The Gentleman at the End

Chapter 223: Chapter 222 Stone Statue Cemetery

The fully activated gargoyle, exhaling the unique stone dust miasma of the cemetery, glared with its ruby eyes at the two people below:

“The Stone Statue Cemetery is now sealed off, and all burying, transporting, and processing of corpses are suspended. If you have any questions, please go to the town hall for consultation.

If you continue to approach the cemetery or display behavior that appears to attack it, the cemetery’s defense system will be activated.”

Yi Chen took off his Sun Badge and displayed it in front of the gargoyle.

Two visible red beams shot out from the gemstone-like eyes, converging on the badge.

“Members of the Sun Church, you have been granted restricted cemetery permissions. Once inside, please proceed to the Master’s stone dwelling under the guidance of the Manager. If you stray more than ten meters away from the Manager, the cemetery’s defense system will be activated.”

As the words ended, the heavy gates opened inward.

A manager was waiting behind the door, his entire face just a stone, lacking eyes—or rather, he didn’t need eyes, as the touch of his feet to the ground allowed him to know precisely where he was in the cemetery.

The manager had no intention of waiting for the two of them. The moment the gate opened, he had already turned and started leading the way.

Yi Chen slapped Barry, who was somewhat dazed, on the back, and the clanging of the armor brought him to his senses. He hurriedly followed suit.

Since they had to follow the manager, the thick mist along the way prevented them from seeing the specific scenes of the cemetery, but they knew that its scale had reached [large].

The Seven-Day Cemetery where Yi Chen once worked, along with the Cold Lake Cemetery whose essence was absorbed by Prophet, were both [small].

The walk from the gate to the Cemetery Manager’s dwelling was a long one,

As they ventured deeper, Barry gradually adapted and was no longer fearful. “It really is the Stone Statue Cemetery~ I’ve heard that half of the gargoyles in Zion City originate from here. The Master of this cemetery is considered one of the highest-level [Stone Sculptors].

The stone sculptures they create serve as perfect vessels for spirits, accepting independent souls spawned from the cemetery, transforming into a host of quite formidable stone-life forms.”

However, Yi Chen paid no attention to Barry; he was communicating with a professional of the cemetery within himself:

“Little Grape, any thoughts?”

“What thoughts could I have? A large cemetery like this always has one of your human powerhouses guarding it. Any small action I take would be detected immediately.”

Yi Chen was speechless for a moment, “I was just asking if this cemetery is related to the death incidents.”

“Oh~ I can’t feel anything as of now: not the scent of corpses from the soil, the humidity in the air, nor the operation of the entire cemetery factory. Everything seems quite normal.”

“Alright, I thought as much.

If such an important cemetery had a problem, it would certainly have been discovered immediately. Later on, I will try talking with the Cemetery Manager. Perhaps, like last time at Cold Lake Cemetery, I might allow you to absorb some essence from here.”

After a good twenty minutes or so, they finally reached the so-called [Stone House]

A solitary, simple, square stone dwelling sat at the end of the road, devoid of doors and windows.

As the stone-faced Manager approached, his body merged with the Stone House turning into a door structure, which opened inward.

Yi Chen stepped in first,

Barry took off his bucket helmet and held it in his hand, following behind more tentatively

Yet, the interior of the Stone House puzzled them; they didn’t see the Cemetery Manager right away,

Instead, it was filled with various handcrafted suitcases and large luggage, carried in the hands of several stone sculptor Managers or on their shoulders, seemingly in preparation for a long journey.

The central passage in the Stone House was fully open, with stairs extending downward.

Just then, a somewhat comical voice came from the lower end: “If you two are free, come down and give me a hand.”

Yi Chen and Barry exchanged glances and immediately proceeded down the passage.

Below was a crafts room dedicated to stone carving, with most tools and materials already packed. They were in the midst of folding and moving a particular mold table.

The so-called Cemetery Manager turned out to be a comical-looking, brown-haired middle-aged dwarf who was probably less than a meter tall.

The Dwarf, donning a set of handcrafted exoskeleton armor (stone and steam), with the aid of three Managers, could barely lift the mold table, making its movement quite difficult.

“This thing’s a bit heavy, both of you come over and give me a hand.”

The mold table seemed very ordinary, but when Yi Chen laid his hands on it, he was stunned as if trying to lift a small mountain.

Without further questions, Yi Chen immediately exerted all his strength, and one could see iron chains moving beneath the skin of his arms,

while Barry’s face was red with strain and bulging veins.

With the help of the four stone statue butlers, they finally managed to get the object onto the surface.

The dwarf quickly shed his armor and patted the two men’s thighs, “You two little guys aren’t bad in strength~ Fresh faces, I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”

Yi Chen hurriedly explained, “Barry and I just came over from Zion City to assist the local gentlemen in investigating the origin of death. Because of our breakthrough investigation, we received the Sun Badge from Dean Dis.”

Unexpectedly,

the Dwarf showed no interest in ‘breakthrough investigation,’ but instead said with a look of surprise, “Coming here to die? Both of you have great talent; it’s not the Organization’s style to waste it.”

“It’s okay, Barry and I have already captured one…”

Before Yi Chen could finish, the dwarf slapped a sheepskin parchment with the G&D seal onto their bodies.

“Since you helped me move stuff, I’ll let you see this advance notice issued by the Zion higher-ups to me, Dean Dis, and the Mayor, but don’t you dare spread it around, okay?”

≮Dear Mr. Rupert, in light of the Prophet’s inability to retrieve any information about the future of Levinholm City, no survival rules can be established.

The hidden dangers within the city are incalculable, please immediately prepare Stone Statue Cemetery for evacuation.

If the situation worsens, the Organization will directly abandon everything in Levinholm and erect high walls, closing off the entire city permanently.≯

“This…”

“See that? Although the decision to abandon and close off hasn’t been made directly, the Organization has already foreseen the danger.

I’ll be packing up and leaving tonight. As long as I’m alive, and with these important tools packed, Stone Statue Cemetery can be rebuilt in a short time.”

“Mr. Rupert, won’t you even make an effort? There really has been a breakthrough at Dean Dis’s end.”

“What’s the use of progress? I don’t like gambling… The Grey Zone is spreading across the world, it’s only a matter of time before this city is swallowed up. I’m just leaving one step ahead. Staying alive is more important than anything else.

Since we’re fated to meet tonight, do you two want to go with me? I can vouch for you; the Organization surely won’t hold you responsible for running away on the spur of the moment.”

“No, we’ve made the decision to investigate to the end here.”

“Too bad~ Well then, I can only wish you good luck.”

Cemetery Manager Rupert waved his hand lightly, and the roof of the Stone House automatically lifted. Several stone gargoyle figures arrived to help carry the luggage.

“Mr. Rupert, since you’re leaving, will this cemetery be of any use to you?”

Yi Chen’s question caught him off guard, causing him to stop and take a new look at the young gentleman.

“You want to take over this place?”

“Not exactly take over, I’ve never learned about cemetery management. I’ve only worked in one before. If you’re certain about leaving, Mr. Rupert, I’d like to make use of the remaining value of the cemetery.”

“Let’s hear it.”

As Grape appeared on his shoulder, Rupert immediately put down his suitcase and cast a pure gaze that seemed to penetrate the soul.

“To stuff so many interesting souls into such a small ‘container,’ forming an independent entity? And this little fellow exudes the auras of two different cemeteries… Whose work is this?”

“Grape comes from the Seven-Day Cemetery.”

“Interesting~ I’ll make time to visit that kid Wilbert then.

I’ll give you all of Stone Statue Cemetery; once I leave, all the creations will leave with me, and no one will care what you do here~ Of course, how much remaining value you can extract from it depends on your ability.

Don’t die, young one, I’m off to make my escape.”