Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 934 - 934 White Holy Tree

"Oh, detective, what are you going to do?"

Mr. Jimms was so frightened he almost stood up immediately, and Shard quickly reassured him:

"Don't worry, I have a firearm license."

As he spoke, he really pulled out the license.

"Detective, do you think that's what I'm concerned about?"

Mr. Jimms asked with some alarm, then looked at Dr. Schneider, but the doctor shrugged:

"He really is legally armed."

Shard had already taken out a bullet at this point and placed it in his palm to show Mr. Jimms:

"Look, it's a real bullet."

He opened the cylinder of the [Spear of Kindness], allowing Mr. Jimms to verify that there was nothing in the six chambers. Then, Shard pressed the bullet into one of the chambers and clicked the cylinder back into place. He spun the cylinder casually until none of the three could tell where the bullet was.

With a thumb, he pulled back the hammer, placed the revolver on the table, and pushed it toward Mr. Jimms.

The skinny middle-aged man looked at Shard like he was a madman:

"Detective, I just want to treat my psychological illness, not... If the illness isn't cured, it will affect my quality of life, but if I have bad luck and fire the gun, I could lose my life."

"That's why this is truly putting yourself at risk. You have a five out of six chance that nothing will happen, but in that instant when you pull the trigger, the feeling of facing death and memories flooding back might wash away the illusion of an ever-present fatal crisis."

Shard said, and for a moment, Mr. Jimms was indeed tempted but immediately shook his head:

"Oh, I must be really crazy, almost swayed by you. Detective, I admit you have a point, but this is too risky, no, I definitely won't do it."

"Shard, it's better to keep the treatment methods conservative."

Dr. Schneider said cautiously, as he actually knew which gun Shard carried with him.

"Alright then."

Shard reached out and picked up the gun on the table. Since it was already in a primed state, Mr. Jimms, sitting across from him, carefully avoided the muzzle

"Detective, be careful of misfire!"

Mr. Jimms leaned his body back slightly.

"My gun won't misfire."

Shard said as he aimed the muzzle at his own chest—

Click~

At the instant he pulled the trigger, Mr. Jimms visibly flinched, then realized the detective was quite lucky.

"Oh, Dr. Schneider, your detective friend is really... I admit this method sounds effective, but for the sake of my heart, detective, put the gun away... no, please wait."

The middle-aged man took a deep breath and surprisingly reached out to Shard. Shard raised an eyebrow in surprise and handed the gun to him. Mr. Jimms pulled back the hammer and pointed the muzzle at the back of his left hand.

"This is courage."

Dr. Schneider softly praised from the side.

The accountant took a few more deep breaths, then closed his eyes and tilted his head to the right, finally pulling the trigger on the back of his hand—

Click~

The bullet didn't fire either, and Mr. Jimms, breathing heavily, opened his eyes with a smile on his face:

"This, this is really fun."

He handed the pistol back to Shard, who noticed that Mr. Jimms' hands were sweaty.

"Do you still feel you're in danger now?"

Dr. Schneider promptly and dutifully asked.

"Yes."

Mr. Jimms said, taking a large gulp from his glass and emphasized again:

"Although I still feel surrounded by danger, the detective's suggestion was effective, and the sense of threat has significantly decreased."

Shard made no comment. In the process of retrieving the pistol, he touched Mr. Jimms' hand and discovered faint traces of the Miracle Element on him. The traces were almost imperceptible, similar to someone just coming out of a church.

"May I ask which deity you worship?"

Shard asked as he put the gun back in its holster. Mr. Jimms actually hesitated for a moment before softly replying:

"Oak God, [White Holy Tree]."

"Hmm?"

Dr. Schneider showed a surprised expression, and Shard slightly furrowed his brows as well.

In the present of the Sixth Era, although most mortals in the material world believe in the five True Gods, and a minority believes in Evil Gods, there do exist very small groups who still believe in the departed Old Gods. The numbers of these groups are very small, and these individuals generally do not actively expose their beliefs.

The "White Holy Tree" mentioned by Mr. Jimms is an Old God of little renown. Besides being called the "Oak God," it is also known as the "Tree of Luck," and is said to bring good fortune to people.

"Mr. Jimms, why didn't you tell me about this?"

Dr. Schneider put down his pen and asked seriously.

"Does this have anything to do with my problem?"

Mr. Jimms retorted.

"But..."

"Mr. Jimms, is this a family faith?"

Shard interrupted the doctor's words, so the doctor didn't pursue further as he could see that Shard seemed to have realized something.

"Yes, my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather have always believed in The Great One."

Mr. Jimms said devoutly, drawing a tree-shaped Holy Emblem on his chest.

"Do you have any family heirloom, like a Holy Emblem or a Divine Statue?"

Shard continued to press, and Mr. Jimms hesitated, clearly unwilling to speak. But since he was hesitating, it implied the answer itself.

This matter is likely not a psychological issue, but rather that the supernatural item related to the Old God "White Holy Tree," passed down in Mr. Jimms' family, is warning him that he is indeed going to encounter a fatal danger soon.

Although the Deities have departed, mysterious items containing the power of the Old Gods might still work even if they haven't metamorphosed into relics. As for why it suddenly took effect in Mr. Jimms' generation, it might be because the item is on the verge of complete destruction; this is its last power.

"The Old God 'White Holy Tree' is also called the Tree of Luck, meaning that the item has glimpsed some of Fate, and Mr. Jimms will indeed face a fatal crisis soon. As the sense of crisis grows stronger, it means the danger is getting closer."

Shard thought to himself, as Dr. Schneider suddenly waved his hand in front of Mr. Jimms, and the middle-aged man's expression immediately became dazed, then he closed his eyes and lay down on the table.

"He's temporarily asleep."

The doctor said, with the three of them in a secluded corner, unnoticed by anyone around, he then lowered his voice and asked:

"Does Mr. Jimms have special items on him?"

"Not on him; it should be in his luggage."

Otherwise, Shard would have sensed it long ago:

"That item is not important; the current problem is that doctor, your patient might indeed encounter fatal danger soon, but we do not know the exact time."

Dr. Schneider slowly nodded, raising his glass in some frustration:

"I'm just his psychologist, not his bodyguard, unable to protect him at all times. If your analysis is correct, then no one can help him, and he can only face the impending Fate himself."

Both of them fell silent, looking at the middle-aged man sleeping on the table. Circle Sorcerers can only deal with immediate dangers; as for unknown future dangers, they have no solutions.

"However, since it is allegedly a danger detected by a Divine Item, it is likely also related to the mysterious."

The doctor added, having more experience than the Outlander who became a Circle Sorcerer only half a year ago:

"In my opinion, this gentleman is very likely to die in a relic out-of-control incident in the future."

"Then we can't help him even more. In autumn, I encountered someone in Midshire Fort who was prophesied to die of brain disease with the first snowfall. In an attempt to evade fate, he ended up falling into my hands... I realized a long time ago that trying to play with Fate is bound to lead Fate to toy with you."

Shard spoke decidedly, because he had learned a deep lesson. The doctor sighed helplessly; if they could help, both Shard and Dr. Schneider would extend their hands. But the current problem is that they are also powerless.

"I'll charge a lower fee."

The blue-eyed psychologist gave his final verdict:

"May the God he believes in protect him; sometimes, people really shouldn't know their Fate in advance."

Shard sighed without speaking further, while the doctor prepared for a quick short dream to modify Mr. Jimms's memories before he fell asleep, so he wouldn't notice anything. Afterward, they'd check Mr. Jimms's room to find out exactly what's there, but even if they found Divine Items infused with Old God's power, it wouldn't help avert the danger facing Mr. Jimms.

Inducing dreams in ordinary people is simple, with materials in the doctor's briefcase allowing for quick setup in a few minutes.

While the doctor prepared, Shard stood with a glass, watching the direction of the staircase to prevent anyone from noticing what was happening.

But just by chance, just as the doctor began preparation, two people suddenly came up the stairs, where no one had been for half an hour.

One of them, wrapped in a headscarf with somewhat dark skin, was Mr. Alan Madison, the leader of the local Correspondence Circle Mage group at Xerxes Higher Medical Academy. Following him upstairs was a young girl wearing a floral dress, her long light golden hair simply tied back.

Shard had never seen that face before and initially thought she was another Correspondence Circle Mage from the local Xerxes Higher Medical Academy, but then he quickly realized:

"Is that..."

Margaret Anjou

Shard and Dr. Schneider sat in a very secluded corner; the two on the stairs could see them, but the two who climbed to the second floor did not immediately notice the three.

This was partly due to the dim lighting and also because Mr. Madison and Princess Margaret, upon reaching the second floor, walked to the other side and looked at the middle-aged woman drinking alone at the table.

Shard looked at the woman again, watching as she took off her head, removed a peanut lodged in her throat, and then placed her head back on her neck, continuing to drink alone.

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