Tailing

Lumian is no stranger to Margot's performance.

If it were him, he would have done the same!

Considering that Aurora mentioned that Beyonder via the "Hunter" Pathway are relatively common in the Republic of Intis, Lumian initially suspected that Margot was also Beyonder, and specifically via the "Hunter" Pathway, but was unsure of his Sequence number.

"Even with a high Sequence, he wouldn't necessarily become Gang leader unless it's a necessary Acting... If Margot is truly Beyonder of the ' Hunter ' Pathway, then he shouldn't be higher than Sequence 7. Moreover, the possibility of him being an ' Pyromaniac ' is extremely slim. Lya and Valentine are only Sequence 7, already considered elite investigators. Are they really inferior to a high-level Thug responsible for patrolling Territory, abducting Women, and oppressing prostitutes?" Lumian muttered silently as he took two steps back, withdrawing his gaze and no longer looking in that direction.

Although it was unlikely that Margot's rank would reach or even exceed Sequence 7, he still dared not be careless.

What if his Sequence name is something like "Villain," requiring him to Acting in this way?

What if the Stinger Gang isn't as simple as it seems, but rather an extension of some Concealment organization or underground cult, possessing sufficient resources while trying to remain discreet to avoid attracting official attention?

These scenarios are highly improbable, but for Lumian, who lacks intelligence and relevant Mysticism knowledge, they are something he must be wary of, because he cannot rule out any options or determine just how low the probability is.

In the second-floor corridor, a man dressed in a red shirt and black vest, who appeared to be Margot, glanced at his three Subordinate with his hands in his pockets.

He frowned slightly, somewhat displeased and puzzled that they had unnecessarily adopted the scent of perfume.

He then looked down at the ground and sniffed.

He noticed that the perfume scent wasn't just at the top of the stairs; it extended unabashedly into Room 207, and there were fresh marks on the bottom step where something light but small had hit him.

In an instant, the man, suspected to be Margot, reconstructed the events that had occurred earlier in his mind based on the various pieces of information he had gathered from the environment:

The guest in Room 207 may have gone to the Washroom or visited a neighbor. On their way back to their room, they intended to spray perfume, but they didn't hold it properly and dropped the bottle onto the stairs. Afterwards, they regretfully rubbed the spilled perfume on their body, leaving only a few traces.

This aligns with the mindset of the guests at the "Golden Rooster Inn".

The man, Margot cleared of suspicion, told Subordinate three men, "When we get back to the Mill Ballroom, remember to change your shoes."

"Yes, Boss," the three Subordinate replied almost in unison.

They are often asked to do similar things, which is not surprising at all.

In the Mill Ballroom... Lumian, inside Room 207, overheard their conversation and was fairly certain that the man who appeared to be a "Hunter" Pathway Beyonder was Margot.

After chatting with Charlie in the morning, he wandered around the Honest Market District, chatting with many vendors and neighbors in the Bar. He learned that the Mill Ballroom at No. 3 Messy Street was one of the Stinger Gang's strongholds.

After Margot and the others descended to the bottom floor, Lumian put on his wide-brimmed hat, slowly left the room, and followed the lingering scent of perfume Depths into the street.

Seven or eight minutes later, he arrived at the Mill Ballroom, where the cheap, out-of-town perfume proved that Margot and his Subordinate had returned.

Unlike the Breeze Ballroom Mill Ballroom lacked impressive Statues and Inscription; it simply occupied part of the street and constructed a Golden entrance hall.

Gas lamps enclosed by glass covers and black latticework on the four Stone Pillars supporting the entrance hall dispelled the twilight.

By this time, the Dance Hall was already quite lively; Lumian could hear singing, noise, and the sounds of musical instruments even before he entered.

The layout here is very similar to the Breeze Ballroom, with a dance floor in the middle, surrounded by small round tables and chairs, and a half- Wooden Stage at the very front where a hot woman stands.

The woman wore a sexy, alluring white crop top, the row of bows above her bra almost visible at the chest. She had a black mole near her lips, her Brownish Yellow hair was styled in a bun and powdered, and her blue eyes were made even larger and deeper by the black lines drawn on them. Overall, she possessed both a decadent Fascination and a sweet charm.

She sang softly, occasionally kicking her right leg high, lifting her short, off- Ivory skirt that just reached her knees, enticing many Patron to squat down and peek into her Concealment parts.

The attending Doctor is a charming man

He would first roll up his shirt sleeves.

This reminds me of my first Lover.

"But this Doctor is different."

He can find the right spot in an instant.

"I've discovered, darling, that he's really good with his fingers..."

Amidst the subtle yet alluring singing, Lumian walked to the bar counter further inside and asked the Bartender, "What do you have for food?"

The Bartender asked with a smile, "How about Rouen Meat Pie? Or would you prefer a more common dinner like sausages, Bread, or bacon?"

Lumian, who already knew the people of Trier liked Meat Pie, nodded:

"Then two Rouen Meat Pie it is."

"How about a glass of Apple Punch? It'll cut through the greasiness of the Meat Pie." Seeing that Lumian hadn't asked about the price of the Meat Pie, the Bartender knew he was a generous customer and could recommend a slightly more expensive drink.

Punch is a fruit juice Cocktail.

Lumian smiled:

"Can."

He still had nearly two hundred Felkine on him, so he didn't need to be too frugal with his food and drink. After all, the final payment from the Information Broker Anthony Reid couldn't be saved up by simply hoarding money.

"Rouen Meat Pie are 3 Rick each, Apple Punch 12 Rick," the Bartender quickly quoted.

Lumian nodded, took out a 1- Felkine Silver Coin with a Angel relief and radiating lines on its surface, and tossed it to the Bartender.

After receiving the two 5- Kopek Copper Coin, he patiently waited.

At this moment, That One Women singer on stage had finished singing, and the band began to beat their drums with a slightly more intense rhythm.

Many Patron entered the Dance Hall and began to sway to the rhythm, releasing the stress, fatigue, and Pain accumulated during the day.

A Men Patron sitting near Lumian laughed to his companion, "I love this atmosphere! I don't know who invented this Twist, but it's so much more Charm than the old Quadrille! Can you imagine? I often have a partner by my side, but I have to wait so long for my turn to dance, and by then my enthusiasm has cooled down."

The Quadrille, also known as the Square Dance, involves four couples forming a square and dancing in turn according to the violinist's music, eventually circling each other.

Another Men Patron chuckled and said, "I still prefer the Can-Can and striptease."

The Can-Can very popular in the Red Princess District. It is characterized by high kicks and splits. The girls, dressed in short skirts and stockings, line up and keep kicking their legs high, which always attracts cheers and even some people throw coins on the stage.

Of course, this is also a technically demanding dance, where skilled dancers need to kick their legs above the nose or close to the ears.

Lumian listened to the various sounds around him, occasionally glancing out of the corner of his eye at the stairwell where the cheap perfume scent had disappeared.

Before long, two thick Meat Pie, along with a glass of a clear, dreamy alcoholic beverage with a Crimson bottom, a pale red top, and a few ice cubes floating on top, were placed in front of him.

Lumian first took a sip of the Apple Punch, and felt the refreshing sweetness, slight sourness, the spiciness of the alcohol, and the coldness of the ice cubes invigorate him.

Then he picked up the Rouen Meat Pie and took a bite.

The rich, slightly sweet texture of the unleavened dough, combined with the mouthfeel of minced meat, the aroma of oil, and the spiciness of spices, made Lumian almost unable to stop eating.

He finished the entire Meat Pie before picking up his Apple Punch to cleanse his mouth of the grease.

After dinner, Lumian sipped his alcoholic beverage, listened to the women singing, and watched the crowd on the dance floor.

He himself seemed to be infected by the enthusiastic and Frenzy atmosphere, and from time to time, he would sway his body to the rhythm at the dimly lit bar.

Whenever he did this, Lumian would glance at the stairwell entrance to observe Margot and his Subordinate's movements.

It was almost midnight when Margot, wearing a red shirt and leather vest, with his short, light blond hair standing on end, finally came Subordinate and left the Mill Ballroom.

Considering that the other party might be Beyonder using the "Hunter" Pathway, Lumian did not follow immediately and was prepared to lose them. After all, the Thug Gang had changed their shoes, which were stained with cheap perfume, and he could no longer rely on his Sense of Smell to follow them from a distance.

However, he still held out some hope, because he had just observed that most of the customers in the Dance Hall were too engrossed and Frenzy, and people would occasionally spill drinks on the floor, leaving many wet patches along the way from the stairwell to the main entrance.

As he swayed to the rhythm, Lumian noticed out of the corner of his eye that Margot was always Precision avoiding the slightly damp ground, which made him even more certain that the other was Beyonder of the "Hunter" Pathway.

Although Margot's three Subordinate were warned and took precautions, their lack of observation skills and the poor lighting of the Gas Wall Lamp meant that some of their feet or heels inevitably got wet.

For someone who frequents Bar and Dance Hall, this is an unavoidable situation. Margot is already numb to it, doesn't see it as a problem, and thinks it doesn't need to be taken too seriously.

They left for almost a minute before Lumian got up from the bar and walked out of the Mill Ballroom.

By this time, there were very few pedestrians on the road, only a few drunkards singing and cursing. Under the broken Gas Streetlamp, there were large areas of darkness, relying solely on the Crimson Moonlight from above for illumination.

Thanks to the four Gas Wall Lamp at the entrance of the Dance Hall, Lumian found many footprints that were still slightly damp; some had been there a long time ago, while others had just been left behind.

Among them, three pairs of footprints were close together and always appeared at the same time. After careful examination, Lumian discovered a faint pair of footprints in front of them that were very difficult to spot and had no wetness.

Lumian laughed and muttered to himself, "Always hanging out with idiots and Insects will only ruin you."