Ralph's conclusion was similar to mine. The sacrifice of virgins was something that could only be rooted in culture or religion. With this direction, we knew where to search, but the problem was time.
Time was not on our side.
The investigation at the docks was still ongoing, and we didn't trust the police. We needed someone to oversee the investigation while also searching for the secret passage. Then another person would search for clues in the city library.
The problem was, the person with the detective intuition was Ralph, so he was the best option to stay at the docks and monitor the investigation.
However, this was extremely risky, but he insisted he would be safe with the police. It took him nearly an hour to convince me to let him go alone.
Not because I cared—this is a video game. Even if he dies here, he would just get kicked out of the game. The problem was, I wasn't sure I would be able to complete this mission without his help.
The truth was, I strongly believed I needed his insight to win the game.
---
— City Library —
My carriage rolled to a stop in front of the city library. Reluctantly, I stepped out, my eyes pinned on the dusty, ancient building riddled with cobwebs and dirt. The windows were barred with planks, and the gates were sealed tight with two policemen guarding the entrance. According to my memory, a tragedy occurred here some decades ago—cursed by knowledge, a woman set up a ritual circle before slitting her throat.
At least, that's what this body believes.
Since then, everyone has avoided this place like it was a plague, and I didn't really blame them. But now things were messy, and with the evidence we had pointing towards the library, I was beginning to doubt that story.
"Lord Blackwater, welcome!" The two guards bowed deeply.
Not waiting for a response, they rushed over to the gate and unlocked the rusty padlock before unwinding the chains and pushing the gates open. The creaking sound of the gate was enough to send chills down the spines of the officers as they fidgeted while retreating, but I was unfazed.
With Lyxor's genes, I'm basically a monster.
Without hesitation, I walked into the compound. The paved pathway was riddled with vines, weeds, and overgrown grasses, while the surroundings could only be described as a bush. Ignoring all of it, I headed straight for the double wooden doors with a bat-head-inspired doorknob.
Bam!
The door swung open under my push, and light poured into the dark room.
"A receptionist lounge?" I muttered with a hint of uncertainty.
Slowly, I walked past the counter on the right where I believed the librarian or receptionist should be seated. To the left were waiting chairs arranged in a straight line.
In a few seconds, I was in front of a staircase that led to the next floor. Behind it were narrow pathways that led to two doors.
"I would love to know where these doors lead to, but that's not why I'm here."
Shaking off the urge to explore, I strode upstairs without much hesitation. At the end of the staircase were rows of towering shelves reaching the high ceilings. These shelves were well arranged, and just at the other end of the staircase was a signboard with a map of the entire room drawn on it.
"From this map, the reading area is at the center of the room. Every other place here is just shelves with books." I was genuinely stunned by this realization.
I couldn't help but wonder if these were actual books with content or just empty books meant to fill up the space and make things more realistic.
"Where do we start…" I mumbled under my breath.
Using my palm, I wiped off some dirt from the map and frowned at the distance between the history and religious sections. Begrudgingly, I decided to head over to the religious section, occasionally looking at the countless books stacked in each shelf and wondering how long it would take me to find what I needed.
A few minutes later, I stood in front of the shelf carrying all the religious books this fictional world needed.
"God, this will take a while." I sighed heavily. "Maybe I should have been the one investigating the docks."
Suddenly, the stench of fish and saltwater didn't seem all that bad anymore. Reluctantly, I started my search from books on the lower parts of the shelf. Only now did I notice the flaw with the simulation: the books here had the same generic title, and the pages were empty.
However, this made my job easy since I knew the book I was looking for would be the only one with contents.
Open, flick through the pages, and toss aside.
This became my routine for over an hour until all the books at the bottom of the shelf were lying on the ground.
"God, I knew it would never be easy." I rolled my eyes and shifted my attention to the rolling library ladder at the far end of the shelf.
DING!
[Player Ralph Ashford Has Been Killed And Ejected Out Of The System.]
Buzz!
A shiver ran down my spine as I froze on the spot, my eyes dilating with shock. This was my greatest fear from the very beginning, and now it had become a reality.
'For them to kill him, it may mean he found something—or did they do it because of our involvement last night?' I couldn't help but wonder.
Thud! Thud!
Thud! Thud!
My eyes narrowed at the sudden sound of heavy footsteps climbing up the stairs. With my enhanced genes, my hearing was exceptional.
"Two or three?" My frown deepened.
Without hesitation, I walked toward the ladder tucked away at the far edge of the shelf. Grabbing it tightly, my eyes revealed a violet gleam as I activated my power.
Hand Of God!
Slowly, my entire body was coated in a rusty silver metal. While it wasn't as sturdy as I wanted, it was better than absorbing the termite-infested wooden shelves.
"This will have to do." I muttered coldly.