The City of Silver, in a cramped room. "Sun" Deric Berg sat by the bed, quietly reflecting on the seven deities' information he had just received. The unfamiliar names of the gods, the hazy ancient myths, were revealing to him a world entirely different from the region where the City of Silver stood. "Was this land never abandoned by the gods? Or rather, was it now under the protection of a new divine order?" Deric remained still in the darkness, with the occasional lightning streaks flashing across the window, bringing intense light. He gradually focused his thoughts on the specific domains wielded by the seven gods, comparing them against the ancient deities such as "Aengelwied, the Dragon of Imagination": "The 'God of War' is quite similar to the King of Giants, Aurlimir; the domain of 'Lord of Storms' resembles that of the King of Elves, Suniasollem; the 'Goddess of Night' appears to be a synthesis of the King of the Magi-Wolves, Fregral, and the First Vampire, Lilith. Yet, I cannot find any parallels for the eternal sun, the Earth Mother, the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, or the God of Steam and Machinery..." "Regarding the myths and legends, I didn't pay close enough attention in class and thus missed many details." "Ah, while there are no patrol duties during this period, I should go to the Spire Library and consult the records." Derek rose abruptly, and immediately set off. His problem was also that of the vast majority of residents in Silver City. During their general education, the emphasis was placed on practical courses such as "Demonology," "Monstrous Taxonomy," "Runes," and "Supernatural Fundamentals"—knowledge directly useful for combating monsters from the depths of darkness or for increasing crop yields. When it came to listening to auxiliary subjects like "Mythology," however, they often lacked full concentration. Without the unifying power of Silver City's history, which strengthened community bonds, raised honor, and instilled a sense of mission, and without the strict oversight of the "Six-Member Council," Derek believed he would remember only events from the past two or three decades. He lifted the "Galeaxe" and stepped out of his home, walking along the clean, simple yet ancient and weathered stone path until he reached the outer edge of the twin towers in the city's northern district. One of the twin towers features a spire, housing the City of Silver's library, the honor exchange center, and the distribution point for daily necessities; the other has a dome, belonging to the "Council of Six"—the legendary artifact said to have sustained the City of Silver for over two thousand years—and serving as the repository for recipes and materials. Upon entering the spire, Drik headed straight for the third floor, recalling the location of shelves where mythological texts and ancient manuscripts were kept. He had just selected a volume on the origins of the world, intending to take it, when a slender, fair-handed, graceful palm preemptively seized the book. Drik followed the arm's gaze, bowed slightly, placed his hand on his chest, and greeted in a steady tone: "Good day, Elder Lovira." The one who had taken the book was a member of the "Council of Six," Lovira the Shepherd. She wore a black robe adorned with numerous intricate purple patterns, her silver-gray hair thick and slightly wavy, flowing freely over her shoulders. Her face was smooth and delicate, with a graceful and vibrant presence, appearing only in her early thirties. Her pale gray eyes seemed capable of peering straight into one's soul. "Hmm," she nodded gently in response to Deryck's greeting, saying little, and quietly walked away between the two rows of bookshelves. "Well, we need to keep our earlier plans in mind and not rush into spontaneous investigations. Besides whether I have sufficient special abilities to override the 'demons'' intuitive sense of danger and their ability to anticipate threats, there's just the possibility of encountering the night watchmen assigned to each suspect—something that would be quite troublesome. My goal has always been to serve as a supporting role—analyzing cases, formulating hypotheses, evaluating the authenticity of clues..." Klein thought through how he should proceed. Having gained a better understanding of the 'demons' capabilities, he was hesitant to entrust Stuarts with investigating whether the earlier suspects had pets, as that could potentially prove fatal for the latter. "Right now, our efforts are only preliminary and broad in scope. Stuarts should be safe from any immediate issues. The 'demons' aren't the eccentric staff of the Aurora Circle—they don't actively reveal themselves. By tomorrow or the day after, Stuarts will certainly be able to submit his report, possibly containing clues that others haven't noticed." Klein stood up and began walking back and forth in the living area, hands tucked into his pockets. His current difficulty lies in how to get the lead investigators to consider the animals as potential suspects. To bring it up directly would surely raise suspicion, and if he makes the subtle cues too obvious, that would also draw doubt. Ah, I'm not exactly a "spectator"—I don't possess that special talent in this regard. After careful thought and careful deliberation, he finally settled on a plan. He pulled out a sheet of paper, grasped his pen, and wrote swiftly: "But after these days of repeated reflection, I believe this account is incomplete. Perhaps he doesn't gain his experience through killing people. What if he practices on the more vulnerable animals—living, of various kinds? The number of animals dying every day in Beckettland goes unrecorded, and those vanishing into the depths of the sewers are entirely unknown. They would make excellent practice cases. This is my still-developing perspective—I hope to share it with you. Sherlock Moriaty." Yet the predation of animals upon animals is nothing particularly noteworthy. That will do. Hopefully, it might spark some inspiration for them... Klein folded the letter neatly and dressed himself before heading to the end of the street to deliver it to the mailbox. Fifteen minutes later, Jurgen the lawyer, watching the detective, Sherlock, pass by the bulging window again and again, finally couldn't help but open the door and politely inquire, "Mr. Moriaty, did you forget your keys?" "Hm, well, that's true," Klein managed a smile. "Why don't you come to my place for a visit? After dinner, when it gets dark, you can return home. I know—private detectives are exceptionally good at climbing." Jurgen extended the invitation with serious demeanor. Really? Klein paused for a moment, then sincerely smiled, "Indeed, it's my great honor." Jurgen's grandmother is truly a culinary expert! And, of course, he can also catch a cat in the process! …… After the sky turned completely black, Klein, having eaten and drunk his fill, rested a while at home before taking his staff and leaving Minsk Street. He intended to visit the Rose Street area in the southern part of the bridge once more, to ask Bishop Utrovasky clearly about the origin of the "All-Encompassing Key." Using the "Staff Method," he successfully reached the Harvest Church at night, following the same route as before and entering quietly. Yet Bishop Utrovasky was not in the church hall chanting prayers that evening; instead, the hall remained quiet and dim, with only rows of pews. "Has he been resting?" Klein wondered, walking toward the back area of the hall. As he rounded the corner, he suddenly noticed Bishop Utrovasky, towering like a giant, ascending the stairs leading down to the basement, where the heavy stone door was being struck with a steady, resonant clang. Who had been detained in the basement? Klein instantly recalled a series of less-than-healthy news reports. Bishop Utravsky looked up and saw Klein still performing his previous disguise, and was equally surprised, pausing to ask, "Have you still not found your way home?"... "Doesn't my appearance suggest someone who's been lost for a long time?" Klein smiled. "Father, I haven't been lost at all." "Do you think the recipe is fake? That's impossible..." Bishop Utravsky furrowed his brow, stopping halfway up the stairs. Now he stood at the same level as Klein. "No, it's genuine," Klein replied honestly. At that moment, the stone door in the basement was struck again and again, growing more urgent, accompanied by a man's voice shouting, "Let me out!" "What is this?" Klein couldn't help asking. Bishop Utravsky smiled gently. "A vampire." As soon as he finished speaking, the man inside the basement shouted loudly, "What's wrong with a vampire? Shouldn't vampires be the ones you keep locked here?" Why should I listen to your constant chatter, hear you recite scriptures every day? Pah! I am a noble vampire—don't address me with such crude terms!" "I tell you, I revere the Moon. I will never switch my devotion to the Earth Mother! Give up, you obnoxious priest!" This was the first time克莱恩had encountered a genuine vampire, and he couldn't help asking, "Priest, where did you first encounter him?" Ultravsky Bishop glanced at克莱恩with a rather peculiar expression. "He was the original owner of the 'Universal Key.'" "One day, he wandered into this very church." ...克莱恩now seriously considered whether he should carry the 'Universal Key' with him at all times. Well, I can still rely on my divination... he thought with relief. "By the way, he was in the midst of a blood-thirsty phase at the time—I noticed his unusual condition." Ultravsky Bishop smiled and added. "Pah! Don't mention blood again!" "I need the blood of a beautiful young maiden, not the blood of this dirty old man!" the vampire in the basement suddenly grew impatient. Bishop Utravsky remained calm and explained: "When he longs for blood, I'll provide him with some of mine." Klein nodded, carefully examining the heavy stone door of the basement, which bore the emblem of the 'Sacred Seal of Life' and numerous mysterious symbols forming a complete seal. With more prayers offered during the day, even the sound might not be able to reach through... This was Klein's initial assessment. "Is there anything I can do for you?" Bishop Utravsky then asked. Klein replied calmly: "I would like to know where the 'Universal Key' originally came from." "Then you'll have to ask him," said Bishop Utravsky, pointing toward the basement. The vampire suddenly grew quiet and then smiled serenely. "My friend, I can answer your question." But on one condition—first, you have to rescue me.