The assignment came from Port Enmat.
While the human trafficking case was being uncovered in Tingen City, a similar situation had emerged in Port Enmat, East Chester County.
The local Nighthawks had intercepted an unmarked cargo ship, and its hold was likewise packed with slaves from the Southern Continent.
However, the slaves in Port Enmat weren't as fortunate as those in Tingen.
Just after being rescued, before the Nighthawks could even question them, these poor souls suddenly exploded.
Literally exploded. The slaves' flesh and blood swelled like inflating balloons, then burst into fragments with a bang.
The sailors aboard the ship were silenced in the same manner, and even several Nighthawks were caught in the blasts, resulting in heavy casualties.
When word reached the Holy Cathedral, the higher-ups determined that this incident should be connected to the Tingen City case and requested that Tingen's Nighthawks send personnel to assist.
In the captain's office, Dunn Smith shared this information from the Church with the team.
Sounds really dangerous.
"Excuse me, can I not go?" Silas asked Dunn earnestly.
"Sorry, no," Dunn replied just as earnestly.
"Captain, I'm just a Sequence 9 support staff member. You're not seriously sending me to my death, are you?" Silas gave a bitter smile.
A business trip, to another county, and involving such a dangerous situation... getting stabbed once had been memorable enough.
And this time, the enemy could literally create bombs, far more dangerous than last time.
While he wasn't one to back down from trouble, he wasn't eager to volunteer for it either.
"This wasn't my arrangement," Dunn said, rubbing his temples with a rare expression of helplessness. "It was High-Level Deacon Cesimir. He specifically requested you."
Crestet Cesimir?
Silas quickly recalled that stern face, along with the horrifying sight of evil spirits writhing between his teeth.
"Why would that High-Level Deacon single me out?" Silas was puzzled. He hadn't done anything to provoke the man. Or does he see special potential in me?
"In the Port Enmat incident, the deceased all turned into flesh bombs.
This is a very distinctive characteristic of the Secrets Suppliant pathway abilities, blood magic used by Beyonders in the Secrets Suppliant sequence," Dunn explained.
"That's why Deacon Cesimir specifically telegraphed me, requesting that I send you to assist with the Port Enmat investigation."
Damn. So that's it. The Aurora Order, always the Aurora Order. Why are they mixed up in every bad thing that happens!
Guess it's because of my pathway. Who told you to be the only Secrets Suppliant in the Goddess's Church?
"Alright... I understand." After mentally cursing the Aurora Order ten thousand times, Silas could only nod in agreement. "When do I leave?"
"Don't worry, you're not the only one going." Dunn smiled. "Port Enmat belongs to another Nighthawk team, after all. Going to unfamiliar territory, you need your own people.
So, to protect your safety, I'm having Leonard and Klein go with you. Leonard's combat skills are solid, and Klein can provide divination support."
Thank you, Captain. You may be losing your hair, but you're still a good guy.
Silas was touched.
He glanced left and right at his two colleagues standing beside him, finally understanding why Dunn had called them into the office as well.
Leonard maintained his usual casual, unbothered attitude, and Klein didn't seem to mind the trip either. Both agreed. They arranged to take the steam train to Port Enmat tomorrow morning.
After that, Dunn gave them some reminders about things to watch out for during the trip. Seeing they all understood, he dismissed them.
"I feel like the Aurora Order has it out for me," Silas said, shaking his head and venting to the other two as they left the captain's office.
"Who told you to be the only Secrets Suppliant in the entire Goddess's Church?" Leonard laughed. "To be blunt, from now on, any Aurora Order cases across Ruen might end up calling for you."
"...Goddess protect me, please don't let that happen."
The thought of traveling nationwide for dangerous cases like this gave Silas a headache. He even started praying to the Goddess.
It was already after work hours. When the three emerged, they found that aside from those on duty or standing guard, everyone else had already left.
"Well then, see you at the station tomorrow morning."
Leonard didn't live in the same direction as the other two.
After leaving the security company's main gate, he waved goodbye and strolled off leisurely.
That left Silas and Klein to walk together to the street corner to wait for the public carriage back to Daffodil Street.
It was dusk. The setting sun bathed everything on Zotland Street in gold, making the people and objects moving through it look gilded.
"I really don't want to go on a business trip," Silas said, gazing at the scene before him with genuine feeling.
"Just think of it as a vacation," Klein said with a comforting smile. He suddenly remembered something and spoke up to remind him, "Oh, right, Silas. Didn't you make plans with Cecilia to see a show this weekend? I guess you can't go now, can you?"
Ah, right, that was a thing.
Silas froze, then felt even more annoyed.
***
He'd already broken his promise once before because of the Lanevus case.
Now, violating their agreement a second time made him feel somewhat embarrassed.
After returning home, he awkwardly told his sister he couldn't make it to the show again.
"I see. Then I'll help you pack," Cecilia said. Unexpectedly, she wasn't angry. Instead, her first thought was about Silas's plans for tomorrow.
"We don't have a suitcase at home. Should we buy one before the shops close?"
"Sis, aren't you even a little upset?" he couldn't help asking.
"Upset about what?" Cecilia looked at him oddly. "It's not like you can control this.
Rather than waste time on something meaningless, we might as well do something productive. Besides, it's only a few days' delay. We can go see it together after you're back."
At this point, she stood up and looked directly at Silas with her clear blue eyes. "Silas, I waited years for you to recover. A few days' delay is nothing compared to that."
Sis, you really are kind.
Silas sighed inwardly with admiration and said, "You're absolutely right. Alright then, I'll go buy a suitcase now."
Leaving Number 6 Daffodil Street, he didn't rush to catch a carriage. Instead, he first walked to Number 2 in the same row, Klein's house.
After ringing the doorbell, a timid young maid answered.
"May I ask who you are?" she asked cautiously, leaning against the door.
Klein had mentioned earlier that they'd recently hired a maid who was also learning cooking skills from him in her spare time.
The young maid had only been with the Moretti family a few days and didn't recognize Silas.
Maybe we should hire a maid too? Silas thought, then said to the young maid, "Please tell Mr. Moretti that a colleague is here to visit."
"What is it?" A male voice came from behind the door.
Looking past the maid, Silas saw a man with thinning hair whose features bore some resemblance to Klein. This was Klein's older brother, Benson Moretti.