"Creak!"
Standing at the entrance of the detective agency, the ashen one walked straight ahead and pushed open the ajar door.
Inside was a spacious, bright hall with soft, classical sofas, cushioned armchairs, and wooden coffee tables.
There was also a reception desk resembling a bar counter.
At that moment, three men and women were sitting on the sofas or armchairs, seemingly waiting for something.
One of them, a man wearing a gray double-breasted coat, was holding a sheet of paper with a grim expression, appearing as if he wanted to tear the paper apart.
"I'm looking for Al Harsen," the ashen one said, glancing at the three people.
"Are you the new recruit?"
Upon hearing this, all three of them looked at the ashen one, and the man in the gray double-breasted coat cast a hostile look.
Even the expressions of the other two were unusually peculiar.
"I am Al Harsen," the middle-aged man in the gray double-breasted coat stood up and walked straight to the ashen one, speaking bluntly, "You are the worst recruit I've ever seen!"
The ashen one calmly looked at Al Harsen, not understanding the reason for his hostility.
But since he was an NPC, a bit of a bad attitude could be tolerated for now, and he could deal with him after completing the mission.
Yes.
Except for Patches.
"Do you have any prior work experience?"
Al Harsen felt frustrated when the ashen one didn't retort and changed the topic.
"No."
The ashen one gently shook his head. He didn't even know what a NightHawks was.
"No?!"
Al Harsen's voice raised another notch, his anger making it seem like he might lash out at any moment.
"Al!"
The thirty-something, black-haired woman dressed in men's clothing, with a good-looking face, called out in a warning tone.
"I know!"
Al Harsen took a deep breath, his tone still irate, "Newbie, follow me. You're in luck, starting your first day with a field assignment."
The woman and the cold-looking man with a scar on his face were both surprised.
But neither voiced any objections, instead standing up and following Al Harsen towards the back.
The ashen one silently followed them.
As he passed by the sofa, he glanced at the sheet of paper Al Harsen had placed on the table.
"Name: Ash Black... Considering the member's unique abilities, the initial weekly salary can be slightly higher than ordinary members, tentatively set at 100 pounds per week.
Additionally, during special periods, the church may assign tasks as needed, but if the member has a legitimate reason, they can refuse. No one is allowed to force them."
"…"
The ashen one looked away.
He suddenly understood why Al Harsen was so hostile from the first meeting.
Al Harsen led the group through a corridor to an office at the far end.
Opening the door revealed an empty office with nothing but a gray-white stone staircase leading down.
Elegant gas lamps adorned the walls on either side of the staircase, their steady glow dispelling the darkness and providing a sense of calm.
Descending the stairs to the stone-paved floor, they found similar metal-grilled gas lamps embedded in the walls, casting long shadows.
On the walls, at intervals, were 'badges'—
They resembled the 'Night Emblem' the ashen one possessed but were distinctly different.
After walking for a while, they finally reached a large black iron door adorned with seven holy emblems.
Standing before the black iron door, Al Harsen knocked.
The door slowly opened from within, revealing an old man in a black robe.
"We're here to retrieve Sealed Artifact '2-049'."
Al Harsen spoke with a slightly respectful tone.
The old man gave him a silent look, nodded slightly, and turned back into the darkness.
Shortly after, they received what they came for—
A black iron box.
The box was engraved with brilliant stars and a crimson moon, exuding a palpable sense of sealing.
"A Level 2 Sealed Artifact, dangerous. Use it with caution and restraint."
The old man handed the black box to Al Harsen, his dry voice warning, "Once you leave the Chanis Gate, you'll have to handle its influence yourselves."
"I understand."
Al Harsen nodded solemnly, placing the black box on the ground.
The moment the box left the gate, Al Harsen and the other two became extremely vigilant.
"They're afraid."
The ashen one thought silently, "Afraid of that box? What's inside?"
In the next moment, he saw them all make the same motion—
They bent their arms, then extended them, over and over again in a continuous loop.
Suddenly, violent knocking came from within the iron box.
The surface of the box bulged repeatedly with each knock.
Thump.
Thump thump.
Thump thump thump.
As the pounding grew more frequent, it seemed something inside was waking up.
For some reason, the ashen one had an almost instinctive thought—
There's a puppet inside.
It was the fragmented memories reminding him.
In the next instant, Al Harsen's 'bending and extending motion' suddenly became awkward, like gears lacking lubrication or joints covered in rust.
The black-haired woman quickly pushed him.
Immediately, Al Harsen's movement returned to normal, and he swiftly picked up the box and walked outside.
The other two continued the arm-bending and extending motion, following him out.
"What are you waiting for? Follow along."
Al Harsen shouted, taking two steps before turning back, "One more thing, if you don't want to die, mimic their movements. Don't say I didn't warn you."
The ashen one silently followed, cautiously mimicking their arm-bending and extending motion.
After a short distance, the black-haired woman's movements suddenly became awkward.
The scarred man quickly pushed her.
Al Harsen also quickly handed the box to the woman.
Repeating this process, every time someone's movements became awkward, the box would change hands, all the way back to the detective agency.
By then, three unfamiliar beyonders individuals, two men and one woman, had appeared in the agency's hall.
One of the men looked significantly older, evidently the leader.
The young woman with chestnut hair stood obediently beside him, her delicate face adorned with a slight smile, dimples showing.
"Simon, Eve, we'll leave this to you."
Al Harsen nodded slightly to the trio in the hall.
"Don't worry."
Simon smiled, "But remember to be careful. You don't want to miss my and Eve's wedding next month."
"Jinx."
Loretta rolled her eyes, "I still don't get what Eve sees in you!"
"Safe travels, Loretta."
Eve stuck her tongue out but didn't retort, simply smiling and waving gently at them.
To prevent the Sealed Artifact's influence from leaking further, they didn't waste much time.
They boarded the carriage that had been waiting outside.
"Phew."
The woman carrying the box placed it inside the carriage, breathing a sigh of relief as she climbed out and took the driver's seat.
After all, she had just been influenced, so she wouldn't be affected again for a while.
Though she wondered if she was simply having a streak of bad luck lately, as this was her third time 'falling prey'.
Inside the box, however, whatever was inside seemed tireless, continuing to pound furiously against the iron.
Not long after, the scarred man, who had been pushed by Al Harsen, got up and took the driver's seat.
"What is this?"
As the carriage slowly started moving, the ashen one suddenly asked.
"Sealed Artifact '2-049'."
Al Harsen glanced at him and said, "It can slow down those around it. If not noticed in time, those 'slowed' will gradually be controlled by it. Normally, it affects human-shaped beings within five meters. The closer you are, the more likely you are to be chosen. It can only affect one person at a time and won't affect the same person consecutively."
"So, as long as at least three people are around it, those further away won't be affected."
The ashen one understood, so that's why they took turns carrying the box?
However, a box with a puppet inside that could influence those around it...
Hmm? The ashen one frowned.
No, his memories were too blurry to recall clearly.
Yet, for some reason, it seemed he hadn't been affected at all…
As he was thinking, the ashen one's sixth sense suddenly warned him. Quickly, he stopped the arm-bending motion.
Al Harsen's expression changed, ready to scold him.
Simultaneously, the ashen one felt an invisible pressure descending upon him.
Then, he raised his left arm.
"Clang!"
Parry!
"Boom!"
The pounding inside the box abruptly stopped, as if whatever was inside had been stunned.
"Were you affected?"
"Did you break free from its influence?!"
Al Harsen and the woman spoke almost simultaneously, their expressions turning to shock as they looked at each other.
P.S.: The author of "Lord of the Mysteries" has played the Souls series, at least Bloodborne.
The most direct evidence is 'Gehrman Sparrow' and 'Yharnam'.
Gehrman is a hunter in Bloodborne, and Sparrow undoubtedly comes from "Pirates of the Caribbean's" Jack Sparrow.
As for Yharnam, it's directly referenced.
Furthermore, 'Tonight, Gehrman joins the hunt', Micolash's Wet Nurse and Micolash, Ms. Sharon and the Doll, etc., all give a strong sense of déjà vu.
(End of Chapter)