Chapter 12: A New Day

In a superhuman world, running away is a difficult thing to do. Leaving aside the dangers of dodging death in direct combat, in this world where divination is not unheard of, superhumans tend to stick to “harmless” tactics in combat. Because below the fourth-tier, most superhumans do not possess counter-divination abilities, and their blood, hair, and other body parts make excellent divination materials.

Two superhumans fighting, and one of them leaves behind traces of blood, hair, or flesh at the scene of the battle, and doesn’t dispose of their opponent… This almost always means a visit from someone seeking vengeance.

As for the attacker, he either didn’t know these common rules or was so terrified by Selene’s Flipping Glasses Miracle that he ignored them. He didn’t even try to erase his blood.

In addition to the bloodstained pebble, Selene also scooped up a bit of the bloodstained mud. Luckily, she carried many tubes. Otherwise, she would’ve had nowhere to put it.

The graveyard keeper watched her movements and was still a little concerned about her condition. He had never heard of “Flipping Glasses Miracle,” but he had seen similar magic.

However, that was something only fifth-tier superhumans could achieve. He knew full well that Nitya was only a first-tier mage. People at this level just threw fireballs and shot water jets. You can’t just pull out something flashy like that without making people wonder if you have a death pact…

The old graveyard keeper organized his words and said,

“That mirror you used just now… what was that…”

“Flipping Glasses Miracle. You saw the effects.” Selene replied simply, not giving away any more information. This wasn’t out of caution towards the keeper, but mainly because the side effects of the ritual were truly severe, and she didn’t have the energy to chat.

“I have rarely seen a ritual with such a bizarre effect.” The graveyard keeper complimented her, then asked with concern, “What are the side effects of this ritual? You were quite pale just now. Perhaps…”

Facing his concern, Selene merely paused for a moment, then put on a serious, solemn expression. A faint trace of sadness and worry clouded her brows.

The graveyard keeper’s heart skipped a beat. He probed further.

“Could it be what I’m thinking…”

Selene solemnly nodded.

“Whew…” The graveyard keeper asked very seriously, “This is no small matter. Have you thought about what to do?”

“Just let nature take its course.” Selene sighed.

“That won’t do.” The keeper, having developed a favorable impression of her because of their recent fight side-by-side, was not reluctant to help. “I can help you find a cleric from the Divine Glory Church or the Church of Bountiful…”

“No, no. I’m fine.” Selene quickly refused.

“Don’t refuse. In the cemetery management system, I handle the deceased, while the Church Patrol handles the living. There’s been a mistake on their part today, someone snuck in. If you weren’t here, it would have been a bigger mess. You helped them out, they should compensate you.” The graveyard keeper, a man of extensive knowledge, explained.

“I see.” Selene suddenly understood.

“We shouldn’t delay. I’ll contact the church right away for treatment for you…”

“The mirror in my house, there were ten silver coins…”

The two spoke at the same time.

“?”

“?”

The two looked at each other. Selene saw that the graveyard keeper’s face, full of wrinkles, old and worn, even capable of invoking terrifyingly beautiful chills, had a visible look of confusion.

The graveyard keeper pondered for two seconds, then said,

“What are you talking about?”

“That’s right. The window in my house is going to cost ten silver coins to replace. Didn’t you say I could get reimbursed?” Selene was confused. “Ten silver coins isn’t that much, is it? A trainee guard at the police department makes more than that each month…”

“You said the cost was huge…”

“The subject of the ritual was engraved onto the mirror in my house. It broke completely after one use. Replacing it is going to cost a lot. Isn’t that a big cost?” Selene emphasized.

“Ten silver coins isn’t much. Then why were you pulling that face, acting like you were in distress?” The graveyard keeper struck a small bell, its clanging sounds quickly spreading through the Church Patrol outside.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“All I have on me right now is three silver coins. I still have to pay my friend back for bail and the reward.”

The two looked at each other again.

The graveyard keeper sighed. He felt old, thinking too much.

Selene also sighed, feeling like her house repair costs were going to be a lot higher.

...

“So, that’s why you and the graveyard keeper were sighing and looking so distressed when the clerics arrived?” Duquesne twitched a corner of his mouth. “They saw you two, thought a high-level undead had risen, were about to cleanse the town in blood. They were so scared they were thinking about dying gloriously in battle and getting a posthumous title.”

“…. So, can I be reimbursed for the window replacement costs?” Selene was still obsessed with the silver coins.

“Reimbursed, you can also report it.” Duquesne was very generous. “I can also reimburse you for the bail right now. Plus, there’s a reward from the police department and the church. The church isn’t comfortable with this, so that part is on me… I can get you the money by this afternoon.”

Selene was immediately moved, praising the police department and the church. She expressed her gratitude for a good half hour, then saw Duquesne still smiling, and suddenly became wary.

Sure enough, his next sentence was “I hope you can accept the police department’s arrangements for the next little while.”

“Arrangements for what?” Selene asked cautiously. “Let me tell you first, I’ve spent all my money. I’m definitely not at my best in terms of fighting right now…”

Duquesne cut off any further objections with one sentence.

“According to police department regulations, the standard reward is tripled for external assignments.”

“My body is a citizen of the empire. I should naturally obey the police department’s orders.” Selene said righteously, then glanced around, whispering, “What happened?”

She could tell that Duquesne was being a bit too eager.

Of course, helping to keep the cemetery safe and repel the feral superhuman was a great service. The rewards given by the police department and the church were understandable. But they still needed time to be processed. They would have to wait for the situation to be investigated and the leads uncovered before the money reached her. This would take a month or two, and only two hours had passed… Duquesne was probably using his own funds to reimburse her. If the bail money hadn’t been returned beforehand according to protocol, he’d have to reimburse her for that as well.

The police department did have a history of commissioning adventurers when they lacked staff or capabilities, but a triple price was a bit excessive. She assessed the situation a little and thought she could probably get six or seven gold coins in the end. This was almost a third of her annual income…

Suspicious. Too suspicious.

Duquesne, both physically and mentally exhausted, leaned back in his chair. It was now dawn, approaching sunrise. This second-tier “Inspector” hadn’t slept since yesterday and had used a large amount of mental energy. Even as a superhuman, he was a bit overwhelmed.

“I contacted Nymph Fu last night, requesting they dispatch an ‘Arbiter’ squad. I never received a definite reply.” Duquesne rubbed his temples. “There’s a rule for this kind of situation. The Nymph Fu level-two police department must give a definite reply within an hour… It’s been all night.”

Selene remained silent. Her previous suspicion that something major had happened in Nymph Fu was now confirmed.

“I don’t know what’s happening there, but when the sky falls, there will always be stronger people to hold it up. We should just focus on this small, tattered part of Schwerdt Town.” Duquesne clapped his hands together. Immediately, a clerical guard pushed open the door and placed an enchanted document, containing a binding contract, on the table.

Selene was quite familiar with this kind of document. She glanced over the detailed provisions and signed her name.

“So, what’s the mission you want me to do? Let me tell you beforehand, patrol duties or anything else that requires a lot of running around, please find someone else. I don’t have the stamina for that.”

“No, and actually, I don’t really have a specific mission for you. Just stick to your own plan for now. Just don’t leave Schwerdt Town.” Duquesne sighed. “They’re sending a few more clerics to the cemetery as reinforcements. With me at the station, the only thing we need to worry about right now is the strength of the patrols in town… I’ve put together a new patrol schedule, but with dozens of people at the station, it’s not enough to cover everything. I hope you can use your influence from your time as an adventurer to find some adventurers willing to temporarily take on this assignment.”

“Adventurers?” Selene was a little surprised. “Don’t just assume all adventurers are like me because I follow the law. It’s a little exaggerated to say they’re all criminals, but definitely, most of them are hard to manage…”

“Well, at least they’re better than the commoners, and besides, in this world, money can solve most problems.” Duquesne laughed easily.

With the business out of the way, Selene was ready to head home and replenish her stamina—she hadn’t eaten in half a day and was a little hungry. She also needed to change the window panes in her house. Otherwise, she’d be getting rain in the morning.

“It’s almost dawn, so don’t stay for breakfast.” Duquesne was emotionless but still tried to be polite.

“Alright, alright, alright!”

As she was headed for the door, feeling uncertain about her own culinary skills and worried about what to put together for dinner, Selene suddenly brightened up and sat back down.

“I’ve heard the food at the station is excellent. They say the chef is a master. I have to try it for myself!”

Duquesne had stopped and was about to give a polite "shoo" in response to her request for a master class, but since he needed her help, he could only grit his teeth and agree.

Half an hour later, Duquesne watched from his window as the detective lady—who had just taken more than half of his treasury and then shamelessly ate her fill of breakfast—finally left. He sighed.

He shifted his gaze, looking at the sky outside the window.

It was bright, but he could handle the rays that were hitting his eyes.

The golden sun, a radiant sphere of light and heat, was rising from behind the mountains. As it climbed into the sky, the golden halo that had spread from its core, engulfing the sphere in a circle of brilliance, was now bathing the sphere in an intense, dazzling glow. The halo was moving slowly in the light stream, with intricate patterns that slowly radiated even more light, brighter than the sphere itself.

Like countless tentacles of a sea creature, they emerged from the void and wrapped themselves around the sphere and the halo. They were lifeless, hardened, desiccated. They burrowed into the sphere, into the halo, into the lines, moving along with the entire sphere.

Duquesne watched intently, as if it were just another ordinary sight.

For hundreds of thousands of years, the sun had risen each day in the same way.

Today was no different.