The moment the pen tip touched the paper, the golden patterns on the parchment suddenly flared to life.
A strange ripple emanated from the contract.
It was invisible and silent.
But Lu Yuan could clearly feel that ripple piercing through walls, streets, and the entire city.
It was like a declaration, an inviolable oath, falling upon every Nightwatcher.
Meanwhile...
In a corner of Bronze City, a Nightwatcher captain who was patrolling suddenly came to a halt.
His expression shifted as if he had sensed something, and his hand instinctively pressed against the emblem on his chest.
In the meeting room of the Nightwatchers branch, several middle-level members who were in discussion simultaneously fell silent.
They looked at each other, their eyes filled with surprise and confusion.
"Someone used the Promise?"
"That's rare."
"It seems the Nightwatchers need to mobilize."
"Investigate it immediately. Ignore the matters of the Polymath Tower for now."
In a tower on the edge of the city, an old man with white hair opened his eyes.
His gaze was like an abyss, frighteningly calm.
Every Nightwatcher with a communication device received a string of information in the next second.
"Bronze City, Laurina Castor, contractor."
...
Nightwatchers branch.
Allen Kraus put down the communicator in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed.
This white-haired elder, wearing a dark grey uniform with a single golden stripe on his badge, was the Vice Director of the Bronze City Nightwatchers branch.
"Laurina Castor..." He whispered the name and turned to the adjutant beside him. "Who is this?"
The adjutant quickly flipped through the archives and soon found the relevant record.
"A student from the Polymath Tower, Alchemy Department," the adjutant said quickly. "A somewhat famous alchemy genius, ranked quite high among her peers."
"She is also one of the three we brought out from the Polymath Tower this time."
Kraus took the file and scanned it.
"Sir, your thoughts?" the adjutant asked.
"Where is she now?"
"In the Alchemy Workshop," the adjutant replied. "The Nightwatcher with her is... Lu Yuan."
Kraus's movements paused for a moment.
"Oh? Lu Yuan?"
He raised his head, a meaningful light flashing in his eyes.
"I remember him."
The adjutant nodded. "The one with the distorted file. But he is indeed clean; headquarters is still investigating."
Kraus fell silent for a few seconds.
Then he stood up and threw on his coat.
"Let's go."
"Sir?"
"Do not let those Polymath Tower scum take her away."
Kraus strode out of the office, and the adjutant hurried to follow.
In the corridor, Hoguer happened to be walking toward them.
"Vice Director," Hoguer saluted.
"Follow me," Kraus said without stopping. "To the Alchemy Workshop."
Hoguer was stunned for a moment but asked no questions, turning to follow them.
The group quickly walked out of the branch's main entrance.
...
Alchemy Workshop.
Lu Yuan sat by the window.
The contract had taken effect.
But he was not certain what would happen next.
Would the Nightwatchers acknowledge this contract?
Would anyone come?
He didn't know.
All he could do was wait.
Time passed second by second.
The sunlight outside the window gradually grew brighter, and pedestrians began to appear on the street.
Just then—
Footsteps sounded outside the door.
Many people.
Lu Yuan stood up and walked to the door.
Through the crack, he saw a squad of Nightwatchers walking this way.
Leading them was a white-haired elder in a dark grey uniform with a golden stripe on his badge.
Lu Yuan did not recognize him.
But based on the style of that badge, his rank was very high.
Several Nightwatchers followed behind him, and one of them...
Was Hoguer.
Lu Yuan opened the door.
Hoguer nodded slightly upon seeing him, then stepped aside and said in a low voice:
"This is Lord Kraus, the Vice Director of the Bronze City Nightwatchers branch."
Vice Director.
Lu Yuan's expression shifted slightly before returning to its calm state.
"Vice Director," he said with a nod of greeting.
Kraus stood at the door, his gaze lingering on Lu Yuan for a few seconds.
His eyes were deep, as if he were scrutinizing something.
"You are Lu Yuan?"
"I am."
"You were the one who activated the Promise?"
"Yes."
Kraus looked at him, silent for a while.
Then he nodded, asking no further questions.
"Where is the contractor?"
"Upstairs."
As soon as he finished speaking, faint footsteps came from the stairs.
Laurina had come down at some point.
She stood at the bottom of the stairs, still clutching her simple bag, her face pale.
She froze in place upon seeing the crowd of Nightwatchers at the door.
"How... what is..."
Kraus's gaze fell on her.
Then he stepped into the Alchemy Workshop and came to a halt.
The Nightwatchers behind him followed, lining up behind him.
Hoguer also entered and stood to one side.
Kraus looked at Laurina with a solemn expression.
Then he spoke.
His voice was not loud, but every word was crystal clear, carrying an unshakeable power.
"Laurina Castor."
"Upon investigation, you have not violated any imperial regulations."
"From this moment on, you are officially a Nightwatcher contractor."
He paused, his tone becoming even more solemn.
"The Nightwatchers hereby solemnly declare—"
"We shall follow the ancient vow. Regardless of where she is or what hardships she faces, we shall provide protection that shields all."
"To this end, the Nightwatchers shall offer their own lives, without hesitation."
As his words fell.
The Nightwatchers behind him bowed their heads in unison as witnesses.
Laurina was stunned.
She looked at Kraus, then at Lu Yuan, her eyes filled with confusion and helplessness.
"What... contractor? What Promise?"
"I don't understand..."
Her voice carried a hint of bewilderment, completely unaware of what had happened.
Just then.
A commotion suddenly broke out outside.
Kraus's expression darkened slightly.
"They're here."
He turned around and walked toward the door.
Lu Yuan followed behind, also reaching the entrance.
At the workshop's entrance, several Nightwatchers were already blocking the way, their expressions cold and stern.
Opposite them stood two people dressed in deep blue robes.
One was a middle-aged man in his forties with a gloomy face and sunken eyes; his monocle reflected the cold sunlight. Lu Yuan recognized him as Calvin Morton.
The other was older, around fifty or sixty, with a majestic aura that commanded respect without needing to be angry.
Judging by the patterns on his robes, he was likely the Vice Dean of the Polymath Tower.
Upon seeing so many Nightwatchers at the door, the Vice Dean's face shifted slightly.
His gaze swept past the crowd and saw Kraus standing inside the door, causing his pupils to contract slightly.
"Kraus?"
His tone carried a hint of surprise and an ill omen.
"Why... why are you here?"
Kraus stood at the entrance, expressionless.
"Lord Vice Dean," his tone was indifferent. "You've arrived quite early."
The Vice Dean's face grew unsightly.
He suppressed the unease in his heart and took a step forward.
"I am taking the person," his voice rumbled with suppressed fury. "I can choose not to pursue the matter of the Bronze City branch violating the handwritten decree."
Kraus stood at the door, unmoving.
He simply looked coldly at the Vice Dean, his voice frighteningly calm:
"One more step, and you die."
The Vice Dean's face changed drastically.
The mentor beside him also paled, subconsciously taking half a step back.
"Kraus!" the Vice Dean's voice suddenly rose. "Do you realize what you are saying?"
"I am very clear on that."
"Cut off your supplies?" The Vice Dean sneered. "It seems the warning was too small!"
Kraus chuckled.
The laughter was light, yet it sent a chill through everyone present.
"The contract has taken effect."
His gaze was like a blade, looking directly into the Vice Dean's eyes.
"You had better pray that your actions succeed."
"Otherwise—"
He paused, his tone turning icy cold.
"You will all be judged as heretics and executed."
The Vice Dean's face turned from green to white.
"Also," Kraus took a step forward. "I'll say it again."
"Laurina has become our contractor."
"One more step, and you die."
The air seemed to freeze.
The Vice Dean's lips were trembling, as if he wanted to say something, but he remained silent.
Just then.
A figure appeared at the end of the street.
He had a head of white hair and a rigid face.
He emanated an incredibly powerful mutation aura, so strong that even the suppression arrays of Bronze City could not contain it.
As he walked slowly, something beneath his body was constantly twisting and swimming.
Standing inside the door, Lu Yuan's gaze fell upon the old man.
At the edge of his vision, greyish-white text surfaced:
【Target detected: Nightwatchers (Mutated Transcendent)】
【Status: Beyond cognition...】
【You have witnessed a new pathway beyond your cognition, Forbidden Lore: Seeker: +1... 49.5/50】
Lu Yuan felt a chill in his heart. Forbidden Lore had actually increased by a point directly?
This was the first time he had seen such a prompt.
Beyond cognition.
Upon seeing this, Kraus immediately bowed his head in salute.
"Sir, you have come."
The Nightwatchers present also immediately saluted respectfully, shouting in unison: "Sir!"
The old man did not speak.
He simply looked at the two from the Polymath Tower with a cold gaze.
That gaze was frighteningly calm, as if he were looking at two ants.
The Vice Dean's face turned deathly pale the moment he saw the old man.
Calvin Morton did not recognize him, although he could sense the aura emanating from him.
But he was still unwilling. They were just one step away! He could have taken away the most perfect sacrifice!
Just as he was about to speak and question where this old man had come from...
He was suddenly grabbed by the arm by the Vice Dean.
The Vice Dean's lips were trembling, his voice filled with uncontrollable terror: "Go. Leave now."
"What?" Calvin Morton's face was full of indignation. "But—"
"Shut up!" the Vice Dean almost roared in a low voice. "Go!"
He dragged the mentor away in a panic.
The two figures quickly disappeared at the end of the street.
The Guardian did not say a single word from beginning to end.
He simply stood there, his gaze calmly following the direction in which the Polymath Tower people had disappeared.
Only when the two figures had vanished completely did he turn and leave.
The sound of his footsteps gradually faded.
It was as if he had never appeared.
...
Inside the Alchemy Workshop, Laurina stood by the window, her gaze blank as she looked outside.
She had seen everything that had just happened.
Kraus's declaration, the Vice Dean's threat, the appearance of the white-haired old man, and the figures fleeing in panic.
She didn't know who the old man was, but she could feel that he was an extremely terrifying existence.
An existence so terrifying that even the Vice Dean of the Polymath Tower feared him too much to say a single word.
And all of this...
Kraus had already left, taking the squad of Nightwatchers with him.
Before leaving, he gave Lu Yuan a look:
"The contractor's information has been sent back to headquarters. Headquarters will make subsequent arrangements based on the situation."
"Lu Yuan, fulfill your duty. Take good care of her."
And then he left.
When Hoguer left, he patted Lu Yuan's shoulder without saying a word.
Now, only the two of them remained in the Alchemy Workshop.
Laurina stood in place, unmoving.
She was still holding that bag.
The bag she had packed when she was prepared to be taken away.
She just stood there, as if she hadn't reacted yet.
"...Is it over?"
Her voice was somewhat ethereal, as if asking Lu Yuan and herself at the same time.
"It's over," Lu Yuan said.
Laurina did not move.
She looked down at the bag in her hand for a long time.
Then her fingers slowly loosened.
The bag fell to the floor with a light thud.
She still stood there, her shoulders trembling slightly.
She wasn't crying.
It was the kind of trembling that comes when someone has been tense for too long and suddenly relaxes.
Lu Yuan did not step forward or speak.
He simply stood there, waiting.
After about ten seconds, Laurina's breathing gradually stabilized.
She raised her head and looked at Lu Yuan.
Her eyes were a little red, but there were no tears.
"I don't quite understand."
Her voice was raspy, carrying the fatigue of several sleepless nights.
"Just now... those people, that declaration, and that old man..."
She paused, as if trying to organize her thoughts, but clearly failing.
"...What exactly happened?"
Lu Yuan walked to the table, poured a cup of water, and handed it to her.
"The Nightwatchers have a mechanism to provide protection for specific people."
His tone was very flat.
"I applied for it for you."
Laurina took the cup, but she didn't drink.
She just held the cup, staring at Lu Yuan.
"...That's it?"
"That's it."
Laurina fell silent.
She wasn't a fool.
To have the Vice Director personally come to the door, to have that terrifying old man appear, and to have the Vice Dean of the Polymath Tower flee in terror.
The phrase "that's it" could not deceive her.
But she couldn't ask more specific questions.
Because she didn't understand the internal rules of the Nightwatchers at all.
She didn't know what to ask.
"...Why?"
In the end, she only asked that one word.
Lu Yuan looked at her.
"You teach me medicinal refining; I solve your troubles."
"A fair trade."
Laurina stared at him, her lips moving.
She wanted to say this couldn't possibly be a fair trade.
She wanted to say you must have sacrificed a lot.
She wanted to say I owe you.
But those words reached her lips and were all swallowed back down.
Because she was too tired.
So tired she didn't have the strength to follow up, to argue, or to say those polite pleasantries.
She just lowered her head and looked at the water cup in her hands.
"...Fine."
She said softly.
"A fair trade."
She put the cup on the table, leaned over to pick up the bag from the floor, and placed it back in the corner.
Then she sat down in the chair by the window.
She didn't reach for the mortar or walk toward the workbench.
She just sat there, looking out the window.
The sunlight hit her face, revealing the deep blue circles under her eyes.
Lu Yuan didn't rush her either.
He walked to the workbench and began processing medicinal herbs alone.
The sound of the mortar's friction echoed softly in the room.
Laurina just sat there, motionless.
A long time passed.
So long that Lu Yuan had already finished processing two portions of silver leaf grass.
Only then did she stand up and walk to the workbench.
"Let me do it."
Her voice was still a bit raspy, but it had stabilized.
Lu Yuan handed her the mortar without saying much.
Laurina took the mortar and began grinding.
Her movements were a bit stiff at first but gradually became fluid.
A familiar feel, a familiar rhythm.
Her breathing also stabilized accordingly.
Neither of them spoke, both focusing on the work at hand.
...
Meanwhile.
In a carriage in Bronze City.
The Vice Dean stood by the window, his face frighteningly gloomy.
Calvin Morton sat beside him, still full of indignation.
"Who exactly was that old man?"
His voice was very low, but he couldn't suppress the anger within.
"We were just one step away... we even got the handwritten decree, and we talked to headquarters... how could such a thing suddenly pop out?"
The Vice Dean did not turn around.
"The Guardian."
His voice was light, but every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
Calvin Morton's face changed.
"Someone of that level... how could he step in for a student?"
"Because someone activated the Promise."
The Vice Dean turned around, his gaze falling on Calvin Morton.
"You should have heard of the Nightwatchers Promise."
Calvin Morton fell silent.
Of course he had heard of it.
It was an ancient contract; once it took effect, the Nightwatchers had to protect the contractor at all costs.
"So... we can't get Laurina?"
"What else do you think?!"
The Vice Dean's tone was calm, but a trace of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.
"However, she is not irreplaceable."
He walked to the table and picked up a list.
"Those nobles in the inner city, aren't they already cooperating?"
His finger traced gently over the list.
"Since they're cooperating, how can they not contribute?"
Calvin Morton's eyes lit up.
"You mean..."
The Vice Dean handed him the list.
"And those students who were evacuated in advance, find them one by one."
"This mission absolutely cannot fail! Otherwise, you, me, and those people will all be imperial traitors!"
Calvin Morton took the list and lowered his head.
"Understood."
Outside the window, the night deepened.
The lights of the inner city remained brilliant, reflecting the silhouettes of those grand houses.
The people under those lights did not yet know that a pair of eyes was staring at their children.
Rate on N.U.
