Chapter 163: Mission Guaranteed to be Completed

Chapter 163: Mission Guaranteed

"Since learning the Armor of the Sea God and the Blade of the Dark Moon, I feel as though I can touch the stirrings of excitement deep within my own heart."

Placing his left hand over his chest, Karen kept writing in his black notebook with his right:

"I have always felt that, in relation to this world, I am like a wanderer stranded in a desert, utterly lonely and deeply bewildered.

Though some have given me a tent, some have given me food, some have given me horses, and some have given me direction...

No matter how much the outside world provides, nothing grants me the security I crave quite like holding a gun in my own hand."

Pausing for a moment, Karen remembered that the manservant and pets at home seemed to have a habit of flipping through his notes, so he continued writing:

"This feeling might be somewhat selfish, as if the help given to me by others is suddenly being slighted, but having been protected for so long, I too want to try and experience the feeling of protecting them."

Yes, writing it like this would do; they would be pleased when they read it.

Karen felt no sense of "insincerity" or "affectation" in this, for from the moment a thought in the heart is committed to words, it bears the possibility of being seen, and is thus destined to become "distorted" to some degree.

Closing the notebook, Karen reached toward a potted cactus on the desk, his fingertips teasing its spines.

In truth, he knew well enough that though he had mastered the spells, he still had a vast amount of exploring and learning to do on this foundation; combat experience and the finer details of battle were not things acquired overnight.

But regardless, while he was no sharpshooter, he at least had a gun in his hand now, and the meaning and concept of that were entirely different.

Stepping out of the study and walking downstairs, Karen saw Purr sitting on Kevin’s back.

Purr wore a red hood upon her head and a blue bow tie around her neck; she truly was an exquisite cat.

"The bow tie could be exchanged for a pearl necklace; it would better suit your noble disposition."

"I can hear the mockery in your voice, but in reality, you are mocking yourself. Where in this house is there a pearl necklace?"

"Oh?"

"I heard that Madame Lake also contributed money to the remodeling of the Pavarotti Funeral Home’s backyard. To let a widow pay for it, you really have some nerve."

"It was Madame Lake who insisted on paying. It is her home, after all."

"And so none of you declined, because our family's funds were simply not enough."

"That is indeed a problem, but for now, our income is sufficient for our livelihood."

"Yes, yes, yes, and sufficient to keep employing this big-bottomed maid."

"Are you dissatisfied with Xili?"

"Very satisfied, immensely satisfied; but my previous words were spoken from the perspective of a great-great-great-great-aunt considering her great-great-great-great-niece. After all, I noticed someone just finished reading *The Secret Diary of Rozin* these past few days."

"I also know of a certain cat who secretly had a primary school student buy her a great many romance novels."

"Oh, damn it, he promised me he would keep it a secret!"

Karen walked downstairs and saw that two suitcases had already been packed.

"Young Master, when do you intend to set off? Shall I prepare lunch?"

"No need, I am leaving now."

"Very well, Young Master, I will help you take the suitcases down."

Xili did not need Karen’s help; she picked up both suitcases and carried them down.

Karen reminded her, "You can roll them."

"No, Young Master, that would damage the wheels."

Karen sat in the driver’s seat, Kevin jumped into the back, and Purr assumed a very indolent posture in the passenger seat.

Standing outside the car window, Xili said, "Young Master, I will still come by every day to prepare meals for Mr. Alfred and John."

"Thank you for your hard work."

"You are far too polite, Young Master. Have a safe journey!" Xili waved enthusiastically to Karen.

Karen started the car and drove out of the neighborhood gates. Just as he hit the road, he saw Alaye emerging from his brokerage shop. Spotting Karen’s car, Alaye immediately ran over.

"Young Master, Young Master Karen."

"Is something the matter?"

"It is like this, Young Master. The district government just issued a notice stating that illegal immigrants with formal employment can apply for temporary residence permits. Your maid, Xili, qualifies for this, and I can handle the paperwork for you."

"Very well, I will trouble you with it then."

"You are far too polite, it is only what I ought to do. Young Master, are you planning to go out?"

"Yes, to stay at a friend's house for a few days."

"Understood, please travel safely."

"Goodbye."

Karen had seen this policy news in the newspapers. It was indeed good news for illegal immigrants at this stage, but it had simultaneously provoked the opposition, and protests against the policy had already erupted in multiple places.

Living in this city, one could already distinctly smell the suffocating air of confrontation brewing beneath the surface.

Karen did not drive straight out of the city to the west, but first arrived at the Lemar Pottery Gallery in the city center, parking the car at the entrance.

"Do you want to get out and take a look inside?" Karen asked.

"No, I do not like the Voss family." Purr shook her head.

Karen asked curiously, "What kind of grievance could it be that leaves you still obsessed with it even after becoming a cat?"

"Back then, I had a sister from the Voss family with whom I got along very well. After I took the Finger of Light out of the family, she offered to take me in. I went, and then she actually tried to move against me to plot for that finger."

"And then?"

"I escaped."

"Did you kill her?"

"I could have, but my heart softened."

"I see."

"But I burned all her figures—those puppets of hers. That caused her more anguish than killing her would have, because many of them were treasures passed down through her family line."

"Heh, so, is that her descendant?" Karen pointed toward the pottery gallery.

"It wouldn't be that coincidental. The Voss family dispersed long ago, merely sharing a surname and each retaining a tiny bit of heritage. Though, of course, who can say for sure?"

"Kevin, what about you?" Karen looked toward the golden retriever.

The golden retriever shook his head.

"You do not like the Voss family either?"

The golden retriever nodded and looked out the car window. At that moment, the sorrow of ages drifted through the dog's eyes.

"Then I will go in by myself first to say hello."

Karen got out of the car and entered the pottery gallery. He was not influenced by the cat and dog in the vehicle; after all, those were grievances from at least a century ago.

The pottery gallery was as deserted as ever, but upon stepping inside, Karen heard movement within, and subsequently saw Lemar holding a noblewoman, kissing her passionately.

"I love your whiteness, I wish to drown in your fair skin."

"I also like your full beard, and your chest hair, and..."

"Someone's coming." Lemar noticed Karen's entry.

The noble lady immediately pulled up her clothes: "I'm leaving now, I'll come back in a few days."

With that, avoiding Karen's gaze, the lady trotted out of the pottery studio.

Karen raised both hands and said, "I'm sorry, but perhaps you should close early."

Lemar casually buttoned his shirt and said, "I can perceive anyone else coming in advance, except you, Mr. Karen. Your ability to conceal your breath is truly too strong."

"I didn't mean to."

"I didn't blame you anyway. Whew, the mayor's daughter, whose husband is a military officer but currently working in the colonies, so it's inevitable she gets lonely."

"You don't need to explain this to me."

"Alright, alright, you're here to pick up the item, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Seriously, I've never had a customer who called the night before to reserve and came to pick up the goods the next morning."

"Because other customers don't know your ability. Even for such an exquisite mask, you only need five hours."

"Um, right, Serena went to her mother's place."

"Okay."

"Well, I know you're not very interested in my sister, but you should have asked me first: Hi, hello, Lemar, where is your sister?"

"Why?"

"That way, when she returns, I can tell her to make her happy. Simply lying to her is useless, she can feel it, and that's the most terrifying thing about her."

"Heh heh."

Lemar bent down and opened the cabinet: "What's more terrifying is that I'm actually helping you make a gift for your fiancée behind her back. Whatever you do, don't let her know, otherwise she'll burn down my warehouse."

"Is it that exaggerated?"

"Ever since I told her the story about my great-great-great-grandmother getting sick and coughing up blood because her warehouse was burned down, she really likes to use 'burning the warehouse' to threaten me."

"What a coincidence."

"Yes, what a coincidence, huh? What?"

"I said, how unfortunate."

"Yes, how unfortunate. For every proper heir of the Voss family, his warehouse is his life.

Alright, here you go, I've packed the gift box for you."

Karen opened the gift box, which contained a round glass dome. Inside the glass dome was a snowy scene, and below was a street where a young lady used an umbrella to hook a young man's waist.

"It's hard to imagine that this was actually molded out of clay."

"If you were willing to give me a photo, I could make it look even more alike."

"I don't have a photo of her."

"No?" Lemar took out his wallet and opened the inner compartment. Inside was a stack of photos, and the one placed in the most prominent position now was the noble lady from earlier.

Karen remained unmoved.

"Hey, friend, it's just life, why be so serious? Just like a beautiful woman dating a few more men is to give more people warm memories, a handsome guy like you should also shoulder similar responsibilities."

"I am not very interested in these things."

"Well, everyone has their own preferred lifestyle."

"Yes, but you did remind me. When I go back this time, I will take a photo with her, and then put the photo in my wallet."

Speaking of the wallet, Karen subconsciously touched his pocket,

"I just realized that I don't have the habit of carrying a wallet. It seems I need to buy a wallet just to put the photo."

"Here, for you."

Lemar took out a matte black leather wallet from the cabinet. Both the craftsmanship and the material gave a very exquisite feeling.

"It's not appropriate."

"There's nothing inappropriate about it, it was originally prepared for you by Serena."

Lemar opened the wallet and pointed to the transparent slot inside, where Serena's photo had already been placed.

"I use the wallet Serena gave me, with my fiancée's photo inside?"

"It's fine, she won't mind. I feel my sister has that tendency to get more excited the more she is stimulated in this regard. This should be a common trait of the Yekaterin family bloodline, somewhat similar to those lunatics from the Wall God Cult."

"Thank you for helping me prepare the gift, it's always a trouble for you, I feel quite bad about it."

"The wallet."

"I can't take it."

Lemar shrugged and said, "Alright then."

"Is there anything you need?" Karen asked, picking up the gift box.

"Me? I need some materials. The Raphael family seems to have been wiped out entirely because they offended the Cult of Order, and now the material market in York City is somewhat chaotic.

I want a stable supply channel for materials. You know, sometimes people who like cooking often don't like buying groceries and washing dishes."

"I'll keep an eye out for you."

"It seems you really can help me." Lemar smiled.

"See you next time."

"Goodbye, friend!"

Karen walked out carrying the gift box, opened the car door, and placed the gift box on the passenger seat.

Puer opened the gift box, shook her head and said, "A very romantic scene, it's just missing a cute cat."

"It would feel weird, like an old grandmother staring at you while you're dating."

"Huh, shouldn't it be a different kind of thrill?"

"You should read fewer of those romance novels lately."

"Hmph, I plan to write one myself in a while."

"You've never been in a relationship."

"Didn't you say it yourself? Those who have never been in a relationship are actually the best at writing this, anyway it's written for single people to read."

"True, among single people, not many are older than you or have more experience being single."

"Meow!!!"

Karen started the car and drove towards the west of the city. The location of Allen Manor was to the west of York City.

After driving out of the city, the congestion cleared, and the scenery on both sides began to turn lush green. Although the weather was still somewhat cold, the essence of spring had already appeared.

Puer sat on the gift box, looked at the scenery outside the window, and lamented:

"In truth, the scenery in Wien is rather lovely."

"Cold in winter, scorching in summer."

Karen was no fond admirer of Wien's climate; it was always prone to extremes.

"Hence why Wien has produced so many writers," Purr remarked. "It is only when one is on the verge of freezing or burning to death that the spark of creative inspiration is truly struck."

Karen smiled faintly. "Because the weather outside is either too harsh or too oppressive to venture forth and court noble ladies, leaving one with no choice but to stay cooped up at home and write."

"Ah, it seems *The Secret Diary of Radzin* has left quite an impression on you. You ought to watch yourself, Karen."

Karen kept his eyes on the road, offering no further reply.

Purr, however, had grown lively and pressed on, "So, are you dying to pick a fight with someone right about now?"

"I am quite alright."

"And here I was, worried you would be itching to go and slaughter Vicole."

"I will entertain that thought only after I have advanced to the rank of Inquisitor."

"True enough. An Inquisitor of the Immalis line carries a grand heritage."

Ahead, a cargo truck had overturned on the highway, blocking nearly three-quarters of the road. Fortunately, traffic was sparse, and the terrain alongside the tarmac was flat enough for an automobile to bypass the obstruction.

The truck driver sat atop his overturned vehicle, his head covered in blood, morosely puffing on a cigarette. At the rear, a wounded woman was inspecting the cargo hold.

Karen did not pull over, choosing instead to circumvent the wreck just as the car before him had done.

Yet at that moment, Kevin sniffed the air, scrambling swiftly to the rear window.

"Woof! Woof!"

Purr immediately perked up, calling out, "The dumb dog says there is a cursed object inside that hold."

The distinction between a cursed object and a sacred artifact was much like that between an aberrant demon and a priest.

That which could be utilized was deemed a sacred artifact;

That which defied utility was branded a cursed object.

Karen eased his foot off the accelerator.

"Woof! Woof!"

"The dumb dog says the grade of the cursed object inside that cargo bay must be quite high."

Karen pulled the car to the shoulder and brought it to a halt.

"Oh, Karen, are you planning a little murder and highway robbery?"

Purr inquired with mounting excitement.

"Hardly. I merely wish to remind you both: if it truly is a high-grade cursed object, would an ordinary trucker and his wife be tasked with its escort?"

Karen gestured toward the rearview mirror. Through the glass, he could see that the moment his car had pulled over, the driver—who had previously kept his back turned—had suddenly spun around to face their direction, continuing to smoke.

Evidently, the man was wary of this vehicle that had so abruptly stopped by the wayside.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Kevin barked once more.

Then, Purr joined the chorus:

"Meow! Meow! Meow!"

Karen instantly fell silent. Kevin could only bark, but for Purr to resort to meowing meant that speech was currently inconvenient.

At that precise moment,

A plume of black mist materialized in the backseat, condensing into the silhouette of Neo.

"Captain?"

Then, the two spoke in perfect unison:

"What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?"

The subordinate was the first to answer.

Karen pointed to the gift box resting on the passenger seat. "After that night, I suddenly found myself missing my fiancée. So today, I set out of the city to see her. Her family resides in the suburbs."

Neo had promised not to pry into Karen's secrets, yet in answering, Karen instinctively sought to lean into a more sentimental narrative—as if to say, *It was because of your affairs, Captain, that I was deeply moved and wished to cherish my current relationship.*

"I am intercepting contraband."

"Whose cargo would require your personal intervention, Captain?"

"The Church of the Abyss."

"So, the truck overturned, and you are waiting for the Abyss Church's recipients to arrive so you can catch them red-handed with the spoils?"

"Precisely."

"I shall drive a bit further away, then, for the people by the truck seem to have noticed us."

Karen gestured toward the rearview mirror, but when he looked again, he discovered the driver had turned his back to them once more.

"The couriers are our own men."

"So this is a sting operation?"

"An elegant metaphor.

On account of the Qihe case, several other churches within York City have used the incident as a pretext to make trouble for our Church of Order. Consequently, we now need to unearth some of their own old skeletons."

"Captain, is there anything you require of me?"

Neo gestured toward the road ahead. "Five kilometers down the way, there is a gas station and a few diners. Go there now, choose an establishment, and book a group meal for fourteen of us. We shall head over once we have hauled in the net."

With those words, Neo's form dissolved into a cloud of black mist, drifting out through the car window. Left behind on the seat were five banknotes, each bearing a face value of one hundred Riels.

Karen reached into the back to retrieve the five hundred Riels, restarted the engine,

And murmured to himself:

"Understood, Captain. Consider the task assured."