After taking her time inside of the alchemy room. Selina returned to Rozanne and Marvik in a good mood.
"Here's the herbs. Take three drinks a day for effective intake." she said with an uplifting tone.
Marvik grinned and nodded back to back. "Mhm mhm! Yes! Thank you thank you!"
"Have a safe trip!" Selina waved as they saw him off from the partition.
At that moment. Rozanne's hackles went up and she pivoted to Selina. "You seem quite different Ms. Roy. Did you acquired a new skincaring product?"
Skincare products or commonly know as skincaring products with the "ing" part here in Loen. Was a category revolutionized by the Emperor. While this already exists, the glorious plagiarist Roselle did a few bantering to exert influence in the cosmetic industry as well.
Talk about being an open source... Selina smiled wryly. "It's pronounced 'skincare products' and unfortunately I haven't been using them. Why did you ask?"
"Nothing." Rozanne shrugged her shoulders and then said, "It's just that your skin looks paler and more supple. Are you always this snowy and radiant?"
"What do you mean?" Selina tilt her head and looked down. She saw nothing out of the ordinary. It was the still soft, porcelain white surface that even a gentle poke might scrape it.
"I am... always like this. Do I look different today?" she turned back to Rozanne. Was it due to my progress in digesting my potion?
"Mhm, but it's better! You look gorgeous!" Rozanne started fawning to her figure before suddenly adding distance. "Let's head to Captain's office, Kenley came and he said to inform you just in case."
Just in case... Selina felt a prickle. So complete digestion do have a physical impact on the body. Fascinating...
She didn't rambled about her appearance and instead took it as a kind compliment. Quickly huddled her props meant to normalized her work before following Rozanne.
...
Klein entered 36 Zouteland street after a day at the Divination club.
As usual, he arrived at the reception area. Only difference is that it's empty.
It became the norm after tens of clients have been frequenting the Company. Ironically, they're not here to find "life" but to maintain their "life" because of their Apothecary's miracle medicines.
I wonder how Selina is doing... Klein resumed with his cane in hand. He looked for the lounge only to see that it's empty again.
He turned for the break room and again, devoid of anyone. It was only when he peeked into the entertainment room did he saw Leonard actually "rehearsing" lines with two foot on the table.
Leonard noticed him and his lips curled up. "Selina is at the Captain's office."
A faint tic disturbed Klein's expression. He looked around and retorted, "What made you think I was looking for her?"
"Oh you're not?" Leonard had that signature flippant smile again. "Because usually, I'll see both of you head out and enter simultaneously.
"Did something happened?"
Klein's face twitched. "Alright... Thanks for the direction."
"Wait." Leonard fastened his v-collar that was out in the open. Subsequently, he stood up and placed the Selected Poems by Roselle down on the table.
"Let me come with you. I bet there's another case that Captain would like for us handle."
Then he slicked his hair back and added. "I would also like to inform Selina of our 'abnormalities' while in the process. In case you a hard time telling her."
...
On their way down in the basement. Klein saw Rozanne gradually ascending.
Meanwhile, Leonard's slow, but deliberate steps is what caught this receptionist's attention fast.
"Don't fall hard again Mr. Mitchell." Rozanne covered her lips with a hand as she chuckled.
Klein recalled what this meant. Leonard once rushed in, only to fall and kissed multiple levels on the way down.
He joined the humor and Leonard wasn't a fan of it. He ignored them and stayed focus on each steps.
All while Leonard took his "sweet" time. Klein greeted Rozanne to make up for what he missed at the desk area, "Good morning. Any good news?"
Rozanne, who was preoccupied, jerked and said excitedly, "Mhm yes!"
"So how's it feel finally having Trissy behind bars?" Klein's eyes lit up.
"Trissy? What? Who is she?" The green-dressed Rozanne looked lost.
"... You probably didn't know her." Klein felt a bit embarrassed. "So what's actually the news?"
Rozanne replied with a glowing smile, "The Captain's request has been approved. The police department is going to transfer two police staff members who have come across supernatural incidents to be clerks here! I finally don't need to frequently stay up all night! Praise the Lady!"
"That's great news," Klein echoed sincerely.
But abruptly. Rozanne added in a fluster, "Oh, and Selina wouldn't be troubled much now. Truly! Thank the Lady!"
When Leonard finally reached the floor. The pleasantries was cut short. Klein had to bade farewell to make their way to the Captain's office.
Dunn, Selina and the rest were there after they entered. Leonard walked over to Seeka's side and followed with an attention span of a beaker.
They're in the middle of discussing the another case apart from the issue of Instigator Trissy.
Earlier this morning. Almost all of the Nighthawks except for Selina, gathered here. This was because search and elimination investigation the night before had failed to return anything worthwhile. The rest would be handed over to the police department, so that they could take care of the tedious follow-up tasks.
Of course, that wasn't the only notable event that had occurred. Because Klein realized a crucial mistake on their way to Old Neil. Regarding to the divination he performed for locating Trissy. Leonard took the lead as a reliable tip and the Nighthawks went into the Tingen Station.
Even though they failed to catch her. Dunn explicitly said that according to the telegraph they received from Backlund, a passenger saw her in the first class carriage of the earliest train. However, she got off early in the middle of the journey.
Regrettable as it is, it made Klein further believed that divinations isn't all-powerful.
Lunch was over hours ago, and the reason why Selina was called was to aid in identifying another vampire and to also gain a first-hand experience of their methods of tracking.
Dunn's grey eyes swept pass them. He saw Selina mildly tense as there's multiple times she faintly tried avoiding eye-contact.
Being presentable in the exterior has its limits. True to the word, she's nearing it.
"Similar to Klein yesterday. Ms. Roy, this would help you get a grip over the atmosphere and how each of us acts. You don't need to participate in any the battle. However, you can serve as our medical insurance in the sidelines. Remember, never to get close into any sort confrontation, back away and let your teammates handle them. Royale and Seeka Tron will join you." Dunn's eyes reflects the silver haired, braided-bun Selina.
Selina nodded firmly. "Alright."
Klein was at the door when this assigning happened. He looked stunned. Leonard, skimmed to the side and teasingly said, "Too bad you're late huh?"
"Heh, don't be so anxious. Seeka has always been with you in the department and Royale is reliable." Dunn consoled Selina before suddenly noticing two more Nighthawks entered.
"Who wouldn't be anxious if their first operation almost became a disaster?" Leonard curled his signature flippant smile.
Seeka Tron, who's usually quiet and reserved, elbowed this reckless poet. "Oof!"
"Do try to be a little more empathetic Mr. Mitchell." Seeka shot him a glance.
While massaging his abdomen. Leonard's expression became slightly more penitent. "Y-Yeah, my apologies."
"There's nothing to be apologetic of." Dunn let out a sigh and turned toward the Chanis Gate.
"I should be the one at fault. Moretti and Selina were both still newcomers at the time. I didn't know what came to me that I brought the two of you along. Anyway, I couldn't let that happen again.
"Hence, during this investigation. All I ask from each of you to prioritize your safety. If you found anything amidst, quickly report here and we'll discuss appropriate measures before taking action."
Everyone in the room agreed without a word.
"Alright. Take the lists before heading out." Dunn pointed at the files compiled by the police agencies.
...
Although the wind blow coldly from east in the presence of Autumn. The tint from the crowd kept the venue warm and spirited.
Selina briefly turned sideways before following Royale and Seeka Tron in the streets of Upper Iron Cross Street.
She had to write a note, as Klein did and told her, in order to let Melissa and Benson know. Because
This was her first time actually walking in this part of the city. The district they crossed earlier had many cautious onlookers eyeing on their clothes.
She expected the Lower Street is straitened. However, it still left an impression on her upon seeing the children's physique, rugged and twiggy.
Comparing the upper street where they're now walking across. Selina immediately realized the gap between the hierarchical classes of the society.
Seeka Tron, slowed down and said, "Looking at these buildings struck a thought in you?"
Selina nodded. "There's an unbelievable gap between the lower and the middle class."
They saw a few workhouses on their way. But the queue there files an extended line that might've been accommodating hundreds of people. Klein described it as something that was flocked for being viral.
She found it difficult to imagine entering the building just by looking at the exterior.
"If the legislative bills weren't stalled. Then their livelihood would have improved slightly." Seeka Tron had her gaze fixed ahead.
"Unfortunately, that's one of the few issues that lower classes faced in this age. Exploitations, mass industrial emissions and unregulated conditions that endangers the workers are just the few of the problems the society face.
"If you were to move in Backlund now. I guarantee you'll find dark clouds idling in the sky due to pollution."
Selina froze for a split-second and resumed walking.
With all the things about Backlund mentioned by the parents of the original Selina in the past. As the predecessor of her body, it would be natural that her beliefs regarding the city would be just as same; dim, fog-bearing sky that stretched across a large chunk of the city, menacingly watching the city folks rot while the wealthy dines in brilliant light.
Hence, one of the reasons why she delayed going there and to settle her affairs with Deimsfel.
The three soon crossed the area that is devoid of vendors. Populated by top hatted gentleman and women of the high class. Following the road was the Red Light Street.
The Red Light Street was located near the Selene Cathedral and the Zouteland Street. Just across the Upper Iron Cross Street.
Despite being near a sacred place. Many upper class and middle classmen established buildings and hostesses as a way to vent their steam.
Of course this wasn't explicitly made in public as the buildings here still acts as regular bars and high-budget houses for esteemed guests or wealthy individuals that can afford the living.
Similar to the Upper Iron Cross Street. Selina didn't saw any peddlers, street hawkers and straitened children. Unlike the scenes, she saw while in a public transport, the living condition was evident.
Leonard and Klein was standing by the road. Feeling their joints rusting from constant turning and bowing just to greet the pedestrians. Then Leonard finally fumed and walked off.
While watching this from afar. Seeka Tron tugged Selina's clothes by the wrist and said, "There, that building is the Bounevelle Rest House. Contrary to the name, that's where the local actions starts to happen at night."
Selina understood and followed them.
She wasn't least bit skeptical of how Seeka knew this. It was an intel among them that Dunn provided beforehand. Bounevelle Rest House was just the start among tens of hostess clubs lying about that Klein's company even took a different path to inspect.
While walking, she snickered her hand to her coat and waited for Royale and Seeka to overtake before opening the paper.
On the note exacts a specific drawing of a man with a round, flat nose and very high deformed nose-bridge. It was Galopin's image that Klein drew for her.