Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

The humanoid relic, restored to normal, stood in the center of the damaged living room. Dr. Schneider and the other three stared at the scene in shock.

Shard smiled, opened his mouth to speak, but saw a strange dense fog rolling in. The radiance in his vision disappeared once again, and he found himself instantly transported to an unknown small island, facing a gigantic stone pillar emitting a golden glow before him.

That stone pillar was the island's core pillar that Shard had struck with the [Thunder Spear] during the trial on Heart Lake Island in Lake Schluch.

"She" softly reminded him:

[Vynars' Trial: Capture the person who doesn't exist in Tobesk City, completed. Outlander, you may make a wish upon Vynars' stone pillar.]

"I have no wishes."

Shard said.

The fog vanished, and Shard returned to his home, but judging by the expressions of the four people around him, it seemed he hadn't left at all.

Shard opened his right hand, which he unknowingly clenched at some point, revealing a crystal clear blue teardrop-shaped crystal stone, lying securely in his palm.

"Oh, my God, this is..."

Dr. Schneider exclaimed in surprise at the crystal stone.

"Yes, the Academy has a bounty, and they are willing to exchange a [Sage-Level] relic for it."

Shard nodded, then looked at the figure standing in the center of the ruined room. [Thief Jack] didn't leave immediately, and upon Shard's gaze, it lowered its head:

"You've truly captured me."

The thief in black took out three items from its pocket and placed them on the floor:

"I will never steal from you or your residence again in my life. Choose one item to exchange for my freedom."

On the uneven floor, the three relics laid out were a blue chalk stick, a stone ring, and a pile of silvery fine sand, from left to right:

[Door Pen], draw a continuous line on any wall surface, and it can generate a door of the corresponding size. However, there is a chance that the door does not connect to the other side of the wall, but to a dangerous subspace;

[Sand of Time], its essence is a desert outside the material world, and these sands are derivatives of the relic. It is a one-time use item; sprinkling the sand can pause time in a certain area. The duration of the time pause is uncertain, depending on the quantity and intensity of individuals and objects with supernatural power within the area, and it also affects oneself. Using these silver sands has a chance of attracting the ancient deities' hounds, maintained for time stability, and after time resumes, one will suffer a two-week time curse;

[Moonstone Ring], wear the ring to transform into a werewolf, and each transformation requires 39 hours to revert to the original state. While in the werewolf state, only arcane techniques related to the moon can be used, enhancing any power related to the moon, but there is a chance of never reverting to normal. If living creatures are attacked while in the transformed state, the victim will transform into a werewolf under the werewolf curse at the next Red Moon full moon phase, a state that cannot be reversed. The relic is only for human use.

The thief gave the introductions, and these three items correspond to "Time," "Space," and "Moon," which are exactly Shard's core spirit runes.

All three relics were interesting, but Shard chose none of them. [Sand of Time] is a one-time use item, ineffective against foes he truly couldn't counter, such as subspace evil objects and deities. The [Eclipse Ring] for transforming into a werewolf has great limitations and easily spreads the werewolf curse; his combat strength is at its peak while in humanoid form. Although [Door Pen] looked good, it was just good, and Shard had other ideas.

He looked at Lecia, whose face was flushed with excitement due to his victory, and spoke to the thief before him:

"I have defeated you twice, and I won't ask for two relics, but you must hand over the two letters stolen from this lady."

Lecia pursed her lips and looked at Shard; Shard knew that Dorothy had been feeling guilty about this matter, and he wanted to perfectly resolve the "Dorothy theft" incident. Dorothy shouldn't feel guilty about this all the time.

The thief in the black trench coat remained silent, and two letters were taken out. Using [Move Object], Shard made the letters float over to "Dorothy," and Her Highness the Princess seemed quite moved.

"I don't want these three items either; I want another recent object you stole."

Shard held the [Night Watchman] and looked at it:

"And it's not for me; it's for someone else. You know who helped me defeat you."

The man in black was silent for a moment, and a hoarse voice, as if burned by fire, came forth:

"Alright."

The three items in its hand disappeared, and then the thief completely vanished from No. 6, Saint Delan Square.

All five people breathed a sigh of relief, and Shard looked at the [Sage's Glowstone] in his hand:

"This wasn't acquired by just me; we obtained it together. I don't want to hand it over to the Academy for a Sage-Level relic; I want to handle this relic myself."

"No need to compensate me; the gift you gave a few days ago is more than enough."

Priest Augustus immediately said.

"No need to compensate me either; this is enough."

Lecia said as she held the two letters.

"I was the last to arrive, so I can't claim any contribution to this affair."

The purple-eyed girl blinked at Shard.

"I also..."

Dr. Schneider was about to speak when Shard tossed over a Ruby. Upon catching it, he discovered it was a teardrop-shaped relic with surface cracks.

"[Impure Dragon's Blood], Poet-Level, enhances one's own strength, but carries the risk of Dragon Transformation. I originally bought it for the [Power] Spirit Rune, but it's no longer necessary now. Having too many relics in hand is dangerous in itself. Doctor, this is your hush money; there's no need for the Academy to know about tonight's events. Let's just pretend nothing happened. As long as we don't speak, the Church is even less likely to let the Academy know."

Regarding the issue of The Chosen One, the Church and Academy are also in a competitive relationship. The Church might let the Academy know about the existence of the second [Sage's Glowstone], but they would never easily disclose that it's in the hands of an ordinary person who can be recruited.

"Alright then."

The doctor hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not refuse. Although Shard has a great relationship with the group of four, no matter how good the relationship is, certain things must be settled clearly, such as debts or advances within the group, which are never wiped away for no reason.

The doctor let the four of them return to Room No. 1 first, while Shard cast spells alone in Room No. 2, restoring the room and the broken knight sword to their original state with [Breath of Time], and only then did he return to the living room of Room No. 1.

The matter with [Thief Jack] was resolved, but the story had just begun:

"The Church's people should be coming soon, we need to handle the scene quickly. Priest Augustus, Dorothy, you need to re-check that there are no footprints or hair left here. Luviya, you go to the window to confirm the Church's movements. Doctor, I'll first put my sword in the basement, then retrieve something from there. Please wait, then hypnotize me, at least let me sleep for 8 hours."

After ending the [Dice Story Collection], Shard should fall into a coma and lose memory.

"Okay, but what are you going to retrieve?"

Shard carried [Night Watchman] out of the room and hurriedly descended the stairs. Priest Augustus cast spells on the upper part of the stairs to erase traces, while Shard, turning to the lower part, was embraced by the blonde girl on the narrow staircase:

"I didn't expect you to still remember the matter of those two letters."

"How could I forget, I've been remembering it all along."

Shard said with a smile, Mia squirmed with some displeasure for being squeezed in between the two. Dorothy's body released Shard, the blonde girl bit her lower lip, and her emerald eyes gazed at him:

"Knight, if it weren't for Dorothy's body being uncomfortable, and you needing to be comatose, I wouldn't let you off tonight."

Saying this, she passionately embraced Shard again and gave him a deep kiss.

The doctor quickly figured out what Shard was going to retrieve from the basement because he saw Shard returning hurriedly, carrying a wooden box. Upon opening the box, it was full of gemstones, jeweled treasures, and ornaments; these priceless treasures glittered in the gas lamp's light — this was the glimmer of wealth.

"I made Thief Jack give the relic to someone else. But since we captured it together, it would be odd if I had nothing here. Instead of letting the Church be suspicious, why not disguise it ourselves."

Shard quickly explained, and letting go, the box fell to the ground. With a snap~, the wooden box broke open, and gemstones, diamonds, and ornaments slid out:

"This looks right."

"What was that sound?"

The blonde girl and Priest Augustus also returned from downstairs at this time; they had confirmed that no traces proving they were here tonight had been left. Seeing the smashed jewelry box on the floor, they were momentarily stunned, but understood Shard's intention.

With everything ready, the doctor asked one last question:

"Do you need your cat hypnotized too?"

Shard glanced at Mia being held by the blonde girl:

"No need, it hasn't been affected by the [Dice Story Collection]; let it roam freely. Someone will take care of it for me."

"Alright, look into my eyes! I charge by time as a psychological therapist, and I am very skilled at hypnosis."

Dr. Schneider said in a gentle voice, prompting Shard to look into the doctor's azure eyes. As drowsiness welled up, Shard didn't resist at all and collapsed onto the floor.

In his right hand was the [Sage's Glowstone], and in his left hand the knight sword, while the smashed jewelry box with pearls and gemstones scattered lay beside his head.

"He really is professional."

The doctor commented on the scene and then waved to the other three:

"Let's leave quickly; hopefully, we don't run into high-ring sorcerers from the Church."

Lecia crouched to place Mia on the ground; the cat ran to Shard's side worriedly, meowing several times upon seeing no response, then curled into a ball next to Shard's head with a somewhat aggrieved expression.

"Wait a moment."

She swiftly stepped to the fireplace and used sorcery to bring a cold wind, lowering the temperature of the embers to normal, which Dorothy had doused before leaving the house, only then did the four slip out of the room lit by gas lamps.

"This is the first joint action we've had since Shard joined our group, apart from the one at Lakeside Manor, and it feels quite good."

The doctor said to Priest Augustus, and the old cleric nodded in appreciation.

Luviya and Her Highness the Princess were slightly behind, looking at the blonde girl's expression; the purple-eyed girl softly reminded:

"If you want to do something on Saturday night, remember to bring the [Ever-Youth Leaf], he surely gave it to you."

Lecia was taken aback first, then blushed:

"I know."

Luviya showed an almost imperceptible smile, slightly turned her head to glance at the top of the stairs, then followed her companions out of there.