Seal of the Four-Colored Horse (4)

Sometimes, Ye Yan wondered whether he was the protagonist of some novel or film.

Because, like those unlucky protagonists, all sorts of accidents seemed to happen whenever he went out.

Just like now.

He had been transported here for less than a week, yet he had already faced two situations where he might end up in handcuffs.

"I've been tracking that rat for more than half a month."

Smith said.

"This time, I finally managed to wait for him to make a move, but that bastard was still hiding in the shadows, only daring to remotely control a Walking Corpse to act in his stead."

According to him, he was merely a low-ranking nobody in the Administration with no backing, which was why his superiors had thrown this hot potato—one destined to offend the Sanctum—at him.

When he said that, Smith even wore a bitter smile, looking exactly like an overworked corporate drone.

But Ye Yan only felt a profound sense of discord.

"An ordinary person couldn't possibly take down a Walking Corpse, even with enchanted bullets."

"Not to mention that ordinary people can't detect a Walking Corpse concealed within the Secret Aura. The mere icy presence of a Walking Corpse would instantly freeze stiff an ordinary person with zero resistance."

"The fact that you held out for so long says enough."

Ye Yan had no way to refute that.

He had originally planned to hide his abilities, only to realize now that he was riddled with flaws.

"I urgently need an assistant to slow that rat's escape, even if only a little."

Most ability users found it difficult to control their powers after awakening, and their abnormal states made them easy to distinguish from ordinary people.

Yet Ye Yan had demonstrated astonishing control.

Aside from being exceptionally gifted, it was likely because the ability he had awakened suited him extremely well.

A promising young man was worth recruiting.

That was Smith's explanation for why he wanted Ye Yan as an assistant, and Ye Yan did not dare believe a single word of it.

Assistant in name, bait in reality.

Smith still had not explained Old Jack's whereabouts.

The continuation of the second Diary entry had revealed his true colors even more clearly.

[That afternoon, I was reading the newspaper alone at the Inn.

A monster like a Walking Corpse suddenly attacked me!

I used the gun the detective left behind...]

The middle of the Diary recorded Ye Yan's fight against the Walking Corpse, until Smith was finally mentioned near the end.

[A strange man saved me, but I knew he was not a good person.

A call from the detective

made him give up on the idea of leaving me to die...]

The second Diary entry ended there, but it was enough for Ye Yan to understand what kind of man Smith was.

If not for the detective's call to the Inn to confirm he was safe, Smith would have left him to fend for himself long ago.

"Come to think of it, we crossed paths because of the same case."

The man's smile concealed a blade, and his intentions were clearly far from good.

Unfortunately, Ye Yan still had to play along with him for a while.

"The Serial Horse-Belly Corpse Case has remained unsolved for so long not because the culprit's methods of concealment are particularly brilliant, but because the mastermind behind the case is a traitor within the Sanctum itself."

"The Research Institute and our Administration have both deliberately avoided this case because we wanted the Sanctum to clean house on its own."

"However, the situation has escalated."

As he spoke, the fervent light hidden in Smith's eyes grew hotter. "Now, the Sunset Church and the Sanctum have completely turned against each other. If they are allowed to keep fighting, all of England will become unstable."

Ye Yan tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Great. The man was not even pretending anymore.

Earlier, he had at least acted like an exploited low-level employee. Now, he was openly analyzing the political situation in front of him.

"You must be wondering why I'm telling you so many confidential matters within the Administration."

A smile slowly curled across Smith's lips.

But to Ye Yan, it was clearly a fake smile. Every movement of his facial muscles was too perfect, even the curve of his mouth seeming as though it had been calibrated with a protractor.

"That's because we're partners now. I've always been honest with my companions."

He suddenly reached out and brushed nonexistent dust from Ye Yan's shoulder. The abrupt gesture made Ye Yan's whole body stiffen.

Thanks.

That really was not necessary. No need to scare him like that.

Faced with Smith's "honesty," Ye Yan could only return an awkward but polite smile.

What partners?

Put nicely, they were companions hunting cultists together. Put bluntly, were they not accomplices working together to do bad things?

Things had come to this, so Ye Yan could only pretend he knew nothing and cooperate with the man's act. Later, he would find the right opportunity and see whether he could escape.

"I'm telling the truth."

Smith reached up to adjust his tie. "Don't you think the two of us work together quite pleasantly? Still, the timing of our meeting was a little off. Now that the mission is complete, I should return and report in."

"You're leaving?"

Ye Yan was somewhat surprised. Though he felt relieved, unease also quietly rose within him.

"What? Were you hoping I'd stay and help you?"

Smith turned back and teased, "That would be another transaction entirely."

"No, I wanted to ask about those two charges against me..."

"Oh, you don't need to care about those."

Smith let out a disdainful snort and said indifferently, "When you stop caring about them, they are merely bedtime stories used to soothe certain important people."

"..."

There was simply no response to that.

After saying that, Smith took out a pocket watch and checked the time. "Since we're partners, I can offer you a friendly reminder before I leave."

Smith put away the pocket watch and smiled as he retreated into the shadows.

"Don't try to pry open a box that looks dangerous." He continued backing toward the darkness, until shadow completely covered his upper body. "Because once you open it, you will discover that there is actually nothing inside."

The words seemed to contain some deeper meaning, yet they also sounded like an April Fool's joke.

But Ye Yan only wanted to say: Riddle-speakers, get out of London!

Smith waved his hand.

"Young man, I look forward to our next meeting. That old coachman is still in the Inn. He may have woken up by now."

With that, his figure melted into the night, leaving only his voice echoing through the mist.

Even after Smith had completely vanished from sight, Ye Yan still wondered whether the man had some scheme in mind. He pricked up his ears, listening for suspicious sounds around him.

He remained where he was for a long time.

Only when the latter half of the Diary's contents appeared again did Ye Yan move.

[A strange man saved me. He...]

Ye Yan did not even glance at the middle portion. He did not care whether he might miss important information, impatiently skipping straight to the final passage.

[A Strange Investigator had been observing me from the shadows for a long time, while I had remained standing in the same spot.

He did not leave until dawn was near.

Old Jack is still waiting for me to rescue him in the locked storage room at the Inn. I think it is time for me to return.]

[You have successfully written the second complete Diary entry and obtained the right to name one selected book.]

Indeed.

It was time for him to return.

Ye Yan threw away the coat Smith had touched. He slowly made his way back, removed the pin fastened to his cuff, and gently pricked his finger with it.

A drop of blood emerged from his fingertip.

[Recordable coordinates detected. Store them?]

"Yes."