Requests and Gathering

Abner had already decided what he needed Miss Emma and Miss Fanny to help him with, so he smiled faintly and said:

"There are mainly two things I need your help with... Well, don't worry. They aren't too troublesome, and I'm not asking too much."

"What are they?" Emma asked first. Then a hint of amusement flashed through her eyes. She stiffened her face and said in a deliberately serious tone, "Even if it's proposing to Fanny, I'll do my best to help you."

What was she even talking about...? Abner looked utterly dumbfounded and nearly fell from the tree. After a long while, he finally said helplessly, "Miss Emma, stop joking around."

This young lady was not only extremely sharp; she also seemed rather mischievous and loved teasing people.

"Isn't that so? Some of Backlund's tabloids have gone to great lengths to describe the romantic exploits of the 'Hero Detective'!" Emma fiddled with a mechanical device beside her ear, then covered her mouth and laughed.

If I were really as promiscuous as those tabloids claimed, would you and Miss Fanny have wanted to return to the hotel intact last night?

Abner retorted inwardly, but outwardly, he ignored Emma's teasing and forcibly returned to the previous topic:

"First, I need a Sequence 6-level protective Beyonder item that can be used for at least two years. The fewer negative effects, the better... Of course, I'll pay for it. You only need to provide a suitable item."

Emma's smile faded when she heard this. She said thoughtfully, "Was it last night's 'Mechanical Doll' that led you to deduce that there's an 'Artisan' behind Fanny?"

*That wasn't all. She sold several Beyonder weapons at her teacher's gathering and had long been known as the 'Artisan's Agent.' Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken the opportunity