Xio's Sigh

Saturday morning, South Borough, 22 Tutwa Street.

Xio had finished preparing shortly after six in the morning and waited for the carriage that would take her to the gathering.

Last night's Backlund Post had published the time of the gathering: it would be held at nine today.

Fors appeared in the sitting room in her pajamas, yawning. "Xio, I'm here to see you off."

Xio did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Fors, have you forgotten? Under Emperor Roselle's influence, 'seeing someone off' has other meanings too."

Fors scratched her messy hair. "I only meant it literally, literally. Besides, this outing of yours isn't that dangerous."

Knock, knock, knock~

At that moment, someone knocked on the door, but no one called out.

Xio waved at Fors, opened the door, and saw a coachman dressed entirely in black.

He said nothing, merely gesturing for her to get into the carriage.

Xio jumped into the carriage and found, as expected, a silver mask engraved with three Occult Symbols, as well as a hooded cloak.

She placed 5 soli in cash on the seat, then put on the mask and cloak.

After that, Xio began carefully observing her surroundings so she could keep track of her current location.

A little after eight, Xio arrived at the gathering place.

A waiter had already been waiting there. As he led Xio inside, he told her, "Even if it isn't the day of the gathering, if you need help, you may write a letter or come here in person to seek assistance.

"But Leader only promises that if he can help, he will help.

"If he can't help, please quickly think of another solution.

"Also, if you have time-sensitive intelligence you wish to trade, you may use this method to complete the transaction as soon as possible."

Xio disguised her voice and replied in a rather weathered tone, "All right."

This was another rather strange aspect. The organizer actually made such a promise.

She chose a seat in a corner and quietly waited for the gathering to begin.

Soon, another participant arrived. He wore the same style of mask and cloak as Xio. "Oh? A new member has already passed the assessment?"

Xio paused slightly, not quite understanding how he had recognized her as a new member.

The other person seemed to see the confusion beneath Xio's mask. He smiled. "This gathering has fixed members and hasn't accepted anyone new in a long time... Well, mainly because your height is rather distinctive."

Xio felt somewhat helpless. She had even worn heightening shoes today, yet she had still been found out?

Soon, the other members arrived one after another. At around eight forty, Xio saw her recommender, Byron. Although he wore a mask as well, Xio knew it was him.

More than ten minutes later, the basement door opened. Just as Byron had described before, Leader emerged from the basement and unhurriedly took a seat facing everyone.

At exactly nine, Leader announced, "The gathering begins.

"Very good. Everyone came this time.

"The investigation into the new member concluded yesterday. Just as her recommender, Lion, said, she has reliable channels in the East District. Anyone with relevant needs may seek out the new member.

"Also, for ease of address, the new member should give herself a nickname."

Lion Byron relaxed slightly. As long as Xio had passed the investigation, the information Xio had questioned out of him earlier would not count as a leak, and he would not be punished.

Xio felt everyone's gazes turn toward her. After thinking for a moment, she rose and said, "Owl."

Odys thought, I thought you'd choose Corgi.

After everyone politely applauded to welcome her, the gathering officially began.

Hound spoke first. "Leader, I heard a thief infiltrated the Roselle Memorial Exhibition. I would like to obtain information about it."

Xio was slightly stunned. What? A thief infiltrated it? Why hadn't I heard about that?

A few days ago, she and Fors had gone there together. Everything had seemed perfectly normal.

The other members were also very interested, but they knew such intelligence definitely would not be free, so they only remained interested.

"Fifty pounds," Odys offered.

"No problem." Hound agreed immediately.

Odys accepted the portable writing board handed over by the waiter. As he wrote down the information for the transaction, he said, "Continue."

Giraffe, whose neck was slightly longer than that of an ordinary person, seemed to understand something. "So Leader has been purchasing Emperor Roselle's 'relics' in order to..."

He stopped there and did not continue.

A plump-looking member laughed. "Leader doesn't think Criminal will foolishly come sell Emperor Roselle's 'relics,' does he?"

Everyone turned to look at him.

The female member Peacock said, "Honestly, the fact that Elephant has survived until now is truly a miracle."

Elephant was the code name of that plump member. He had not attended the previous gathering.

Hound, however, said, "It cannot be ruled out that criminals may turn on one another over an unequal division of the spoils. Nor can it be ruled out that the criminal is desperately short of money."

He spread his hands. "There have been many cases solved through such simple methods."

"All right, all right." Elephant waved his hand. "I need a Beyonder creature for an experiment, preferably a beast. Preferably one that's already subdued and not too dangerous."

The other members froze for a moment before realizing they had finally found an opportunity to mock Elephant.

"Who would carry a Beyonder creature around with them?"

"Does Elephant want to test whether his strength is greater than that of a Beyonder creature?"

"No, Elephant is a Beyonder creature too. His main ability is Provocation. He says unpleasant things that make people want to punch him."

"Hahaha~"

For a time, the gathering became exceedingly cheerful.

Elephant tried several times to argue back, but the others kept cutting him off. He sat there angrily and said, "Idiotic ideas!"

At that moment, Odys finished writing the intelligence and had the waiter hand it to Hound. Smiling, he told Elephant, "You should just honestly sell your potions."

He knew very well that this fellow was the Fat Apothecary. He had forgotten his exact name, but he remembered him.

Elephant sighed. "I brought quite a few potions. You all know their effects, so just ask if you want any.

"Oh, right, I forgot there was a newcomer. Let me give a brief introduction. I have potions that rapidly heal injuries, potions that make you berserk but stronger, and potions for men when... Oh, sorry, it seems you don't need that kind of potion, unless you're very dissatisfied with your husband's or male companion's activities in bed at night."

Xio had originally wanted to ask about the injury-healing potions, but upon hearing the latter part, she decisively gave up on the idea.

Elephant's potions quickly sold out. Then Peacock suddenly said, "Everyone, I have received reliable information. The murderer in the Serial Murder Case has a master."

Elephant, who had not attended the last gathering, found this rather strange. "What master?"

Peacock roughly explained it to him.

When Xio heard that the murderer in the Serial Murder Case was actually a Beyonder creature, she was even more shocked than Elephant. Then she sighed inwardly: Why do I feel as though I don't live in Backlund? Why are there so many hidden truths behind things everyone supposedly knows?

Elephant muttered, "It has a master too? If I get the chance, I'll have a chat with him."

Thanks to [Ten Years of Life and Death, Boundless and Uncertain!] for the reward.