The paper that caught Xia De's attention looked like parchment. One corner was pressed down by the book "Psychology and Abnormal Psychology," but it only covered the signature, not affecting the main content:
"College Bounty Order
The illegal organization Mercury Blood, carrying the keeper-level relic forged philosopher's stone, has appeared in Tobesk City and surrounding areas. A bounty is offered to all Letter-based Ring術士 of the college in this area. Closely monitor the movements of Mercury Blood. If the forged philosopher's stone is submitted to the college, it can offset 5 practical credits for this academic year, and the academic assessment rating for this semester will automatically be elevated to ‘Excellent.’ Other rewards will be discussed in person with Professor Rodgers of the Mechanical College.
Note 1: This task is extremely dangerous. Students below Three-Ring Arcanist (inclusive) are not advised to directly contact the Mercury Blood organization in any form.
Note 2: For specific information about the relic forged philosopher's stone, please consult the college in detail.
Note 3: The Orthodox Church has obtained this information. If you intend to complete the task, please be careful not to expose your identity to the Church."
Below was the covered signature, which seemed to be a joint announcement issued by Saint Byron's Comprehensive College Public Affairs Management Office and the Mechanical College.
"What if it's exposed to the Orthodox Church? I forgot to ask the doctor just now."
Xia De thought, then placed the document bag on the table and sat back on the sofa.
So far, no one knew his secret of understanding various strange languages, so the possibility of this thing being forged by the doctor was not high. On the contrary, the appearance of this college bounty order proved that what the doctor said was most likely true.
"However, credits, academic assessment... these are chilling words. I didn't expect to encounter such things even in the era of steam civilization."
Xia De pondered silently, recalling his life in his hometown. This strengthened his resolve to delve into the mysterious and find a way back.
He just didn't expect that upon arriving in another world, he would still have to study and take exams. And even more uncertainly, he might even have to write papers.
"There's always a way, no matter the difficulty."
He thought to himself, patiently waiting for the doctor to return.
Although the doctor had just treated him to lunch at the goose meat restaurant not long ago, Xia De had barely eaten anything because the terrifying scene he witnessed that morning was truly impressive.
Now that he had a plan for the future, his mood improved slightly, and the feeling of hunger set in. So, while the doctor hadn't returned, he asked Mrs. Carla for some snacks, saying he wanted to have afternoon tea.
The doctor had roughly explained that Xia De was a distinguished guest, so when the maid, wearing a floral apron, knocked and entered, Xia De saw that she was actually carrying a porcelain plate.
"This is Mr. Schneider's collection."
The middle-aged maid smiled. She looked to be in her forties, a bit older than the blue-eyed doctor. Her figure was plump, fitting Xia De's imagination of a middle-aged woman in an ordinary family of this era.
Although there was no great Eastern nation in this world, there were still porcelain items, and porcelain was still precious. Only special soil and techniques from specific regions could produce such fine pieces.
Xia De thanked Mrs. Carla, not paying much attention to the porcelain plate. He looked at the exquisite yellow fluffy cupcake on the plate, and the red cherry on top that seemed to reflect light, and subconsciously swallowed.
"Xia De, don't disgrace Outsiders!"
The Outsider, new to this place, told himself in his heart, and then, as expected, heard the pleasant laughter of the woman in his mind again.
They had agreed to meet at two o'clock, but the doctor was late. If Xia De hadn't found that no one really stopped him from wandering around when he went to the restroom, he might have suspected he had fallen into some trap.
Since this was someone else's place, after confirming he could leave at any time, Xia De returned to the original room to wait. He didn't have the bad habit of rummaging through other people's things, and he also worried about seeing documents he shouldn't see again, so he sat bored on the sofa, observing the room's interior decoration.
Having been in this world for nearly 40 hours, he had a better understanding of the development level of the current country. The characteristics of the steam age were evident in every aspect of life, not just gas lamps and steam pipes, but also the intricate mechanical buckles on various furniture, and the lift controlled by large gears, pulleys, and ropes on the side of the bookshelf—these were all things Xia De had never seen in his own world.
He had never imagined he could come to such a world. While feeling bewildered, he also tried to exchange his Knowledge for money. But he didn't know much, nor did he have an exceptionally good photographic memory, so he was still full of unease about his future life.
Doctor Schneider appeared at half past two. He had changed into a black coat.
He began to apologize as soon as he pushed the door open:
"I'm really sorry, some completely unexpected things happened. I ordered a batch of sensitive medicines from the black market—no, don't make that face, they're not for clinic patients, I don't do that kind of thing. They're for my own Miracle research, and there was a mix-up during the pickup. Just bad luck."
As he spoke, he sat down again, and the maid followed him in, providing a fresh pot of black tea for the two gentlemen:
"So, have you made up your decision?"
The doctor asked solemnly, his blue eyes looking into Xia De's eyes. Xia De had observed the color of his own eyes in this body in the mirror; they were still that deep brown, almost black, which was the same as before.
"I've decided."
Xia De sat up straight and nodded, giving an equally solemn answer:
"I want to try to contact that Poet Grade relic, The Dream of Saint Byron's Comprehensive College."
A wide smile appeared on the doctor's face:
"Although my luck today isn't great, I've found that, Hamilton Detective, things always go smoothly when they involve you."
As one of the Three Great Arcane Academies, Saint Byron's Comprehensive College possesses the ability to remotely deliver relics. However, Xia De was not yet an official Ring術士, so Doctor Schneider naturally wouldn't let him know how this was done.
After waiting alone in the room for more than ten minutes, the doctor pushed the door open, holding a black cardboard box.
It was truly a black cardboard box, with nothing but black. Xia De didn't even immediately find where the seams of the box were.
"The Dream of Saint Byron's Comprehensive College is a product of the last epoch, the fifth epoch. The college had just been established then, and the legendary founder, Miss Mana Feilianna, the Thirteen Ring Sorcerer, obtained this relic after a summer nap. This relic must be contained in a black space, making it a relatively simple relic to contain."
"The college was only established in the last epoch?"
Xia De was a little puzzled. He had thought it was an ancient organization that had been passed down through several epochs.
"Actually, the Five Great Orthodox Churches and the Three Great Arcane Academies all appeared in the last epoch. Remember this common sense: the fourth epoch was an epoch of darkness and chaos, where evil and distortion ran rampant in the world. The fifth epoch was the epoch of Witches, where only women possessed spellcasting abilities. Powerful Witch Emperors carved up the world, and city-states fought among themselves. Civilization made no progress in the fifth epoch; it was a wild and primitive epoch, but equally terrifying. By the sixth epoch, the extraordinary was not apparent, and human civilization was able to progress to the current era in the hands of ordinary people."
The doctor didn't introduce older epochs, and Xia De didn't ask, because as the two sat on the sofa, Doctor Schneider had already opened the box.
Peering in, the cardboard box was filled with straw, and on the straw lay an exquisite enamel cloisonné snuff bottle, palm-sized. The bottle body was overall fetal blue, with bright yellow sunflowers painted on it, connected by golden lines, making one involuntarily think of the joyful times of summer.
