A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

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"I've said it before, desire can be the fuse that ignites your self-destruction."

The armored warrior raised his sword once more.

"I hope you can truly repent in the underworld. Perhaps the great god of the underworld, Vastal, will forgive your sins and let you suffer less on your journey across the River Styx to the Gate of Rebirth."

The greatsword was swung cleanly and swiftly, followed by the sound of blood splattering, and then the scene cut off.

Santa Karina gasped and took off her glasses.

The scene where the armored sword severed George Fremont's head was quite shocking; his glasses also fell off during the process and were placed in a corner of the room, preventing any further useful footage from being seen.

This is the most crucial part: none of the other items were on the deceased's person at the time. He was wearing pajamas, which had no pockets, and the only glasses he wore were for seeing things clearly.

"What did you find?"

When Saint Karina puts on her glasses, she moves around uncomfortably, her gaze unfocused, like an innocent passerby who has stumbled into a forbidden place and is unfortunately cursed. Accompanied by rapid breathing, her body twitches rhythmically until she takes off her glasses.

Everyone thought she would foam at the mouth and roll her eyes up the next second, but she didn't.

"I saw the scene of the Steam Knight Armor killing people."

She recounted to everyone present what she saw through her glasses, leaving out every crucial detail. The people of this world knew that forces beyond comprehension existed around them, such as magic and the indescribable substances in steam and smoke.

People only fear the indescribable. Magic and supernatural powers can benefit the world and humanity, and those who possess such power will surely become objects of admiration.

The Long Night Investigator is one of the most sought-after professions in Victoria. Those who become investigators are destined to be pioneers in the field of occultism, taking a completely different path from ordinary people.

The ability system of superhumans is similar to that of mages, divided into stages from 1st to 10th tier. The number is directly proportional to the strength of the ability; the higher the number, the stronger the ability, and vice versa. A 10th-tier superhuman is already so powerful that it is unimaginable to ordinary people, with abilities approaching those of a demigod, making them extremely rare in the world.

Upon learning that the case involved unusual forces, Mrs. Fremont and Miss Fremont showed only slight surprise.

Every shipping company in Victoria has a consensus—before setting sail, they will have the crew prepare a pale blue transparent rune stone in each guest's room. Its material is neither diamond nor crystal, but has a black, irregularly shaped crystal in the center, something that cannot be mined on land.

The runestone is engraved with magical inscriptions and was specially crafted by a powerful sorceress to protect it from the mysterious forces of the sea.

The mysterious power refers to the water ghost, a non-human existence known among witches as the "sea vengeful spirit."

Even if you don't fully understand the intricacies, follow the crew's instructions to place the talisman in the brass base with the magic circle drawn on it, and don't wander around after 11 pm. If you smell the seawater coming in from outside, do not open the door or pay attention to anyone knocking.

The ocean is an extremely easy breeding ground for scum. This shipping route passes through a dangerous sea area. Ships that enter that sea area are doomed to either vanish or run aground.

The dozens of ships that vanished and the thousands of people who went missing have yet to be found.

Mrs. Fremont was literate and had read at least ten articles in the Victoria Daily about sea ghosts.

"Was that... done by a water ghost?"

"Although I can't be 100% sure, I saw a wall of water appear out of thin air through my glasses. A hand reached out from the water wall and bound Mr. Fremont. A talking steam knight in armor killed him with a sword... and then I couldn't see anything else. The person in the armor wasn't a real person; it was empty. If it was some unknown force at work, then that makes sense."

The case is nearing its end; the killer is the sea vengeful spirit. There's no horrifying, cold-blooded, cruel art-house serial killer lurking on this ship. Virginia has no connection to the case; everything is based on Saint Karina's version of events.

They would simply tell stories to amuse them, downplaying a man-made murder as a case of a sea ghost killing, and the truth would be buried in the azure waves.

Although Santa Karina had no reason to do so, and no need to help the murderer.

Her intense curiosity made her restless.

"Is there any way for me to see those images too?"

"Visual sharing? Yes, but—"

Visual sharing is one of the saint's abilities. The saint and her followers do not need physical contact; they can share their consciousness by connecting through the correct incantation.

There is also a way for saints and non-believers to share, with the strict condition being reasonable physical contact, requiring only a minimal handshake.

Saint Karina often hears sounds that ordinary people cannot hear and sees things that ordinary people cannot see.

When she activated her ability to rewind, she accepted the fact and was happy to use it in the cases.

“Miss Williams, would you mind shaking hands with a complete stranger? A handshake is the only way to share vision. If you don’t want to, then forget it. Wearing gloves doesn’t count; it will invalidate the spell.”

"shake hands……"

Virginia's expression was rather unpleasant.

She doesn't have obsessive-compulsive disorder, but she dislikes excessive contact with people, including but not limited to handshakes and conversations. Integrating into circles of other humans makes her feel depressed and suffocated.

The reason why detective games require partners is simply because there are things that this body cannot do and a helper is needed; it has nothing to do with sociability or a desire for social interaction.

The young lady is now in a dilemma.

Santa Karina didn't have a strong desire to share that footage, nor was she interested in taking advantage of others.

“I will share what I see with the train police officer. The visual information can be shared with everyone. These glasses need to be kept in my possession as important evidence. Do you have any objections, Madam?”

"No. I don't have much use for these things. It would be great if they could be used as evidence in solving the case. Cough cough... Thank you very much for helping to solve this case... Actually, Mr. Brown, the train police officer, also hinted to me that this was not a murder, and told me to be prepared."

Mrs. Fremont sighed and accepted her explanation.

The glasses were put into their pockets, and the two said goodbye to the mother and daughter before leaving room 1919 in Block B. The wooden door behind them was closed by Madame Fremont's daughter, the lock clicking crisply.

It's like a signal that things have come to an end.

Santa Karina stared thoughtfully at the sealed-off room next door. As she put on her glasses, she reviewed all the contents of the room, finding nothing missing.

On the table in the picture, the base on which the blue rune stone is placed is empty.

Someone tampered with that talisman stone. That person is the key to this murder, something the sea vengeful spirit couldn't have done on its own; the sea vengeful spirit couldn't have touched the talisman stone.

The matter is not over yet; she still needs to find an opportunity to uncover the last bits of truth.

250. The Socially Anxious Beauty

The main parts of the case have been analyzed, but a small loose end remains. It's halftime now; let's put the detective game aside for now, and things will be resolved sooner or later.

Saint Karina is very confident about this.

It's just a simple murder case using a sea vengeful spirit, and the case file still needs to have a conclusion at the end.

She is the one who will put the case to rest, but now is not the time.

The focus should be shifted further, such as the persistent sea fog surrounding the Avrov. The ship should have long ago sailed away from foggy areas and into clear waters.

A massive white wall of fog rises from the sea, moving with the boats as they sail forward. Similar sights have appeared on Victoria's beaches in the summer, when the weather is so hot that the warm, humid air collides with the cold seawater, condensing into a wall of fog that stretches across both shores.

It's late July now, the date and season perfectly match the conditions for that kind of weather phenomenon, except for the temperature. She checked the thermometer in the cabin; the temperature in this area was still below 20 degrees Celsius.

The unusually low temperatures and strange sea fog could only mean that the Avrov had deviated from its course and was heading closer to the "Death Triangle." The Death Triangle is a triangular sea area located in southeastern Victoria, sandwiched between the Victorian Empire, the Kingdom of Kelese, and the theocratic state of Calata.

The Triangle of Death is also known as the "cemetery at sea" by seafarers, where countless fishing boats, steam cargo ships, and large steam passenger ships have perished, never to return.

The wreckage of the ship and the people on board have disappeared without a trace, and it is impossible to salvage them.

The Avlov's hull was battered by violent waves, causing the ship to rock slightly. The waves hadn't yet risen above the upper deck, but they were just short. The solid metal plates were entangled and dragged by something unseen, drifting further and further away from the correct course, heading towards the edge of this world—the Hazama.

The Void is a rift between reality and the afterlife, indescribable and beyond explanation; all things that defy common sense originate from it. Those who enter the Void and cannot find a way back to reality will become utterly lost within it, becoming a part of it.

Every witch learns about the Hazama from birth.

"This is not possible..."

Continuing to drive forward will definitely lead to big problems.

When the passage to the narrow passage fully opens on the night of the red moon, it will truly be beyond redemption. Even if they hadn't entered the narrow passage, the Avrov would have had no chance of survival if it had been swept into the "floating graveyard."

Waterspouts exceeding 1,000 meters in height can tear a ship apart, and walls of water tens of meters high can crash onto the deck, giving evil creatures in the sea a chance to revel.

Whether entering a narrow passage or in the sea, ordinary people will die.

“If we don’t do something, the Avlov will sink. There’s still such a long way to go; it’s impossible to swim across the entire sea.”

Generally speaking, the only solution is to remind the captain and crew to avoid the entrance to the narrow passage and turn around before going too far into the floating cemetery.

However, the Holy Maiden of the Lorian Empire is not omniscient; she may not be able to save the ship's crew.

The ship truly sank, and those on board could only cling to the wreckage and drift on the sea. All the passengers were left to fend for themselves; Santa Karina could only save herself and Virginia.

Santa Karina gazed at the sea fog through the floor-to-ceiling windows for a long time before finally deciding to part ways with Virginia and go to the captain's cabin to remind the captain to change course.

"I have some other matters to attend to, so I must excuse myself. Miss Williams, have a pleasant midday, afternoon and evening."

"Weren't you looking for the train police? The train police are still waiting to finish their case report and contact the Victorian authorities by telegram. The sooner the case is closed, the better for them. Cases involving supernatural powers always send chills down the spines of ordinary people."

"It's not time yet. The case may seem to be solved, but it's not completely over."

The interior of room 1920 as seen through the deceased's glasses was different from what she sees now. The talisman stone in room 1920 remained untouched in its original place; it had disappeared at the time of the incident.

There was another person who murdered George Fremont; that person may not have acted personally, but was definitely an accomplice. She needs to find the accomplice, question them about their motive, and ensure they receive the punishment they deserve before this case can be truly closed.

What else did you see?

"If you're a germaphobe, don't force yourself to stay with me. That's not a particularly important thing. I can handle things on my own. You look terrible; you should go back to your room and rest."

"I don't have obsessive-compulsive disorder about cleanliness."

Virginia stretched out her right hand, and the thought of making contact with people made all five fingers tremble with disgust.

This resistance, though not directed at Saint Karina personally, can spread throughout the world.

“Something happened that made me afraid of physical contact. I also experience difficulty breathing and dizziness in crowded places. Please forgive me. I did not mean to offend you.”

The conversation couldn't continue. Virginia looked exhausted, as if she was recalling some painful past events, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

"We'll discuss the follow-up details of the case later. Goodbye."

The beautiful woman with gray hair and blue eyes turned her back and hurried away, disappearing at the end of the corridor.

The mysterious temporary partner appears to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and has to flee the scene to find a quiet corner to calm down.

The daughters of wealthy families have no worries about material things; they are born with a silver spoon in their mouths, and their food, clothing, and daily necessities are all at the top of the pyramid. The money for the schooling of children from ordinary working-class families has to be scraped together by their families. The money they manage to scrape together can only cover the tuition fees for a typical public school in Victoria for one semester, not to mention all sorts of miscellaneous fees and transportation costs.

Virginia's elegant speech and extensive knowledge, along with her refined manners, demonstrate her excellent upbringing and the strict family traditions that emphasize etiquette education. While wealthy people can afford professional etiquette teachers, ordinary working-class families struggle to make ends meet, hoping only to occasionally enjoy white bread and meat at the dinner table.

Her troubles stem from her family, social circle, or workplace, and have absolutely nothing to do with her material conditions.

The person who can casually pull out tens of thousands of Victoria dollars to team up with others to play detective games, and whose clothes are all expensive, doesn't seem like a "hunter" who spends money to rent luxury goods to show off and seek opportunities on a luxury cruise ship.

Hunters who frequent high-end consumer venues aim to prey on the wealthy. They sacrifice some money to dress themselves up in a glamorous manner, like the real middle class, and learn about the way the rich talk and behave, as well as the things they encounter in their daily lives.

For example, taking a cruise or private jet to tour Victoria, playing tennis or golf on weekends, or horseback riding in the countryside.

Only when you deceive yourself will others be fooled.

In the observation deck of the passenger ship, you can often see some good-looking young women who will look for targets, and anyone who looks rich will be their target for flirting.

Saint Karina was visibly poor, an object of contempt for money hunters.

Two women approached, one composed and reserved, the other warm and talkative. They were dressed in golf attire, linked arms, and chatting amiably, creating a rather subtle atmosphere.

"Want to come to my room tonight? The first-class room is too spacious, and it gets cold at night if I stay alone, so I can't sleep. Perhaps we can discuss the recently released movies and plays."

The composed and reserved woman handed a brass-colored mechanical key card to the enthusiastic and talkative woman.

Mechanical access cards were a more advanced type of key for the time, lightweight and easy to carry, eliminating the hassle of searching for keys. In the eyes of the nobility, carrying a pile of keys and making a jingling sound while walking down the street was not elegant enough.

Each door has a different mechanical door card. The card needs to be inserted into the door lock slot, and the recess or protrusion on the card must be aligned with the area inside the lock cylinder for the door to be opened.

Giving the room key to the other party is tantamount to tacitly agreeing to let them come and go as they please; the underlying intention is self-evident.

"Well then, Ms. Haneda, see you tonight."

The two embraced in the hallway.

There are many others like them who invite women of similar age into their rooms to discuss art; it's impossible to pay attention to everyone. It's a hunter and its prey, a transaction based on mutual consent.

Santa Karina had no interest in witnessing others' friendly interactions; she just wanted to get back to her room as quickly as possible. She needed to find a convincing item to take to the captain's cabin to prove that the ship was on the wrong course and urgently needed to change direction.

Not for any other reason, nor in the delusion of being regarded as a hero by everyone on the ship, but purely out of selfishness.

In seas affected by powerful, supernatural evil spirits, flying spells cannot be used to take off at will.

She returned to the door of room A1025, inserted her personal room card into the slot, and waited for the pleasant "click" sound. The red indicator light turned green, and the door opened.

The faint smell of seawater emanating from the floor tiles near the door proved that the person knocking last night wasn't a sailor, but a genuine sea spirit. The unusually salty smell was a sure sign of a sea spirit's presence; there was no doubt about it.

The blue, transparent runestone and the brass base fit together intimately, silently protecting the room and ensuring a safe journey on this turbulent sea voyage.

Saint Karina couldn't take it away, but she was also worried that the runestone would be tampered with.

Just to be safe, it's best to cast a sympathy spell to strengthen the connection with the runestone. It never hurts to be cautious; George Fremont's death made her very worried that someone might move the runestone and happen to her.

Spells do not require a medium, and wearing blessed magical artifacts, such as rings, necklaces, and robes, can increase spell power and enhance their effects.

The brass-colored carry-on suitcase contained several sets of everyday clothes that were washed so lightly they could be used to wipe the floor, as well as a black robe that was not neatly folded and had become wrinkled.

"I can't possibly wander around in this outfit, I'll put it away for now."