Chapter 130
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Klein looked at Swain standing before the monster's corpse before looking sideways towards the Mandated Punisher who was helping his semi-conscious partner up by the arm . Klein suddenly felt an indescribable sadness .
It was almost impossible for members of the Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and the Machinery Hivemind to be known as heroes . The things they did were never made known to the public but only hidden in confidential dockets . But the danger and pain they endured were ever so real .
Perhaps there would be a day when my enemy will be one of my teammates… Klein sighed silently . He felt the heavy weight that all Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and Machinery Hivemind carried .
At that moment, Old Neil let out a sigh .
"Let's go . Let's not disturb them . "
"Okay . " Klein picked up his cane . Just as he widened his stride, he suddenly noticed that Old Neil was still holding his left hand . He asked, concerned, "Are you hurt?"
Old Neil chuckled briefly before saying, "I got stabbed by one of the shrapnel earlier . If I was still young, I definitely would've been able to dodge it . Luckily, it's just a small cut . "
He moved his right hand slightly to let Klein see the tiny wound that was still lightly bleeding on the back of his left hand .
After he confirmed that it wasn't a big issue, Klein walked off along the gangway as he sighed .
"Mr . Neil, you're much calmer than I imagined . Despite being less than two meters away from the monster, you could still chant the incantation calmly and use the charm . "
Although the rampaging Mandated Punisher had leaped towards Klein in the form of a monster, Old Neil was physically very close to him the entire time .
Old Neil chucked at the compliment .
"I'm an experienced Nighthawk . Among the dangerous things that I've done, what happened just now isn't even in my top ten . Once, when I was patrolling Raphael Cemetery with Dunn, I had no idea that a corpse had turned into a zombie and left its tomb to lie in ambush in the shadows of the trees . I passed by without noticing it at all since I was looking for some hidden spot . Heh, you know what I mean . In the end, he leapt onto my back and seized my throat . "
Klein felt gripped by terror when he heard the recollection as he voiced out his guess .
"And under such a situation, you were still calm enough to use a charm? Or did you use some spell that a Mystery Pryer could cast quickly?"
Old Neil stole a glance at him and chortled . "No, Dunn managed to drag that zombie into a slumber in time . I'm telling you this story to tell you that, as a Nighthawk, you not only have to believe in yourself, you also have to trust your teammates too . "
Klein fell silent for a few seconds . Then, he replied both sincerely and jokingly, "Mr . Neil, you are so wise today . "
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Old Neil did a tiny hop and found his footing on the pier . He replied in disdain, "That's because you only get to know the most trivial side of me usually . "
The two of them left the harbor and walked towards Evil Dragon Bar .
Klein put away his revolver, set his cane aside, and took off his jacket . Under the light of the gas street lamp, he started checking if there was any damage to his jacket .
"How lucky . There are only a few splinters and a patch that got dirtied…" He removed the splinters and roughly patted the dust away . Then, he put it back on .
Old Neil looked at him with a smile and mimicked his tone by adding leisurely . "What a pity, there's no way to claim compensation . "
Klein was temporarily at a loss for words .
I'm not such a person! He emphasized in his heart .
As the public carriage arrived, Klein took out his silver vine-leaf pocket watch and flipped it open to check the time .
"If there's nothing else, I have to head home," he turned to tell Old Neil .
Old Neil nodded slightly and said, "Enjoy your dinner at home . You don't need to think about the Slumber Charm . I'll get Swain to compensate me . He's a rich man after all . Of course, I won't go today . I have to consider his mood . "
Klein opened his mouth, but in the end, he only said, "… Thank you for your generosity . "
He boarded the carriage quickly and returned to Daffodil Street . It was already past seven in the evening, and the sky had already grown dark .
Klein took out his keys to open the door and saw Melissa taking off her fishnet hat and setting it on the clothes rack . He smiled and did small talk .
"You just got back?"
Then, his mixed emotions suddenly vanished, and he felt relaxed and warm .
"There was a practical lesson in school today," Melissa explained seriously .
Klein sniffed and smelled the fragrance of food . He was stunned and asked subconsciously, "Then, who's cooking dinner?"
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The moment he finished his sentence, both of them answered the question in unison, "Benson!"
Their tone had a hint of alarm .
Benson, who had heard their conversation, walked out of the kitchen . While wiping his hands on an apron, he said, "Do you have no confidence in my cooking? I remember that before Melissa learned how to cook, you two would wait for me to come home and watch me cook with anticipation . Actually, cooking is so easy . You want potato beef stew? Put in the beef first, then the potatoes, then add some seasoning…"
Klein and Melissa exchanged glances and remained silent .
Putting aside his cane and took off his hat, Klein turned around and smiled .
"I think it's time to hire a maidservant . It's very unhealthy to not eat dinner on time . "
"But I don't want to have a stranger next to us when we chat . That'll make me feel uncomfortable," Melissa said, subconsciously finding an excuse to object .
Klein spoke with a smile as he took off his jacket .
"I don't mind…"
Just then, his expression froze, and he stopped what he was doing .
I almost took off my jacket . I still have a revolver at my armpit…
Ahem . He cleared his throat and pretended nothing happened . "Don't mind her . When we get home, we can let the maidservant rest in her room . I doubt any maidservant would dislike resting . Hmm, we must find a maidservant who's willing to learn how to cook . "
He didn't want to endure the torture of a cuisine that left him guessing in the future .
Benson stood at the kitchen and nodded in agreement .
"When we have time, we can go over to Tingen Family Servant Assistance Association . They have a great deal of experience and many resources in this field . "
"Alright, it's decided then!" Klein ignored Melissa's unwilling look .
…
Backlund, Empress Borough, Viscount Glaint's residence .
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Audrey Hall left the party with her personal maid, Annie . They came to the second floor and entered the bedroom that the Viscount had prepared .
She took off her glamorous dress and her lightweight dancing heels slowly with Annie's assistance . She then put on a black hooded robe that she had prepared ahead of time .
Pulling up the hood, Audrey stood before the full mirror and examined herself .
She saw that more than half her face was covered by the shadow of her hood, and only her beautiful lips were clearly exposed .
Long black robe, face hidden by shadows, a mysterious feeling… This is something I've been dreaming of wearing all this time! Audrey thought to herself happily .
Worried, she added a blue boat-shaped soft hat under her hood . With the fine checkered fishnet drooping down, her facial features became even more indiscernible .
"Not bad, that's it!" Audrey stuffed her feet into leather ankle boots, looked to the side, and told Annie, "Wait for me here . No matter who comes, do not open the door . "
Annie looked at her helplessly and said, "But you have to make sure that your trip doesn't take more than an hour . "
"You should trust me . I have kept my promise every single time in the past . " Audrey smiled and leaned in towards her personal maidservant . She hugged her and kissed her cheek as etiquette demanded .
Then, she walked quickly and pulled up her hood . Turning around, she exited the bedroom through a secret door .
She walked all the way down and came to the side door of the viscount's residence where she saw that there was already a carriage waiting there .
Glaint stood amidst the shadows as he glanced at Audrey and complimented sincerely, "By dressing up like this, you are really, yeah—like the description Emperor Roselle often used—very cool . "
"Thank you . " Audrey pulled up an imaginary skirt and curtsied elegantly .
The two of them got into the carriage and left the villa . They arrived at a house about ten minutes away .
Outside the house, Audrey saw Apprentice Fors Wall and her friend, Tribunal Xio Derecha, whom she had been seeing recently .
Fors's slightly wavy brown hair and her light blue eyes showed a natural laziness . She pointed at Xio Derecha next to her and said, "She's an excellent persuader, capable of helping you get things that you want . "
Xio Derecha was slightly shorter, about 150 cm at most . Her facial features were soft, but she seemed pretty young and immature .
Although her shoulder length blond hair was messy and unkempt, and she was in a traditional knight training suit, she carried an indescribable look of dignity and a convincing charm .
Audrey had met her a few times . She smiled faintly and greeted, "Miss Xio, can I trust you?"
"You don't have to worry at all . " Xio Derecha smiled and gestured with her hand .
Just as she walked to follow Audrey and Viscount Glaint, they heard a sudden thud .
Audrey looked towards the source of the sound and saw that a triangular blade coruscating with a cold glimmer had fallen beside Xio Derecha's leg .
Audrey and Xio Derecha exchanged looks, simultaneously at a loss for words .
After nearly twenty seconds, Xio Derecha quickly squatted and picked up the triangular blade and hid it on her body .
"We have to prevent the occurrence of an accident . Some people lack rationality, and they aren't convinced easily," Xio Derecha explained seriously .
Audrey nodded and replied with a clear voice, "I believe you…"
"These are tools to convince those b*stards to talk to us calmly," Fors added, looking sideways at the grass plains .
The quartet didn't continue conversing and walked a few steps forward . They knocked on the wooden door with three long and two short knocks .
The door squeaked and opened . Slowly, using her Spectator state, Audrey looked into the house that had many people sitting around randomly . They employed various methods such as hoods or masks to conceal their looks . Some didn't even bother and exposed their faces openly .
Almost instantly, Audrey noticed a black-robed man on a single seat sofa .
That man wore a hood too, hiding his looks under a shadow .
He looked at all the guests in silence, giving people a feeling that he was somehow in a commanding position .
He is very confident, but his gaze is very disgusting . His gaze moved up and down my body like two slippery tentacles wanting to tear off my clothes… Audrey's senses were sharp . She carefully observed and made a judgment calmly, but she nearly had goosebumps .
Fors introduced him .
"That's Mr . A, a powerful Beyonder, the leader of this secret gathering . "