dmims Page 503
Page 503
It's like a roller coaster.
Words that are too fantastical and words that are too down-to-earth are like dancing a waltz, twirling around with their arms linked.
Yvette's head was spinning. She couldn't help but gently curl her pigtails and press her fingertips against her temples, trying to calm herself down from the sudden surge of information.
"What organization?" she struggled to ask, trying to clear up all the confusion before her.
"Secret Remains Dissection Bureau".
Matou Ike picked up a pen from the table, paused for a moment, and then began to write quickly on a piece of paper.
As the pen moved across the paper, the handwriting was neat and swift. Yvette could see the four words "Albion, the Tomb of the Spirits" clearly written on the paper. Then, Matou Ike began to draw a simple diagram of the maze.
The two triangles, positioned opposite each other, seem to metaphorically represent some ancient and profound connection. The pattern gradually unfolds, from shallow to deep layers, with the connecting lines between each layer meticulously marked.
He wrote down the names next to these levels in order: Mining City, Great Magic Circuit, Ancient Heart, Observatory...
Finally, write the name he just mentioned above the picture—
—The Bureau of Unseen Remains Dissection.
"Is this... the Spirit Tomb Albion, and the organization formed to excavate that labyrinth?"
Yvette finally couldn't help but speak, her voice filled with intense curiosity.
Even though she herself belonged to a branch of the Clock Tower, this kind of information hidden deep within was still a completely new field for her.
“That’s right.” Matou Ike nodded slowly, the tip of her pen lightly touching the paper, and continued:
"The Bureau of Dissection of the Secret Relics controls everything in the labyrinth. Even Barthezello, who ranks first among the aristocrats, and Trampelio, who ranks first among the democrats, cannot interfere with their command."
In a sense, the Department of Unseen Corpses Dissection belongs to the Clock Tower, yet it is not the Clock Tower. The only recorded instance of interference with the maze in recent years is probably Kenneth's intervention eight years ago.
Therefore, it's normal for you to be unaware of your studies at the clock tower for six months.
It belongs to the clock tower, yet it is not a clock tower.
They do not join any of the twelve organizations; they are the sole entities in charge of managing the maze.
Orange didn't respond immediately, but instead sighed softly, as if choosing how to express herself more precisely.
She leaned back in her chair, gently gathered a strand of orange hair, and gazed at the sky outside the window.
Finally, she spoke:
"For some magicians, the Tomb of Albion is their last chance."
Yvette frowned slightly, some vague clues already forming in her mind.
Orange continued:
"Even a new generation of magicians, as long as they can acquire a large number of precious cursed bodies, may suddenly rise to prominence and immediately become the best in the circle."
This is not merely a political necessity, but also a driving force for the development of magical formulas. If one can fully master these incantations, even with slightly inferior magical circuits, one can still secure a place in the research of new magical formulas.
She paused, glanced at Yvette, as if observing whether she understood.
Then, she added in a low voice:
"However, the Department of Unseen Corpses does not easily allow people to enter the Spirit Tomb Albion. You must have special permission or be one of their internal staff members; otherwise, once you enter, it is very difficult to leave."
After all, deep within the Spirit Tomb of Albion lies not only a mining city, but also a system of slavery akin to that of modern magicians, where slavery has become an integral part of life.
Yvette nodded thoughtfully. This description of a "mining city" reminded her of the Gold Rush era.
Imagine thousands of people flocking to the New World for gold, but the biggest winners are the merchants who sell tools and supplies.
In Albion, the magicians who could profit from these cursed bodies were perhaps like the gold prospectors of the time, reaping far greater rewards than the "gold diggers" who ventured into the labyrinth.
Orange's gaze fell on Yvette again, as if she was still thinking about how to express this complex situation more clearly.
"The so-called 'survivors' are those who successfully left the labyrinth after excavating the cursed body from the spirit tomb Albion."
They are not distinguished by social status or wealth; they are all a very small minority. Whether they completed their terms according to regulations or shortened their terms by paying money, only a tiny fraction survived.
Evie nodded; things were gradually starting to fall into place.
"Are the magicians in this workshop also survivors?"
She pressed for an answer.
“Yes, he’s the kind of person who pays to shorten his term.” Orange paused, a subtle look flashing in her eyes.
"After he came out, he probably kept his distance from the clock tower. After all, not everyone is eager to go back and see those old faces. However, I myself would absolutely not want to live that kind of restrictive life."
Orange's gaze fell on Matou Pond, and she leaned out with great interest.
"You seem to have something you want to ask?"
"First of all, you said that Hartres's disciples are all survivors. How is that possible?" Matou Ike finally spoke, breaking the silence.
“Hmm…” Orange pondered for a moment, then revealed a meaningful smile, “Because they seemed to be on the same team when they infiltrated the maze.”
"Teammates?" Matou Ike raised an eyebrow slightly and repeated the word in a low voice.
As the name suggests, it refers to a team assembled for excavation.
If Hartres's disciples had previously teamed up to excavate cursed bodies in the Albion Tomb, Matou Ike did not believe it was a coincidence.
But what is the significance of this?
"There are also several bottles and jars here containing items that are rarely seen on the ground."
Matou Ike raised his head and stared at the bottles and jars displayed on the shelf.
All sorts of objects were immersed in it, including fossils shaped like sharp teeth and even glowing crystals he had never seen before.
And indeed, I sensed an extraordinary magical aura from those bottles and jars.
Orange nodded slightly.
“First of all, those things were undoubtedly brought out from the labyrinth ‘Albion’, right?” Orange followed Matou Ike’s gaze, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes.
"However, this makes things a bit suspicious. Although magicians can buy the cursed bodies they discover themselves, it would cost a lot of money."
"To simultaneously purchase a cursed body and shorten its term of service, that's something most people can't do."
Matou Ike remained silent for a while, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Does this mean that smuggling may have occurred in Albion, the Tomb of the Dead? Did Hartles obtain these smuggled cursed objects through some channel?"
“That’s right.” Orange nodded.
Matou Ike's lips twitched slightly, and he said with a hint of disdain:
"Is this why Webber had me investigate this incident? Whether it's finding out who the supporters are or bringing this smuggling route under our control, it's practically a shortcut for the El-Melloi family to rise to prominence and rise rapidly."
"Maybe." Orange shook her head casually, her tone as relaxed as if everything was just a trivial matter.
Just then, a faint explosion suddenly came from deep within the workshop, shattering the tranquility of the air.
"Ah, what's going on!" Yvette screamed, almost jumping up from her seat, her face filled with panic.
"Don't panic." Matou Ike remained unusually calm as he explained in a low voice.
"It's just tracking the shadow of the spell pattern imprinted on the wall. As long as it touches the central spell pattern, it will automatically disintegrate. It seems that someone has tampered with this place before and done some unknown operations."
Orange's eyes narrowed instantly, revealing a thoughtful expression.
She raised her beautifully shaped chin and asked, "What's with the shadow of the technique?"
Matou Ike looked at her with some confusion, her eyes filled with bewilderment:
"Don't you know? You just said you could tell what the workshop's taboos were at a glance, so why are you asking me now?"
Orange didn't respond directly, but simply made a subtle gesture, signaling him to continue.
Matou Ike sighed, seemingly a little impatient, but still began to explain:
"I scanned the surroundings with my magic eye and saw traces of spells imprinted on other parts of the wall. Then I followed these traces and found that the arrangement of the shadows here was quite strange."
Because you once said that "you can tell the workshop's taboos at a glance," I thought it might be this shadowy presence, so I couldn't resist giving it a try, and it went very smoothly.
"Heh, what a cheating thing." Orange smiled, shrugging with a hint of helplessness, half understanding and half dumbfounded.
Then, Matou Ike's expression changed, and he continued, "However, I have indeed seen the composition of this spell before. Hmm—it's from the scroll in the church, the spellcasters of Heartles."
Orange's eyes sharpened instantly, like a razor-sharp blade piercing towards Matou Ike. "You've seen it before?"
“Yes.” Matou Ike nodded, his eyes remaining silent for a moment. “Yes, it’s the spell used by Heartles from that scroll in the church.”
"Hartles hacked into his disciple's workshop?" Yvette's voice betrayed a hint of confusion as she interjected, "What does that mean? What does it have to do with the disappearance?"
"...Hartles' disciples were survivors of the labyrinth."
Matouike murmured softly, seemingly talking to herself, or perhaps reviewing a crucial clue.
"I suspect that they were all in the same team during the excavation in the maze. This teamwork was most likely a mandatory arrangement, since the chances of surviving alone in such a place are extremely slim."
He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings with a deep intensity, before continuing his analysis:
"Moreover, besides those disciples who have already disappeared, there are two other people who have considerable influence within the Bureau of Dissection of the Corpses."
One was in charge of management, and the other was in charge of materials. If these people were truly missing, you should have received the news immediately.
He tapped the table lightly, then suddenly turned his head, his tone becoming more serious:
"Assuming that Hartres' actions are indeed related to the 'Grand Order Decision,' in what form would this connection take?"
Silence enveloped the room once more. Orange sat quietly to one side, her eyes lowered, seemingly pondering Matou Ike's question.
Matou Ike didn't wait long. His gaze began to wander around the workshop, quickly scanning the neatly arranged bottles and jars and the strange items.
Suddenly, his finger pointed to several bottles and jars. "Aozaki, do you have a way to find out the market price of these cursed items ten years ago, five years ago, and most recently?"
Chapter 562 The Bureau of Secret Remains Dissection (4k)
"Hmm?" Orange raised her eyebrows slightly, clearly surprised by Matou Ike's sudden question: "The market price of cursed bodies? That's an interesting question."
She leaned back in her chair with a leisurely air, gently swirling the glass in her hand, seemingly prepared for this, her tone carrying a hint of confidence and ease:
“No need to investigate, I roughly know. After all, once news of cursed beings in this area comes out, I will not hesitate to spend all of my sister’s money to buy them all.”
Matouchi was speechless.
He saw in her relaxed and casual tone that she was a big spender, as if these rare cursed bodies were just ordinary transactions in her daily life.