Even across half the room, Xia De could feel the danger of the item in the unconscious young man's hand. It was as if that box was out of place in this world, carrying an aura that could cause all things to decay. This was a relic; Xia De saw it this time and knew he would never mistake it again.
The Psychologist looked around the room and continued, "A relic can be a tangible item, but it can also be an event, or even just a piece of information, a single sentence. The Orthodox Church classifies relics into levels, which are also accepted and recognized by the Academy. There are five levels—
Poet Grade (Level 5): Its information can even be sung by a Poet, but it will only be regarded as street rumors or legendary stories. The standard measure is the Poet Cohn's Manuscript.
Scribe (Level 4): Detailed records are required to seal the information of such relics. Information can only exist on paper and must not be easily circulated. The standard measure is the Unknown's Thesis.
Secret Keeper Level (Level 3): Strictly trained Keepers are specifically responsible for guarding the information of a certain relic. Unless under special circumstances, such items must be contained and used with extreme caution. The standard measure is the Keeper's Eye.
Sage-level (Level 2): Only great Sages can know its information and containment status. Once an uncontained item of this type is discovered, according to the agreement, the Academy and the Orthodox Church must immediately notify each other. The standard measure is the philosopher's stone.
Angel-level (Level 1): Extremely dangerous. The descent of an evil god and the loss of control of an Angel-level relic are generally regarded as events of the same level. I am only a fifth-year correspondence student and will only learn about the characteristics and containment methods of such items in the next grade. The standard measure is the Heart of the Evil Angel."
"What are standard measures?"
Xia De asked.
"Standard measures are references for classifying relics. Once the danger level exceeds the standard measure, it immediately moves to the next level."
Xia De nodded in understanding, but since even the highest Angel-level had a standard measure, it seemed to imply...
He didn't ask, because Bill Schneider probably didn't know either.
He then asked quietly, his voice muffled because he was holding his breath:
"So what are we facing this time...?"
"A Poet Grade (Level 5) relic. I've already figured it out. It's the 'Life Countdown Pocket Watch.'
Yes, it's the thing in that box over there. He didn't dare to touch it directly either. By giving it flesh, the pocket watch allows the holder to rotate it within a certain range. Pointing the front of the pocket watch at any living being adds a life countdown status to the targeted living being based on the angle of rotation. The shorter the countdown, the more flesh is needed, which is why Sparrow Hamilton had such a long time."
The Psychologist told Xia De to wait at the door. He stepped on the bloody mud on the ground and entered the room, taking the box containing the relic. He only opened it after returning to Xia De's side, instructing Xia De to concentrate and not be affected by the relic's power before opening it.
The box opened with a movement of his hand, and immediately, a stronger smell of blood assaulted them. Inside, it actually contained a box full of blood.
After pouring out the blood, a silver pocket watch fell into Bill Schneider's hand.
The Psychologist did not open the watch cover. Xia De could only see that both the front and back of the pocket watch were engraved with ferocious skulls. Around the watch cover was a circle of runic text, which he had never seen before, but Xia De once again deciphered it, confirming that he could indeed understand all the writing in this other world:
The cost of life is the mystery of flesh.
At that moment, his mouth actually tasted of blood, as if he had just taken a bite of raw meat... Xia De really gagged this time, but fortunately, he hadn't eaten breakfast, so he couldn't throw up anything. The Psychologist immediately put the pocket watch back into the box and placed it in his portable briefcase.
"This is what killed Sparrow Detective?"
After a while, Xia De, who had recovered, murmured. After all, the Detective had brought the original owner out of a vagrant life and given him all his inheritance, so he was very happy to avenge him.
"Yes, this is it. People in a countdown state know their life limit but cannot reveal it to anyone, otherwise they will die suddenly. But this relic, which originated in the fifth epoch, although dangerous to ordinary people, Ring術士 have ways to dispel its influence, so it is only the lowest Poet Grade.
The life countdown effect is restrained by various Miracle and inspiration factors, so its danger level is not high; it can only be considered an ordinary poet-level relic... Unfortunately, Sparrow Hamilton was just an ordinary person."
Bill Schneider shook his head regretfully:
"Actually, I've been tracking this relic for several months, so I was able to find out about your situation overnight. But there were too many victims. Although I saved a few people, I ultimately couldn't reach Sparrow Hamilton Detective in time. He seems to have passed away on the morning of the day we met. What a pity..."
The rest was simple. The two searched the nearby rooms. The Psychologist used a Ring術士's methods to dispel the illusions caused by the Poet Grade relic, found all the accumulated body remains, and confirmed they hadn't found the wrong killer.
Then, after Xia De refused to kill, the Psychologist directly killed Bide Morod in the dream, a process that only took one second in Xia De's eyes.
After doing all this, they left together. When the Psychologist visited Xia De that morning, he had already written an anonymous letter, which was delivered through special channels to Wald Square in Tobesk City, which is the Tobesk City Police Department, at noon. Soon after, the police would discover the place, thus attracting the attention of the Orthodox Church.
"This area is under the jurisdiction of the Sun God's Church. They act very quickly, so we need to leave quickly."
When they boarded the carriage waiting for them, the Psychologist was still joking. But Xia De was not in the mood to talk. Although the Outsider had no attachments here, having witnessed such a bloody scene, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
This made him deeply realize the cruelty and strangeness of this world.
They returned to the city together and had a meal at a goose meat restaurant in the East District of Tobesk City. Of course, the Psychologist paid. Xia De, however, didn't eat much; the scene he had witnessed on the second floor of the sanatorium would probably bother him for a long time.
Then they arrived at the Psychologist's psychology clinic, which was located on Lunqin Avenue in the East District of Tobesk City, also known as the rich district. Although it was not as bustling as the city center like Saint Delan Square, the street was pretty.
Bill Schneider's psychology clinic was flanked by an antique shop on one side and a high-end tobacco shop on the other. The psychology clinic had three floors; the first two floors were the clinic, and the third floor was where the Psychologist himself lived.
The clinic was quite large. Besides Bill Schneider himself, there were five other Psychologists he employed, as well as receptionists, cleaners, tea ladies, and so on, making it quite formal.
The Psychologist invited Xia De to rest in his second-floor reception room, which was a consultation room only used by important patients. The conversation only continued after a servant brought tea.
More like a study than a reception room, the curved walls were lined with dark brown bookshelves, crammed with leather-bound books. A stately desk stood on a red carpet, and just the pens in the pen holder indicated the owner's wealth.
The sofa and coffee table combination was not as formal as those in a Detective's office, but the home-style tea set was very effective in helping visiting guests relax and reveal their troubles and secrets.
"How do you feel about this trip?"
The Psychologist asked naturally, leaning back on the single leather sofa, his right hand propped on the armrest, his fingers on his chin.
Xia De sat on the fabric sofa, which was the sofa Bill Schneider's "patients" usually used.
"Thank you very much."
"For helping you solve the hidden danger?"
"Yes."
Xia De said, but the worries in his heart did not lessen.
This trip was merely to avenge Sparrow Detective, and it also indicated that Sparrow's death was due to a Detective's commission and did not involve the tasks he had entrusted to Xia De. In other words, Xia De still didn't know what other secrets Sparrow Hamilton had.
The current speculation was that Sparrow Hamilton had a mysterious identity beyond being a Detective, but due to an accident in a Detective case, he had to find someone to temporarily take his place. However, that secret identity was likely unrelated to the supernatural, otherwise, the Detective would not have known about death in advance but been completely unable to save himself.
Of course, there was no need to explain this to Bill Schneider. Although the morning's outing had made Xia De generally trust him, he had not completely let down all his guard.