Chapter 748: Chapter 16 The Craving Beast_2

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Everything happened very quickly after that. Officer McDonald gathered some people and bound the old craftsman in a specialized restraint suit. Perhaps, holding onto that bit of scarce conscience, he never brought up the Superpower Users again after being saved by Gongsun Ce and even left them time alone to question Douglas.

“Did Jane Della ever order a Heart Phase Weapon from you?”

Gongsun Ce began asking about the purpose of his visit. Douglas didn’t think much and immediately responded, appearing very proud.

“A lamp that could summon shadows. It was a good lamp, I put a lot of effort into making it. Knight Jane is the pride of us commoners, and I was honored to help her.”

“This is…” Gongsun Ce carefully chose his words, “the job introduced by Captain Situ?”

“No, I took the job myself. The captain is just an actor.”

“Do you know why she wanted this lamp?”

“It was for a secret mission, I guess,” Douglas speculated, “otherwise she wouldn’t have come all the way to a minor character like me for the weaponry, given there are many better craftsmen within the Knight Order. Alas, Knight Jane… I think it must be the result of a failed operation, big shots want to destroy her reputation…”

Gongsun Ce opened his mouth, intending to tell the old man the truth but then felt it pointless. He asked with a hint of indignation, “You took the job without even knowing what she wanted to do?”

Douglas naturally nodded: “She is a knight.”

“Just because of this? With the police force being so corrupted, you still trust the knights?!”

Douglas looked at him with a strange gaze like he was observing a foreigner who had committed a common sense error. By his side, Philis whispered, “Sir, knights and officers are not the same, they uphold justice… and even I’ve heard knights battle monsters every day.”

Gongsun Ce didn’t know what to say; he recalled being saved by a knight himself and couldn’t argue back.

Seeing he wasn’t asking further, Douglas turned to Philis, his words tinged with a hint of guilt.

“Sorry, kid. I didn’t really mean to frame you… Ah, sorry. I thought this wouldn’t be discovered until much later in the night.”

Philis shook his head: “It’s always like this.”

“Yes, always like this, just as the captain said.” The old man spoke slowly, “In the vast ocean of time, each of us is so insignificant… trivial, as insignificant as dust.”

Douglas was taken away, having killed out of self-preservation yet wanting to escape his guilt. His trial wouldn’t happen soon, as sentencing him would be a complex affair.

Kerky Hyde had been organizing Douglas’s belongings; she just stepped out of the tent, holding a stack of documents. She flicked her fingers on them, producing a crisp sound.

Gongsun Ce thought of the name of the order and asked, “Is this your organization’s doctrine?”

“Life is short, as trivial as dust. One person’s efforts will never impact the larger picture, better to find something you truly want to do and live your life fulfilled.”

Kerky raised her right hand, stretching lazily. Her long-sleeved shirt slid down a section, revealing a creamy wrist. She tilted her head back like a swan, the noon sun highlighting the smile on her face, beaming with age-appropriate youthfulness and a hint of seductive decadence.

She turned and looked at Gongsun Ce: “You did quite well this time, very heroic at the end. Indeed, playing the difficult role of a clown doesn’t suit you, better stick to being a detective like today, huh?”

Gongsun Ce stepped aside: “We’ve just met, please don’t talk to me as though we’re familiar, allow me to leave first if there’s nothing else.”

Kerky’s forearm slid down like it was weightless, resting on his shoulder. Her green-haired face drew close, all smiles. They were so near that Gongsun Ce could catch a faint scent from her hair.

“Don’t be shy, I quite like you.” Her index finger swiftly glided over Gongsun’s face, leaving a soft touch, “Smart people are very charming… Sister here is free tonight, how about getting to know each other?”

Gongsun Ce grabbed her wrist and slowly lowered it. He raised his palm with an unprecedented seriousness, “I’m not interested in flat-chested women, please let me decline emphatically!”

This time Kerky really couldn’t keep up her composure: “Hey! Do you need to be so boyish, is your mind filled only with fat?! Look at my waist, my legs, my beautiful face!”

“Heh, those are secondary. Mr. Gongsun here will absolutely never form a super friendship with a flat-chested woman in this lifetime!”

“Tsk. Lost interest, just a stinky brat.”

Kerky pulled down her eyelid making a face: “Bye then, until we meet again.”

She turned decisively and walked away, stopping halfway when she heard a voice from behind.

“Please leave Douglas’s archaeological findings.”

“That won’t do, there’s also the captain’s funding in here, can’t give it to you.” Kerky turned around, blinked, “But you’ve already seen parts of it, haven’t you?”

He had seen them? When… that play?

Gongsun Ce frowned, “I haven’t seen the end. What’s the ending of that play?”

“The ending is King Morton obtaining the shattered black sword, using it to repel the Evil Dragon, protecting the island’s realm.” Kerky waved her hand, “How intriguing! Consider, what if the Holy Sword wasn’t forged by King Morton, what would the real story be?”