翁公在厨房和我猛烈撞击

[You have devoured a Living Soul. The curse has been sated. Time until remaining: 44 h, 44m, 44s.]

[You have stolen Fate. As a result, you obtained 10 Fate Points.]

‘This is a hard lesson.’ Nikolai looked at the dwarf with a snapped neck in front of him. ‘Control the curse before it controls you.’ He crouched beside the dwarf and took out the chord.

This item might have possessed the dwarf he just killed, but he was innocent. Unlike the moving corpse, this dwarf was alive. Nikolai kept away the chord, and with this, he only needs three more parts.

‘The only problem is… they will notice the disappearance of the dwarf soon. At that time, the only suspects will be us.’ Nikolai stood up.

It would take a few hours before they notice the disappearance of one of the dwarves. Before that, Nikolai would have to think of a way to divert the suspicion away from his group.

He used the cover of the night and returned to his pavilion, which the dwarves were still monitoring. As he walked in, he saw that their main hall was empty. Sergio and Yuxi must be sleeping. However, someone was in his room.

“Where have you been?” Lex asked with a frown when Nikolai walked into his room. “I wanted to give you the first move of the art, but you weren’t here.”

“… I was taking a walk.”

“And your walks include leaving stealthily?” Lex squinted her eyes as her she held the pipe in hand. “The dwarves outside said that you were inside, or so they thought. I didn’t deny it.”

“And that’s because…”

“Since I plan on leaving this place, I don’t see why I should help them,” Lex said coldly.

“I thought the dwarves were like your family?” Nikolai asked with interest.

“I can’t be family with people who look down on me. I’m a human, and they are dwarves. That can never change. We’re not in a fairy tale where they would accept me with open arms.”

“What do you want?”

“Take me with you, and I won’t tell them about this,” Lex said with a smile. “I don’t care what you were doing outside, and that’s fine by me.”

“Threatening me is unwise.” Nikolai’s eyes sharpened as his killing intent was unleashed. Like a bloodthirsty beast, his aura gushed out and suffocated the Gunmaster.

“It’s not a threat but a token of friendship that proves I keep secrets well.” Lex traced her lip with her hand in a zipping motion.

Nikolai frowned, but he already had his answer. His bloodline talent made him capable of choosing things he was previously uncertain about. He held back his killing intent and nodded.

“I understand, but I need you to help me.” He said as he took out the cog. “I want you to look at this with the Celestial Eye.”

Nikolai placed it on the table and retreated. Lex frowned and took off her eyepatch, and the flame appeared again. Her eyes widened as she looked at the cog.

“Traces of spiritual energy…”

“I was the one who found the dwarf’s corpse,” Nikolai told Lex, and she flinched as she turned toward him. However, he was gone. “Cover your eye first.” She did as he asked, and Nikolai emerged from the darkness.

“What do you mean by that?” She asked once she covered her eye. “You found the dwarf’s corpse outside?”

“No, I found it in the river. You can ask Sergio, but the dwarf was a moving corpse. It had this cog on him.”

“A moving corpse…” Lex frowned and pondered. “Does that mean the others…”

“Yes, I need you to tell me who was with the dwarf before he went missing. Those people are probably the culprits, and they must be possessed. Did you see what the cog has?”

“A sliver of spiritual energy,” Lex said with a frown. “There’s something inside this cog, and it looks like something I saw.”

“Something you saw?” Nikolai’s eyes gleamed.

“A few dwarves brought back these items, and they were indeed treasures as their craftsmanship was modeled using an ancient technique. The dwarves were looking for the inheritance of someone called Souls Mechanic.”

“Souls Mechanic?” Nikolai frowned.

“The mechanic who gave his machines souls of their own, edging ever so closely to the secret of immortality,” Lex said with a shake of her hand. “I thought it was simply a legend. The dwarves were looking for his technique for years.”

‘Does that mean this Souls Mechanic is the entity possessing the people? Is he trying to lure them into his abode?’

[Quest completed!]

[Reward: 30 Fate Points!]

[A new quest has been initiated!]

[Quest: Souls Mechanic.]

[Description: You find out that an entity known as Souls Mechanic is plotting something. The entity is trying to lure people into its dungeon, but why?]

[Goal: Steal Fate from the Souls Mechanic by foiling his plan.]

[Reward: New Bloodline Talent.]

Nikolai received a message from his system, and he furrowed his brows. His only thought was: that’s it? He finished the quest this quickly just because he decided to ask Lex?

‘Was I just a fool?’ Nikolai inwardly sighed as he massaged his temples. ‘I could have finished the quest by asking around, but I was too on edge to trust anyone.’

Well, he could never ask the dwarves, as they might kill him for the possessed parts. However, Lex was different, as it seems that she didn’t like the dwarves a lot. Looking at the young girl in front of him, Nikolai sighed and nodded.

‘A new bloodline talent.’ Nikolai lamented that he could only choose one of them before, but a new one presented itself.

“Help me find the possessed dwarves, and we wrap up this matter.”

“Does that mean… you’ll be using the Abyssal Art and allow me to come along?”

“Yes.” Nikolai nodded. “A condition for coming with me would be this: never look at me with that eye.”

“Why?” Lex asked as she adjusted her eyepatch and looked at him with confusion. “Others feel naked if I look at them. Is that what’s bothering you?”

“I don’t mind being seen naked,” Nikolai was speechless. “I just don’t think you’ll like what you see.”

“Ah, okay.” Lex squinted her eyes at him and nodded. Nikolai knew that she misunderstood him as insecure about his body, but he didn’t mind as long as she refrained from looking at him.

***

“Why are we attending as well?” Sergio asked with a yawn. “It’s not like we knew the dwarf.”

“It’s more about respect to the dead,” Nikolai answered while following Lex toward the Forge. “They believe burning their fallen leaves a part of their souls inside the weapons they create.”

‘That’s cool.’ Yuxi gestured, and Nikolai agreed.

Humans just buried their dead, without caring how they would end up, and moved on. There was only a wheel moving forward, and if you turn to look back, the wheel crushes you.

“The Forge is on a deeper level,” Lex said as if she was their guide. “It’s quite hot in there, as that fire burns since ancient times.”

“The dwarves are known for using ancient fire in their craft. The weapons they create are one with heaven and earth.” Nikolai added.

They were going to the funeral of the dwarf who died. The reason behind his death has yet to be known, as the dwarves who were with him simply said he disappeared.

When they reached the forge, all of the dwarves looked at them with disapproval. Ever since the appearance of the corpse, the dwarves looked at them with wary expressions.

“Well, at least there’s someone more unpopular than me now,” Lex jokingly said when she felt the hostility of the dwarves.

“We gathered today because of the loss of a precious member, Gwain.” Master Dwarf said with a sad expression. There was an opening in the ground beside him. “Let’s hope he finds a better place to rest in flames.”

As he said that, two dwarves pushed a small shrine with the corpse of the dwarf, which had ores lying beside it, and threw it into the flames. The flames roared as the shrine burned into nothingness in front of their eyes.

As the flames burned, Lex nudged Nikolai and pointed in a particular direction. There was a group of three dwarves with a red-head old dwarf in the lead.

‘Those are the culprits.’ Nikolai realized. ‘Now, I need to find a way to take the parts from them and assemble the key.’

He would have to do that before running away from Ferro Fort. The dwarves couldn’t be convinced that he did it for their good, but he didn’t care. As long as he finishes his quest and gets his ship, everything will be alright.

As for how the dwarves saw him? Nikolai couldn’t care less. Even Lex agreed that they were delusional for pursuing immortality.

The ritual ended, and they dispersed. Nikolai returned toward the pavilion with the rest before planning out their escape from the fort.