CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 10: ROMAN IMPERIAL PALACE (PART 2)

"When you feel you’ve recovered, report back to headquarters."

Shawn nodded and said, "Thank you, Captain."

Benjamin shook his head, gazing at Shawn in front of him, and whispered, "We should be the ones saying thank you."

Before Daisy left, she waved and shouted to Shawn, "When you’re feeling unhappy, just run hard, like a cheetah, that’s what the Forest Sage told me."

Shawn couldn’t help but smile at that.

Daisy has a pure heart.

Of course, if she gets angry, Shawn still feels a bit scared of her.

3:30 in the afternoon.

The sun outside was a bit smaller, Shawn took a shower, changed into some looser clothes, grabbed his wallet, and went out. He started jogging along the street on the other side of the Grand Pendulum Clock.

He was going to try Daisy’s method.

After advancing to a Transcendent, Shawn’s physical fitness had improved significantly. He ran a lap without even breaking a sweat. He went straight to the park, ran around the large artificial lake, and finally, after circling the entire park, he had broken a small sweat.

"I didn’t expect my physical condition to have strengthened this much."

Shawn decided to head toward the Wharf District, eventually running a semi-circular loop around Dorne City along the dock’s road, observing the scenery of this era along the way, and slowly feeling much more relaxed.

He had worked up a sweat, feeling much more comfortable physically and mentally. Perhaps because he was focused on running, the whispers of knowledge seemed to fade a little.

5:30 in the afternoon.

Shawn had been running for two hours, feeling a bit tired. He slowly slowed down, heading toward his apartment building.

The knowledge would occasionally mumble, but Shawn’s mental state had improved considerably.

"It helps a bit."

"But to run from sunrise to sunset like Daisy does, galloping through the forest, a Transcendent on the Wizard Path absolutely can’t manage that."

Running like a cheetah.

Shawn doesn’t have the powerful physical capability Daisy does.

Downstairs of the apartment building.

Shawn saw a bearded figure smoking, Hank Brand. He hadn’t shaved for a while, almost didn’t recognize him.

"Been running?" Hank offered him a cigarette.

Shawn waved his hand. He only smoked when his brain was wildly pondering, although many Investigators smoked, perhaps due to the immense work pressure.

Hank withdrew the cigarette box, chuckled, and said, "William saw you sprinting in the Wharf District during his shift."

"Daisy taught you, right?"

"Haha. This method doesn’t help much; only kids like it. Adults have their own ways to relax."

"Go take a shower and change your clothes."

"I’ll take you to a nice place."

Hank is actually a very cheerful and talkative guy, just very indifferent toward ordinary people, like a cold, unfeeling iron man model.

Shawn hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

He was also curious about how other Investigators regain their rationality. As a newcomer, it was necessary to build good relationships with his colleagues. Might save his life one day.

Today he took three showers.

Shawn changed clothes, and while going downstairs, Hank bought two ice creams, handing one to Shawn.

Cream ice cream.

He probably bought it from across the villa area; only there has more expensive sweets, mostly consumed by wealthy ladies. One ice cream costs at least 2 denars.

Hank should be an Investigator on the Ranger Path, skilled in Tracking. Shawn heard he was a Sharpshooter.

"To the Roman Imperial Palace."

He waved down a carriage, gesturing to Shawn, "Get in."

Carriages were still the main means of travel in Dorne City.

Trams only had routes in the city center area, and private cars were extremely expensive, unaffordable for anyone outside the wealthy class, and not mass-produced.

The driver’s skill was excellent, quickly steering the carriage into a leafy path.

The Roman Imperial Palace was on the other side of Dorne City, near Wushan, said to have natural hot springs. Shawn had also heard some rumors about it, a bit like a combination of a private club and a resort villa, the most expensive money pit in Dorne City.

Its behind-the-scenes owner was said to be a famous socialite, very well-connected among the high officials and dignitaries.

However, Investigators also went there, making Shawn feel there’s more to it.

"Let’s go."

Half an hour later, a luxurious building complex nestled between mountains and waters appeared before them, Hank likely being a regular customer here, as a waiter came to greet him as soon as he reached the entrance.

Shawn walked into the spacious courtyard, greeted by a large garden with lush plants, pavilions, bridges, and flowing water. Directly ahead was a small fountain with rather artistic sculptures, somewhat resembling Venus, exuding an aura of luxury and decadence amid the artistic atmosphere.

This place looked like a luxurious and extravagant resort villa.

Hank took off his coat and handed it to the waiter, pulling out a card and instructing them, "Arrange something."

Shawn was already a bit bewildered.

The architecture here was very Roman, built with marble, with inlaid stone floors, extremely spacious and bright. Paintings and statues, in an Ancient Greek-Roman artistic style, lined the sides. The house was tall, with three floors up and down, using arch doors, decorated in gold and jade, with chandeliers dangling alongside the paintings and statues. On either side were gyms, two fountains, occupying a large area, and bathing areas divided into cold, hot, and steam sections, each in separate buildings.

"Whoa, isn’t this a massive bath center?"

"Not really."

"Roman bathing culture seems to be very prevalent too!" Shawn’s mind was muddled, feeling like he was in a top-tier Northern bathhouse.

The design was essentially modeled after Roman Royal Baths.

Each side had entrances, changing rooms, massage rooms, and steam rooms, etc. Due to the unique history of the Dorne Kingdom, which is a patched-up Roman Empire (historically altered), many here claim to be the true Romans.

Outside the baths, there were specific lounges with service areas providing gourmet food, recreation, fitness, massages, and more.

Hank directly led Shawn to the back of the villa.

There were outdoor hot springs, with individual small pools separated by partitions, equipped with private changing rooms, lounges, activity areas, and offering wine, gourmet food, massages, and steam room services. The attendants at the entrance were mostly beautiful young girls.

Shawn was truly stunned.

He didn’t expect to see a top-notch entertainment venue more luxurious than in modern society here. No wonder Hank said it was the most famous money pit in Dorne City.

Possibly fearing Shawn wouldn’t adapt, Hank reserved two adjacent hot spring rooms.

"How is it?"

"Feeling much more relaxed, right?" Hank asked a servant to prepare wine, lazily soaking in the outdoor hot spring, his voice coming from the opposite room.

Shawn quietly nodded, taking a deep breath and saying, "I really didn’t expect such a good place to exist."

Hank chuckled, mysteriously saying, "There are many more things you don’t know."

"It’s said that in Dele, there’s a place called Phantom’s Dream."

"Hehe."

"But Dele is too far from Dorne, I’ve only heard about it, never been there."

Dele, huh?

Daisy’s hometown, indeed quite far.

Hank poured himself a glass of wine, found a comfortable position to lie down in, and softly said, "I’ve arranged for a masseur for you. Head to the second floor after you’re done soaking."

"It’s your first visit here."

"The lady of the house will likely come to meet you, whether you want to go to the third floor, that’s your decision."

Hmm?

Is there a third-floor area here?

Shawn’s ears perked up, but by then Hank was already humming songs to himself, leisurely sipping his drink, lying in the adjacent room, pretending to nap.

Shawn currently felt very at ease, the knowledge in his mind rather docile at the moment.

"Using positive emotions to suppress negative ones? To curb the eruption of insanity further? And gradually restore one’s mind and reason?"

"If that’s the case, every Investigator truly has a different recovery method."

Shawn was very curious about this place.

Hank specifically brought him here at this time, surely not just for enjoyment; there must be more to it.

Shawn soaked until his whole body felt languid, spiritually content and relaxed. The knowledge seemed to be influenced by the positive emotions, lazily wandering in Shawn’s brain, as if the more tense and repressed he was, the more active and restless the knowledge became.

"One can relax, but not indulge." Shawn quietly reminded himself.

This was, after all, the Bizarre Realm.

Splish splash.

Shawn got up, wrapped a white towel around himself, and got ready to check out the second floor. By then, Hank’s loud snores were already coming from next door; he probably hadn’t slept the whole night either.

Investigators constantly hover on the edge of madness, with pressure accumulating over time, many eventually having mental breakdowns.

.........