The former No. 36 Zouteland Street had a stucco-plastered ground floor, and the two windows on each floor above were enclosed by a closed arch, which is characteristic of architecture from around 1300 in the Fifth Age, and the lighting was not very good.
The rebuilt site features a small porch on the ground floor, flanked by two-story high domed windows. The window frames are detailed with window sills and decorative column capitals supporting slender stone beams. Above the high domed windows is a parapet wall, which connects to the third floor.
This is a three-story building style that has become popular in recent years.
For a moment, Leonard felt like he had come to the wrong place.
After a pause of about ten seconds, he took his cane inlaid with silver metal, stepped into 36 Zouteland Street, then climbed the steps, rounded the corner, and saw a large black door and a vertical sign:
Blackthorn Security Company
Upon arriving at the location, he seemed to gradually feel familiar with it, quickened his pace, and pushed open the half-closed door.
The brown-haired girl, who had been covering her face by holding the " Tingen City Honest Paper " upright on the table, heard the undisguised footsteps, moved the newspaper, and revealed a smooth forehead, light brown eyes, and a pretty face.
"Good afternoon, Rozanne," Leonard greeted her with a slight hesitation.
Rozanne first showed a look of surprise, then her face darkened, and she said with unusual coldness:
"Good afternoon.
"Congratulations on avenging the captain and Klein."
Leonard opened his mouth, unsure how to respond, and couldn't even bring himself to raise his hand to press down on his hat because he disliked wearing hats.
He forced a smile, nodded slightly, then silently stepped forward, past Rozanne, and prepared to enter the door between the two sides of the partition.
Just as he was about to enter the office area, he suddenly heard Rozanne behind him say in a very low voice:
"Live well..."
Leonard slowed his pace slightly and nodded emphatically.
Upon entering the inner area, he immediately spotted Frye standing at the door of the captain's office.
This " Corpse Collector " still appeared pale, as if he hadn't seen the Sun in a long time. He had black hair, Blue Eyes, a high nose bridge, thin lips, and a cold and gloomy demeanor.
Leonard looked at the other person intently for a few seconds, exhaled, and tried to smile nonchalantly:
"Haven't seen you for a long time."
"Good afternoon, long time no see." Frye gestured towards the captain's office. "I've received the telegram and know about your request. Two team members will accompany you. Also, you need to fill out a Sealed Artifact application form."
Leonard smiled, slightly taken aback:
"You're the captain now? You're not as quiet as before..."
Leonard had actually finished digesting the " Spirit Warlock " Potion and could advance to Sequence 5 " Spirit Warlock," but in order to Stealing the power of that drop of " Eternal Blazing Sun " blood, he deliberately did not report it and continued to Placate the spirits in the area around Backlund. Finally, through his own efforts, he found an opportunity to come to Tingen.
"Yes." Frye nodded slightly. "Actually, I don't like talking so much, but as the captain, I have to."
Leonard nodded slightly and said:
"When did you become the team leader? I've never heard of it..."
"Recently," Frye answered the question concisely before explaining, "Not long after you left, I became Sequence 8 ' Gravedigger,' and last month I was finally promoted to ' Spirit Medium,' while the previous captain was transferred."
"So fast..." Leonard hadn't finished speaking when he punched his head with his fist. "Look at my memory, I forgot that Klein shared some of his experience with everyone."
He lowered his right hand and turned to Frye with a smile:
"In that case, you still have time and room for improvement, and you might even become a butler in the future."
Frye glanced at him, then looked away and said:
I probably won't pursue a promotion any further.
"Why?" Leonard took a few steps, came to Frye's side, and asked with slight surprise.
Frye looked up at the ceiling and said in a calm, low voice:
I want to stay here.
"Protect this place forever."
Leonard fell silent for a moment, offering no response.
He looked around and felt that the place had undergone significant changes, yet some things remained unchanged.
Frye was silent for a moment before speaking:
"I'll send two team members to accompany you."
As he spoke, he walked towards the end of the corridor, and Leonard subconsciously followed beside him.
In the office at the very bottom, the door was open, and several Nighthawks were playing cards, battling evil.
Noticing their captain approaching, they all put down their cards and stood up.
Leonard glanced around and saw two familiar faces: Loyao with smooth black hair and long, thin eyebrows, and Siga with white hair and black eyes.
At the same time, he also saw several unfamiliar faces, and saw pennies, Soli, and playing cards on the table.
For a moment, he felt dazed, and his vision blurred.
In the waters of the Rorsted Archipelago, in a small port with an attached fishing village, the lower deck of the " Future ".
Frank Lee rolled up his sleeves, crossed his arms, and carefully examined the mushroom in front of him.
The mushroom, including its cap, was easily 1.8 meters tall, with several bright red spots on its pure white surface, resembling eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
In addition to these, its trunk also protrudes with spores and grows thick, powerful, white mycelium that resembles tentacles.
Frank looked the giant mushroom up and down a few times, then glanced around at the various mushrooms of different sizes and shapes growing on the wooden walls and floors. He then said to the " Artisan " Sharif beside him:
"Good, this experiment has made progress again. This mushroom has a strong tendency to reproduce, which makes it hungry and desperately needs the flesh and blood of Monster to replenish itself."
"Whether it's roasted or boiled, it can eliminate its activity and make it less dangerous."
"Uh, how does it taste? Didn't you just try it? Its offspring can randomly taste beef, fish, or wheat, and some are even full of milk. One plant can satisfy a whole breakfast. You see, the crew doesn't drink alcohol anymore; there are mushrooms to pick everywhere... I was thinking, sometimes when we go to the wilderness, we need to carry dry rations or hunt wild animals to fill our stomachs, which is too troublesome. Wouldn't it be much easier if we could grow mushrooms on our bodies?"
" Artisan " Sharif had become even thinner than when he was in Bayam, with sunken eyes, a dull gaze, and a lack of liveliness.
Upon hearing Frank's words, he seemed to recall something, his body trembled slightly, he silently squatted down, opened his mouth, and vomited.
"Are you alright? I know you've had a tough time, and I really have to thank you for this." Frank said sincerely to " Artisan." "If it weren't for you, this mushroom wouldn't have such a strong tendency to reproduce, and under Moonlight, its vitality becomes exceptionally tenacious, capable of self- Purification, which can effectively eliminate the toxins accumulated from devouring Monster. The only problem right now is that pure darkness has no Moonlight, and that's the next issue we need to address."
Sharif didn't speak. After vomiting, he suddenly stood up and turned to rush outside, but thick, powerful white mycelium spread over and wrapped around him, pulling him back.
"Give me back my magical artifact! I want to die with these mushrooms!" he screamed frantically, his voice trailing off as if his mouth were being gagged.
At that moment, somewhere outside the fishing village, rows of green vines rapidly withdrew, as if growing backwards.
" Admiral of Stars " Cattleya stepped out, her eyes a deep purple mixed with silver.
The illusory murmurs from the " Hidden Sage " still echoed in her ears, but she no longer felt terrified, unlike before when she could not bear it at all. What she saw were countless wandering figures of indescribable shapes, thick curtains of shadows, and invisible gazes cast from who-knows-where.
Compared to before, she could now vaguely see the unknown existence hidden behind the curtain, and could witness the Moon of different colors high in the sky, some blood red, some silvery white, some dark brown, and some deep blue, like eyes watching over the earth.
Cattleya's mind went blank for a moment, and she quickly looked away, not daring to look again.
She has completed the ritual by analyzing the blood of the " Snake of Fate," gained divinity, and become Sequence 4 of the " Mystery Pryer " pathway, the " Mystic "!
However, she remembered the Queen's warning to her:
Of all the Sequence 4 paths in the twenty-two pathways, the " Mystic " is the most dangerous "profession" because they often see things they shouldn't see, hear sounds they shouldn't hear, and touch secrets they shouldn't touch.
Therefore, for a " Mystic " to live a long life, they must learn to restrain their curiosity and control their behavior.
Taking off the heavy glasses clipped to her clothes, Cattleya placed them on her nose, but the various things she saw that did not belong to the real world did not disappear.
She gave a half-self-deprecating, half-satisfied smile, realizing that the item could no longer seal her Eye of Mystery Prying.
She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again; her eyes were now a deep, dark black, no longer possessing the mysterious deep purple and silvery white.
Whew... Cattleya breathed a sigh of relief and slowly walked towards the " Future," as if she had just disembarked for a walk.
She had no intention of spreading the news of her becoming Demigod, nor did she aspire to quickly become the fifth ruler of the sea. For her, this was one of her trump cards in this dangerous world, and she would not easily reveal it.
Bridge South Borough, Rose Street.
As Emlyn's carriage entered the street, he saw a blurry figure in a white shirt and black vest with slightly disheveled hair standing out in the opposite seat. It was a young man who looked like Wraith ghost.
"Long time no see, Mr. Maric," Emlyn said with a smile, completely unfazed.
Maric nodded very slightly.
"I'm here to tell you that we're ready and can discuss the specific action plan."
P. S.: Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and a joyous family reunion!