Commission from Damir Port

No wonder you and Klein got along so well in the original novel, Teacher. You were both masters of the art of reporting people—you had so much in common!

While grumbling inwardly, Abner seriously considered Detective Isengard's suggestion. After a moment, he seemed to figure something out and asked, "Teacher, do you have a specific plan?"

Detective Isengard did not answer immediately. Instead, he smiled at him and asked, "What do you think we need to do in order to report those two Demonesses skillfully?"

Knowing that his teacher was testing him, Abner answered cautiously, "First is the timing of the report. It can't be too early; it has to be after I complete Miss Ray's commission. Otherwise, if she gets reported right after hiring me, it'll be hard for her not to suspect me." Although he said that, Abner actually felt that it should be delayed until after Rei had contacted those noblemen and obtained detailed information from them. Only then would it avoid affecting the plans of that secret organization whose name could not be spoken, and would not hinder the so-called "correct" course of history. As long as the plan went smoothly, the lives of those two tool-like Demonesses would not attract the attention of that organization or that deity at all.

Abner even wondered whether those thoughts of his had also been personally arranged by some King of Angel Author.

"Not bad. What else?" Detective Isengard nodded approvingly and continued questioning him.

"Second is who makes the report. If Xio or I do it, we lack the necessary evidence, and we don't want to reveal that we're Beyonders. Not only might the authorities fail to take us seriously, but the Demonesses could notice us and retaliate." As he spoke, Abner glanced at his teacher. Given his connections with the Nighthawks and Machinery Hivemind, he was the best person to make the report.

Detective Isengard understood what his student meant, but he shook his head. "I'm not the best choice either. If I do it, it will inevitably expose the fact that we knew Rei was a Demoness and still helped her gather information about nobles. It would be one thing if we had reported it immediately, but trying to make up for it afterward would likely leave us accountable. This isn't Lenburg, after all. Although I have some understanding with the Nighthawks and Machinery Hivemind, I can't challenge certain bottom lines."

Abner frowned at that. After lowering his head to think for a while, he said uncertainly, "If you can't report it, then how do we inform the authorities? Do we fabricate some clues and lure them into investigating on their own?"

"You're thinking in the right direction, but fabricating clues is not advisable. As Emperor Roselle put it, that could easily 'backfire.' The authorities possess all kinds of investigative methods, and it would be difficult to ensure they don't see through us. Instead, they might turn their investigation toward us!" Detective Isengard warned.

Abner nodded thoughtfully. Then, following Detective Isengard's prompt, he came up with a new idea. "Since we can't fabricate anything, we can gradually reveal the traces the Demonesses have left behind and expose them to the official Beyonders, guiding them toward the Demonesses. That way, we can remove ourselves from the matter and avoid suspicion from either side."

"Now that's starting to sound like a plan... From the intelligence we obtained earlier, it's clear that among the two Demonesses, Lina the sequence 7 Witch is obviously not careful enough in her actions. Otherwise, Miss Xio would never have had the chance to receive a warning, and Machinery Hivemind would not have managed to ambush her before. Roselle had a famous saying: 'Wherever one has walked, traces will remain.' To professionals, someone that careless leaves traces everywhere. Once the authorities take notice of her, they can follow her trail to Rei." Detective Isengard instructed his student.

"Then there's one final question. What will Xio do between now and when the authorities get involved? Lina has already traced things back to her." Abner looked at Xio beside him and sought his teacher's advice.

Xio waved her hand. "Actually, I'll be fine. As long as I don't show my face in the East Borough during this period, they won't find me so easily."

"My suggestion is that you leave Backlund and lie low in another city." Detective Isengard smiled. "Those two Demonesses clearly have tasks assigned by their organization, so they won't leave easily. Besides, their investigation into Turner was most likely just something they did on the side. Once their target leaves, they certainly won't waste more time and effort on it."

"How long would I have to leave for?" Xio frowned. She clearly did not want to leave Backlund. This was the Land of Hope where she could grow stronger and clear her father's name.

"A month should be about enough." Abner had considerable faith in the Demonesses' "professional" abilities. A month was enough time for them to gather all the information on Baron Gramir.

"A month... That's fine!" Xio sighed in relief. It was not too long. She could accept that.

Seeing this, Abner quietly joked with Xio, "Maybe when you come back, you'll find that Fors has already gotten in touch with some dazzling noble lady in Backlund!" Fate could be strange sometimes. One month later would happen to be around the time Xio was released from Prison in the original novel.

"I'm afraid that without me keeping an eye on her, she'll just lie around at home for an entire month..." Xio looked troubled at that thought. The more she considered it, the more likely it seemed. She was not worried about Fors's safety. In Backlund, aside from Abner, no one knew about her relationship with Fors.

"Abner, when I said leave Backlund, I wasn't only referring to Miss Xio. You need to leave as well!" Detective Isengard interjected.

"What? Why do I need to avoid them too?" Abner asked in confusion. As long as Xio was not caught, they should not be able to trace things back to him, right?

"The famous Arbiter Xio of the East Borough often shares breakfast at a restaurant on Dales Street with a certain gentleman... Even I, who never deliberately investigated it, have heard that bit of news. Do you think the Demonesses wouldn't be able to find out?" Detective Isengard tapped the table and spoke meaningfully.

That really was... If they kept failing to find Xio, they might come looking for me after all... I hadn't considered that before. What a mistake.

After criticizing himself internally, Abner asked worriedly, "But if Xio and I both leave, will those two Demonesses come after you?"

Detective Isengard chuckled. "I'm different from you two. You're only a Sequence 9 and a sequence 8 with little combat ability. Killing you would be effortless for the Demonesses... But if they want to deal with a Beyonder like me, one with the combat strength of sequence 6, they'll have to consider whether it's worth it. They have missions of their own, after all. There's no need for them to make enemies recklessly."

"But how would they know you have the combat strength of sequence 6?" Abner asked with a frown.

"If the Gnosis Society, or rather the Demoness Sect, truly has ties with MI9, then they won't be unaware of my exact circumstances." At that point, Detective Isengard added in an amused tone, "Even if they attack, it would be difficult for them to truly keep me. I'm confident I can escape. And if that happens, it'll save me quite a bit of trouble. There'll be no need to guide the authorities toward discovering clues—the attack itself will be the greatest evidence."

Then why didn't you suggest luring the Demonesses into attacking you from the beginning? Abner grumbled inwardly, but he did not say it aloud. After all, he was afraid of getting beaten. Besides, the chance of success really was too low. Just as his teacher had said, the Demonesses might not mind casually killing a Sequence 9, but they certainly would not want to risk their lives against someone with the combat strength of sequence 6 without much to gain.

As Abner's thoughts wandered, Detective Isengard spoke again. "As it happens, I have a commission that requires travel... Originally, I wasn't entirely at ease assigning it to you alone, but if Miss Xio can accompany you, there shouldn't be much of a problem. Mm, I'll pay the commission fee."

"Mr. Stanton, you're too kind. You've helped me so much already. It's only right that I handle a commission for you. There's no need to pay me." Xio quickly waved her hands to indicate that she did not need payment.

Abner, meanwhile, asked curiously, "Teacher, what commission is it?"

"It's a plea for help from an old friend of mine in Damir Port! You'll need to deal with a Beyonder incident... Heh, travel east from Backlund to Pritz Harbor, set sail for Damir, then return to Enmat Harbor after resolving the incident. From there, pass through East Chester County and Tingen before returning to Backlund. Counting it all up, the journey should take almost exactly a month..."

(End of Chapter)