"Lanevus? That criminal who cheated 10,000 pounds and even took advantage of a lady?" Selina's nerves started stir.
"He's a scum!"
Looks like Rozanne was safely transferring her nature to you Selina... Klein lampooned secretly and nodded, "Yes. Clues gives 10 pounds, helping to arrest him gives 100 pounds.
"But there's more. It seems that there's another motive for Hood Eugen sharing that name with Daxter. The upper echelons of the Psychology Alchemists sent liaison, but afterwards hearing the name 'Lanevus', they abandoned replying. His last was visit was at early of July."
"His scam hasn't been exposed since right? And he hadn't left Tingen..." Selina deduced acutely.
Klein concurred, "For now, there seems to be no physical changes on Hood Eugen. I plan to consult Madam Daly about mediumship rituals and hoped that I can elicit information from him."
"That's the best way to solve this." Selina praised with a smile.
...
Backlund, Empress Borough.
In a hidden corner of the municipal garden built by Duke Negan, Xio Derecha with her unkempt blond hair and Fors Wall with her languid bearing were gawking at the liaison before them in a daze. They were momentarily at a loss at which language to use for a greeting.
The petite Xio, who was slightly over one and a half meters tall, looked at the golden retriever that had extended its tongue and was wagging its tail. She smoothed out her trainee knight attire and weighed her words before she said, "Are you Miss Audrey's messenger?
"Oh my Goddess, why am I asking a dog so seriously..."
Fors was holding a thin cigarette with her fingers as she chuckled.
"Maybe it's a magical creature?"
"I've never seen a magical creature that looks so much like a dog..." Xio replied in all seriousness.
Susie sat down and closed her mouth. She then pointed at her belly with her paw.
There was a leather pouch tied around the dog's body amidst her long golden fur.
Xio looked to her left and right, making sure that there was no one watching before she quickly moved closer. She bent down and removed the pouch.
Fors watched curiously when her expression suddenly turned weird.
"It's made of crocodile skin, and it looks like the work of the fashion designer, Mr. Sades... She's actually using such a pouch for the transaction..."
"... In other words, it's very expensive?" Xio raised the leather pouch.
Fors pursed her lips tightly and nodded seriously.
Xio instantly lowered her speed in an exaggerated manner. She carefully opened the zipper and took out the letter inside, as though she was carrying an antique vase in her hands.
After she read it, she passed the letter to Fors.
Fors burned it with her cigarette after reading it carefully. She watched as it turned into ashes and scattered onto the soil.
"There's no extra information provided." Xio pouted subconsciously. She took out a neatly folded paper from the pocket of her trainee knight attire.
She looked at Susie in an imposing manner and exhorted subconsciously, "This is the investigation report for the past few days. You must pass this on to Miss Audrey Hall directly."
Susie quivered and sat up straight, her tail was wagging vigorously.
Xio nodded in satisfaction, stuffed the stack of papers into the leather pouch, and tied it around Susie again.
Susie howled and ran off very quickly.
...
In the Hall family's luxurious villa.
Audrey was sitting on the sofa of her own living room. She was holding a letter opener and was trying to open the letter before her.
It was a letter sent by one of her brothers from the Balam Empire in the Southern Continent. There was a parcel that came along with the letter.
At that moment, she saw Susie push open the half-closed door. The dog dashed over quickly.
Susie sat on the carpet before Audrey and pawed at the leather pouch.
"You really are an excellent messenger!" Audrey wasn't stingy with her compliments.
Susie looked back at the door. It induced vibrations in the air and said softly, "Your friend is very serious. When I saw her, she reminded me of the time when a hunter came to train us."
She had been a complimentary gift when Count Hall bought hunting dogs.
Susie, your Loen is getting more and more fluent. There are just a few problems with your logic in using the language... Audrey watched as her golden retriever took off the pouch on her own and skillfully pulled open the zipper.
She gave Susie a look and immediately understood. She stood up and ran to lock the door.
"... There's no result so far, but we found that some vagrants disappeared around the Backlund Bridge borough. Though, we can't know for sure that it was Qilangos. Perhaps the vagrants merely changed their movement patterns suddenly..." Audrey flipped through the investigation report and seriously wondered how she should reply to Xio and Fors.
I'll tell Xio that as long as she can track down Rear Admiral Hurricane, Qilangos, I'll buy the Sheriff potion formula for her... No, that's not friendly enough. It would make her feel an inferiority complex. Yes, I shall say, "Xio, I've prepared your reward. As long as you can complete the task, four hundred and fifty pounds will be yours..." Sigh, as far as the main ingredients for the Telepathist formula, I've only found the Farsman Rabbit's spinal fluid. I still need the Rainbow Salamander's pituitary gland... Glaint, Xio, and Fors have yet to find it...
Audrey, cheer up. At least you've digested the Spectator potion completely!
Once you put together all the ingredients, you'll become a Sequence 8 Beyonder!
...
Audrey reined in her thoughts, picked up a pen and paper, and quickly wrote a reply. She stuffed it back into the leather pouch and entrusted Susie to make another trip.
She watched her golden retriever as she opened the letter that her brother had sent. She read it with a smile.
"My dear sister,
"I think you should come to the Southern Continent too. Come over to the colonized regions of the Balam Empire. There's abundant sunlight, fresh air, a clean environment, freshly caught seafood, various unique cultures, and the very kind and obedient Balam people who make good servants, as well as the smell of freedom.
"On the contrary, Backlund is cold and moist, the air is bad, there's always dust, and it's always gloomy. Plus, it's highly populated which leads to all sorts of problems. Hmm, and the endless balls, banquets, and salons... The social events are so boring and insipid that I wouldn't want to stay for a minute. Dear sister, I believe you share the same feeling.
"I'm not running away from home. I'm merely seeking my own place in life, but our brother definitely doesn't think so. He's always been a selfish person. Of course, he wouldn't be stingy with you, because you can only claim a tiny part of the family wealth, while I would be his biggest competition in the fight for the inheritance within the ranks of nobles. After all, our father is a Duke who takes a long view. He definitely wouldn't be restrained by the rule that the eldest sibling will inherit the rank of nobility.
"As long as he feels that it's necessary, he would do anything. Just like when he sold off half the farmland and pastures to enter the banking industry, regardless of the strong opposition.
"I miss Backlund sometimes, mostly Father, Mother, and you. I miss the smile that you put on my face during those few years. You must've become the most dazzling gem in Backlund, but unfortunately, I'll only be able to return after two years. A career is a man's pride, while the outstanding young people in the Loen Kingdom treat the world as their stage."
...
"You can tell our dear aunt that the coastal regions in the Balam Empire are very suitable for vacations, and especially suitable for her, given how her joints ache and swell in the winter. I sincerely invite her to be my guest. If you can come with her, that would be even better."
...
"I didn't send you too many gifts. They're mainly things that are rich with the traditions and styles of Balam, such as the unique yellow silk, and the ornaments that are filled with traits related to the worship of Death.
"I remembered that you loved things regarding mysticism so I'll look around for you. The culture here is full of mystery."
...
After reading the letter, Audrey picked up a pen, paper, and writing board. She leaned back into the sofa, pursed her lips and wrote seriously, "My dearest Alfred,
"Although it has been less than a year, the little girl in your memories has grown up. I don't like mysticism anymore, so you don't have to search for those kinds of things."
Because it's very dangerous... Audrey puffed up her cheeks and added in her head.
She had heard of too many tragedies related to mysterious objects when participating in Beyonder Gatherings and from stories Xio and Fors recounted.
She thought and declared excitedly, "I'm now interested in biology. Recently, I've been in awe of the Rainbow Salamander. Can you ask around for me and find out where I can find one of these creatures, or if they have a complete corpse that has been preserved?"
...
Xio Derecha and Fors Wall were returning to the Backlund Bridge borough after they received Audrey's reply.
Xio, with her messy blonde hair, was looking out the window of the carriage, her eyes were bright like two burning balls of flame.
She muttered the term "450 pounds" to herself repeatedly, as if reciting an incantation. Her strength and courage grew every time she repeated the term.
"Darkholme hasn't reported the status of the investigation today. Let's make a trip to his house!" Xio suddenly turned to look at Fors.
Darkholme was the leader of a triad in the Backlund East Borough and had control over many beggars and thieves.
Even though he looked very friendly with his chubby face that was perpetually adorned with a warm and amiable smile—Xio knew that he was a merciless scoundrel. He once broke the arm of a thirteen-year-old thief because the boy had hidden his profit.
Unless it was necessary, Xio was unwilling to meet Darkholme, but Darkholme was one of the few people who were most familiar with the vagrants in the city.
Fors pushed her slightly curly hair back behind her ear.
"As long as it doesn't delay my lunch."
"No problem! Perhaps I could treat you to an Intis feast after this week!" Xio promised in complacency.
"Must I thank God?" Fors asked as she laughed.
Unlike Xio, Fors was a moderate believer of the God of Steam and Machinery.
As they conversed, the two ladies switched to another public carriage and arrived at the Backlund East Borough, and arrived at Darkholme's house.
It was a terrace house located in a narrow alley. There were green plants hanging from the walls, the exterior looked relatively unkempt.
Xio walked to the door, raised her right hand and knocked in a unique rhythm.
The unlocked door opened with a creak following her knocks.
Xio's apparently confused expression immediately turned stern, like a wary lion's.
She took out a bayonet she carried with her and cautiously pushed open the door. She then slowly stepped inside.
Fors also stopped looking nonchalant, having produced a dagger of unknown origins.
They didn't smell any peculiar scents, but their rich experience told them that something was off.
One step, two steps, three steps. Xio and Fors entered Darkholme's house.
Then they saw a pale limb on a gas lamp, internal organs on a coffee table, as well as strips upon strips of flesh strewn on the floor and hung on the clothes rack!
Pieces of bone had been stripped clean and piled up near the door.
And amongst the bones was a head, its vacant eyes open. It was none other than Darkholme.
His chubby face still maintained the amiable smile, as if everything was normal. Furthermore, there was no stench of blood in the house.
As a former clinical doctor before becoming a best-selling author and Sequence 9 Beyonder, Fors has seen many death scenes more disgusting than this. She patted the tense Xio, who was on the brink of vomiting, as she surveyed the surroundings.
"Qilangos? Rear Admiral Hurricane Qilangos?"
"He realized that Darkholme was investigating the missing vagrants and tracked him back to his house?"
"Or could it be said that Darkholme had tracked him down, but ended up being caught?"
Xio fought back the urge to retch and said with a serious expression, "He sure lives up to his name as a merciless and crafty pirate admiral. The strangeness here also fits the description of his treasure."
"Crafty..." Fors was suddenly alarmed as she blurted out, "Could he be waiting nearby in an ambush against the mastermind behind the investigations?"
Xio froze for a moment before answering in a fluster, "That's highly likely!"
He was a Sequence 6 Wind-blessed, a powerful pirate with a mystical artifact, while they were just two Sequence 9's!
This was an extremely simple and easy contrast!
...
In the house opposite Darkholme's house, a man with a unique broad chin and dark green eyes in his thirties was standing by the window, coldly observing Xio's and Fors's opening of the door and slow entry.
He was none other than Rear Admiral Hurricane Qilangos!
The black glove on his left hand twitched as if it were alive. A layer of dull gold scales appeared on its surface.
Qilangos revealed a cruel and joyous expression as his dark green eyes turned pale gold and indifferent.
...
The moment Fors realized this, she dragged Xio to the other side and avoided the area just across the main door.
She then gritted her pearly-white teeth and took out a bracelet that was hidden by her sleeves.
This silver bracelet had three dark green, coarse stones which showed signs of burn marks and were rough and uneven.
Fors pulled out one of the stones and let out a low growl in ancient Hermes, "Door!"
She grabbed onto Xio Derecha tightly as the stone released a faint blue glow.
The figures of the two ladies turned indistinct, nearly invisible.
They saw many forms they found difficult to describe. There were even transparent objects that didn't seem to exist. They saw different colors, lustrous splendors which seemed to possess immense knowledge. They had entered the mysterious spirit world.
In this strange world that stood distinct from reality, Fors proceeded in a particular direction while pulling Xio along.
Seconds later, they exited their indistinct states and returned to reality—to Backlund.
But they were no longer at Darkholme's house, but instead arrived at an empty cemetery.
...
Qilangos, who was wearing his scaled glove, silently appeared at the door of Darkholme's house. He swept the interior with his cold gaze.
He froze for a moment, then creased his brows as he muttered to himself, "Traveler?"
...
In the cemetery.
"What are we going to do next?" Fors panted, sensing their predicament and feeling a lingering sense of fear.
The bracelet was a mystical item she had received along with the formula for Apprentice and its corresponding materials back during a fortuitous encounter of hers. Other than causing her to hear strange, faint murmurings during the full moon every month, it posed no threat.
There were originally five stones on the bracelet, each stone allowing her to traverse through the spirit world, technically allowing her to teleport. But now, there were only two stones left.
Xio calmed herself down and nodded solemnly.
"First notify Miss Audrey, then-then we call the police!"