"Professor, Professor!"
Mr. Scott, still shaken, pointed at the painting Shade had put back into the safe. Professor Katia shook her head.
"Calm down, Scott. Did you think a folklorist's work was just reading documents in an office? Calm down. Oh, Scott, you're a fine young man. Calm down!"
"Professor, have you... have you seen something like this before?"
"I've seen worse. This is your first time coming out to see the world. If you still wish to study under me, you'll encounter far more things like this sooner or later."
The young scholar wore a terrified expression. Professor Katia felt slightly disappointed, then spoke to Shade again.
"Sir, judging from your expression, you must be more than just..."
"Yes."
Shade took out his identification and waved it before Professor Katia.
"Military Intelligence Section Six. We're investigating a batch of contraband. I'm an agent of the Sixth Office, and Miss Princess is my superior."
There was nothing wrong with that explanation.
Professor Katia was clearly someone who had seen the world. She took the identification, glanced at it, and immediately knew it was genuine.
"Then it seems we really have run into serious trouble this time. Agent, what else is in the safe?"
"Land deeds and house deeds. It seems that aside from this residence, Mr. Jude owns most of the houses along this entire alley. There are also some jewels, banknotes, strange badges, and seals."
The professor accepted the stone Mark Shade had taken out. She frowned as she studied it, then suddenly widened her eyes.
"The Scarlet Secret Society!"
"What?"
Shade asked in surprise. Mr. Scott, still unsettled beside them, was also confused, but Leisha considered it before offering an explanation.
"The Scarlet Secret Society is an ancient term. Its modern formal name refers to a cult that