Chapter 850: Fishing Plan (Thanks to Aurora Society Worker for Supporting Silver Alliance)

"Harrison?"

"Is he still in Trier?"

"'007,' why haven't you found him yet? Can your Eternal Sun Church even do anything?!"

As Franca's spirits lifted, joy and excitement surged within her.

She had mobilized all members of the Curly Baboon Research Society to search the world for Harrison, yet the target was still in Trier—though perhaps he had only just returned there.

While silently criticizing the "Purifiers'" competence, Franca sensed something unusual in this matter.

She lowered her voice, speaking thoughtfully:

"In recent times, Gauthier appeared twice in Underground Trier, and each time people nearby encountered Harrison—this can't be coincidence."

"Is Harrison cooperating with the 'Mirror People'?"

Anthony swallowed the last cream ring, sipped his coffee, and said:

"This is actually deducible."

"The Hanged Man said Harrison likely appears in places closely tied to death, darkness, twilight, decay—like the 'Well of the Samaritan Woman' deep in the fourth layer of the underground crypts. According to what we know, the 'Well of the Samaritan Woman' emerged from the Four Emperors' War, from Fourth Era Trier."

"So Harrison has motive to break the seal and enter Fourth Era Trier—same goal as the 'Mirror People.' Though we don't know how they connected, don't forget: the 'Mirror People' have deep cooperation with those 'Brokers.'"

"Those 'Brokers' are more annoying than buzzing flies," Franca sighed sincerely.

She turned to Anthony:

"Go tend to your own business. I'll consult Jianna and Lumian about how to use this to find Harrison."

"Alright." Anthony had already done the best possible intelligence-gathering he could.

After parting with Anthony, Franca returned directly to Aoluosaijie.

She didn't want to expose Lumian's current residence; she planned to summon a messenger so both companions would come to her.

"First summon Xiazuo Rabbit—what reward should I give it this time? Can't let Jianna improvise; I always feel she's training Xiazuo Rabbit toward something dangerously extreme..." Franca pondered for a few seconds, her gaze shifting to the coffee table.

There sat a book—the sixth volume of Fores Wal's The Great Adventurer series, finally released after months of delays!

The title: The Great Adventurer 6: The Future.

Franca had bought it yesterday, hadn't read it yet, only flipped through the afterword, where the great writer Fores Wal said she'd originally intended to name this volume "Star Admiral" or "Biologist," but ultimately abandoned both ideas due to a sudden inspiration.

Soon, Franca summoned Xiazuo Rabbit.

Behind this stylish "Knowledge Rabbit," a faint, glove-wearing, timid rabbit spirit emerged from the void.

Hmph, imitation act, huh? Franca smiled and handed Xiazuo Rabbit the letter and The Great Adventurer 6, warning:

"Remember to return it."

She wasn't reluctant to lend the book—she knew reciprocity built better relations with Xiazuo Rabbit, and perhaps later, the rabbit could introduce other special "talents" from the Knowledge Rabbit clan who could also serve as messengers.

Xiazuo Rabbit's eyes lit up:

"No problem!"

After sending off Xiazuo Rabbit, Franca summoned the "Penitent" Bayinfei.

Having completed these two tasks, she lay back in her armchair, pondering her next moves:

"Tonight I must notify '007' via the telegram group..."

"Should I try contacting the 'Professor' and mobilize the 'Secret Seekers' to search for Harrison together?"

"Sigh, right now we've only confirmed Harrison is in Trier—no concrete leads to pursue; even if I wanted to go all out, I have no opening..."

"I can't just wander Underground Trier every day, waiting for him to show up like a farmer waiting for rabbits."

"The 'Magic Mirror Divination' won't yield answers..."

"Hmm, I must report this quickly—the Hanged Man and other Major Arcana are also searching for Harrison..."

Franca sat up sharply and resumed her work.

In this process, she also reflected on her own matters:

"If I still can't find him, I'll have to digest some of my 'Pain' Elixir..."

"Well, after dealing with the 'Mirror Person' Nikila, I already digested a bit—the first rule of the 'Pain Witch' performance code is well-summarized:"

"Inflict pain on the target—not just physical, but spiritual too."

"The second performance rule should relate closely to the self—pain is the Witch's fundamental color?"

"I must summarize all performance rules as soon as possible, digest the elixir fully—Lumian is already preparing for his Sequence 4 'Ironblood Knight' ritual; I can't fall too far behind him..."

Just then, Franca felt the breeze at the open window pause for a second.

Then Jianna's figure swiftly materialized.

This newly promoted "Pleasure Witch" hadn't used makeup to make herself ugly—she merely adjusted the "direction" of her charm: she wore a black robe that concealed her fine figure, while using cosmetics to give her skin a sickly pallor, as if she'd long avoided sunlight; her lips were painted a vivid red, starkly contrasting her skin...

This made Jianna resemble a vampire more than ever—her allure centered on refined beauty and overall elegance, not sexual attraction.

You can do that too... quite good; Vampire Jianna is beautiful too... Franca smiled, studying her for a few moments, until Jianna hesitated and asked:

"What important intelligence did you get?"

Franca sat back in her armchair, crossed her legs, and recounted the entire Harrison situation in detail.

Jianna, seated on the single sofa, wasn't as excited as Franca—she knew too little to feel the depth and complexity of those emotions.

After thinking, she said:

"At this moment, Harrison is suspected of cooperating with the 'Mirror People'... could this also be part of the vortex?"

"Possibly." Franca nodded heavily, muttering, "Where's Lumian?"

"He went out." Jianna paused. "Probably."

Franca blurted in surprise:

"How do you know?"

Jianna smiled and replied:

"He told me yesterday: his first step in taming Ludwig is assigning him homework related to food—he needs Ludwig to go out and complete it himself. Hmm... in your words, write a 'Trier Meat Pie Guide.'"

"A slow-burn PUA, huh..." Franca muttered, "Did you two discuss this when you left yesterday? Is he planning to follow Ludwig?"

"He fears Ludwig might gather other 'Devouring Vortex' believers, and Lu Jianuo is only Sequence 7—he can't stop them." Jianna first explained Lumian's concern simply, then her eyes flickered slightly. "But this is probably only one reason."

"Other reasons?" Franca tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to understand the "Hunter's" eight hundred scheming thoughts.

Jianna's face broke into a smile:

"Yes. Though he didn't say it, that's how I feel."

"His hidden goal is probably his favorite activity:"

"Fishing!"

Franca suddenly understood:

"Using Ludwig to fish for other 'Devouring Vortex' believers?"

Jianna nodded, adding further:

"From Perle's style as a 'Supervisor,' the 'Brokers' likely weave different forces and individuals through their secret trade network, maximizing their Path's advantages. So, 'Devouring Vortex' believers and other heretical gods' followers are very likely pulled onto the Vortex plan."

"If we can capture a high-ranking 'Devouring Vortex' believer, we might better understand the Vortex's situation and uncover its key points."

Franca silently hissed:

"This is Lumian's style—pretending to train Ludwig while actually fishing for heretical believers and tracking the Vortex. Most infuriating of all: his surface goal is genuinely true and important!"

After her sigh, Franca looked at Jianna and praised with a smile:

"You're getting smarter!"

"Damn, you suddenly praise me like that—I don't know whether to accept it proudly or pretend modesty. If it were Lumian, he'd say, 'You've barely caught up to my thinking.'" Jianna imitated Lumian's tone in her last sentence.

Franca considered carefully, then slowly smiled:

"Fishing is indeed a good method."

"We can use the same approach to find Harrison."

"Harrison deeply understands death and applies it in extremely perverse ways; he seeks places tied closely to death, darkness, twilight—does this mean he can be drawn together by followers of these Paths?"

"It could be a gathering by higher beings—or perhaps by certain unique properties: Lumian's 'Deathway Man' seal, the 'Well of the Samaritan Woman'... Ah, Amandina's power comes directly from the 'Deathway Man,' who seems to possess death, darkness, and twilight simultaneously—Amandina might be able to draw Harrison to her..."

As she spoke, Franca's eyes glowed brightly:

"I want them all!"

"Once Lumian's condition stabilizes, have him take Amandina to the 'Well of the Samaritan Woman' to meet the 'Deathway Man.' We'll lie in wait nearby and see if Harrison gets drawn in!"

…………

Republic District, Richelieu Street.

Standing in the shadow beside the street, Lumian rubbed his nose, feeling the lingering scent of sensuality.

Since becoming a "Mendicant," the emotions and desires he'd accumulated had finally been largely released through last night's events, leaving him in excellent condition.

Yet his mood was heavy—both from his own inner turmoil and guilt, and from concern for others' feelings.

True "Pleasure" truly makes one crave immersion—well, just craving it, yet it inevitably brings pain... Damn, I'll go back and mock Jianna hard to vent this emotion... Lumian exhaled slowly, his gaze turning to Ludwig, who was savoring a red fish and hot beef pie nearby.

PS: Thanks to the Aurora Society's worker for supporting the Silver Alliance~ Are you all that rich in the Aurora Society?

(End of Chapter)