Chapter 556

Lu Mian's gaze lingered on that Minor Arcana card, and then he saw one more person in front of the full-length mirror in the room.

That person was wearing a white shirt and a black vest, his face was relatively pale, and his brown hair was partially sticking up and partially drooping, as if he had just woken up.

For some reason, Lu Mian always felt that this person had a contradictory temperament that was both elusive and introverted. His brown eyes revealed an indescribable suppression, and being looked at by him felt like being stared at by the abyss.

"'Knight of Swords'?" Lu Mian asked.

That person nodded gently and said:

"'Wand 7,' what help do you need?"

"How did you know I am 'Wand 7'?" Lu Mian hadn't mentioned his specific code name in the letter, only saying that according to "The Magician's" guidance, he was seeking help from the "Knight of Swords."

The "Knight of Swords" spoke slowly, as if suppressing something:

"'The Hermit' told me that 'Wand 7,' who belongs to 'The Magician,' would be coming to Feynapot recently and might need me to provide intelligence or other forms of assistance."

"The Magician" actually communicated specifically with "The Hermit" about my affairs... Lu Mian suddenly realized:

"I want to ask you to help me find two people in Santa Harbor and the surrounding sea area, trying not to alert any forces."

"Specific situation." The "Knight of Swords" said with a posture of being stingy with words.

Lu Mian told the relevant information about Bartner Kong Tai and Norfi once, and finally said:

"I am not sure if they are still alive; they might have already become corpses."

As he spoke, he took out two sketches that looked like photographs and handed them to the "Knight of Swords."

This was the image of Bartner and Norfi that he had directly imprinted from his mind using the knowledge in Aurora's witchcraft notebook and his own specialty in ritual magic, comparable to the effect of a camera.

—The most critical and difficult part of the corresponding ritual magic was finding a suitable and safe object of prayer. Official Beyonders used it more often, after all, they had corresponding orthodox gods, while wild Beyonders rarely prayed to dangerous existences for such small matters. Lu Mian belonged to the Tarot Club and counted as half an official Beyonder; not only could he request help from Mr. Fool, but he could also borrow the power of "The Magician."

The "Knight of Swords" took the two sketches that looked like photographs and looked at them carefully for a while before saying:

"I will help you find them as soon as possible."

He did not ask for a reward, nor did he make any demands.

This made Lu Mian quite emotional:

It's still better to have an organization!

Of course, this kind of internal mutual aid often translates into human favors, which will have to be repaid sooner or later. For some people, they would rather have a clear price than owe others a favor.

Lu Mian didn't have such thoughts in this regard; after all, being able to let the "Knight of Swords" come over and agree to help already had factors at the level of human favor.

He deliberated and said:

"Do you have any tasks in Feynapot that you need my help with?"

The "Knight of Swords" was silent for a moment and said:

"The matter in Feynapot is already wrapping up, but I will go to the Southern Continent afterward and might need you to provide some help."

"No problem." Lu Mian agreed directly.

He felt a bit curious and turned to ask:

"'The Hermit' is also responsible for matters related to the Southern Continent?"

Wouldn't that be too busy?

Listening to "The Magician's" meaning, this Major Arcana card was mainly responsible for matters related to the sea and a certain secret organization that believed in the "Hidden Sage," and had nothing to do with the Southern Continent.

The "Knight of Swords" replied in a suppressed voice:

"It's my own business and has nothing to do with 'The Hermit'."

"Understood." Lu Mian expressed understanding, because many things he had done before were not arranged by "The Magician," and even this action of coming to Santa Harbor to track down core members of "April Fool's," if it didn't involve that Celestial Worthy, would also count as his private behavior.

The "Knight of Swords" was silent for two seconds and added:

"Moreover, I am only temporarily affiliated with 'The Hermit'."

What does temporarily affiliated mean? Can I be transferred to another Major Arcana card in the future? Lu Mian didn't understand this a bit.

The "Knight of Swords" did not explain, his figure suddenly blurred and disappeared.

Lu Mian, who hadn't opened his "Spirit Vision," couldn't capture the trajectory of the other party's departure in time.

It didn't look like "Teleportation," and there was no feeling of merging into the shadows... After making a simple judgment, he changed into the brown-green short-sleeved top and brown-yellow loose trousers that were quite common in Santa Harbor.

After leaving the master bedroom, Lu Mian threw the "Lie" earring to Lu Jianuo:

"You can go find Valerio to get the new identification documents. Don't forget the appearance you had when you saw him before."

"I remember it very clearly." Lu Jianuo took the "Lie" earring.

He was about to complete the disguise on the spot, but was stopped by Lu Mian:

"After leaving the room, find another hidden place where no one is around to use it, and change back to your original appearance before entering the hotel when you return."

This, doesn't this mean I will hold this magical item alone for a period of time? Aren't you afraid I'll run away with it? It not only has peculiar abilities and high usage value, but it is also very valuable! Lu Jianuo didn't dare to ask and, according to his employer's instructions, took the "Lie" earring, carried a cloth bag stuffed with disguise clothes, and walked out of the door.

Lu Mian saw Lu Jianuo's back disappear at the doorway, smiled, picked up the golden straw hat, and said to Ludwig:

"There is a lot of food on the table in my bedroom. Don't run around before I come back."

"Alright." Ludwig agreed, even a bit expectant.

Would anyone take advantage of the guardian's absence to quietly come and attack him, this little boy?

When Lu Mian crossed the sofa area, he casually placed the golden straw hat on Ludwig's head.

At the same time, he changed into the round-brimmed felt hat common in the area and walked out of the suite step by step.

He wasn't worried at all about whether Ludwig would have any accidents left alone in the hotel. Comparatively, those who might contact this little boy were more dangerous.

When he reached the corridor, Lu Mian pressed the hat on his head and used the contract ability "Shadow Transformation."

He suddenly thinned into a pure shadow and merged with the shadows at the bottom of the walls on both sides.

In that dark, void world that seemed to be covered with light gauze, Lu Mian sniffed the faint gray amber perfume scent he had deliberately left on the "Lie" earring and tracked Lu Jianuo.

This wasn't because he was still confirming whether there was a problem with the translator, but waiting for the possible attack.

Since the great adventurer Louis Berry had raised the banner of investigating the Sea-Praying Ceremony and a tough, radical image, the Fishery Guild and the people of Milo Village would likely react very quickly, using thunderous means to eliminate this outsider and deter all people and forces that were stirring in the dark.

Under these circumstances, Lu Mian, Lu Jianuo, and Ludwig would all be in danger.

He deliberately let Lu Jianuo go to find Valerio alone to get the identification documents, just to see if Juan Oro and the others had targeted his companions and would take the opportunity to attack Lu Jianuo.

In this way, if the corresponding thing happened, Lu Mian could rescue Lu Jianuo at the first opportunity and take the opportunity to catch or kill a few Fishery Guild Beyonders, showing the strength and confidence of the great adventurer to those who were in a wait-and-see state, letting them have more confidence and try to do something.

Of course, the people from the Fishery Guild and Milo Village wouldn't necessarily take action in the near future. They could completely pretend to be weak, let the enemies hiding in the dark put down their worries, jump out one by one, and finally do a total cleanup.

Lu Mian followed Lu Jianuo all the way to Valerio's underground casino, watching him pay the final 50 gold Risos and take away two identification documents belonging to locals.

No attack... Is the Fishery Guild fishing, or did they fail to recognize Lu Jianuo after using "Lie"? Lu Mian wandered in the shadows, thinking about the possible reasons.

Lu Jianuo didn't dare to stay on the street for too long. He also knew that his employer had offended the people of the Fishery Guild, and he might be implicated by that group of guys who didn't dare to target his employer, dragged into the depths of an alley, and beaten up severely.

Near the Solo Hotel, in the gap between two buildings, he quickly changed back to his modified original appearance, then took off the "Lie" earring and changed into the simple black formal suit he often wore.

Only then did he breathe a slight sigh of relief, turned into Aquinas Street, and returned to the entrance of the Solo Hotel.

On both sides of the street were three or four homeless people, all looking lazy as if they were about to fall asleep in the sun.

Lu Mian knew that compared to the Loen Kingdom and the Intis Republic, the homeless phenomenon in Feynapot was not so serious. This was because the kingdom's land was fertile, grasslands were numerous, and the seeds and livestock improved by the Church had the characteristics of high yield, so the entire Feynapot was in a state of food surplus.

Here, grain prices were 15% to 20% cheaper than in countries like Intis—before the Loen Kingdom abolished the "Corn Laws" and began to import large amounts of grain from Feynapot, the price of black bread of the same weight was almost twice that of Feynapot.

With such abundant produce, although there were farmers, herdsmen, and urban residents who went bankrupt due to land annexation, usury, and other factors and became homeless, they could receive a certain amount of free food from the churches of the "Mother Goddess of Earth," the Life Sect, government-related departments, and private charitable organizations. They might not be able to eat their fill, but at least they wouldn't starve to death and could recover their physical strength and spirit to find new work.

Seeing Lu Jianuo about to reach the Solo Hotel, Lu Mian in the shadows suddenly discovered something wrong.

Three homeless people on the street showed an indescribable stiffness when they adjusted their postures.

The next second, Lu Mian saw these homeless people spring up, each pulling out a pistol with twisted movements like wooden puppets with rusted joints, aiming at Lu Jianuo from three directions.

Bang, bang, bang!

With eyes full of whites, they pulled the triggers one after another, not leaving Lu Jianuo any space to dodge.

PS: Requesting monthly votes at the beginning of the month~

(End of chapter)