Chapter 2377: Death’s Agitation

Chapter 2377: Chapter 2377: Death’s Agitation

Unexpectedly, Mr. Chekhov appeared much younger than Mr. Edmund and Old John. Specifically, he seemed to be just over fifty, despite having white hair; most of his hair was actually black.

When Shard pushed open the door to the shop that afternoon, he immediately noticed the Casenric edition of "Hamilton Detective Stories" placed in the most prominent position of the old bookstore, and they were definitely new books. This means Dorothy’s novel is really popular.

The shop itself wasn’t large, so it didn’t employ any staff. The person sitting behind the counter repairing old books was Mr. Chekhov. Upon hearing Shard’s voice, the old gentleman glanced up at Shard, and then noticed the letter Shard placed before him.

Mr. Chekhov unfolded the letter and read it. After a slight frown, he looked at Shard:

"A friend introduced by Old Man John, huh? Since it has signatures of the three, I can certainly discuss business with you, but I originally didn’t plan to sell that relic."

He placed the letter into the drawer under the counter, brought over a teapot, prepared teacups, and began to converse with Shard:

"How should I address you?"

"Um... John Watson."

"Alright, Mr. Watson, the value of the Star Swordstone isn’t in itself, but in the special alloys that are subsidiary products. It took me quite an effort to bring it from the islands. If you want to discuss price, I certainly can, but forget about Gold Pounds or Krone; I only accept trades."

Shard nodded understandingly. He had arranged with the witches that this relic wouldn’t be easy to obtain, so the Witch Council would pay the buying price. Even if the relic isn’t related to the Chosen One Ceremony, it is worth the Council’s collection:

"The relics I and my friends have collected aren’t many, but there are still one or two valuable pieces. How about this, Mr. Chekhov, you tell me what type of relic or knowledge you need. I am friends with the Hermit Society, so we can easily discuss this."

The bookstore owner behind the counter agreed with a smile:

"You were introduced by Old John. In the letter, he said you’re much like him when he was young, and I thought he meant you’re as frugal as him... perhaps he meant he was as handsome as you when he was young?"

He brought out his notebook, hastily scribbled a few lines, tore off the page, and handed it to Shard:

"Five options. Bring the first two, any one, or the last three, any two, and this transaction can succeed. Although the Star Swordstone is only a Keeper of Secrets Level relic, you understand its value, so don’t blame me for asking high. Of course, if the value isn’t entirely matched, we can offset the difference."

"Certainly."

Shard looked down and saw written:

"1. Space storage category relic (any level); 2. Two Keeper of Secrets Level relics that can create safe darkness/light absorption areas; 3. Brand new intelligence on ’Light Worshipper Training Association’; 4. Keeper of Secrets Level relic - All-Purpose Glue; 5. Dragon Scale Coin × 20 pieces."

Shard raised his eyebrows:

"The second choice, is this to resist abnormal light?"

"Of course, currently it’s seen that the Whisper Element of relics is the most effective means to resist abnormal light. Although Keeper of Secrets Level relics can’t fully protect the user, they can at least weaken the infectivity of the light. Recently in the whole Moon Bay Region, the price of this type of relic is rising, even more exaggerated than the recent years’ rise of Moon Bay City’s housing prices. Of course, if you feel at a loss, we can offset the difference."

Mr. Chekhov said without explaining the purpose of the other options:

"I’ve always kept the Star Swordstone for you, so you don’t need to worry about me selling it to others. To me, the second option is the easiest for you to bring out, but of course, if you choose other options, I’m happy too."

"It’s a real coincidence, I do have quite a few Dragon Scale Coins... you mean the kind extracted from the ’Dragon Altar’, right?"

Shard asked, and Mr. Chekhov nodded in surprise:

"Indeed, you have these coins? That’s unexpected. Don’t be puzzled about what I want them for; weapons strengthened by melted Dragon Scale Coins have a significant damage bonus against dragons. Strengthening twenty different weapons with twenty coins can instantly bring in a large profit."

"Then what specific info do you need about the ’Guiding Light Hermitage’?"

"Of course, as detailed as possible, at least tell me what they are doing recently."

But Shard and the Witch Council also want to know what they are doing recently. Since last weekend when the ’Light Chaser’ was besieged by the witches and two dragons and retreated, Shard hasn’t received any news from them.

He was about to further inquire about the specific information of the relic "All-Purpose Glue", when he suddenly felt the view dimming:

"Hmm? The gas lamp in the store is broken?"

He then realized that at four in the afternoon, there’s simply no gas lamp lit in the old bookstore.

"Something happened outside."

Mr. Chekhov was slightly taken aback and immediately said this, lifting the panel and stepping out of the counter, quickly heading to the street with Shard.

Standing at the store’s door and looking up, there was no sign of an "eclipse" or sudden appearance of large rain clouds obscuring the sky in the approaching dusk. To an ordinary person’s view, a strange black mist rapidly gathered over the city, blocking the bright sky, while thin white fog slowly spread through the air in alleys and streets.

However, the two Circle Sorcerers distinctly saw the dense white fog symbolizing a death omen surging out from every corner of the street like a tsunami.

"Undead?"

Mr. Chekhov asked in shock, he was an Eleven-Ring Sorcerer, with very strong perception:

"What’s going on? What is this breath of death that feels like an undead tide about to appear?"

Shard stood solemnly on the street looking in all directions, while the passersby and open-front store owners, also attracted by this sudden strange darkness, were discussing on the street.

"The gates of death have opened."

"What?"

Mr. Chekhov overheard Shard’s muttering, and Shard pulled his sleeve, temporarily returning to the old bookstore together. Shard spoke quickly, this was indeed a major incident:

"That’s a metaphorical expression. I experienced last autumn’s Midshire Fort incident; this feeling clearly indicates a large-area uncontrolled ’interstice of life and death’ somewhere in the city."

"What? An interstice of life and death? No, you don’t need to explain, I know about this, but in Moon Bay?"

Mr. Chekhov was increasingly shocked, and Shard continued to add:

"Rest assured, it’s definitely not the scale of last year’s Midshire Fort’s unclassified level relic ’interstice of life and death,’ but from the looks of it, it’s not small either... Mr. Chekhov, are there local legends in Moon Bay City about undead or death?"

"Yes!"

The elderly gentleman, over fifty, nodded immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly as he recalled relevant content:

"It was around the mid-to-late Fifth Era when Moon Bay City experienced a massive earthquake. That earthquake and the subsequent tsunami almost destroyed half of Moon Bay, subsequently, the Moon Bay region never developed during the late Fifth Era.

Several documents recorded frequent events of undead resurgence and ghost killings in this area for a long period after the earthquake, and later there was a terrifying spectral plague. Finally, a Witch Empress personally intervened, suppressing that event... could that Witch Empress have sealed the uncontrolled interstice of life and death at the time?"

"It’s very likely that the earthquake’s spiritual and elemental tide tore through the boundary between life and death, creating this interstice; otherwise, there’s no reason for no prior record of such in Moon Bay throughout history."

Shard assessed while looking at the ’dense’ white fog outside the window:

"But the disaster emerging in Moon Bay isn’t supposed to be glimmer... Mr. Chekhov, I’ll be leaving now. Next time I come, I’ll bring what you need, and please prepare that relic."

"Alright, let me see you out."

With that, the two of them walked out to the street, the cold feeling in the white fog causing one to involuntarily shiver, it was a power exclusive to death. Shard turned to bid farewell to Mr. Chekhov but suddenly felt a brightness before his eyes.

The dense fog hadn’t cleared, nor was someone carrying a kerosene lamp approaching, rather the entire white fog seemed to be glowing. Shard and Mr. Chekhov were perplexed for a few seconds then almost simultaneously said:

"Unusual glow!"

Nobody would forget the moonlight from a few nights ago that was so bright it kept people awake, and in this peculiar Sunday, the dusk sun similarly brought a disaster stemming from distorted glimmer.

The breath of death wasn’t dispelled by the distorted sunlight; instead, the two merged in an eerie state. Although the ’unusual glow’ was severely weakened by the white fog, temporarily having little effect on normal people, everyone could see that these glowing ’Mist of Death’ combined with two powers were absolutely not safe.

This dense fog spreading through the city didn’t envelop all of Moon Bay City. At least in the South City Dock Area and above the sea, only very thin Mist of Death could be seen.

Because of the thin fog, the setting sun made it too dazzling for the people at South City Dock and bay sea surface to keep their eyes open. The sunset’s sunlight lacked warmth, only a dim feeling like it could melt people into this light and lead them toward death... perhaps this wasn’t an illusion.

On the way to the docks to board the ’Radiant Messenger,’ something peculiar occurred again; due to the heavy fog and inability to find a carriage, Shard turned into a cat and jumped across rooftops. Just upon approaching Herring Street, he suddenly noticed a figure walking through the fog start convulsing.

His dim silhouette in the fog gradually brightened into intense light, but he didn’t immediately explode into a ball of light and disappear; instead, amid shrieks, he transformed into a white light figure and then fiercely lunged towards the roadside buildings.