Chapter 1 In Duncan's perception, Vanna's aura was rapidly approaching the antique shop, and not in a straight line. She frequently changed direction and paused abnormally.

What was an inquisitor who lived in the upper city doing in this lower city antique shop? And why was her path so strange?

The moment the aura of the young Deep Sea Inquisitor appeared in his perception, Duncan frowned slightly and subconsciously glanced at Shirley.

Was she here for Shirley? Had the Deep Sea Church finally discovered a "summoner" traveling with a Youze demon hiding in the city? Or was she here for him? But he had always been careful in his actions, and there was no way to trace him back to the Ghost Ship. At most, his body's original identity as a Sun Cultist had been exposed... but that shouldn't alarm a high-ranking inquisitor, right?

The inquisitor's aura was approaching quickly and circuitously; it certainly didn't seem like she was just passing by leisurely. It was more like she had a strong purpose. Thoughts raced through his mind, but Duncan calmly glanced at Nina, who was reading a book nearby, and got up to walk towards the antique shop door.

Shirley, who was nearby, noticed his movements and subconsciously followed, "Mr. Duncan? What's going on..."

"Stay in the shop," Duncan said, glancing at Shirley, who should be classified as a "heretic" no matter what, telling her to stay put. Then he went to the door and looked in the direction of the approaching aura.

Then he knew why Vanna's aura was approaching so quickly—

She was driving.

A dark gray steam-powered car screeched to a halt in front of the antique shop. The door opened and two people stepped out. One was Vanna, who, despite being in plain clothes, was still strikingly tall, and the other was Miss Heidi, the psychiatrist he had met once before.

Duncan: "..."

He reflected briefly on the chaotic, over-imaginative thoughts that had filled his mind after sensing an aura approaching quickly, and realized he shouldn't assume that everything related to the supernatural was so ethereal. Now that he thought about it, those brief pauses in Vanna's approach were probably when she was waiting for traffic lights...

Then he saw the psychiatrist waving at him rather energetically, greeting him cheerfully, "Mr. Duncan!"

Duncan's lips twitched. He knew he was overthinking things when he saw Vanna in plain clothes, but he still gave the inquisitor a deliberate look as he went to greet her, expressing just the right amount of surprise, "This is..."

"Ah, you must have recognized her. There's no one in this city who doesn't know her—our respectable inquisitor, Miss Vanna Wayne," Heidi said with a teasing smile. "But she's on vacation today, so relax—she's a friend of mine. After hearing about what happened at the museum, she insisted on coming to thank you in person..."

"A friend?" Duncan's surprise this time had a touch of sincerity. He really hadn't expected this. "I never imagined you'd bring such a big shot..."

"Calling me a 'big shot' is a bit much, Mr. Duncan," Vanna said, finally speaking with a slight smile after seemingly sizing up the antique shop owner since the beginning. Her voice was slightly hoarse and low, with a magnetic quality—but this wasn't the first time Duncan had heard the inquisitor's voice. "Just treat me like an ordinary guest, like Heidi said. I'm on vacation today—I'm here mainly to thank you for helping Heidi at the museum, and also to learn a few things... Don't worry, it's not an official interrogation."

Learn a few things?

The expression on Duncan's face didn't change. He simply maintained his usual friendly smile and turned to invite the two special visitors into the shop, "Then don't just stand at the door. Please come in—it's quiet in the shop today, so it can liven things up a bit."

As he spoke, he walked towards the antique shop. After entering, he saw Shirley, who was craning her neck to see what was going on outside, and casually ruffled her hair, "Just stay calm for a while."

Shirley was stunned, "Calm down about wha..."

In the next second, she knew why she needed to stay calm.

She saw the inquisitor, who was at the apex of the Pland City-State Church's military power, walk in. The over six-foot-tall woman walked past the less-than-five-foot-tall girl, bringing not only visual pressure.

Shirley blurted out almost subconsciously, "Wo... Wow, you're so tall!"

Vanna stopped subconsciously and looked at the girl standing next to her, who had a strange expression and tense muscles all over her body. She nodded in a friendly manner, "Hello."

"Her name is Shirley," Duncan said casually from the side. "She helps out in my shop. She was also at the scene when the museum incident happened. Miss Heidi should have mentioned her to you."

"So you're Shirley?" Vanna nodded, matching the description she had heard in her mind with the person in front of her. "Indeed, a cute little girl."

At this moment, Nina, who was reading a book next to the counter, also heard the commotion and ran over. The first thing she saw was Vanna, who was surprisingly tall. She recognized the famous inquisitor and also exclaimed in surprise like Shirley.

"...That's why I don't like going out with you," Heidi finally couldn't help but say, standing behind Vanna, whom Nina hadn't noticed for a long time. "You attract all the attention just by standing there—I'm the main character today, okay?"

"But I don't want to attract people's attention in this way either," Vanna said, looking at her friend expressionlessly. "I've already tried to make myself look as ordinary as possible today."

"......Okay, I'm used to it." Heidi sighed, then greeted Nina and Shirley separately before taking out the housewarming gift she had brought with her and handing it to Duncan.

"I don't know what you like, but you can't visit empty-handed. My father asked me to give this to you. He said that someone as knowledgeable and interested in history and the occult as you are would like this."

"You're too kind. It was just a small matter," Duncan said politely, taking the gift from the other party. It was a wooden box that looked quite old. He opened the lid on the spot, but was a little puzzled after seeing what was inside, "This is..."

It was a book, a beautifully bound and valuable book. It looked like the kind of thing that respectable scholars in the upper city would collect at home. On the hard, deep purple cover was a line of beautiful cursive letters:

*The City-State and the Gods*

"This is a book from my father's collection, and it's hard to find on the market now—it's by Maldino Victor, a great naturalist and theologian from a century ago," Heidi said with a smile. "A book describing the historical changes of the city-state era and the influence of various divine beliefs, including the Four True Gods, on civilized society. He said you should like this kind of thing."

Duncan silently looked at the exquisite book in the box, and a smile slowly appeared on his face.

"Of course, I really like it. Please thank old Mr. Morris for his kindness."

After some pleasantries and familiarity, Duncan simply closed the antique shop's doors since there were no customers today, and used the spacious first floor as a place to entertain guests.

Nina went to fetch two chairs, and Duncan brewed the best coffee in the shop for the two guests. Shirley pretended to be organizing the shelves, but in reality, she found a corner to lower her presence. Vanna curiously looked around the small shop that seemed ordinary, while Heidi had already begun to skillfully place her "medicine box" on the counter, and said to Nina, "Let's get straight to the point. I heard you've been troubled by nightmares lately, and you're often absent-minded?"

"Ah, it's not really a nightmare, just a continuous strange dream..." Nina didn't expect Miss Heidi to be so efficient. She was stunned for a moment before answering, "I always dream that I'm standing in a very, very high place, like on top of a tower, and I see several blocks under my feet have been burned to ashes. There's nothing scary that appears..."

"Stop," Heidi gestured, opening the medicine box as she spoke. "Recurring scenes, heights, fire, no scary concrete things, but the dream itself frequently causes mental fatigue that cannot be relieved... Let me see..."

Nina peeked into Heidi's medicine box and saw chisels, axes, saws, and bottles and jars at first glance. She immediately shrank her neck, "Um... Miss Heidi... Can I not be treated? I don't think my condition is that bad..."

Duncan also saw the things in Heidi's medicine box, and his eyebrows twitched, "Excuse me for being presumptuous—are these really the things you need for mental treatment?"

Is this elegant and gentle-looking doctor a psychiatrist or a veterinarian?!