Sacia took the notebook and opened it to a blank page. Her fingertips brushed lightly over it, and for the first time, unmistakable surprise appeared in her eyes. "It really... disappeared?"
She closed the notebook and examined it carefully, trying to spot even the slightest difference. The surface of its cover was exactly as it had been when she first obtained it.
"I tried before. No ink or writing could leave a mark on it. It seems it really is... an extraordinary object."
The disappearance of the dark red ancient pictographic symbols on the notebook did not disappoint her. On the contrary, a glint of certainty and fervor passed through her eyes, strengthening her belief that the notebook was extraordinary.
She added, "It was absolutely worth buying in the Southern Continent!"
Gallo regarded her calmly. He lifted the Ceylon Black Tea the cafe staff had just brought and took a slow sip. Even though he already knew the notebook's true origins, he would not expose Sacia's lie now. In his eyes, the woman was like a venomous snake lurking in the grass.
"Please rest assured!" Gallo set his teacup on the table and added at just the right moment, pointing to his temple. "I've memorized all the contents in full.
"Before I began translating the notebook, I read through all of it. But once I'd finished, the writing disappeared. Fortunately, I have a good memory.
"The translation in the envelope is the first draft I put together from memory. If, after reading it, you find that some of the ancient text may have been rendered inaccurately in translation—
"Or if you have any other questions, I can revise it or explain anything at any time. I'll also ask someone to borrow history books about the Askia Dynasty from the Southern Continent from the library, so I can check and correct any possible errors."
Gallo continued, "These follow-up services are free. After all, you paid fifty Nalang. With that much money, I naturally have to provide proper after-sales service."
He acted like a businessman who strove for perfection and valued his reputation.
Sacia gave Gallo a long look, as though trying to see through his calm exterior.
After a moment, she carefully put away the blank notebook and the envelope, then took a Fengman Bank draft from her handbag and placed it on the table.
"Here's the remaining thirty Nalang.
"I'm very satisfied with your abilities. As you said, if I need any follow-up service, I'll come to you again!" She stood, her tone still calm, then left without another word.
Gallo looked at the draft, but felt little joy. He picked up the "small" Fengman Bank draft, its bank emblem decorated with gold foil.
Then he slipped it into the inner pocket of his coat. Two days ago, when Sacia had first appeared before him through Stur's introduction and commissioned the work, offering to pay fifty Nalang, he had felt nothing but excitement. But now that he had been unwillingly drawn into her unknown schemes, all he felt was wariness. The crisis was far from over.
Still, she had the documents Gallo had translated. Perhaps he could turn this passive situation into one he could control, to his own advantage.
After Sacia left, Gallo observed through the Eye of Spirituality that Malcolm also got up and followed her. The other two, however, remained seated where they were.
As Malcolm left, Gallo's Inspiration sensed the many hidden gazes watching him shift like a plucked web, their positions changing along with Malcolm's departure.
So who are these people secretly watching Malcolm? What faction do they belong to? Gallo closed his eyes and focused his Inspiration. Images flashed through his mind.
At last, his thoughts settled on the scene he had seen earlier while communicating with the Human Skin Notebook: Malcolm taking out a fake Clovin identity document and using it to intimidate Professor Vanason.
In Gallo's Inspiration, that fake Clovin document was a key. Whenever he made an uncertain guess about something, his Inspiration could find clues among past traces and connect them.
The image flickered, first like blurred, colored frosted glass, then slowly sharpening into focus.
Gallo saw Malcolm lying on the ground, his long coat smeared with blood. Blood bubbled from his mouth, and his eyes were full of desperation to stay alive.
Through Malcolm's eyes, Gallo saw a man standing opposite him, utterly cold and still as an iron tower. The man wore thin black leather gloves. At the wrists was an emblem of a crossed sword and shield, with a black iron cross on the sword's hilt.
"It's Clovin!" Gallo reined in his Inspiration. Through clairvoyance, he had just seen a scene that would happen to Malcolm in the future. He also understood that the people secretly watching and following Malcolm were Clovin—the Imperial Security Committee.
After leaving the Moonlight Cafe, Sacia did not go far.
She paused on a quiet street corner outside Lubo Lane, and before long, Malcolm caught up with her.
Sacia said coldly, "You shouldn't have shown up there. Gallo has an excellent memory. If he sees you a second time, he'll definitely recognize where he's seen you before."
Malcolm shrugged. "If the job's done, there's no need to keep following him."
"I got it." Sacia waved the envelope and notebook in her hand.
"But the writing in the notebook disappeared. We tested it before: we couldn't write on it or erase the text. So something unknown must have happened while he was translating it.
"Maybe the writing disappears once someone has read and understood the entire notebook.
"Or... the writing only lasts for a limited time, and its time was simply up after he finished translating it."
Malcolm raised an eyebrow. "So now we have to rely on that kid's translation."
"The notebook really is blank now. He couldn't have faked that.
"Besides, he offered to make any later corrections to the translation for free." Sacia analyzed the situation calmly. "His abilities are genuine, and he may still be useful for our plans."
Malcolm took out a one-Fenso coin and toyed with it between his fingers. "According to the original plan, once he finished, we'd hand the translated contents to the High Priest. After confirming there were no problems, we'd take care of the kid. Unlike Vanason, he knows the secrets in this notebook.
"But if the kid's still useful, we can wait..."
He flicked the coin into the air, caught it on the back of his hand, covered it, then slowly lifted his palm. The side with the number was facing up.
"Looks like luck's on his side," Malcolm said.
Before you continue