Haunted

The bright moonlight spilled into the alleys of Stone Bell City. Inside the tavern, the melodious sound of music wafted through the air, much like a nocturne.

Through the window, one could see the roaring fireplace, emitting a warm glow.

The wooden sign at the entrance read ‘Gold Malt Tavern’.

Su Nan pushed open the wooden door and walked in; the lively noise immediately enveloped him.

The air was thick with the scent of testosterone mingled with strong alcohol.

Rough men were practicing fist techniques and drinking, while brightly dressed maidservants weaved between tables and chairs, their dazzling white thighs catching the eyes of many.

Su Nan, familiar with the place, found a table in the corner to sit down and slipped a few silver coins into the passing maid’s chest.

“The usual.”

The maid winked at him and soon brought over a mug of ale and some food.

The ale had low alcohol content, little aroma, a coarse texture, and a sour taste. Yet, even such ale was a rare enjoyment for the lower classes, most people just ordered a mug and felt satisfied.

Su Nan seldom drank, and what he had tasted was usually top-notch brews, making the tavern’s low-quality ale hard for him to stomach.

As for the food, it was cooked in the simplest manner, devoid of seasonings like pepper, MSG, soy sauce, honey, or cream, merely roasted or boiled and then salted.

In this world, sugar was considered a luxury, and spices were incredibly expensive, mostly appearing only on the tables of nobility.

The reason Su Nan ordered ale and food was just to blend in and avoid standing out too much in the tavern.

Typically, taverns were great places for bragging and posturing. Here, one could hear a variety of drunks boast about their past glories, so after arriving in Stone Bell City, Su Nan would come to the tavern every evening to gather information.

At other times, he would spy near the Starfire Cult’s base in Stone Bell City, as revealed by his interrogation of the Black Sword Knight.

Unfortunately, three days passed without any results.

“If there’s no progress tonight, I’ll just grab someone and interrogate them.”

Su Nan pondered silently.

At this moment, a conversation from the neighboring table reached his ears.

“Did you hear? Lord Kubero’s manor in the north of the city is haunted.”

“Ghosts? Stop talking nonsense; how can there be ghosts in this world?”

“I’m serious. My brother-in-law works under Lord Kubero. After the manor became haunted, Lord Kubero moved out, and then sent a few knights in, but none have come out for days. The entire manor is now sealed!”

“Really? Even the knights died?”

“If it’s really ghosts, knights losing isn’t that surprising.”

“Speaking of which, is the ghost male or female?”

“Why, Lance, are you interested in female ghosts too?”

“Hehe, if she’s good-looking, why not?”

The crowd burst into laughter, and soon the topic shifted to women and more lascivious matters.

Beside them, Su Nan wore a contemplative expression.

Ghosts do indeed exist in this world.

The most common are phantoms.

Generally, those who died unnatural deaths are most easily converted into phantoms.

Phantoms look just as they did in life, usually bearing the violent markings of their death.

However, phantoms are not very harmful; even if they possess a human, they only cause a chill sensation.

Normal humans have difficulty seeing phantoms.

Moreover, phantoms can’t withstand sunlight; they become weak and dissipate quickly under it.

Even without sunlight, phantoms don’t last long in the physical world.

If phantoms are considered harmless, vengeful spirits are true killers.

Vengeful spirits are often born from individuals harboring intense hatred that prevents them from resting even in death, turning them into undead creatures bent on revenge.

A formed vengeful spirit can absorb energy from humans upon contact, or mentally manipulate those with weaker wills.

These incorporeal beings are immune to physical harm and extremely deadly to ordinary people, but knights with fighting spirit can harm them.

If a vengeful spirit kills enough humans and absorbs sufficient soul energy, it can evolve into a powerful Evil Spirit.

Evil Spirits often occupy an area and transform it into a ghost domain, an area uniquely bound to them.

A developed Evil Spirit fears neither sunlight nor physical harm; not even knights or grand knights may be a match.

And above Evil Spirits are distorted evil spirits, malefic spirits, and so forth.

Among these, malefic spirits are catastrophic entities capable of destroying a nation.

Every appearance of a malefic spirit is often accompanied by the downfall of a country.

From the drunkards’ words, if Lord Kubero’s manor is truly haunted, it’s likely the work of an Evil Spirit.

“An Evil Spirit, huh.”

Su Nan felt slightly interested.

Evil Spirits are excellent materials for creating soul crystals.

If he could get a soul crystal, he could create a puppet stronger than the Blackrock Panther.

“Forget it, better to focus on the Starfire Cult first. The Evil Spirit can wait until later.”

After listening for a while longer, Su Nan got up and headed for the second floor.

The Gold Malt Tavern also provided lodging; he had been staying in one of its rooms these past few days.

In the distance, a few maidservants whispered among themselves while watching Su Nan’s back as he went upstairs.

“I bet he’s definitely a noble, even more charming and handsome than the Elvin family’s second young master I saw before.”

“How can the Elvin young master compare to him? Yesterday, I accidentally touched his arm, and wow, those muscles! He doesn’t look sturdy, but he’s got substance.”

“Is little girl horny?”

“Hmph, like you wouldn’t be tempted!”

“Hehe, if you truly want to, go knock on his door at night, using the excuse of offering massage services. You might experience a fleeting romance.”

“That’s a good idea. Sandy, if you don’t go, then I won’t be polite.”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t; just wait, I’m going to try inspecting his goods tonight!”

The group of maidservants giggled and teased each other, drawing many heated glances from the surrounding patrons.

Late at night.

Sandy deliberately donned a shorter maid outfit, lowered the neckline, and came to the door of Su Nan’s room, raising her hand to knock.

Knock, knock!

No one answered.

“Sir, do you need any massage services?”

Sandy knocked a few more times, but still received no response.

“Could he be asleep?”

Sandy felt a wave of disappointment.

Just then, the room next door creaked open, and a man poked his head out. Seeing Sandy, he wore a lecherous grin.

“Does the tavern offer massage services? Give me one too!”

Sandy scanned the man’s brutish face and said expressionlessly, “Sorry, the tavern has no such services.”

“But I definitely heard…”

“You heard wrong!”

Before the man could respond, Sandy turned and left without looking back.

By this time, Su Nan’s room was already empty.