Chapter 223: Chapter 222 Stone Statue Cetery
The fully activated gargoyle, exhaling the unique stone dust miasma of the cetery, glared with its ruby eyes at the two people below:
“The Stone Statue Cetery is now sealed off, and all burying, transporting, and processing of corpses are suspended. If you have any questions, please go to the town hall for consultation.
If you continue to approach the cetery or display behavior that appears to attack it, the cetery’s defense system will be activated.”
Yi Chen took off his Sun Badge and displayed it in front of the gargoyle.
Two visible red beams shot out from the gemstone-like eyes, converging on the badge.
“mbers of the Sun Church, you have been granted restricted cetery permissions. Once inside, please proceed to the Master’s stone dwelling under the guidance of the Manager. If you stray more than ten ters away from the Manager, the cetery’s defense system will be activated.”
...
As the words ended, the heavy gates opened inward.
A manager was waiting behind the door, his entire face just a stone, lacking eyes—or rather, he didn’t need eyes, as the touch of his feet to the ground allowed him to know precisely where he was in the cetery.
The manager had no intention of waiting for the two of them. The mont the gate opened, he had already turned and started leading the way.
Yi Chen slapped Barry, who was sowhat dazed, on the back, and the clanging of the armor brought him to his senses. He hurriedly followed suit.
Since they had to follow the manager, the thick mist along the way prevented them from seeing the specific scenes of the cetery, but they knew that its scale had reached [large].
The Seven-Day Cetery where Yi Chen once worked, along with the Cold Lake Cetery whose essence was absorbed by Prophet, were both [small].
The walk from the gate to the Cetery Manager’s dwelling was a long one,
As they ventured deeper, Barry gradually adapted and was no longer fearful. “It really is the Stone Statue Cetery~ I’ve heard that half of the gargoyles in Zion City originate from here. The Master of this cetery is considered one of the highest-level [Stone Sculptors].
The stone sculptures they create serve as perfect vessels for spirits, accepting independent souls spawned from the cetery, transforming into a host of quite formidable stone-life forms.”
However, Yi Chen paid no attention to Barry; he was communicating with a professional of the cetery within himself:
“Little Grape, any thoughts?”
“What thoughts could I have? A large cetery like this always has one of your human powerhouses guarding it. Any small action I take would be detected imdiately.”
Yi Chen was speechless for a mont, “I was just asking if this cetery is related to the death incidents.”
“Oh~ I can’t feel anything as of now: not the scent of corpses from the soil, the humidity in the air, nor the operation of the entire cetery factory. Everything seems quite normal.”
“Alright, I thought as much.
If such an important cetery had a problem, it would certainly have been discovered imdiately. Later on, I will try talking with the Cetery Manager. Perhaps, like last ti at Cold Lake Cetery, I might allow you to absorb so essence from here.”
After a good twenty minutes or so, they finally reached the so-called [Stone House]
A solitary, simple, square stone dwelling sat at the end of the road, devoid of doors and windows.
As the stone-faced Manager approached, his body rged with the Stone House turning into a door structure, which opened inward.
Yi Chen stepped in first,
Barry took off his bucket helt and held it in his hand, following behind more tentatively
Yet, the interior of the Stone House puzzled them; they didn’t see the Cetery Manager right away,
Instead, it was filled with various handcrafted suitcases and large luggage, carried in the hands of several stone sculptor Managers or on their shoulders, seemingly in preparation for a long journey.
The central passage in the Stone House was fully open, with stairs extending downward.
Just then, a sowhat comical voice ca from the lower end: “If you two are free, co down and give a hand.”
Yi Chen and Barry exchanged glances and imdiately proceeded down the passage.
Below was a crafts room dedicated to stone carving, with most tools and materials already packed. They were in the midst of folding and moving a particular mold table.
The so-called Cetery Manager turned out to be a comical-looking, brown-haired middle-aged dwarf who was probably less than a ter tall.
The Dwarf, donning a set of handcrafted exoskeleton armor (stone and steam), with the aid of three Managers, could barely lift the mold table, making its movent quite difficult.
“This thing’s a bit heavy, both of you co over and give a hand.”
The mold table seed very ordinary, but when Yi Chen laid his hands on it, he was stunned as if trying to lift a small mountain.
Without further questions, Yi Chen imdiately exerted all his strength, and one could see iron chains moving beneath the skin of his arms,
while Barry’s face was red with strain and bulging veins.
With the help of the four stone statue butlers, they finally managed to get the object onto the surface.
The dwarf quickly shed his armor and patted the two n’s thighs, “You two little guys aren’t bad in strength~ Fresh faces, I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
Yi Chen hurriedly explained, “Barry and I just ca over from Zion City to assist the local gentlen in investigating the origin of death. Because of our breakthrough investigation, we received the Sun Badge from Dean Dis.”
Unexpectedly,
the Dwarf showed no interest in ‘breakthrough investigation,’ but instead said with a look of surprise, “Coming here to die? Both of you have great talent; it’s not the Organization’s style to waste it.”
“It’s okay, Barry and I have already captured one…”
Before Yi Chen could finish, the dwarf slapped a sheepskin parchnt with the G&D seal onto their bodies.
“Since you helped move stuff, I’ll let you see this advance notice issued by the Zion higher-ups to , Dean Dis, and the Mayor, but don’t you dare spread it around, okay?”
≮Dear Mr. Rupert, in light of the Prophet’s inability to retrieve any information about the future of Levinholm City, no survival rules can be established.
The hidden dangers within the city are incalculable, please imdiately prepare Stone Statue Cetery for evacuation.
If the situation worsens, the Organization will directly abandon everything in Levinholm and erect high walls, closing off the entire city permanently.≯
“This…”
“See that? Although the decision to abandon and close off hasn’t been made directly, the Organization has already foreseen the danger.
I’ll be packing up and leaving tonight. As long as I’m alive, and with these important tools packed, Stone Statue Cetery can be rebuilt in a short ti.”
“Mr. Rupert, won’t you even make an effort? There really has been a breakthrough at Dean Dis’s end.”
“What’s the use of progress? I don’t like gambling… The Grey Zone is spreading across the world, it’s only a matter of ti before this city is swallowed up. I’m just leaving one step ahead. Staying alive is more important than anything else.
Since we’re fated to et tonight, do you two want to go with ? I can vouch for you; the Organization surely won’t hold you responsible for running away on the spur of the mont.”
“No, we’ve made the decision to investigate to the end here.”
“Too bad~ Well then, I can only wish you good luck.”
Cetery Manager Rupert waved his hand lightly, and the roof of the Stone House automatically lifted. Several stone gargoyle figures arrived to help carry the luggage.
“Mr. Rupert, since you’re leaving, will this cetery be of any use to you?”
Yi Chen’s question caught him off guard, causing him to stop and take a new look at the young gentleman.
“You want to take over this place?”
“Not exactly take over, I’ve never learned about cetery managent. I’ve only worked in one before. If you’re certain about leaving, Mr. Rupert, I’d like to make use of the remaining value of the cetery.”
“Let’s hear it.”
As Grape appeared on his shoulder, Rupert imdiately put down his suitcase and cast a pure gaze that seed to penetrate the soul.
“To stuff so many interesting souls into such a small ‘container,’ forming an independent entity? And this little fellow exudes the auras of two different ceteries… Whose work is this?”
“Grape cos from the Seven-Day Cetery.”
“Interesting~ I’ll make ti to visit that kid Wilbert then.
I’ll give you all of Stone Statue Cetery; once I leave, all the creations will leave with , and no one will care what you do here~ Of course, how much remaining value you can extract from it depends on your ability.
Don’t die, young one, I’m off to make my escape.”
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