LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 62: The Town’s Nocturnal Panic
Based on the limited information provided, Lynn felt confident that this dungeon option was the one that closely matched his current abilities and offered the highest probability of success.
Feeling resolute in his decision, Lynn rose to his feet, his muscles tensing with anticipation. His hand reached out to tightly grip his new sword, Flame Edge, while the Bloody Reaper materialized in his other hand. The weight of the weapons in his grips steadied his nerves, bolstering his confidence.
Without a moment of hesitation, He selected [The Town's Nocturnal Panic] from the list presented before him, affirming his decision.
As Lynn made his choice, a familiar shimmering vortex materialized in front of him, its ethereal presence captivating his senses. The undulating energies of the portal swirled around him, engulfing him.
Everything in front of Lynn disappeared - the table, the couch, the rental house, all vanished in an instant. His vision went dark, and within the blink of an eye, he was transported across the boundaries of reality.
Gradually, his vision returned, revealing an entirely different environment. The once-familiar sights of his surroundings vanished, leaving Lynn in a state of temporary disorientation.
Instead, he stood amid an unfamiliar street. The wind felt different as it blew gently, carrying the pungent scent of coal smoke that added to the sense of displacement he experienced.
Not only had his location changed, but Lynn also noticed a change in his attire. The casual clothes he had been wearing had been replaced by a striking ensemble. He now donned a sleek black suit, accompanied by a crisp white shirt that contrasted sharply against his dark attire. Completing the transformation was a flowing black coat, reminiscent of a trench coat design.
Despite the bewildering changes, Lynn's relief was palpable when he discovered that his inventory remained intact. His sword Flame Edge was still firmly grabbed in his hand, and the Bloody Reaper in the other hand.
With all his items safe, Lynn turned his attention to evaluating the unfamiliar environment surrounding him.
He found himself standing in a narrow street, flanked by buildings that seemed to lean precariously towards each other, varying in height, with most reaching only two to three floors.
The ground beneath his feet was made of a patchwork of long, weathered bricks that formed an uneven pavement. Their colors faded and indistinguishable from their original hues.
In the dimly lit surroundings, the flickering street lamps cast an ambient glow upon the bricks, creating an enchanting play of light and shadow. It was a damp and somber sight, amplifying the sense of mystery and melancholy that permeated the air.
The flickering light that bathed the street came from an array of gas lamps, their heavy bases firmly planted on the ground.
Lynn's eyes widened as he took in the sight. “Gas lamps?”
In his previous life and even in the world of Blue Star, these archaic sources of illumination had long been replaced by the convenience of electric lighting. But here, in this unfamiliar place, they still stood.
"Could I possibly be in a world similar to the Victorian era?" Lynn quietly wondered.
The architectural style and the gentle flicker of gas lamps around him seemed to strongly suggest a link to that renowned period—the Victorian era, famous for its distinct aesthetics and remarkable technological advancements.
A dense fog enveloped the surroundings, obscuring the amber glow from the gas lamps, and transforming the sizable fixtures into flickering candles in the gusting wind.
As the fog thickened, a notification chimed in Lynn's mind, accompanied by a transparent blue panel that materialized before his eyes:
[Dungeon Initiated!]
[You joined the dungeon: The Town's Nocturnal Panic]
[Description: In the midst of darkness, the town is plagued by a wave of mysterious deaths among the patrol officers. They are dying one after another, causing widespread panic! The sheriff has sought the help of a special detective, and by a twist of fate, you find yourself in the town assuming this role. Without hesitation, you have taken up the task, and now you walk alone through the dimly lit streets at night.]
[Main Mission: Uncover the truth behind the series of mysterious deaths and restore peace to the town]
Lynn's eyes widened as he read the mission details that had appeared before him. "Patrol officers dying mysteriously, one after the other?" he muttered aloud. "And I'm supposed to take on the role of this special detective to investigate?"
He shook his head in disbelief. When selecting this dungeon, he had expected dangerous supernatural threats, but investigating a series of mysterious deaths was not what he had anticipated. However, the ominous description indicated this would be no simple case to solve.
Lynn looked down, taking in the elegant black suit and flowing coat that now adorned his body, so different from his casual attire previously. "I suppose this outfit aligns with the role of a mysterious detective," he remarked.
Since the dungeon had officially commenced, Lynn knew he had to set out and begin pursuing the main mission objective. As he started walking, the sounds of his shoes clicking against the uneven brick pavement echoed through the empty street.
The thick fog muffled any distant sounds, creating an eerie silence. Lynn's eyes continuously scanned his surroundings, senses heightened to detect any anomaly.
Suddenly, a terrified scream pierced through the eerie silence, reverberating down the empty street. Lynn froze for a moment, every muscle in his body tensing.
"It came from over there!" he muttered under his breath. His sharp senses had instantly pinpointed the direction of the chilling sounds.
Wasting not a second, Lynn broke into a sprint, his shoes hammering the uneven brick pavement as he raced toward the source of the commotion.
Utilizing the movement skill [Quickstep] Lynn practically flew down the street, his speed resembling a gust of wind. To any observers, he would have appeared as a blur, there one instant and gone the next.
In the blink of an eye, Lynn arrived at the end of the street. His eyes immediately fell upon a patrol officer sprawled on the ground, motionless and unresponsive, his health condition unknown.