Chapter 428: Hunting Time

Chapter 428: Hunting Time

Karen walked up to Davinci, who by this time had already picked up Karen's physical examination form.

"10 points?"

Davinci looked at Karen, revealing a meaningful smile.

Karen looked at him, and what surfaced in his mind was the passionate speech from when he listened to his lecture earlier.

Old Samaan was about the same age as Davinci, but Old Samaan's situation belonged to a true self-"exile," a complete and passive evasion of the world.

This one was different. This one also seemed to be drinking tea and smoking cigarettes in an idle post, appearing slightly unkempt and slovenly, but in reality, his heart remained fiery.

The more a person was like this, the more curious they made others feel, but equally, the more dangerous they were.

Karen spoke and asked: "What is it, has no one ever gotten a perfect score?"

"There are, there are," Davinci smiled, "but they generally all look somewhat dull-eyed."

"Actually, so do I."

"I don't think so at all. Seeing you reminds me of when I was young. Ah, what a great youth."

Davinci handed the physical examination form to Karen and said: "It's all done, just go get a stamp later. Since there are so many people, just sending one person is fine."

"I understand, thank you."

"You're welcome. Where do you usually live, York City?"

"Yes."

Davinci picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked:

"Do you like drinking tea?"

"I don't."

"Oh, all right." Davinci shifted his body slightly and shook his empty cigarette pack.

Karen took out a cigarette from his pocket and placed it directly in front of him.

"Hmm, this brand of cigarette, I usually just bum them from other directors to smoke, I can't bring myself to buy them myself. Giving me the whole pack? Does this count as bribery?"

"My testing has already concluded, so it doesn't count."

"Mhm, yes. You usually like to smoke, right? Coincidentally, I still have some over at my place..."

"No, I don't smoke."

"You don't smoke but you carry them?"

"It's a habit."

"Then what do you usually like to do? I imagine you must have some hobbies or interests, for example, reading? I happen to have many books at home..."

"I'm very sorry, I usually don't have time to read books, and I often feel very coarse because I don't read."

"You have no spare time?"

"Very little. I am very busy. After finishing the matters at hand, I will look for more things to do as much as possible. I am not very accustomed to letting myself relax."

"What about food? I am skilled in the specialties of many places..."

"A bowl of Wien soybean paste can satisfy all the demands of my taste buds."

"Oh?"

"I feel that spending time on eating is a crime against one's own youth."

"Hehehe." Davinci laughed and waved his hand at Karen.

"Thank you."

Karen saluted Davinci, turned around, and walked toward Aisli and the others.

He had no intention of crossing paths with Davinci, but Davinci seemed very interested in him.

He should have known about his identity—not his hidden identity, but this special Order's Whip squad, which in the future would definitely have very high development prospects.

He wanted to win him over, just like Alfred, he wanted to "proselytize" to him.

But Karen had no interest in having any involvement with him, nor did he have the motivation to conduct any undercover investigation into their organization; he only wanted to stay far away.

His refusal was very blunt, not because he wished to be blunt, but because Davinci was too proactive, trying to create conditions where they could contact and communicate again in private, leaving Karen no choice but to firmly refuse time and time again.

However, it seemed that after seeing he had scored 10 points, his interest in him grew even greater.

Why was this?

The greater the difficulty, the higher the enthusiasm for the challenge?

No... perhaps standing from his perspective, the more loyal a person was to the God of Order, the easier it would be for them to join his camp.

"Is everything alright?" Memphis asked with some concern upon seeing Karen's eyes filled with contemplation.

After asking, he felt it was somewhat inappropriate.

In fact, he himself had noticed that his "attitude" toward Karen was often blurred. Even though he rationally guessed Karen's identity was immense, during normal contact, there was always a strange sense of "no boundaries."

Memphis felt it was because Karen had a good relationship with Richard. When he saw Karen standing together with his son, he would always subconsciously assume Karen and his son were of the same generation.

Well, it was all that kid Richard's fault.

"I am fine, perhaps just a little tired."

"Oh, that's good then." Memphis nodded and took a step back.

At this time, Richard walked out of the small room. His hair was disheveled, his gaze blank, looking thoroughly devastated and ravaged.

He walked up to Davinci to get his physical examination form.

"6 points. Although it's a pass, you are very dangerous. I hope this test can serve as a sufficient educational lesson for you."

"Yes, I hope so too." Richard took the form, turned around, and walked over.

Karen reached out and patted his shoulder. Richard rubbed his face vigorously with both hands, only letting out a long sigh of relief once it was rubbed red.

Alfred walked out while putting his small notebook into his pocket, gently twisting his neck, his face still carrying an intense sense of wanting more.

He walked up to Davinci to collect his physical examination form.

"10 points?"

"Oh, is that so? That's great." Alfred smiled.

"Do you like drinking tea?"

"I do."

"I have a lot of tea at my house."

Alfred instantly understood Davinci's meaning, but immediately shook his head and said: "I only like drinking my own tea. Other people's tea, I have never been able to get used to."

"Oh, is that so? Then that's a pity."

Alfred walked over with the physical examination form, exchanged a glance with Karen, and stood behind him.

The next batch of three people went up.

Next, it was simply a matter of waiting.

Most people scored around the seven or eight-point mark, though Philomena surprisingly scored a nine, which caught Karen slightly off guard.

Once everyone had finished, Bart collected all the physical examination forms to take them for stamping and archiving. Upon his return, the group walked out of the castle.

"Are you all finished?"

Xali rode up on his undead warhorse. It seemed he had completed his guard duty, as his armor had already been removed.

"Yes, Lord Xali," Karen replied.

"Where are you heading next, then?"

"Back to York City."

"Actually, if you're not in a hurry, I suggest you head back a bit later."

"Why is that?" Karen asked, puzzled. "Has something happened?"

"The garrison just deployed a squad of Falcon Knights. York City should be hunting rats right now. If you go back now, you’ll just have to start getting busy."

The garrison was a tier below the Knights Templar, composed primarily of retired knights. They usually served as a "reserve force" while also assisting with missions in their respective districts.

The movement of the Knights Templar required the approval of the Roundtable Council, but the garrison could be deployed by the order of the regional Chief Bishop.

"I haven't received any word."

"Perhaps your superior wanted you to get some extra rest and didn't want to overwork you, haha."

"Thank you for letting us know, Lord Xali."

"Don't mention it, Captain Karen. Oh, by the way, Bart, next time you’re on leave, shouldn't you consider coming to my house to ask your fiancée out for a date?"

"Uncle, you can ask our captain. We are very busy."

"Oh, yes, I'll let it slide this time. But if I catch you not coming over on your next leave, I’ll risk stepping down as patrol captain and getting banished to the garrison just to go to York City and break your legs with my own hands."

"You can't do that, Uncle. I believe everything should take its natural course, especially when it comes to marriage. We need to respect the choices of us young people.

Besides, who still does arranged family marriages nowadays? You should take some time during your leave to walk around the city and feel the new trend of the times."

Xali looked at Karen. "Oh, is that so, Captain Karen?"

"My marriage was arranged by the elders in my family."

"See!" Xali immediately straightened his back, pointing his riding crop at Bart. "Watch your legs. I don't mind my daughter taking care of a man in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. At least she won't have to worry about him cheating."

Richard, who had recovered a bit, piped up and asked, "Can't someone cheat in a wheelchair?"

Xali smiled and said, "My meaning is, breaking all of his legs."

Bart: "..."

...

"Mother, I'm hungry."

"You just ate last night."

"But I'm hungry now, I'm hungry."

"You should know that acting spoiled with me is useless. I have never regarded you as my daughter."

"I just think that acting spoiled toward the one who feeds me is a form of respect."

"There is no such thing as respect between us either."

"Mother, are you worried that if I keep growing, you won't be able to control me anymore?"

"No, I am not worried. When I delivered you from my husband's body, I was already prepared to be your last meal."

"Mother, I think we can leave York City now. Don't you think there are more and more people searching for us these days? The silhouettes of falcons keep appearing in the dark clouds above."

"Do you know the price for murdering an Order Inquisitor? Do you know the price for murdering so many Order Inquisitors in succession?"

"I don't know the specifics, but I can imagine the rough idea."

"If we stay in York City now, we still have a chance to hide. If we leave York City, we will be exposed immediately."

"No, I know those are all excuses. I know your thoughts, Mother. After you feed me and raise me, you'll find an opportunity, in a prominent place, to let me roar in anger alongside you.

You have already designed an ending for me, one just like fireworks."

"Think whatever you like."

"This is reality. I cannot leave you, Mother, at least not for now. Ah, I smell that fragrant scent again, right up ahead. Mother, aren't I good? I found dinner for myself."

Madam Sidra's face darkened as she concealed her figure in the darkness.

Ahead, a carriage drove past. Two exhausted middle-aged men sat inside, wearing Order robes, complaining about the unfairness of their superior's work assignments.

In York City, carriages had not completely vanished; many people still chose to ride in them, especially at night when there was no traffic.

"Mother, aren't you going to do it?"

Madam Sidra did not move. Long after the carriage had departed, Madam Sidra finally stepped out from the shadows.

"Mother, you let my dinner go."

"That was bait. Bait to fish for us."

"Oh, is that so? Mother is truly amazing."

Madam Sidra walked toward a townhouse residential area, pushed open a courtyard gate, walked to the front door, and knocked.

Before long, the door opened, and a gentleman stood there.

Madam Sidra placed her hands over her chest and said sincerely, "Praise the great God of Order."

The man immediately responded, "Praise the God of Order."

"This is the new early-warning manual. The situation has been getting increasingly severe lately. I hope you, your wife, and your children will take proper security precautions."

The man immediately asked, "Has that fellow not been caught yet?"

"I'm sorry, not yet." Madam Sidra sighed. "We are working hard on it."

"Sometimes I really have to question your efficiency. You haven't caught a fellow who tramples on the dignity of our Order so flagrantly, and you’re even letting him continue to kill people."

"We accept your criticism, but please keep the early-warning manual safe. Now, I just need to confirm, are your wife and children at home?"

"They are."

"Good, that's fine then."

Madam Sidra's eyes narrowed. A woman's face instantly erupted from between her brows, directly strangling the man's neck while completely immobilizing him.

Following this, Madam Sidra stepped inside and closed the door.

"Dear, who was at the door?" A woman walked down from upstairs, but upon seeing this scene, shock filled her eyes. Before she could scream, her body levitated. No matter how she struggled, she could not break free, unable to make even a sound.

Madam Sidra suspended them like this as she entered the living room. With a wave of her hand, both of them were pinned against the wall, followed immediately by mysterious Lula runes flashing out and striking their bodies.

A chair in front of them shattered, and two chair legs flew straight over, piercing the master and mistress of the house to fix them securely to the wall.

Blood began to drip from the two of them. Their eyes were wide open, and though they were still alive, they had lost all ability to resist.

At that moment, a twelve-year-old girl walked down the stairs, holding the hand of an even younger boy.

"Oh, oh, oh!"

The evil spirit, just about to feast on the master and mistress of the house, let out an excited shriek.

"Oh, heavens, to think there are two such fresh servants of God here! What gifted children. Their blood and souls must be incredibly tender."

With a wave of Madam Sidra's hand, the two children immediately lost consciousness and collapsed onto the stairs.

The evil spirit darted toward them like a slithering rope, but its form was abruptly halted. Looking back, it found that Madam Sidra had grabbed hold of it.

"The two adults are already enough for this meal of yours."

"No, Mother, my appetite is staggering right now."

"It is not permitted."

"Mother, don't you find yourself ridiculous? You are clearly seeking vengeance, yet you still care about these moral constraints?"

"I was a joke to begin with. Both my husband and I are jokes."

"Mother..."

"Your current strength is enough to break free from me, and you could even try to consume me right now. Though you have been hiding it, I know it full well in my heart.

So, you can choose to devour both me and them right now, if you feel the timing is right."

The evil spirit turned its form around and pounced upon the master and mistress.

"I'll listen to Mother. I'm a good child, hehe."

...

"How is Gray doing?"

Sitting in his wheelchair, Neil gazed at the scenery outside through the window. He was not at the Educational Administration Building right now, but rather at Fannie's house. At this moment, several other people were also present in Fannie's home, all members of the Bloodhound Squad.

Setting down the telephone, Fannie replied, "The Church Hospital said that his chances of waking up have grown even slimmer."

Neil nodded.

Just then, Peggy returned from buying dinner and asked in confusion, "Are we just going to wait here?"

Neil turned around to look at her. Peggy immediately lowered her head, not daring to grumble any further.

"If we don't wait, should we fly around in the sky like those fools and fish with the kind of bait that only idiots would fall for?"

"Squad Leader, I didn't mean it that way. I just want to do something. You know, Gray is a decent guy."

"I will take responsibility for avenging every member who suffers an accident. This is the oath we swore together, so I am searching using my own methods.

I put myself in the culprit's shoes. Based on the case information that keeps breaking out, I created a chart of the crime patterns. I've already had Wind spend money to hire over a hundred of York City's homeless children to help me keep an eye on certain specific residents in this area.

They are all families belonging to low-to-mid-tier Clerics of Order.

Its appetite is increasing; a single hunt can no longer satisfy its requirements. Previously, a meal required only one loaf of bread. Now, two aren't enough, and it's clamoring for added bacon.

Don't wonder whether these street urchins can be useful. Trust me, they can do better than you. First, because they are ordinary people, they won't trigger the prey's vigilance;

Second, it's because I have long suspected that the killer is choosing targets for slaughter under the guise of a Cleric of Order, like this..."

Neil picked up a small booklet in his hand:

"In the previous cases, no warning booklet was found in the victims' homes. Heh, this is the killer's greatest oversight.

Therefore, we just need those little kids to keep an eye on the front doors. Once they see an outsider knocking on a door with a booklet and finally entering, we will know exactly where the killer