never intended to let Dokule off and had planned to kill him outright after dark. Now, he decided to collect a little interest first!
Arthur's icy voice rang out again-
"Man of greed, the star of your doom is flickering!"
His bloodline [remnant dark serpent] and skill [Intimidation] flashed in response!
The icy voice suddenly burrowed into Dokule's heart, as though it truly carried an endless curse. The chill that had just faded returned, far stronger than before. The malicious reporter felt as though an icy hand had seized his heart and then given it a vicious squeeze.
Dokule, who had already run out of 2 Kirk Street, panicked. His left leg tangled with his right, and he fell flat.
Thud!
The fall left Dokule dazed, his vision badly blurred.
When he instinctively turned back to look at Arthur, he saw through his blurred vision that the eyes staring coldly at him had become...
Slit pupils!
Golden slit pupils!
Like a snake's!
The instant that thought entered Dokule's mind, Arthur's appearance changed.
His body and tongue lengthened in an instant, his eyes filled with icy menace. As his clothes fell away, he transformed completely into an enormous, pitch-black snake that filled the entire sitting room, its head raised toward the sky.
The next moment, the giant snake lowered its head and stared at him.
Dokule felt as though all the blood in his body was about to freeze.
When the giant snake lunged at him-
"Aah!"
Dokule screamed, scrambled to his feet, and kept running.
In his panic, the reporter completely failed to notice a speeding carriage approaching from the other end of the street.
Then-
Bang!
P.S. A recommendation for a friend's book, "Contending for Immortality"~
Before you continue