"Actually, I didn't find out about the abnormal price; Augustus helped me find the information at the Church."
The doctor gestured for the gray-haired Old Priest to speak. The Old Priest nodded, his gray hair looking particularly withered in the dim glow of the gaslight:
"About 100 years ago, a horrifying murder occurred at Saint Delan Square Six. According to the Church's records, it was actually two unknown Nine Ring術士 fighting there and dying almost simultaneously. Subsequent investigation reports showed that they lost control because they read a large number of ancient books. Although the Church believes this will not affect the house itself, since then, most of the house's successive owners have died in the house."
"This sounds like the beginning of a horror story..."
Xia De thought to himself, then realized something else:
"Wait, it seems I'm the protagonist?"
The Old Priest paused for a moment before continuing:
"The Church couldn't find any problems with the house either. They could only buy it and seal it about thirty years ago until, after repeated inspections two years ago, they sold the old house at a low price. However, wealthy people who tried to inquire about the housing prices in Saint Delan Square were very concerned about such taboos; poor people who didn't care about such things wouldn't inquire about the housing prices in Saint Delan Square. In the end, somehow, Sparrow Hamilton bought the house."
It sounded like the former Detective got a great deal, then died.
"Did that Detective know about the house?" Louisa asked curiously. The Writer was very interested in such things.
"Of course, he knew. The Church would not conceal such things and informed him of the house's past. For safety, before the Detective bought it, they sealed off the first floor, which had an accident a hundred years ago, cut off the stairs to the third floor, which had some safety issues due to long-term neglect, and locked room No. 2 on the second floor, where a mass suicide occurred seventy years ago... It's unexpected that this current owner also died in that house."
The Old Priest couldn't help but grasp the pendant on his chest, praying for Mr. Sparrow Hamilton, wishing his soul could rest in peace.
Xia De, who considered his imagination too rich, was already a little worried. The Outsider had seen many such stories:
"So, I..."
"But I think Sparrow Hamilton's death was not due to a curse; this is different from before. Past house owners all died suddenly within a few months, with no cause found; the Detective's death happened after living there for two years, and even the cause of death can be found."
Doctor Schneider said, his blue eyes looking at Xia De:
"Of course, if you feel uncomfortable living there, you can sell the house, but because of Sparrow Hamilton's death... the price will probably drop further."
His advice was quite pertinent.
"I don't plan to sell it for now. If the Detective Agency wasn't located in the city center, no one would trust an unknown Detective like me. Moreover, if I sold the house, I wouldn't be able to buy a better house in Tobesk with that money... I read in the newspaper that there are low-priced houses for sale in Tobesk University District, but the prices are truly more despairing than a relic losing control."
He said this, and Louisa immediately showed an agreeing expression. The Golden-haired girl living alone also paid attention to such news.
Xia De temporarily had no money to move, so he planned to live there for a few months and see. If there were any problems, he would move out immediately.
According to the information given by the Priest, previous owners who died suddenly had all heard strange sounds and seen suspicious shadows in the house before their deaths. Those who were alerted and moved away did not have any incidents, while all those who continued to live there died.
"Now it's even more like a vulgar horror story, and the protagonist is still me."
He thought to himself, then asked again:
"Although the house belongs to Sparrow Detective, and I have the Detective's will, I haven't seen the property and land ownership certificates."
The Old Priest waved his hand upon hearing this, a relaxed expression on his face:
"Those documents are at the Dawn Church where I am. The Detective stored them there, as the Church also had concerns. If you want to claim them back, just bring his will. The Dawn Church is in the central urban area of Tobesk, about half an hour's walk from Saint Delan Square. The tree-lined avenue near the church is very nice, and there are many public carriages.
But to prevent the Church from suspecting the Detective's death, and thus re-investigating the house and even you, I will help you get a death certificate for Sparrow Hamilton's illness... This is not making a fake document; what I get will definitely be real... Consider it a gift for joining us. This time's help, I won't charge you."
Thus, Detective Sparrow Hamilton's death was thoroughly settled. With a certificate sufficient to deceive the Orthodox Church, no one else would know the secret of the Detective's death except Xia De and the doctor.
Before ending today's meeting, Xia De only mentioned his Document-level relic, the "vampire ring." Unfortunately, none of the three present had ever come into contact with this relic. But the doctor said he could inquire with the Library through parchment, though it probably wouldn't yield results quickly.
Since Xia De now possessed two relics, both of which were relics of higher danger levels, he could be considered a relatively wealthy Ring術士. The doctor suggested that after mastering one or two powerful Miracles and curses for self-defense, he could begin reading "crazy light chaser."
"No one will supervise your self-study progress; you are responsible for yourself."
This was the advice the blue-eyed doctor gave Xia De before the four parted ways. But after leaving the clinic, Old Priest Augustus told Xia De not to mind the doctor's attitude:
"Bill is always like that. Although he seems strict with people, he is actually kinder than anyone."
He said while filling his pipe with tobacco, looking like he had been enduring for a long time in the clinic.
"We've all experienced his admonitions. The more time you spend with him, the more you'll understand."
Louisa also said this. She got into a carriage at the clinic entrance and left directly, while Xia De and Priest Augustus, who were relatively less affluent, both planned to walk away.
Xia De was going to find a carriage to take his books back later, but a regular taxi carriage might not have enough space, so he had to go to the nearest taxi carriage company.
Xia De noticed that Louisa had been frequently trying to touch her earlobes today, but the lady had no ornaments on her ears. The last time they met, she didn't have this strange movement.
He told his discovery to the Old Priest, who was temporarily walking with him. When they parted ways at the next intersection, Priest Augustus told Xia De not to worry:
"It's normal for a Ring術士 to occasionally act strangely due to the existence of 'another self.' But as long as it's not losing control due to contact with relics and ancient Knowledge, those oddities don't need to be worried about."
The Priest smiled and walked with Xia De on Lunqin Avenue in the rich district. People doing business here were well-dressed, and Xia De and the Priest's attire were barely acceptable:
"Starting a year ago, Louisa would become a bit strange every few days. She's considered normal now; last summer, we even suspected that she was possessed by another soul while reading ancient fairy tales."
Xia De's expression stiffened, and he didn't dare to continue discussing the possibility of a soul occupying a body. But because of this, he also knew that even seemingly normal Ring術士 might have unknown strange behaviors.
Ring術士 has never been a safe scholar profession.
