Chapter 113: Eighteen Gerard, kill him, now (6K major chapter)_3
“Yes, I can’t remember anything,” Gerard said in response to Bai Wei while his hands did not slow down in their movements. He refurbished the items one by one, items that were once equipment and now relics, evidently intending to turn them back into equipment, “With my current identity, I can’t acquire new equipment, so I will have to make do with these.”
“It seems you already have some ideas,” Bai Wei said, “Tell me, what do you plan to do today?”
“Continue the investigation,” Gerard replied calmly, “Ocot is an assistant in the Fourth District, but his body has been contaminated to such a state. If he’s not an isolated case… then the upper echelons of the entire Fourth District are probably rife with contamination. It should be easy to verify.”
“So your method of verification is to take this pile of junk to the offices of the Fourth District and see what lights up?” Bai Wei understood Gerard’s plan, then couldn’t help clicking his tongue, “That’s quite blunt and straightforward.”
“Simple, but effective,” Gerard said, “Traces of contamination aren’t so easily erased. As long as it truly existed, the traces can be found.”
Gerard pointed to a watch with the name “Helmo” engraved on it: “This pocket watch is called the Desolate Time Clock and can detect nearby pollutants.”
Then there was a folding knife engraved with the name “Eric”: “This knife, known as Cyril’s Blunt Knife, can deal maximum critical damage to pollutants.”
Next was a monocle with “Ian” on it: “This… doesn’t have a special name. Through it, one can see ‘pollution’ more directly.”
Gerard introduced all the scrap metal one by one, like cherished treasures.
After listening to him, Bai Wei suddenly asked, “I won’t bother asking which of these guys can be put to use…”
He paused, then said with a smirk.
“Why not just say which ones are intended to be used against me?”
Gerard immediately fell silent. After a long while, he picked up the monocle he had just mentioned.
“This lens is not a creation of Lyra, it comes from the outside, and it’s not just capable of seeing through pollution, but also holds certain sealing abilities.”
Bai Wei laughed: “So you plan to use this to seal me? You still think I’m a pollutant?”
“It is a necessary precaution,” Gerard replied. “Whether you are a pollutant or not, I need to be fully prepared.”
“So, you’re not thinking of using all the items with sealing properties against me?”
“I have indeed prepared to do so.”
“Even if I told you it would be pointless.”
“Yes,” Gerard said, “This is something I must do myself, and it’s not part of our deal.”
“Of course, our deal is only that you don’t keep any secrets from me,” Bai Wei said leisurely, “What you actually do is your business… but when you really decide to act against me, will you let me know?”
“Heh, interesting,” Bai Wei laughed offhandedly, “I believe it will be quite interesting if that day truly comes. But before then… you should go about your own business.”
“See what has become of that Bishop of the Fourth District you know so well.”
A few hours later, Gerard arrived at the office of the Fourth District—a spire only one-fifth the height of the Sky Tower.
The population of the Fourth District was also among the highest in Lyra City, so when Gerard arrived, there were already quite a few people there conducting their business.
Upon entering the spire, Gerard didn’t dawdle; he directly used his Skeleton Corps identity to approach the receptionist. Since it wasn’t the main tower, the receptionist here was a real person, not an Affairs Officer like those in the Sky Tower. Thus, when the receptionist heard that Gerard had come “to investigate,” there was some surprise, perhaps due in part to Gerard’s attire. At that moment, Gerard was not only draped in an assortment of peculiar, rag-like objects, but his left eye was also wrapped in thick gauze, looking like a severely-ill patient who had just fled a hospital.
Although the receptionist was taken aback, he still politely asked Gerard to wait on the side while he contacted his superiors.
As Gerard waited, Bai Wei’s voice rang in his mind: “Do you think you’ll be able to meet with the Archbishop directly?”
“Unlikely,” Gerard replied in his mind, “Bishop Hallman hasn’t shown his face for more than a decade.”
“A district’s Bishop hasn’t shown himself for over a decade, and you all don’t find that abnormal?”
“In Lyra, it’s not considered strange,” Gerard said, “The Five Great Bishops haven’t shown themselves for over a decade either. They have their own responsibilities.”
Bai Wei chuckled but didn’t pursue the topic. Instead, he asked, “Any reactions from your pile of detectors?”
Gerard had been watching the pocket watch the entire time, and its hands hadn’t moved an inch.
“At least not here,” Gerard replied.
Not long after, footsteps approached.
Gerard turned his head and saw a white-haired elder walking towards him.
“Good day, Lord Gerard,” the white-haired elder introduced himself with a smile, “My name is Terrell, the assistant for the Fourth District.”
Gerard looked at Terrell and suddenly asked, “Like Ocot?”
“If you’re referring to the position…” Terrell kept a composed smile, “Then yes indeed, it’s the same.”