Chapter 136: Chapter 140 Two Guests
In Duncan’s perception, Fenna’s presence was rapidly approaching the antique shop, and she wasn’t moving in a straight line. She would frequently change directions, with abnormal pauses in her movement.
A Judge from the Upper City District, suddenly visiting this antique shop in the Lower City District? And with such a bizarre trajectory?
The moment the young Deep Sea Judge’s presence appeared in his perception, Duncan slightly furrowed his brows and then subconsciously glanced at Sherry.
Could it be because of Sherry? Had the Deep Sea Church finally discovered a “Summoner” walking with Profound Demons hidden in the city? Or was it because of himself? His own actions were always careful, and there was absolutely no slip up that could point towards Homeloss, at most, the original Sun Cultist identity of this body might be exposed… But that shouldn’t be enough to alarm a distinguished Judge, right?
The purposeful and circuitous path of that approaching presence was definitely not of someone casually passing by, but of someone with a strong intent.
His thoughts rapidly fluctuating, Duncan casually glanced at Nina who was reading beside him, stood up, and went towards the entrance of the antique shop.
Sherry noticed his actions and subconsciously followed, “Mr. Duncan? What’s happening…”
“Stay in the shop.” Duncan looked at Sherry, who should be classified as a “heretic” regardless, and instructed her to stay put. Then he moved to the store’s entrance to look in the direction from where the presence was emanating.
And then he understood why Fenna’s presence was approaching so rapidly—
She had driven there.
A deep grey steam-powered vehicle screeched to a halt in front of the antique shop. The door opened and two people stepped down—one was Fenna, who, despite being in casual clothes, was still exceptionally tall, and the other was Miss Heidi, the mental physician he had met once before.
Duncan: “…”
He slightly reflected on the chaotic thoughts that had flooded his mind when he first sensed the rapidly approaching presence, realizing he shouldn’t have assumed all matters related to the Transcendent to be so ethereal and swift. The brief pauses in Fenna’s approach were probably her waiting for traffic lights…
Then he saw Miss Heidi energetically waving at him and cheerfully greeted, “Mr. Duncan!”
Duncan’s mouth twitched. Seeing Fenna in casual attire, he realized he had overthought the situation but still deliberately took an extra look at the Judge as he approached and managed to express a fittingly surprised tone, “This is…”
“Oh, you must recognize her; there’s nobody in this city who doesn’t—our respected Judge, Miss Fenna Wayne,” Heidi said with a teasing smile, “but today she’s on leave, so just relax—she’s my friend. After hearing about the museum incident, she insisted on coming over to offer her thanks… and to inquire about a few things.”
“Friend?” Duncan’s surprise had a hint of authenticity this time, something he hadn’t anticipated, “I certainly didn’t expect you to bring such a distinguished person…”
“Calling me ‘distinguished’ is a bit too much, Mr. Duncan,” Fenna, who had been assessing the antique shop owner discreetly since the beginning, now spoke with a smile. Her voice was slightly husky and low, with a magnetic texture—although for Duncan, this wasn’t the first time he had heard the Judge’s voice, “Just treat me as a regular customer. As Heidi said, I’m on leave today—I came mainly to thank you for assisting Heidi at the museum, and to casually understand a few things… please rest assured, this isn’t an official inquiry.”
Understand a few things?
Duncan’s expression didn’t change much; he just maintained his usual friendly smile and turned to invite the two special guests inside, “Then let’s not stand at the door, please come in—just in time, it’s quiet in the shop today; now it can liven up a bit.”
While saying this, he walked towards the antique shop. Upon entering, the first thing he saw was Sherry, who was curiously poking her head out to check what was happening outside. He casually ruffled the girl’s hair, “Behave calmly.”
Sherry blinked, “Calmly for what…”
The next second, she knew why she needed to be calm.
She saw the Judge, the pinnacle of the Plunder City-State Church’s martial might, stride in. The big sister, towering over one meter ninety, walked past the little dwarf who was less than one meter sixty, bringing not just a visual oppression.
Sherry almost blurted out subconsciously, “Wow… wow, you’re really tall!”
Fenna instinctively stopped, gave a glance at the girl who stood beside her with a strange expression and her muscles all tensed up, and nodded friendly, “Hello.”
“She’s called Sherry,” Duncan chimed in casually, “helps out at my shop. She was also at the scene when the museum incident happened. Miss Heidi must have mentioned her to you.”
“You’re Sherry?” Fenna nodded, matching the description she had heard to the person before her eyes, “Indeed, a cute little sister.”
At this moment, Nina, who was reading next to the counter, heard the commotion and ran over. The first thing she saw was the impressively tall Fenna. She recognized the famous Judge and exclaimed in surprise, much like Sherry had.
“…That’s why I don’t like going out with you,” Heidi, who had been standing behind Fenna and unnoticed by Nina, could not help but speak up, “Once you stand there, all the attention is drawn to you—I’m supposed to be the protagonist today, okay?”
“But I don’t want to attract attention in this way either,” Fenna looked at her friend expressionlessly, “I’ve tried to make myself look as ordinary as possible today.”
“…Never mind, I’m used to it.” Heidi sighed, then greeted Nina and Sherry, before taking out the gift she brought, and handing it to Duncan.
“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, but it’s impolite to visit without a gift. This is from my father, for you. He said someone with such broad interests in history and the occult like you would appreciate this.”
“Really, it’s too kind of you. It was no trouble at all,” Duncan said politely, taking the gift—a wooden box that seemed to have some years on it. He opened it on the spot, looking puzzled at the contents, “This is…”
It was a book, a fine and valuable one by the looks of it, something that scholars from the Upper City District would keep in their collections. On the rich purple hardcover were beautifully ornate letters:
“The City-State and the Gods”
“This is a book from my father’s collection, now quite rare to see on the market,” Heidi said with a smile, “It’s a work by the great natural and theological scholar Maldino Victor from a century ago, describing the historical changes of the City-State era and the influence of various divine faiths, including the Four True Gods, on civilized society. He thought you would like this sort of thing.”
Duncan silently admired the beautiful book in the box, slowly revealing a smile.
“Of course, I really like it, please thank Mr. Morris for me.”
After exchanging pleasantries and getting comfortable—since there were no customers that day—Duncan simply closed the door of the antique shop and turned the fairly spacious first floor into a reception area.
Nina moved two chairs over, Duncan made the best coffee the shop had to offer for their guests, Sherry pretended to arrange the shelves but actually found a corner to minimize her presence, and Fenna curiously examined the seemingly unremarkable little shop. Meanwhile, Heidi had already placed her “medicine box” on the counter and began talking to Nina: “Let’s get straight to the point. I heard you’ve been troubled by nightmares lately, and you’re often in a daze?”
“Ah, it’s not exactly nightmares, just a strange recurring dream…” Nina didn’t expect Miss Heidi to be so brisk. She was taken aback for a moment before answering, “I keep dreaming that I’m standing in a very high place, like on top of a tower, and then I see several blocks below have been burnt to ashes. There aren’t any scary things appearing though…”
“Stop,” Heidi gestured with her hand while opening the medicine box and casually continued, “Recurring scenes, high places, fires, and no frightening, tangible things, but the dreamscape repeatedly visiting causes an inability to relieve mental fatigue… Let’s have a look…”
Nina peeked into Heidi’s medicine box, immediately noticing the chisels, axes, saws, and various bottles and jars, and instinctively shrank back a bit: “Um… Miss Heidi… can I forgo the treatment? I actually think my condition isn’t that bad…”
Duncan also caught sight of the contents of Heidi’s medicine box, his eyebrows twitching, “Pardon my boldness—is this truly necessary for mental treatment?”
Was this elegant and gentle physician actually a psychiatrist or a vet?!