In the study of the villa on Kingst Street, Ebner personally brewed a cup of Southville black tea and handed it to Mr. Azik before sitting opposite him.
Speaking of which, ever since Xio and Jane developed the bad habit of coming to visit in the middle of the night, there had been some snacks and edible beverages in Ebner's study and bedroom.
Of course, this wasn't an instruction from Ebner, but Madam Skade's own decision…
Back to the topic at hand, Mr. Azik, who was essentially an angel, had personally admitted that the information had helped him greatly. This brought about great feedback, allowing the Knowledge Keeper potion that he had drunk to finally be completely digested.
Therefore, in a good mood, the bronze-skinned gentleman opposite him asked, "Mr. Azik… Or should I say, Baron Lamud, is there a reason why you and Silika came looking for me?"
Although letting Silika lure Azik over was his established strategy, and although he had deliberately placed the stack of documents on the table, he couldn't let her know about it, lest he arouse unnecessary suspicion.
Thankfully, Silika was rather cooperative and didn't inform him of his plans. Otherwise, he would have to activate Plan B.
Just as Ebner was rejoicing and deciding to add a few more bottles of medicine for a "feast," Azik habitually touched the inconspicuous mole below his right ear and asked after some deliberation,
"Aren't you surprised that a person from more than a thousand years ago would sit in front of you?"
Seeing that he was in no hurry to answer the question, Ebner poured himself a cup of black tea and took a sip before saying with a smile,
"This isn't anything strange… Based on the information I found, I can confirm that you're a Beyonder of the Corpse Collector pathway.
"And this pathway's Sequence 4 is called Undying. They die once every sixty years, revive once, and forget most of their past memories. They need to be slowly recovered, just like the beginning of a new life…"
Azik's mind went adrift as he muttered the words "Corpse Collector" and "Undying."
After a while, he said in a slightly deep voice,
"The knowledge you're describing gives me a familiar feeling. It reminds me of something… However, although I don't have any memories, I still feel that I should've passed the Undying stage… But some of my symptoms match the Undying after my resurrection…
"After the Undying stage, are you still constantly dying and reviving?" Ebner pretended to think for a moment before saying in an apologetic tone, "I'm very sorry. If there weren't any more clues, I probably wouldn't have been able to deduce anything."
"You don't have to apologize at all, Detective Bryan… It wasn't something you had to do in the first place…" Mr. Azik waved his hand, then he shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Besides, if it was very easy to figure out my identity, I think I would've long found a way to escape my destiny.
"In short, what you just said has already benefited me greatly. I'm very grateful for that."
"It's already a reward for a detective for you to be able to get something out of it," Ebner said politely in a Loen-styled manner, but he was thinking to himself, It's good to be grateful… I'll only ask for your help in the future if I have any gratitude.
At that moment, Mr. Azik finally recalled the purpose of his visit. He said, "The reason I took the liberty of visiting you this time is to figure out what happened to Silika… Yes, including her when she was alive and after she died."
On the other side of the table, Silika, who was carrying a bottle, turned her head curiously when she heard her name. Her ears pricked up as well.
"Silika?" Ebner pretended to think for a moment, then replied after three or four seconds, "I don't know much about Silika either. I only know that she had apparently gone to Lamud Town's ancient castle to explore it when she was alive, and she even met Mr. Cullen there… And after she turned into a dead spirit, she was also unwilling to leave the ancient castle for some time.
"As for more detailed information, I'm afraid you'll have to ask Mr. Cullen."
Mr. Azik looked at Silika with a look of tenderness before asking seriously, "Mr. Cullen? Who is he?"
"Mr. Cullen is a Sanguine Viscount, and Silika is his messenger," Ebner answered simply.
This wasn't considered betraying Cullen. After all, he had already obtained his permission when he wrote the letter.
"Messenger?" Mr. Azik frowned when he heard that.
The memories that flashed past his mind made him almost certain that Silika was the daughter of one of his lives.
And now, his daughter was being used as a messenger for someone else to command… Although it was obvious that the contract she signed was very relaxed based on her free and casual attitude, it still left Mr. Azik uncomfortable. He was eager to talk to Mr. Cullen.
When Silika heard the conversation about herself and Cullen, she chirped a few times in excitement. Although Ebner didn't understand her, he could tell from her appearance that she was talking about some interesting matters between her and Cullen.
Hence, Mr. Azik's expression turned even friendlier.
He thought for a moment, then he took out a glove that was so thin that it looked like it was made of human skin. He handed it to Ebner and said, "Detective Bryan, I would like Silika to lead the way and meet Mr. Cullen as soon as possible… This glove will be an apology for my intrusion.
"It's a relic of the pirate Vice Admiral you were tracking. I made some simple seals to prevent it from starving usually, but every time it's used, you have to feed it with the flesh and soul of a human. Otherwise, it will devour you."
This is Creeping Hunger… Mr. Fool's future cashier! Although Gehrman seems to have hunted many famous pirates, most of the Beyonder characteristics and formulas he sold were thanks to it.
Ebner looked at it curiously, but he didn't take the glove. Instead, he looked at Mr. Azik's surprised eyes and shook his head.
"It's fine if you want to apologize. Actually, I happen to need the help of a high-level Corpse Collector pathway Beyonder…"
Having said that, he looked at the illusory bird that had sucked the fragrance of the Amantha extract clean. He joked,
"Besides, I don't think Silika wants to leave yet!"
After all, she hadn't fulfilled her promise to the Book of Dead Souls, "Incense."
…
In Tingen City, in a bungalow surrounded by gardens and lawns in the Golden Indus borough.
A young, scrawny girl in a black dress and hat finished reading the police report. Tears streamed down her face as she gritted her teeth and said, "She suddenly died of excessive drinking and continuous indulgence in sexual pleasure? What a laughable conclusion! Her lovers must've given the police some pressure to come up with such a joke!"
She spoke with a sobbing tone as though she was talking to a beautiful lady beside her.
The girl was the sister of the deceased Member of Parliament Maynard, and the beautiful lady beside her was the public school teacher who had been by her side consoling her.
Seeing that her student was crying sadly, Leena consoled her a little before pointing out, "Since the police department can't be counted on, perhaps we can spend money to hire professionals to find evidence."
"Professional? Is there such a professional in Tingen?" When the scrawny girl heard this, she stopped crying and looked expectantly at the teacher she felt very close to.
"Definitely," Leena answered with certainty. Which city didn't have a few official Beyonder teams?
At that moment, Mrs. Maynard happened to hear their conversation from upstairs. She immediately took over the conversation excitedly. "Aisa, your teacher is right! I've heard of such professionals… The tobacco merchant, Vickroy's youngest son, Elliott, was kidnapped a month ago. The mercenaries he hired only took half a day to find him! I think we can find those mercenaries too."
Having said that, Mrs. Maynard calmed down a little. She looked at Leena and said solemnly, "Ma'am Leena, thank you for accompanying Aisa for the past few days, and thank you for your good advice! If things go well, I'll definitely pay you handsomely."
Leona bowed slightly and said calmly, "It's my greatest honor to help you."
With that said, she lowered her head and appeared bashful, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
…
On Thursday morning, Ebner took back the Book of Dead under Silika's reluctant gaze and sealed it again.
Beside him, Mr. Azik, who had been staying there the entire time, pondered for a moment before saying, "The aura on this book is very special. Although it's beneficial for Silika, it's best not to let her come into contact with it for more than three hours every day."
You're thinking too much. If you weren't here, it would be pretty good if I let her "rub against" me for an hour every day.
After lampooning silently, Ebner read between the lines and asked,
"Do you find this book familiar?"
Mr. Azik shook his head and said with certainty, "This isn't a book I made or written. It doesn't seem familiar at all…"
Having said that, he continued, "However, I have a vague feeling that the remnant powers seem to be very similar to mine…"
Similar but unfamiliar… Could Jane's ancestor really be another resurrection contingency of the Emperor of the Underworld in the Fourth Epoch?