Chapter 656: Bounty

Louis Béri came again? Camille's temple twitched at the description "the one in the straw hat."

Since meeting this adventurer, his life had gone into overdrive: first he "caught" the serial killer, then gained clues to the old case from four years ago, then the suspect himself emerged, trying to kill him and Colobo, plunging the patrol team into chaos.

Now, Louis Béri came again?

Camille's heart tightened, pressure mounting.

"Where is Louis Béri?" Valentine had already heard Camille's account.

The patrol team member reporting hurriedly answered:

"Sitting in the lobby."

Valentine nodded and walked out of the office with Camille, descending the stairs.

Amidst the footsteps, Camille gradually regained his composure.

He recalled Louis Béri's suspicion of Tivanoc yesterday, how the man had asked only a few questions, without even inquiring into specifics, then abandoned his hypothesis and shifted his focus; he recalled how Louis Béri had come to him this morning, hoping to obtain certain intelligence through indirect means, and how Colobo had handed over Tivanoc's information to him shortly before being attacked, falling unconscious, the scene bearing clear, violent signs of battle.

Was this roundabout, cautious questioning method adopted to evade the demon's dangerous precognition? Was approaching Colobo to buy intelligence a trap set for Tivanoc? No—Tivanoc hadn't sensed the danger? He could only perceive it one or two minutes ahead, and by the time he realized, it was too late? As a former "Peacekeeper" and now an "Interrogator," Camille rapidly formed many associations and made several deductions.

He believed that once Louis Béri learned Tivanoc drank Felmor coffee without sugar, he had already pinpointed his target; the reason he told Camille he suspected someone from the Police Headquarters and didn't ask for details was because he feared Tivanoc would foresee the danger!

As for how Louis Béri had set the trap for Tivanoc today without being detected, Camille couldn't yet figure it out.

Moreover, he suspected Louis Béri's operation hadn't truly succeeded, because there was no trace at Mataani Import-Export proving Tivanoc had been killed.

This was a Sequence 5 "Apostle of Desire," possessing the power of a Sequence 5 "Wraith"—unless a Demigod intervened directly, it would require two or three combat teams composed of Sequence-ranked adepts from the "Sun" or "Warrior" paths to eliminate him, or a Pirate General of Sequence 5 with powerful artifacts and personal strength.

Soon, Camille and Valentine saw Louis Béri seated on a sofa in the lobby's reception area, his golden straw hat glaringly bright under the sunlight.

"Mr. Louis Béri, what do you want now?" Camille asked in Intis, his voice low.

Lu Mi first gave Camille a long, deep look, then smiled and spoke in halting Dutan to Valentine:

"I'm here to claim the bounty."

As he spoke, he pulled Tivanoc's head from "The Traveler's Satchel."

The blood-caked face, the stumps where horns had been torn off, the hollow eyes, the grotesque wound beside the nose, and a dozen or more deep gashes all flashed into Camille and Valentine's vision.

Though the head was badly damaged, Camille, as a former "Peacekeeper," recognized it at once:

Tivanoc Tupian!

He succeeded? He truly set a trap and killed a "Apostle of Desire"? Camille raised his gaze, studying again the young man known across the Misty Sea as a great adventurer.

Such strength could stand against any Pirate General on the Five Seas!

Of course, this referred only to individual capability, not the Pirate General's subordinates.

Valentine silently confirmed it on the spiritual plane, then turned to Camille and asked in Dutan:

"Is this Tivanoc?"

"Yes," Camille replied firmly, then sighed inwardly.

The battle between Tivanoc and Louis Béri must have been ferocious—hence the gruesome state: both eyes gone, countless wounds, clear signs of partial demonic transformation.

Valentine turned back to Lu Mi, considered carefully, then spoke in Dutan:

"I don't know if you've seen Tivanoc's wanted poster—the bounty is only 70, 00 Fels."

Originally, they'd set the reward by "serial killer" standards; only because this "serial killer" targeted Adepts had they raised it by 20, 00.

Lu Mi reluctantly understood and switched to Intis with a smile:

"If I waited two more days to claim the reward, would I get more?"

After hearing this, Camille thought carefully—and realized it was true:

In two days, they'd be wanted for the "Apostle of Desire" and "Wraith" Tivanoc who had killed several patrol members—not the old "serial killer"!

Of course, given the financial resources of the Mataani Federation, they couldn't set the bounty too high—perhaps double it, then notify official Northern Continent organizations like the Church of the Earth Mother and the Eternal Sun Church to see if they would contribute more.

After Camille translated Lu Mi's words into Dutan, Valentine fell silent, unsure how to respond.

For the patrol team, seventy or eighty thousand Fels was still a substantial sum!

Before he could answer, Lu Mi added with a smile:

"But no need to increase the bounty—just fulfill two simple requests."

"What?" Valentine asked, voice low, after Camille translated.

Lu Mi smiled:

"One, I want to see all case files concerning Tizamo Village; two, I'm curious about Tivanoc's playing card—I'd like to take a look, just look."

"You're investigating the incident in Tizamo Village last year? Wasn't your only purpose in coming to Pailos Port to find Tivanoc?" Camille asked, puzzled.

Lu Mi grunted:

"Do I need to remind you? Tivanoc's hometown is Tizamo Village."

This… Camille suddenly realized Tivanoc's death wouldn't end the matter—there were still many secrets hidden behind it.

And this was exactly what Louis Béri had said from the start.

After translating the exchange for Valentine, Camille felt the patrol team's earlier investigation into the Tizamo Village incident had been too hasty.

Gazing at Lu Mi, who had successfully killed a "Apostle of Desire" with "Wraith" abilities, the cold-tempered Valentine remained silent for several seconds before asking:

"Who commissioned you to investigate Tivanoc?"

Lu Mi didn't answer, but asked instead:

"Did he claim to be a member of the 'Temperance Faction,' a follower of the 'Fool'?"

"Not merely claimed—we confirmed it," Valentine replied firmly after Camille translated.

As expected… Lu Mi, merely verifying, offered a defense for the "Fool" Church:

"Any organization may have traitors; others may try to infiltrate."

"That's indeed our fault," Camille sincerely summarized the lesson. "Judging whether someone is good or bad, whether to recruit them, shouldn't rely solely on their organization—they must be observed in speech and action."

After deliberating, Valentine agreed to Lu Mi's requests.

He arranged for another patrol member to process Lu Mi's bounty claim, while assigning Camille to take Lu Mi to view the playing card.

…………

In the cold, silent underground corridor, Camille watched Lu Mi and asked cautiously:

"What exactly are you pursuing?"

This had already led to the death of a Sequence 5 "Apostle of Desire!"

Lu Mi chuckled:

"Knowing too much is dangerous."

Camille fell silent. Experience told him not to press further.

Lu Mi walked forward, asking casually:

"How many did the patrol lose this time?"

"Four—all controlled by Tivanoc," Camille gave a self-deprecating laugh. "We'll need to recruit a new batch before year-end. Heh—they're lucky: those with the right path don't worry about the next Sequence's Elixir; those without can use Relics."

That's how an official organization slowly accumulates its resources.

Lu Mi nodded slightly:

"What about Colobo?"

This time, Camille smiled more easily:

"He's fine—nearly recovered."

As they spoke, they reached a room lined with cold white bones; the metallic-looking playing card rested on the central table.

"Be careful—it can burrow into your body and control you like a 'Wraith,'" Camille warned.

Lu Mi nodded gently, stepped forward, and reached for the card bearing the Ten of Spades.

A bony texture entered his mind, followed by a chilling frost.

Lu Mi's right hand was instantly covered in frost.

The frost rapidly crystallized, spreading up his arm.

Simultaneously, the card's face shifted, revealing a gray-white "Joker."

It rapidly faded, about to merge into Lu Mi's body.

Without sound or warning, white flames erupted along Lu Mi's arm; he flipped his palm and pressed his thumb precisely onto the still-fading card—onto the Joker's face.

The card instantly fell still.

Crystals of frost peeled off Lu Mi's arm, falling to the ground and melting into water.

"Corpse" frost, "Wraith" possession… definitely a Relic of the "Prisoner" Path… Lu Mi quickly formed a basic judgment.

But the card's transformation abilities didn't match his knowledge of the "Prisoner" Path—it resembled more the shallow application of the "Faceless."

Had it been contaminated by a trace of the Celestial's influence? And the "Temperance Faction" wouldn't directly hand out "Wraith" resources—they'd start from lower Sequences… Had this card been strengthened incrementally? Did "Siso" have a fixed "Artisan" partner? Lu Mi withdrew his gaze from the card and stepped slowly back beside Camille.

"That's enough," he said after a pause. "Be careful when using this item."

Camille nodded:

"We'll treat it as a Relic, not a mere Artifact."

When they returned to the surface, Camille retrieved all the case files concerning Tizamo Village.

Lu Mi skimmed them briefly, then picked up one.

ps: Another normal update today

(End of Chapter)