Outside the Market District Police Headquarters, Lumian, who had used his [Secret Spectacles] to create a simple disguise, boarded the carriage with the fleur-de-lis painted on it.
Two ordinary police officers in black uniforms sat side by side, with three dark urns at their feet, on which the names of the deceased were written in fluorescent ink.
When Lumian sat opposite, the carriage belonging to the police headquarters slowly drove away. The older police officer asked curiously, "What is your relationship with them? Why did you go to the funeral?"
He remembered that among the three dead, two had no relatives or friends, and although one still had many non-direct relatives alive, they were very scared when they heard the name Flemish. Not only were they unwilling to come to claim the ashes and relics, they were even very reluctant to admit that the two sides were related by blood or marriage.
Lumian replied calmly, "I am considered their landlord."
"Just the landlord." The older police officer was clearly unconvinced.
"Officer, landlords are also human beings and have feelings."
Lumian responded with a smile, "I've either had a few drinks with them or chatted with them often. It's not a big deal to help them deliver their ashes to the catacombs."
The younger police officer looked out the window, showing an attitude of not wanting to chat, while the older police officer had a very familiar temperament.
"You are as young as you look. Since you are running a hotel or apartment in the market area, you must remember not to develop any feelings for the tenants. Otherwise, you will either be cheated or sad. After a few more visits, you will no longer have enthusiasm for others."
After Lumian made a few perfunctory remarks, the police officer asked, "We have some of Flamand's relics, but his relatives are unwilling to claim them. Do you want to take them? If not, we will deal with them ourselves."
"I'll go check it out when I get back from the catacombs."
Lumian didn't care too much about this. On the way from the market area to the Purgatory Square in the observatory area, the older police officer kept looking for people to chat with. He either pulled Lumian to communicate or tried to disturb his colleagues, without stopping for a moment.
Finally arriving at the destination, I got off the carriage holding Ruel's ashes. With Lumian's talkativeness, it felt like my ears finally got a rest.
The tomb manager who was in charge of receiving them was the one Lumian had met before. He was in his thirties, of medium build, with slightly curly hair, a thick beard, and slightly upturned eyes. He was wearing yellow trousers, a white shirt, and a blue vest.
"Kendall, why are you here again?" The older police officer greeted with a smile.
Kendall held up the unlit calcium carbide lamp and smiled, "Robert, I heard you were coming over, so I put aside my other plans and waited for you here."
As the gravekeeper spoke, he looked at Lumian and emphasized, "Did you forget to prepare the white candles?"
"Forget everything else, but I won't forget this."
Robert, holding the Flemish urn, took out three white candles from his pocket with some difficulty and threw one to his colleague and Lumian respectively. Seeing that they were ready, Kendall lit the calcium carbide lamp, turned around, and guided them along the 138-step stone staircase, step by step, into the depths of darkness.
On the way, they passed through a heavy wooden door engraved with two holy words, and passed through a quiet corridor where even breathing could be heard.
Such a dark environment was not unfamiliar to Lumian. On the contrary, the young police officer was a little nervous and hugged Mrs. Michelle's ashes tightly to seek more sense of security.
After passing through a wide avenue lined with gas street lamps, the four of them arrived at the entrance to the catacombs.
The naturally formed and artificially transformed giant stone doorway stood quietly in the dim light, with a large number of skulls, skeletal arms, sunflowers and steam elemental reliefs on both sides. There was light behind it, which seemed unable to penetrate the thick darkness. On its lintel were two inscriptions written in Intis: Stop, the Empire of the Dead is ahead.
Even though it was not the first time Lumian had seen this scene, he still had a solemn and heavy feeling. Unlike before when he was more curious and confused, he could now truly feel the weight of these warnings and this environment. Under the ground of Trier, there were a lot of dangers buried, enough to destroy the entire city and even the entire Intis, including but not limited to the Fourth Epoch, that Trier, the Shadow Tree and the invisible flame.
The catacombs also located here are probably not harmless places. According to Osta Trull, the "Secret Prayer", visitors holding lit white candles and entering the catacombs is like a ritual, a ritual to seek protection from a hidden existence. This kind of place is actually open to the public, which makes Lumian suspect that it is part of a component to suppress a certain danger underground, just like the new city built on Trier in the Fourth Epoch.
Kendall turned around and said to Lumian and the others, "You can light the candles now. Don't let them go out before you leave the catacombs. If you lose me, don't panic. Look for the sign. If you can't find the sign, just look for the black line above your head and follow it, and you will be out."
With the help of the calcium carbide lamp in Kendall's hand, Lumian and the other two lit the white candles one after another, making them emit a yellowish light. As the four candle flames flickered gently, Kendall extinguished the calcium carbide lamp, walked forward through the giant stone gate, and entered the [Empire of Death].
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On the way back, they met the newlyweds and the young guests attending the wedding again. When they were about to pass by each other, Lumian saw a young pair who looked like a couple behind the team. While the tomb manager was not paying attention to them, they were eager to try to blow out the white candle in their hands to see what would happen.
call!
They really did that, and the two yellowish candles went out. At the same time, Lumian's head was dazed for a moment, and his state recovered instantly.
But they were no longer in sight. The young couple who seemed to be a couple had disappeared. Lumian's eye hole suddenly enlarged, wanting to see the situation there clearly.
A few seconds later, he confirmed a fact: the young couple who seemed to be a couple were really missing.
Lumian then turned his gaze towards the group. No matter whether it was the newlyweds and some of the guests walking in the front, or the few people at the back, none of them felt like anyone was missing from the group. They were still laughing, making noises, and moving forward.