Chapter 147
The shadows of Shaer surged from behind, taking the stretcher from the hands of the "medics." They carried Lucy ahead, while Shaer, passing by the medics, requested some potions from them.
Of course, the expenses would be charged to the Dutton Group.
As he stepped into the dark passage leading to the underground sanctuary, Shaer waved his hand lightly behind him, closing the door.
The shadows halted with the stretcher, and Shaer moved to Lucy's side, feeding her several vials of life-saving potions.
The breath of Lucy Xiluofa steadied slightly due to the potions, and some of the bleeding wounds on her body showed signs of improvement.
Looking at Lucy, who lay on the stretcher, vulnerable and exposed, Shaer calmly asked, "Do you want to return to the underground sanctuary?"
"Yes..."
Lucy, enduring excruciating pain, turned her eyes slightly toward Shaer. "Thank you... Your Honor..."
"Why do you want to go back to the underground sanctuary?"
Shaer ignored her gratitude and pressed on with his questioning.
The passage was chillingly cold, with four burning shadows gripping the corners of the stretcher, standing still in the dim corridor.
Lucy felt a rare flutter of anxiety, as if saying the wrong thing could cost her life right there.
Do I... know her?
Lucy strained to see the girl's face in the darkness, but it was futile.
"Not staying below..."
After a long silence, Lucy finally spoke, her voice strained. "I will die..."
"Why?"
Shaer disregarded Lucy's evasiveness, tightening the conversation.
At that moment, she regretted not logging in as the "Instigator." If "Instigator" Shaer had intervened, there would have been no need for such pressure; Lucy would have revealed everything.
"I... don't know..."
Lucy's tone was tinged with helplessness, as if she had given up on persuading the girl. "I just know... if I'm not below... my luck will become... very bad..."
At this point, Lucy seemed to remember something. She struggled to extend her bloodied right hand toward her waist pouch, but as she reached into the small black leather bag, a twenty-sided die fell out.
Thud... thud...
The die rolled down the stairs, finally coming to rest on the fourth step below. Shaer moved the shadows forward a few steps, confirming there was no danger before approaching to see the number on the die.
"What... is my number?"
Lucy seemed eager to know, but in her current state, she couldn't manage it.
"2."
Shaer replied.
Lucy's hand fell weakly, and she said, "You see..."
"Is it too low a number for you to avoid misfortune?"
Shaer inquired.
He didn't know whether Lucy was friend or foe, but in the simulation, even if information was exposed, it didn't matter as long as he could extract intelligence.
"Yes... can you take me down... quickly..."
Lucy's tone had turned pleading.
Shaer decided not to press her further and controlled the shadows to carry her down.
Soon, another name on the list, Professor Ashford, would arrive. There was no need to completely sever ties with Lucy here, as he would still need to interact with the professor.
With Lucy's current injuries, even if Professor Ashford came, in this simulation, Lucy would stand no chance against "Judge" Shaer.
Shaer carried Lucy to the underground sanctuary, where the area outside had been cleared, carpeted, and covered with clean white cloth.
Some staff noticed that Shaer had brought Lucy down and quickly signaled to others, clearing a space for him. The shadows laid Lucy down gently in that spot.
Feeling the sanctuary beneath her, Lucy, who had been tense, immediately relaxed and slipped into a semi-conscious state.
Meanwhile, Shaer, at the spot where Lucy had been struck, controlled the shadows to search while waiting for Professor Ashford's arrival.
Soon, over ten minutes passed, and while Professor Ashford had yet to arrive, Shaer found a strange "iron coin" amidst the rubble.
The coin stood upright, seemingly unsupported, with a rust-colored faceless angel on one side and a black eyeball demon that appeared to be bleeding on the other.
Shaer's eyes narrowed. She withdrew the shadows, no longer approaching the coin.
Is this... a sealing object?
Is it Lucy's?
Not yet at the end of the simulation, Shaer had no idea about the coin's information and refrained from recklessly reaching out to touch it.
Just as Shaer was about to turn away, the coin gently wobbled and then fell to the ground.
The rust-red faceless angel spread its wings, facing the shattered dome above.
In the next moment, footsteps echoed as the door to the secret chamber was pushed open. Several figures clad in black robes and crow masks surrounded an elderly man wearing a silver crow mask, making their way toward Lucy.
"Professor, over there."
Professor Ashford had arrived.
"Where are the people?"
"Right here, Professor!"
"Clear the way, too many people crowding... Where's the equipment?"
The professor approached Lucy directly. As he walked, his eyes inadvertently caught sight of the red-haired girl standing a short distance away, and he paused slightly.
She looks familiar... Isn't she the girl I saw when I went to find my student, Adele? How did she end up in the court... I remember back then...
Never mind... I might still need something from her, so once this is over, I'll just make sure Adele keeps her distance.
The professor merely nodded slightly in Shaer's direction before kneeling beside Lucy, beginning to examine her horrific head injuries.
At that moment, Shaer, seeing the professor preparing his tools, scanned the crowd.
Among them, she spotted a male "Penance Monk" dressed in the robes of the Church of the Savior, standing by, ready to assist.
Just then, the monk's gaze met Shaer's. In that instant, he quickly lowered his head and bowed respectfully in her direction.
What the hell? Did I scare him? Why does he look like he saw a plague god?
After several seconds, he cautiously raised his head, realizing the girl was still looking at him, even waving her hand in his direction.
A cold sweat trickled down his temple. He glanced around, confirming she was indeed calling him, and carefully made his way around the "medics" toward Shaer.
"Your Honor."
The man bowed deeply, speaking softly and respectfully.
"Keep an eye on this sealing object until Commissioner Lucy wakes up."
Shaer pointed to the coin on the ground.
She had considered calling the staff from Dutton Manor to watch over it, but after thinking from the "Gambler's" perspective, she abandoned that idea.
Who knows if a "Gambler" might suddenly get a wild idea and snatch the sealing object when no one is looking?
The "medics" from the Redemption Society couldn't be commanded, so she had to enlist the help of the Church of the Savior, as even if she threw money at the "Penance Monk," he would probably just waste it.
"Understood."
The man sighed in relief.
So it was just to help guard an item.
He had been racking his brain, wondering if he had made a mistake, already preparing to plead his case.
With someone to watch over the sealing object, Shaer took a couple of steps forward, distancing herself by about four meters, and began observing Professor Ashford's actions.
She watched as he poured a familiar emerald-green potion into Lucy's mouth, a faint minty scent wafting to Shaer's nose.
It was unmistakably Adele's potion.
Under the potion's influence, Lucy, who had been semi-conscious, slowly awakened. She opened her eyes, saw Professor Ashford's face, and opened her mouth, but no words came out.
"Your condition is very serious, Miss Xiluofa."
Professor Ashford's voice came from behind the silver crow mask as he continued, "Your brain has suffered irreversible damage... If I had arrived a few minutes later, you might have completely lost consciousness, consumed by the potion."
"You know the abilities of the 'Newborn'... If you want to live, keep your eyes on me. If you don't want treatment, then close your eyes."
Table of Contents
