Chapter 2517

"This is a passage from that book, 'The Female Soldier by the Dawn River'."

The cultured Duchess recognized it immediately, or rather, among everyone present, only Xia De and the cat did not recognize where the passage Dorothy recited came from.

She continued to praise:

"If it weren't for your 'Hamilton Detective Story Collection', Dorothy, Flora's book would probably have been the best-selling novel in the entire Old Continent in 1853. Now, you have surpassed her."

"No, no, no."

Dorothy shook her head:

"Her books have great literary value; my books are just... very popular works. I still have a long way to go before I become a writer like Miss Winslet. Xia De, is that lady in Vista City now?"

"Yes, do you want me to get you an autographed photo?"

Xia De joked with a smile, and Dorothy thought for a moment:

"Judging by your conversation just now, are you helping her solve some trouble?"

"We all know that Xia De has always been good at helping witches solve trouble."

The Duchess teased, and Dorothy nodded in understanding:

"Forget the autographed photo; I think I should have a chance to see her directly before long. Flora Winslet, I'm really looking forward to it."

Dorothy seemed to worship that witch, but perhaps because of the first impression, when Xia De thought of that lady, the image of the chubby, round-faced owl immediately popped up, and only then her human form.

【Perhaps it is not because of the first impression, but because her current true form is an owl, which to a certain extent is changing people's perception of her.】

So the curse on the two ladies must be resolved as soon as possible.

Others could not help much with this matter; most people had not even heard of a "Time Curse". Even those who had heard of it, like Doctor Schneider and Priest Augustus, could not come up with a solution.

Xia De, of course, had not forgotten to consult Helen and Grace about related issues. The sisters, who claimed to have lost most of their past memories, were equally aware of the "Time Curse", but the solutions they provided were quite vague:

"Of course there is a way to clear this curse. The curse of time comes from destroying time. Sir, haven't you already guessed that you need to atone for your sins to clear the curse?"

"What exactly should be done?"

"As for that, they have to find a way themselves. After all, time is very fair."

In short, it was still necessary to investigate the "Time Traveler" in the Vista Forest area, but before leaving the house this morning, Xia De used this week's Time Key.

The key that should have been used on Friday was delayed until Sunday. After breakfast, having sent Galina and Dorothy away, Xia De remembered this when he reached into his pocket before leaving:

"It feels like the adventure in the 'Gravel Gold Sand Sea' was months ago."

Now Miss Dannister had been found; although she was cursed, she was safe for the time being. This should be considered the prelude to the major events of the "City of Music", so using the Time Key at this time was just right.

"Meow~"

The cat crouching at his feet meowed obediently, but since this brand-new key was being used for the first time, Xia De certainly would not take the cat with him:

"Be a good girl and watch the house; I'll be back soon. If it's safe, I'll take you with me next time."

He walked toward the study on the second floor:

"May the World Tree protect me in the infinite time~"

Click~ The study door opened a crack, and behind the door was the incomparably familiar White Fog Door.

Xia De did not walk in immediately, but pondered whether this "Time Chosen One" also possessed the ability to execute special missions in the past like he did.

Then he thought that if the Time Chosen One really had such an ability, then his time adventures could have a companion.

The cat watched his back, and Xia De took a step forward into the fog door. This long-lost feeling of not having to worry about anything in reality and only needing to focus on what was about to happen made the Outlander nostalgic:

"What kind of story will it be this time?"

【Outlander, you have stepped into the "Corridor of Time".】

【Message from the Ancient God "Father of the Infinite Tree":】

【Summer, 2025 of the Fifth Era, Western Continent, Black Sand Pier.】

【Event: Farewell.】

【Duration: Thirty minutes (1/3).】

"2025, huh~ Since I left my hometown... since 1784 when Mr. Riddle and I played the game of life with the 'God of Gambling' at Terror Castle, more than two hundred years have passed; and it is still a thousand years until 3014 when I first met Helen and Grace at the banquet in Night Manor."

He sighed in the white fog because of this string of years, and then cheered himself up again:

"The name of the event is a bit too simple. Well then, let's continue."

【You have obtained additional information.】

【The figure of the Father of the Infinite Tree watches you.】

【The Ancient God of Time gives you a test:】

【Wait with the mortals for the person who is about to leave.】

【The Father of the Infinite Tree will give you a reward: Miracle Spirit Rune - Tree.】

There was only one reward, and it was a Spirit Rune. Xia De was not surprised; in fact, even without a reward, he would still be willing to explore those past events, not to mention that "Tree" was one of the Tree Father's most critical powers.

What surprised him was that the information did not show which god he was about to meet, but thinking about it carefully, when he met Mr. Riddle at Terror Castle back then, he did not see any information about the god in the prompt either:

"The location is the pier, and the mission is to wait for the person leaving, huh..."

For some reason, his mood suddenly became a bit melancholy.

He gently patted his face to adjust his mood, then took a step forward, and the white fog slowly dispersed like a curtain being pulled back on a stage.

First, the sound of splashing water reached his ears, and then, borrowing the dim light, he saw a thin layer of fog floating around. A chill followed immediately; the sky was dark and gloomy, as if dark clouds were pressing directly on his head. Under his feet was a beach made of black gravel; moving his feet slightly, he could see the clear footprints he left behind.

Not far in front of him was the source of the splashing water. The thin fog in the darkness would not completely block his vision, and Xia De could vaguely see the water surface in the distance. It was a black ocean or a large black lake. Looking toward both sides along the place where the beach met the water, he could not see the end at all.

He could not describe the depression and terror of the environment at this moment; there was not a hint of wind in the air, and the only remaining sound was the sound of waves one after another. Above the dark, heavy clouds, it seemed as if there was something even more terrifying, and the completely pitch-black beach appeared exceptionally empty, and it was truly absorbing Xia De's emotions related to happiness.

The direction he was facing was the water at the end of the black beach, while the place behind him, covered by the thin fog, looked like a small town. Even with Xia De's eyesight, he could not see the specific appearance of that town clearly. He only knew that there were no lights there, like the corpse of a giant beast lying on the horizon, but vaguely, he could see some figures moving in the blurry town.

Fortunately, since he was facing the water when he arrived, and the location name of this mission was "Black Sand Pier", Xia De knew without thinking that he should head toward the water.

He just observed his surroundings and set off. As the sound of his shoes rubbing against the sand mixed into the sound of the waves that made one feel fear involuntarily, Xia De, who already felt that his mood was not good, felt an even worse mood surge into his heart.

He knew that the locations where the Tree Father made him appear must be dangerous, but this danger of eroding happiness and increasing negative emotions was truly different from the past.

He would rather have two sand worms crawl out from under his feet to hunt him down than have this situation occur. Because that state of happiness disappearing and sadness and fear surging was not increasing with time, but increasing with the distance he traveled.

"Lagley's Leap!"

The empty black beach did not prohibit spatial abilities, but even "spatial movement" was still considered movement, and turning into a swarm of butterflies flying forward would also be affected by negative emotions. Even the glowing red butterflies that appeared here had their colors faded into a strange red-white.

He already missed the intense sunlight in the "Gravel Gold Sand Sea".

The best way to counter the disappearance of positive emotions and the increase of negative emotions was to try hard to recall those happy things. Because the figures of Little Mia and the girls were hidden in his heart, although the process of moving forward was difficult, Xia De still persisted and walked on.

However, fortunately, the location where he appeared was not particularly far from the shore. Two minutes later, Xia De saw the light of a bonfire ahead.

Moving a few hundred more steps toward the firelight, he truly saw the "line" where the black gravel in the thin fog met the black water surface, and he also saw the lonely pier trestle on the nearly straight "coastline", as well as the lonely figure by the bonfire lit at the entrance of the pier.

"Such a long coastline but only one pier... Is there only one companion this time?"

That wooden pier was not particularly large; it extended from the beach toward the water for three steps, and then only one trestle continued to extend toward the black water. The trestle was not particularly long either. At this moment, a wooden boat was docked on the side, and a tall figure holding an oar was standing on the boat.

As for looking further toward the water, the fog was indeed very thin, but it was still not enough for Xia De to see the end of the black water.

Of course, although this place, like the "True Death", had black water that could not be seen to the edge, the water surface under the Underworld Moon was calm and without fog, while this black water area had waves one after another, and the white fog was misty.

More importantly, the "True Death" had the power to make the soul completely cold, and there was only this one power there; while this black sand pier was filled with negative emotions such as sadness, the two were completely different.

Xia De thought to himself and quickened his pace, but when he truly got close, he discovered that the lonely figure sitting by the bonfire at the entrance of the pier was actually a man.

The bonfire was located on the left side of the decaying wooden steps, on the same side as the boat by the trestle. The middle-aged man, who was bowing his head and hugging his legs, looked at the dancing flames in front of him with a dull expression. The fire was not vigorous, but it was enough to provide him with shelter.