V. Flaming Sword on the Isolated Isle

My expression must have been terrible, leaving them trembling and shivering with fear.

I said, "Leaving the fishing zone without permission and endangering public property is a serious crime!"

One of the fishermen (his name was Pero) said, "We... we just got lost."

Another fisherman (his name was Wild Fruit) said, "The heavy fog spread, and we couldn't see the direction, so..."

The third fisherman (his name was Swazi) said, "We were cold, starving, and almost eaten by a demon. We've suffered so much, and Yapiel is dead! Dead! Oh, my god, have mercy on us."

I activated my Mind Blade, suddenly thrusting a sword toward Pero. His blood splattered onto the other two. Wild Fruit and Swazi were terrified out of their wits, and I pierced Wild Fruit through with another stroke, causing Swazi to collapse onto the ground in fright.

Swazi trembled and said, "Wh... why?"

I said, "Because they lied. Get up. You didn't lie, so you can live. I hope you remember this lesson."

Swazi hugged my legs, kissed my shoes, and when he stood up, his expression was like that of a tamed dog.

I pointed at the first two men. They were not bleeding, nor were they dead; everything they saw was caused by the Mind Blade. In an instant, I had shattered their wills with my Mind Blade, making the three of them experience death-like terror.

They were merely ordinary humans who already held awe and reverence for me, which was why I could intimidate them so effectively. I had not fully mastered this technique yet and could not achieve the level of deterrence that Hellsing possessed.

Pero and Wild Fruit were utterly broken in spirit, still believing they were dead, needing to spend three days in this hypnotic state.

I asked Swazi, "What happened when you arrived?"

Swazi said, "We went ashore, wanting to see if there was anything good on the island, maybe something we could sell. You know, the Black Coffin Rangers are coming soon, and market day is approaching..."

"And then?"

"We were targeted by that big monster, and we started running. But Pero pulled out his gun and shot Pierre in the leg! I swear this is the truth; Pero had always been very close to Pierre's wife, so... he killed Pierre on purpose."

I interrogated Swazi using the Mind Blade. He shook like a drowned dog, but his story did not change. Therefore, I killed Pero. This time, it was a real death, not an illusion.

Logically speaking, I should have held a trial through the internal agency of the Rangers, but that process was far too cumbersome, and I really didn't have the time to deal with it.

Swazi became even more pitiful, panicked, and restless.

I asked, "Continue."

"The black demon began to eat Pierre, and Pierre's screams lasted for a very long time before stopping. I cursed Pero, telling him he would meet a bad end. My lord, you are truly an angel, making my words come true so quickly. We kept running, heading into the densest part of the forest, when suddenly those mutant wolves—wolves with horns—targeted us. We shot at them, bang, bang, bang, but it was completely useless!

"Just then, someone saved us. She was holding a sword, a sword burning with flames, and she drove all those wolves and demons away."

I was surprised and asked, "A sword burning with flames?"

Swazi nodded and said, "Yes. She said her name was Zhao Luo and that she was here to hunt for treasure. We begged her to protect us, and she did."

I asked, "Zhao Luo? This... who is she? She's not from the village, is she? That's an Eastern name, sounds like ancient China or—"

Swazi said, "Yes, and then she led us here, to this castle or whatever it is on the mountain. It's so strange, I've lived here all my life and never imagined there was a castle here! And there is treasure inside the castle."

I shouted angrily, "Complete nonsense! What treasure? Let me ask you, is this island very close to the City of Lamentations?"

Swazi said, "It is very close."

"Then, is this island considered a part of the City of Lamentations?"

"I suppose... yes."

"And the castle too?"

Swazi nodded and said, "Of course, you're the boss."

I said, "Good. This woman named Zhao Luo actually dared to trespass on an island belonging to the Village of Lamentations, broke into a castle belonging to the Village of Lamentations, and wants to seize the treasure belonging to the Village of Lamentations? You judge this: does this woman have the right to do that? What gives her the reason?"

Swazi said, "Yes, she has no right to do that at all."

I said, "Alright, now take Wild Fruit and head back to the boat. The road is safe now."

Swazi asked, "My lord, are you going to... are you going to look for the treasure?"

I said, "I am going to stop that female thief from stealing things that originally belong to our City of Lamentations. That is vastly different from tomb raiding and treasure hunting, do you understand?"

My expression was so serious, my gaze so clear, my head held so high, that my words consequently carried something called justice.

Justice will prevail.

Swazi repeatedly agreed, helped Wild Fruit up, and left.

I hurried up the mountain toward the unknown castle.

This was a building of rustic style, its walls and towers unremarkable, lacking even a single decorative pattern or sharp corner. It was simply very tall, with walls around ten meters high, and the central tower standing at about fifteen meters. None of the structures had any ornaments.

I vaguely felt that even the shadows were congealed upon this castle. It was extremely ancient, resembling some kind of resurrected ghost ship or ghostly architecture.

I didn't want to work overtime. I wanted to go home early, have dinner with Lamia, do things that should and shouldn't be done, then read a book from my collection, and after finishing it, fall into a deep sleep. I did not want to face this haunted-looking castle, nor the inexplicable Zhao Luo and monsters inside it.

But Zhao Luo said there was treasure inside.

Finders keepers, or at least we should split it fifty-fifty.

The castle door was open. I stepped inside and immediately felt something strange. This was a different dimension, and within this dimensional space, I saw that Zhao Luo.

She appeared to be a slender white-robed woman with black hair, blue-gray skin, and emerald-like eyes—a beauty with an exotic flair. There was a scar on her forehead, resembling an additional, closed eye. She held the flaming sword in her hand, illuminating the door leading into the tower.

I shouted, "Hey! This is private property!"

She said a few words in Eastern language. I looked blank, and she sighed, saying with an exotic accent, "This is no one's property anymore."

I replied, "That's not for you to decide. This place is close to the city I founded."

She said, "This is another realm."

I said, "Then it's our other realm too!"

She asked, "Rude and arrogant person, I believe I just saved your compatriot. Now, please do not interrupt me; there is more trouble inside waiting for me to deal with."

I took a step forward, and she pointed her long sword toward the ground. A wall of fire—the exaggerated kind with roaring, dancing flames—blocked my path forward.

My expression changed, as I realized she was very strong, and that flaming sword might be some kind of highly advanced weapon. It would do me no good to fight her head-on.

I said, "We can split the treasure evenly, you know? It's a Western saying: 'A treasure shared with others is a true treasure.'"

Zhao Luo sighed, "The joy shared with others is true joy; treasure only gets less the more it's divided. Besides, I don't trust you Westerners; all of you are untrustworthy."

I said, "Indeed. You find the treasure and are happy, share it with me, and I am also happy. The treasure is less, but the joy is increased! Moreover, I am a person of high status. If you join forces with me, you will gain immense benefits. I can even arrange a high-ranking official position for you in my city."

I wasn't just talking nonsense; I intended to recruit her. In this era of hardship, human beings should help each other. She was a solitary woman who needed a place to stay, and I felt I could help in that regard.

Zhao Luo said, "Mortal, this treasure is useless to you. Now, please do not disturb me; I must concentrate on solving the puzzle of this castle."

I was thick-skinned. Since she couldn't drive me away, I continued to ask, "What puzzle? I am best at guessing riddles."

Zhao Luo said, "The kin-slayer, punished by the father and driven into exile, wanders alone for a century. The cursed one, wherever he treads, leaves no blade of grass, and crops wither into ash."

Although my understanding of Cainite doctrines was superficial, I reacted immediately and said, "Doesn't this describe Cain?"

Zhao Luo said, "Cain is the ancestor of the Western Kindred? Am I right?"

Western Kindred? What did she mean? Was she also one of the Kindred? This crazy world was getting harder to understand; the Kindred seemed to outnumber mortals.

I said, "Precisely so."

Zhao Luo said, "Then, what next?"

"What next? Then he became one of the Kindred."

Zhao Luo dissipated the flames—that divine punishment feared by the Kindred. If she were a Kindred, how could she face the scorching fire with ease and without fear?

She said, "Please help me solve the puzzle."

I shouted, "How about a seventy-thirty split?"

She said, "Once you see that treasure, you will change your mind. Now, I agree to a fifty-fifty split."

With a quick stride, I reached her side. She didn't guard against my sudden attack at all, instead staring unblinkingly at the door of the high tower. What a fool! Trusting people so easily in this world was asking for trouble, so she couldn't blame me, Bone-Eater Longinus, for showing no mercy.

Taking advantage of her gazing at the door, I thoroughly rummaged through the pouch she had left on the ground. There was nothing valuable, only some spare clothes. I sniffed them; they didn't have much of a scent.

A bit disappointed.

She said, "Are you Westerners all this disgusting?"

I angrily retorted, "What do you mean by disgusting? I was just checking if you were carrying any lethal weapons."

She pointed to the flaming sword in her hand, and I shut my mouth. There was no point in arguing with someone you didn't see eye to eye with.

Inscribed on the stone door were those two verses, but the relief sculpture depicted a man and a woman supporting each other as they left a garden, laboring in the farmland beneath the scorching sun.

She said, "It seems blood is required to open this door. I've tried my blood, and it doesn't work."

I tried mine, cutting my finger and pressing it against the door. It didn't work either.

She said, "The meaning of the relief and the text are different. You are familiar with the teachings of the Cainite doctrine; can you figure it out?"

The figures in this scene were undoubtedly Adam and Eve, the story of the Garden of Eden.

Because they angered the Creator, humanity was banished from paradise, forced to labor diligently day in and day out merely to obtain food.

Because he angered Adam, Cain was banished from the light, unable to consume crops, and forced to choose blood instead.

I said, "The people in this picture compare Cain to Adam, seeming deeply dissatisfied with the Creator's punishment."