Chapter 646: Patrol Unit

Gauve smoked a cigarette at the entrance of Matani Import & Export, observing the customers coming and going, but found none buying Fermo coffee.

Seeing the gas lamps flicker on one by one and the horizon darkening to black-blue, Gauve crushed out his cigarette and tossed it into the trash bin, returning to the four-story beige building of the Patrol Unit.

He had originally planned to dine on an Intis meal in the expat district to celebrate his unexpected windfall of 40, 00 Fergins, but after being delayed by Louis Berry, the hour was late; he was too lazy to wait for a chef's meticulous preparation and decided to return to the Patrol Unit, pool money with a few close teammates, order takeout from a nearby restaurant, fill his stomach, then head to a bar or dance hall to unwind.

As he passed through the lobby, Gauve saw a teammate approach—skin dark brown, lips thick, over one meter eighty tall, with dozens of small brown braids—and asked curiously:

"Why is that man in the straw hat looking for you again?"

"Hey, I heard you and Colobo caught the serial killer and got a 50, 00 Fergin reward?"

——Matani had been colonized by Intis for many years, and everyone was accustomed to using Fergins paired with Delisi copper coins; after General Quilariel took control, he made no changes in this regard, merely partnering with a bank in the Fennepot Kingdom to establish a local bank allowing free exchange between Fergins and Jinlisuo.

If the one asking had been Colobo or the teammate known as "The Magician," Gauve would have grown wary, but this man, Sow, was a Sequence 8 "Brawler" of the "Warrior" Path, having joined the Patrol Unit only last year as an adventurer; he had a decent personality, was merely lazy and fond of comfort, with no major flaws.

Gauve laughed heartily:

"He's my informant; without him, I wouldn't have gotten that much reward."

Sow, with his single eyelid, suddenly understood:

"So he came just now to collect his share?"

Gauve thought a moment and said:

"That's one reason; another is he's still investigating the serial killings from four years ago and wants to ask me for some details."

He had concealed from the Patrol Unit's captain and deputy captains that he'd provided case files to Louis Berry, but he couldn't hide it from these teammates; so he made no effort to conceal Louis Berry's investigation into the four-year-old serial killings, and later, when monitoring the police headquarters to see who drank Fermo coffee and who was more suspicious, he'd need his teammates' help.

"Any progress? Any chance at the reward?" asked Sow, wearing a wrinkled shirt and carrying a massive sword on his back; he clearly found this intriguing.

Gauve wasn't ready to elaborate yet and replied vaguely:

"He suspects the killer might have been hiding in the police headquarters back then; I plan to quietly investigate."

"Why suspect a police officer?" Sow looked puzzled.

Gauve hadn't discussed this with Lu Mi earlier; now he pondered and said:

"Think about it: in the four-year-old case, all the victims were adepts, several of whom concealed their identities—how did the killer pinpoint them? How did he know they were adepts?"

"Only those at a certain rank in our unit or the police headquarters could access such intelligence; and whether there's an adept of the 'Demon' Path in the Patrol Unit is easy enough to confirm."

This line of thought was first raised four years ago by then-deputy captain Lei Yasa, but suspicion had been confined solely to the serial killer lurking within the Patrol Unit, with no consideration given to police headquarters or the General's Guard; later, the Patrol Unit carried out a screening and found no suspects, so they changed their direction.

"I see a glimmer of hope, smell the scent of Fergins," Sow said eagerly. "If you need help, just ask—I heard Colobo and the others only went to the scene with you and each got 5, 00 Fergins!"

"No problem," Gauve replied cheerfully.

Then he stepped past Sow, walked down the corridor, and headed toward his office.

At the entrance to his office, Colobo was peering out, watching him and Sow converse.

Colobo, around the same age as Gauve—mid-twenties—had jet-black hair, deep blue eyes, a slender frame, and held a pair of black sunglasses.

He lowered his voice to Gauve:

"Stay away from Sow for now."

"Why?" Gauve asked, startled.

Colobo, seeing Sow vanish through the lobby door, turned his gaze back and said:

"I get the feeling something bad will happen if I keep interacting with him."

"Then why didn't you warn him?" Gauve frowned in confusion.

Colobo was a Sequence 8 "Machine" of the "Monster" Path, with strong intuition, always vaguely sensing things before they happened.

"I warned him. He thinks everything's fine. I even reported it to the captain," Colobo shrugged.

As he spoke, this slightly frail adept remembered something:

"That adventurer Louis Berry is also dangerous. When he arrived at the scene this morning, I dared not look directly at him—even glancing once, I saw only vast pools of blood, flames, and death."

"I didn't want to tell you—I felt if I spoke it aloud, fate would crush me. Huh, now that I've said it, it's not so bad. Maybe I'm just too sensitive."

So dangerous? No wonder he's an adventurer who collected 600, 00 Fergins in one go… Gauve, aware of Louis Berry's reputation, wasn't truly shocked—but this was the first time he'd ever heard Colobo, the "Monster," describe someone this way.

Gauve clapped Colobo on the shoulder:

"Thanks. I'll be careful."

Then he asked curiously:

"Is Louis Berry the first person to give you this feeling?"

"No. There's another," Colobo shook his head.

"Who?" Gauve was startled.

Colobo's expression turned grim:

"I can't say."

"If I say it, I'll die. I'll die!"

Saying this, the frail adept hurried out of Gauve's office.

…………

Back at the Aurea Hotel, Lu Mi walked straight into the master bedroom.

Even in the hot season, the underground suite felt cool.

On the desk lay a neatly folded letter.

The "Magician"'s reply… Lu Mi picked up the paper and unfolded it:

"Good. You have a strong self-awareness."

"The 'Rose Sect' and the 'Spirit Cult' matters will be handled by dedicated personnel; you need not risk yourself—focus solely on dealing with 'Siso.' Of course, if they ask for your help, you may assist."

"The residual adepts' relics from the 'Rose Sect,' especially those of the 'Demon' and 'Prisoner' Paths, carry significant, troublesome contamination. Do not sell them to others or casually commission a 'Craftsman' to make items. If you must, sell them to me or entrust me to find a 'Craftsman.' Hmm, storing them in the 'Traveler's Satchel' poses no issue—compared to the attention and influence drawn by your Shadowtree Gauntlets, the 'Fool''s seal, or other items on you, they're as weak as a newborn infant."

After receiving this feedback, Lu Mi exhaled in relief and immediately activated the black mark on his right shoulder, vanishing from the room.

A while later, his figure materialized atop a clock tower on Trillen Boulevard.

Gazing at the distant luxury Champs Hotel, at the lights flickering on one by one, Lu Mi could finally stop suppressing himself—he could now carefully analyze the information he'd just received from Gauve.

Across a stormy sea, the Fennepot Kingdom, and half the Intis Republic, even if he were formulating a plan to hunt "Siso," he needn't fear the enemy sensing his malice or danger!

Only an Angel could possibly perceive it across such distance.

—Though Lu Mi still didn't know the exact target, didn't know who "Siso" was, lacked detailed intelligence, and had no concrete plan yet, he normally wouldn't trigger "Siso"'s danger sense—but when one has the ability to be cautious, one should always be cautious.

Thus, he had relied on the "Penitent"'s nature, enduring the urge to think about it until he'd left Port Palos and the Southern Continent, and only now, as usual, began refining details and expanding his thoughts.

After an unknown length of time, Lu Mi's figure vanished from the clock tower.

Ding, ding, ding!

The great bell tolled seven o'clock.

…………

The next morning.

As Gauve entered the lobby, he saw Louis Berry, wearing a golden straw hat, seated on a sofa in the reception area.

Again? Gauve remembered Colobo's warning, frowned slightly, and walked over with cautious concern.

"What do you need help with this time?" he asked, keeping his emotions in check.

Lu Mi smiled:

"I need some information—but not from you. From a teammate you trust who doesn't know what we discussed last night. And meet me at Matani Import & Export."

"I'll pay 5, 00 Fergins for it."

A strange request… 5, 00 Fergins—he's spending lavishly… Is this to evade the "Demon"'s danger sense? Gauve, an experienced official adept, quickly made the connection.

He restrained himself from overthinking and after a few seconds said:

"Alright."

He immediately entered the office area; Lu Mi rose and left, entering Matani Import & Export, barely a hundred meters away.

Soon, a man sat down across from Lu Mi, who was sipping coffee.

He had jet-black hair and looked frail.

Lu Mi recognized him—he was one of the Patrol Unit members who'd gone to the scene yesterday—but today the man wore dark black sunglasses, as if blind.

"I'm Colobo. Gauve said there's a chance to earn 5, 00 Fergins," the Patrol Unit member said in halting Intis.

Lu Mi studied Colobo's state with amusement, pulled out paper and pen, counted out 5, 00 Fergins in bills, and pushed them over:

"Write down the name and details of the Patrol Unit's 'Prisoner' Path adept. Don't let me see it—fold it into a square after writing."

Colobo, like a blind man, fumbled for the bills.

He bent over, nearly burying his head under the table as he counted them.

"Why don't you look at me?" Lu Mi asked curiously.

Colobo answered, trembling slightly:

"I'm afraid I'll go blind."

He can see things he shouldn't? "Monster" Path? Lu Mi examined himself and said nothing more.

Colobo turned his back, using the table behind him to quickly write the information, then folded the paper and handed it to Lu Mi.

Lu Mi didn't even glance at it—he snatched the information and shoved it straight into the "Traveler's Satchel."

He paid for the coffee, then entered the shop's restroom.

His figure vanished again.

(End of Chapter)