Chapter 173: Corpse Animation

Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Three
Corpse Animation

Before Klein could form a new thought, he saw Councilman Maynard’s entire body stiffen. With both hands propping himself up, carrying a heavy gust of wind, he lunged straight toward Klein—toward Klein’s left side.

If it had been before, upon encountering such a sudden situation, Klein’s reaction would mostly have been sluggish, making it hard to dodge. Even if he had sensed it in advance, he would have had to roll and scramble to escape the range of the other party’s pounce in time.

But now, almost by instinct, Klein responded. His polished leather boots without buttons pressed down, and his entire person leaped diagonally away, landing on the high-backed chair.

Because he had advanced only yesterday, he was still not especially adapted to his strength, agility, and speed. In his panic, this leap went too high and too far, and the place where he landed turned out to be the very top of the chair back.

It was only a narrow strip. Klein’s heart tightened, and he swiftly controlled his body, adjusting his center of gravity.

He wobbled several times, yet actually stood there steadily, like a black cat flaunting its sense of balance.

While wobbling, his left arm swung. Following the momentum of the “living corpse” Maynard’s forward pounce, he struck its side ribs with his cane, knocking it off balance and sending it staggering onto the carpet.

Standing atop the high-backed chair, Klein’s right hand shot upward, reaching under his arm as he tried to draw his revolver and fire a silver Demon-hunting Bullet into the living corpse before him.

But at that instant, he suddenly realized how he would have to clean up the aftermath.

If he blasted a hole through Councilman Maynard’s corpse, how would he explain the cause of death afterward to the man’s family, and to the New Party councilmen concerned with the matter?

I merely gave his corpse an extra shot?

As that thought flashed, Klein’s right hand slipped into the corresponding pocket of his police uniform and touched a triangular thin sheet.

A Requiem Charm…

He immediately made the judgment. Without hesitation, he took out that silver charm and cried out a word in ancient Hermes:

“Crimson!”

As the activation incantation echoed, the charm radiated a tranquil, peaceful sensation. Klein hurriedly infused spirituality into it and threw it at the “living corpse” Maynard, which was struggling to stand.

Ice-blue flames sprang into existence, wrapping and burning the triangular thin sheet. Quiet, gentle blackness swiftly spread, eliminating the spirit’s tension and unrest.

The “living corpse” Maynard stopped where it was. Its hollow eyes stared blankly at the floor, while viscous fluid dripped from the corners of its mouth, drop after drop, onto the carpet.

Klein relaxed and was about to take out materials, set up a ritual, and use purification to solve the unclean creature before him.

But suddenly, Maynard’s throat once again produced that ho-ho sound. Those hollow eyes turned once more toward the left pocket of Klein’s police uniform.

What the hell…

Klein leaped forward, jumping from the top of the high-backed chair to the sill of the oriel window.

Almost at the same time, he heard the high-backed chair crash down and break.

With his scalp faintly tingling, Klein had no choice but to take out another rectangular silver sheet.

This was a Slumber Charm!

It was not only the living who needed sleep. The dead themselves were already in “eternal sleep.” Only when something abnormal occurred would they awaken and wander upon the earth.

In certain mysticism books, some “living corpses” were even described in this way:

They slept during the day and awakened at night.

“Crimson!”

Klein once again shouted the ancient Hermes incantation, deciding that if this failed too, he would stop worrying about the consequences, draw his revolver, and fire wildly.

Only the living were qualified to worry about what came afterward!

Sensing the silver sheet in his hand turn icy cold, Klein poured spirituality into it and flung it out.

Dark-red flames instantly lit his eyes, and slight explosions crackled through the guest room.

A quiet, gentle power spread outward, carrying fatigue that living beings could not resist. The “living corpse” Maynard had just climbed up from the shattered high-backed chair when it immediately swayed several times, closed its hollow eyes, and collapsed with a thud.

With the experience from moments earlier, Klein did not dare relax. He immediately took out materials: Amantha hydrosol distilled from a mixture of night vanilla, deep sleep flower, and chamomile; full moon essential oil made from dragon-patterned tree bark and moon flowers; and others. He swiftly arranged an altar.

Then, using “Holy Night Powder,” he sealed the nearby area with a wall of spirituality, enclosing both the altar and the slumbering “living corpse” Maynard within it.

After silently reciting the incantation, lighting the corresponding three candles, dripping hydrosol and essential oil into the flames, and sprinkling herbal powders, Klein retreated one step. Keeping a vigilant eye on the “living corpse” Maynard, he recited in Hermes:

“Evernight Goddess, nobler than the starry sky and more eternal than eternity;

“I pray for Your grace;

“I pray that You look after one of Your faithful guardians.

“I pray for the power of crimson;

“I pray for the power of slumber and silence;

“I pray that You purify this unclean creature near me, the gentleman once called John Maynard.”

…

“O moon flower, herb belonging to the crimson moon, please pass your power to my incantation!

“O deep sleep flower, herb belonging to the crimson moon, please pass your power to my incantation!”

…

Silently, soundlessly, a cool wind seemed to blow from midnight, echoing inside the wall of spirituality. Thin strands of faint black mist rose from the “living corpse” Maynard’s body.

When everything subsided, Klein repeatedly confirmed through spirit vision and divination that the other party would no longer “wake.”

Seeing the result, he finally put down the heart he had been holding aloft. He ended the ritual and removed the wall of spirituality.

“Why would he suddenly become a living corpse?”

Klein stood before Maynard, who lay on the carpet, slightly frowning as he looked down.

For a Beyonder with no low inspiration, whether a dead body would become a living corpse usually had obvious signs. This was even more true for Klein, who was a Seer. Similar matters would always give him a certain premonition. But the change just now had been completely beyond his expectations.

Unless—unless there was a more mysterious factor influencing it… just like the time with the tailcoat clown…

Klein carefully recalled the scene from moments earlier and vaguely sensed where the problem lay.

The “living corpse” Maynard had kept trying to attack the left pocket of his police uniform!

The left pocket?

Klein shifted the silver-inlaid black cane to his right hand, reached his left hand into the pocket, and took out an ancient copper whistle.

It was a copper whistle covered in mysterious patterns. It was the copper whistle Azik had lent him to summon a messenger.

“This copper whistle caused Maynard’s corpse animation? It is possible. Mr. Azik is either a descendant of Death or has some connection to Death. A mystical item he has always carried possessing a similar effect is entirely logical…”

Klein nodded thoughtfully. He took out a copper penny and performed a quick divination regarding that judgment.

Because he was at the scene, because he was holding the corresponding object, and because the information was sufficient, he quickly obtained a conclusion. He saw the copper penny tumble down and land in his palm with the portrait facing upward.

That indicated affirmation…

Mr. Azik actually did not remind me to pay attention to similar problems. Er… he is an amnesiac, so not remembering is normal. Besides, while the copper whistle is on him, it might not have any negative effects and is very likely being suppressed… From now on, when I go to cemeteries, ancient castles, and other places with many corpses or where ghosts easily appear, I must not carry this copper whistle. Otherwise, I am making things harder for myself and frantically seeking death…

Klein silently noted down this newly summarized precaution. Without much effort, he placed the naked Councilman Maynard back onto the bed.

Looking at the clear mark left by the cane strike on the man’s side ribs, Klein sighed, covered him with the white cloth, and pretended he had not discovered it.

This problem can be left to the police department to worry about! Mm, the two charms I used just now count as mission expenditure and can be reimbursed…

Thinking this, he packed away his items, took the portrait, walked to the door, and unlocked it.

With a creak, the door opened. Klein saw Inspector Tolle standing guard outside, preventing anyone from approaching.

“What happened just now?” Tolle asked, both puzzled and concerned.

He had vaguely heard quite a bit of movement inside.

Klein smiled and deliberately answered in an exaggerated manner, “Councilman Maynard came back to life and tried to give me a warm embrace.”

“Stop joking…”

Tolle helplessly looked inside the room.

“Why be so serious?”

Klein spread his hands.

“For reasons that are not yet certain, Councilman Maynard became a living corpse. Mm, the kind from all sorts of ghost stories. Fortunately, I had not left yet and used ritual magic in time to cleanse the unclean thing, allowing him to return to peaceful slumber.”

“Is this related to his cause of death?”

Tolle asked with a serious expression.

“I cannot give you an answer. I do not even know what went wrong. You should understand that in our field, inexplicable things are quite common.”

Klein offered a perfunctory reply, then shook the portrait in his hand.

“During spirit channeling, I saw the scene before Councilman Maynard’s death. He was sharing pleasures meant only for husband and wife with this lady, and at the happiest moment, he clutched the area around his heart.”

“You mean… he died of that cause?” Tolle wore an expression that said, you know.

“In theory, yes. It remains to be confirmed by the follow-up autopsy.”

Klein handed the portrait to Inspector Tolle.

Tolle only glanced at it once before crying out in astonishment, “Madam Sharon!”

Klein looked at him blankly.

“Is she famous?”

Mm. Judging by appearance and figure, she should be quite famous…

He silently mocked.

Tolle looked left and right, then introduced her with obvious excitement.

“Madam Sharon is the most famous and most beautiful widow in Tingen City, and she is also the most sought-after lady in social circles. She was Baron Hoy’s second wife, but unfortunately became a widow.

“She is widely welcomed among the nobility and among newly wealthy merchants. She is a socialite who can receive invitations to both Conservative Party and New Party banquets.

“It is said that she has ambiguous relationships with her stepson, the current Baron Hoy, with certain nobles in Backlund, and with several senior government employees. She is a lady with considerable influence… I did not expect that she and Councilman Maynard were also in such a relationship… Heh…”

In simpler terms, an outstanding courtesan…

Klein silently summarized. Then he pointed sideways into the room.

“The next steps are outside my mission. How to question Madam Sharon is your problem.

“Mm, before purification, I struck Councilman Maynard with my cane. Have your people handle that and come up with an explanation.”