A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

Page 146

The swollen hand pounded on the windowpane through the glass, making a dull "thump, thump, thump" sound. There was no tongue in the open mouth, and a stream of dark gray liquid was spitting out from deep in the throat, which looked disgusting.

"..."

Santa Karina's heart raced, and her breath almost stopped. She rubbed her eyes, turned her head, and found that the "strange person" was gone.

Whether the scene was an illusion or real remains to be seen and will require some time to verify.

The desire to continue bathing vanished completely. No one could remain calm in the bathtub after seeing such an ugly and bizarre creature, waiting for the next intense eye contact.

Santa Karina first inspected the windows; the metal clips were securely fastened, and the glass was intact without a single crack. A faint water stain remained where the window had been struck, the stain shaped exactly like two hands.

Her hands were swollen from being soaked in seawater, and were not the size of a normal woman's.

This was supposed to be a supernatural phenomenon; a normal woman's reaction would be initial shock followed by a timely scream. Saint Karina, however, didn't consider herself particularly normal; she merely frowned and searched her mind for an explanation for the phenomenon.

"That thing just now was definitely a sea vengeful spirit."

Without much thought, Saint Karina came to a conclusion.

She turned on the shower and rinsed her body, letting every inch of her skin warm in the embrace of the hot water, while continuing to "recall" the sea spirit.

In this world, people call the souls of those who die on the beach or in the sea, whose bodies are left unburied and whose souls are not released from suffering, "sea vengeful spirits." Sea vengeful spirits are similar in nature to earthbound spirits; their souls are permanently trapped in the ocean, and their greatest interest is to lure or frighten the living, turning them into their own kind.

Powerful sea spirits can possess corpses and return to human society, hiding among them. Many coastal cities near the ocean have experienced similar cases, which have been reported in newspapers.

There was a newspaper on the desk in the guest room. When the reader scanned the section below the headline, the brain automatically found that part of the memory for Saint Karina.

Residents living by the sea must close their doors and windows tightly at sunset. At that time, no one can answer the door or window, nor can they leave their homes. They must also place designated runes, talismans, or ritual implements in their homes.

Her brain became foggy in the hot water and rising steam. Santa Karina knew she was about to faint from the heat, so she quickly turned off the water and left the bathroom. There was a kettle of cold water on the coffee table, its base connected to a wall socket so the water could be heated at any time.

The base is equipped with mechanical components that can conduct electricity and heat, making it a product of modern technology.

Saint Karina didn't need hot water now; she simply poured it into the glass next to her and drank it all.

"So, next——"

Before he could finish speaking, the nightlight in the guest room suddenly went out.

A sudden power outage can be caused by either a problem with the passenger ship's electrical system or sabotage by someone behind the scenes; these are the two possibilities. If it's at sea, there's another possibility.

"咚咚-"

"咚咚-"

The heavy, brown wooden door was being knocked on forcefully and frequently, as if the person outside was in a real hurry.

Bathed in the blue moonlight streaming through the porthole, Santa Karina quickly slipped onto the bathrobe hanging on the coat rack. It fit perfectly, unlike the size the crew usually provided for guests. Generally, things provided in such places aren't as useful as what you bring yourself.

After putting on her bathrobe, Saint Karina didn't open the door immediately. Instead, she went to the bedside table, opened the drawer, and took out a Webley revolver. There was no need to overthink it; as long as she didn't use magic to reveal her saintly identity, it was perfectly reasonable for a young woman to carry some firearms and ammunition when going out alone.

The first drawer contained a gun, and the second drawer contained several boxes of ammunition and a dagger for close combat.

Her loading movements were practiced, as if it were an innate skill. Santa Karina filled the magazine with six bullets. The knocking grew more urgent, as if she wouldn't stop until she smashed the door open.

Santa Karina walked unhurriedly to the door and asked, "Who is it?"

The knocking finally stopped, and the person outside took a breath before responding in a slightly tired voice: "I am a crew member of the Avlov. There is a problem with the ship's electrical system, and the first mate sent me to check on the first-class cabin."

"No need, I have candles in my room."

"Every passenger in first class is a VIP on the Avrov. Please allow me to serve you."

Judging from her voice, the crew member was a restless young woman. She was eager to impress, whether to make her end-of-month evaluation form look better or to get some tips from the guests, I don't know.

The person who manages the electrical equipment on a passenger ship is definitely not the chief mate, but the electrical engineer. The chief mate's work area is on deck, and he is responsible for cargo stowage, loading, unloading, and transportation management, which has nothing to do with electricity.

interesting.

The person standing outside the door now is very likely a vengeful spirit from the sea. Her strong intuition and the innate experience of this body told her that she absolutely must not be foolish enough to open the door or window.

The salty smell of the sea seeped in through the cracks in the door, much like the stench of fish that had died on the beach and been exposed to the scorching sun.

"..."

A deathly silence.

Then, the footsteps faded into the distance, and the suspicious person didn't seem to be in a hurry to bother her personally. Taking advantage of the fact that the thing that seemed to be a sea vengeful spirit was temporarily away from the doorway, Saint Karina's body was driven by some kind of force, and blue light flashed at her fingertips, with one beam flying towards the candlestick on the table.

A quarter-burnt white candle cast a warm glow, its orange flames dancing and swaying, bringing a touch of warmth to the otherwise cool-toned, classically styled guest room.

Darkness is a breeding ground for evil, and even the best hunter cannot always hit an enemy he cannot see.

Her hand gripping the gun never loosened; she remained constantly ready to engage in combat.

The mechanical clock on the wall chimed its gears and mechanisms with a constant, monotonous ticking. Time passed in a dull, monotonous rhythm, the bronze pendulum swaying back and forth, inducing drowsiness, like a pocket watch used by a hypnotist.

Just when everyone thought the matter was over, several piercing screams came from outside the door, completely shattering the peaceful night.

"what--"

"A body...there's a body..."

"..."

The commotion began with the screams and cries of a young woman filled with terror, which then startled other passengers in the cabins. The noise became so loud that the Avlov was as lively as a school playground in the dead of night.

With the power outage and the incident, I probably won't be able to sleep tonight.

"That's not bad, at least those things won't dare to cause trouble."

Santa Karina breathed a sigh of relief, continued to moisten her parched throat with cool water, and then changed into a set of full-length pajamas. She wore long sleeves and trousers, revealing no skin except for her hands and face.

As I said before, girls should be careful when they're out. Walking around in a bathrobe is definitely very impolite. Most countries value etiquette; men are gentlemen, women are ladies, and those staying in first class are at least middle class.

Although Santa Karina did not belong to the middle class, she had no choice but to adapt to local customs and follow these "rules of the game."

She concealed the Webley revolver under her coat and left the room as if nothing had happened. The other guests opened their doors before her; the salty, fishy smell in the hallway had vanished, replaced by a faint, lingering scent of blood.

Blood and death are always inseparable. The scarlet liquid, carrying a chilling aura, turned the corridor's tiled floor into a magnificent yet decadent ink painting, except that the ink was a glaring deep red.

The body of a middle-aged man was displayed like a work of art in the center of the lobby at the very front of the first-class corridor. Regardless of why the murderer killed this person, he had a strong creative desire deep down, and a twisted impulse was boiling inside him, creating such a perverse work.

The appearance of the work is enough to send chills down your spine at first glance. Even someone as calm as Santa Karina, who has watched countless horror movies, was terrified.

She wasn't afraid, but rather her eyes were stung by the eerie sight.

The deceased man was between 40 and 45 years old, of slender build, and about 170 to 175 cm tall, which is not particularly tall for a man.

The corpse was naked and fixed in a strange position.

He knelt in the center of the hall, the sun pattern on the tiles transformed into a blood moon by the blood on his body. The corpse gripped a sword in both hands, a sword casually retrieved from a decorative steampunk knight's armor.

The hall has four doors, and two sets of armor are placed next to each door. One set of armor is missing a sword, and each set of armor is also missing a spear.

All eight spears were embedded in the body—piercing through from behind and then through the abdomen. The corpse's abdomen was a bloody mess, with some organs spilling out from the ruptured opening. The scene was so horrific that it needed to be censored.

The crew member who discovered the body was a girl who looked to be only in her early twenties, so it's understandable that she was shocked.

"How miserable."

Saint Karina took a breath of the blood-stained air and looked at the corpse again.

The corpse's pale gray eyes were fixed straight ahead, its face frozen in deathly terror. What had it seen?

If only the corpse could tell her, Santa Karina thought.

The forensic system of that era was not very developed, making it quite difficult to find the real murderer. Although the Avlov was at sea, the murderer could not have escaped immediately after completing this work unless he took a lifeboat.

Investigating cases is the police's job; investigating supernatural cases is the job of the Special Phenomena Investigation Department, and it has nothing to do with her. Trying to make a splash on a day when she wants to keep a low profile and vying to become a detective is absolutely foolish.

Perhaps I should go to a restaurant and order some noodles and a cup of black tea.

Just as Santa Karina was about to turn and leave, she suddenly heard a cane tapping on the tiled floor of the east corridor, accompanied by light and heavy footsteps.

A young woman with long gray hair entered the hall, led by two male crew members. Her blue eyes were calm and cold.

Police officer? Or an investigator for the Special Phenomena Investigation Department?

Regardless of her identity, troubles should be resolved by someone.

Saint Karina's eyes met the woman's briefly before returning to normal. The other woman was just a beautiful stranger, and this was probably the only point of intersection in their lives.

The gray-haired woman was in her early twenties, and her every move exuded the air of a wealthy young lady.

Cold and aloof, yet intellectual and elegant.

Those who can afford first-class tickets on large passenger ships are either extremely wealthy or of high social standing, and Santa Karina is no exception. Since they don't have to pay for their own food, clothing, or other necessities on board, they can comfortably sleep in beds far more luxurious than those in economy class and enjoy exquisite cuisine in the first-class restaurant.

The Avrov's destination was Niagara, the capital of Victoria, a world-renowned metropolis known as a "dream chaser's paradise."

Countless people flock to it, pursuing a distant and elusive dream, trying to become part of the bustling city, to become middle class or above, and to live a glamorous and respectable life.

After briefly admiring the woman's appearance, which resembled that of a noblewoman, Saint Karina noticed that the woman's gaze was fixed on the waist of her coat. Hidden beneath the black trench coat was the Webley revolver she had found in the bedside table.

Each chamber is filled with a gleaming silver bullet. With just a gentle pull of the trigger, a vibrant life will perish as the bullet ejects from the chamber and the smoke dissipates.

Ordinary people might not be able to get their hands on a gun; "he/she" must have obtained it through some special channel.

The gray-haired woman's gaze was too sharp; Santa Karina felt uneasy under her coat, her hands damp with a sticky, cold sweat. There was no security check on the ferry, otherwise she might have been thrown overboard.

"..."

The two only exchanged glances and did not speak.

Most of the women's attention was focused on the body in the center of the hall, that highly artistic corpse that would become the most eye-catching protagonist of the Avlov tonight.

Although being in the spotlight has no positive connotation, the deceased certainly drew the attention of everyone present.

Saint Karina adhered to the principle of keeping a low profile and avoided trouble whenever possible. She really needed a hot breakfast to calm her nerves and soothe her initial fear and anxiety upon arriving in this new place.

Before leaving the hall, she overheard a crew member address the gray-haired woman as Miss Williams. Santa Karina silently memorized the woman's surname, her expression natural, and calmly left the blood-soaked murder scene.

The restaurant is at the stern, and you need to walk up to the mechanical elevator to reach the top floor. The economy class restaurant is on the bottom floor. The restaurants and other facilities are distributed like a pyramid, with the number of floors reflecting the user's social class.

Saint Karina was certain that Miss Williams was no ordinary freelancer; receiving an offer from Long Night proved she possessed exceptional abilities. Memories of Long Night would instantly surface in her mind when needed, as if an engine capable of readily extracting keywords was diligently working within her brain.

The Long Night brings together extraordinary individuals and events from across the Victorian Empire, commonly known as the Superhumans. These Superhumans possess a variety of unique abilities, sufficient to deal with unknown dangers lurking in the shadows and fog.

The organization's investigators and investigators are all Victorian civil servants with permanent positions and better pay than ordinary jobs, but not everyone is qualified for the job.

She stared at her pale, slender left hand, which was not powerless or weak, but rather full of anticipation for the future.

The life of a superhuman seemed incredibly exciting, perfectly matching her desires.

Santa Karina decided to go back to her room and change into clothes that would allow her to move around outdoors. Walking around the ship in her pajamas was inappropriate, and slippers weren't suitable for long, fast runs.

She always wants to make sure she is fully prepared.

Before leaving the room, Santa Karina glanced at the room number. First class, room A1025—a string of ordinary numbers, nothing particularly noteworthy.

I didn't have much carry-on luggage, just an old, dented brass suitcase. The suitcase had a wheel lock and a three-digit combination.

She fiddled with the lock a few times with her fingertips, and the lock clicked open, revealing the contents inside.

"hiss--"

The contents inside only make one feel poor and stingy.

With less than 1 Victoria dollars left, and a meal at a restaurant costing around 2000, this amount was far from enough. Victoria is a large country, and as the capital, Niagara, prices are unlikely to be low; a monthly salary of less than 30 would be insufficient to make a living.

"I'm so poor, is this really okay? I'm afraid I'll have to find a bridge to sleep under after I get off the ship."

However, if Saint Karina wants money, she can take out her gold coins from her spatial bag at any time.

That was her magic, a personal space, though not very large.

It was 4:47 AM, not long before dawn, and a new day could begin early. Saint Karina, wide awake from the sea vengeful spirit, thought she might as well take this opportunity to learn more about the ship and gather more information.

The people on the ship weren't dressed as conservatively as one might imagine. Not everyone was dressed in a suit and tie or wearing elaborate long skirts. Women could also wear light shorts, T-shirts, and zip-up hoodies.

The fusion of classic and modern styles is fantastic.

With only a few outfits to choose from, Santa Karina put on jeans, a loose black T-shirt, a gray hoodie, and brown Doc Martens.

The light and inconspicuous outfit is perfect for being in crowded places.

Then, Saint Karina was quite pleased with her beautiful yet understated self in the mirror. She casually tossed her long white hair a few times, then stuffed the revolver into her coat and took a bullet from the bedside table.

A young woman acting alone only feels safe when she has weapons and money on her person.

The restaurant on the Avrov is open 24 hours a day, preparing different dishes for tourists with different biological clocks and nationalities.

The ship's restaurants should serve rice and home-style stir-fries, not just Western dishes like meat sauce noodles and bread.

Before going to the restaurant, you need to find the nearest mechanical elevator. It's at the end of the first-class corridor, where several well-dressed, wealthy-looking guests are walking into a long, rectangular silver box.

Perhaps because their attire wasn't formal enough, those arrogant guys looked puzzled, as if they were complaining, "Why are people from economy class in first class?"