Mystery: Survival from the Secret Doll

Chapter 240 239 Escape!
"Get ready, Neil." Deputy Director Perler, who entered the scene, restrained his emotions and no longer had the exaggerated look he had just shown outside the villa.

She is dangerous and beautiful with her reserved edge, which naturally makes all the creatures who look at her follow her orders and approach her.

"It's a bit weird," Klein muttered to himself.

The deputy director of the Tingen University Security Department looked at Klein seriously and intently. She said word by word:
"Based on the information we have investigated so far, we have tentatively determined that the deaths of Mr. McGowan and Ms. Naya have no direct connection to you, Mr. Klein Moretti."

"But we must quickly recover the Antigonus family's descendant's notebook. It's extremely dangerous. If it's left out in the open, it could very well lead to even greater danger brewing in other areas of Tingen City."

Klein's mind fluttered. "What do you need me to do?"

"If they didn't need me for anything, then these people wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to bring me, someone without any supernatural powers or knowledge of the occult, to the scene. Um, what she said about me being the only survivor... can we make something of this?"

Klein, who lacked specific and in-depth knowledge of the world of mysticism, made such a guess.

"Well, a small favor...Neil."

Deputy Director Perle looked at Pettigrew Neil, who had already taken out many bottles and jars that Klein had never seen before from his small bag, and smiled.
"As a Level 2 ritualist, you should be able to create a retrospective ritual magic to help Mr. Moretti's spirit travel to the spirit world and use mystical connections and similarities to determine the clues to the notebook, right?"

Although Welch and Naya's spirits and souls are polluted and they cannot seek answers from them through divination and spiritualism, the world of mysticism always contains various objects and powers that can achieve incredible results.

"Yes, Deputy Director Perler," Pettigrew Neil nodded. "But as you know, I'm just a wizard. Tracing the past existence of higher-level things requires not only the participation of auxiliary mediums, but also the use of higher-level powers to complete the ritual."

"No problem, that person will agree."

Klein was somewhat bewildered by this bizarre conversation, but he didn't interrupt or voice his own concerns. He simply stood there quietly, awaiting further arrangements.

"When mysticism is insufficient, following the instructions of professionals is the safest and most reasonable approach." Klein did not forget the character setting of his original self, Klein Moretti.

At this time, Pettigrew Neil had already mixed the Sunwell powder in his hand with the thick black liquid. Soon, a strange fragrance evaporated from the semi-finished product in his hand and filled the living room where Welch and Naya were hanged.

After the Tingen City police officer, who called himself a "wizard," finished all of this, he looked at Klein and asked, "Mr. Moretti, are you willing to help us track down that notebook from the ancient Fourth Epoch?"

Isn't it too late for you to ask this?

Klein grumbled inwardly and asked, "Is there any danger in this?"

"You were supposed to die along with the Antigonus family notes, but something strange went wrong at the intersection of fate. Haha, you won't die so easily. At least in this matter, my divination tells me that you can be of great help to us..."

Deputy Director Perler's long hair fluttered slightly as he smiled charmingly at Klein.

Klein's heart involuntarily skipped a beat at the other person's words.

This is not just because of the other person's appearance and temperament.

"A strange error occurred. The original body's death was already a foregone conclusion... Was this error caused by my time travel?"

But it seemed that the deputy director of the Tingen University Security Department did not show any sign of realizing that he was not himself.

Is this the benefit that comes with being a time traveler?

Klein secretly complained, even though he didn't want such benefits.

Deputy Director Perler thought for a moment, then smiled and added, "If you can help us retrieve that notebook, well, let me think about it. I can make the decision. On behalf of the Tingen University Security Department, I can recommend you for admission to Miskatonic University."

"Miskatonic…University?"

Klein, who was still analyzing the implications of Deputy Director Perler's words, suddenly heard this word and froze in his tracks, practically blurting out, "Michigan University?!"

Miskatonic University, this university occupies a considerable position in the Cthulhu mythology.

Anyone who has a little knowledge of the Cthulhu mythology will almost know the existence of such a university. This name is simply a household name.

In Tingen City, in this world, there exists such a university?!
For a moment, a hazy sense of absurdity filled Klein's mind, making him almost think he had traveled through a book, not into another world, but into the world of Cthulhu Mythos...

The whispers of the ancient gods, the great existence, the surrounding of the stars, the absurd, the grotesque, the fear, the unknown, the crazy world...

"No, it's also possible that it was just a name given by a senior time traveler, and it just implies some meaning."

It is not ruled out that both are true at the same time. This is both an alien world and a world in the style of Cthulhu mythology.

Klein's brain was spinning rapidly, and he felt that his brain capacity was not enough.

Hiss, if this really is such a world, no, this world clearly has supernatural powers, then there is indeed a big, very big secret.

"Well, you know?"

Deputy Director Perler was also stunned for a moment, but quickly regained his usual smile. "Indeed, Don Eggers is a member of Miskatonic University. He and you have a good relationship. It's normal for him to reveal these things during casual conversation. It's inevitable."

"After all, this is Tingen, the city of miracles."

Don Eggers is also a member of Miskatonic University? This is a reasonable guess for Klein. He quickly calmed down and said:

"Yes, I've heard of this university by chance, but I always thought it was just fiction..."

He once again gave a somewhat feeble smile, and spoke the truth, which could not be more true, saying, "I am happy to help you retrieve the notebook. After all, this disaster was caused by me, Welch, and Naya."

"That's the right decision," Deputy Director Perle praised. "Although I can't guarantee that this is completely safe, rest assured, with that person watching over you, your risk will be minimized."

That one?

Klein didn't know who the other party was talking about, but he instinctively felt that this flag was not a good one.

Will nothing really happen?
He was deeply worried about this.

Without answering Klein's confusion, Deputy Director Perler took a few steps and walked over to Pedigru Neil, who had already mixed the essential oils, combined them with a candle, placed it on the table, and lit it.

"Alright." Pettigrew Neil signaled to Deputy Director Perler that he was ready. Then, Klein saw the Tingen police officer light the candle and bring a piece of paper with strange symbols drawn on it close to the burning green-black flame.

The flames rose instantly, and the paper quickly burned in the air, turning into grayish-white mist.

At the same time, Klein heard Officer Pettigrew Neil chanting something. "It seems to be a variant of Hermetic. The roots and grammatical structure are very similar, but it's older and more ancient. It seems to be a deepening of Hermetic. No, to be more precise, Hermetic is a simplified version of this language..."

Klein, who graduated with a double degree in linguistics and history from Tingen University, could only barely understand the words mixed with "error," "loophole," "attention," and "backtracking."

"Error, loophole?"

Before Klein could figure out what was going on, he saw grayish-white mist quickly spreading from the burning candle in front of him, enveloping the entire living room!
All the furniture, people, and everything in the living room were stained with a thick grayish-white fog, so Klein could only barely see things one or two meters in front of him.

The deputy director and the police officer disappeared from his sight, as if they were not there.

Klein was the only one left in the empty villa.

At the same time, Klein saw a green-black candle burning silently not far away. Klein instinctively wanted to move closer to the candle, but the low voice of Pettigrew Neil echoed in his mind:
"You should have seen that there was a thick gray-white fog all around, right?"

"Yes." Klein also lowered his voice.

"Very good. Next, Mr. Klein, you have successfully entered the special area corresponding to this villa. Since we are not personally involved, we cannot force entry through ritual magic. Now, please follow my instructions and pick up the candle you are holding."

Klein took a deep breath. As if hearing his pounding heart, the Tingen City police officer reassured him, "Don't worry. This is a 'loophole' created by that person's gaze. As long as the candles don't go out, the power of the ritual will naturally protect you."

Klein nodded heavily, paced a few steps, and soon arrived in front of the table where the green and black candle was placed.

After picking up the candle, Klein noticed that it was engraved with a large number of symbols, including the shape of a clock.

"After getting the candle, go to the study on the second floor. That's where the Antigonus family notes used to be. Remember, the candle cannot be extinguished."

"Ok."

Klein adjusted his mindset once again and stopped paying attention to the strange symbols on the candle. He protected the candle with one hand to prevent it from going out due to strange factors. At the same time, he slowly and calmly walked towards the stairs of Welch's house in his memory.

The study was on the second floor, and Welch and Naya died on the first floor.

As he advanced, the gray-white fog around him grew thicker, but the dark blue candles with green hues seemed to be able to block the gray-white fog that permeated the area, preventing it from further eroding the area around Klein.

Faintly, Klein seemed to hear the sound of running water, and the sound of "dong dong dong" hitting the wall.

"Welch, Naya?"

Klein couldn't help but think of the cause of Welch and Naya's death that he had heard earlier.

Welch's forehead was completely shattered and bleeding. Naya buried her face in the washbasin filled with water...

"Your spirit is traveling through the spirit world. Some of the changes in it represent things that happened in this villa. Don't worry about them. As long as the candles are here, you'll be fine."

Pettigrew Neil's somewhat low voice continued to ring in Klein's ears.

Klein suppressed the fear in his heart. As he walked, he could hear not only his footsteps but also the sound of the rope shaking slightly.

This is the living room, and the sound seems to come from the center of the living room, from the hemp rope hanging the two bodies.

The hemp rope is shaking, isn't it, are Welch and Naya's bodies shaking?

It would be a bit of a lie for Klein to say he wasn't afraid. Before crossing over, he was just an ordinary office worker. Although he had heard many ghost stories, this was the first time he encountered such a situation.

"It'll be okay."

Pedtigrew Neil's voice rang out again.

Klein climbed the stairs and headed to the second floor.

The green-black candle flame continued to burn steadily, dispelling the gray mist around him. Klein quickly held the candle to protect him and walked to the location of the Welch family's study in his memory.

"We're in the study."

Klein whispered.

"Push it away, Mr. Crane."

Klein held a candle in one hand and pushed open the familiar yet unfamiliar study door in front of him with the other.

The door opened, and there was also a fog inside that seemed to be unable to dissipate. However, there were some differences between this place and the living room on the first floor. Not far away, there seemed to be a window, and a hint of crimson light seemed to shine into the study, dispelling some of the fog.

The Crimson Moon is the symbol of the Goddess of Night. Klein informed Officer Pedigru Neil, who was in contact with him, of the anomaly here. Officer Pedigru Neil said that this was a normal phenomenon.

He said, "The goddess will bless you."

is it?

Klein smiled bitterly inwardly, then walked into the room with a candle.

The room was shrouded in grayish-white mist, and everything seemed blurry and flickering. Even with the flame in Klein's hand and the crimson moon outside the window, the place seemed unreal.

Klein looked around and found nothing unusual. He then walked directly to the desk that Welch often used. It was also the desk that his original self used when he discussed the notebook with Welch and Naya.

There he saw a notebook and several manuscripts nearby.

"What do you see?"

"A notebook, and Emperor Roselle's hand..."

Klein had just answered when he suddenly froze.

Emperor Roselle… Roselle Gustav?!
He can write manuscripts in Chinese?!

Klein saw the manuscript open before him. The first line read:

"escape!"

(End of this chapter)