Chapter 98: Caught in the Torrent

Chapter 98: Caught in the Torrent

Backlund, Saint George Borough, inside a cluttered storage room in a factory.

A cracked mirror flashed, and its surface became dark and deep, as if it connected to another world.

Suddenly, a fair hand extended from beneath the mirror’s surface, as though piercing through layer upon layer of rippling water.

A figure then walked out from within the mirror. It was Trissy the Demoness, sweet and clear in her black dress.

Her face was unusually pale, seemingly drained of blood, and her forehead was covered in dense beads of sweat.

With a thud, the suitcase in Trissy’s hand fell to the ground. The fear in her eyes could no longer be suppressed.

Then, with a blank expression, she murmured to herself:

“His messenger is actually an angel…”

At that moment, Trissy felt a chill run across her back, as though a cold wind had blown past.

She had never imagined beforehand that summoning a messenger could also be so dangerous. Fortunately, after that woman carrying four heads silently watched her for a while, she did nothing. She simply took the letter and left.

…

North Borough, 160 Böklund Street, Dwayne Dantès’s residence.

“Who sent it?” Klein asked Miss Messenger with some expectation as he accepted the letter from her.

Reinette Tinekerr’s four blond-haired, red-eyed heads spoke one after another:

“The dirty…” “Dark…” “Vessel…”

That nickname… Klein was stunned for a moment and, for a brief while, failed to immediately realize whom Miss Messenger was referring to.

In his mind, he rapidly went through the people who possessed his messenger’s summoning method, filtering them one by one.

It took only a few seconds for him to arrive at a corresponding guess:

Trissy!

As far as Klein knew, this Demoness, whose name had been changed to Trissy Cheek, might very well be one of the mediums for the awakening or descent of Primordial.

Under such circumstances, calling her a “vessel” was not inappropriate.

And those with sufficient understanding of the mysterious world all knew that the Primordial Demoness was an evil god called the Final One who ended everything, whose purpose was to create the apocalypse and destroy all. She also controlled a portion of the authority over emotions and emotion-related desires. Describing Her as dirty and dark was not entirely accurate, but it was understandable.

Similarly, dirty and dark could also describe Trissy, who had been corrupted to a certain degree by an evil god.

As expected of an angel. She actually dares to describe the Primordial Demoness that way… Klein inwardly praised her and was about to unfold the letter and read it quickly.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly looked toward Miss Messenger.

“What was the sender’s reaction when facing you?”

“She…” “Was…” “Very afraid…” three of Reinette Tinekerr’s heads spoke in succession. The one that failed to get a turn could only briefly open its mouth.

Klein’s expression turned slightly grave. After considering his words, he asked,

“Did you mark her?”

The head of Reinette Tinekerr that had failed to speak just now immediately seized the chance and answered first:

“No…”

The remaining three blond-haired, red-eyed heads then supplemented:

“Because…” “She…” “Has…”

“The Primordial’s…” “Aura…”

Klein was silent for several seconds, then nodded.

“I understand.”

After watching Miss Messenger step into the void and leave, he unfolded the paper and rapidly read through Trissy’s letter.

She is actually asking me to deal with White Saintess Katerina… Is that not exactly what I wanted to do? Klein’s eyes flickered several times. He immediately rummaged out a paste-like black substance.

Then he transformed into Gehrman Sparrow and evenly smeared that substance onto a small mirror in the room.

After patiently waiting for nearly ten minutes, by the time the paste-like black substance had completely evaporated from thin air and left not the slightest trace, Klein still had not managed to contact Trissy the Demoness.

As expected, Trissy, who has been corrupted to a certain degree by the Primordial Demoness, recognized Miss Messenger’s level and was frightened by the angel who delivered the letter… For a short time, she probably will not contact Gehrman Sparrow… Sigh. If I had known Miss Messenger was an angel in a special state, I definitely would not have let her appear before Trissy. Or I would have instructed her that if a Demoness summoned her, she could bring both person and letter over together… Klein sighed soundlessly a few times. He could only say that this was truly somewhat unlucky.

At that moment, illusory, layered prayers suddenly sounded beside his ears.

…

Backlund Bridge area, inside a gloomy alley.

Xio concealed the Icy Blade and entered, cautiously looking left and right.

“Not bad. You have more and more experience.”

As a low male voice rang out, a figure walked out from the darkness around the corner.

He was tall and straight, wearing a golden mask that exposed his eyes, nostrils, mouth, and cheeks. He was the MI9 officer who had previously contacted Xio.

“What matter required you to contact me urgently?” Xio took the initiative to ask.

The man in the golden mask likewise skipped all pleasantries and asked directly,

“You still seem to be monitoring the circumstances around Viscount Stratford. Have you discovered anything abnormal recently?”

Xio thought briefly and said,

“Yes.

“He had intimate contact with a woman of unknown origins. Several times, he had her come to his residence late at night.

“I tried to follow that woman, but failed both times.

“Also, Viscount Stratford suddenly went out late at night two days ago. I do not know where he went. I could not keep up.”

The man in the golden mask gave a soft “mm” and asked in depth about various details. Xio answered each one according to the specific circumstances she had seen at the time, only concealing the fact that she had met Shermane inside the carriage and had followed Viscount Stratford all the way to the outside of that warehouse.

“Not bad. Your persistence has borne fruit.” The man in the golden mask nodded gently, seemingly harboring no doubt toward Xio’s words.

He breathed out and shifted topics.

“With this matter, your merit will increase by quite a bit.

“To be frank, if things continue like this, it will not take you long to accumulate enough contribution points to exchange for a Sequence 6 potion. But before that, there will certainly be a strict qualification review. And given your background—heh, do not doubt me, I know your background very well—you absolutely will not pass that review.

“In truth, there is no need for you to seek the truth. I know that this is your motivation for persisting in missions related to Viscount Stratford, but my personal advice is for you to let go of this matter.

“With your current Sequence and ability, it is more than enough to let your mother and younger brother live well. Rest assured, no one will come to trouble you.

“But if you insist, I cannot guarantee what will happen.”

Although Xio had already expected such a statement to some degree, truly hearing it still made the tremors in her heart and the surge of emotions difficult to suppress. She blurted out:

“Who exactly are you?”

“I am only an ordinary mid-sequence Beyonder.” The man in the golden mask smiled. “Perhaps you do not know this, but the position of royal guards captain carries corresponding MI9 authority and is equivalent to a deputy director responsible for matters related to the royal family. When your father was still alive, I was his subordinate, and I received help from him in every respect. After he passed away, I, who had made no mistake and knew none of the hidden details, was excluded from MI9’s core of power. You see, heh, I can only be responsible for peripheral intelligence agents like you.

“Your father helped me too much. Because of that, after I recognized you, I deliberately made you an intelligence agent under one of my subordinates and provided some help within the scope of my authority. However, I have my own family and my own life. It is impossible for me to do anything too dangerous for you or take risks that are too great.

“How about this? Next, I will help you get a Judge potion formula. After that, do not accumulate merits and seek advancement anymore. Exchange them for things that can improve your life. As for what you plan to do privately, I do not know, and I do not wish to know.”

Xio listened in a daze. Her lips moved for a while before she said,

“What exactly was my father like?”

The man in the golden mask answered with a rather emotional tone:

“He was a truly brave, noble, and just aristocrat. But he was not so perfect. He was impulsive, impatient, and quick-tempered…”

Xio quietly listened to the end. She wanted to ask something else, but what she finally said was only one phrase:

“Thank you.”

“Go back. After I obtain the Judge formula, I will leave you a message and have you come to meet me,” the man in the golden mask said, waving his hand.

After Xio’s figure had completely vanished at the alley’s exit, the man wearing the golden mask was about to turn around when a somewhat ethereal voice suddenly sounded beside his ear:

“She was lying.

“At the time, she did follow Viscount Stratford to the vicinity of the incident location. That much can be confirmed.”

The man in the golden mask was silent for a moment. Then he said toward the shadow at his side,

“She may simply have been worried that it would arouse suspicion.

“With her Sequence, how could she possibly defeat Viscount Stratford? Besides, was it not said that Viscount Stratford had a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact with him?

“I believe she most likely did not even dare get close. Otherwise, she simply could not have survived!”

The somewhat ethereal voice replied,

“No matter what, since there is a point of suspicion, further investigation must be carried out. Do not ask about what follows.”

Outside the alley, Xio was calmly walking along one gas streetlamp after another.

Earlier, she had deliberately avoided saying that she had followed Viscount Stratford.

This was not to conceal things, clear herself of suspicion, or avoid trouble. Her true purpose was exactly the opposite.

Before this Tarot Gathering, the plan she had envisioned had been to say that she had followed Viscount Stratford to the outside of a warehouse in the docks, only to be frightened away by a terrifying tornado that had suddenly risen. That would have been more convincing, more believable, and less likely to invite suspicion. However, after learning that Mr. World, Gehrman Sparrow, was interested in this matter, she had quietly changed her mind and decided to leave suspicious holes in her account.

She felt that, with her own level, investigating the king’s secret would very likely take three years, five years, or even longer. Perhaps there would never be any hope. But by borrowing The World’s power, there might be a chance of succeeding this time.

For that reason, she was willing to take the risk and place herself within the torrent.

Before coming today to meet the MI9 man wearing the golden mask, Xio had prayed to Mr. Fool, asking Him to relay her thoughts to The World, Gehrman Sparrow.