Chapter 19: Chapter 16 Ghost
"Really?"
Rod's expression became somewhat stiff.
"Can I rely on you or not?"
"You're not going to screw me over, are you?"
But Lauren just laughed a few times, got out of the car, and pulled a strange weapon from his bosom.
It had a long barrel, a heavy stock, and looked very much like a classic musket, but it lacked a trigger and there was no visible powder hole.
"It's called the Raven, a limited-edition Spirit Gun styled 'Raven' produced by the Simans factory in 1301, 12-gauge, gas operated, revolving bolt, weighing 7.1 kilograms, uses True Silver Bullets, effective range 110 yards, maximum Spiritual Energy 40 ticks, muzzle energy level 31."
He stuffed the gun into Rod's hands.
"It was my favorite when I was younger, and now I'm giving it to you. Its power is quite good, perfect for self-defense when you're weak. There are still seven bullets in the barrel, you can reload it yourself after they're used up."
Rod took the "Raven," carefully inspecting it in his hands. The biggest impression this gun gave him was one of harmony and unity, from muzzle to stock, a complete arc with lots of intricate patterns engraved on the body, yet not compromising its sleekness.
But without a trigger, how am I supposed to shoot?
Rod looked at Lauren with an inquiring gaze.
Lauren smiled and said, "Hold the stock, concentrate your Spiritual Energy in your palm, channel it into the gun, and when the Spiritual Pressure Column overflows, it will fire..."
Bang!
A loud gunshot reverberated through the peaceful neighborhood.
A small water tower standing in the middle of the street was hit, the high-speed True Silver Bullet penetrating one side and releasing its energy on the other, blasting a big hole behind the water tower.
Clear water flowed down noisily, making the muddy neighborhood even muddier.
There was no one in the streets, but in the rudimentary houses around, many figures appeared at the windows, seemingly searching for the source of the noise in the street.
Lauren laughed helplessly, "Better notify the Administration Hall in the Outer City First District. The repair costs and damages will be charged to your account, don't expect me to pay. I was only teaching you how to use it, I didn't tell you to fire it."
The huge recoil of the Spirit Gun made Rod's hand numb, and hearing this, he felt numb too.
"I have to compensate... but I was just careless... Aren't we here investigating a case? Can't this count as a public duty loss?"
Lauren's resigned smile grew, "If I put that on the expense report, Molly would kill me. This cannot count as a public duty loss, it's merely a personal oversight causing an accident, it can't be reimbursed."
Rod wasn't very pleased.
The investigation hadn't even started, and he had already suffered a huge blow. He had only forty-two silver coins in his pocket and had been planning to save them to buy some items.
"Don't worry too much, it's just a small matter."
Lauren snapped his fingers, and the horseless carriage automatically reversed back the way it had come.
"The important thing is the investigation."
Lauren strode forward quickly.
Rod felt a chill in his heart and swiftly followed his pace.
The streets were full of mud, and it didn't take long for their shoes and pants to get dotted with mud.
This place was nothing like the academy, where lights stretched endlessly, rows of streetlamps as far as the eye could see, every building hung with various lamps, glowing murals, hangings, statues, and even trees, grass, and vines.
Bright Light illuminated every corner of the academy, like a classical, elegant city full of artistic atmosphere that never slept.
If you didn't look up, its scenery was almost perfect.
But here, everything was different.
A dense black fog pressed down overhead, visible even without looking up.
The dirty streets were lined with dilapidated houses, haphazardly clustered together without any layout.
Every house had a lamp, either hanging on the door or locked outside in an iron grille, most of them old and dim, in stark contrast with the delicate, elegant lamps made of brass and crystal in the academy.
Shadows thrived here, filth was everywhere, mixed with the stench of fermenting acid assaulting the nostrils, enough to make one vomit.
This place was not only incomparable to the academy but it was also like hell compared to the environment outside Youse's medical facility.
Rod held his breath, feeling as if something inside his spirit had burst, as if he were seeing the true face of this city.
Meanwhile, Lauren's expression remained calm, indifferent to everything around him, as if it were all too familiar.
A moment later, Rod couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Lauren, is this a slum?"
Lauren responded indifferently, "No, this is Trolian Royal City, Lower City District, Outer City, the first zone, Hammer Street."
His words seemed tinged with a hint of irony, not easily detectable without certain experiences, but Rod sensed it sharply.
He couldn't help asking, "Aren't we closely united around the Holy Fire, with the King at the core, all hearts as one, striving together to protect our homeland?"
Lauren scoffed, "If it truly were as we preach all year, why would there be a Doomsday Sect with the goal of extinguishing the Holy Fire and annihilating humanity?"
Suddenly turning around, his gray eyes briefly complex as he looked at Rod and his tone returned to casual.
"I underestimated you, Rod."
Without waiting for an answer, he continued.
"The Royal City is divided into the Upper City and Lower City Districts, the latter further split into the Inner City District and the Outer City District. The Holy Fire is in the Royal District of the Upper City. The first zone of the Outer City District is the furthest from it, on the very edge of the Royal City. The power of the Holy Fire only reaches here faintly, and we can't light up this place like we do the Academy District; we don't have enough spare light to light up so many Spirit Lamps."
It really was a resource problem.
Rod thought for a moment, then asked another question, "What is a Spirit Lamp?"
Lauren explained unhurriedly,
"Spare light is derived from the glow of Guardian Fire, capable of dispelling Black Fog within a small area. A Spirit Lamp is a specially made lantern that can project the glow of spare light within its designed space, though, of course, it can't be too far away."
"This is our most commonly used item. Every house hangs a Spirit Lamp, especially in the Outer City District."
"So, does a Spirit Lamp with spare light keep shining indefinitely?" he asked curiously.
"It requires Fuel Element."
"Fuel Element... what exactly is it?"
"Added to fire, it's the material that maintains combustion. The stronger the Guardian Fire, the higher the grade of Fuel Element needed, but for spare light, the lowest grade of Fuel Element can keep it burning indefinitely. This is also the most acceptable for the people of the Royal City—they only need to spend a little money to maintain a month of dim light."
"But..."
The street was long and grew darker, and Rod suddenly noticed that some of the lamps had gone out, leaving the houses ominously dark.
"Some lamps are out."
Lauren suddenly quickened his pace, forcing Rod to jog to keep up,
"Some are abandoned houses, some have already met their fate."
Rod asked in surprise, "Don't you go collect them back?"
Lauren's gaze remained fixed ahead on the street, "No need."
Rod hesitated, then saw a shadow flicker in a deserted wooden house.
"But, there seems to be a ghost inside..."
A loud bang.
Something exploded in front of him, black debris scattering all around, yet none came close to Rod.
Lauren, staring at the figure atop an abandoned warehouse, slowly raised the iron staff in front of Rod, his tone still calm and smooth.
"Ghosts, less frightening than humans."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone