Outside 14 Kirk Street.
Standing at the foot of the steps, Maltz bowed respectfully to Arthur and said,
"Thank you for your contribution to the Shire District."
"I'll report everything accurately and make sure you receive the appropriate commendation."
Arthur smiled and shook his head. Holding his umbrella and carrying the Medium's Case, with Anna tucked against his chest, he walked toward 2 Kirk Street.
The Kirk Street residents watching nearby instinctively cleared a path.
"Arthur! Arthur!"
"Wait for me!"
"I'd like to interview you!"
Scott chased after him.
Envy showed in the residents' eyes. Though they were solidly middle class, none of them had ever had a chance to appear in the newspaper.
"As expected of Mr. Credos, the 'Medium.' He's already solved another case."
"I was wondering how these patrol officers suddenly found the murderer. Turns out they were relying on Mr. Credos."
"What a shame about the Allen family."
"Ah, may they rest in peace."
Listening to his neighbors' comments behind him, Arthur glanced at Wiggins, who was hiding behind the crowd.
Unlike the young reporter, who approached openly, this Golden Fingers, acting on Arthur's signal, was being very cautious.
He would need both of their help with what came next.
Of course, not with the same task.
First came the news coverage. Arthur would take great care to maintain his steady source of XP.
Second, he needed someone to watch Maltz while searching for Toad's actual hideout. After Wiggins's success in finding Beggar, Arthur was willing to place more trust in him.
He also hoped Toad's real hideout contained more valuable things.
Having obtained [Hand of the Void], Arthur wanted to acquire as much as possible.
After all, he had found his "soil" and "nutrients." Now he desperately needed "seeds"!
[Hand of the Void] alone was nowhere near enough!
Of course, Maltz remained the most important concern!
Although Maltz had shown himself to be trustworthy and was brimming with confidence, what if something unexpected happened?
Arthur felt he should take some precautions.
When he returned to the courtyard gate of 2 Kirk Street, he heard Maltz asking a question at nearby 14 Kirk Street-
"Where's Officer Audo?"
Maltz addressed a patrol officer whose trouser pockets bulged, as did the front of his jacket.
As a third-rank police officer, Maltz chose to turn a blind eye to the patrol officer's pilfering.
After all, this was commonplace in the Shire District, and even throughout South Los.
In fact, the largest share would soon appear on his desk.
A few hours earlier, Maltz might have hesitated.
Now?
He devoted himself entirely to his performance.
"Mr. Audo?"
The patrol officer blinked, then turned to his colleagues behind him, whose pockets were equally stuffed.
"Have any of you seen Mr. Audo?"
"No!"
"I don't think Mr. Audo's been here for a while!"
Completely absorbed in their unexpected windfall, the patrol officers exchanged looks. Only then did they realize that Audo, one of their leaders, was missing.
Contempt immediately appeared on their faces.
In their eyes, Audo must have stepped away out of fear of getting caught up in the earlier fight. After all, his share would still be waiting for him.
Still, that behavior left those who had taken part feeling rather uncomfortable.
They had fought, after all!
Since they had fought, taking "spoils" was only right!
Especially compared with Audo, Maltz, who had charged into the thick of it, deserved a larger share!
This was a "tradition" handed down from the days of the constables!
As for the New Law?
None of the patrol officers took the New Law seriously.
Standing in the doorway and closely watching their expressions, Maltz promptly said,
"Two of you, go bring Officer Audo back."
Then he let out a perfectly timed sigh.
"I'll go!"
"Me too!"
The patrol officer Maltz had stopped volunteered eagerly. His bulging pockets were already full; he had obtained his rightful share.
Taking anything more would break the rules.
He might as well go find Audo.
Though he privately scorned Audo's cowardice, the patrol officer was clearly happy to do something that might win Audo's favor.
The other patrol officer felt the same.
Soon, however, the two came scrambling back.
"M-Mr. Audo is dead!"
"His throat's been slit!"
The pair stammered out the news.
"What?"
"Where is he?"
Maltz immediately asked, his face filled with shock.
"In that alley from earlier!"
The patrol officer answered.
Maltz immediately ran toward the alley.
He had already cleaned the scene thoroughly. With the rain washing over it afterward, no traces could possibly remain. In fact, it made his staged scene even more convincing-Audo lay facedown, his head toward the mouth of the alley, blood soaking the ground around him.
The discovery of Audo's body left the previously jubilant patrol officers looking stunned and uneasy.
This was different from the deaths of Lark, Joseph, and the others.
Audo had died under unexplained circumstances.
They would need to find the killer.
Surely Audo couldn't have been killed by an evil spirit too?
More importantly, Audo's death might affect their earnings this time.
And indeed, it did.
All their earnings from this outing were handed over.
The Shire District police station stood beside West Merck Avenue. Turning right from Earta Square into Earta Lane brought it into view: two two-story buildings, one three-story building, and a small square.
A carriage was parked along one side of the square, which was paved entirely with square bricks, while three or four horses were always kept in the stable behind the two-story building on the right.
They were all there for emergencies.
Today, however, neither the carriage nor the horses had moved, yet the entire Shire District police station was on edge.
The tension was even greater than when someone had barged in without warning and snatched the baby.
Every officer on duty wore a grave expression. As they listened to Maltz's account, their eyes instinctively drifted toward the middle-aged man seated to one side-
Woolt.
The Harbor District chief wore a traditional white curled wig and gaiters. His red formal coat hung on a coat rack, leaving him in a waistcoat and a white shirt adorned with lace and silk flowers. His face was taut, his slightly lowered eyelids concealing his gaze.
His rapid breathing, however, made it clear that he was in a foul mood.
"Was it Audo who told you to leave?"
Woolt questioned him, his eyes fixed on Maltz.
Under the Harbor District chief's stare, Maltz appeared somewhat nervous, but answered with absolute certainty.
"Yes. He wasn't feeling well."
Though Maltz phrased it tactfully, Woolt knew this was exactly the sort of thing that useless Audo would do. He was not only greedy, but a coward terrified of dying.
Yet that was precisely why Woolt had used him to gain a foothold in the Shire District.
"Audo, he..."
Maltz tried to continue, but Woolt immediately raised a hand to silence him.
Maltz showed no displeasure at being interrupted.
On the contrary, he knew Woolt was getting irritated.
Why had he chosen Audo?
Because he wasn't the only one familiar with Audo's character. Everyone in the Shire District knew what Audo was like.
So no one could blame an old officer eager to retire for this unfortunate incident, much less suspect him of being the killer.
Hadn't they seen how nervous he was when answering just now?
How could he possibly kill anyone!
Maltz cautiously stepped forward and bent at the waist, wearing an anxious, ingratiating smile as he said softly-
"Chief, I have only three months left before retirement."
"Do you think you could..."
At the word "chief," the corners of Woolt's mouth lifted.
The request Maltz had begun made it clear that he meant "Chief of the Shire District."
Woolt felt pleased.
He knew what Maltz wanted.
Nothing more than early retirement.
Had he not already promised Maltz's position to someone else as part of a deal, he might actually have agreed.
But now?
Woolt gave the following reply.
Before you continue