Chapter 170: 'Loosened”

Chapter 170 “Loosened”

It took a long time for Vanna to withdraw her gaze from the car window after witnessing the weird state of the sixth block.

The main purpose of her coming here today was to investigate the chapel, but now, it appears she might have to increase the investigation radius.

After a little hesitation, she stretched out her hand and picked up the thick stack of materials placed on the seat next to her.

These were the files she asked for from City Hall before the operation—using the authority as Pland’s inquisitor and the relevant provisions of the Special Enforcement Regulations for Unusual Events, she obtained all the municipal records related to the sixth block for the past few years. She’s finished reading part of the records along the way here.

These documents from City Hall are not top-secret documents, nor do they involve any high-level supernatural events or unsolved cases. On the contrary, these documents only contained the most basic of things regarding daily life.

Gas meter records, electricity bill payments, shop taxes, water supply, heat supply, garbage disposal, security patrols...

If the life as an inquisitor had taught her anything, then it’s that daily life often hid the most obvious clues pertaining to supernatural events.

All of the mortal civilization was surrounded by the Boundless Sea, and there was the constant threat of anomalies and visions, so merely being able to enjoy daily life was in itself a treasure worth protecting. Like bathing in the morning sun, eating a hot meal on the table, buying a snack from a street stall, and having a warm bed at night, were all evidence of this continuous miracle only achieved through 10,000 years of mortal efforts.

If a supernatural force had done something to this collective miracle, it would definitely leave a mark on this world to be found.

“Did you notice anything?” The voice of the guardian who was driving interrupts after noticing the lady’s frown, “Is it a missing file?”

“On the contrary, all the municipal files are all here,” Vanna shook her head slightly. “The plumbing and sewage records are all here and maintained at a very balanced value, which is very reasonable.”

“Then your expression...”

“There are no police cases,” Vanna raised her eyes slightly, “the public security files are blank. In addition, the newborn record is also blank, and the residents’ death records here are also empty.”

“Finally found it!” His voice was filled with unconcealable excitement, “It’s actually hiding here... But how did me and Inquisitor Vanna miss this before after searching for so long?!”

In the second his fingers touched the books.

“Seventh row of the sixth columns, seventh row of the sixth columns...”

The scene repeats itself over and over again until it suddenly doesn’t. Raising his head, the old archivist stiffly looked around at the familiar yet distant bookshelves lined around him. It’s the same old oil lamps lighting the texts, the same old domed building, but the protective pillars that depict the pattern of waves were shimmering with light.

A sobering calm swept over the older man’s chaotic mindset at that very moment.

The protection barrier? Who started it? Why did it activate? Did I do it? What was I doing again?

The old fella instinctively raised his hand to grasp onto the large-caliber revolver around his waist, only to discover something unusual with his body.

The originally flexible arm that he used had become so stiff and heavy that the gears inside were now grinding against each other. It’s only possible after years of neglect and rust.

Astonished and shocked by his mechanical arm’s deplorable state, he also looked downwards towards his mechanical leg. There, seeping black motor oil was dripping down the sides. There’s no doubt about it. They’re all rusts and unmaintained, as if he’s been trekking through this archive for years on end.

Finally, the last barrier keeping him from seeing the truth was lifted like a curtain. He could remember everything with clarity: how he and Vanna searched the archives, how she left with the documents, and how he continued to search for the missing 1885 record by himself...

He may be old, but he’s no fool. The priest instantly realized what might’ve happened. A supernatural force was at work here, mostly a vision! Pland was at the center of a huge vision!!

“SHIT!” The old priest exclaimed and dragged his now ragged body towards the main desk.

However, his movements froze the second he came out of the shelved aisles.

A strange black figure had appeared inside the archives main area without his awareness, and it’s holding an ominous black umbrella as if to block out the ubiquitous sunlight.