Chapter 644: Visit

Jamieu thanked the telegraph operator, picked up his own telegram, and unfolded it to read:

"Louis Berry, an Intisian, the most famous adventurer in the Mist Sea over the past half-year, fond of wearing a golden-yellow straw hat, hunted down the 'Devil Wizard' Borman, claimed a 600, 00 Faeljin reward, and collaborated with the Church of the Earth Mother in Sangtagang to resolve a crisis involving the Ritual of Prayer—details unspecified…"

After reading the telegram, Jamieu sighed silently:

"He really is a great adventurer—no wonder he easily handled that 'serial killer'…"

Jamieu didn't truly know how powerful the 'Devil Wizard' was, but the reward spoke volumes: a 600, 00 Faeljin bounty proved Borman's strength, and Louis Berry, even with only this one famous feat, was unquestionably a great adventurer.

Recall that Bram, who committed multiple murders and kept the patrol team busy for nearly two weeks, had a bounty of only 50, 00 Faeljin—enough to make Jamieu eager to partner with Louis Berry.

After marveling at the 600, 00 Faeljin reward and understanding why Louis Berry was so generous, Jamieu tucked away the telegram and extravagantly blew a kiss to thank the female telegraph operator.

He rubbed his tousled brown hair and descended to the lobby.

It was already evening; he had no duty tonight and could return home to rest.

Suddenly, Jamieu's gaze sharpened—he saw Louis Berry, a handsome man with black hair and green eyes, lounging casually on a sofa in the reception area, idly twirling his golden-yellow straw hat.

"You—what else do you want?" Jamieu approached, wary.

Lumian stopped spinning the hat, sat up straight, and smiled:

"I'd like to talk to you about a few more things."

Upon discovering one of the three shops selling Felmor coffee beans was on Kania Street, just a short distance from the patrol headquarters, Lumian's first thought was:

Could "Siso" be hiding within the patrol team—as one of its members?

The most dangerous place is the safest place?

After repeated deliberation, Lumian considered this possible—but not highly likely:

On one hand, among the seven murdered Feifanzhe, the "Death God" believer living in Pailos Port, the peripheral member of the Rose School, and the Intis Republic's spy in Matani Province all lived discreetly as ordinary people; if "Siso" lacked sufficient intelligence sources and relied solely on personal investigation, it would be extremely difficult for him to identify these three as Feifanzhe and target them.

This suggests either "Siso" possesses a method to distinguish Feifanzhe from ordinary people—perhaps a unique ability or a magical item—or he controls or has access to a vast intelligence network. The patrol team, being the organization most knowledgeable about all conditions across Matani Province and Pailos Port, may have already detected anomalies among the "Death God" believer, the Rose School peripheral member, and the Intis spy, and are conducting further observation.

If "Siso" were a patrol team member, it would neatly explain how he could accurately identify hidden Feifanzhe and carry out the murders.

But on the other hand, if "Siso" truly belonged to the "Demon" Path and had joined the patrol team, the moment the serial killings began, everyone here would suspect him—unless he had concealed his true Path from the start. Yet, unlike the "Curly Baboon Research Society," the patrol team's daily missions involve too many scenarios requiring the use of one's abilities; "Siso" could conceal his Path for days or weeks, but not for months or years.

He couldn't possibly avoid every accident, nor could he prepare meticulously for every mission by wearing the appropriate magical items and only displaying those specific abilities.

Even if he were a "Demon," he couldn't!

Because many mission accidents are unpredictable and don't target specific individuals, the "Demon" cannot foresee danger in advance.

With these doubts and uncertainties, Lumian deliberately returned to the patrol team to visit Jamieu, hoping to gain new clues or inspiration to confirm or eliminate this possibility.

"What do you want to talk about?" Jamieu frowned.

Could this guy be trying to use the morning bribe as leverage against me?

That dossier wasn't anything particularly important—even if I lost it, I'd only get a reprimand!

Lumian put on the golden-yellow straw hat, stood up smiling, and pointed toward the door:

"How about a cup of coffee?"

Jamieu considered for a moment, then replied in a low voice:

"Fine."

Lumian exited the patrol team's main gate and headed toward the Matani Import-Export Store.

Under the fading twilight, he immediately spotted the Pailos Port Police Headquarters directly across from the patrol team.

Many officers in dark blue police uniforms came and went, some holding cups of coffee.

This… Lumian's mind stirred.

Could "Siso" not be a patrol team member at all, but a senior officer in the Police Headquarters?

At a certain rank, police officers must assist official Feifanzhe, gaining access to considerable intelligence; many official Feifanzhe investigations rely on police, simply because there aren't enough personnel.

If "Siso" were indeed a senior officer at the Pailos Port Police Headquarters, he could plausibly know these three hidden Feifanzhe, avoid exposure during daily missions, and conveniently purchase his beloved Felmor coffee beans.

Conversely, perhaps it was precisely because the Matani Import-Export Store was here—with its wide selection of coffee beans—that "Siso" developed a taste for pure, bitter, aromatic Felmor coffee without sugar.

Of course, this was only one possibility. Lumian had other theories: for instance, "Siso" was simply a thrill-seeking, arrogant man who deliberately bought Felmor coffee on Kania Street to watch the patrol team's incompetence and fury; as for Feifanzhe intelligence, he had other sources—perhaps "Siso" wasn't even a "Demon" Path Feifanzhe, but merely possessed a corresponding sealed artifact, granting him access to a special ritual to please the Demon; or perhaps he didn't need to hide within the patrol team at all; or perhaps Lumian was wrong, and the four-year-old serial killings had nothing to do with "Siso."

Thinking of this, Lumian suppressed his rising excitement, entered the Matani Import-Export Store with Jamieu, walked to the coffee bean section, and found a seat in the attached café.

"One highland coffee, with milk, two sugar cubes," Jamieu ordered the server with practiced ease.

Lumian ordered a rich Intisian coffee as well.

While waiting, Lumian casually observed which coffee or beans customers purchased, and asked Jamieu in a conversational tone:

"Your name suggests you're from Feneport?"

Jamieu hesitated, then answered honestly:

"My full name is Don Givelle Jamieu Castilla."

He gave his full name because the telegram mentioned Louis Berry's good cooperation with the Church of the Earth Mother.

Lumian laughed:

"So you're a nobleman."

Castilla was the royal surname of the Feneport Kingdom, and the prefix "Don" meant "Respected"—a clear indicator of noble status.

Jamieu gave a bitter smile:

"If I were truly a nobleman, how could I end up as a patrol team member in a remote province of the South Continent?"

"Our branch has long declined, but I won't deny that this surname and the 'Don' prefix gave me a head start beyond ordinary people—I received a serum at adulthood and became a Sequence 9 Feifanzhe. But all my subsequent advancements came from my own efforts."

Taking my 50, 00 Faeljin bribe was part of that effort? Lumian joked silently to himself, then turned his gaze to the two coffees the server brought and asked casually:

"You only drink highland coffee? Never try others?"

"I'm used to its taste," Jamieu said, lifting his cup and taking a sip.

Lumian removed his golden-yellow straw hat, sipped his coffee, and smiled in agreement:

"Yes, just like I'll never get used to Felmor coffee—add normal sugar and it's too bitter; add too much and it's cloying. But some people love its bitterness and aroma—even just a hint of sugar."

Lumian waited for Jamieu to say, "Yes, some people drink Felmor coffee without any sugar at all," but Jamieu didn't oblige:

"That's true."

"What exactly do you want to talk about?"

Lumian exhaled inwardly and admitted frankly:

"You've noticed—I'm deeply interested in the four-year-old serial killings. That's the sole reason I came to Pailos Port—a very high-value commission."

"Very high-value? It's just a 'serial killer,'" Jamieu said, his relief subtle but clear now that Louis Berry was discussing this case.

He didn't need eyes to see how much Louis Berry cared about the four-year-old serial killings.

Lumian gave a vague, smiling reply:

"This case hides secrets you can't imagine."

Like transmigrants. Like that Celestial Lord…

Jamieu took another sip of highland coffee and recalled:

"I came to Matani Province over five years ago, right after the Intisians had left. The kingdom and the churches had just begun their initial infiltration. I thought there were many opportunities—I might even use my surname to land a prestigious position—so I specifically sailed across the Mist Sea. But reality wasn't what I expected… though it was acceptable."

Speaking of the past, the twenty-five- or twenty-six-year-old Jamieu sounded wistful.

He continued:

"When the killings happened, I was just Sequence 8, investigating with several teammates under Deputy Captain Reyasa."

He paused, smiling at Lumian—as if to say, "Want more? Show more sincerity."

At that moment, Lumian was thinking of another question:

If "Siso" truly was a "Demon" Path Feifanzhe who joined the patrol team, could he conceal his Path?

Lumian put himself in "Siso"'s place and realized hiding "Hunter" Path abilities wouldn't be difficult:

He could handle most situations using only "Ascetic" Path abilities and one or two auxiliary items!

Of course, the "Ascetic" Path abilities themselves were suspect.

Could "Siso" be an Enchanter after all, pretending to be on the Enchanter Path? Lumian lifted his cup, sipped his coffee, avoided pressing for details about the serial killings, and gazed thoughtfully at Jamieu:

"Does the patrol team have any members skilled in divination or decryption?"

(End of Chapter)