Chapter 52: Establishing Contact

Chapter 52: Establishing Contact

Qonas Kilgor, whose eyes were deep blue, nearly black, and whose hair was cropped shorter than was common among high-ranking figures, held a glass of champagne as he walked before Dwayne Dantès. Smiling slightly, he said,

“Your luck today was truly excellent, and you were filled with courage.”

If you’re talking about how I usually folded immediately after receiving a Bribe, preferring to lose the blind, that was not luck, but knowledge… As for the rest, after playing a card game with all of you, I almost used up the luck Winner Enuni had accumulated over the past few days… Klein lightly swirled the cup containing pale-gold liquid in his hand, then sighed and said with a smile,

“For someone who does not care about the result, naturally any play can be fearless.

“Heh. Praise the Goddess!”

This was his Loen-style reserved way of indicating that he had mainly come to lose money today, and that his luck being too good was the blessing of a deity, having nothing to do with himself.

Qonas had not lost much that evening—only one or two hundred pounds. Although that was already quite a lot compared to his official salary, for a major general, Deputy Director of MI9, and hidden demigod, salary was the most insignificant part of his income. Therefore, he did not care and smiled while shaking his head.

“Humans can never see through fate’s arrangements.

“You are an interesting person. It is a pleasure to know you.”

His final sentence was half praise and half courtesy, representing the end of the conversation.

However, Klein had “performed” for the entire night precisely to become acquainted with this demigod of the Black Emperor pathway. How could he possibly give up here? He first responded with “It is also my pleasure to know you,” then casually sought advice:

“Major General, do you know much about manors in the outskirts of Backlund? Preferably one with a stretch of woods suitable for hunting.”

According to intelligence Klein had obtained from Miss Justice, this major general and deputy director, Qonas Kilgor, perhaps because of his personality or perhaps because of the unique nature of his position, neither liked holding all kinds of banquets, balls, or salons at his own home, nor did he often accept invitations of that sort.

His hobbies were very simple. First, he liked smoking cigars, especially the “Chieftain Cigars” produced in East Balam’s Mikonte region, which were widely recognized as the best cigars in the world. Second, he liked playing cards, mainly Texas hold ’em. Third, he enjoyed hunting. In autumn and winter, he frequently traveled to the outskirts of Backlund, and even to places like Awwa County and East Chester County, to hunt.

Originally, Klein’s plan to purchase a manor had been purely to spend money in order to blend into high society. He had not considered matters in this regard. After encountering Qonas Kilgor today, he temporarily added a corresponding requirement, hoping to pique the other party’s interest. Perhaps, when the time came, he could invite this Deputy Director of MI9 to hunt together in the outskirts, enjoy a pleasant weekend, and look for an opportunity to act.

Qonas Kilgor took a sip of champagne and thought for a moment.

“I will keep an eye out for you. If there is a suitable option, I will send someone to—where was it? Böklund Street, yes? I will have someone go there and inform you.”

“Thank you very much,” Klein responded sincerely.

At the same time, in his heart, he pitied Richardson, the former personal valet who had only just become the butler’s assistant. This young man, who longed to climb upward, had recently been leaving early and returning late to gather information about Backlund’s suburban manors for his employer. He was investigating which ones met the requirements and which owners had any intention to sell, personally inspecting them one by one so that every final option he submitted would have no problems. He could not allow his employer to choose a manor based on the materials, send someone to inquire, and only then discover that the owner had no intention of selling—or that the actual situation differed greatly from the description.

And now that Klein had temporarily adjusted the requirements, Richardson’s previous work would undoubtedly have to be completely redone.

The evil client… Mm, once this matter is finished, I will have Taneja increase his yearly salary by five pounds. A butler’s assistant should naturally earn a little more than a personal valet… Five pounds. In today’s card game, that would vanish after one or two raises… Richardson’s entire yearly salary would only be enough for a few hands… As Klein sighed soundlessly, he suddenly sensed someone’s gaze fall on him.

He made no attempt to hide his response and looked back, discovering that the one observing him was Admiral Amyrius Rieveldt.

This old-fashioned, solemn middle-aged man nodded lightly, then withdrew his gaze. He showed no intention of communicating with Dwayne Dantès, nor did he make any move to have someone arrest this wild Beyonder. After all, Dwayne counted as a military partner, and for a merchant and adventurer with broad connections in the Southern Continent, accidentally obtaining a potion was not especially rare.

Just then, Colonel Calvin and Member of Parliament Macht each held a glass of wine and walked toward Dwayne Dantès.

“How did things turn out like this?” Calvin lowered his voice and asked rather helplessly.

Because Dwayne Dantès had won nearly a thousand pounds, he and Member of Parliament Macht had no choice but to change strategies in order to prevent Admiral Amyrius from losing money. They went from cautious to reckless, each losing several hundred pounds, which made their hearts ache.

As a result, combined with what others had lost, Admiral Amyrius ultimately won two or three hundred pounds.

In response, Klein spread his hands.

“I did not even look at my hole cards!”

The meaning behind his words was that this was purely the favor of the various deities of the Fate domain.

And so far, the deities, angels, and hidden existences with authority in the domain of fate included but were not limited to the Evernight Goddess, The Fool, the Snake of Mercury Will Auceptin, Pallez Zoroast, the Blasphemer Amon, and the Angel of Fate Ouroboros.

“This truly is a troublesome matter.” Member of Parliament Macht smiled bitterly and shook his head. “Calvin and I lost so much we hardly dare return home.”

What they had lost was roughly half a year’s official income.

Dwayne Dantès, whose temples were graying, revealed a surprised look when he heard that.

“When did you lose?”

He then pointed to the pile of chips before his place and said,

“I only just happened to preserve the initial buy-in of one thousand pounds. The rest belongs to you, does it not?”

Colonel Calvin and Member of Parliament Macht froze. They looked at each other, then revealed smiles one after another.

“We were playing too tensely and calculated wrong.” Calvin nodded approvingly.

Klein laughed once, immediately changed the topic, and began searching for the late-night snacks placed on the tea table nearby.

…

In the City of Silver, inside the round tower of one of the twin towers.

After being announced, Derrick Berg met Colin Iliad, Chief of the six-member council.

“You said you had something to ask?” Colin, whose face bore many old scars, looked at the not-especially-tall youth opposite him and asked evenly.

Derrick bowed and answered frankly,

“Yes, Your Excellency Chief. My advancement to Priest of Light requires me to be in pure darkness. But once one enters darkness, it becomes extremely dangerous. I do not know how to resolve this problem.”

Colin Iliad listened seriously and nodded.

“You need to confirm one point: is it pure darkness, or lightless darkness? There is a significant difference between these two concepts.

“If it is the latter, you can obtain it in the dungeon at the bottom of the round tower. You stayed there for some time, so you should know what I mean.”

Toward the dungeon at the bottom of the round tower, Derrick held a deep fear, because it was there that he had first encountered the Blasphemer Amon. Not only had he seen the mutated former exploration team captain, he had also suffered parasitism himself. Unless absolutely necessary, he truly did not wish to recall it.

Now, after the Chief’s reminder, he slowly mobilized the corresponding memories and discovered that, although every cell at the bottom of the round tower received candles, once those candles burned out, one could only wait for the guards to bring food and potions in order to request more. That was not frequent—only three times a day, with long intervals between.

And yet in that environment, phenomena like monsters appearing or humans vanishing into thin air had never occurred.

Derrick remembered that he had once guarded against lightless darkness for a period of time without encountering any danger.

After thinking for a while, he hesitantly spoke:

“Is the lightless darkness at the bottom of the round tower mixed with an additional power?”

Was it that kind of power resisting the darkness’s tendency to make people disappear and give birth to monsters?

Colin Iliad glanced at the two crossed straight swords hanging on the wall, nodded gently, and sighed.

“Yes. That is why it is called lightless darkness, not pure darkness.”

Derrick’s brows gradually furrowed as though he were recalling something.

After a few seconds, he said with some uncertainty,

“If that is the case, then the darkness outside the bottom of the round tower is not pure darkness either. Many historical texts record that, before the Deep Dark Era, night would not make people vanish as though they had evaporated, nor would it bring forth monsters as though giving birth to them. The current darkness must have undergone some mutation, or some other power must have been mixed and blended into it, causing it to become dangerous.”

“Not bad. Being able to make that connection shows that you have improved… That is why I asked you whether what you need is pure darkness, or lightless darkness.” Colin’s pale-blue eyes revealed a faint trace of emotion.

This… Could pure darkness exist only outside the Forsaken Land of the Gods? Derrick sank into gloom for a moment, then roused himself and said,

“Your Excellency Chief, I am not too sure either. I need some time to confirm.”

He believed that Mr. Hanged Man, Mr. World, and the other Tarot Club members, who possessed broad knowledge, rich experience, and great strength, would be able to find a good method.

Colin Iliad did not ask further. He nodded.

“Go.

“Once you reach Sequence 5, even if you are unable to become a demigod for a long time, you will have a chance to wield certain Sealed Artifacts.”

…

Backlund, Hillston Borough.

Xio had changed into a brown jacket and put on a newsboy cap, disguising herself as an ordinary short man.

She had officially accepted the commission and had begun following and investigating the gentleman named Ernest Boyar. Several other bounty hunters were also participating in this mission.

Ernest Boyar adjusted the top hat on his head, pointed his cane forward, and instructed the coachman,

“To Saint George Borough.”

That was in the southeast of Backlund, separated from the East Borough by the Tussock River.

After boarding the carriage and sitting steadily, Ernest twitched his nose, looked out the window, and suddenly snorted.

As a Sanguine viscount, how could he fail to notice the clumsy tracking of bounty hunters?