Chapter 2: Hidden Objects
There was quite a bit of world information. After reviewing it, Su Xiao gained a general understanding of the world’s situation. Ignoring the historical changes, the main content wasn’t too extensive: the Eastern Valley Federation, the Watch Guild, the Night Watchmen, Dark Demons, Wraiths, and an unknown place, the Dark Prison.
The Dark Prison was part of this world, but it had been separated, existing independently before. Now, it was merging with this world, and the Dark Demons and Wraiths would definitely appear one after another.
As for the so-called Eastern Valley Federation, it was essentially a power structure formed after the union of several kingdoms and duchies. This power structure was not independent; the kings of the kingdoms or the grand dukes of the duchies were all members of the Eastern Valley Federation’s parliament. Major decisions were made through parliamentary means. Su Xiao was aligned with the Watch Guild faction, so he would have contact with the Eastern Valley Federation, but not too much.
Compared to other countries, the king of the Rhine Kingdom was very farsighted. This king completely separated the commoners from the supernatural. The kingdom’s power system only managed the military, finance, and civil affairs, while supernatural management was handed over to the Watch Guild.
After this decision was implemented, the Rhine Kingdom’s economy rapidly prospered. Commoners rarely encountered supernatural events. Even if they did, local police officers would handle it, then notify the Watch Guild to send Hunters to deal with the supernatural incident.
This management method was quickly adopted by other countries. The reason was that it was indeed effective. Once supernatural knowledge became widespread, commoners, driven by curiosity, would create all sorts of bizarre things. The most famous incident involved a teenage boy who, wanting to gain supernatural power, used his own blood to “draw a formation diagram” and then summoned an unknown entity.
That wasn’t a Dark Demon or Wraith, but something far larger, not even a creature from this world. The files on this incident were still sealed, with the details classified as top secret. In the event, 129 Night Watchmen died in battle, 128,527 commoners were killed, over 300,000 commoners were injured, and a large number of buildings were destroyed. Conservative estimates put the losses at over 25.3 billion Shiller (1 Shiller could buy a pack of low-to-mid-range cigarettes).
This was the consequence of universalizing the supernatural for the common people. Even if one truly wanted to popularize it, they would need to completely control this power and have a perfect system in place. Clearly, this world was utterly incapable of controlling the supernatural power from the Dark Prison.
Standing up from the steps, Su Xiao followed the coordinates provided by Reincarnation Paradise and walked east along the street. He needed to reach the Sanctuary House first.
The so-called Sanctuary House was where Night Watchmen resupplied. Each city-level area had one. Basic supplies were free, provided by the Watch Guild, with oversight from an inspection department to prevent the Sanctuary House manager from embezzling supplies.
Speaking of Night Watchmen, these nameless people who operated at night were actually quite interesting. “Night Watchmen” was just their original title. After the Dark Prison Gate closed, the number of Dark Demons and Wraiths sharply decreased. Most appearances were near cemeteries, so at that time, the Night Watchmen all became Grave Keepers.
As times progressed, various countries began cremating bodies, reducing the frequency of supernatural events. The Grave Keepers were somewhat bewildered to find that there weren’t many supernatural incidents near cemeteries anymore, so they left the graveyards one after another.
Today, the titles of Night Watchmen and Grave Keepers had become things of the past. The high-ranking kings and the Watch Guild collectively referred to these people as Hunters—hunters who hunted supernatural monsters in the night.
Please don’t think that Dark Demons and Wraiths were the only sources of danger. The causes of some supernatural events stemmed from curiosity. When things got out of control, the Hunters would arrive. Upon seeing the monsters, they couldn’t help but wonder if the Dark Demons and Wraiths had evolved or mutated, because the “things” before them were unheard of.
After walking three blocks, Su Xiao found the street getting narrower, until it was less than four meters wide. The buildings on both sides became increasingly old, with large patches of wall peeling off. He had arrived at the slums of Sodo City.
As dusk fell, Su Xiao stopped in front of a gap between two three-story buildings. There was a staircase leading upward here.
He stepped onto the stairs and soon reached the end. In front and to the right were walls; to the left was a double door. The glass on the door was stained with grime, and a poster was pasted on the inside of the glass.
Su Xiao took a set of keys from under the doormat in front of the door, tried them one by one, and quickly opened the door.
The Sanctuary House was dim inside, and faint snoring could be heard. Su Xiao casually pressed the switch on the wall, and the light in the room came on.
Round stools were scattered everywhere, very messy. In the inner corner against the right wall was a semicircular wooden table, just enclosing a corner of the room. This area took up about one-fifth of the room’s space. Behind the wooden table was a chair, and further back was a very tall display cabinet filled with all sorts of strange and bizarre items.
On the wooden table sat an old-fashioned telephone, the kind with a rotary dial, surrounded by various odds and ends.
At that moment, a figure wearing a bulky metal helmet and equally bulky armor was sitting in the chair behind the wooden table. This outfit would definitely get a 100% turn rate on the street.
The bulky man had one foot propped up on the wooden table, and snoring came from under the oval helmet. He was sleeping very soundly. Su Xiao stepped forward, habitually suppressing his aura.
As soon as Su Xiao approached within five meters of the wooden table, the snoring in front abruptly stopped.
“Hmm~, hmm, fell asleep. Good thing I didn’t sleep until evening. Looks like I drank fake booze again. More and more profiteers.”
After recovering for a moment from the fake alcohol buzz, the eyes under the bulky man’s helmet looked toward Su Xiao.
“Hmm~, been waiting for you a long time.”
With a clatter of armor, the bulky man stood up and walked toward the door of the Sanctuary House.
“This Sanctuary House is yours now. The floor below is the warehouse. The third floor above has six bedrooms. Open that door, and it leads to the stairs up and down. Oh, and the power will be out tomorrow.”
The bulky man pointed to a wooden door on the right wall, indicating that the stairs were behind it. Then he walked out of the Sanctuary House.
“One more thing. Later, or maybe later tonight, a few Hunters will come. They’re all newcomers. Be friendly to them. I know your temper.”
Leaving these words, the bulky man left. However, before leaving, he crouched in front of Bubu Wang and gave him a friendly chuckle.
[Tip: The Hunter has become the manager of ‘Sanctuary House (16)’.]
[Identity Disguise in progress…]
[Disguise complete. You will be disguised as a Overlord-level unit, God Hunter Kukulin.]
[Disguise syncing…]
[Consumed Elder’s Letter of Recommendation. Using this letter as a medium, disguise successful.]
……
Su Xiao raised his hand to examine himself. His clothes hadn’t changed. He turned his head to look at the mirror on the wall; his appearance hadn’t changed either.
Pushing open the movable partition and coming behind the wooden table, Su Xiao sat down in the chair. There was nothing valuable on the table. He pulled open the metal panel below the inner side of the wooden table, revealing several rows of differently colored potions and various easily portable weapons.
[Main Quest has been activated. Due to the extreme danger and special nature of this main quest, the quest reward will be determined based on the Hunter’s own characteristics.]
[Main Quest: Hidden Objects.]
Difficulty Level: Due to insufficient information and the partially Transcendent nature of this world, the estimated danger level of this quest is Seventh Rank.
Quest Information: Find the reason for the fusion between the Dark Prison and this world, and interrupt this process.
Quest Time Limit: 16 natural days.
Quest Reward: Immunity Badge (Equipping this badge exempts the wearer from the debuff effects caused by Charm Attribute, Willpower Attribute, and Luck Attribute dropping below 0 points).
Tip: This badge only provides immunity for attributes within -10 points. Exceeding -10 points, this badge’s effect becomes invalid.
Quest Penalty: None.
Warning: Before this quest is completed or the quest time limit is reached, the Hunter cannot leave this world by any means.
……