Business Trip?

The reward Luther finally received in thanks was a Beyonder Item: the White Bone Flute in Azik's possession.

"Channel Spirituality into the flute and blow it, and it can summon a random undead creature for you to command," Azik said. "It contains my blood, so you can use it freely for the first three times. But after the third time, the Spirituality in the blood will be exhausted. After that, the undead you summon will most likely refuse to obey your commands unless you are stronger than it."

"How strong do I need to be to use it freely?"

Luther asked curiously.

"At least Mid-Sequence."

Azik handed him the Bone Flute.

Luther thanked him and reached out to accept it. The Bone Flute felt extremely cold in his hand. Its entire body was a lustrous, jade-like white, yet a thread of crimson flowed within it. That was probably Azik's blood.

After chatting with Azik for a few more moments, Luther got up to say goodbye. He had used target practice as an excuse for coming out. If he was gone too long and got caught slacking off during work hours, that would not be good.

Luther took a public carriage back to Zouteland Street. He got off early at the intersection and walked a little farther to air out the cigar smoke clinging to him. When he stepped into Blackthorn Security Company, he found everyone present, their faces all brimming with joy.

What was going on?

"Did something good happen?"

He curiously asked Rozanne at the front desk.

"It's payday!"

Rozanne said to Luther in disbelief, "I can't believe it! Luther, you actually forgot a day like this. Hurry and go collect your share from Mrs. Orianna, the accountant."

Oh, weekly pay had been issued.

Luther suddenly understood. It was Friday, the day the Nighthawks collectively received their weekly wages. He had not collected his pay for the past two weeks because he had needed money to settle in when joining the team and had advanced two weeks' salary. In other words, this was the first time he was officially collecting his wages.

"Then I'll head over."

He said with a smile, quickly walking behind the partition.

Mrs. Orianna, the team's accountant, was in the first office on the right. She was a fashionable woman in her thirties. Her green ruffled gown looked refined and elegant, perfectly suiting her gentle temperament. When she looked at Luther, a friendly smile appeared in her emerald-green eyes.

"Good afternoon, ma'am."

Luther had met her before when he advanced his salary. "I'm here to collect this week's wages."

"Alright, now only you and Dunn are left."

She took out a salary confirmation form. Sure enough, everyone else's space had already been stamped, leaving only his and Captain Dunn's.

"Captain hasn't come in?"

Luther took his seal from his wallet, dipped it in the ink pad, and stamped the form before casually asking.

"He seems to have gone to the church. The bishop wanted to speak with him about something."

Mrs. Orianna took out a brass key, opened the safe in the room, and retrieved two banknotes. "Luther, I heard from the others that you've accomplished quite a few major things lately. At this rate, your salary may rise very soon."

"May the Goddess bless us. I hope your blessing comes true."

Luther replied with a smile.

The Nighthawks had an internal salary increase system. Merits were recorded based on each Nighthawk's contributions, and once they accumulated to a certain amount, their pay would increase. They would also receive priority for promotion opportunities and the like. In addition, the higher a Nighthawk's Sequence, the higher their base salary. Luther was currently at the basic six pounds, but given his recent outstanding performance, a raise was likely already on the agenda.

Especially since he was not permitted to advance, his salary increase would be greater as compensation.

Luther took his wages from Mrs. Orianna. There were two notes in total: one for five pounds and one for one pound. The five-pound note bore Henry I's portrait, while the one-pound note bore William VI's. The two had similar faces, stern expressions, and thick beards.

Hmm, I've seen them several times already. There's nothing exciting about it anymore.

Luther put the two banknotes into his wallet and quietly thought to himself.

The wages of Tingen City's Nighthawks were split equally between the Goddess Church and the Awwa County Police Department. At the same time, the Police Department provided them with corresponding police identities. Luther, for example, now had a probationary inspector's uniform that he could wear while investigating cases, making it easier to question civilians.

Moreover, there was something even more wonderful about being a Nighthawk: their wages were tax-free. Whatever they were supposed to receive was exactly what they took home.

After putting away his wages, Luther casually glanced into his wallet.

The salary he had advanced before had almost all gone toward renting a house, buying formal clothes for himself and his sister, paying tuition, and other such expenses. Fortunately, he later received the house Old Neil had gifted him. It not only covered the weekly rent but also brought in an extra six soli. Then there had been the Lanevus case, through which he directly received fifty pounds, greatly improving his financial situation.

Luther had deposited half of that money and kept the rest on him. He had also given his sister around three pounds as pocket money. The little girl had no idea how to spend it and merely stared at the banknotes in distress.

But from what his colleagues had chatted about, a Sequence 8 Potion might cost upwards of four hundred pounds. I'd have to sell the house before I could afford it... Ah, right, I still have two magical items. That bell is not very useful. If I really need money to buy a Potion, I can consider selling it.

Luther calculated his assets as he walked out from behind the partition.

The moment he emerged, he heard a delighted female voice. "Well done! You helped me vent the anger in my heart!"

Following the voice, he saw the plump Mrs. Pound seated in the hall, animatedly praising Blackthorn Security Company's exceptional capabilities. Leonard sat across from her, awkwardly smiling as he casually humored her.

"Alright, I won't disturb your work any longer. Here, this is the remainder of your commission, along with an extra tip from me."

Mrs. Pound generously slapped down the remaining seven pounds from her wallet, along with a whole five-pound note.

"Ma'am, your generosity is truly impressive."

Leonard praised her, his tone becoming much more sincere.

Hearing that, Mrs. Pound could not help but beam even more brightly.

"Hahahaha! That's because I suddenly received a large sum of money. That idiot husband of mine killed himself in prison because he felt ashamed! Not only did I get all of his inheritance, I also received a large amount of compensation from the company. This little tip for you is nothing at all!"

She laughed a few more times, then suddenly sensed that something was wrong, because both Leonard and Luther looked far too serious.

"You mean Mr. Pound is dead?"

Leonard forced out a smile and asked.

"That's right. I heard from the police that the idiot made a rope out of bedsheets and hanged himself in prison." Mrs. Pound showed absolutely no sympathy for her husband. "Serves him right! I'm going to spend his money freely and use it to keep pretty boys..."

After seeing Mrs. Pound out of the security company, Leonard and Luther exchanged a glance.

"Do you believe Mr. Pound committed suicide?"

"How could that be possible?"

No matter how he thought about it, Mr. Pound had been silenced.

Just then, the company doors opened again, and Dunn Smith hurried inside.

"Captain."

The two approached him. Leonard said, "Mr. Pound was silenced."

"I already know."

Dunn nodded. "Not only him, but the other senior company officials who knew about it also committed suicide on the same night."

Just as the two were shocked by how brazenly their opponent acted, Luther saw Dunn shift his gaze toward him.

"Luther, are you interested in going on a business trip?"

He asked.