Chapter 18: The Forged Philosopher's Stone

The paper that caught Shard's attention felt like parchment. One corner was weighed down by a book titled *Psychology and Abnormal Psychology*, but it only obscured the signature, leaving the main content intact

【Academy Bounty Notice

The illegal organization [Mercury Blood] has appeared in Tobesk City and its surrounding areas, carrying the Secrecy-grade relic [The Forged Philosopher's Stone]. A bounty is hereby issued to all Academy correspondence Circle Warlocks in the region to closely monitor the movements of [Mercury Blood]. If the [Forged Philosopher's Stone] is submitted to the Academy, the submitter will receive a 5-point deduction from this academic year's practical credits, and their academic assessment grade for the semester will automatically be upgraded to 'Excellent.' Other rewards are to be discussed in person with Professor Rogers of the Mechanical Academy.

Note 1: This mission is extremely dangerous. Students at Circle 3 (inclusive) or below are advised not to make direct contact with the [Mercury Blood] organization in any form.

Note 2: For specific information regarding the relic [The Forged Philosopher's Stone], please consult the Academy for detailed inquiries.

Note 3: The Church of the Orthodox Gods has been notified. If you intend to complete this mission, please ensure your identity is not exposed to the Church.】

Below the obscured signature, it appeared to be a joint announcement issued by the Public Affairs Management Office of St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy and the Mechanical Academy.

"What if I am exposed to the Church of the Orthodox Gods? I forgot to ask the doctor just now," Shard thought to himself. He placed the file folder on the table and sat back down on the sofa.

So far, no one knew his secret—that he could read various strange languages—so it was unlikely that the doctor had forged this. On the contrary, the appearance of this Academy Bounty Notice served as proof that what the doctor said was likely true.

"However, 'credits' and 'academic assessments' are truly chilling words. I didn't expect to encounter such things even in the age of steam civilization," Shard mused silently, recalling his life back in his hometown. This thought only strengthened his resolve to touch the mysterious and find a way back.

He just hadn't expected that in an otherworldly realm, he would still have to attend school, take exams, and perhaps even write theses.

"There are always more solutions than difficulties," he thought, waiting patiently for the doctor to return.

Although the doctor had treated him to lunch at the Goose Meat Restaurant not long ago, the horrific images he had seen that morning were so deeply etched in his mind that Shard had barely eaten a few bites.

Now that he had a plan for the future, his mood improved, and hunger began to set in. Taking advantage of the doctor's absence, he had asked Mrs. Kara for some snacks, claiming he wanted afternoon tea.

The doctor had likely informed Shard that he was a distinguished guest, for when the maid, wearing a floral apron, knocked and entered, Shard saw that she was actually carrying a porcelain plate.

"This is part of Mr. Schneider's collection," the middle-aged maid said with a smile. She looked to be in her forties, slightly older than the blue-eyed doctor. She was quite plump, fitting Shard's mental image of a middle-aged woman from an ordinary family in this era.

Although an Eastern superpower did not exist in this world, porcelain still existed, and it remained precious; only the special soil and techniques of specific regions could produce such fine wares.

Shard thanked Mrs. Kara, not particularly caring about the porcelain plate itself. He looked at the exquisite yellow sponge cakes on the plate and the red cherry atop them, which seemed almost reflective, and instinctively swallowed his saliva.

"Shard, don't embarrass the outsiders!"

The stranger in this land told himself mentally, 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. Had Shard not discovered while going to the washroom that no one was actually stopping him from wandering around, he might have suspected he had fallen into some kind of trap.

Since this was someone else's home, once he was certain he could leave at any time, Shard returned to the original room to wait. He did not have the bad habit of rummaging through others' belongings, and he was also worried about seeing documents he shouldn't, so he sat bored on the sofa, observing the interior decorations of the room.

Having been in this world for nearly forty hours, he had gained a higher understanding of the developmental level of the current nation. The characteristics of the Steam Age were evident in every aspect of life—not just gas lamps and steam pipes, but also the ingenious mechanical latches on various pieces of furniture, and the lifting platforms on the sides of bookshelves controlled by large gears, pulleys, and ropes. These were things Shard had never seen in his own world.

He had never imagined he could come to such a world. While feeling lost, he also attempted to exchange his knowledge for money. However, he knew very little and did not possess an exceptionally outstanding photographic memory; he was still filled with anxiety regarding his future life.

Dr. Schneider did not appear until two-thirty. He had changed into a new coat, which was black.

As he pushed the door open, he began to apologize

"I am truly sorry; some completely unexpected things happened. I ordered a batch of sensitive medicines on the black market—no, don't make that expression, they weren't for the clinic's patients, I don't do that sort of thing. They were for my own research into thaumaturgy, but something went wrong during the handover. Just bad luck."

As he spoke, he sat back down. The maid followed him in, providing a fresh pot of black tea for the two gentlemen.

"So, have you decided?" the doctor asked solemnly, his blue eyes meeting Shard's. Shard had observed his own eye color in the mirror; they were still that deep brown that looked almost black, just as they had been before.

"I have decided." Shard sat up straight and nodded, giving his answer with equal solemnity. "I want to try contacting that Poet-grade relic, [The Dream of St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy]."

A wide smile spread across the doctor's face.

"Although today's luck hasn't been great, I've found that as long as it concerns you, Detective Hamilton, everything tends to go very smoothly."

As one of the three great thaumaturgical academies, St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy possessed the ability to remotely deliver [Relics]. However, since Shard was not yet a formal Circle Warlock, Dr. Schneider naturally would not reveal the method used.

After waiting alone in the room for another ten minutes, the doctor entered, carrying a black paper box.

It was truly a black paper box, possessing nothing but blackness. Shard couldn't even immediately tell where the seams of the box were.

"[The Dream of St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy] is a product of the previous era, specifically the Fifth Era. At that time, the Academy had just been established. That legendary founder, the Thirteenth-Circle Warlock Miss Mana Feliana, obtained this [Relic] after a summer 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 era?" Shard asked, somewhat puzzled. He had assumed it was an ancient organization that had endured for several eras.

"In fact, the five Great Orthodox Churches and the three great thaumaturgical academies all appeared in the previous era. Remember this common knowledge: the Fourth Era was an era of darkness and chaos, where evil and distortion ran rampant throughout the world. The Fifth Era was the Era of Witches, where only women possessed spellcasting abilities. Powerful Witch Empresses carved up the world, city-states fought one another, and civilization made no progress during the Fifth Era; it was a wild and primitive era, but equally terrifying. It wasn't until the Sixth Era, when the supernatural receded, that human civilization was able to progress to the present age in the hands of ordinary people."

The doctor did not introduce even older eras, and Shard did not ask, because as they sat on the sofa, Dr. Schneider had already opened the box.

Peering inside, the box was filled with straw. Lying upon the straw was an exquisite cloisonné snuff bottle, about the size of a palm. The body of the bottle was a pale cerulean blue, decorated with bright yellow sunflowers connected by golden lines, making one instinctively think of pleasant summer days.