Chapter 2003: Current Events in Moon Bay

The young ladies and women of the Cavendish family would not be spending the night at Xia De's home this evening. Although Monday's "birthday party" had been fun, it had truly frightened them a little. Thus, Xia De parted ways with them at the entrance of Yodel Palace and, while bringing Little Mia back to St. Deran Square, first took a moment to observe the neighbor's house. Only after confirming that the house number and the marks on the walls were all fine did he return to his own home:

"I should go and remind Dorothy, the priest, and the doctor. Dorothy doesn't need it; she already knows. The priest doesn't need it either; that relic wouldn't dare to be a neighbor to the Dawn Cathedral. As for the doctor..."

Considering the doctor's bad luck, it was still very necessary to warn him about this Sage-level relic.

【Then, if a friendly neighbor appeared next door to our home, what would you do?】

As Xia De held Little Mia, treading on the wooden stairs while moving through the dim but exceptionally comforting stairwell, "She" asked gently.

"I'll make it look good."

Xia De answered in a good mood. The reason for his good mood was likely because of the way "our home" was used to refer to the place.

The silver moon still shone upon No. 6 St. Deran Square.

(Fiona connecting... Beep~ Beep~ Beep... No answer...)

By the time he woke up, it was already Thursday morning.

Xia De had originally planned to start the adventure for a brand-new Time Key after breakfast. Having not used a normal Time Key for a month, he even missed those adventures in the Fifth Era.

But while wearing his slippers and being urged by Little Mia to go outside to the milk box to fetch goat milk, he saw Director Anluosi walking toward him from the morning fog.

To be honest, having only mentioned it to Miss Galina last night, Xia De felt quite sorry that his superior had likely not even eaten breakfast this morning before braving the fog to come to his house.

He stood at the door to welcome Director Anluosi and invited him upstairs to have breakfast together. But Director Anluosi clearly had things to attend to; after politely declining Xia De's invitation, he simply went to the second floor to discuss matters with Xia De.

Seeing that Xia De had casually placed the newspaper and goat milk on the dining table and then actually sat down on the sofa, the cat, which had been waiting for breakfast, became a bit unhappy. So, Xia De placed it on his lap, and the cat settled down again.

"I have already heard about the matter from Miss Galina. You are going on a business trip to the Moon Bay region recently?"

Director Anluosi used a rather cautious description. Seeing Xia De nod, he let out a long sigh:

"The situation in the Moon Bay region is quite complicated now. Since the Green Lake negotiations were interrupted and the confrontation between the two countries' armies at the Green Lake border occurred, Moon Bay City looks calm, but there have been undercurrents beneath the surface for a long time. If you are operating in the Moon Bay region, you must not only pay attention to the Hawthorne, Eddington, and Belindel families—the 'Seven Glorious Families of Moon Bay' who still control the city council—but also the other four families that have withdrawn from the core of power, as they still have great influence in the Moon Bay region."

He carried a document bag with him, and after opening it, he gave Xia De some basic information:

"The Wood family now controls the local logging industry in the Moon Bay region. The mountainous forest areas in Moon Bay have many trees, and the organized loggers have formed a Loggers' Association. Their influence is nowhere near as large as the Stonemasons' Association in the Randall Valley, so the Wood family is also the smallest in power among the former 'Seven Glorious Families'."

"The Blue family, local wealthy merchants, control numerous fleets traveling to the New Continent, but because they have been suppressed by the traditional shipping family, the Aurora family, their development has not been very fast in recent years. They have a group of their own thugs in the dock area of Moon Bay City, and it is rumored that they have some kind of relationship with the Grey Gloves."

"The Black family, foul-smelling, most of the notorious local gangs are related to them. They were originally considered an old aristocratic family, but in recent decades, they have lost all aristocratic honor. It is worth mentioning that they have had intermarriages for generations with the Hawthorne family, which still holds power. Although the Black family does not admit to being a vassal of the Hawthorne family, in reality, it is not much different."

"The Light family, they have transformed into mechanical manufacturing and are now major factory owners. Their reputation in Moon Bay is mixed; some people think they have provided numerous job opportunities for the poor in Moon Bay City, but others think they are eating human flesh and blood because of their exploitation of workers."

Director Anluosi summarized:

"Although compared to Hawthorne, Eddington, and Belindel, these four families can no longer directly influence the city council, the seven families still have more or less connections, and the relationships between them are unusually complicated due to years of intermarriage. Therefore, one cannot underestimate them."

"Actually, it's hard for me to have a direct understanding just from you saying so much. Can you tell me directly which side our MI6 has connections with?"

MI6 must have planted a large number of sleepers and agents in such an important and complex area as Moon Bay City, so it is impossible not to have connections with local forces in Moon Bay.

Director Anluosi smiled:

"Your question is really direct. It is the Wood family; they are the easiest to connect with. More accurately, the contact between the Wood family and Delarion began as early as the Civil War in the Old Continent, before the Moon Bay region completely belonged to Kassenrik. I won't say that the Wood family will never betray MI6, but at least they can be trusted for now."

Xia De nodded in understanding, and Director Anluosi then gave him a new ID:

"However, do not contact the Wood family directly. I have arranged a contact person for you. If you have any needs during your operation in the Moon Bay region, you can seek help from this agent with the code name 'Boatman'."

The ID given to Xia De was a "First-Class Salesman" for the "United Fruit Company." The text on the ID was in Kassenrik, and the name was the pseudonym "Sherlock Holmes" that Xia De left when he joined MI6 to facilitate tax filing.

However, Xia De had never heard of this fruit company, so it was likely one of MI6's disguises in Kassenrik.

"Then do you know about an organization in Moon Bay called 'Eternal Light'?"

Xia De asked for advice again, and Director Anluosi nodded in surprise:

"You even know this? Eternal Light is a church-like organization that has only developed from the countryside and lower city areas of the Moon Bay region in the last dozen years, but they do not believe in any gods, but rather in light itself. Because they do not develop believers in the traditional sense, and the scope of influence is limited to the Moon Bay region, and the scale is very small, the Five Gods Church has not stepped in to intervene."

"Then what exactly does this organization do?"

"At first, it just encouraged people to face life positively, occasionally organizing some trauma support groups to help people who fell into trouble due to the loss of loved ones become positive and optimistic, and sometimes even provided legal advice, which gave them a very good reputation in the early stages."

"Later, Eternal Light began to incite people to resist darkness and injustice. At this stage, they attracted the attention of the Moon Bay City Hall. Until recent years, their ideas became... much more radical, and they also began to promote their thoughts and concepts on a large scale in the city."

Director Anluosi shook his head:

"Xia De, you should understand very well that the world is not black and white. Alright, next is their philosophy: Light dispels darkness. They want to change the Moon Bay region in their own way, so the Moon Bay Police Department made up its mind to change them first. Don't think they are pitiful; a lot of evidence proves that there are others standing behind this group of people, otherwise their financial resources cannot be explained."

"Moreover, the Moon Bay City Police Department has completely banned all kinds of propaganda by 'Eternal Light' in the city since the winter of 1852. But now, in the summer of 1854, even you, living in Tobesk, can know their name, which also shows that someone has provided them with help."

"Those seven families in Moon Bay?"

"It's hard to say clearly. Our people in the Moon Bay region rarely have contact with 'Eternal Light'."

Director Anluosi said, standing up and preparing to leave. He didn't mention any tasks for Xia De to complete in the Moon Bay region. But if it were truly necessary, he wouldn't forget Xia De, this ace agent.

So Xia De stood at the door to see off his superior, quite curious about how Director Anluosi viewed him.

"Meow~ Meow~"

"Got it, got it, time for breakfast."

"Meow!"

This cat is truly unusually easy to understand.

After breakfast, Xia De took out the Time Key obtained from the treasure of the mimic in the Green Lake region. Because he had rested for a month, he had already understood the time corresponding to this key through formal means, that is, by placing the key under his pillow to enter a dream.

It would lead Xia De to the late Fifth Era for another brand-new adventure. It's just that he didn't know what kind of story it would be this time.

"It feels like this is the only way life has returned to the right track. The late Fifth Era... See you in three seconds, Mia. May the World Tree protect me in time."

The bedroom door was opened, and the cat crouching on the back of the sofa watched Xia De step into the white fog that was as thick as cotton wool.

【Outsider, you have stepped into the "Corridor of Time."】

【Message from the Ancient God "Father of the Infinite Tree":】

【Spring, 5180 Fifth Era, Outer Sea, Sea of No Light.】

【Event: "Radiant Messenger" shipwrecked cruise ship.】

【Duration: 30 minutes (1/3).】

"The location that should have been the East Continent, West Continent, or the Broken Islands has become the 'Outer Sea.' It seems to be outside the land. No light... The event description is simple this time. What is the task?"

【You have obtained additional information.】

【The figure of the Father of the Infinite Tree watches you.】

【The Ancient God of Time gives you a test.】

【Help the Old God "Giver of Dreams" complete four fishing sessions.】

【The Father of the Infinite Tree will give you a reward: Miracle - Dragon Roar, Miracle - Corrupt Blood Mist.】 ===== CHAPTER 2004 =====