Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 10 A Corner of That Dark Abyss

The passage is narrow and long.

In the dim light, Inspector Lestrade walked ahead, with Levi following behind, trying to tread as quietly as possible. No one knew what lay within, but their instincts told them that something dangerous was lurking there.

Finally, the two reached the end, where there was a tightly closed iron door. Inspector Lestrade gestured to Levi, then reached out—and slowly opened it. Using the half-open door as cover, Inspector Lestrade cautiously peered inside.

Then, seemingly judging that there was no danger, he pushed open the door and went inside.

Levi followed him into the room. Incidentally, although Levi told Katie to wait outside, she stuck to him like glue.

From the outside, the room certainly resembled a hospital operating room, with pure white walls and various medicines and specimens displayed on cabinets and tables on both sides. In the center of the room, Li Wei also saw the steam surgical equipment.

It consists of a cold, rectangular box, above which hangs a bright operating light. Beside it are things that look like robotic arms, with scalpels mounted on them reflecting a cold, inorganic light under the operating light.

If the operating table is likened to the stamen of a flower, then these robotic arms and the scalpels on them are like layers upon layers of steel petals.

Of course, this is anything but romantic.

"This is the mechanical instrument you were talking about? It looks like a torture device to me?"

Inspector Lestrade examined the equipment, muttering to himself, while Levi nodded in agreement.

Rather than a surgical instrument, it's more like a torture device. Who would be so bored as to make something like this? Li Wei could easily imagine that if someone were to lie on it, and those robotic arms went out of control, the sharp scalpels would immediately and mercilessly slice the unfortunate victim into minced meat.

But the problem now isn't with this strange machine, but with what's on it.

A bright red, rather eerie-looking magic circle surrounded the operating table. Li Wei wasn't sure if it was painted with red paint or blood, but common sense suggested the latter. Furthermore, three glass bottles were placed on the operating table.

This time, Li Wei didn't even need to use his observation skills to search anymore. Even a fool could see that the most important thing in this room was the magic circle covering the operating table and the three bottles placed on it.

"………………………"

Levi and Lestrade exchanged a silent glance, and the latter made a gesture.

"You first?"

“I’m quite surprised, Mr. Lestrade. I thought you wouldn’t care about these things.”

“I’m old, young man. I’ve seen a lot of strange things. Believe me, this is nothing new. On the contrary, I thought you young men from the steam age would just consider this some kind of superstition.”

"It's always better to be careful, after all, you only have one life."

The two exchanged a few words in silence, staring at the operating table before them, neither showing any intention of moving forward. Although there seemed to be no traps here, the magic circle gave them an uneasy feeling. It was as if if they went over, those swinging mechanical arms would immediately come to life and tear them to pieces.

Even Katie, who usually seems stubborn, is now hiding to the side, far away from the eerie operating table.

"Since there's no one here, should we just call for reinforcements?"

Li Wei's main principle is to follow his heart, after all, he hasn't lived enough yet.

"Haha, call for reinforcements? It's still too early, we haven't found anything yet."

Inspector Lestrade chuckled, then lowered his pistol and strode towards the operating table. Levi, however, remained rooted to the spot, gripping his gun tightly, staring ahead, wary of any potential mishap.

To their surprise, there was still no reaction from the surroundings until Inspector Lestrade walked to the operating table and picked up a glass jar. He looked around again, then opened the jar under the light of the operating lamp.

"Ugh, what's that smell?!"

Soon, a pungent chemical smell wafted out, causing Inspector Lestrade to involuntarily fan his nose, while Levi was startled upon smelling it. He remembered clearly that this was the same smell he had previously detected on the socialite assassin!
Almost simultaneously, Li Wei's keen "perception" came into play again; he saw a dark mass writhing above the operating light, like...

"Get down!"

Inspector Lestrade, a veteran of countless battles, instantly cowered like a hedgehog at Levi's shout, cowering beneath the operating table. In the blink of an eye, just as Inspector Lestrade lowered his head, a gleaming scalpel slashed down from above. Had he been a fraction of a second later, it would have turned Inspector Lestrade's head into a skewer of meat!
Li Wei raised his hand, aimed at the dark figure above, and pulled the trigger.

"boom!"

The gunshot rang out in the silent room, like a muffled thunderclap. The dark figure shuddered, let out a piercing scream, and then plummeted from the ceiling, crashing heavily to the ground.

Only then did Li Wei see the true face of the dark figure.

"My God, what the hell is this?!"

Inspector Lestrade's scream clearly described the feelings of the two men at that moment, because the dark figure under the operating lights was not human!

Or rather, at least not entirely!
Its body was larger than that of an ordinary human, shrouded in a huge, tattered cloak. Its head resembled a human face stretched into a horse's, and its arms and legs, extending from the cloak, were emaciated and skin and bones. Between its fingers, it gripped numerous scalpels!

"Kill it!"

As a modern man, Li Wei had seen all sorts of bizarre and disgusting things in movies and games, so he had a certain resistance to this kind of monster that didn't seem too grotesque. On the other hand, Inspector Lestrade was in a rather disheveled state. He had obviously never encountered such a monster before, and was now almost frozen in fear. It wasn't until Li Wei's voice rang out that he snapped out of his daze, raised the gun in his hand, and shouted as he pulled the trigger.

"Bang bang bang bang bang!!!" Inspector Lestrade fired all the bullets in his gun in one go, but it was no use. The monster was obviously much faster than a human. All his bullets hit the fluttering cloak, not a single one hitting its target. The monster, on the other hand, used its hands and feet to crawl on the wall like a gecko, quickly dodging Inspector Lestrade's attacks.

However, Inspector Lestrade's attack was not without effect. While the monster dodged his attack, Levi seized the opportunity! He raised his gun, and at that moment, time seemed to stand still. Everything around him began to slow down, even the monster's agile movements seemed to be in slow motion... Levi could feel that the revolver in his hand was like an extension of his body. He didn't even need to use the crosshair to determine which direction his gun was aimed at.

Then he pulled the trigger.

"boom!!"

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Inspector Lestrade had run out of bullets and was hurriedly preparing to reload. The monster, which had dodged the attack, then used its hands and feet to climb onto the wall, arching its body as it lunged at Inspector Lestrade!

As Levi's gunshot rang out, the monster let out a scream. Its scalpel continued its relentless thrust, piercing Inspector Lestrade's abdomen, who groaned and collapsed to the ground.

Not even dead?

Looking at the monster still struggling on the ground, Li Wei was stunned. He had just aimed at its eyes and shot it in the head.

Is this thing immortal?!
In short, let's try a few more shots! Judging from its reaction, at least the bullets were effective against it!
Thinking of this, Li Wei strode forward and once again aimed his gun at the struggling monster.

However, just as the two of them were about to launch their attack simultaneously, suddenly, a whooshing sound arose from behind him! Li Wei could feel something sharp tearing through the air, rushing towards him!

Just then, Katie's urgent voice rang out.

"careful!"

At Katie's scream, Levi immediately abandoned his attack and rolled on the ground. At the same time, he felt something fly past him almost grazing his body. Levi rolled on the ground, then looked up. When he saw the enemy in front of him, he felt his blood freeze.

What the hell is this?
Before Li Wei stood an infant—or rather, a monster the size of an infant. Its body was semi-liquid, with signs of melting on its skin and muscles. And on the monster's hands were sharp, blade-like fingernails!

"Waaaaah... Waaaaah...!"

At the same time, several more of the same monsters emerged from the side, blocking the large monster as if to protect it, and emitted eerie cries of infants.

Good heavens, this is no longer a mystery movie set, I've walked right into a horror movie!
Looking at these bizarre monsters before him, Li Wei felt a chill run down his spine. But there was no time for complaints, because the moment he saw them, they shrieked and leaped up like puppies, charging towards him!

"boom!"

Li Wei reacted quickly. Just as the monsters pounced into the air, he raised his pistol and pulled the trigger. With the sound of gunfire, the heads of two small monsters were instantly blown off by bullets. But at the same time, a third small monster pounced from the side. Li Wei could even see the small, sharp, serrated teeth in its open mouth!

"Hey!"

Just as Li Wei was about to block the monster's attack with his arm, a shout suddenly came from the side. Then Li Wei saw a petite figure suddenly dart out from the side. Before Li Wei could shout, the person raised their fist, took a step forward, and punched the little monster, sending it flying!

Then, Li Wei saw Katie standing in front of him, her hands clenched into fists, looking excited.

"This is a monster, this is a monster, right? So fairy tales aren't lies, there really are man-eating monsters!?"

I understand how you feel, but what's with that eager look on your face, like you've seen Santa Claus and your dream has come true, with your eyes shining?

Looking at the excited and thrilled girl standing in front of him, Li Wei was speechless.

Shouldn't most girls be so scared that their legs go weak or they faint when they see something like this?

At this moment, under the light, Levi could even see that Katie was wearing gleaming silver metal gloves—well, it seems she was quite well prepared.

"Whoa—!"

Katie's act of stepping forward quickly attracted the attention of the little monsters, who let out piercing screams and turned to rush towards her.

Most girls would be terrified at the sight of these monsters. However, Katie's reaction was clearly different. Facing the monsters rushing towards her, the girl was obviously quite excited, though her reaction was rather conservative. Katie dodged the monsters' attacks, prioritizing avoiding being hit, and counterattacked whenever the monsters showed an opening.

What's going on with this young lady?
Although Li Wei really wanted to figure this out, he also knew that the opportunity was fleeting. Katie, as a qualified MT, had firmly held the aggro of the monsters, so his job as a DPS was clear!

Li Wei raised his gun and aimed at the monsters, concentrating his mind—at this moment, the flow of time slowed down drastically in his eyes once again, and at the same time, a series of stinging sensations came from deep within Li Wei's brain!
"Whoosh—!"

Li Wei forced himself to endure the strange discomfort, aimed at the monsters, and pulled the trigger!
"Bang bang bang bang!!"

With four gunshots, the four monsters attacking Katie were instantly blown off their heads, and at the same time, the world in Levi's eyes returned to its normal flow!
"Huff...huff...huff..."

Li Wei gripped the gun, panting heavily. He felt extremely exhausted; that last burst felt like running a 10,000-meter marathon!
"Ahhhhh!!"

However, the battle wasn't over. Seeing the smaller monsters killed, the large monster, which had been howling and struggling, suddenly let out a scream and lunged at Levi. Katie swayed, stepping in front of Levi to block him, her small fists flashing out. Levi heard a heavy thud, and the monster was forced back again. Katie clenched her fists, staring intently at it.

Li Wei caught his breath, then quickly pulled a makeshift magazine from his pocket, loaded six bullets into it, snapped it shut, pulled the trigger, and aimed at the monster. With Katie, the tank, in front of him, he was confident he could take it down this time!
However, at that moment... a voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.

"Stop it!"

(End of this chapter)