Xio was in front, and Shermane slowly followed behind. The two left the alley and returned to the street. Instead of taking the subway line that extended in all directions, they hired a carriage and drove from North Borough where Steam Train Station was to East Borough.
After carefully closing the window and pulling up the curtains to seal the car, Shermane breathed a sigh of relief and took off the hood on his head.
He, no, it should be her. Her middle brown hair has grown to her waist and is tied up casually on the back of her head. Her face is much more refined compared to "Sherman", but some of the original facial features can still be seen, such as thinner eyebrows and thin and slightly wider lips, just like the difference between twin brothers and sisters.
But the combination of these characteristics that could only be called "okay" gave her a unique charm. Among the women Xiu had met, she was also a rare attractive type. She was more likely to arouse the interest of the opposite sex than Fors, who had a good appearance but a lazy temperament.
Even her eyes, which looked a little melancholy when she was a man, which made people think she lacked masculinity, now perfectly matched her weak appearance, making Xio, who was a head shorter than her Bounty Hunter, subconsciously think that she should accept his protection.
But he, no, she is already Sequence 7's Beyonder!
"Sherman, I didn't expect you to really become a woman." Looking at this friend's new appearance, Xio's face was filled with emotion or confusion. "Those jokes about fate and long-awaited changes you mentioned before, I always thought they were just complaints about dissatisfaction with life... Moreover, what should I do with Freyja and Daisy?"
Xio actually wasn't that resistant to the fact that Sherman turned into Shermane. After all, she had seen many kinds of changes in people caused by Potion. Some made people cold-blooded and ruthless, from a boy who didn't even dare to kill chickens to a murderer without batting an eyelid. Some made people become neurotic and could often hear words coming from nowhere... So, it's not unusual for Potion to change people into another gender.
But she knew that after rescuing the Liv family in Great Smog, the sisters had developed a liking for the thin man, and within half a year of getting along, it developed into a longing for the opposite sex. I am afraid that privately, they have begun to compete secretly, or have reached some kind of agreement.
Now, Sherman has become Shermane, what should they do?
"I don't know... Sometimes I wonder if I should stay at the 'Instigator' stage. East Borough has gradually recovered and even become better than before. I also have enough ability to protect myself. But the wish I had when I entered the extraordinary world still appears in my mind from time to time, urging me to move forward..."
Shermane There was also a hint of confusion on the face of the female Gentle Beauty.
"In the end, Miss Irene Persuasion killed me. If you want to protect Freyja, Daisy and Liv, and have your own power, Sequence 8 is not enough."
Her skin was delicate, and her weak, boneless arms stretched out from under her cloak, with her index finger pointing up between the two of them.
Bang, there was a soft sound, and black flames that could absorb all light floated from her fingertips.
Xio immediately felt the hairs on her body stand up. The instinctive danger of "Sheriff" made her aware that the Black Flame in front of her had the ability to seriously injure her or even kill her.
She had seen this kind of black flame, which was essentially a curse, in the battle between Miss Irene and a "Judge". It easily killed that Sequence 6 enemy, just like killing an ordinary person without Beyonder Ability.
"Is this terrifying power your purpose?"
she murmured, as if she no longer recognized her friend.
"No, of course not," Shermane waved away Cursed Black Flame, put on his hood again, hiding his beauty in the shadows, and shrunk his delicate body slightly, "This is the power that can protect important people like Miss Irene."
The carriage roared through the streets and drove quickly to East Borough. There, in the name of Sherman's sister, Shermane, Reassembly "Black Claw Gang" would be managed by Xio, while the newly promoted "Witch" would hide behind the scenes and find a way to perform that suits her.
"Do you remember the name 'Irene Watson'?"
Leonard Mitchell picked up the coffee cup on the table, took a sip, and looked at "Nighthawks" sitting opposite him through the fog. He was the same as Pathway, but Sequence was slightly lower than "Nightmare" Chuck·Hopper.
When the latter heard his question, he looked away from the carriage passing by quickly outside the window. The brown eyes under the messy bangs narrowed slightly, as if he was lost in memories.
Except for me, the memory of "Nightmare" seems not to be very good, such as the captain... Leonard's thoughts returned to Tingen for a while, and it was not until Hopper spoke that he was pulled back to this cafe.
"Last September, when the Third Generation Difference Engine manuscript was being sought and fought for by many parties, I intervened in a spy case involving the existence of extraordinary powers. MI9 was supposed to take over, but they all went out to deal with the Intis and Feysac spies, so the investigation could only be left to me."
Leonard was taking notes while listening, comparing them with the contents of the file in his mind.
"Me and the Sheriff of Backlund Bridge Borough Red Rose Street..."
"Dule."
"Yes, Police Chief Duller, let's investigate the house where a missing Feysac spy lived. It has been rented by a young woman, so we asked her a few questions, confirmed that the spy did not return, and left."
"Is she Irene Watson?"
"Yes, that was the only time I saw her... No, to be precise, there was also a dream review. You know, this is the standard procedure," "Nightmare" Hopper said, with a trace of doubt in his eyes, "But why did you ask me face to face? The relevant content should be in the attendance record and case file, Mitchell Your Excellency."
For this "Red Gloves" who is parallel to the "Nighthawks" system but has a slightly higher status, Hopper showed some respect, but not much.
After all, there are more Backlund and Red Gloves than the ordinary Nighthawks, so they are not considered rare.
"This was not an official assignment, but an investigation that I conducted for personal reasons."
Leonard did not change his mood due to the other party's attitude. In the past six months, his exaggerated temper has calmed down a lot. He only occasionally returns to the style of Tingen when he is alone at home.
"I just want to know, do you remember what this Irene Watson Miss looks like?"
He pressed his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and asked expectantly.
After locking in the missing Miss Irene and confirming that she was "problematic", Leonard went through all the Nighthawks files that had been stored underground in Saint Samuel Cathedral for nearly a year, and finally discovered the name during an operation in September last year. Therefore, he couldn't wait to make an appointment with the "Nightmare" who handled the mission, and requested the other party's assistance in a private name.
"Appearance..."
Chuck·Hopper had that look of recollection on his face again, which made Leonard secretly think something was wrong.
Sure enough, after a moment, this Nightmare smiled apologetically and said:
"I can't remember clearly. I see too many people every day, some in reality, some in dreams... But I still have the impression that her appearance is very outstanding, which made Police Chief Duller a little distracted that day, and many mistakes were made in the subsequent investigation."
This is a problem faced by most "Nightmare". They reverse daytime and Evernight, lingering in other people's dreams for a long time. Some people even cannot tell the difference between reality and dreams, and their memory declines. This is just one of the Sequence problems that is not serious.
Only by mastering Acting Method and distinguishing the real self from the self in "Nightmare" can these problems be avoided... He pursed his lips and did not blame Acting Method for not understanding Acting Method. Like the captain, Hopper had been at Sequence 7 for many years.
But the other party's vague answer also made him confirm one thing: there must be something wrong with Irene Watson!
How could that round face with some freckles, which could be considered average at best, become so outstanding that even a police chief could not forget it?
The only way now is to enter Hopper's dream and try to make him recall the scene of that day in his dream. But for a Nightmare, it is impossible for people to enter his dream easily, unless it is in the name of a formal investigation, and that will expose his actions...
As for other people who may have been in contact with Irene, such as the landlord Mrs. Wallis, he has gone to the warm and pleasant Desi Bay to recuperate due to the sequelae of Great Smog. Police Chief Duller in the neighborhood has also been transferred away from Backlund, so there is no chance to investigate in the short term.
When he hesitated, a somewhat ethereal voice came from behind him.
"It seems that you have encountered some troubles that you can't solve and need the lady's active assistance, huh?"
Before the other party could say something that was even more inappropriate to fall into the ears of other "Nighthawks", Leonard turned around and interrupted the other party with a quick greeting:
"Ms. Daly, why are you here?"
Hopper obviously also recognized the "Spirit Guide" who was wearing a black robe and had a somewhat aloof temperament. The captain of the other team stood up and said hello solemnly.
Fortunately, she didn't wear that weird makeup today, otherwise it would have been too easy to attract the attention of other guests... Leonard muttered inwardly, watching Daly sit next to her, facing Chuck·Hopper.
"Of course I'm here to see what you are busy doing every day, and then decide whether to report to the boss..."
She chuckled lightly and looked at the forgetful Nighthawks with her green eyes.
"Also, I have some experience in dealing with 'Nightmare' who has a poor memory. Do you need me to use the Spirit Channeling technique to help him recover?"
The sharp whistle sounded, and the front of the car dragging thick smoke and a carriage full of passengers left Backlund and embarked on the journey to Feynapotter.
Looking out the window, the scenery changed from the urban area shrouded in fog to farmland covered in healthy green. Fors closed the curtains, stretched out, grabbed the wine glass on the table, and drank the low-alcohol fruit wine that came with the meal in one gulp.
"The food and service in the first-class carriage are better than most hotels in Backlund. The only drawback is that it is expensive... Fortunately, the cost of this trip was paid by the publisher of Trier, otherwise I would rather squeeze into the second-class carriage..."
She murmured, looking at the manuscript on the corner of the table, hesitating whether to read the manuscript for publication again or take a nap on the sofa as large as the bed.
"Dong dong——"
Before a decision was made, there was a knock on the door of the private room. Just as Fors was about to say "come in", he remembered that the door had been locked by himself. He could only stand up from the sofa, unscrew the lock, and pull the door inwards.
Standing at the door was someone she hadn't expected.
"Miss Irene?"