Not a single one left??
Is it really that extreme?
Wei'en recalled his previous encounter in the slums, and a sudden, urgent desire to increase his strength surged within him.
The place he lived now wasn't far from the slums, and there was no telling if he would get caught in the crossfire.
Besides, he had joined the Secret Investigation Department. If a case involving a forbidden item ever came up, he wouldn't be able to run even if he wanted to.
"But don't you worry too much. The forbidden items are scattered across every continent. Our Shetland Kingdom is relatively remote, so the odds of encountering one are about the same as striking it rich overnight in Nocturnal City."
After saying this, Lisi gave him a sharp pat. "Wei'en, I've told you everything I should. Do you regret joining the Investigation Department now?"
"I regret it even more. What should I do?"
'Forbidden items, heavy casualties... this is too dangerous, isn't it?'
"What?"
"Nothing," Wei'en said, shaking his head and smiling. "Thank you for telling me so much."
"I told you, don't mention it," Lisi laughed heartily, stepping forward and slinging an arm around his neck. "From now on, you're one of us in Investigation Department One. You can come to me for help with anything."
Wei'en struggled to keep his balance and not fall into her embrace, saying with difficulty, "Actually, there is, is one thing I was hoping you could help me with."
"Spit it out!"
"I... I was hoping to borrow some money from you..."
...
A short while later, the two of them were back in the Investigation Department One office, sitting face to face.
Only after making countless promises to pay her back in the future did Wei'en finally succeed in borrowing two gold pounds.
He even had to sign a loan contract for it.
Lisi carefully put the contract away, saying a little sheepishly, "Wei'en, I really didn't expect you to ask me for money. I got a little... excited."
"You don't have to say that, Captain. You've really helped me out a lot this time."
Wei'en stuffed the money into his pocket, his expression very serious. "I'll pay you back as soon as I can."
He had to take the gamble—to buy enough knowledge to increase his strength, and to keep from starving to death at home!
'As for the favor I now owe... I'll just consider this money an investment in my Magic Potion Workshop. Once I start making a profit, I'll give her dividends.'
"No, there's no rush to pay me back."
Just then, Roger, who had been staring at them from inside the room for a long time, said ominously, "Lisi, aren't you being a little too nice to this kid? I find it hard to believe he'll survive his first mysterious event."
"Shut your damn mouth, Roger!"
Lisi's smile vanished, replaced by a cold glare. "You should worry about yourself first."
"Tsk," Roger sneered, holstering the flintlock in his hand. "Just a friendly reminder. You wouldn't want the gold pounds you lent out to never come back, would you?"
"Hmph, it's none of your business!"
"Well then, good luck."
Roger stood up, his face devoid of expression, and walked out of the office.
Wei'en's brow furrowed slightly. He was now on his guard against the cold-faced man.
"Don't pay him any mind. But he wasn't wrong about one thing..."
Lisi said, comforting him, before continuing, "Wei'en, there's something else I need to tell you."
Wei'en looked at her, confused. "Is it about the mysterious events?"
Lisi nodded. "The truth is, many people have joined Department One before, but only the four of us have survived to this day. The vast majority of them died during the first mysterious event they encountered after joining."
"Was it because they weren't strong enough?"
"That's part of it, but the main reason was a lack of reverence."
"Reverence?"
'Does she mean reverence for those strange creatures and items, like the reverence one has for a god?'
"Exactly. They lacked a fundamental understanding of mysterious events. They thought fighting was the best way to resolve them, but that's not actually the case."
"You have to remember: fighting isn't a requirement. Finding the most rational solution is the goal!"
With that, Lisi stood up, returned to her desk, and found a thick stack of notebooks to hand him. "These are briefings on mysterious events that I've compiled. Take them and have a look."
Wei'en took them, his expression serious. "I'll be sure to prepare thoroughly."
"Lastly, I have to say it: I'm very happy you've joined us, Wei'en," Lisi said with a smile.
"Me too."
"I forgot to ask, are you an Extraordinary Professional, or an Inheritor from a family with an Extraordinary Bloodline?"
Wei'en said vaguely, "An... an Extraordinary Professional."
"Not a Holy Professional from the Church, I hope?"
"Of course not."
Lisi breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Minister Yegor recruited a Holy Professional from the Storm Church once, and the Director beat him half to death."
'The Director hates the Church that much?'
Wei'en suppressed his curiosity. 'I can find out about all this gossip later.'
He was already starting to think about how to disguise his identity as a Wizard of the Ghost Soul School so that outside of his work at the Secret Investigation Department, he could—make a fortune!
...
...
After mooching another lunch off Lisi, Wei'en finally parted ways with her, leaving the Secret Investigation Department with his suitcase and some files in hand.
In fact, when Lisi learned that Minister Yegor had scheduled Wei'en's start time for the afternoon, she was about to go and have a word with him.
After his attempts to dissuade her proved fruitless, Wei'en proposed a suggestion that would defy the order from the minister of the logistics department: he would simply request leave and go home.
Lisi, who was in charge of the daily administrative work for Investigation Department One, immediately signed off on his proposal. She told him to get some good rest and promised to take him out to experience the Caster nightlife tomorrow evening.
And so, Wei'en left the Secret Investigation Department in high spirits.
He had to use his afternoon off to make good use of the two gold pounds he'd borrowed, exchanging them for useful knowledge to increase his strength.
"Wei'en, you're back so early?"
Yuan was sunbathing on a recliner at the clinic entrance. Seeing Wei'en return, he called out a greeting. "Yo, does this mean you passed the interview?"
"Uncle Yuan, thanks to your good luck, the interview went smoothly." Wei'en smiled and brandished the suitcase.
"I knew you could do it. How was it? Are you getting used to the environment at the Secret Investigation Department?"
Hearing his question, Wei'en asked with a reproachful look, "Uncle Yuan, is there something you forgot to tell me?"
"This, haha, did I?"
"Yes! The logistics department is nothing like what you said it was!"
Yuan gave an awkward laugh. "Wei'en, I figured you needed to be tempered a bit. Just like when I defied my family's wishes and resolutely chose to go to sea. A young man should set his sights on the wide world, or he'll have regrets when he's old."
"So when you went to sea, did you also encounter... forbidden items?"
"Forbidden... COUGH, COUGH, what forbidden items? That's not something you should joke about."
Yuan nearly choked on his own spit. He shot Wei'en a glare and said, "Wei'en, try to talk about forbidden items as little as possible, especially their serial numbers, names, and Extraordinary characteristics!"
"Is there some secret behind it?"
"You don't even know this? The Gho—Didn't your family tell you any of this?"
"No."
Wei'en shook his head. Forget about this kind of mystical knowledge; he had only just acquired a Meditation Technique.
'Those Ghosts would never be kind enough to provide knowledge for free.'
"..."
Yuan explained helplessly, "The reason those things are called 'forbidden' is because they are all objects cursed by fate."
"Cursed by fate?"
"Fate is like a long river, and these forbidden items are bystanders standing outside of it. Once you talk about them too much, or even think about them too much, they will come for you without hesitation."
"It works like that?"
Wei'en was truly shocked.
'Then when Lisi so directly mentioned forbidden item 1-83, the Demon Clown, doesn't that mean...'
"If you don't believe me, give it a try. I'm sure I'll be collecting your corpse soon enough."
Wei'en stared at him, speechless. 'Why does someone look so eager when talking about collecting my corpse?'
"In any case, those things are too bizarre. It's best to mention them as little as possible."
With that, Yuan stood up and said, "Alright, I should go buy groceries. I have to make my precious daughter her favorite baked rice tonight."
'Baked rice?'
'Sounds delicious.'
Wei'en stared at him with a burning gaze, hoping for an invitation.
"Why are you still here? I'm closing up."
"...Uncle Yuan, once I get through this busy period, I'd like to invite you for a meal to thank you for the recommendation letter you wrote for me."
"Hmm?"
Yuan frowned, staring at him for a good while before asking suspiciously, "Wei'en, you're not just using 'thanking me' as an excuse to ask my Kali out on a date, are you?"
"..."
'To hell with it! I'm not treating him to a meal after all!'