Chapter 280 - 280 The Knocker

280 The Knocker

As Lumian thought of 13 Avenue du March, his first instinct was that Gardner Martin intended to do him harm.

The place is abnormal, a mystery even to official Beyonders. Why are you asking me to spend the night there?

The image of the dark, charred building he had seen through the Mystery Prying Gla.s.ses still lingered in his mind, with a blurry face staring back at him through the empty eyes behind a window.

It had given him an uneasy feeling, as Osta Trul had warned it was a dangerous place. However, Lumian had no interest in exploring it and wouldnt have triggered any anomalies due to him lacking an adventurous spirit, so he put it aside.

Amidst his thoughts, Lumian dismissed the idea that Gardner Martin would set a trap in the charred building to harm him.

As a member of the Iron and Blood Cross Ordera secret organizationa powerful Beyonder likely at Sequence 5 or at minimum a 6, Gardner had other, more direct methods to deal with subordinates with ulterior motives.

Simultaneously, Lumian recalled everything he had seen and heard recently.

The charred building stood close to Rue des Blouses Blanches. Each time he pa.s.sed it while going to his safe house from Salle de Bal Brise or searching for Franca, he would see vagrants seeking refuge from the rain inside. Never had he witnessed any official Beyonders or patrolling police shooing them away, nor had he heard of any fatalities occurring there.

For three reasons, Lumian considered the charred building highly perilous. Firstly, Osta Truls spiritual perception had urged him. Secondly, its existence remained intact, as if some mysterious force prevented its demolition. Thirdly, his experience with the Mystery Prying Gla.s.ses had left him with a certain feeling.

Combining all these signs, Lumian couldnt help but think there was indeed a problem. And it wasnt some trivial matter either. Though under normal circ.u.mstances, these abnormalities were unlikely to be triggered; they required specific conditions.

But if there wasnt any trouble, why would Gardner Martin arrange for me to spend the night there? Is it some kind of courage test? Thats pointless, Lumian thought to himself.

He believed that the most striking impression he left on Gardner Martin and the others was that of his boldness.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Lumian stared at Gardner Martin, showing his concern and suspicion.

13 Avenue du March? Ive heard theres something strange going on there.

If nothing were amiss, what kind of test would it be to send you there for a night? Gardner Martin replied with a smile. As long as your response is flawless, I believe youll come out of it unscathed.

So, this is a test to see how I handle a sudden abnormality without any prior information? Lumian nodded in understanding, but the situation left him even more puzzled.

If thats the case, why did Gardner Martin come here in the middle of the night and ask me to go to 13 Avenue du March immediately? Couldnt he have waited until daytime for me to do this? Then, he could test my ability to gather information and see who Ill contact

Now, I wont have the chance to summon Madam Magicians messenger and seek her opinion or possible help, allowing me not to face the hidden danger of the charred building alone

But Gardner Martin doesnt know that I can summon a demiG.o.ds messenger. Thats probably not what hes worried about If he suspects that I have another faction backing me, he wouldnt have given me a chance to infiltrate the core in other wordsthe Iron and Blood Cross Order. He would have already found a way to make me completely disappear

Yes, if he really suspects me, hell give me ample time to see where I go and who I contact to determine if theres a problem

He must have some hidden motive for making things so urgent

Giving me time to prepare means I might go back on my word. Instead of heading to 13 Avenue du March, I might turn around and sell information about this charred buildings possible connection to the Iron and Blood Cross Order to the authorities?

But the problem is, even if I manage to stay until the sun rises, I can still go back on my word or betray them Ill be apprehended right then and there and forced to sign a contract?

After careful consideration, Lumian still couldnt decipher Gardner Martins true intentions.

The test was likely just one aspect, but there had to be a hidden motive!

The only thing Lumian was sure of was that Gardner Martin wasnt planning to kill himat least not for the time being. This mission might be life-threatening, but the real danger lay elsewhere.

With various thoughts racing through his mind, Lumian finally made up his decision.

Alright, Ill go now.

Gardner Martin grinned.

Excellent. If youd agreed too quickly, it would have disappointed me.

One of the most crucial traits for those who join our core is intelligence and the ability to think. Otherwise, why wouldnt I just purchase a few new steam robots from the G.o.d of Steam and Machinery Church?

Are you suggesting that Franca is smart, but not very much so? She thinks, but not holistically? Lumian couldnt help but criticize inwardly.

Of course, he knew that this wasnt the reason why the Boss refused to let Franca join the core team.

After his inner critique, Lumian responded to Gardner Martin with a smile, Im looking forward to experiencing the core youve described, Boss.

As he spoke, he turned around and prepared to head downstairs to 13 Avenue du March.

Gardner Martin casually called out to him, Dont reveal this to anyone, not even to those sleeping with you, like Jenna, whos singing downstairs.

Alright, Lumian said, though he didnt give it much thought.

He had to share this with Franca and Jenna!

However, the two of them had been busy investigating the disappearance of the Deep Valley Cloisters gatekeeper and hadnt paid much attention to the affairs of the Savoie Mob.

After leaving Salle de Bal Brise, Lumian touched his left chest.

Then, he drew a triangular Sacred Emblem, as if praying to the G.o.d of Steam and Machinery for good luck.

There was still water on the ground from the rain. Lumian followed the iron-black street lamps and reached the intersection near Rue des Blouses Blanches at a moderate pace.

A pitch-black six-story building stood diagonally in front of him. Many of the walls had collapsed, as if pairs of empty, pitch-black eyes had grown out of the house.

At that moment, two or three tramps were sleeping on the ground floor, devoid of doors or window frames. It was strewn with blackened bricks and charred wood.

Lumian stood by the roadside and observed for a while, but he couldnt find the blurry face pressed against the window.

Must I wear the Mystery Prying Gla.s.ses to see it? Without hesitation, Lumian pa.s.sed through the filthy doorway and entered the target building.

He felt no abnormalities from his body to his soul.

Walking around the tramps, Lumian found what appeared to be the activity room.

There was a small room inside. The wooden door was charred and wobbly, but it remained intact. Beyond the shattered gla.s.s window lay an alley behind Avenue du March.

Lumian walked in and carefully closed the wooden door.

Then, he sat by the window, ready to climb out of the abnormal building at a moments notice.

Amidst the inevitable torment, time ticked by, and the night deepened. Lumian remained oblivious to any abnormalities. It was so quiet that only the tramps occasional coughs echoed.

Suddenly, he straightened his back.

He heard sluggish footsteps.

The footsteps drew nearer, knocking on the dilapidated wooden door that couldnt be locked, instantly tainting the quiet night with an uneasy atmosphere.

At that moment, Termiboross magnificent voice echoed in Lumians mind.

Dont respond.

Dont respond Lumians hair stood on end.

Although he couldnt fully trust the Inevitability angel, considering the current situation, he chose to look at the door silently after weighing the pros and cons.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The knocks on the door echoed one after another, the intervals long, slow, and heavy.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

After a while, the person outside finally spoke.

Help me. I was the one sleeping outside.

Help me, help me. A murderer has barged in!

This fabrication is absurd Lumian calmed his tense nerves by entertaining himself.

He didnt respond, acting as though there was no one in the small room.

The voice outside grew more intense, but the pace slowed. There was an indistinct, strange pause.

Hes. Here! Hes. Here! Im. About. To. Be. Killed!

The next one. Is. You!

As soon as he finished speaking, the person knocking on the door suddenly let out a scream.

Lumian heard a dull thud.

Thud! It was as if someone had fallen to the ground.

Then, a heavy object outside the door was slowly dragged further away.

Before long, a bone-chilling cutting sound filled the room, accompanied by the sound of gnawing and loud chewing.

An image suddenly surfaced in Lumians mind: A shadowy figure squatted on the ground, dividing a human corpse with an axe and other items. Occasionally, it would pick up an arm and take a few bites.

After a while, the similar commotion vanished.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

There was another knock on Lumians small room.

If you dont. Open the door. Ill. Come in. Myself. It was the same person who had asked for help.

Lumian gazed at the shaky wooden door and had an idea.

As long as I dont respond, the abnormality outside wont be able to open this door and truly threaten me?

This door is clearly unlocked and was burned by the fire. Its very fragile, but it cant open it

It doesnt have the ability to open any door. Does it require a response from the person behind the door to establish a connection in the mystical sense?

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Lumian gained a deeper understanding of the current situation and felt more confident.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Amidst the knocking, the person outside spoke in a staccato manner, I am not. Lying.

I really will. Open the door. And come in.

Ill give you. Another. Ten seconds.

Lumian scoffed, feeling increasingly certain.

He wanted to mock the other party in his heart and tell it to open if it had what it took, but he was worried that it would also be considered a response, so he suppressed those thoughts.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Three more knocks separated by a long pause.

Suddenly, Lumian heard an inaudible creak.

Then, he saw the rickety wooden door slowly pull back, revealing a dark crack.

It was opening.