How Could He Think About Nothing but Money?

"Hello. Is this the former mercenary squad?"

Just as Lynch was secretly thinking up a nasty trick for Klein, the door opened and a gray-haired man wearing a bowler hat walked in.

He was still holding an umbrella, and water dripped from it onto the floor. Rozanne let out a despairing sigh. Cleaning up after him was her job now.

"Can you believe it? I hope readers will remember our website, Taiwan Novel Network..."

"More or less. What can we do for you?"

Though displeased, Rozanne still went over to greet him with a gentle expression.

"I have a job for you."

The man spoke hurriedly.

Rozanne immediately looked at Lynch. Most of the Nighthawks' official members were currently in the Golden Wutong District, Old Neil had not gone on solo fieldwork for a long time, and Brazier was stationed at Chanis Gate. Lynch was the only one left who could take the job.

Lynch reluctantly walked over.

"Hello. The rest of the team are out right now. I'm new here, and though I have some abilities, I can't promise I'll be able to help you."

He rubbed his brow.

Stone of Myriad Phenomena did not have much energy at the moment, so he had not been generating Lord of the Mysteries novels lately. He planned to wait until Klein went to Sefirah Castle on Monday and steal some energy then.

He was currently supposed to be simulating Leonard's Sleepless Pathway. Compared with Dunn's, his memory was much better, and he was pretty good in a fight. But he was worried he might not be able to handle anything else.

As for switching Pathways, he couldn't bear to. He was afraid that if he switched back next time, he'd end up as the captain's Sleepless again.

But he could bring Klein along. It wasn't as though Klein had anything else to do.

If this job didn't involve running away, then it was part of Klein's story, so there was no problem with letting Klein take the lead.

But he soon saw the man across from him shake his head, refusing to hire a newcomer.

"Sorry. I'll keep looking."

The man bowed apologetically to Lynch, raised his umbrella, and left.

"What kind of judgment is that? I think Lynch is great! The captain even said Lynch had really surprised him!"

Rozanne huffed as she went over and mopped up the floor. Then she slammed the door shut, looking as proud as if she had personally thrown the man out.

"All right, don't be mad. I really don't know if I can do it. I'm good at fighting, but I feel like my memory's gotten worse. If only I'd gotten into Tingen University before taking the Potion. Maybe I wouldn't have to work so hard now."

Lynch sighed helplessly.

Everyone knew that, and they couldn't help laughing.

"Enough, stop laughing. Let me get back to my book. If I don't work hard, I really will get kicked out of the Nighthawks."

Lynch muttered.

He sat down on a sofa in the lounge, set the book in front of him, and began to read intently.

The more he read, the sleepier he got, and the closer the book crept to his face.

Just as Lynch was about to fall asleep completely, the security company's door opened again.

The wind blowing in brought the smell of earth and jolted him awake.

"Why are you back again?"

Rozanne's curious voice came from the doorway.

"Have none of your official members returned yet?"

It was the old man who had wanted to hire them earlier.

Lynch blinked, quickly rousing himself.

It seemed that Klein's story had finally begun in earnest.

"I don't know when they'll be back. Right now, Lynch really is the only one available."

Rozanne explained helplessly.

The man thought it over for a while, then finally made up his mind.

"Fine. A newcomer will do, as long as he can complete the job. I've tried every security company and private detective around here, and none of them would take the case. At least you have a newcomer. You're my only option now!"

Lynch stood up.

"Don't worry. I'll bring a friend along. We're only called newcomers because we haven't been through much, not because we lack ability."

He smiled and sat down opposite the man.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"Of course. My name is Keli, and I'm the butler to the tobacco merchant Victor... Our young master, Mr. Elliott, has been kidnapped. We need you to help us find him.

"If you succeed, we're willing to pay a hundred pounds. If you can also rescue him, you'll receive two hundred pounds."

I'm in!

Lynch agreed almost without thinking.

He remembered that unofficial members could apparently get a share of the reward, too. Even if it was only two pounds, he was willing to do the job!

Finding someone was Klein's job. As for catching the kidnappers, that was Mountbatten's job.

Mountbatten would surely be willing to earn credit for this.

"Have you reached an agreement? I'll go draw up a contract!"

Rozanne heard that they had finished discussing things and immediately went to prepare a contract.

Lynch and Mr. Keli both signed their names.

"So when do you plan to set out?" Mr. Keli asked anxiously.

Lynch said they could leave right away.

"Then I'll get you a carriage. That'll be faster!"

Mr. Keli hurried outside. Lynch watched him go with an approving look.

Now that was someone who knew how to get things done. He'd even thought of arranging a carriage.

Only after Mr. Keli had left did Lynch turn to Klein.

"Let's go!"

Klein stared at him in confusion. "Go where?"

"To do the job, of course. If we rescue Elliott, we'll probably get two pounds. One pound each. What do you say?"

Klein immediately stood up.

"We get a share, too?"

"You do. If you go on a mission, half the reward goes to Mrs. Orianna, and the other half is split among the team. But you're not official members, so you can only take a tenth of it."

Rozanne explained from the side.

Klein immediately started calculating how much he might get.

If they rescued young Master Elliott, they would receive a two-hundred-pound reward. One hundred pounds would go to Mrs. Orianna, leaving one hundred pounds.

He and Lynch would only get a tenth of that hundred pounds, which was ten pounds!

Ten pounds! Who could turn down money that lovely?

Klein immediately put on his hat and chased after Lynch out of the security company.

It was still raining outside, but fortunately, the carriage had already arrived at the company's entrance.

Klein saw Lynch climb into the carriage and was just about to follow when Lynch spoke in a tone tinged with nostalgia.

"Remember how thrilling it was when you first got into Dunn's carriage? It feels strange getting into one so obediently now."

Klein: ...

Could he just not bring up what had happened in the dream?

This guy really didn't know how to talk.

"Forget that. Have you figured out how we should find him?"

Klein climbed into the carriage and changed the subject.

How to find him?

Lynch looked at Klein.

Wasn't that the Seer's job?

"You're not planning to make me figure out everything and then split the money anyway, are you?"

Lynch eyed Klein suspiciously, making Klein so angry he nearly jumped up.

Money, money, money. How could he think about nothing but money?