When Silas and his group arrived at Port Enmat and had just boarded the carriage, Ms. Daly, who had come to meet them, hadn't even exchanged a few pleasantries before suddenly dropping a bombshell of a topic.
"You three should all know about the acting method by now, right?" Ms. Daly's gaze traveled back and forth across the three men's faces as she asked with a smile.
How does she know...
Silas's eyebrow twitched, but he said nothing.
He wasn't the only one who remained silent. The other two in the carriage also kept quiet.
Leonard and Klein both glanced at Silas. Each of them had separately hinted to Silas about the acting method, and at this moment, they all understood that Silas had already mastered the way to digest potions.
For a moment, only the sound of hoofbeats and carriage wheels rolling over the road could be heard. The atmosphere became awkward.
Isn't this the kind of thing that should remain unspoken? Why bring it out into the open?
Silas thought to himself, not understanding why Daly was making the topic explicit.
"Hehe, look at you all. You're just like innocent men unwilling to reveal their romantic experiences.
Thinking you've said nothing, when in fact you've completely given yourselves away."
Daly couldn't help but laugh.
Ma'am, that comment borders on harassment.
Silas's mouth twitched. He spoke up, "Ms. Daly, how did you know?"
In his memory, he hadn't really met with Daly much. Why would she see right through him the moment she opened her mouth?
"I discovered it from the letters Dunn wrote to me."
Daly gently pinched her rounded, pale fingers. "Dunn told me that Klein joined a divination club, and that you, Silas, try various rituals every day.
You two have mastered your potions at a speed beyond his imagination. As for Leonard, I started suspecting you when I was still in Tingen.
It's just that you were always so carefree and careless about digesting your potion that I only dared to be certain recently."
After hearing this, Leonard let out an awkward laugh without explaining.
So it was the captain who leaked the information.
"Corresponding with a lady but only talking about work and showing no romantic sense... the captain should really reflect on that."
Silas said somewhat helplessly. "Ms. Daly, so what are you asking about this for?"
Daly then began to explain. It turned out the incident originated with Klein. He hadn't just hinted about the acting method to Silas; he had also obscurely shared it with Dunn.
Dunn might have sensed his intent, but because Klein didn't explain it thoroughly, Dunn didn't fully understand. Since it wasn't convenient to ask directly, he mentioned it in a letter to Daly.
No wonder the captain came into my dream last night.
Silas thought to himself.
"I want you to help me by explaining the acting method to Dunn in detail. It needs to be soon, before the Church makes you take an oath of secrecy."
Daly said to them. "The Church strictly forbids sharing this method internally.
I've already sworn before the Goddess's holy relic that I cannot share this with anyone who doesn't know about the acting method.
I only dared to discuss this with you after confirming that you all have mastered it."
As for why the Church was blocking the information, Daly wasn't clear either.
The Holy Cathedral only said it involved classified matters and that she would have to reach the level of an Archbishop or a Senior Deacon to know the reason.
"I understand, Ms. Daly."
Klein said seriously. "When I return from this assignment and before making any special applications, I'll explain it thoroughly to the captain."
Ms. Daly really cares about the captain. To help him, she specifically sought an opportunity to ask this of us.
Silas thought to himself.
"That's wonderful."
Daly looked as if she had breathed a sigh of relief.
While the group conversed inside the carriage, it was also traveling through the streets of Port Enmat.
Not long after they finished talking, the carriage arrived at the Port Enmat Nighthawks' headquarters. Port Enmat Fishing Club... that's what the sign on the building read, decorated with stylized silhouettes of fishing rods, hooks, and sea fish.
Silas stared at the sign in a daze.
He suddenly felt that, by comparison, a name like Blackthorn Security Company was entirely too normal.
"This is a coastal area after all. Many cases occur near the water, so using this kind of name as a cover is more appropriate."
Daly explained, leading the group inside the club.
Unlike the Blackthorn Security Company's lobby with its partition separating the front and back, the Fishing Club had a completely open space.
Several sets of sofas surrounded tables, arranged in multiple groupings throughout the hall.
The Nighthawks were scattered in twos and threes among the sofas, either chatting or resting with their eyes closed.
Twice as many people as in Tingen City...
Silas thought to himself. He keenly observed that although these people sat casually, their brows and eyes all carried irritability and unease, as if they were enduring something.
A certain faint smell permeated the surroundings, making Silas feel both familiar and genuinely disgusted.
Without a doubt, it was the aura of the True Creator.
"Welcome back, Ms. Daly."
The receptionist here was a decent-looking male attendant wearing a shirt and vest with a black bow tie around his neck. He bowed slightly to Silas and the others.
"I presume these three are the reinforcements from Tingen."
The Nighthawks, closer to the reception desk, involuntarily turned their heads when they heard the word "Tingen," casting appraising looks at the three of them.
"Please leave your names here so I can register them."
The attendant brought over the registry.
"Where is Captain Edward?"
While Silas and the other two were completing their registration, Daly inquired.
"The captain went out on business. Before leaving, he told me he won't return until tomorrow.
He instructed me to arrange accommodations for everyone first, and that anything else can wait until tomorrow."
The attendant said respectfully.
Not meeting with us?
The three from Tingen exchanged glances.
What's the meaning of this? Deliberately giving us the cold shoulder, starting with a show of dominance?
Ms. Daly's shoulders rose slightly then fell, as if she had taken a deep breath.
"Did the captain say what he went out to do?"
She asked calmly.
"I'm very sorry, I'm not clear on that."
The attendant shook his head.
"..."
Daly was momentarily speechless, as if completely exasperated with the Port Enmat captain.
Silas thought for a moment, then lowered his head and quickly wrote his name in the registry before handing it back to the attendant.
"Since we've come here to provide support, we'll naturally defer to our hosts. It's getting a bit late today anyway, so please show us to our accommodations."
After all, this wasn't Tingen's case. If they weren't in a hurry, he certainly didn't need to be.
He was happy to take it easy. Best-case scenario, the matter would be resolved without him having to lift a finger.
That would be like taking a free vacation to Port Enmat with travel expenses covered.
And so, under the watchful eyes of the other Port Enmat Nighthawks, Silas and his companions were led out of the hall and settled into the adjacent inn.
This place also seemed to be the property of the local Nighthawk team, specifically for hosting out-of-town guests.
Because Port Enmat was a transportation hub with many Nighthawks and related personnel passing through, they had simply purchased the adjacent building and converted it into an inn.
"They seem hostile toward us."
After settling into the standard guest room at the hotel, Leonard suddenly spoke up.
"Mainly toward me."
Silas smiled, speaking indifferently.
This seemed understandable. After all, they had been tormented by an enemy of the same pathway for a long time.
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~ Push the story forward with your Power Stones