~Unit 51 Henry Street, West Borough~
Odis woke up on the bed in the lounge and let out a long sigh of relief, 'The first time attending the Tarot Club required caution, but now I can gradually relax. Justice won't be watching me as closely as today...'
He reflected on his behavior and realized that, despite his best efforts, he couldn't completely suppress his eagerness to stand out during his first gathering. Otherwise, Audrey wouldn't have noticed his expression when he wanted to trade with 'The World'.
Though he knew he shouldn't have acted that way, Odis didn't blame himself. After all, this was the legendary "protagonist team"... It was only natural to want to showcase his abilities during his first meeting with them...
Stretching lazily, Odis got up and walked into the herbal shop.
Kain was chatting with a plainly dressed woman in her early twenties. Though her features were ordinary, she carried a certain spirited air....
It was Bella, Lady Mandy's assistant...
Upon seeing Odis enter, she immediately stood up, "Mr. Gale, here are last week's accounts."
As she spoke, she handed over a black leather-bound ledger, "Lady Mandy also asked me to report that the transaction with the merchant Ajenon has been completed. She needs to scout a few new recruits in the East Borough."
Odis flipped through the ledger while nodding, "Let Mandy handle it as she sees fit."
Aside from financial records and personnel arrangements, Odis rarely involved himself in the day-to-day operations of his businesses.
Bella bowed respectfully, "Yes."
Odis carefully reviewed the ledger and made some notes.
At that moment, a man in his thirties with a tattooed face and a fierce demeanor entered. As soon as he stepped inside, he removed his felt hat, revealing several long scars on his head.
"Mr. Gale." Greeting Odis, he clutched his hat with both hands and gave an awkward, slightly nervous bow.
This was Enoch, the leader of the gang Odis had subdued, a ruthless but dim-witted man. It hadn't taken much effort for Odis to bring him to heel.
Without looking up, Odis nodded and gestured to Kain. The young assistant immediately brought a chair for Enoch.
After finishing Bella's ledger and giving a few more instructions, Odis waited until she bowed again and left before turning his attention to Enoch.
Enoch quickly stood up and produced another black leather-bound ledger, though its surface was stained, and the handwriting inside was messy.
Odis frowned slightly, but there was nothing to be done... Enoch had never received a proper education. When he first started working under Odis, his bookkeeping had consisted of numbers and symbols only he could understand.
"Tomorrow, you'll go to the East Borough with Mandy." Instructed Odis.
Enoch hurriedly replied, "Yes."
Fortunately, the gang's financial records weren't complicated. Odis quickly summarized them and closed the ledger.
Odis continued, "The serial killings have just ended. Tell everyone to keep a low profile."
"Yes, yes! Lately, we've been lying low, just drinking at the bar." Enoch began his report, "Last week, 'One-Eye' came to pick a fight, but we only drove them off. As per your orders, we avoided killing anyone..."
"...Oh, and also last week, a masked stranger offered a high bounty for help finding someone. I sent some men to investigate and found out the target was actually an informant for the 'Mandated Punishers'... Should we hand over the informant's details to the stranger?"
Thanks to Odis's guidance, Enoch had some awareness of the supernatural world.
Odis asked, "Do you have a portrait?"
"Yes." Enoch handed over the sketch of a gaunt middle-aged man with a prominent scar near his left eye.
"Stay out of it," Odis said.
Enoch nodded repeatedly, "Right, right. That's what I thought too."
Odis took out 20 pounds from his wallet, "Even though you didn't claim the bounty, you'll still receive payment for the intelligence."
"No, no!" Enoch waved his hands, "This is my duty!"
Odis pushed the money toward him, "You've earned it."
Only then did Enoch accept it and continue his report.
After the gang leader left, Odis wrote a note and had Kain deliver it to the Backlund Institute for Mechanical Research.
He intended to use official channels to investigate Xio Derecha through the police, ensuring no traces were left behind.
This was mostly for show... Odis was already quite familiar with the short-statured bounty hunter...
.....
~Backlund, Unit 15 Minsk Street, Cherwood Borough~
Early Tuesday morning, the doorbell at Klein's residence rang.
When he opened the door, he was unsurprised to see Mike Joseph, a reporter from the 'Daily Observer Press'.
The two had arranged the day before for Mike to hire detective Sherlock Moriarty as protection for his investigative trip to the East Borough.
They took a carriage to the filthy, chaotic East Borough, where Klein happened to run into Old Kohler. He hired him as both the first interviewee and their guide.
Next, Mike interviewed a woman in her sixties.
The elderly lady calmly recounted how her once-happy family had rapidly fallen into ruin, with her husband and son passing away one after another. After eating the meal Mike bought for her, she died peacefully in the warmth of the café.
Staring at the old woman's body, Mike opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
Old Kohler made a triangular gesture over his chest and smiled bitterly, "I knew she wouldn't last much longer. In the East Borough, things like this happen every day..."
"...At least she died with a full stomach, in a warm place. Hopefully… well, hopefully I'll get the same when my time comes."
After the police handled the old woman's body, the three of them shared a few more solemn words before continuing their search for interviewees.
They saw child thieves darting through the streets and gaunt, malnourished streetwalkers already soliciting customers.
Old Kohler explained the process of how gangs trained child thieves and the prevalence of prostitution in the East Borough.
In all of Backlund, one-fifth of women had engaged in (or at least briefly dabbled in) prostitution...
Streetwalkers weren't just an East Borough phenomenon... even in middle-class neighborhoods like Cherwood Borough and St. George Borough, many women had resorted to it out of desperation.
For ordinary people living in this glittering, international metropolis, bankruptcy came too easily. When forced to choose between dignity and survival, the decision wasn't a difficult one.
Mike saw six-year-old thieves and streetwalkers who looked no older than twelve or thirteen.
As they walked, their attention was drawn to a girl of about sixteen or seventeen. Aside from her striking beauty, what stood out was her nervousness, unease, and the bruises on her face.
Today was likely her first day in the trade.
Judging by the faded but well-tailored style of her dress, her family must have once been well-off. Otherwise, with her looks, she wouldn't have lasted this long before turning to the streets.
Just as Mike was about to approach her for an interview, Klein suddenly held him back.
A carriage stopped nearby, and a well-dressed, elegant woman in her thirties stepped out. With a faint smile, she began speaking to the young streetwalker.
Old Kohler sighed, "That girl is lucky. Lady Mandy has taken an interest in her."
Klein blinked, "Lady Mandy?"
"Yes," Old Kohler explained. "Every now and then, she comes to the East Borough and takes away a few pretty girls."
Mike stroked his chin, "Now I remember, she works for Mr. Gale!"