Kingsley

With God's Birthday approaching, Signo City had begun decorating early for the grand annual festival.

The Patrol Hall was no exception.

Kaili heaved his bulky body around, struggling to hang a deity's portrait above the window. He said,

"The higher-ups are being generous this time. They've given us twice last year's funding to celebrate God's Birthday."

"Even the main gate outside is getting renovated."

The weather had turned cold, and Karl had put on a cashmere robe today. He lounged in a reclining chair, flipping through a book.

At that, he nodded casually.

"Really? Looks like we'll get some decent benefits when the time comes."

"That's right."

Kaili climbed down from the chair and turned to look at Karl, panting. His gaze landed on the book in Karl's hands.

"Anatomy? Are you planning to change careers and become a doctor?"

"There's always more to learn!" Karl smiled.

"I heard there's a doctor in the city named Robert who makes a fortune every day with his medical skills. Who wouldn't envy him?"

"Robert?" Kaili shook his head.

"Never heard of him."

Though he was descended from nobility, his standard of living wasn't high, and the people he met were generally not wealthy.

It was only natural that he hadn't heard of him.

"Speaking of which..."

Kaili shifted a chair and arranged the decorations.

"Aren't you going to help?"

"This little bit is easy enough for you to handle alone. You might even lose some weight by getting some exercise." Karl shook his head.

"I've got important things to do."

As he spoke,

he picked up the hot mulled wine beside him and took a small sip, looking thoroughly content.

He really did have important things to do. Analyzing the Spell Model on the Red Hair man's severed arm required some knowledge of anatomy.

"Forget it."

Kaili shook his head helplessly, continuing to work as he spoke.

"Have you heard the news? The Vampires who disappeared have shown up again recently."

"Hm?"

Karl looked up, puzzled.

"What happened?"

It had been some time since the Church's Night Watchman organization had taken over the Mummy Case, and he hadn't heard anything about it since.

He'd thought the matter had been completely resolved. He hadn't expected them to turn up again.

"I heard..." Kaili stopped what he was doing.

"The Vampires and the Fire Thief weren't working together. The Church searched the city for hidden Fire Thief members, but they still couldn't find the Vampires."

"They weren't working together?" Karl paused.

"Then back then..."

"Right. When we were chasing those people, they must have deliberately lured us to the Fire Thief's hideout."

From what he'd seen at the time, even the Fire Thief members had been caught off guard by the patrol officers' sudden arrival.

Otherwise, how could a hideout guarded by an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice have lost only a few patrol officers?

That suggested the Mummy Case and the Fire Thief were most likely unrelated. Their factions might even have been enemies, which was why the Vampires had deliberately lured them to the other side's hideout.

It wasn't difficult to figure out.

The Church had only realized it now, which was remarkably slow. It seemed every place had its share of people who made a mess of things.

"Officer Dina is applying to investigate the Mummy Case," Kaili said.

"By the looks of it, she's planning to see this case through. But I'd advise you not to get involved."

"Of course." Karl shrugged.

"It has nothing to do with me."

"By the way, how's the house you were looking for me? You haven't mentioned it in ages."

"I'm looking, I'm looking," Kaili replied.

"You want a place with a yard, somewhere quiet in the city, and it can't cost too much."

"That's going to take some time."

Preparing potions and practicing martial arts both required space.

Karl's current rental was too small, and he couldn't make too much noise there. It was inconvenient in many ways.

Especially since he kept buying more and more things for potion-making, and the Divine Domain Fragment was gradually running out of room. Finding a new place was inevitable.

After a moment's thought, Karl said,

"As for the price... I can be a little more flexible."

"Oh!" Kaili raised an eyebrow.

"What, have you struck it rich lately?"

Buying property was no small expense. With Karl's salary, it would be hard to afford in the short term.

"Whatever else you say about my family, we've got a noble lineage. It's only natural we've got some savings," Karl explained offhandedly.

"Put some effort into finding me a place."

"I'm jealous," Kaili sighed.

"Got it. I'll ask around more in the next few days. But what have you been busy with lately?"

"You're never around."

"Things to do." Karl pulled out his Pocket Watch and checked the time.

"Time to clock out!"

The Ice Snow Goddess had bestowed her blessing the night before. All of Signo City was blanketed in white, and there were far fewer people on the streets.

Badi Goods Store.

Old Nick wiped his hands with a handkerchief and sat down across from him.

"Baron, back again?"

"Yes."

Karl set his cane aside and sighed.

"I've nearly sold off everything my family had saved up. I probably won't be able to come back after this."

As he spoke, he took a long wooden box from his coat. When he opened it, it revealed an exquisite hairpin.

Selling expensive items so often was bound to attract attention.

Just like now.

Old Nick had come to regard Karl as a regular. Whenever Karl visited, he personally handled the transaction, and they had become familiar with each other.

In reality, Karl had been selling goods at different consignment shops under different identities, all to avoid trouble.

"If you're not selling, you can always come buy," Old Nick said with a smile.

"The Baron has exchanged more than a hundred Gold Coins at our store. You're a true gentleman of means now."

"You're always welcome here."

Karl shook his head.

He had exchanged quite a few Gold Coins—well over a hundred if he counted everything, openly and discreetly—but his expenses were even higher.

Being a wizard

was an unbelievably expensive profession.

Especially potion-making!

A hundred Gold Coins might sound like a lot, but a few purchases of ingredients and a handful of experiments could easily eat up most of it.

"Karl!"

Just then, a woman's cheerful voice rang out.

"What a coincidence, seeing you here."

Karl looked up, surprised.

The woman before him was dressed to the nines, her face caked in makeup. He could barely recognize her.

His uncle Gejier's eldest daughter, Karl's cousin, Kingsley.

The last time they'd met had been at Count Recton's estate outside the city.

She'd appeared as a gift for the coming-of-age ceremony of the Count's son, but they hadn't acknowledged each other because the situation had been too awkward.

Beside Kingsley stood a well-dressed man who looked to be in his forties or fifties.

She held his arm affectionately, gazing at Karl with delighted surprise—or rather, at the hairpin in front of him.

Her eyes practically gleamed as she stared at it.

"What a coincidence."

"Indeed." Karl stood and nodded in greeting.

"Cousin, out shopping? And this is...?"

Though the pair looked very close, Karl wouldn't mistake his cousin's husband for someone else.

He'd heard that the couple did as they pleased, each with their own affairs. He hadn't expected them to take it this far.

"My friend, Kran." Kingsley introduced him as if it were perfectly natural.

"Kran, this is the cousin I told you about, a distinguished Baron, Baron Karl."

"Oh!" Kran, who'd been wearing a cold expression, looked surprised to learn Karl was a Baron.

"So you're Baron Karl."

"Karl," Kingsley cut in.

"Are you selling something?"

"Yes." Karl nodded.

"I'm a little short on money lately, so I'm selling a few family belongings to tide me over."

"Tsk!" Kingsley shook her head.

"If you're having trouble making ends meet, go to your uncle. Or come to me. Is this hairpin what you're selling?"

Before Karl could answer, she stepped forward and picked up the hairpin from the box, her eyes full of admiration.

"You're selling it anyway. Why not sell it to me?"