Chapter 18: The Counterfeit Philosopher's Stone

The paper that caught Hade’s attention appeared to be parchment. One corner was pinned down by a copy of "Psychology and Psychopathology," but it only obscured the signature, leaving the main content legible:

【Academy Bounty Order】
The illegal organization "Mercury Blood," carrying the Keeper-level Relic "Forged Philosopher’s Stone," has appeared in Tobesk City and its surrounding areas. All correspondence Ring-術士 (Ring-wielders) of the Academy in this region are ordered to closely monitor the movements of "Mercury Blood." Should you submit the "Forged Philosopher’s Stone" to the Academy, you will be credited with 5 practical academic points for this school year, your academic assessment rating for the term will be automatically elevated to 'Excellent,' and further rewards will be negotiated in person with Professor Rogers of the School of Mechanics.

Note 1: This mission is extremely dangerous. It is not recommended for students at Ring 3 or below to have direct contact with the "Mercury Blood" organization in any form.
Note 2: For specific information regarding the Relic "Forged Philosopher’s Stone," please consult the Academy in detail.
Note 3: The Orthodox Churches have been informed of this news. If you intend to complete the mission, please be careful not to reveal your identity to the Church.

Below was the obscured signature, which appeared to be a public announcement issued jointly by the Office of Public Affairs Management and the School of Mechanics of St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy.

"What happens if I reveal it to the Orthodox Churches? I forgot to ask the doctor just now," Hade thought to himself, then placed the file bag on the table and sat back down on the sofa.

So far, no one knew the secret that he could understand various strange languages, so it was unlikely that this was a forgery by the doctor. On the contrary, the appearance of this Academy bounty order proved that what the doctor had said was likely true.

"However, academic credits, academic assessments... what chilling terms. I never expected to encounter such things in the era of steam civilization."

Hade thought silently, recalling the life he led in his homeland. This only strengthened his resolve to delve into the mysterious and find a way back. He just hadn't expected that in another world, he would still have to study and take exams. And perhaps, he might even have to write a thesis.

"Where there's a will, there's a way."

He thought to himself, waiting patiently for the doctor to return. Although the doctor had treated him to lunch at the goose restaurant not long ago, Hade hadn't eaten much because the horrific scenes he had witnessed that morning were still etched in his mind. Now that he had a plan for the future, his mood improved, and with it, his hunger returned. Taking advantage of the doctor's absence, he asked Mrs. Cara for some snacks, saying he wanted to have afternoon tea.

The doctor had likely informed Hade that he was an honored guest, so when the maid in the floral apron knocked and entered, Hade saw that she was carrying a porcelain tray.

"This is part of Mr. Schneider’s collection," the middle-aged maid smiled. She looked to be in her forties, older than the blue-eyed doctor. She was plump, which fit Hade's imagination of a middle-aged woman from an ordinary family in this era.

Although this world did not have the great Eastern nation, it still possessed porcelain, and it remained precious; only the special soil and techniques of specific regions could produce such fine pieces.

Hade thanked Mrs. Cara, not paying much attention to the porcelain plate. He looked at the exquisite, fluffy yellow cupcake on the plate and the bright red cherry on top that seemed to catch the light, and he swallowed instinctively.

"Hade, don't embarrass the people from another world!"

The outlander who had just arrived here told himself in his heart, and as expected, he heard the pleasant laughter of the woman in his mind once again.

They had agreed to meet at two o'clock, but the doctor was late. If Hade hadn't discovered while visiting the washroom that no one was stopping him from wandering around, he might have suspected he had fallen into some kind of trap.

Since this was someone else's place, once he confirmed he was free to leave at any time, Hade returned to the original room to wait. He did not have the bad habit of rummaging through other people's belongings, and he was worried about seeing documents he shouldn't, so he sat bored on the sofa, observing the room's interior decoration.

He had been in this world for nearly 40 hours, and he had gained a deeper understanding of the level of development in the country he was currently in. The characteristics of the steam age were evident in every aspect of life—not just the gas lamps and steam pipes, but the intricate mechanical catches on the furniture and the elevators on the sides of the bookshelves controlled by large gears, pulleys, and ropes. These were things Hade had never seen in his own world.

He had never imagined he would end up in such a world. While feeling lost, he also tried to use his own knowledge to earn money. But he really did not know much, nor did he possess an exceptionally photographic memory; he was actually quite anxious about his future.

Dr. Schneider did not appear until two-thirty. He had changed his coat to a black one. When he pushed the door open, he immediately began to apologize:

"My deepest apologies, some completely unexpected things occurred. I ordered a batch of sensitive medicine on the black market—no, don't make that face, it's not for the clinic's patients; I don't do that. I need it for my own research into thaumaturgy, but there was a mishap when picking up the goods. Just my bad luck."

As he spoke, he sat down again. The maid entered behind him, providing a new pot of black tea for the two men.

"So, have you decided?" the doctor asked solemnly, his blue eyes meeting Hade’s. Hade had observed the color of his own eyes in the mirror; they were a deep brown that looked almost black, which was the same as before.

"I have decided," Hade sat up straight and nodded, giving his answer with equal gravity. "I want to try to make contact with that Poet-level Relic, 'The Dream of St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy'."

A wide smile appeared on the doctor's face: "Although my luck today hasn't been great, I've found that, Detective Hamilton, as long as something concerns you, it always goes very smoothly."

As one of the three major schools of thaumaturgy, St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy had the ability to remotely deliver "Relics." However, since Hade was not yet an official Ring-wielder, Dr. Schneider naturally would not let him know how this was done.

After waiting alone in the room for another ten minutes, the doctor pushed the door open, cradling a black paper box. It was truly a black box; there was nothing but black. Hade couldn't even tell where the seams of the box were at first.

"The 'Dream of St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy' is a product of the previous epoch, the Fifth Epoch. At that time, the Academy had just been established. That legendary founder, the 13th-Ring wielder, Lady Mana Feliana, obtained this 'Relic' after a summer afternoon nap. This 'Relic' must be contained within a black space; it is considered a 'Relic' with a relatively simple containment method."

"Was the Academy only established in the previous epoch?" Hade asked, somewhat confused. He had assumed it was an ancient organization passed down through several epochs.

"In reality, the five Orthodox Churches and the three schools of thaumaturgy all emerged in the previous epoch. Remember this common knowledge: the Fourth Epoch was an era of darkness and chaos, where evil and distortion ran rampant throughout the world. The Fifth Epoch was the era of the witches, where only women possessed the ability to cast spells. Powerful witch empresses carved up the world, city-states fought one another, and civilization made no progress in the Fifth Epoch—it was a savage and primitive era, but equally terrifying. It was not until the Sixth Epoch, when the supernatural faded from sight, that human civilization in the hands of ordinary people was able to progress to the current era."

The doctor did not introduce the even older epochs, and Hade did not ask. As they sat on the sofa, Dr. Schneider opened the box.

Peering inside, Hade saw that the box was filled with straw, and lying on the straw was an exquisite enamel filigree snuff bottle, the size of a palm. The bottle was primarily a sky-blue color, painted with bright yellow sunflowers connected by golden lines, making one think of the joyful times of summer.