The question wasn't accusatory, yet there was an edge to it that hadn't been there before, almost like a blade waiting to unsheath.

  "I told you," Ulrich said carefully. "I overheard—"

  "Don't." Selena held up her slender hand to stop him, "Don't lie to me again, Ulrich Constantine. Not about this."

  She glanced toward the library entrance, as if checking that they were still alone, then lowered her voice, "Ancient Hermes isn't just an ancient language. It's considered a restricted-class prohibition."

  Restricted class? That's the same grade as human sacrificial rituals!

  His pulse quickened, and the words naturally came out, "Prohibited by who?"

  "By the Union. By the Church. By anyone with sense." She moved closer, her voice barely above a whisper.

  "Even before the prohibition, its existence was known only to scholars and harpoonists with special permits, and perhaps some nobles with rather eccentric interests. However, you do not fit any of these categories. So I'll ask again, where did you hear that from?"

  Selena's hand suddenly gripped his wrist—tight enough to leave a mark. Her eyes weren't just on him, but also dancing toward the entrance of the library.

  Ulrich's mind raced.

  He could tell her the truth, that he'd seen it in a dream, or that he had glanced at it by chance in the past. But either choice was not an option. And he could maintain his lie about overhearing it, but she'd already called him out on that, unless…

  "The harpoonists," He sighed with a look of guilt.

  "I saw three of them in an alley earlier. They were... doing something to a vagrant. Drawing symbols on him. One of them mentioned Ancient Hermes."

  This was the truth, or rather, a mix of lies and truth. It was true that he had seen the harpoonists as well as their action against the vagrant, but the rest of his words were made up.

  Knowing Selena, would she question and validate his word? He doubted it. For this reason, he was certain she would believe it. And as expected, her reaction was just as he'd imagined.

  Selena's face went pale. "You saw them performing a ritual?"

  "I... I don't know what it was. But yes, something like that."

  The people in Belham city are quite religious. The most prominent belief is the Churches of the God of Sea, who gives blessings to those at sea. As for the others, the Churches of the Night Mother, as well as the Churches of Combat and Wisdom, they were less notable.

  For one reason or another, there are circulating rumors that the harpoonist had something to do with people going missing. These rumors, however, are contradictory.

  Some blamed the churches for the missing people, while others pointed their fingers at the zealots worshipping evil gods. Truth or lies, they were not good news.

  "Oh, Ulrich." She pressed a hand to her forehead, looking suddenly older.

  "Please tell me they didn't see you."

  "They might have. I made noise escaping. But they didn't chase me, so I assume they weren't that interested."

  "Damn it." Selena began pacing, her earlier warmth replaced by visible anxiety, "Damn it, damn it. You shouldn't have come here. If they're looking for you—"

  Ulrich stepped closer, intensity in his voice, "Miss Selena, please. If Ancient Hermes is prohibited, there must be a reason. What is it? Why is it dangerous?"

  She stopped pacing and looked at him, conflict clear on her face.

  There was a moment of silence, one that seemingly stretched for an eternity. Then she finally made her decision, "Wait here."

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Selena disappeared between the shelves, moving deeper into the restricted section. Ulrich heard the sound of a drawer opening, the soft scrape of wood on wood.

  When she returned, there was a thin, dark leather book resting in her arm. The cover was unmarked, but Ulrich could see the edges of pages yellowed with age.

  "This," Selena said, placing it on a nearby reading table, "Is the only few texts with Ancient Hermes that survived the first drowning. Or at least, the only one the library has now and perhaps, even the entire city."

  Not entirely true… Ulrich added internally, thinking about the black market, as well as his own connection with a certain family in the Eastern District.

  She rested her hand protectively on the cover, "The rest was confiscated by the Union just a week prior. Just be careful with this one."

  "Then why are you showing it to me?"

  Selena met his eyes. There was a spark of radiance in her golden pupil as she said, "Because you're my friend. And because..."

  She hesitated, her gaze lowered before continuing, "Because I think knowledge shouldn't be withheld and locked away. Because I believe that knowledge itself isn't dangerous, but it is the people wielding it that are dangerous!"

  Ulrich was startled. For a moment, her words stunned him, leaving him speechless.

  What is this strange feeling in my heart? Affection? Care? Love? No… He froze—her words echoed in his mind like a resounding tidal wave that crashed on a desolate shore.

  That's right, 'Friend'... For some reason, this word plucked at Ulrich's heartstrings.

  "Thank you, Miss Selena. I, too, hold that belief, that knowledge is just as sharp as the person holding it."

  Barely, and just barely, could he force a smile on his face. Inwardly, his heart was burdened, growing as heavy as the weight of the book in his hand. Though outwardly, he wore a mild, almost indifferent expression.

  Selena didn't notice Ulrich's strange behavior and quickly urged him from behind.

  "Go, go. Since you got what you were looking for, it's best if you leave now before anyone comes in!" She said, her voice hushed, almost a whisper.

  "Alright, I got it."

  Ulrich smiled wryly, stuffing the book to the bottom of his leather satchel. He expressed his gratitude once more before heading toward the entrance of the library.

  Thud. Thud.

  His steps were heavy, of doubts, and of uncertainty. After learning about the matters relating to prohibition, he grew increasingly anxious, feeling the urgency at hand.

  What could be the reason for the prohibition of records and knowledge regarding ancient languages?

  Then, he recalled the surrounding rumor that has been circulating lately— Missing people, a fluctuating number of sea beasts, frequent offshore bans… Harpoonists crack down…

  I have a feeling this is all connected, but how?

  In the back of his mind, he wanted to label all these incidents as separate parts, not a whole. But… could such a coincidence exist?

  No.

  That can't be.

  Ulrich didn't want to pull that thread.

  I don't believe in coincidences!

  Sinking into his thoughts, Ulrich didn't notice someone standing at the door before bumping into them.

  Thunk. Thunk.

  "Ah! Sorry!" He exclaimed, his attention returning to the present. Looking up, he saw someone familiar.

  "Be careful next time."

  "Of cour-," He froze, but quickly recovered himself," Of course, thank you."

  Though he didn't meet the man's gaze directly, in the corner of his eyes, he could recognize the person in front of him.

  The harpoonist from earlier!

  Was it just a coincidence that this harpoonist entered the library, the same building as him, or was it precisely because of him that the harpoonist was here?

  At this moment, Ulrich continued to walk out the door. His steps were steady and unassuming, but inwardly, he was afraid that the man would recognize him. After several steps, he believed he was safe.

  However, a voice came from behind him.

  "You…", it wasn't Selena's soft voice, but rather, a firmer and colder voice.

  "Have I seen you somewhere before?" He asked, his gaze was sharp and narrowed, staring directly at Ulrich's tattered figure.

  Ulrich turned his head to look at the man's face. It was clean without a blemish, his hair looking silky and smooth. For a harpoonist, this was quite unusual.

  "No, I don't think so," Ulrich answered, wearing a confused expression.

  The man grew silent, his gaze resting on Ulrich's face. Occasionally, it would move up and down, sometimes stopping at the satchel by his waist. As the silence grew, the breeze would pass, lifting his black coat.

  This sudden movement made Ulrich's heart skip a beat.