The steam train back was still crowded. The steel behemoth kept shaking and belching clouds of smoke.
Inside a compartment.
Clark Das had grown noticeably stronger. He tugged at his collar, finding his clothes too small and ill-fitting. His solid muscles nearly burst through his sleeves.
He gave an awkward smile, set an envelope on the tea table, and handed it to Aaron. "Here's 180 pounds! You've earned it."
Before they set out, Clark Das had already paid a 20-pound deposit.
"Thanks!"
Aaron smiled too as he took the envelope and counted the banknotes inside.
At the same time, he silently calculated, Based on my earlier private divination, Clark could pose a threat to me now, but not a serious one... He should have been an Extraordinary who had opened the Second Primordial, but with all the bonuses from Historical Retrospection, his combat strength was equivalent to that of someone at the Third Primordial? Even after gaining some of the abilities of a supernatural Ghoul, he still couldn't cross the enormous threshold of the Fourth Primordial...
"Also, I'd like to keep Tata Village's secret history as a treasured secret of our lineage, so please don't share it."
Clark Das reminded him.
"Of course. You and Bruce are both my friends."
Aaron smiled amiably, though he was certain that Clark Das didn't know any contracts or notarization rituals. That meant he couldn't use a ritual like Aaron had to keep his maid Sylvia from gossiping.
By the time the steam train reached the station, it was Sunday, August 15!
The trip went fairly smoothly, though Bruce's further investigations afterward delayed us a little... I also saved him twice during that time, so I fulfilled the job well...
Aaron adjusted his top hat, left the steam train station, and said goodbye