Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 240 The Ghost's Request

According to what Shard heard from the coachman, "common knowledge" dictated that underground cemetery plots were the most expensive, and among the ground-level plots, those beneath trees were slightly pricier. Being buried under a tree symbolized a noble character in literary works.

The sound of cicadas filled the air, and as the weather was a bit gloomy, the sunlight that reached the ground was very dim, as if it were about to rain. Yet, even such feeble sunlight caused the two spirits to become increasingly faint.

Just as the Outlander's hometown rumors had it, spirits could not be exposed to sunlight for too long. Of course, evil spirits born from Relics or other formidable evil powers had strong resistance to sunlight.

The entrance to the underground cemetery soon came into view, and the group halted to allow the Tomb Guardian, who followed behind with a set of keys, to open the door. The grave goods in the underground cemetery were placed directly around the coffins, so extra caution was necessary against mal-intentioned night visitors. Aside from the Tomb Guardian's own vigilance, the three-layered fence doors outside the underground cemetery were an important weapon in protecting it.

Apart from the fence doors here, every tomb in the underground had its own fence door. However, not all who attended the burial could descend; only The Deceased's relatives were allowed into the tomb, and certainly, Shard was not among them.

Thus, his next task was to wait on the ground until Mrs. Worsent returned to the surface to settle the payment with him. The time was not even four o'clock yet, and Shard had quite a while to visit Mr. Sparrow before heading back to the city for dinner.

By the time he got home, Miss Annette and Miss Beyas would probably just be arriving.

While the Tomb Guardian was unlocking the door, the two spirits began to discuss:

"Since we can't make her see us, let's try to take control of a living person and ask for her opinion face to face,"

Mr. Mason suggested.

"Can you do that?"

"I can only very slightly affect a living person."

"Me too."

This indicated that their powers were pitifully weak.

"Together, we should be able to control one person, probably. Although it might only last a few minutes, it's enough to ask."

"No problem… but whom should we choose?"

Mr. Worsent asked, as he and the other spirit looked around. Shard subconsciously stepped to the side, so Mr. Mason pointed at him.

"Let's go with him."

Mr. Mason had spotted Shard, who was just moving, and then Mr. Worsent eyed Shard and nodded in agreement:

"I've noticed he doesn't talk much, introverts should be easy to control… Speaking of which, whose friend's child is this that came to see me off? Why haven't I seen him before?"

"What are you thinking now?"

She chuckled in Shard's ear and asked.

Shard scratched the back of his ear and glanced again at the two spirits standing in the shadow under the nearby tree:

"Any trace of a Relic? Or traces of Arcane Technique?"

"No."

"Then it's not my bad luck, it's theirs."

The Tomb Guardian opened the door to the underground cemetery, and a cold, rotting scent immediately rushed out. Mrs. Worsent's sobs grew louder; she struggled with her grief to thank everyone for coming to send off Mr. Worsent, spoke a few words to Shard to thank him for making the trip, and then entered the underground with the coffin.

People stood waiting in the cemetery, and using the excuse of needing to go to the church's lavatory, Shard left the crowd. He thought the spirits would find another target upon seeing him leave, but instead, they stubbornly followed him.

"Look, he's distancing from the crowd, let's catch up quickly."

Shard wanted to laugh but couldn't, so after moving away from the crowd, he slowed his pace slightly. Once he confirmed that people in the distance couldn't see him, he clenched his fists, counted down internally: three, two, one, and then spun around to land a punch on each of the following ghosts' faces.

"Oh~that's rough."

"Oh~ how can you touch us?"

The ghosts' tones finally wavered; they were astonished looking at Shard. This was certainly the effect of "Soul Echo"; any physical attack made by Shard's body could affect spirits.

The two ghosts thought of escaping, but Shard's right hand was already glowing with a silver light. He was not normally a violent man, but at that moment, he appeared very menacing in the eyes of the ghosts:

"If you want to dissipate immediately, just run."

The fingers pointed forward, and the silver moonlight was very faint, but it caused them to tremble as if they had encountered a natural enemy:

"Sir, whatever you say, oh, we are indeed unfortunate to encounter a wizard from the stories after death,"

Mr. Mason complained softly.

"No, I am not a wizard, I am a Circle Sorcerer. And stop backing away, or I'll make you aware of the consequences. It was clearly you who wanted to attack me, so I should be the unfortunate one."

Shard waved the Silver Light in his hand as he spoke.

"Look, you unfortunate fellow, why did you choose this person?"

Mr. Mason complained discontentedly to Mr. Worsent beside him, who was about to apologize but then suddenly realized something, pointing at Mr. Mason and said:

"Wait a minute, it was you who chose him!"

"Shut your mouths, I'll only say this once!"

Shard stopped the two spirits from complaining to each other.

Being mere commoners in life and not even complete spirits at the moment, Mr. Worsent and Mr. Mason could not comprehend what was happening; they were simply succumbing to an instinctive fear.

"I ask, you answer,"

Shard spoke fiercely:

"First, why are you here?"

"Don't know, just appeared here suddenly,"

That was Mr. Mason's response.

"I don't know either. I can't leave my body after death; something has bound me here,"

That was Mr. Worsent's response.

Shard frowned:

"Then, when will you leave?" Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire

"Don't know, we'll leave when it's time to leave,"

That was their joint response.

"Finally, please stay away from my employer Mrs. Worsent, it's better for her too. Living people should not have too much contact with the deceased."

"But..."

The two ghosts did not agree immediately, even as Shard made his fingers glimmer, they did not consent right away:

"As long as our questions are answered, we will definitely not bother anyone anymore."

"Asking if Mrs. Worsent truly forgot what happened that night?"

"Yes."

They nodded, the obedient expressions on their faces making Shard, who was innocently targeted by the ghosts, feel like giving them another punch.

But there was no need to be angry with these two spirits. He thought for a moment, looking at the two spirits who were expectantly watching him:

"Alright, I will give you the answers, but do not interact with any ordinary people."

"Thank you, sir."

He sighed, looking toward the distant crowd waiting.

His easy agreement was not out of a kind desire to help, but because he was also very curious about the truth. Moreover, the matter did not involve any dangerous elements; he simply treated it as amusing himself. His heart had been oppressed before the big battle, and though talking with the two ghosts had irritated him, his mood had inexplicably improved quite a bit.