The “Expert” Arrives

[Don't tell him the truth, Li Zexi! He's testing us. That pig wearing clothes—we should put him over a fire and roast him. He'll surely taste good, right?]

The person behind Inspector Lewis's sofa bent over, his head hidden behind the officer. Under the crimson moonlight, only black strands of hair could be seen dancing in the wind.

Sifa spoke. "I'm not."

Then, somewhat confused, he asked, "What is a Beyonder?"

The inspector, utterly unaware that a pair of hands was cupping his face, made a brief note before closing his notebook. "Don't mind that question. Thank you very much for your hospitality, Mr. Sifa."

He stood, put on his soft hat, and adjusted his glasses. "Good night. Sweet dreams."

Sifa rose stiffly and saw the inspector out. Once the door closed, the man in the white shirt and dark trousers stood with his back to Sifa, one hand pressed against the door.

[Are we just letting him go? That rude pig. We should twist his neck, cut open his belly, and take out all his organs. Don't you think that would be wonderful?]

[Let's do it, Li Zexi. Next time he comes to our door like that, we'll kill him. Hahahahahaha!]

The man with his hand against the door laughed hysterically. Amid that mad laughter, Sifa lay down on the bed, tucked himself beneath the covers, and fell peacefully asleep.

When he woke in the morning, Sifa stretched contentedly, feeling refreshed and full of vitality, his spirituality active.

When he arrived at the dining room, he saw his father, Bison, holding a copy of the Little Harbor Gazette, Enqi Town's weekly newspaper.

It couldn't be helped. There simply wasn't much worth reporting in a small town.

"How was it? Did you sleep well last night?" His mother, Enilu, was spreading butter over Jom's bread. Seeing Sifa, she asked with concern.

"I slept very well, Mom. Don't worry." Sifa sat down in his usual seat and noticed that his sister Helibel had not yet come to eat.

"Yesterday, we received an invitation from the mayor and attended his luncheon. Mayor wants us to donate some funds for municipal affairs."

Bison set down the newspaper and ran a hand through his hair. He frowned slightly at his ever-receding hairline, then smiled and asked, "Sifa, what do you think?"

Sifa took a sip of milk and considered it briefly. "Rather than donating municipal funds, why not establish a Municipal Construction Fund?"

Bison was slightly surprised. "A Municipal Construction Fund?"

"Yes."

Sifa nodded slightly, took some bread, and spread butter over it. "I've noticed that the only paved roads in our town are Golden Champagne Avenue, Memorial Square, and the area around the mayor's office."

"Meanwhile, Mermaid Road, Qingxiang Road, and other places are still mainly gravel roads. The underground sewage systems beneath these roads are practically nonexistent. Once the rainy season comes, everything turns muddy, and filth flows everywhere, causing enormous inconvenience to the people of the town."

Bison nodded gently and encouraged him. "Go on."

"If we're simply making a donation, then of course it's easy and straightforward. But Father, will Mayor tell you where the money you donate is being used?"

Sifa smiled. "I don't think he will. Since that's the case, why don't we manage it ourselves and make it clear exactly what these funds are being used for?"

"For example, we could turn the town's gravel roads into paved roads and improve the underground pipeline network. If we do that, people's lives will improve greatly, sanitary conditions will become better, and diseases will occur less often."

"Second, Enqi Town's image will be improved. That will help increase our competitiveness as a vacation destination. Once more people come to town for their holidays, it will undoubtedly raise the incomes of the townspeople, and our family's businesses will benefit as well."

"Finally, and most importantly, it will help improve your image and reputation, Father, laying the groundwork for your future career."

Bison laughed heartily. "Not bad, Sifa. I like your suggestion. It seems I'll have to find time today to visit Mayor and have a proper discussion with him about this matter."

After saying that, the baron added with emotion, "Sifa, you really have changed a great deal. You've matured considerably. I'm very pleased."

Sifa merely smiled without speaking. He picked up the buttered bread and took a bite.

Knock, knock, knock—

Sebas, the butler with classical features and a gray-white beard, entered the dining room. He gave a slight bow and said, "Sir, Chief Kaoxi has arrived."

"Oh? So early? Could he be here to have breakfast with me?" The baron joked as he rose. "Have him wait in the hall. I'll be there shortly."

Sebas shifted his gaze toward Sifa. "Chief Kaoxi said that he wishes to meet with Young Master Sifa."

"Me?"

Sifa was somewhat surprised. He picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth, then said to Bison, "I'll go with you, Father."

Upon entering the hall, Sifa saw Chief Kaoxi, his body gone soft with weight and a wedding ring on his finger.

Besides him, there were three police officers wearing black-and-white checkered uniforms and soft hats bearing badges. Their epaulets all bore silver hexagram stars. One had three silver stars on his shoulders, while the other two had two each.

They were three inspectors.

For some reason, Sifa found the inspector with three stars on his shoulders somewhat familiar, though he could not remember where he had seen him before.

He was a middle-aged man, mature and steady, with a square face, a large nose and ears, pronounced forehead lines, and nasolabial folds just beginning to show.

He wore black-framed glasses and had a refined air. If not for his police uniform, Sifa might have mistaken him for a lecturer at some university.

The other two inspectors were a man and a woman.

The man looked to be in his early thirties and was rather short. Perhaps because the temperature was high, he had removed his hat, revealing soft curly hair.

His skin was unnaturally pale, as though he had spent years hiding in his room and refusing to go outside. Though relatively young, he gave off an overall gloomy feeling.

Sifa noticed that he was reading a flyer, seemingly a discount leaflet from some shop in town. Only when he heard footsteps did he quickly tuck it into his pocket.

The last police officer was a very young woman, around twenty-three or twenty-four. She had long eyelashes, a beautiful face, and a head of passionate reddish-brown wavy hair.

Her uniform seemed somewhat ill-fitting, cinching so tightly that she had no choice but to undo the top two buttons, exposing a deep cleavage to the air.

When Sifa saw her, she was taking a small iron box from her pocket, tipping out a colorful candy, and tossing it into her mouth.

"Good morning, Mr. Bison."

Chief Kaoxi's voice drew Sifa's attention. Though he was already drenched in sweat while seated, the police chief stood and took the initiative to greet Bison, introducing the three inspectors.

"These are three inspectors sent by the Desi County Police Department to investigate those bloody murders. Allow me to introduce them. This is Inspector Lewis."

So the "experts" had arrived. Were they Nightwatchers from the Church of the Evernight Goddess, Mandated Punishers from the Church of the Lord of Storms, or members of the Machinery Hivemind under the Church of Steam?

Sifa guessed with considerable interest. Since arriving in this mysterious world, this was his first time coming into contact with possible official organization members.