Alex pursed his lips as he scrutinized the carriage.
Albeit wary, he found himself unable to resist the urge to enter.
Just like the encounter with the thieving tramp, Alex quickly surmised a possibility.
’This must be the original route this memory takes. Trying to go against it might lead to unnecessary problems.’
With that understanding, he decided to play along.
He stepped into the carriage and watched as the door closed without anyone touching it.
Then, it jerked forward as it began to move.
"Hello, Mr. Regulus." The raspy voice was heard again.
Alex glanced toward the origin to find a man... or was it a woman?
He could hardly tell due to the feminine appearance of the man before him.
Wearing a male suit, the man had a rather slender physique with a beautiful face and a head of black hair that bent in one direction, cascading down his right shoulder.
His voice suggested him to be middle-aged but his appearance made him look like one in their twenties.
"Lord Albion," Alex remarked despite having no prior knowledge of the individual.
Of course, he understood this to be part of the memory.
Instinctively, he dropped his head whilst Lord Albion scrutinized him.
"Ah, right. I forgot." Lord Albion facepalmed before withdrawing his hand from his face, a sad smile etched on his visage.
"In any case, it doesn’t matter if you record this or not."
"I don’t understand," Alex replied confusedly.
Lord Albion sighed. "Do you know why I called you here today, Mr. Regulus?"
"... I have no idea."
"Same here." Lord Albion muttered as he glanced out the window. "I guess it’s just my last attempt to screw that bastard over but considering how meticulously he has planned everything, I don’t think this changes much."
Chuckling softly, Lord Albion glanced at Alex. "But then again, it doesn’t hurt to try."
"Forgive my insolence, Lord Albion, but what are you talking about?" Alex was reaching the end of his patience with the noble’s cryptic speech.
Lord Albion grinned. "Forgive my impertinence. But you should understand something, Mr. Regulus, whatever I’m about to tell you will be just as cryptic as everything I’ve said now. After all, telling you the truth directly would make it easier for you to be caught."
"Caught?" Alex raised a brow at the hidden threat.
Ignoring his questioning gaze, Lord Albion looked out the window as he began. "He was once a subordinate... a crazy adventurer seeking the world’s treasures and I was his sponsor. If there was anything I didn’t like about him, it was the crazy Wheel he entered."
Letting out a sigh, he continued. "We had a wonderful relationship and when I got to the 5th Lock, we went a step further and..."
Glancing at Alex, he scrutinized him briefly before chuckling. "Forget that part."
Alex raised a brow. ’I feel like I just dodged a bullet somehow.’
Lord Albion returned his gaze outside, staring at the numerous factories of the Eastern District.
It wasn’t a beautiful sight, considering the pollution they held but regardless, he found himself enjoying the scenery.
With a strange smile, he continued. "But everything changed after the expedition."
"Into that dark place." Lord Albion replied before subtly adding. "He became a shadow of his former self when he returned."
"I told you, Mr. Regulus, quite a lot of cryptic words. It’s up to you to figure it out or die trying." Lord Albion remarked. "Remember, I don’t need you to do anything for me. I only called you because I needed to share my story with someone."
Alex pursed his lips. "Why me?"
"Do you think it’s because you are special?" Lord Albion joked.
"I am as normal as normal can get."
"Indeed you are. A nobody with nothing to stand out for." Lord Albion chuckled. "But that’s the more reason to with you. As a nobody, no one would care to look at you and if they do, they’d never consider you a threat."
"So what do you want from me?"
"Listen." Lord Albion remarked while tapping his right ear, a sad smile appearing once again on his lips.
Due to his peculiar appearance, he seemed quite frail, like a damsel in need of protection.
Alex closed his eyes for a moment.
First perplexed by Alex’s sudden action, Lord Albion quickly came to a realization causing him to chuckle.
"Close-minded." Lord Albion teased.
Letting out an awkward cough, Alex adjusted his tie before regaining his composure.
With a mischievous grin on his visage, Lord Albion continued. "Ah yes, where was I?... After the expedition to that dark place, he became fearful and after a while... he changed. He succumbed to the madness he always fought against and instead began to plan something... something that I could have never imagined."
He paused to catch his breath before continuing, unperturbed. "BoneHaven is in danger."
"I’ve tried to stop him not because I am particularly attached to this city but because he’s losing himself."
"Unfortunately, I lost. It won’t be long before everything comes crashing down. From a close friend, he has turned into a ’thorn’ in my ’heart’."
Alex pursed his lips, ruminating over Lord Albion’s words.
If it was as he understood, it meant that Lord Albion had a connection with Crow Mask.
Thinking back, the Butcher case which involved Lord Albion was a preliminary ritual in the summoning of Penemuel.
Taking time to consider things properly, he asked. "How can we stop the destruction?"
"It’s hopeless at this point." Lord Albion muttered. "unless some miracle happens, the citizens of BoneHaven will become sacrifices and an altar will be built for him."
"Then is there no way to save the city?"
Lord Albion glanced at Alex, seemingly perplexed by his enthusiasm to protect BoneHaven.
’Was this not part of the memory?’ Alex worried that something had gone wrong.
However, his worries were unfounded as Lord Albion sighed, a faint smile on his lips.
"3." Lord Albion muttered. "The number 3 is special because it represents completion. Humans constitute three aspects, the same as most living beings. Most likely, even the Absolute is a collection of 3."
"..." Alex remained silent, unable to understand what Lord Albion was about at first.
Unperturbed by the silence, Lord Albion continued. "I’ll leave behind two riddles. If you manage to solve them, then you can go ahead and find a way to save BoneHaven, though it might be too late by then."