Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"Yes, there are many Carsonrickians doing business locally, and they brought the traditional beliefs from the southern side of the Rommel Mountains. It's quite complex and I can't explain it clearly, but if you need, you can visit the Carsonrick Merchant's guildhall to learn more."

"Ask the innkeeper, Tels, about fire worship, and the guild about southern beliefs..."

Shard took note of these things, and the bard wasn't surprised to see him pulling out a notebook to write:

"Moreover, although the order of the bygone day's Great One 'Twin Gods' no longer exists, there should be some local experts studying this area. You can look for professional folklore professors, as Midshire Fort also has a university."

Shard nodded:

"Anything else? For example, worship of death?"

The bard, as if reminded, clenched his left fist and hit his open right palm:

"Yes, yes, but it's not exactly worship; it would be more accurate to say respect for death. Our city is particularly mindful about death. I always believe that death is the beginning of another great adventure, and perhaps the afterlife is incredibly wonderful."

Unfortunately, the afterlife is just a body of water, where souls can only continue moving forward.

"So, there are no groups here that worship death?"

"If there were, the True God Church would have banned them by now. Hasn't the Church of Nature always been promoting this? The great 'Lord of Nature' holds the power over death."

The bard traced the Holy Emblem over his chest, and Shard understood that he was a believer in the God of Nature. The Holy Emblem of the God of Nature was two overlapping leaves, the same emblem borne by the Corpse Bearer who transported Mr. Sparrow's body.

Shard nodded and continued to jot down notes, thinking earlier that in a city lying atop the largest 'Interstice of Life and Death' in the material world, there might at least be similar groups emerging...

"Wait, isn't it the Spiritual Practice Order that worships death?"

The two waiters who had been called upstairs for questioning had just returned, and those remaining on the first floor immediately crowded around them, eager to find out what had happened. Seeing the bard also seemed concerned, Shard let him go and inquire further.

It didn't take long for the bard to return, looking dejected:

"Someone really died, a Southerner was beaten to death."

What the people of Midshire Fort meant by 'Southerner' generally referred to Carsonrickians in a somewhat derogatory manner.

"Was it the first gunshot that killed him?"

Shard asked curiously.

"Yes, they said they've already covered him with a white cloth upstairs."

"Who shot him? We heard two gunshots just now."

"The first gunshot was fired by the murderer, and he fired the second one as well. As two officers went upstairs, he shot at the staircase entrance and then hid on the fourth floor. The police believe he couldn't have escaped, so now they are trying to identify the shooter from among the fourth floor's guests and servants."

The bard relayed the news he heard, but Shard clearly noticed the second gunshot sounded different from the first:

"Did the murderer have two guns? Who would carry two guns?"

"You."

Shard really couldn't refute that.

The bard sitting across the table took another sip of barley wine, then continued under the gaslight:

"Lastly, it's worth mentioning that local beliefs also include a tradition of Moon Worship."

A smile appeared on Shard's face, sparking his greater interest. Not long ago, Granny Cassandra had mentioned that there was a Vampire Race in the area, hidden among regular citizens. Perhaps Moon Worship referred to those creatures:

"This sounds fascinating. The emergence of localized worship must be related to the local history and natural environment. But as far as I know, Midshire Fort and Sicarl Mountain don't have great spots for moon viewing, nor are there many legends related to the moon here. How could there be a tradition of moon worship?"

"No, no, no, that's just a misunderstanding by outsiders. Actually, there are moon viewing spots on Sicarl Mountain, but even some locals don't know about them."

"Where?"

"By the lake at the summit."

"Sicarl Mountain has a summit lake?"

Shard was slightly surprised, but considering that it was a dead volcano, it seemed quite normal.

"The ancient tradition of moon worship, though, had long been lost, only to be glimpsed in poems and stories."

As he spoke, the Bard hummed a short tune and then slapped his head:

"However, a few years ago, there were rumors that on the night of a full moon in March, someone saw a group of women in the mountains, dressed like specters in gauzy skirts, wearing silver eye masks and veils, walking toward the summit."

This all sounded like the Spiritual Practice Order, but they might not have been going to worship the moon but to perform some ritual during the special time of the March full moon.

However, after the Bard's reminder, Shard recalled another matter. Priest Augustus had mentioned that, in fact, there exist three direct pathways to True Death in the Interstice of Life and Death, respectively located at the summit, mountainside, and in Midshire Fort City at the mountain's base.

The one at the summit was said by Priest Augustus to be sealed by an ancient being. Combining this with what the Prophet's Society thought of a "volcanic eruption," Shard speculated that the location of the summit's pathway was around the Summit Lake in the Interstice of Life and Death.

"This means Midshire Fort still has remnants of indigenous beliefs today, including only Twin Gods worship, beliefs brought by Southerners, and the tradition of fire worship," Shard concluded, and the Bard nodded:

"At least that's how it seems to me. Oh, can I have another barley wine? This batch is much better than the one from summer."

Shard signaled the waiter to buy another cup of barley wine for this informative Bard. He finished off his cup of cider—or should I say apple juice—and then stood up to bid farewell to the Bard.

He was keen to understand the local traditional beliefs. The Southern belief system formed too late and could be temporarily disregarded; now, at two in the afternoon, with only two hours left to meet Priest Augustus, he definitely wouldn't make it in time to inquire about Twin Gods worship at the university.

So, he wanted to talk to the innkeeper.

But now the innkeeper was involved in a murder case on the fourth floor, so Shard needed to find a way to expedite the investigation of this murder case.

For instance, by helping the police find the gunman hiding on the fourth floor.

Dorothy had once given Shard a pendant with the Royal Crest, which could help Shard get assistance at the Midshire Fort police station. But seeking help was limited to the local deputy chief, ordinary officers, captains, or even inspectors who wouldn't recognize the pendant; therefore, he would still use his MI6 identity this time.

After saying goodbye to the Bard, Shard straightened his clothes and approached the police guarding the entrance of the inn, flashing his credentials:

"I need to speak with the constable about something."

The credentials bore the surname "Hamilton," but fortunately, Hamilton wasn't an uncommon surname.

In Draleon, only a madman would dare impersonate someone from MI6. Recognizing the credentials as those of MI6, the officer saluted and immediately led Shard upstairs to find the constable on the fourth floor.

The Bard, holding his barley wine, looked curiously as Shard vanished into the stairwell:

"Could I have met one of those very formidable people from legend and stories?"

He rested one arm on the table, took a sip of his drink, and continued to idly watch the people on the first floor of the Sicarl Inn:

"Impossible... "