Chapter 293: Crossbone

After the Investigator Sequence advanced to Stage Three, Caelum looked at the archaeologist’s notebook again and immediately gained a completely new perspective. More information surfaced from it.

Stage Three of the Investigator Sequence could see through appearances and reach the essence of things.

That made Caelum think of the garbled writing in the notebook.

He had always cared about those chaotic strings of symbols. Some part of him had felt that important secrets might be hidden there.

Sure enough, when he opened the archaeologist’s notebook again, the disorderly, distorted gibberish gradually became understandable in his eyes.

A few pieces of information stood out to him in particular.

"The embodiment of cosmic rules, the Lord of Chaos who symbolizes knowledge, the unknown, and exploration. When the stars shine, the star paths shall guide the world into the embrace of the supreme existence."

"The Old Gods lost in Their struggle against the Outer Gods and were forced into endless dormancy, waiting quietly for the chance to return. These words were written on a stone tablet in a certain ruin."

"In a place called Skull Town, I discovered a mysterious order known as Crossbone. They made my skin crawl. Even though I seem to have already become a madman, they are madder than I am. I did not dare stay there. I fled that strange town overnight."

"The Crossbone Order is attempting to revive a certain ancient god. They seem to possess something left behind by an Outer God. They actually intend to use it to revive that ancient god, then replace Him!"

...

"Something seems to be sleeping deep beneath Lake Senaga outside Cton. My intuition tells me that the possibility of advancing to Stage Four may exist there."

...

As a member of the Investigator Sequence, this archaeologist had acted his role very deeply. He had uncovered a great deal of important hidden intelligence.

Judging from all the signs revealed in the writing, Caelum inferred that the archaeologist’s Investigator Sequence had very likely advanced to Stage Three.

Otherwise, there was no way he could have investigated the Crossbone Order so clearly.

He had dug so deep that he had almost overturned the bottom of their secrets.

"Lake Senaga outside Cton..."

Caelum decided to go there and take a look.

Stage Three of the Investigator Sequence alone still could not fully release the power of One Hit Kill.

His Sequence had to advance to an even higher Stage.

At the same time, hostile faction players throughout Cton began appearing, intentionally or otherwise, around Caelum’s house.

They quietly observed his situation.

The hostile faction players who were farther away had not yet arrived, but there were already quite a few hostile faction players inside Cton itself.

Not too many, but around ten.

Some had stepped onto secret potion paths.

Some were still ordinary people.

After sensing one another’s identities, these people temporarily formed a small team.

Their goal was the same anyway.

The ordinary people only wanted to touch the mission participation reward. Once they picked up guns, their combat power could not be ignored either.

After all, most Sequence users at Stage One or Stage Two would still die from a gunshot.

On the street, two inconspicuous middle aged men leaned against a wall and read newspapers.

Their rather shabby clothes made them look like ordinary men searching for work in the papers.

One of them had a scruffy beard, deep eyes, and a faintly steady air.

His name was Toru Yamamoto, one of the hostile system’s players.

Stage Two of the Novelist Sequence.

The middle aged man beside Toru was named Cross.

Compared with Toru’s steadiness, Cross seemed restless and impatient.

Likewise, he was also a Sequence user.

Stage One of the Beast Tamer Sequence.

The ability of Stage Two of the Novelist Sequence was to write all kinds of accidents and coincidences through text, allowing one to interfere with reality to a certain degree.

It was extremely powerful.

Compared with the Novelist Sequence, the Beast Tamer Sequence was much weaker.

Cross could not command wild beasts. His ability was to gain the physique and strength of a beast.

Limited by the fact that his Sequence was only at Stage One, the most he could obtain was the physique and strength of a tiger. His close combat ability was fairly strong.

Cross was curious.

"Speaking of which, why did a novelist like you come here to join the fun? Would it not be better to hide with the sniper? You are standing here so openly. One shot from that guy could take you down."

Toru rolled his eyes.

"My ability has heavy restrictions. You think I do not want to hide?"

Another long while passed.

Cross’s face was full of impatience. He smoked one cigarette after another, leaving cigarette butts scattered across the ground.

"How long are we supposed to wait like this? I might as well just rush in."

"The richer the mission reward, the higher the difficulty. We still do not know the target’s strength. Acting rashly is too dangerous."

Toru lowered his voice and cursed, "After becoming a Beast Tamer, did you throw away your brain too? If you want to die, tell me in advance. I will send you on your way myself."

Cross had no comeback.

He muttered, "I am just worried someone else will get there first. If that happens, never mind the extra reward. We might not even get the participation reward."

"Be patient."

Toru’s tone remained steady.

"When has the system ever been this generous? A mission of this level can never be completed by one person alone. What we need to do is wait for the right moment."

Until afternoon.

A group of police officers arrived with fierce momentum.

Sheriff Marbury knocked on Caelum’s door with an extremely serious expression. This time, he was not polite at all.

Toru’s eyes lit up at once.

He immediately pulled out the notebook at his waist, drew out a pen, and began writing rapidly across the pages.

Inside the house, Caelum had changed into a new suit.

After dressing neatly, he opened the door at an unhurried pace.

Once the door opened, Sheriff Marbury’s face appeared before him.

"Caelum, you are suspected in a murder case. This is an arrest warrant. Please come back to the police department with us for investigation."

Sheriff Marbury raised the arrest warrant in his hand and showed it to Caelum.

But just as he withdrew it, the dark muzzle of a gun pressed against his forehead.

He looked up.

He met Caelum’s eyes, cold and calm without the slightest ripple.

A chill shot straight to his head.

His skin tightened all over.

"Wait. It is only for questioning..."

A gunshot erupted.

Fire bloomed with white smoke.

The bullet shot from the barrel pierced straight through Sheriff Marbury’s head, splashing the officer behind him with blood and brain matter.

For a moment, the officers froze.

Smoke still drifted from the muzzle.

Caelum drew a dagger with his other hand.

Elegant.

Calm.

"Sorry. I need to take a long trip. I do not have time to waste here."

The officers finally reacted, their faces changing sharply as they raised their guns at Caelum.

"Sheriff Marbury!"

"Fire!"