Chapter 8: Blackthorn Security Company
Dunn got out of the car after saying those words, leaving Lu Ze stunned in the carriage.
After he came to his senses, Lu Ze carefully observed the details of his body. Sure enough, just as Dunn had said, his fingernails and hair had been meticulously trimmed. Siris hadn't sent servants to look after them, and the original owner had been crazy all day, so it could only have been his sister who did it.
Looking at his clean fingernails, Lu Ze felt a warmth flow through his chest. He couldn't tell if it was the original Lu Ze's gratitude towards his sister or his own appreciation for good human nature as a modern person—but whatever the reason, it filled him with affection for that lovely and persistent little girl.
When this incident is over, if I can still live with Cecilia, I must treat her well.
Lu Ze told himself in his heart.
Looking up, the passengers from the other carriage also disembarked. The brown-eyed Nighthawk walked in front, with Cecilia and the policewoman following closely. Lu Ze noticed that the young Nighthawk was carefully holding a burning candle, its flame flickering, surrounded by faint murmurs.
"Klein, how is it?"
Dunn asked, hinting at something.
"No problem." The brown-eyed Klein replied, gently blowing out the candle.
When the candle extinguished, Cecilia's body trembled. She looked around in surprise, as if she had just been distracted and only now realized she had gotten out of the car.
Indeed, she had also undergone a check in the other car.
The accompanying policewoman got into the car and left. The two groups converged, and Dunn pushed open the Door of Blackthorn Security Company, leading them inside.
First to greet them was a reception hall, furnished with classical sofas, soft-cushioned armchairs, and a natural wood coffee table. A partition behind the furniture blocked the view of the deeper areas. Directly opposite was a desk, behind which sat a brown-haired girl, currently with her head drooping, nodding off to sleep.
Are Nighthawks all this lax? However, it is almost midnight now.
Lu Ze thought.
"Rosanne."
Seeing this, Dunn raised his voice and said somewhat helplessly.
"Ugh! No, Captain!"
The brown-haired girl immediately woke up, straightening her body like a spring. "I wasn't sleeping, I was just distracted!"
No, no, no, girl, you haven't even wiped the drool from the corner of your mouth.
Lu Ze grumbled inwardly.
"Hahaha, that's right, Captain, I can testify. Rosanne wasn't sleeping, she was just strolling in the Goddess's divine kingdom, pondering life." Leonard teased with a smile, holding the peculiar badge in his hand. The girl named Rosanne glared at him, but he didn't mind, still grinning.
"Alright. Go prepare some tea and wipe your mouth while you're at it."
Dunn sent the girl away, then turned back to the other two team members, "You two go down to Charnes Gate first and return the [Goddess's Gaze] and [Calming Candle] Sealed Artifacts."
"Okay."
Klein and Leonard exchanged glances and replied, but their feet didn't move.
Dunn thought for a moment and added:
"Also, Leonard, call Luo Yao and Frey from the recreation room."
"Yes."
The two nodded, but still didn't move.
Dunn frowned at this, rubbing his temples hard. "Hmm, oh right, Charnes Gate is too dangerous at night. Don't put those two Sealed Artifacts in there yet. Just leave them in my office, and we'll talk about it when it's daylight."
Seeing him ponder for a long time, Klein and Leonard finally started to move. But after a few steps, they still looked back occasionally, as if afraid Dunn had forgotten something else.
Is he that forgetful?
Lu Ze and Cecilia exchanged glances, both a little surprised. This Nighthawks captain had left them with a deeply profound and reliable impression since they met. But that filter seemed to have slightly dissipated during their recent interaction.
"You two, please sit."
Dunn, however, was completely unaware, and gestured for the siblings to sit down. At this moment, the drowsy Rosanne also brought over the brewed black tea. The tea set was exquisite and beautiful, and the tea leaves seemed to be of high quality, but the two were so uneasy that even the best tea couldn't taste sweet.
"Mr. Dunn, what do we do next?"
Lu Ze asked proactively.
"Stay here and accept our protection."
As soon as he sat down, Dunn instinctively pulled out his pipe again. But seeing Cecilia sitting opposite him, he put the pipe back, and instead took a sip of tea. "And we will immediately act, arrest Siris's accomplices, interrogate him, and stop their insane actions until the incident is completely resolved."
That's not what I asked. I wanted to ask what would happen to me after the incident is over.
Lu Ze thought to himself, but the other party didn't seem to have any intention of discussing it now, so he wisely didn't ask again.
After a few more sips of black tea, not long after, Leonard appeared from behind the partition with two other Nighthawks.
"Leonard and Frey, come with me. Luo Yao, you stay here and protect our guests. Klein, are you going home? I can have the carriage drop you off on the way."
Dunn quickly gave his instructions, stood up, put on his hat, and then asked Klein.
"No need, Captain. Catching them is more important. Going back now would wake my family." Klein yawned, "I'll just lie down in the lounge for a bit."
"Mhm."
Dunn nodded, then told Lu Ze, "If you have anything, you can tell Luo Yao. If any emergency arises, you must listen to her."
Seeing that Lu Ze understood, he quickly left with his two team members, leaving the Longdaoer siblings and Ms. Luo Yao to look at each other.
This was a lady who appeared very aloof, with smooth, jet-black long hair, large eyes, and slender eyebrows. She didn't speak proactively, but quietly observed the siblings, her gaze seeming to linger on Lu Ze's face for a moment longer.
"Um, Ms. Luo Yao, good evening?"
"Good evening."
Seeing Lu Ze greet her, Luo Yao nodded slightly and spoke calmly, "Go to the back. There's a lounge there."
"Okay, thank you."
"Follow me."
She turned and led the two towards the back of the partition.
Lu Ze and his sister quickly followed. Before leaving, he looked back at the front desk. Sure enough, the brown-haired Rosanne had her head lowered again, starting to doze off.
Hopefully, she won't get caught by Dunn when he returns.
Lu Ze thought, stepping behind the partition.
Behind the partition was a short corridor, with three offices on each side. Luo Yao led them into the second office on the left, where there were several very soft-looking sofa beds and a stack of newspapers on the table.
The Nighthawk named Klein had already arrived, lying on one of the sofa beds. Seeing Lu Ze enter, he smiled and nodded at the two.
Lu Ze returned the smile.
"Please sit down casually. If you're tired, you can also sleep."
Luo Yao pointed to the sofa beds. She chose one herself first, sat down, then tidied her already smooth, jet-black hair, turned, pulled a newspaper from a nearby table, and started reading it to herself.
She seemed to have no intention of continuing the conversation.
Lu Ze had originally wanted to take the opportunity to glean some information, but seeing her aloof demeanor, he gave up the idea. He looked at Cecilia beside him and quietly asked her, "Are you sleepy?"
"Not sleepy."
Cecilia whispered.
"Then let's sit for a while. Do you want to read a newspaper?"
Lu Ze asked. Seeing her shake her head, he simply took a newspaper from the table, glancing at its title.
"Tingen City Proper People's News." What a distinctive name.
I want to see what the proper people of Tingen City care about.
With that thought, Lu Ze picked up the newspaper. He suddenly regretted not bringing the tea in earlier. After all, isn't drinking tea while reading the newspaper the standard? He lowered his head and casually browsed.
Citizens nationwide rejoice, happily welcoming the complete repeal of the Corn Laws.
Tingen City steel magnate Baron Henry publicly declared his love for Mrs. Sharon at a banquet and got into a brawl with three gentlemen.
A popular opera actress exposed for long-term affair with the theater owner and his stepson.
Tsk tsk tsk, as expected of news that proper people would care about, truly exciting.
Klein lay dressed, quietly closing his eyes to rest. Luo Yao flipped through the newspaper, her eyes occasionally glancing at Lu Ze and Cecilia, seemingly diligently performing her bodyguard duties. Cecilia sat leaning against Lu Ze, initially a bit uneasy, but before long, she started to doze off beside Lu Ze.
Time slowly passed.