This was Tingen City.
In terms of mastering all kinds of urban intelligence, probably no force could surpass the three major orthodox churches—the Evernight, Storm, and Steam Churches.
Regarding the importance placed on the Antigonus family notebook, the Evernight Church was undoubtedly the most invested.
“Instead of wasting effort searching for traces of the Secret Order, why not just tap into the Evernight Church’s intelligence network?”
Truman smiled at the sleeping brown-haired girl before him—the best source of information he could find.
Rozanne, about twenty years old, a clerical member of the Evernight Church’s Nighthawks.
“I love small places like Tingen.
Even a clerical staff member who’s not a Beyonder can have access to a wealth of intelligence.”
A dark light flickered in Truman’s gray eyes, and an eerie coldness enveloped his body.
“Rozanne, do you know any news about the Antigonus family notebook?”
Truman activated the Deceiver Ghost’s derivative supernatural power and asked the brown-haired girl.
“Mmm, Klein, are you still concerned about this?”
“Don’t worry.
I heard the captain say that Sealed Artifact 2-049 is arriving in Tingen tomorrow.”
“2-049 has the ability to sense that notebook.
We’ll find it soon.”
Rozanne murmured with a furrowed brow, as if mistaking Truman for her colleague.
Klein?
Klein Moretti?
He also joined the Nighthawks?
That makes sense.
I remember Klein always hung out with Welch McGovern at school.
Welch McGovern was the unlucky guy who died under that eerie notebook.
And the newspaper reported it as a suicide by gunshot.
How ironic.
Truman smiled softly.
He could roughly guess how his classmate had been fortunate enough to join the Nighthawks.
This was the classic “roommate sacrificed to guarantee graduate admission” method!
“Thank you, Rozanne.
I was a bit too anxious.”
Truman said softly to the sleeping girl.
“Mmm, just remember not to suddenly pop up when I’m slacking off at work next time.
I thought it was the captain—you scared me to death.”
Rozanne’s tone carried a hint of resentment as she complained.
“Alright, get some rest.
I’ll cover for you.”
“Oh, and forget our conversation just now!”
After obtaining the intelligence he wanted, Truman used the Deceiver Ghost’s supernatural power to ‘deceive’ the girl’s spirituality into believing nothing had happened.
Although he couldn’t yet borrow the Deceiver Ghost’s full power, merely relying on the derivative supernatural power he retained made deceiving an ordinary person entirely effortless.
Moreover, as his mastery of the power deepened, Truman discovered that spirituality and supernatural power could be transformed into each other to a certain extent.
Truman quietly left Rozanne’s bedroom and returned to his rented apartment, contemplating his next plan.
“The Nighthawks are launching their operation to retrieve the notebook tomorrow?
That seems a bit urgent.”
“Should I report this to Mr.
Fool?”
Truman thought for a moment and decided not to report to Mr.
Fool for now.
If that being truly had some scheme, his actions would undoubtedly be heavily restricted.
What if He demanded that Truman retrieve the notebook at all costs?
Better to keep it secret for now, adapt to the situation when the time came.
If there was real danger, he could simply withdraw and report the intelligence afterward.
That would be safer and give him more freedom.
July 12, Thursday.
After washing up, Klein put on his worn but comfortable shirt and trousers.
He clattered down the stairs and asked his brother Benson:
“Was someone knocking just now?”
“It was Bitch Monbatten, one of the police officers in charge of Iron Cross Street.
He asked if we’d seen a round-faced youth about eighteen or nineteen.
Apparently, he’s an escaped fugitive from the harbor district who might have fled to Tingen.”
Benson put down the newspaper and smiled at Klein.
“I haven’t seen him, but to be safe, if you do see him, stay far away.”
Klein cautioned his brother.
He knew that this Tris was a Sequence 8 Instigator and extremely dangerous.
He hadn’t slept well last night for some reason, constantly worried that someone might break into his home in the middle of the night and commit another bloody massacre.
“You should be telling Melissa that.”
“I heard that a strange masked guy had been performing acrobatics at her school gate for a while…”
Benson put down the newspaper and lamented, gesturing at his receding hairline, and declared that this was the strongest proof of a man’s maturity and reliability.
“Oh, really?
I think the police should arrest him for disturbing public order.”
Klein frowned.
He had heard about this from Melissa and had decided to investigate it when he had time.
Although the person hadn’t shown up for a while, that didn’t clear their suspicions.
And a huge sum like one pound at that!
If Melissa hadn’t repeatedly assured him she didn’t know the person, Klein would have suspected some thug was trying to pursue his sister.
“Best not be, or I’ll break your legs.”
Klein murmured silently and headed to Blackthorn Security Company on Zouteland Street.
“Good morning, Klein.”
In the reception hall, Rozanne greeted Klein cheerfully.
“Good morning, Rozanne.”
Klein greeted the girl warmly, holding his walking stick.
“Oh, by the way, that thing you’ve been thinking about finally has a resolution today.”
Rozanne patted her head as if remembering something and said to Klein.
“What?”
Klein asked, somewhat confused.
Could it be that he was finally getting a permanent position?
At this thought, Klein’s smile grew even brighter.
After all, a formal Nighthawk earned a weekly salary of 4.5 pounds.
“Go find the captain and you’ll find out.
It’s classified.”
Rozanne winked playfully at Klein.
Although she didn’t remember what had happened last night, she had a vague subconscious feeling that Klein was quite concerned about the Antigonus family notebook.
“So mysterious.”
Klein muttered and returned to his clerical office to organize some historical documents.
He knew he couldn’t be impatient on the eve of his upcoming promotion.
He needed to leave the captain with a solid and reliable impression.
As noon approached, Klein grew increasingly distracted.
Just then, the Nighthawks captain, Dunn Smith, arrived at Klein’s office.
“Captain?”
Klein’s eyes lit up as he quickly stood to greet him.
“Hmm?!”
Though somewhat puzzled by Klein’s excessive enthusiasm, Dunn lowered his voice and said:
“Klein, come with me to the Chanis Gate.
Sealed Artifact ‘2-049′ has arrived in Tingen.
It’s time for us to find that notebook.”
“Huh?”
Klein looked at Dunn in bewilderment.
So it wasn’t about a raise?
+++
T/N: Heh, Mr.Fool felt like the sky dropped on his head when he realised he’s not getting a raise.