"Ah!"
The moment the Treasure Map left the Faceless Man's body, the Beyonder in the flames suddenly let out a sharp, piercing shriek. His body glowed brightly, as if countless gas lamps were hidden within him. The radiance was so intense it even overshadowed the flames, shining through.
Lex quickly dropped to the ground. This situation looked as if the Faceless Man was about to self-detonate.
Boom!
As expected, within a few seconds, the Faceless Man swelled up and exploded. Amidst the loud bang, the shockwave blew the surrounding furniture and corpses into the air, only for them to fall heavily back down.
When Lex looked at the Faceless Man again, he could only see disgusting, rotten chunks of flesh emitting a strong, putrid smell like rotten eggs, making Lex's stomach churn uncomfortably.
Just then, his body suddenly turned cold, and a phantom, layered sound rang in his ears. These sounds were sometimes incredibly sharp, sometimes whispering murmurs, sometimes frantic, and sometimes insane.
Lex felt an immense pain in his head, as if a steel needle had been plunged into his skull and was violently stirring his brain matter!
He remembered the out-of-control Faceless Man and, instinctively, with an incredibly firm willpower, forced himself to release his grip on the Treasure Map.
As his hand opened, the Treasure Map fell to the ground, and Lex finally recovered.
But his vision was still blurry, as if hallucinatory colors were flashing before his eyes. After a while, he saw several drops of blood on the ground and felt a warmth at his nose.
He wiped his nose, only to find his palm covered in blood. He also saw the blood vessels and blue veins on his hand bulging, as if thick, wriggling poisonous snakes were beneath his skin.
He even had the illusion that in the next moment, his blood vessels would burst, and slimy tentacles covered in evil patterns would emerge from within.
Lex quickly closed his eyes, using meditation to outline the mystical book, calming his spirituality, and allowing himself to regain his composure.
A moment later, he reopened his eyes, finding the blood vessels and blue veins on his hand had subsided, and his nose had stopped bleeding.
"That was close. I almost lost control just now, almost turned into something like that Faceless Man."
Lex looked at the Treasure Map on the ground, at the drawing that seemed to be made of human skin, and felt a chill.
"Just touching it makes a Beyonder person nearly lose control. As expected of something from the Antigonus family, it's very bizarre."
"That Faceless Man must have lost control that way. However, before that, Siril, the thief who stole the Treasure Map, and the White Bear Gang's handler, showed no abnormalities."
"Could it be that this item only affects Beyonder people?"
Lex found a paper bag in the room, carefully using two pencils as chopsticks to pick up the Treasure Map and place it inside the bag. Then, he applied a 'Spiritual Wall' to isolate the Treasure Map.
Lex tried lifting the paper bag again and finally no longer heard the maddening and destabilizing whispers.
Looking at the scattered rotten flesh of the Faceless Man, it had already started oozing pus and appeared to be completely decomposed in a moment.
Among those 'parts,' Lex discovered a mask with constantly shifting features, a thin layer, like a human skin.
This was clearly an item that had condensed the Faceless Man's beyonder characteristics. After an out-of-control individual died, the beyonder characteristics would not separate on their own but would combine with a certain part, becoming an item with miraculous abilities.
However, such items usually have severe negative effects, and some are even somewhat contaminating.
But if left here, it would leave clues, and it might turn ordinary people into monsters. So, Lex found an iron box, put the human skin mask inside, and similarly created a 'Spiritual Wall'.
Next was the cleanup.
Looking at the office after a major battle, Lex first picked up the scattered bullet casings to prevent them from being found and used for divination.
Then he collected all the jewelry and banknotes in the office, and finally set the place on fire, staging it as a gang fight to seize the White Bear Gang's assets.
As for which gang did it, that would depend on the imagination of the Feysac police.
As thick smoke billowed and flames erupted from building 12 on 'Moon Boat Street,' alarming nearby residents, Lex quietly departed, safely returning to the 'Amber Home' hotel.
Upon entering his room, he first closed the door, then found some stationery, filled his fountain pen with ink, and wrote a letter to Osweld.
'Mr. Osweld, as I write this letter, I have already retrieved the Treasure Map lost by Siril. I must warn you, this Treasure Map is suspected to be related to the Antigonus family, and direct contact by a Beyonder person will lead to loss of control.
If you ask me how I know, it's probably because I just snatched it back from an out-of-control Faceless Man.
Additionally, in this matter, I have successively encountered a Marionettist and a Faceless Man. I narrowly escaped the former, and the latter has been dealt with by me.
I heard that the Secret Order controls the 'Diviner' pathway, and this organization secretly pursues the relics of the Antigonus family, so I suspect this incident is related to the Secret Order.
I hope you can take appropriate measures. Now, I will entrust the Treasure Map to your messenger to bring back.
I have already established a 'Spiritual Wall' around it, and I infer that ordinary people touching the Treasure Map did not trigger any abnormalities. However, for safety, it is best for you to conduct some careful tests.
The above is what I wish to state. Also, if you have found any clues regarding Celis Newman, please inform me as soon as possible. Thank you.'
After signing with his nickname 'Duke,' Lex let the ink dry, then folded the letter and put it into an envelope.
Next, he wrote another letter, this one to his mother in Enki Town. In the letter, Lex recounted how he found Morse, but was then rescued by an Iron-Blooded Knight.
At the same time, he also presented information about the Celestial Faction, the Rose School, and the 'desire mother tree,' finally stating that he probably did not have enough ability to complete this mission and would return the traveler's almanacs to Asered upon returning home.
After writing this letter, Lex took out his metal flute, put it to his lips, and blew into it, channeling his spirituality.
After an invisible ripple swept past, a phantom knocking sound rang out. The headless messenger, dressed in formal attire, emerged from the wooden door after receiving Lex's permission, pressing a hand to his chest and bowing slightly.
Lex first took out a letter and placed it in the paper bag containing the Treasure Map: "Please deliver this to Osweld."
"Additionally."
Lex took out another letter: "Please send this to Enki Town in Desie County, to the mailbox at 13 Golden Champagne Avenue."
"How much postage do I need to pay?"
The headless messenger quickly pulled out a small notebook and wrote down a number: 2 pounds.
So expensive.
Lex sighed inwardly, but still took out two 1-pound banknotes, along with the letter for his mother, Amelly, and handed them to the messenger.
After the messenger left, Lex stretched and murmured, "The matter on Sonia Island is finally concluded. Next, I'll just wait for the Artisan to deliver, and for the exploration of the death god's treasure. I'm a little excited…"