The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Lorenzo frowned deeply, and Eve, sitting on the other side, could clearly sense Lorenzo's change.

"Has something happened? Lorenzo."

Eve asked softly.

"No... nothing."

Lorenzo put away the paper and tucked it back into the envelope.

"What does it say inside?"

Eve asked again, feeling that Lorenzo was hiding something from her.

"It's a bill, a particularly urgent bill, about building maintenance or something. Probably if I don't pay, they'll sue me."

Lorenzo casually started to fool Eve, a skill he was quite adept at, and often successful.

"Building maintenance?"

Eve glanced around her surroundings at this messy Winchester Law Firm, clearly taking it as the building Lorenzo mentioned.

"Are you lying to me?"

Just when Lorenzo thought he had successfully deceived Eve, Eve suddenly countered, looking at Lorenzo shrewdly, as if all secrets couldn't escape her eyes.

The scene became awkward for a moment.

"You said before that I've grown up, not the same kid who trembled in fear in front of demons anymore, and then you try to fool me with such ridiculous words?"

Eve looked helpless and spoke in a low voice.

"You've got to make progress, Lorenzo."

She heavily patted Lorenzo's shoulder, and Lorenzo responded with a look of disgust at her immensely pretentious, 'hate iron for not becoming steel' demeanor.

Silent, Lorenzo's mood was complex; for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"Then I'll be off. I have to go on duty."

Eve said, preparing to leave.

"Just going like this? I thought you would question me until you got to the bottom of it."

Lorenzo found it hard to believe Eve was leaving just like that. Based on his impression of Eve, once she became troublesome, she was maddening.

"I know that rule: knowledge is cursed. If you don't plan to tell me, then it's probably cursed knowledge too. As you said, you have to climb higher to know more."

Eve learned quickly, followed Lorenzo's words, and pushed the door open.

"Bye, Lorenzo."

The door slammed shut, and the room returned to darkness again, with Lorenzo staring at the closed door, the scent of Eve lingering in the air.

This could be considered a novel experience, a passing friend kicking open your door with mischievous intent, chatting extensively, then leaving gracefully…

Honestly, it was a life Lorenzo never imagined before; he never even fantasized about it, but now he almost possessed everything he once never had. This wonderful feeling was almost enough to make him sink, and because all was too beautiful, Lorenzo had seen the light and couldn't bear its departure.

For some reason, Lorenzo thought of that guy named Hu ao, and when he stopped him at last, it was probably with such a mindset. Lawrence was his light, his hope, for which he was willing to give everything.

A piercing sound of airflow rose, steam once again surged up from beneath the streets, making the morning of Old Dunling foggy once more, blurring the windows, but more light shone in, sweeping away the darkness and illuminating the messy room.

Old Dunling was gradually waking up, and a new day had arrived.

Lorenzo's relaxed nerves tightened once again as he took out the envelope, pulling the paper from it, spreading it flat on the table before him.

The atmosphere was oppressive, as if the air had solidified into lead, pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe. Lorenzo seemed unable to believe it, re-reading the contents on the paper once more; this time he was silent for a long time before slowly standing up, tearing the paper into pieces, throwing it into the ashtray where the white-hot flame consumed them into ashes.

Whether it was an illusion or something else, in the instant it burned in the ashtray, the flame scorched the edges of the paper, producing a scream akin to that of a human, albeit faintly, which Lorenzo would have missed if not paying attention.

Amidst the wailing, the flame had extinguished, and in the heap of black ashes, Lorenzo discovered its center beginning to cave in, forming a pitch-black hole.

Bloodshot eyes opened from the hole, the eyeballs rapidly turning, searching for a target, finally locking eyes with Lorenzo.

The eyeball shattered and collapsed; then, endless black water surged forth, quickly flooding the ground.

Lorenzo instinctively reached out to grab the Nail Sword hung on the wall for his coat but found himself unable to move, his body rooted to the spot, disobedient.

Chaos erupted in an instant within his ears, and he saw outside the window had become pitch black; the next moment, countless pale hands were knocking on the doors and windows.

"What is it!"

Lorenzo looked at it with some confusion: he wasn't afraid of such ghosts; after all, he had slain things far more terrifying, logically speaking, they should fear him instead.

The bloodless, pallid face appeared before Lorenzo's eyes, pupils dilated and vacant, as if the soul had long been drained; she smashed the window with her head, shattering the glass, more horrible wounds appearing on her forehead, blood streaming over the nose, she was long dead, struggling to crawl into the room.

"Eve…"