The hired carriage jolted through the streets that were under construction. The clattering noise was extremely annoying. The cramped space was filled with a musty smell from unknown sources. There was a choking yellowish mist outside the carriage. Even opening the windows for ventilation was ineffective.
But this harsh environment did not dampen the good mood of the passengers in the carriage. Xio and Forsi seemed to have not noticed all this. They still looked blank, holding the paper bags and books in their palms with both hands, and their eyes looked a little dull.
.
Xio, who kept rubbing the surface of the paper bag with his fingers, still couldn't believe that he had really received 800 pounds. He turned to his side and whispered softly to his friend who was also stunned:
"Forsi, pinch me, I feel like I'm dreaming."
"I feel like I'm dreaming too..." Forsi, who was lowering his head and following the movement of his fingers on the page, murmured silently and answered Xio's question without paying much attention.
She read the ancient documents she had just received from Miss Audrey with great concentration, and found that in addition to the originally recorded history of the Fourth Age, there were also a large number of notes and annotations written by the suspected original owners.
The original owner of this book should be a very outstanding ancient scholar... Forsi, who was completely attracted by the magnificent stories recorded in the pages of the book, turned over the cover and found an almost completely ink-covered ink on the inside of the cardboard box.
Diverging, the cursive signature has penetrated into the inside of the paper shell.
Unlike other books, the owner of this document used an unusual Elvish language when signing his name, so it took a lot of effort for Forsi to barely recognize the word "Tristan Eugen".
"What are you looking at?" Xio found that her friend didn't seem to be very interested in the huge sum of 800 pounds, and took the initiative to move forward. Her short blond hair was pressed against Forsi's cheek, and she was a little curious.
Forsi, who was itched by Xio's stubborn short hair, subconsciously stepped aside, closed the document in his hand, rubbed his cheeks and said:
"It's nothing, it's just that the book Miss Audrey gave me really recorded a lot of knowledge. I really don't know where she got it from."
"Didn't she say this was her birthday gift?" Xio, who was wearing a knight's uniform, straightened his hem, held the thin string of the paper bag in his arms with his left hand, and said nonchalantly, "Almost everyone knows,
Miss Audrey likes to study things related to mysticism, so it’s not incomprehensible that some people would give her a rare ancient book in order to please her."
After hearing his friend's explanation, Forsi nodded slightly and agreed with this statement. He immediately remembered the strange signature just now. He couldn't bear his curiosity. He seemed to be worried about something, and he considered and tried:
"Weren't you a noble of the kingdom before? Have you ever heard of the name Tristan Eugen?"
Xio, who was suddenly reminded of the past, did not show any disappointment as Fors feared. Instead, he thought about it very seriously for a while. After realizing that he really couldn't think of anything, he puffed up his chest with great confidence.
"Definitely not a noble from Loen, at least not one from the past hundred years."
"It's not Roen's?" Forsi was stunned for a moment after receiving the vague answer, and then asked immediately, "Where is it from? If you think about it again, you can't have no impression at all, right?"
After realizing that his friend had not been fooled by him, Xio felt the gradually weakening bumps of the carriage under his seat. He coughed lightly, turned around and opened the curtain of the carriage window, glanced at the surrounding environment, and spoke quickly:
"I'm not a noble before I'm old enough to learn heraldry. How can I remember it so clearly...Okay, I'm home. It's rare that I got so much money today. I'll treat you to Intis."
Meal, deduct it from my share!”
After saying that, she quickly jumped out of the carriage and almost bumped into the coachman who came to remind her. She awkwardly took out the change from the inner pocket of her knight uniform and paid the fare with a few coins.
After doing all this, she turned around and looked back with a normal expression:
"What are you waiting for? I'm hungry."
Sigh... In the carriage, Forsi, who was still maintaining his previous posture, sighed softly, put away the valuable ancient books, and stepped out of the carriage as a knight measuring 1.5 meters tall came to pick him up.
"I want to drink today, you are not allowed to stop me."
"No...yes, Miss Wall!" Xio, who was glanced at, quickly changed his words, imitating the tone of his childhood knight mentor, and gave an extremely serious salute.
............
Backlund West District, Embassy of Intis.
The military attache in the embassy had just sent away the members of MI9 who came to "visit", and the atmosphere was a bit dull.
Just this morning, Major General Qonas Kilger of MI9 and his men made a sudden "visit" to the Intis Embassy.
The deputy director of the major general put on a full display as soon as he entered the door. He used the discovery of traces of high-ranking demonic activity in the Western District of Backlund as an excuse to demand a thorough investigation of the embassy to ensure the personal safety of diplomatic officials from neighboring countries.
Originally, when the military attaché on duty today went to report to Ambassador Backlund, he was prepared to bear the ambassador's wrath. However, what is surprising is that Ambassador Backlund, who is usually extremely sensitive to such behavior that offends his own dignity, actually acquiesced to MI9 at this moment.
With all these actions, the military attachés secretly serving the Sauron family began to wonder if this person had been bribed by the Loen side and were preparing to secretly inform their superiors.
In the corridor, which is decorated with delicate gold sculptures and is very Intis-style, luxurious but not vulgar, a gentleman with black hair, blue eyes, and a light beard on his chin strode forward with a plain expression.
He did not shy away from the embassy staff who were still in the corridor. He directly opened the door and walked into Ambassador Backlund's office.
"Have you got it?" With his back to the door, admiring the sun that had just penetrated the clouds, Backlund turned around with a slight smile on his lips. His light blue eyes glanced slightly, and his gaze stopped at Rosago, which was almost unnoticeable.
, slightly bulging chest.
Rosago, who had just left the police station and had faked a suicide case, braced himself for it. The dissatisfaction that had been accumulated in his heart suddenly appeared on his face as he was suppressed by the "Joker" ability.
"I got it, but the situation is too urgent. I can't cover up the traces well, so I can only directly arrange the 'suicide' of my replacement identity."
"This method is too obvious. There was originally a better method, but that 'Bishop Rose' ran away, and I don't have the ability in this area. As long as MI9 wants to investigate, they will always find it."
He did not save any face for Backlund, and pointed out the absconding crime of "Bishop Rose" without any concealment. At the same time, he took out the target's documents and a piece of delicate yellow paper from the collar of the formal suit, and put them away casually.
He reached the large desk in front of him.
"My secret partner has also been scrapped. Fortunately, this 'notarial certificate' is fine. Although there was no clause about escape in the contract between you and her at that time, we can also use the remaining spirituality in it to find her out.
.”
"Catch it out?" Backlund, who had been silent without any rebuttal, suddenly asked. Another wave of desire surged in his light blue eyes, and then disappeared again.
Rosago, who noticed his boss' abnormality, didn't pay attention. He just thought it was because the other person's head was getting hot again. He became interested in the soft and beautiful "Bishop Rose", smiled sarcastically, and said cruelly:
"Yes, find out, I need a new secret partner."
"Of course, it may be difficult for me to deal with her alone. I need the help of the military attache in the embassy, a Sequence Seven helper will be enough."
Backlund stood in silence for a while, then leaned forward slightly, picked up the warm-feeling light yellow paper, admired the delicate and complicated golden patterns on its surface, and spoke slowly:
"Let's put this matter aside for a while and go investigate that Zerrell first."
"Meursault and the others handed over two pieces of information. Oh, the Fusac barbarian also hired a mid-level helper. He usually also raises a kid who controls the communication channels with KGB Sarr. Kill them all first.
Yes, we must ensure the confidentiality of this matter."
"If you can bring them both here, I will send two 'Sun Priests' to go find the new secret puppet with you."
Backlund, who seemed to have lost interest in Helen, looked at him in silence for a while, then took back the "notarial certificate" obediently and left quietly. Rosago turned back to the sunny side of the room with a calm expression and admired Backlund.
Rare sunshine.
It's strange why I was so interested in that woman before. This is not my style... If it were normal, I would definitely test it after making sure everything was safe... How could I take the initiative?
To get in touch with this kind of potential madman, to get in touch with the believers of the true Creator... My thoughts at that time were too impulsive... Rosago didn't stop me...
Immediately, Beckron suddenly remembered MI9's excuse for a thorough investigation of the embassy in the morning, and recalled the unreasonable behavior of himself and his subordinates the night before, and the thoughts in his mind became clearer.
Could it be that someone has manipulated my desires?
"Apostle of Desire?" He squinted his eyes slightly, feeling the warm sunshine shining on his body. The emotions hidden in his light blue eyes were difficult to decipher.
............
East District, Xiaozhanma Street.
This place originally belonged to the age of knights and was the center of a horse farm exclusively for the nobles of Backlund.
But in the early days of the Industrial Revolution, when knights were gradually declining, the newly established Bavart Bank acquired this horse farm with an excellent location and transformed it into a cluster-type industrial area, mainly engaged in cotton spinning and garment production.
It was twelve o'clock at noon, which is the time when female workers in the garment factory here get off work.
The gray and blue torrent continues to pour out from the "narrow" factory gate, completely covering up the original color of Little War Horse Street.
Helen, wearing a dark red robe, blends in among them and is not very conspicuous—even if she is dressed differently from the people around her, workers who have been tired for 7 hours will ignore these details.
Taking advantage of her special physical condition, she kept moving through the crowds of people, moving as gently as possible. She traveled more than 200 meters against the crowds, but rarely did she knock over anyone.
Attracted by the scent of flesh and blood, Helen looked haggard and had dark circles under her eyes again. She yawned, slowed down, and walked to a cramped toy store.
"Ston, there's business." Regardless of the fact that she was still on the street, she directly took out the tightly wrapped stuffed bear from the flesh and blood gap in her abdomen, and placed it on the desk of the boss who was looking for something, her tone unceremonious.
.
Evan Stone, who had thread in his mouth and a silver needle in his hand, slowly raised his head when he heard the sound, and drooled. There was a hint of impatience on his depressed face.