Chapter 72: Behind the Door
"A clockwork clown, indeed, it suits you very well."
Dunn considered Lu Ze's choice for a moment, then nodded.
Lu Ze's biggest problem right now was that his Beyonder abilities were mostly supportive, and his close combat and fighting skills were insufficient. With this Sealed Artifact, he could, to a certain extent, compensate for this deficiency. Moreover, the side effects of this Sealed Artifact were relatively easy to control; there would be no life-threatening danger, at most it would only put the user in an awkward situation.
Better to be socially dead than truly dead, probably.
"Swish."
Dunn took out a pre-prepared document from the drawer, quickly wrote some text, then signed and stamped it, handing it to Lu Ze.
"Take this document and go to Charnes Gate to retrieve the Sealed Artifact. Also, Lu Ze, although this matter has been approved by the Holy See, you should not publicize it too much in your daily life. It's not good for too many people to know."
Dunn instructed him.
"I understand, Captain."
Lu Ze took the document. It was an application to retrieve a Sealed Artifact and allocate it for personal safekeeping, along with the original telegram from the Holy See. On the line for the Sealed Artifact, Dunn clearly wrote the number 3-169.
Leaving the Captain's office, Lu Ze descended the stairs into the underground, where, illuminated by gaslight, he arrived before Charnes Gate.
"What is it?"
In the Charnes Gate guardroom, Luo Yao was reading a ladies' magazine. Seeing him enter, she asked.
"To retrieve a Sealed Artifact."
Lu Ze handed her the document.
Luo Yao finished reading the document's content, looking somewhat surprised, but she didn't ask further. She registered it as per regulations, signed her name, then returned it to Lu Ze, allowing him to pass.
Lu Ze walked towards the Charnes Gate behind her. It was a pair of black iron double doors, so tall one had to look up. Seven sacred emblems were drawn on the Door, appearing profound and distant under the gaslight.
Speaking of which, I haven't stood guard at Charnes Gate yet.
Lu Ze thought.
According to internal regulations, team members would take turns guarding Charnes Gate at night. However, since he joined the team, he had been delayed by various matters every time, resulting in him never having stood guard once.
Lu Ze walked forward and knocked on the Door. There was no response from behind the Door for a long time. After about ten seconds, just as Lu Ze was hesitating whether to knock again, the Door opened with a difficult, heavy creak.
"Creak—"
The Door opened wide enough for one person and then stopped. A black-robed old man with a lantern peered out. He looked ancient and cold; the warm light of the gas lamp shining on him couldn't bring him a hint of warmth.
"Document."
The gaunt old man said concisely.
Lu Ze handed him the document. After he read it expressionlessly, he carefully checked the Holy See's approval, finally casting his gaze upon Lu Ze. His eyes were cold and emotionless, making one's heart pound.
"Wait here."
Finally, the old man said hoarsely, then turned and walked inside, closing the Door behind him.
The moment he turned, Lu Ze's eyes suddenly narrowed.
He saw something dark flash past the old man's back. Not just the old man himself, but the entire space behind the Door was filled with thin black lines, quietly drifting, sometimes clumping together, sometimes dispersing, appearing serene yet terrifying.
Lu Ze's eyes stung for a moment. Fortunately, he only caught a glimpse before the Door closed, preventing further damage from direct sight.
This must be the Sealed power within the Door, a bit frightening. No wonder it can suppress other Sealed Artifacts.
He waited outside the Door for a while, finally receiving 3-169 from the old man.
This was a crude Clown doll. From its appearance alone, it looked like a cheaply made, poorly crafted toy. The Clown was entirely wooden, its hair made of messy yarn, its facial features painted with greasepaint, and a brass clockwork mechanism on its back.
Lu Ze reached out and touched the clockwork, trying to wind it by hand, but it didn't budge. So he infused it with his spirituality, and the clockwork spring immediately gained elasticity, gradually tightening as he wound it.
If I pour all my spirituality into it, I wonder how many turns it will make?
Lu Ze pondered, winding the clockwork as he walked upstairs. The good thing about this item was that it could be wound in advance and not used until needed.
Where should I test it?
Reaching the ground floor, Lu Ze found an office that happened to be empty, so he walked in and closed the Door. He looked at the crude doll, hesitated slightly, then gently tapped its forehead with his finger.
"Click!"
Just like any wound-up toy, the Clown doll began to move.
"Ah haha! Ah haha!"
Its arms swung up and down, its head moved left and right, all while emitting a comical yet piercing laugh. The laughter echoed in the office, and also resounded within Lu Ze's body. He suddenly felt incredibly light. Lifting his leg to step, he immediately crossed the entire length of the room, rushing directly to the window.
Seeing he was about to hit the windowsill, Lu Ze showed no panic. His right hand was currently holding the doll, so he extended his left hand to grasp the windowsill, pushed off with his feet, lightly jumped, spun once in mid-air, and landed steadily on the two-finger-wide backrest of the office chair.
So powerful.
Only then did Lu Ze realize what he had done, he thought in surprise. His reflection in the mirror opposite showed him in a formal suit, but squatting in an undignified posture on top of the chair.
He looked just like a monkey.
For some reason, the corners of his mouth curved upwards, and he couldn't help but want to laugh.
"Creak—"
Just as he parted his lips, the office Door opened. Ms. Xiga, who entered, originally just casually glanced around the room, but suddenly noticed Lu Ze's peculiar state, and couldn't help but widen her eyes, losing her usual composure.
"Lu Ze. What are you doing?"
"Uh, I, I'm exercising."
Lu Ze explained awkwardly, quickly jumping down from the sofa.
The clockwork clown had already exhausted its spirituality and stopped laughing. He had difficulty adapting to his suddenly sluggish body and almost stumbled when he jumped down.
"Let's just say that."
Xiga seemed disinclined to pursue his true intentions. "Klein has already submitted a special application for promotion. Everyone wants to hear about his successful experience. They're all in the lounge now. You should go listen too; it will be good for you."
With that, she turned and left, shaking her head continuously as she went.
Was that a side effect just now? I don't think I laughed maniacally, maybe it was just a coincidence.
Lu Ze awkwardly touched his face, stuffed the Clown into his inner jacket pocket, and hurried out as well, to listen to Klein's presentation.
In fact, this was a method they had discussed among the three of them: using the special application as an excuse to share the acting method with all the Nighthawks in Tingen. These teammates were all good people, and he hoped they wouldn't leave due to losing control.