Shadow Apostle

This world has three continents and seven countries, and there are churches of twenty-four gods. It seems peaceful and peaceful. The arrival of the steam age has made this world even more prosperous.

But hiding in the shadow of common sense, mystery always laughs mockingly.

It often reveals the tip of the iceberg in corners that people don't pay attention to, revealing to the world the truth hidden behind the falsehood.

For example, the Flame Tongue Bar.

"laugh……"

There was a scream of steam erupting, and a thick column of gray mist shot straight into the sky, filling the surrounding environment with the damp and pungent smell of soot.

Knock, click, click, amidst the sound of metal colliding, several metal floor-standing boxes on the street corner unfolded, and the gears inside were turning on their own, sometimes faster and sometimes slower.

As the gears rotated, a crack opened in the bluestone ground, a railway track was exposed, and jingling bells sounded all around.

Thick smoke billowed, the earth shook, and another train passed through the city with the ringing of bells.

The gray smoke belching from the surrounding chimneys seemed to grow thicker.

The Gray Steel District of Mingyue City is always so busy and noisy at night.

After the train passed and the bluestone was reset, Horst walked out of the dark alley with a roll of newspapers in his arms and his belly rubbed.

I am alive, but...

‘It fucking hurts. ’

Although I know it's just an illusion, I still feel cramping in my stomach.

‘When will days like this end? ’

Turning up his collar to cover his mouth and nose, and keeping the surrounding dust away as much as possible, Horst walked around a few drunks lying on the street and walked to the Tongue of Fire.

Two muscular men in coarse shorts were squatting at the door rubbing tobacco leaves. When they saw Horst, one of them just shook his head as a greeting.

Ignoring the two doormen, Horst pushed open the bar door.

Twenty or thirty people gathered in the bar, and Horst's arrival seemed to not attract anyone's attention.

Well, it seems.

Horst felt creepy at the door, because he felt that everything around him, the pool table, the dart board, the bar, the seats, everything seemed to have a pair of eyes hidden behind it.

Countless eyes peered at him from every corner, seeing him inside and out several times.

Horst took off his top hat and put it on his chest, bowed slightly, and then walked into the bar. The sense of prying eyes faded away like a tide, and the bar returned to its normal bustle.

"Good night, Mr. Horst, I have the cheapest developing powder and fear blocker here. Do you want to take a look? Don't get me wrong, it's really not the water of the Wilson River. Don't leave."

"Sir, your body is filled with an ominous aura. I suggest you... hmm? How did the result change? Damn it, Horst, don't pass by. The bad luck has affected my result."

"You guys, keep your voices down, don't scare my client."

"Hahaha, three chariots and a pair of threes, you're done, give me money... Hey, what are you doing, Hoster? Don't take my cards, hey, what's going on with the one below? I don't know either. , the cards must be old and stuck together, I’ll buy a new pair, bye.”

"Horst, I heard that you were going to find trouble with the cursed stone statue yesterday? What was the result?"

'result? The water in the Wendy River is quite cold. If you don’t believe me, you can go down and give it a try. You don’t have to turn into four pieces. ’

Horst rolled his eyes politely and squeezed past a few teasing acquaintances.

This is the only place in Mingyue City where you can see such a strange scene.

The Flame Tongue Bar.

Horst looked around, then took the newspaper and walked towards a corner.

Someone was sitting on a seat in the corner, and there were several empty beer glasses on the table.

This man was wearing a dark blue trench coat with a symbol of two swords and a shield on the collar of the trench coat, which was the symbol of Mingyue City police officers.

Underneath the men's clothing is a woman.

Long wavy hair, slender legs, and a beautiful but too angular face.

Anyone who frequents Tongues of Fire knows her as Monica Veronica, a member of the Catcher in the Rye, a police force that reports directly to the King and specializes in dealing with unknown mysteries.

She often comes to Flame Tongue, and sometimes even announces bounties on behalf of the officials, so everyone understands her role tacitly.

"Go away." Seeing Horst sitting in front of her, picking up his own glass and drinking down the remaining half of the glass, Monica said coldly, "I'm not in the mood to argue with you now."

"But I do." Horst said with a smile, "I came here specifically to see you today."

"It's coming, it's starting, Horst and Monica are at war again."

"Put your bets on whether Monica can hold back her anger this time and not handcuff Horst back to the Scarecrow's detention room."

"Come to laugh at me?" Monica squinted her beautiful eyes and stared at the newspaper held by Horst.

She was too familiar with what the newspapers said, because the Scarecrow was the main department secretly responsible for the case. The criticism and ridicule from the reporters in the newspaper were all focused on the Scarecrow and her, intentionally or unintentionally.

"Actually, I think what they said is quite creative. Look at this sentence. Our police department is a group of pigs as smart as orangutans. There is also this sentence. Why don't we fire all the police officers who waste His Majesty's funding and put them in the police department? There are a bunch of dogs here, and..." A corner of the rolled-up newspaper was revealed. Horst read a few sentences enthusiastically and handed it to Monica, "Would you like to enjoy it too?"

Monica had grabbed the empty wine glass.

"Don't be impulsive. It's very interesting."

Horst smiled and put the newspaper on the table. The unusual contact sound of newspapers made Monica stop throwing the cup and narrowed her eyes.

Reaching out to squeeze the newspaper tube, Monica pressed the newspaper with an expressionless face and took a deep breath. After several times, she gritted her teeth and squeezed out the most 'normal' voice from between her teeth: "Very good, orangutans, pigs and dogs." ?”

"What they said has nothing to do with me." Horst chuckled and pointed at the newspaper, "They will be embarrassed by their remarks soon, if they still have that kind of thing."

"Where is the other party's body?"

"In the carriage, the carriage is in the dark alley next door."

"Carriage? Isn't this what you've been doing these days?"

"hehe."

In fact, Horst had already classified the other party as a public carriage driver based on his experience of watching dramas on Earth. He has been riding the public carriage all over the city in the past few days, spending the remaining two silver Luca flowers. There were only twelve copper millas left, but it was not until today that we lured that thing out. Instead, we lured out something else yesterday, and we had a one-night tour of the Wendy River.

"I accepted this favor, as is the old rule?"

"Of course, everything is the result of the hard work of the police department. Long live His Majesty the King and long live the Kingdom of Nordland."

Monica nodded, took out several small money bags, picked out one and threw it to Horst, and then picked up the newspaper tube.

"Now let's move on to pigs, dogs and orangutans."

Horst blinked innocently, then suddenly grabbed the money bag and turned away: "I'll take you to the carriage. I hope no drunk unemployed workers have discovered it yet."

"Hey, I didn't take him away. I'm sorry."

"Monica returned the money to him, has little Horst finally turned into a pretty boy?"

"You're stupid, that's a bounty. Hey, Horst, what bounty have you completed? That's great, you've completed another one. What's the number this?"

Horst lifted his top hat and bowed slightly, making a mysterious gesture of silence. However, he was immediately pushed by Monica who was chasing him angrily, and he could only be forced out of the bar with a sad face.

"It's right over there." Horst pointed to the dark alley opposite the hidden railway track. "I won't follow you. I will read the story of the chief and all the police officers' wit and bravery in the newspaper tomorrow."

"Why are you going?"

"Go find Marvin, my Serena was hurt last night."

"Sorry, and thank you."

"Hahaha, I actually said thank you today. I thought I was going to be detained again."

"Bang." He kicked his calf with a high heel, "I'll let you be detained, I'll let you be a pig, dog and orangutan."

With that said, Monica turned around and walked away, taking long strides and stomping on the ground, like an angry orangutan.

So, this world is so dangerous, how come even police officers can beat people casually?

Horst rubbed his calf and whined a few times, curled his lips, and returned to the bar while holding his money bag.

The bounty of one hundred silver Luca is equivalent to ten thousand yuan in the previous life. It is not too much money for selling one's life, but most people will not die for such a thing, and the money is enough for normal people to live for several years. months.

Especially for Horst, it was a huge sum of money.

How to spend it? Why not go to Mrs. Andorra's restaurant first... hmm?

From a distance, I saw two strong men guarding the gate, confronting someone.

It's a common thing, this particular kind of bar often needs to keep unsuspecting guests out, and that's exactly what the two hunks are for.

But today is special, because the person confronting them is a young and beautiful blond woman.

Wearing a veil hat, a long light green skirt, and holding a delicate folding fan in her hand, she behaved dignifiedly and overflowed with nobility.

"Ma'am, it's useless for you to give us money. This is a private bar and no outsiders are allowed."

"But I really have something important." The woman looked really anxious, and her folding fan was almost broken by her. "Gentlemen, please be accommodating. I will come out as soon as I finish my work."

"Sorry, rules are rules."

During the dispute between the two parties, Horst happened to walk by and smelled a faint sweet fragrance.

Very light, but very special taste.

Having been with mystery for a year, Horst could easily tell that it was the smell of some occult medicinal materials, and it was a mixture of smells.

Looking at the woman's hands, there were some very shallow scars on the ungloved fingers. They looked like they had not been washed, but Horst could tell that they were corrosive traces that had penetrated into the skin.

Is this girl a chemist? Or an occult pharmacist? If she was really a pharmacist, how could she not know how to get in the Flame Tongue? And the circles under my eyes are so dark, I'm afraid I haven't slept well for several days.

After pondering for a moment, he gestured to the woman to follow me, and then walked to the wall under the gas lamp.

When the lady saw that the two gatekeepers could not understand her, she could only walk towards Horst angrily.

"Where did you hear about this bar?" Horst asked in a low voice, hiding himself in the shadow of the lamp, "This is not a fun place."

"I have my own channels." The lady's tone sounded stiff, as if she rarely interacted with others, "but I can't disclose it."

"Then the purpose can't be revealed? You don't reveal anything like this, making it difficult for the Coen brothers to let you in." Horst asked seriously, "But there is really an urgent need to go in?"

"Yes." The lady looked at Horst carefully, "Can you help me?"

"I heard that you plan to bribe them?"

"What?" The lady frowned, "Are you trying to say that I shouldn't do this?"

"No, the idea is actually right, but the specific method is wrong." Horst pondered for a moment, "Follow me."

With that said, he walked towards the door of the bar.

The lady's expression was a little confused, but seeing Horst's calm attitude, she still held up her skirt and took small steps, following closely behind Horst.

"Sir, what should I do?"

"Give me the money and I'll show you exactly how to get them to let you in."

The lady nodded and placed a silver Luca in Horst's hand.

One shot is a hundred copper millas, this girl is quite generous.

Horst looked at the lady thoughtfully.

"What's wrong? Is it because the payment is too little?"

"Enough is enough, any more will not be appropriate."

"What's inappropriate?" The lady became even more confused.

"Nothing, come with me." Horst took the lady to the door of the bar with a solemn expression and said to the two gatekeepers, "She is my friend and came to see me."

"I told you earlier, let's go in."

With that said, Horst led the lady into the bar.

"Wait, wait, are you coming in now?" The lady entered the door and walked a few steps before she suddenly realized what she was doing. She stopped and widened her eyes. She couldn't even finish her words, "You, you, you, you Didn’t you just teach me how to bribe them..."

"Think about it again." Horst said innocently, "What did I say at that time?"

The muscles in the corners of the woman's mouth trembled, and she gritted her teeth but had nothing to say.

"I am an honest person and never lie." Horst put his hat on his chest, bowed slightly, and said with a smile, "The lecture is completed, I will give you a silver Luca, and I look forward to our next cooperation. "