The voice was hard to make out, as if it had been distorted by some kind of power.
Adler's body trembled as he hurriedly explained, "Caslathdi joined forces with the Burning Covenant. There were simply too many of them, and Caslathdi is also a formidable spellcaster."
"Is that your reason?"
"No, no..."
Creed said flatly, "Adler, you have disappointed me greatly. You botched the task the Grand Duke personally entrusted to you, yet your first choice wasn't even to report it."
Thud.
Adler dropped to his knees and cried, "I wanted to make the arrangements before reporting back!"
"Then have you made those arrangements now?"
"Yes, yes... I've hidden all the remaining members of the Hand of Darkness. Nothing will go wrong. The Burning Covenant took action today, and Ryan... oh, thanks to Ryan, he has already become an official investigator, and his magical talent has reached C-rank. I pushed him into the position of captain at the Bureau of Governance. The Burning Covenant will definitely value him more and more!"
"Oh? Not bad."
Creed nodded slightly.
C-rank talent was indeed far superior to that of ordinary people. In theory, he could reach the Fifth Tier Transcendent level and was worth focusing on.
"This Ryan is your only hope," Creed said. "If the Grand Duke hadn't planned to move against the Burning Covenant, you would have completely lost your value. Do you understand?"
"I understand, I understand."
Adler nodded repeatedly, inwardly relieved that someone like Ryan had emerged under his command. Otherwise, he wouldn't even know how he had died by now.
"Enough. Lie low for the time being. I'll send people to support you."
With that, Creed's figure vanished from the mirror.
"Phew..."
Adler stood up and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Good. It seems there's still hope."
Just now, he had been terrified that Creed would say, "Adler, you're no longer useful." Luckily, there was Ryan... Right, I need to hurry and send him what he wants.
The Hand of Darkness and everything else no longer mattered. Adler only wanted to cling to Ryan, his lifeline.
Seven in the evening.
A light rain began to fall over Berman City.
After handling matters at the bureau, Ryan drove to the bookstore in the East District.
There was no one else in the bookstore.
"Mr. Ryan."
Keisha rose from behind the counter and nodded to Ryan.
"The item my lord sent has already arrived. Would you like to take it now?"
"Wait a moment. I'm looking for a book."
There was no rush to collect the item. Ryan wanted to see whether this place had any information on Casola Prison.
Ryan walked into the bookshelf area and casually browsed through the shelves. Sure enough, they had every kind of book one could need, with a remarkably complete selection.
"What book is Mr. Ryan looking for?"
"It's from quite some time ago. Do you know about Casola Prison?"
"That is indeed from quite some time ago. Please wait." Keisha walked to one of the bookshelves and pulled out a book. "There are relevant records in here."
"Oh?"
They really had it?
Ryan opened the book. It contained information about various places across the Empire. He found Berman City, then spotted the words "Casola Prison."
It recorded everything from its establishment and purpose to the period it had been used, even including its locations.
Casola Prison was divided into three areas. Two were within the city, while one lay outside it. The ones inside the city were located in the East and West Districts. The one outside the city was southeast of the city gates, and judging from the current terrain, it had already been covered by a forest.
"Three places..."
Finding where Shally was being held would be somewhat troublesome. Transporting prisoners outside the city was the most troublesome, but it was also the safest. The locations within the city were more balanced, so she could be anywhere.
"Keisha, do you know Karut?" Ryan asked. "I heard some news last night. The Gate of Janus is going after the Blood Cult, and Caslathdi seems to be looking into Casola Prison and Karut."
"Karut? I don't know. Are you looking for information about him?"
"It's a map." After speaking, Ryan added, "A map of the labyrinth he designed."
He was not worried that Keisha would tell Adler about this. First, the latter was being watched by Jonathan, so even if he had doubts, he would not rashly come over to ask.
Second, Ryan had framed it as something involving Caslathdi and the Gate of Janus. Adler could not possibly go and verify it with them. There was no need, after all. He was now Magana's loyal little lackey.
Grand Duke, I'm your most loyal servant!
"I haven't heard of it."
"I see... That makes sense."
Ryan nodded, not particularly surprised.
Just as he thought this trip had been for nothing, Keisha suddenly said, "Knowledge exists in nothingness. It is taken by the gods and confined in places beyond humanity's reach. The more one grasps, the more one feels ignorant, because knowledge drifts upon the sea of ignorance... Lord Ryan, if you need it, I can help you."
"Oh? How?"
"Please go to the ninth bookshelf."
"The ninth bookshelf? This one? Then what?"
"The ninth book on the ninth row. Open it, and it will tell you the answer you seek."
Before you continue