Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 348: The Painting in the Safe

"Do any of you feel that something is not quite right here?"

Before Shard could explain what he had heard in a rational way, Professor Katja spoke up proactively.

Lecia looked at Shard, and Shard blinked, signaling her to not speak first:

"Indeed, something is off. This is too unusual. In fact, the house itself gives me a very bad feeling."

As he spoke, he walked toward the window, then bent down to inspect the broken statue.

Yet, with all of Shard’s strength, he could not lift the statue. When he tried to rotate it, blood actually dripped from the statue’s mouth.

The statue itself was just an ordinary item, but it used a clever mechanical device that allowed it to squirt out liquid. Such a macabre decorative piece further proved that there was definitely something wrong with Mr. Jude.

Alerted by the statue’s oddity, the vigilant professor also approached the window, looked outside, and then motioned for Shard to check the door.

Shard moved quietly to the door, pressed his ear against it, and raised a finger to signal everyone to keep silent. After confirming no one was outside, he carefully grabbed the doorknob and shook it, only to find the door was locked from the outside.

"There’s definitely something fishy!"

The folklore professor, known for his high alertness, had his students try to push the window, then he explained to the reporter and assistant:

"We who study folklore often encounter various strange things, so we must always be cautious. This Mr. Jude is likely up to something..."

"Teacher, the window won’t open."

Mister Scott said somewhat anxiously.

"Don’t worry, stay calm in any situation!"

Scolded the professor, then he picked up the cane resting against the chair. Grasping the shaft with his left hand and the handle with his right, he suddenly pulled, revealing a very thin rapier that seemed to gleam even in the dim light.

Seeing Shard and the young reporter lady looking curiously, the professor explained:

"It’s quite normal for us folklore scholars to carry personal weapons when we’re doing fieldwork."

He even told his student:

"Although you excel in academic courses, there’s much more to learn to become a distinguished folklore scholar."

From Mr. Scott’s expression, it was clear he had no idea his teacher had such a thing hidden in his cane.

"Well then."

Shard hesitated for a moment, reached into his coat, and then pulled out a black revolver, explaining:

"As an assistant to a journalist and a bodyguard, going to such a dangerous district, it’s quite normal for me to carry a weapon like this... don’t worry, I have a legal firearm license."

The latter part of the explanation reassured the academics significantly.

After everyone felt that things were awry, Professor Katja attempted to smash the window glass to escape. But breaking the glass would make a loud noise, and if people outside rushed in, the four of them could not possibly leave through the broken window instantly.

The professor, wielding his dangerous weapon, searched for a gap in the window, trying to pry it open, and muttered about the lack of a crowbar in the room. Shard and Lecia exchanged glances, confirming their plan, then Shard suggested:

"Now that he has locked us in here instead of having a group of people rush in and abduct us, it suggests he won’t act against us immediately. Maybe we should first search the study to figure out exactly what is wrong with Mr. Jude, then plan accordingly."

Staying in a dangerous place is one of the most hazardous scenarios in horror novels, but for Shard and Lecia, the situation remained under control. Even Shard hadn’t had the opportunity to get close enough to confirm Mr. Jude’s identity; Mr. Jude was even less likely to know they were Circle Sorcerers.

The professor accepted Shard’s suggestion, perhaps feeling secure with the sight of the handgun.

The four of them started searching the study together; there wasn’t much on the desk, but the shelves on three walls would take a long time to search:

"Leave the bookshelves to me,"

the professor said confidently:

"I deal with books all year round, I know these books well, and will certainly search faster than you."

So, Shard searched the desk, and Lecia searched the side table, while the two scholars looked through the bookshelves.

Everything on the desk was very tidy, and next to Mr. Jude was a novel about expeditions in the New World, with a leaf used as a bookmark, nothing of value. To the left of the desk were four drawers, to the right, one drawer and a cabinet that could be opened.

As expected, all the drawers and the cabinet were locked, but they unlocked automatically with a slight touch from Shard.

"There’s another gun here."

Pulling open the drawers on the left one by one, the top drawer contained a cardboard box with a handgun, the model of which Shard couldn’t identify, and some bullets. As the professor knew how to use a handgun, Shard handed the gun to him. Meanwhile, the second drawer held various scattered bottles and jars, and Shard immediately realized these were spellcasting materials.

The third and fourth drawers on the left side contained documents and letters packed in file folders, which Shard skimmed through and found were all related to Mr. Jude’s antique business.

Then, he reached to open the topmost drawer on the right side. There was nothing unusual when he touched the drawer, but as soon as he opened a crack, a withered severed hand stretched out from the gap and flew towards Shard’s throat.

"Hmm?"

Since Shard was searching the desk of a Circle Sorcerer, he was already on guard. As soon as the severed hand appeared, the voice of a woman in his mind reminded him. Shard’s right hand moved upward, releasing Moonlight from his palm, which accurately split the hand into two halves.

Since everyone else was checking different places, no one noticed this incident until the severed hand dropped on the floor with a thud, drawing the attention of Princess Lecia and the scholars.

"Oh~"

Mr. Scott, who directly witnessed the scene, covered his mouth to stop from crying out. Professor Katja also looked upset, unexpecting such a thing to occur. Princess Lecia came over, concerned:

"This Mr. Jude really collected quite a few strange items. Mr. Watson, are you alright?"

She was explaining the origin of this hand.

"I’m fine. I felt something strange and grabbed it, not expecting this. It scared me."

This severed hand was an alchemical item. It seemed designed to leap from the drawer and grip someone’s throat as soon as the drawer was opened. This type of thing could be very dangerous to those unschooled in its ways, but for Circle Sorcerers, it was just a minor nuisance.

"Keep looking, Mr. Jude surely has some big secrets,"

Shard said. Professor Katja nodded, whispering something to her student, probably to reassure him not to be startled by the severed hand. Princess Lecia then whispered softly:

"For safety, I arranged for people nearby before coming here. I have a steam bomb on me; if it explodes, the Coldwater Port garrison will surround this area within twenty minutes."

"Understood, but we should not resort to that unless absolutely necessary, otherwise you can’t explain your presence here."

The cooperation between the Royal Family and Zaras Academy was unofficial, which means the True God Church did not know Princess Lecia was a Circle Sorcerer.

"No problem. Aren’t you curious that I carry a steam bomb with me?"

"Isn’t Dorothy the same?"

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Shard commented.

The drawer with the severed hand contained no other items, its topmost drawer on the right side was merely a security measure. Now only the lower right cabinet remained; upon opening, inside was an iron-gray safe.

This type of safe required both a combination and a key to open. Shard touched the safe, even feeling a slight elemental presence, suggesting there were other unknown Circle Sorcerer methods protecting this safe.

"Key of the Door."

He carefully touched the surface of the safe and clearly felt a force resisting the sorcery.

Shard narrowed his eyes, cautiously controlling his spirit to maintain the operation of the sorcery. It felt as if he and an unseen force were both pushing a stone. Fortunately, the safe’s power was limited, and since the sorcery drew its power from Shard, the safe eventually yielded. After a few minutes, as gears turned and chains rattled inside, both the lock and the slightly rusty combination dial began to move.

With a click, the sound of pistons releasing was clearly heard, and then the safe door automatically swung open.

"Is opening safes also a skill of a journalist’s assistant?"

Mr. Scott, who heard the sound of the safe opening close by, asked in surprise. Though the drawers may have been unlocked, it was abnormal for the safe to open just like that:

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"There was a note in the drawer with the combination, and I found the key under the cabinet. It teaches us a lesson not to jot down passwords carelessly."

Shard vaguely explained, then looked inside the cabinet:

"Oh!"

His cry of surprise successfully diverted the attention of the young scholars.

The first thing he pulled out was an oil painting, which was unproblematic in itself, but the subject matter was concerning. It was not abstract art, but rather a very realistic style bordering on line drawing. A rock jutted out abruptly from the turbulent red sea, and on it, there was a terrifying being with a human torso and fish tail.

Though it had the face of a human female, that face displayed a grotesque visage that Shard had never seen before. The entire upper body seemed to be wrapped in a membrane, yet it also resembled transparent scales.

The expression of the merman looking out of the painting appeared to be a cruel smile, yet also seemed to lock eyes with those viewing the painting. The red sea, the black rock, the dim sky, and the pale merman—all contributed to creating a disturbing sense of reality, even though the painting itself was an ordinary item.

And the upper body of the merman in the painting closely resembled the transformed appearance of the captain of the Fishbone Pirate Ship, an affiliate of the Evil God.

"Oh! The mermaid in the painting is blinking!"

The young scholar, who viewed the painting with Shard, almost screamed out. Princess Lecia immediately looked towards the door, and Professor Katja hurried over, covering her student’s mouth with her hand.

For at least half a minute, Princess Lecia, clinging to the door, slowly shook her head, signaling it was temporarily safe. The professor released Mr. Scott’s mouth, who looked terrified, his face pallid, and his eyes bulging with stress, revealing a bloodshot appearance as if he hadn’t slept for three days.

And just minutes before, he was a very healthy and spirited young man.