Returning to the Mysterious Era

Chapter 115 - The Third Time-Travel

Chapter 115 - The Third Time-Travel

The next day, at Cassius's new home in the pale courtyard.

"I'm looking forward to working with you in the future."

"Y-yes."

Two hands clasped together; one belonged to Cassius, who had a faint smile on his face, and the other to a somewhat frightened Hugo.

Standing quietly beside them were four other members of the Shadowless Clan, all looking very uncomfortable. The only person who seemed unfazed was Teresa, who was still in her black dress, holding a box in her hand.

The previous night, the Shadowless Clan members had been scared out of their wits, even losing their shoes in the process. After returning to their base in Baichuan City, they immediately reported Teresa's death, along with their encounter with the Shadow Demon. Before the news could spread, however, Teresa, who had supposedly died a hero, casually strolled back in.

This caused quite a stir, as the entire base went on high alert, fearful that the Shadow Demons had forced Teresa into revealing their location. They suspected the Shadow Demons were lurking in the dark, ready to attack at any moment.

The misunderstanding made the atmosphere tense for a time, but was soon cleared up. What Hugo and the others saw was not a Shadow Demon, but a Covert Martial Arts expert who had surpassed human limits. As for the Shadow Demons' supposed attack on the base... that was going to be next to impossible to do since Cassius had wiped out the squad the previous day.

Although Hugo and the elite members were embarrassed, Teresa came bearing good news: Cassius was willing to sell the captured Sharp Claw-level Shadow Demon for two million Hongli Federation dollars, with the transaction to be completed the next day.

The ferocity and brutality of Shadow Demons were far beyond human imagination. Even if they were defeated, they could escape by merely vanishing into the darkness. Killing a Shadow Demon was not difficult, but capturing one alive was a different story altogether. The fact that Teresa could purchase a Sharp Claw-level Shadow Demon from Cassius was quite an achievement in and of itself.

This simple achievement landed her a promotion without a problem.

Unfortunately, Cassius had other uses for the Red-eyed Shadow Demon, so it wasn't available for trade. Otherwise, that would have been enough to jump two to three levels up, and maybe even get a middle management position at the headquarters.

Teresa shook away the fantasies. She knew the decision wasn't in her hands. Both Shadow Demons had been captured by Cassius, and it was up to him if he wanted to sell them or not.

"Here is the two million, Mr. Li Wei." Teresa stepped forward and handed the box to Cassius.

He accepted it and went inside, returning with a white burlap sack that appeared to contain a human-shaped object. Since the sack had been used to store herbs previously, the sack stunk of a strong medicinal herb scent. Cassius had repurposed it for the occasion.

"Take a look."

He pulled down the sack, revealing an awkward-looking and miserable man bound in chains. He was gagged and his face and forehead were covered in bruises. Upon seeing the sunlight, he instinctively shut his eyes and lowered his head, as if it was too much for him.

Teresa and Hugo examined the man closely. He looked like a normal human, except for his elongated hands and sharp nails. The shadow behind him squirmed and crawled under his body, exuding an evil aura in the darkness. Teresa and Hugo exchanged glances, confirming their suspicions.

She nodded. "No doubt, it's a Sharp Claw-level Shadow Demon."

"Alright, it's all yours."

In the end, Cassius helped them by knocking out the Shadow Demon by chopping his hand down on its neck. Although it was bound in chains, it was better to be safe than sorry. He didn't trust Hugo and the so-called elite members of the Shadowless Clan to do it themselves, fearing they might mess things up.

Five minutes later, a boxy silver van drove away from the residence. Cassius watched for a while before going back inside. He went up to the third floor, took out an herb packet, and got ready to take an herbal bath.

***

"Huff... Huff... Huff..."

It sounded like an ox was panting with the heavy breathing that echoed in the basement. Cassius was in a half-squat horse stance, his toes lightly touching the ground, his head hanging down, and his body slightly leaning forward with his hands pressed together.

This peculiar stance demanded a lot out of his stamina. Sweat dripped from his upper body, soaking his gray training pants. His strong muscles were red, like he was a lobster being boiled.

"Sniff... Huff... Sniff... Huff... Sniff... Huff..."

Buzz...

It was like being struck by a hammer. Cassius's head shook violently.

The world spun, the colors blurring together as if water had been poured over a delicate oil painting. Cassius clenched his right fist, struggling to maintain his sanity against the dizziness.

Whoosh~

A strong gale swept through the city, leaving a twisting trail in the rain and mist. Raindrops hit the gray-bricked streets, creating a thin haze hovering above the ground. Lightning shattered the sky, thunder rumbled, and dark clouds covered Nington City.

Fifty years ago, July 7, Year 106 of the Hongli Federation. East Sea County, Nington City, Lise Street.

This was the bustling East Sea County. Decades ago, multiple ports were built, leading to a booming economy. This was especially the case twenty years ago when stable sea routes were established, and wealth flowed into East Sea County. All kinds of luxury goods were shipped here.

Nington City, though not the core city of East Sea County, ranked third or fourth in economic development, making it quite prosperous. The most noticeable features of the city were its tall buildings with tea-colored glass exteriors, giant product or celebrity billboards, and towering smokestacks. It also had numerous theaters, churches, stock exchanges, and exquisite mansions. Here, the rich enjoyed their power.

A large ball was being held in Jasmine Mansion on Lise Street. Hosted by Charles Roche, the boss of Coflen Company, he had invited some socialites to attend. As the men and women in formal attire danced to the music, bright chandelier lights cast down on them, their shadows shifting and moving across the polished floor. The shadows of gentlemen and socialites seemed to merge together.

Seated on a yellow sofa at the side, a beautiful girl in a red dress looked uneasily at the dance floor. She was alone tonight, and did not have a dance partner, making her feel out of place. She glanced to her right, at the edge of the dance floor.

A young, handsome man was quietly watching ahead, a glass of red wine in hand. He wore a well-fitted casual suit that accentuated his tall, strong figure. His face was fair and handsome, with slicked-back hair revealing a full forehead.

The man exuded an air of elegance and authority. His name was Charles, the twenty-year-old millionaire and owner of Coflen Company.

Today was his birthday party. He didn't seem to have any family, and invited many of Nington's elite for company. Among the guests were many unmarried, beautiful women hoping to catch the attention of the single millionaire. However, his aloof personality made approaching him difficult—or so the girl thought.

Charles walked over and offered his hand. "You don't have a dance partner tonight, do you, Miss Emily? May I have this honor?"

"Oh... of course." Excited, Emily hopped up and stretched out her hand.

Soon, the dance floor welcomed a new pair of dancing figures, and they became the highlight of the night. The party ended a half hour later, and the guests left, leaving only Emily and Charles behind in the hall. The two stood by the window, listening to the rain as they sipped wine. They gradually warmed up to each other.

Flash!

A bright lightning bolt cut through the dark sky. In the dim hall, Charles's shadow was cast on the floor, resembling a black bat gnawing and sucking blood.

Rumble!

Thunder roared like cannons. In the rain-soaked night, a man holding a black umbrella and a bag walked toward the mansion.

Dressed in a black suit with a wide-brimmed hat covering most of his face, he gave off an enigmatic aura. His leather shoes splashed in the water as he approached the mansion's side wall. He glanced around and pulled something out of the bag.

A bronze and silver mechanical crossbow.

The edges were thick, with intricate patterns carved on the metal surface, and a barrel-like rotary drum hanging underneath. The drum was filled with silver bolts glinting in the light. The corner of the mechanical crossbow had a small inscription in cursive script: "Frenzy Steam."

The man looked down, then froze.

Splash...

Rain poured down, creating a mist that blurred everything around him. Raindrops drummed on the umbrella, making a series of pitter-patters. The umbrella tilted back slightly, revealing a pair of cold, indifferent eyes.

"Hellsing, Blood Race, Hunt, Black Rain Manor..." he murmured to himself, gently weighing the crossbow in his hand. "And Frenzy Steam..."