Chapter 228: Kind Lady, We Meet Again
"Not bad, these identity documents are practically real."
"No, they *are* real."
Luo En examined the identity documents belonging to "James Scott" with a playful expression.
Miss Sharon's efficiency was truly impressive. He wondered where she managed to get these things.
Unfortunately, she hadn't found a way to restore Beyonder characteristics. However, there seemed to be some progress regarding the "Artificer" matter, though it would still require some time.
With this identity, many things could be set in motion. Luo En stroked the smooth paper, his mind buzzing with ideas.
For matters requiring public appearances in the world of fame and fortune, such as interacting with Mach, Heir's father and a Member of Parliament, he could use the identity of "James Scott."
The identity of "Luo En" had already attracted a lot of trouble. It was better not to accumulate any more unnecessary dust.
If he were to open a factory in the future, it could also be registered under "James Scott," while "Luo En" himself could remain hidden behind the scenes, safely enjoying the profits.
"However," Luo En frowned slightly, rubbing his chin, "if I transfer all those shares to the 'Scott' identity, it seems… I'll have to pay a large sum in taxes to the Kingdom."
These past two days, he had also looked into the girl named Xio. He found that she was quite well-known in the East Borough, a "Arbiter" overflowing with a sense of Justice, who often helped ordinary people against injustice.
"Interesting, she's an intriguing girl~"
The Truth Union's underground base.
"Ah—choo!" Klein rubbed his nose.
"Strange, why do I have a bad feeling?" He muttered softly, meticulously inspecting the various mission tools laid out on the table.
Bullets, smoke bombs, signal flares for calling for backup in emergencies, and a few plain masks for disguising identities—these were his standard gear for "special duties."
These past few days, he had been wearing the Red Gloves uniform, whose origin he didn't know, following different teams and carrying out various "duties" throughout Backlund.
Some involved teaching unruly gangs a lesson, others were about collecting "protection fees," and there were even instances of impersonating Night Church members for "enforcement," but in reality, they were seizing territory from other secret organizations.
"I… I'm an informant for the Storm Church! You can't arrest me!"
A wild Beyonder they were "enforcing" trembled, defending himself and trying to invoke the storm lord Church's authority.
"You provide leads to the Storm Church, but not to us?"
"Are you… looking down on our Night Church?" A Truth Union member, playing the role of a Red Gloves leader, glared at him fiercely, beginning to "reason."
"Come, come, come, come back with us behind Chanis Gate to 'assist with an investigation.'"
"No! Don't! I don't want to go!"
Honestly, witnessing such scenes, Klein, as a former Nighthawks, felt an inexpressible mix of awkwardness and absurdity.
The only saving grace was that he was only responsible for keeping watch outside and for post-incident searches. He didn't have to personally engage in those toe-curlingly embarrassing situations.
They even went debt collecting.
Can you believe it? Wearing Night Church uniforms to collect debts!
"I… if I had known you were from the Church, how would I dare to owe money! I'll pay it back now! Right now!"
The debtor, a scoundrel, knelt on the spot, terrified at the sight of the iconic crimson moon on their uniforms.
In the most thrilling instance, they even, as Red Gloves, competed with a group of Punishers who arrived upon hearing the news, over jurisdiction of a case. Although, in reality, it was only to cover for a companion who had accidentally exposed his identity.
"This is our jurisdiction! What are you doing here?!" The Punishers captain glared at them with an unfriendly expression.
"This person is related to an important case we are investigating, and we must take him! I'm afraid if we hand him over to you, you'll 'interrogate' him to death in less than two days!" The Truth Union member playing the captain retorted without showing weakness.
"What?! Are you looking for trouble?!"
"No, we are merely stating a fact."
"Damn it! Which Nighthawks squad are you from?! I've never seen you before?!"
"You're not worthy to know."
"What caliber are you? How dare you handle the same cases as us?"
"What? Do you want to fight us?"
Klein's palms were covered in cold sweat at the time, feeling both nervous and awkward.
The only thing that comforted him was that the Society's actions were basically only aimed at the Church and other secret organizations, and did not affect ordinary people, which also reduced his guilt considerably.
Goddess, you will forgive me, won't you! Klein traced a crimson moon in his heart.
"Sherlock, you don't look so good."
Charles, who was writing a report nearby, noticed Klein's somewhat grim expression.
"Is it… a matter of faith? I know these recent missions have indeed been a bit—"
"It's fine." Klein silently apologized to the Goddess in his heart, "Before I joined the organization, I was actually a follower of the God of Steam and Machinery."
He quickly changed the subject, asking, "Director Charles, you also don't look so good?"
Hearing this, Charles smiled helplessly.
Why was he in a bad mood? It was because he, a manager who should have been sitting in his office, drinking coffee and handling financial statements, was inexplicably dragged to the Special Operations Department to do this kind of grunt work!
Although he had previously written to the higher-ups to complain about the atrocities of that damned Meihua 5.
But honestly, after calming down, he also felt a bit flustered.
In the workplace, reporting over your direct superior was a big taboo! It was very easy to incur the resentment of your leaders!
Although he and that Meihua 5 were not in the same department, the other party's rank was ultimately higher than his own. Moreover, the Special Operations Department indeed had the power to temporarily reassign personnel from other departments.
If his actions truly led to him being targeted, then it would be troublesome.
Just as he was writing his report, feeling annoyed—
A corner of the room suddenly warped.
A terrifying hound, entirely covered in short black fur, with two burning dark red flames in its eye sockets, suddenly appeared out of thin air!
"W-what kind of Monster is this?!"
The moment he saw this bizarre creature, Klein felt a strong spiritual sense of horror.
However, the hound did not make any attacking movements; it merely wagged its tail, then opened its mouth which extended all the way to the back of its head.
A letter, with a wolf paw print on its surface, was spat out.
Subsequently, the Monster's figure quickly became illusory, disappearing as if melting into the air, as if it had never been there.
'Is it… a messenger?' Klein suppressed the shock in his heart and quickly made a judgment. He had seen Lady Daily's messenger before, but he hadn't expected the Society's messenger to be so peculiar?
Charles gestured to Klein with his eyes to leave first. After the other person exited the room, he took a deep breath and nervously picked up the letter, breaking the wax seal.
[Your report has been received. We will send someone to investigate shortly.]
Backlund, East Borough.
"Captain Sost, do we really have to arrest every wild Beyonder we encounter?"
Leonard couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Among them, there might be informants we're developing, or some who are just seeking self-preservation and haven't done anything evil."
"No choice, the situation is urgent now. As for the vetting process—we can only conduct it in detail after they're brought back," Sost replied.
He paused, then deployed, "In a while, the regular Nighthawks squad will go first, conducting initial searches and expulsions.
"We, the Red Gloves, will strike at the critical moment, ensuring a decisive blow to minimize casualties and commotion."
"Pant. Pant."
Xio panted heavily, desperately fleeing through the dirty streets.
"Why are there Church people?!"
She felt a wave of despair.
She had just completed an "Arbiter" commission when she ran head-on into a squad of Church personnel conducting a search!
They seemed to be carrying out some large-scale search. And she had just climbed over the wall from the "Arbiter" target's house. That scene happened to be seen by them, making her look exactly like a "suspicious person."
Although she was also a loyal believer of the Evernight Goddess.
But she was also a wild Beyonder!
If wild Beyonders were taken away by Church personnel, it usually wouldn't end well; one wrong move and they could be imprisoned for life.
After failing to negotiate with them and being on the verge of being forcibly "invited back for tea," Xio ultimately chose to turn and run.
However, the Church personnel were not to be trifled with. Especially in the current "better to kill a thousand innocent than let one guilty go" special circumstances, the Nighthawks were working with 120% effort.
Before long, Xio was cornered in a deserted cul-de-sac.
"Miss, please give up resistance and cooperate with us for investigation." The Nighthawks stepped forward, his tone still somewhat restrained.
"I…"
Just as Xio was about to resign herself to her fate, the Nighthawks, who was slowly approaching her, suddenly let out a "huh" and froze in place.
"W-what happened?" Xio's eyes widened in surprise, completely clueless about what had occurred.
Just then, a voice with a hint of a smile came from the alley entrance.
"Kind Lady, we meet again."