The world controlled by dice [Western Fantasy]

Because of what happened in the morning, the whole section of the "Light of the First Snow" train had a dignified atmosphere.

The four of them were not in the mood to play cards anymore, they would lie down or sit, chatting occasionally.Even Alva, the liveliest, can reveal a mood of moaning and sighing.

In such an atmosphere, they spent some time.Until the conductor came to find them again, and asked them to go to the dining car at the front.

"What happened?" Alva asked very familiarly.

The conductor who came to call them was also relatively young. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "We have found some... clues." He glanced at Siles, "Maybe we need you to confirm."

Siles and Qindo looked at each other, and then said with a little expected emotion, "You found the star map?"

"...Yes." The conductor was a little hesitant, "But... uh, anyway, please follow me."

With a little confusion and hesitation, they followed the conductor's footsteps.

On the way to the dining car, Siles inadvertently looked out the window and found that the clouds had cleared and the fog had cleared.The not-so-bright sun shone down on the earth.The withered scene of the winter land has become very obvious.

The endless wilderness area made Sirius suddenly realize that they had indeed come to the withered wasteland.This is a land composed of loess, desert, dry grass, occasional oases, and ruins, post stations, and villages that hide countless secrets.

They had two days and two nights left on their journey.They will arrive in Biddle City on the morning of October 10.

Siles' thoughts followed the stretch of land unconsciously, thinking of Alfonso Carlyle and Emmanuel who were far away in Hales House.

He didn't know if they had found any new clues now, if they had put him in danger, or if they were safely waiting for Sirius' arrival.He expects the latter, but he thinks they may not have the patience for that long.

After a while, they arrived at the dining car.

In the dining car, the corpse was still on display.However, even in winter, it is impossible for the corpse to be stored at such a temperature for too long.Siles could already faintly smell a rancid smell, of course, that might also be his illusion.

On the side, the wife of the deceased was still sitting there with a blank expression on her face and empty eyes.The few men I saw when I came here in the morning were gone. I am afraid that the conductor has ruled out their suspicion.

As for why the four of Siles were brought here, perhaps it was because of the star map placed on a dining table.

This was also the first time Celeste had seen Ms. Heidi's lost items.

It was about the size of a normal handkerchief, elegant blue-black fabric, and golden embroidery thread looked luxurious and exquisite.The golden threads merged into a beautiful and bright star map.

But what made Siles a little uncomfortable was that on the star map, there were colorful bloodstains, stained with golden silk threads, making the originally slightly sacred star trails bloody and weird.

A conductor sat in front of the woman and said, "Ma'am, I hope you will cooperate. Your husband has passed away, and we are very sorry, but... Anyway, we hope to investigate the truth of his death. "

The lady still sat expressionless.

The dining car gradually became quiet, and some whispers gradually disappeared.

Siles noticed that the lady kept holding her fingers tightly.It seems that after the initial grief of losing her husband, she displayed an instinctive aggression.

After a while, she said, "As you can see... I don't have anything to explain." She took a breath, "I...he did steal that star map."

"For what?" asked the conductor.

"For what?" the woman yelled suddenly, breaking down. "For money, of course!"

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then looked at the lady or the corpse with a look of either belated awareness or sudden realization.

They saw the crude clothes, thought of the couple living in a ten-person room, thought of the man's slightly vulgar, bullying words and deeds... Siles heard someone sigh softly.

The lady's psychological defense was breached in an instant.She murmured, "Our boy...he was very ill. We had to pool money to treat him. Ramifax is a horrible place. We can't do anything without money.

"In the end, we had no choice but to go to the Land of Embers and try to make some money. My husband...he stole from that lady. I don't know why he did it...maybe I do too, but I……

"...But I was just angry with him. I didn't stop him. He must know what I mean. We thought that star map could bring money. We plan to find a chance to sell it after returning to Lamifa City ..."

When she said that, Sirius gradually understood.

Why do middle-aged men behave so sincerely in front of their wives?

Because he did something wrong.

Their child is sick and they need money.But obviously, before the man stole the star map, the two of them planned to make money openly.

However, at that moment, when he met the dazed woman carrying a very precious item in the dining car, the man couldn't hold back the greed in his heart.

The woman naturally felt very angry, maybe there was a bit of embarrassment in that anger.She scolded her husband, but after all, they needed money.So, under the impulse of a sinful and unwilling emotion, the woman acquiesced to this.

But she still treats her husband with a disapproving attitude.So they still seemed to have a tense relationship on this train, they didn't see each other very much, and they only stayed together when they ate.

...And the stolen things brought them bad luck after all.

Weeping, the woman said, "After getting that star map, my husband seemed to be a different person slowly. His attitude towards me may not have changed, but, as time went by, his attitude towards me was different. More and more arrogant, more and more arrogant.

"...I really don't know why he became like this. He was not like this before, but now he is like this... Sir, I heard about his conflict with you. Here.

"But, please believe me, my husband was not such a person!"

The lady looked at Siles and Alva, her eyes were full of despair, she was not unaware of her husband's change, but now she seemed to be asking for help from others, expecting them to tell her, "Yes Yes, that's not your husband."

Siles remained silent.

Alva said: "So, his death was also caused by this star map?" His tone was a little low, "Just because of... a map?"

The lady was stunned, then looked at the star map, and murmured: "I don't know... I don't understand. Why everything turned out like this, I really don't understand..."

star map.Siles thought.

According to what Ms. Heidi once said, the power of this star map comes from all the astrologers in the Everland Circus in the past.And that does have a kind of magical function, which is similar to analyzing the orbits of the stars, and then divining the fate of human beings.

In other words, mastering this star map is "as if" mastering the destiny of mankind.

As an astrologer, Heidi understands the nature of such forces well.She knew it wasn't a real prophecy.However, for that middle-aged man who stole this power, he might not be able to resist such..."temptation"?

That's fortune telling.

Siles thought of the scene when he met the middle-aged man in the dining car yesterday evening.

The man said the seat "deservedly" belonged to them.That natural tone used to make Siles unhappy, but now, he suddenly realized that it might be the proof that this man was influenced by the star map.

Siles' eyes unconsciously looked at the blood-stained star map.Did that blood come from this man, he thought?He's trying to divine the future of his sick child?He was trying to predict the success of their trip?

The golden thread was covered with bright red blood...

Suddenly, Sirius' eyes darkened.Someone covered his eyes with hands.

He was startled subconsciously, took two steps back, looked sideways, and only then noticed that it was Qin Duo who stretched out his hand.

Qin Duo used a disapproving tone and whispered: "Professor Noel, may I ask, is it your caution to stare at an out-of-control time track?"

Siles realizes that it seems like every time Cyndo taunts him, he calls him "Professor Noel," and when the taunts go deeper, he calls him "Professor Siles Noel." .

Hmm...it looks like he's already captured some of the character traits of this powerful and enigmatic explorer.

Siles murmured his thanks very calmly, admitting that he had not been cautious enough.Of course he couldn't say that it was because his will was high enough that he was so reckless...or bold.

Gyndo doesn't understand the form of power he wields, but is still willing to lend a helping hand at this moment.Siles thinks that Cindo Playa is indeed a good person, but the way he expresses it is not very flattering.

Gyndo looked speechless, but just shook his head, bored—seriously, how could there be such a person as Siles Noel?Qin Duo thought incomprehensibly.

Every time Qin Duo's cynicism seemed to hit the air; not only did he not get the result he wanted, on the contrary, Siles would use an extraordinarily calm, rational, and even plain tone, Thank him.

……thank!It's incredible.Qin Duo couldn't help thinking.His original intention was not to help Sirius... at least not the kind of help that Professor Sirius Noel imagined!

The subtle movements on their side did not attract the attention of others, and others were paying attention to what the lady said.

A conductor concluded: "So, your husband, affected by the out-of-control time-travel, gradually became inert and behaved differently than usual. However, this does not explain his death."

The lady opened her mouth, and finally said in vain: "What is a runaway time track?"

The conductor was taken aback.

Alva said in an inconceivable tone: "You didn't even know the timing of the out-of-control, so you decided to go to the Land of No Ashes?! Seriously, are you here to die?"

His tone and the content of his words were not very pleasant, but the people who heard these words nodded unconsciously in agreement.

Because, the Land of Never Ember is precisely such a dangerous area.Ordinary people, especially those who know nothing about revelators, timelines, etc., are better off staying in safe and civilized urban areas.

Of course, the most indispensable thing in this world is reckless and ignorant people.

"Ma'am," Sirius said in a low voice, "I'm afraid I have to ask, why did you decide to go to the Never Embers? Who made you make up your mind?"

This is where others get confused.

The couple has no idea about the out-of-control timeline.Just now, when the lady mentioned that her husband had stolen the star chart, they thought that the couple knew the value of the time track.

But obviously, they just thought that—the handkerchief, or maybe they just thought it was a beautiful and expensive handkerchief—would fetch a good price, for the value of a handicraft.

They don't know the existence of time track at all!Under such circumstances, how could they think of going to the Land of No Embers?

Even if their child is seriously ill, everyone knows that the Land of Never Embers is chaotic and dangerous, and ordinary residents will not have the intention of exploring the land of Never Embers.

Unless someone pushes them.

The lady looked at them blankly, as if she hadn't realized until now what kind of danger and despair they had stepped into.Sadness and a little powerless anger gradually appeared on her face.

She said: "The underground gang in West City."

Siles was slightly stunned, and the thought of "as expected" almost appeared in his mind.

"The...underground gang in Lamifaxi City." The lady said in a low voice, "They are buying products from the Land of Never Embers. We heard that they are some antiques, utensils and the like.

"They bought it at a very high price. We had a neighbor who sold one thing and made a fortune... We don't have anything like this in the house... So, we thought, maybe we can go to Never Ember to try try.

"...This is our only way, in order to save our child. So, we entrusted the child to his grandparents to take care of, and then came here with the idea of ​​giving it a try..."

There was a look of crying but not crying on her face.

She said: "We did it wrong, didn't we? We were ignorant and fearless, we didn't even know what danger we were in...we were...stupid!"

She almost broke down and burst into tears.

The other people present were silent, and finally, one of the train conductors reached out and patted the lady on the shoulder, hoping to comfort her, although such comfort had been in vain.

After a while, the lady finally calmed down.She whispered: "So, my husband's death is because of this...According to what you said, the timing out of control?"

The conductor hesitated for a while, and finally said: "You can't say that. This star map did cause a big change in your husband's temperament, but death... may not be the case."

People who are mentally inactive will eventually become walking dead, but they don't necessarily lose their lives.

Sometimes Siles feels that mental inactivation and mental pollution are two completely opposite aspects.Perhaps the former loses spirituality and the latter increases spirituality.But in both cases, it is not a good thing.

Inevitably, he sighed slightly at the dangers lurking in this world.

"Then who killed my husband?!" said the woman, almost incredulously. "We didn't mess with anyone... that woman! That damned—out-of-control timeline—owner!

"Is it because this thing is going to get out of control, so she let us have this thing on purpose! Yes, that's it! She got out of trouble, but instead we..."

She lost her temper.Everyone knew it was an emotional outlet in a broken state, so no one took her word for it.

Doctor Chester murmured in a low voice: "Poisoning and suffocation...these are two conditions..."

Yes, both cases.Siles thought.

Who poisoned the dead?Who strangled the dead?Are they the same person?

Siles looked at the body of the deceased still placed on the dining table, hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to try the detection and judgment.

Although he felt that with his investigative attributes, he might not be able to detect anything, but anyway, he wanted to try it.

Moreover, since using Judgment Power to turn the tide at the back of the dinner, Siles has not resisted this power so much—at least in desperation, judging himself is a feasible choice.

As for meddling in other people's fate, Siles still couldn't do it with peace of mind.

He couldn't help but sigh because of this, he is also a human being after all.With a will attribute as high as 93, he can't hide his laziness, which is essentially human.

...Of course, he thought, make a judgment when it is time to make a judgment, there is no need to hesitate or hesitate.

However, he is not currently in the ritual time.

So Siles whispered, "I'm going to the bathroom."

Qin Duo beside him nodded dispensably.

Siles left the carriage for a while, took out the small bottle of potion with 10% purity from his pocket, and took a sip.That lasts about three or four hours or so.

Afterwards, he put on [Akamala's spectacle frame] that was always hanging on his chest.

His fingers touched the pocket watch in his pocket, he looked into the distance, stood in a daze for a while, then touched the pocket watch again, and confirmed that about 3 minutes had passed, which was about the time it would take to go to the bathroom once , Then, he returned to the dining car.

No one noticed his coming and going.Even Qin Duo, who was always standing at the door, just cast a bored glance.He seemed to be running out of patience, because the lady's communication with the conductor hadn't progressed during the time Siles had been away.

After returning to the dining car, Siles glanced around habitually, and then stopped.

His eyes glanced at the star map on the dining table inadvertently, and then he realized that there was a faint blue light that looked very mysterious on the star map.

The faint blue is not the same as the blue brilliance of the potion. The former is deeper, like the cold night sky in winter; while the latter can be compared to the bright and clear sky in summer.

No matter what, the faint blue light that surges like breathing seems to verify that this is indeed an active time track.

Moreover, judging from the intensity of this light, it is not even the slightest bit active.

This made Siles frowned suddenly.

He suddenly realized that because the star map was always kept by Ms. Heidi, Siles subconsciously tacitly agreed that the star map started to lose control after being stolen and leaving Heidi.

However, if it was really just a few days of hard work, how could the faint blue light be so intense?

Siles couldn't help frowning, thinking, what went wrong in the past few days, or did this thing go out of control when Ms. Heidi was holding this star map?

It's just that nothing happened in all these years?

No... Maybe he can't just listen to Heidi's side.God knows how long ago Heidi got this star map, and God knows what Heidi's mental state is... Perhaps it was the scene and atmosphere of the circus that suppressed this star map.

And as Heidi left the circus, this ancient time track began to get out of control and change.

Thinking about it this way, Sirius felt that there might be some other ulterior secrets hidden in the death of the deceased.Perhaps he and his wife were inadvertently involved in this out-of-control event, but death?

That might be a different story.

Siles turned his gaze to the corpse, and then said silently in his heart: "Determine the investigative attributes of Siles Noel."

Since Qinduo discovered that he was making a judgment by accident last time, Siles tried to make a judgment silently in his heart, which also triggered the judgment of the dice.

He reflected on his hindsight for a while, and decided to read it silently in his heart instead of saying it out loud.

In the brain, the dice rolled.

[Keeper, Siles Noel (university professor) is conducting an investigation and judgment. 】

【Investigation: 30/...】

Siles' investigative attribute has never been very high, and this is indeed not his strong point.Fortunately, though the dice gave him only two choices, one of them happened to be success.

So Siles chose the points of success without hesitation.

[Investigation: 30/25, successful. 】

[Do you think you are challenging fate?No, you just finally noticed a question that you had overlooked: Who did that gorgeous bloodstain on the star map come from?Do you still remember that there were two suspects who were suspected of stealing the star chart? 】

……Two people?

Siles couldn't help but startled, a subtle premonition suddenly appeared in his heart.He thought, another suspect is also on this train?

He thought that one of them stole the star map, and the other was innocent.However, according to the prompts of the dice...

While thinking, Siles walked slowly to the side of the corpse.

He noticed what Dr. Chester had said was the graying of the nails of the corpse.But it wasn't this matter that really attracted Siles' attention.He stared fixedly for a moment, then murmured in a low voice, "There is no scar."

"What?" Alva asked curiously, "Professor, what scars are you talking about?"

Siles glanced at him sideways, and then said: "There are bloodstains on the star map, and there are a lot of them. If the bloodstains came from the deceased, then there must be self-harm wounds on his body. However, I didn't see .”

He turned to look at Chester and asked, "Doctor, did you find any scars on the body during the autopsy?"

Chester was obviously taken aback, as if he didn't pay attention to this matter at all.He recalled for a moment, and then said with certainty: "No, there are no fresh scars."

The wife of the deceased opened her mouth, and then said blankly: "Sir, are you talking about..."

"Someone..." Siles considered his words, "Or, your husband, in the past period of time, it is very likely that he and someone... studied this star map together. And that person really painted this star map with blood people."

The woman's blank expression made one realize that she hadn't thought of this possibility at all.

The conductor seemed to understand what Siles meant very quickly. He asked, "Ma'am, did you and your husband separate after arriving in Maltz?"

The lady was silent for a moment, and then said: "We hardly stayed together. I... I couldn't face the fact that he stole things, so the day before yesterday, we arrived in Malz, bought the tickets, and separated.

"I've been wandering around the city of Malz until yesterday when I got on the train, and I didn't see my husband again. Then we agreed to meet at dinner. I felt something was wrong with his attitude, but I was also absent-minded.

"During dinner yesterday, we met, but after the meal, we separated. After that, this morning..."

As she spoke, her expression became more hesitant and helpless.She seemed, at least at this moment, very regretful that she did not pay attention to her husband's daily actions, otherwise there might be room for redemption.

The conductor said: "It seems that we have to investigate the source of this mysterious blood. Your husband's death may also be related to this mysterious person... Maybe we need to find some capable people and strangers for help."

He was probably referring to the ritual of [Trace Tracking].Siles thought.

After he experienced several incidents, Siles realized that [Trace Tracking] can indeed play a great role at certain moments, and for investigators of the Church of the Past and members of the Second Corridor of the Historical Society , this is an extremely basic ritual.

However, Siles himself failed to master the ceremony, mainly because he did not get a suitable timing.

Siles told the conductor about the "two suspected thefts."

The conductor was a little surprised and said, "Do you suspect that one of them may be...?"

"Yes." Siles whispered, "Anyway, that's at least one direction."

The conductor nodded thoughtfully.

After confirming the target of the next investigation, the conductors thanked Siles and said that they could go back to their compartments.

Alva asked enthusiastically: "If there is any progress in the follow-up investigation, can you let us know?"

Siles couldn't help but glance at him.Alva asked a question that he also wanted to know, but he was too embarrassed to say it directly.

The conductor seemed to be in a bit of a dilemma, but in the end, for the sake of Dr. Chester's autopsy and Cilles' help in analyzing the case, the conductor finally nodded in agreement.

Before leaving, Siles hesitated for a moment, but walked up to the lady, sat opposite her, and asked, "Ma'am, if you don't mind... What's wrong with your child?"

The lady looked up at Sirius, her expression was blank for a moment, and then she said, "My child...the doctor said, something...is wrong with his spirit."

mental illness?Siles learned this by accident.

The woman continued: "He always seems to feel that someone is talking to him. Sometimes, I can notice that he is talking to himself, as if he is talking to himself. He seems to feel that he is living in some other place. Other identities..."

Sounds like dissociative disorder.Siles thought.

He felt a little speechless for a while.He thought it was some other disease, typhoid fever or a broken bone, maybe Dr. Chester could help.

But... mental illness?

This is even a time when mental illness is seen as the price of offense, or confused with out-of-control events.And Eceles' shallow knowledge of Earth-derived psychology, he couldn't heal the boy either.

In this case, it is incredible that the couple can think that this is a disease, that he can be cured and work hard to make money.

...Of course, from another perspective, it is also difficult to say whether this boy really came into contact with some out-of-control time track, or something tainted by gods, which caused his mental state to have problems.

Siles thought for a moment, and then said: "When you return to Ramifa City, if you have a chance, you can leave a letter at 13 Milford Street. I am very interested in the plans of the underground gangs in the west city." , and may be of some help to you."

The woman froze for a moment, and then tears of emotion and sheer gratitude gradually emerged from those withered, parched eyes.She said, "Sir! Sir... I can't thank you enough. I really..."

She trembled all over, and finally broke down in tears.

People around looked at Sirius strangely, but Sirius remained silent, just quietly looking at the lady in front of him.He thought that he couldn't help much...but at least he knew what help he could offer.

Besides, he really wanted to investigate the underground gangs in Xicheng.After so many days, this lady was the only one who might offer a useful clue.

When the lady slowly calmed down and was still thanking her softly, Siles asked in a timely manner: "Madam, what's your name?"

"Louisa Lampson," she said softly.

Siles nodded: "Siles Noel. Ms. Lampson, I hope you mourn and think of your child. He is still waiting for your return."

Luisa sat there in a daze. Finally, she thanked Sirius softly, and seemed to have recovered a lot.

Siles got up, said goodbye to her, and left the dining car.

His conversation with Louisa went on for some time, so his companions waited patiently for him.

Cendo stared at Siles with a very elusive gaze, but when Sires looked over and wondered what he wanted to say, Cendo turned his head again and said nothing.

Alva sighed and said: "Professor, you are really a kind person. Since you extended a helping hand to that lady, I hope she can also get through such difficulties smoothly in the future."

Siles nodded, and then shook his head again: "This is mutual benefit. I am indeed very interested in the plots of the underground gangs in the West City. This matter... I am not interested in this time, I have encountered some people before. related matters."

Like Nona Norison, granddaughter of the museum keeper.Now, he doesn't know what's going on with Nona.There is still nearly half a month before the opening of the next deep sea dream.

Thinking of the innocent girl who suffered from illness, Siles also felt that he could make some efforts within his ability - such as trying to investigate, the underground gang has been collecting these timelines for the past few months, What the hell is it for.

From the theft of the museum gatekeeper to the theft of the deceased today, underground gangs have indirectly caused many tragedies.With a cruel and indifferent attitude, the underground gangs push ordinary people to touch the time track, even the time track that is out of control.

This is not good news.

Siles and his companions once thought that the underground gang was doing something during the celebration of the birthday of the god.But on the peaceful day of God's birthday, they realized that everything was not so simple.

This collection has been going on for several months, which is really worrying.

Dr. Chester said thoughtfully: "Psychiatric illness .

Siles nodded, and said, "However, that will be discussed after we return to Lamifa City."

Chester agrees with this.

As the time approached noon, they went directly to the dining car at the end of the train to have a meal.There are passengers around who are also discussing the dead people on the train, but it seems that the passengers going to the Land of Never Embers are not very concerned about it.

Perhaps death is the norm in the Everlands.

This kind of atmosphere actually made Sirius feel a little uncomfortable, but maybe this is the land of no embers.

The withered, mist-shrouded land and the cruel, icy, and chaotic atmosphere that ensues is the Land of Eternals.It has by no means the peaceful and warm appearance of the city.

After eating, they returned to Box 901.

Since the investigation of the deceased was progressing well, the atmosphere in the afternoon became a lot easier.They chatted casually for a while, and then, at Alva's suggestion, they started playing cards again.

Siles is still the croupier, and he watched the other three play cards a little bored. After a game was over, when he shuffled the cards, he said by the way: "If the game is changed to a battle, it may be better. Be interesting."

This is a conjecture he made based on his experience of playing card games on Earth.

"Battle?" Alva scratched his hair in confusion and asked, "How to fight?"

Siles thought for a while, and then said: "Each old god card has three attached believer cards. These believer cards can have their own functions, such as attack, defense, healing and so on.

"At the beginning of each game, after selecting the old god camp, players can use believer cards to attack the opposing old god cards and protect their own old god cards. The player who can survive the entire game is the winner.

"...This is just a prototype of an idea, and there are still many rules that are not perfect."

He said so, but Chester and Alva's eyes had already started to light up, and even Cindo muttered something in a low voice, probably something that sounded interesting.

You know, this is Fisher's world that doesn't even have playing cards.People's daily entertainment only has to read books and newspapers.Well, there may be some less legal forms of entertainment, but Siles didn't touch it.

As far as Siles knows, people seem to have some relatively basic ways of playing in their daily lives, similar to activities on earth such as archery, rings, and dice.

However, he has never heard of this kind of casual competitive game with several people on one table. Perhaps his roommate Lorenzo will know more about these things.

In fact, when he saw the "Destiny Card" that Alva took out, he was really surprised.However, the most basic way of playing Destiny Solitaire seems a bit boring. It is nothing more than players intriguing, covering themselves and trying to figure out others.

... Siles actually doesn't like this kind of gameplay very much.He is a guy who wants to be the host when he plays a running group.

So, based on the card games he played in his previous life, he casually mentioned this "battle" mode.

However, when he really said it, he was startled suddenly, thinking to himself, this kind of card game where camps oppose and attack each other sounds very suitable for this deck of destiny cards.

He has no time to think about it, because Alva has already urged him to figure out this way of playing, and then let them practice it.

Chester even sighed, "Professor, you really deserve to be a novelist.