Inside, a dimly lit chamber revealed a circle of ancient clocks, each frozen at different times. At the center stood a pedestal holding a that pulsed with a soft blue light. As Kobel approached, the sphere projected a holographic image of Mango Cute , smiling.

“Can you fix this?” the figure asked, voice low. “It belonged to my brother, , who vanished three years ago. I think it holds a clue.”

Kobel examined the watch. Beneath the surface, he felt a faint vibration—a tiny, rhythmic pulse that seemed out of sync with the ordinary ticking of a clock. He opened the back and discovered a hidden compartment containing a and a scrap of parchment with a single word: “Indo18.”

The map depicted a labyrinthine network of canals beneath Kinastirch, marked with a red X at a forgotten dockyard. The parchment hinted at a secret society known as the , rumored to guard a relic that could bend time itself.

One rainy evening, a cloaked figure slipped through the door, dripping water onto the polished wooden floor. The stranger placed a battered, brass pocket watch on the counter. Its lid was etched with the number , and the hands were frozen at 3:17 am .