After Silas returned and reported to Dunn, the latter also became suspicious of that woman.
"On one hand, we have a viscount who took mummy powder and was highly aroused.
On the other hand, an astonishingly beautiful but low-status streetwalker. Yet the former so easily let the latter go... This is far too suspicious."
Dunn said.
"However, according to the servants' statements, Viscount Dorsett was frantically pursuing thrills, willing to try all sorts of... uh, peculiar methods.
His death was only a matter of time."
Silas said.
"Still, regardless of the circumstances, this woman is highly suspect. I'll arrange for police personnel to search for her."
After discussing work matters, Dunn didn't let Silas leave.
Instead, he took out his pipe from inside his coat, lit it, and took a few puffs. Grayish-blue smoke curled upward, obscuring his deep gaze.
The captain isn't letting me go. Does he have something to say?
Though somewhat puzzled, Silas waited quietly.
"Daly has successfully advanced to Sequence 6 'Spirit Guide' and has replaced Edward as the Nighthawks captain at Port Enmat."
Dunn said slowly.
"Lady Daly has advanced? That's wonderful news, Captain."
Silas said admiringly.
"It is good news."
Dunn nodded. "She truly is a genius. In just a few years, she figured out that method for mastering potions... while I still needed reminders from you all."
He was referring to the acting method.
"No matter how you learned it, isn't it good as long as you can use it?"
Silas said unconcernedly.
"You're right." Dunn took another puff from his pipe. "It's not just you. Edward was right, too."
"Captain, you mean..."
Silas heard the implication in Dunn's words. He was going to take his feelings for Daly seriously.
"Since I've mastered the method for digesting potions, I should be more proactive.
I've decided to start from the beginning, re-digest from Sequence 9, leave no hidden dangers, and then seek advancement."
Dunn laid out his plan, pausing briefly before continuing as if talking to himself, "At least I need to become someone worthy of her."
"Congratulations, Captain."
Silas said sincerely. "Please do your best."
Coming out of Dunn's office, Silas ran into Klein head-on.
"Perfect timing. I need to talk to you."
Silas called out to him and, under his curious gaze, asked, "Does Mr. Azik have time lately? Can you help me contact him? I need to see him about something."
Klein needed to make a special application, Dunn was preparing to digest from the beginning, and he himself should also consider seeking advancement. So he planned to visit Azik to see if he could provide reliable assistance.
Hearing Silas's question, Klein froze for a moment, then shook his head. "Mr. Azik has already left Tingen."
Azik has left Tingen?
Silas was somewhat surprised, and at the same time felt a surge of unease. With that powerful individual present, any danger could be backed up by him. Now that he'd left, if something else happened, it would be troublesome.
"Why did he leave Tingen?"
Silas asked.
So Klein told him what had happened over the past few days.
It turned out that while exorcising evil spirits from an old castle, Klein had discovered traces of Mr. Azik's past.
After going there to investigate with Azik, Azik discovered he had truly lived there a hundred years ago, and found the remains of his offspring in the castle's underground.
His offspring from a hundred years ago had not only been murdered and sealed, but had recently been exhumed, with the skull removed.
The person who opened the coffin was the mastermind behind the scenes who had caused discord in both his and Klein's fates.
Azik used his abilities to track the skull.
One half's whereabouts were unknown, while the other half had been buried inside a woman's body. This woman's name was Megose.
"Megose?"
Silas was extremely surprised. So that incident with Lanevus was also related to that mastermind?
"Yes. Mr. Azik's investigation alerted the other party, who has temporarily gone to ground.
So he also left Tingen and headed to Backlund. On one hand, he's taking the opportunity to search for traces he left before losing his memory.
On the other hand, he's letting the target lower their guard."
Klein said. "He left me contact information. If you need it, I can write to him."
"That works."
Silas nodded. This weekend, he still had to take his sister to the theater, so he'd wait until after that to write to Azik.
"By the way, weren't you searching for rooftops with red chimneys? How's that going? Did you find it?"
He remembered another matter, since this was another clue to that mastermind.
"I've already checked half of Tingen's houses with red chimneys and still found nothing."
Bringing up this matter, Klein was quite helpless.
"Well then, keep at it."
Silas encouraged him.
"I certainly need to keep at it," Klein sighed, shaking his head as he walked away.
"Not only do I have to investigate rooftops, but I also have to face the upcoming special audit... Once I'm done with all this, I definitely want to be like you and take my family to see a play at the Grand Theater.
That 'Return of the Count' that's coming to Tingen soon sounds pretty good..."
---
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, two more days had passed. The police hadn't found the woman related to the viscount's death on the streets.
Silas continued his daily routine, picking up the dress he'd ordered for Cecilia from the tailor, just waiting for tomorrow night's performance.
Meanwhile, the special auditor from the sanctuary had already arrived at the Blackthorn Security Company.
He was none other than one of the Church's nine senior deacons, Senior Deacon Crestet Cesimir, whose title was "Sword of the Goddess."
Silas had already met this man once. Thanks to him, he'd been forced to travel to Port Enmat and nearly died.
Everyone from Tingen headquarters was waiting in the break room. The first to go down for the audit was Klein, who had made the application.
When he came back up, a huge change had occurred. Silas could clearly see with his own eyes that spirituality was overflowing from Klein's body, and his movements were noticeably more agile.
"You advanced?"
Silas asked quietly.
"Yes... uh..."
Klein seemed about to respond with a smile, but for some reason, after thinking for a moment, he suddenly broke into an exaggerated grin. "But of course!"
Way too fake. Doesn't suit him at all.
Silas muttered internally as he went down second. Senior Deacon Crestet was waiting for him in the alchemy room where Old Neil used to teach mysticism.
Crestet still had extremely short golden hair and, as always, had his collar raised high, hiding the lower half of his face in shadow.
He still carried that briefcase containing a white bone short sword, the so-called holy relic of the Goddess.
Following his instructions, Silas placed his hand on the Goddess's holy relic and swore an oath not to casually spread the "acting method."
Everything went smoothly. What startled him, though, was that Crestet suddenly praised him, saying he'd done well at Port Enmat last time.
I didn't, I haven't! Next time something like that happens, don't come looking for me again!
He shouted silently in his heart, but on his face, he could only smile at the man without saying anything.