Chapter 559: Purpose

So fast? Lumian didn't expect that in just one day, the "Knight of Swords'" investigation would have results.

Following his intuition, he turned his body and cast his gaze toward the full-length mirror.

That "Knight of Swords" with messy brown hair and a pale face had appeared there at some point.

"'Knight of Swords'?" Lumian asked.

That person nodded slightly and said:

"'Seven of Wands,' what help do you need?"

"How did you know I was 'Seven of Wands'?" Lumian hadn't mentioned his specific code name in the letter, only saying that he was seeking help from the "Knight of Swords" according to Madam "Magician's" guidance.

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

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

Madam "Magician" actually communicated with Madam "Hermit" specifically about my affairs... Lumian suddenly realized:

"I would like 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 in a posture that was stingy with words.

Lumian told the relevant information about Bartner Kong Tai and Nolphi, and finally said:

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

As he spoke, he took out two photo-like sketches and handed them to the "Knight of Swords."

The final and most core part of the Sea Prayer Ceremony, the sea sacrifice, is held in a special sea area outside the port. Those who have not followed along are neither clear on the details of the sea sacrifice nor do they know where that sea area is located.

—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, as they had corresponding True Gods, while wild Beyonders rarely prayed to dangerous existences for such small matters. Lumian belonged to the Tarot Club and counted as half an official Beyonder; not only could he ask Mr. "Fool" for help, but he could also borrow Madam "Magician's" power.

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

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

He didn't ask for a reward, nor did he make any demands.

This made Lumian quite emotional:

It's good 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 tag than owe someone a favor.

Lumian didn't have such thoughts; after all, being able to have the "Knight of Swords" come over and agree to help already involved the factor 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." Lumian agreed directly.

He felt a little curious and turned to ask:

"Is Madam 'Hermit' also responsible for matters related to the Southern Continent?"

Wouldn't that be too busy?

Listening to Madam "Magician," this Major Arcana card mainly dealt with maritime matters and a certain secret organization that believed in the "Hidden Sage," which didn't have much to do with the Southern Continent.

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

"My own business, unrelated to Madam 'Hermit'."

"Understood." Lumian expressed understanding, because many things he had done before weren't arranged by Madam "Magician." Even this action of tracking core members of "April Fools' Day" in Santa Harbor, 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 subordinate to Madam 'Hermit'."

What does temporarily subordinate mean? Can I be transferred to another Major Arcana card in the future? Lumian didn't understand this at all.

The "Knight of Swords" didn't explain, his figure suddenly blurred and disappeared.

Lumian, 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," nor did it feel like merging into the shadows... After making a simple judgment, he changed into the brown-green narrow-sleeved short top and brown-yellow loose trousers that were quite common in Santa Harbor.

After leaving the master bedroom, Lumian threw the "Lie" earring to Lu 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 Lu Jianuo took the "Lie" earring.

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

"After leaving the room, find another unoccupied, hidden place 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's also very valuable! Lu Lu Jianuo didn't dare to ask, followed his employer's instructions, took the "Lie" earring, carried a cloth bag filled with disguise clothes, and walked out of the room.

Seeing Lu Lu Jianuo's back disappear at the door, Lumian 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."

"Okay." Ludwig agreed, even looking forward to it.

Would anyone take advantage of the guardian's absence to sneak in and attack this little boy?

As Lumian crossed the sofa area, he casually placed the golden straw hat on Ludwig's head.

At the same time, he changed into a round-brimmed felt hat common to the locals 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. By comparison, those who might come into contact with this little boy were in more danger.

Arriving in the corridor, Lumian 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 pitch-black, void-like world that seemed to be covered in light gauze, Lumian smelled the faint scent of ambergris perfume he had deliberately left on the "Lie" earring and tracked Lu Lu Jianuo.

This wasn't to confirm if there was a problem with the translator, but to wait for a possible attack.

Since the great adventurer Louis Berry had set up the banner of investigating the Sea-Praying Ritual and a tough, radical image, the Fishermen's Guild and the people of Milo Village would likely react quickly, using thunderous means to eliminate this outsider and intimidate all those forces and people lurking in the dark.

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

He deliberately let Lu Lu Jianuo go to 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 Lu Jianuo.

In this way, if such a thing happened, Lumian could rescue Lu Lu Jianuo at the first opportunity and take the opportunity to capture or kill a few Beyonders from the Fishermen's Guild, showing the strength and confidence of the great adventurer to those who were watching, giving them more confidence to try doing something.

Of course, the people from the Fishermen's Guild and Milo Village might not necessarily take action in the near future. They might pretend to be weak, letting the enemies hiding in the dark drop their guard, one by one jumping out, and finally doing a total cleanup.

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

No attack... Is the Fishermen's Guild fishing, or did they fail to recognize Lu Lu Jianuo using "Lie"? Lumian wandered in the shadows, thinking about the possible reasons.

Lu 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 Fishermen's Guild, and he might be vented on by those 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, there were three or four homeless people, all looking lazy as if they were about to fall asleep in the sun.

Lumian knew that compared to the Kingdom of Loen and the Intis Republic, the homeless phenomenon in Feynapot wasn't that serious. This was because the kingdom's land was fertile, there were many pastures, and the seeds and livestock improved by the Church had high-yield characteristics, putting the entire Feynapot in a state of food surplus.

Here, grain prices were 15% to 20% cheaper than in countries like Intis—before the Kingdom of Loen abolished the "Corn Laws" and began importing 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, they could receive a certain amount of free food from the churches of "Mother Earth," the Church of Abundance, 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 strength and spirit to find new work.

Just as Lu Lu Jianuo was about to reach the Solo Hotel, Lumian, in the shadows, suddenly found something wrong.

When three homeless people on the side of the street adjusted their postures, they showed an indescribable stiffness.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With too much white in their eyes, they pulled the triggers one after another, leaving no room for Lu Lu Jianuo to dodge.