Chapter 646: Capturing the Skeleton's Real Body

Chapter 646: Seizing the Skeleton's True Form

A section of the teleportation array hall in the York City Academic Affairs Building had been cordoned off, and staff members stood outside, advising passing personnel to keep their distance.

Everyone was used to such a scene, knowing well in their hearts that some important figure was about to arrive.

Accompanied by the alternating flashes of several teleportation arrays, batch after batch of Order Inquisitors stepped out from the formation circles.

Karen took a deep breath. Having left the underworld, he truly felt the air here was pleasant, even feeling a sudden urge to run out to the street and take a deep gulp of car exhaust.

However, he still had things to do right now.

He turned around and looked at the crowd.

The Whip of Order inquisitors, who had been stretching their bodies after the teleportation, all stood to attention subconsciously, and the whispering ceased.

Karen spoke, "Our mission this time was completed very smoothly. This is inseparable from everyone's dedication and hard work. Remember to keep an eye out on the day next month's stipends are issued."

"Thank you, Director!"

"Thank you, Director!"

Cheers erupted immediately.

Those who knew the truth understood these were inquisitors of the Whip of Order; those who didn't might think a band of thieves was holding a meeting to split the loot. Yet, such a straightforward approach often won people's hearts much faster.

Now that his own prestige and status had reached a certain level, what he lacked was actually the operation underneath. Karen's plan was to firmly grasp the York City Whip of Order, making this place his true foundation.

Suss had also acquiesced to this situation. He only needed Karen to help him finish the work and produce political achievements; everything else was trivial.

At this moment, Karen saw Chief Bishop Bern's attendant standing there, looking at him.

"Alfred, take everyone back and arrange the transfer of the wounded to the hospital as soon as possible."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Let's go, let's go, meow, taking you home!" Purr leaped onto little Conna's head. She deeply loved Conna's white hair. Of course, another reason was that she didn't dare leap onto Karen's head.

Karen glanced at Conna, smiled, and nodded.

Seeing this, Purr asked in confusion, "Hmm, still have business?"

With that, Purr leaped onto Kevin's back: "Dumb dog, then we'll go home first and make a nest for Conna."

What a warm and thoughtful sentence, directly blocking any possibility of Conna sleeping on the bed.

Karen led Conna toward the attendant, who bowed to Karen: "Director Karen, thank you for your hard work."

"The Chief wants to see me?"

"Yes, the Chief invites you over for tea."

"Mm."

The exclusive elevator went straight to the top floor. Entering the newly renovated large office, both the lighting and the layout were impeccable. The only flaw was probably that the office desk, which should have been placed in the center, was actually tucked away in the inner corner.

At this moment, Bern was sitting behind the desk, smoking a cigar.

The attendant didn't ask Karen anything, placed a glass of ice water on the coffee table, and then withdrew.

Karen let go of Conna's hand, gesturing for her to sit on the sofa, and Conna was very obedient.

Bern lifted the cigar in his hand and asked, "Want one?"

Karen shook his head: "I haven't seen you smoke before."

"Before, I didn't dare have any hobbies. Now that I can live in the sunlight, I am much more at ease."

"With your office desk placed there, are you sure you are living in the sunlight?"

"Everything takes an adaptation process. I've already had the black curtains removed. If you came here last week, you would have found it very gloomy."

"Then do you feel any sense of loss? I know many retirees who can't get used to retirement life, aging rapidly or even falling ill."

"It's fine. This position is a new challenge for me."

"Come on, you probably won't have another chance to move up in this lifetime. There's no hope for the Dingle Region."

"True, but you are different. Although you and I are currently called the smelliest and hardest jar of soy sauce in the York City Region, you are still young. Youth means infinite possibilities. Especially ahead, it will definitely be a turbulent era, and many old rules and shackles will be broken.

Is this that little bone dragon?"

"Yes."

"Looks like she's still in her infancy. How large is the true form?"

"Ten meters or so."

"Tsk, I will finish the paperwork quickly. You can take her to the research institute in a few days. I remember one of your team members has a family running the demon beast research institute in this region."

"Yes, I've already sent her home to notify her parents to prepare."

"Sigh, this is a heavy financial burden."

"Will the region cover it?"

"Otherwise?" Bern stretched gently, "The Holy See's current idea is to reclaim power while assigning more responsibilities to the lower levels."

"The tone you're using to say this sounds a bit like Chief Wolfrun."

"Haha, yes, I feel it too. This seat is not easy to sit in. Tell me about your mission this time. How did it feel? I heard they even engaged in battle over there, deploying the knights."

"Yes, we fought a battle, but everything went smoothly without any twists and turns."

"Do you like that place?" Bern suddenly asked.

"The Crypt Sect?"

"Not just that sect. I want to ask about the cultural atmosphere there, haha."

"I don't like it."

"I guessed you wouldn't like it."

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Bern replied meaningfully, "The reason I chose to step into the shadows back then was because I wanted to guard the world under the sunlight."

Karen pursed his lips.

"You should understand the meaning of my words. We always doubt it in our youth, come to recognize it in our young adulthood, and spend the rest of our lives guarding it.

The environmental descriptions in many mythological narratives can make people long for it, unable to help but begin imagining it in their minds.

But let it exist only in imagination and artistic expression, and pray it never returns."

"You just wanted to tell me this?"

"Yes, I believe you can understand, and it's very necessary, isn't it?"

"Indeed."

"Alright, go back and rest, then begin your work. By the way, a team from the Desert Sect will come to attend a meeting soon, and you need to be responsible for the security mission."

"Again?"

"The significance is different now. The split between the Desert Sect and the Wasteland Sect has reached an irreconcilable stage. I even suspect a war of secession will break out soon.

You can understand it as the Desert Sect coming to seek our help."

"At a clandestine meeting of this caliber, the Whip of Order will surely dispatch a dedicated handler, and that must be you."

"Very well, I understand."

Cullen gestured to Conna, who hopped off the sofa and took his hand, and the two walked out together.

While in the elevator, Conna spoke up, "He looked at me as if I were merchandise. I didn't like it."

"It is fine, endure it for now; your future rations will have to go through his approval, so you can eat a bit more then and consider it revenge taken."

Little Conna pondered for a moment and nodded, finding the logic entirely sound.

The adjutant sharing the elevator could only keep a smile on his face, pretending he had heard absolutely nothing.

Stepping out of the academic building, Cullen hailed a taxi, bypassing headquarters to arrive at a cafe.

Through the glass window, Sinyali could be seen sitting inside, stirring her coffee with a spoon.

When Cullen entered, Sinyali stood to greet him, and Cullen sat down alongside Conna.

"Would you like something to drink?" Sinyali asked. "Iced water?"

Cullen shook his head and then turned to Conna, "Would you like to try some of the food here?"

Conna replied, "Purr said there is delicious food at home, and everything outside is just low-rate garbage."

"I see."

It had to be said that the little bone dragon's linguistic skills had improved significantly over this period, a credit largely due to Purr, though under such personal tuition, it was inevitable that the little bone dragon would likely tread the path of a spoiled young mistress in the future.

"I am quite surprised you asked to meet me ahead of time," Sinyali said.

"Is it that surprising? You have forgotten, we are partners after all."

"But you had your manservant handle the affairs very early on, not to mention your current status and position..."

"My apologies, I have always genuinely respected your capabilities and felt honored to have a partner from the Church of Principles like you, but I have simply been too occupied with work."

"It is fine, I can understand, so is there something specific this time?"

"It is in here." Cullen handed an envelope to Sinyali. "Inside are a few matters I listed that require your help to investigate. They are rather sensitive, but I believe the internal archives of the Church of Principles should have relevant records, though it might require utilizing some private connections of your mentor as well as your own."

Sinyali touched the envelope and nodded with earnest gravity.

Cullen continued, "As for the cost and price paid, estimate it yourself, and compensation will be made during our future partnership and cooperation."

"That is not an issue; it is rare for you to come in person to request an investigation, so I will certainly do my best to look into it."

"Keep a low profile," Cullen cautioned. "Once you read the contents of the letter, you will understand."

"Understood, is there anything else?"

"Nothing more."

Sinyali tucked the envelope away solemnly, then looked at Conna with a faint smile, asking, "The little bone dragon?"

"You care this much about my affairs?"

"Of course, I truly consider you a partner. Can she transform?"

"She can."

Conna looked at the older girl before her, who had short hair framing her round face and wore thick lenses, and for once, she did not display any displeasure.

"I envy you, being able to keep a dragon by your side in the future. I have always harbored fantasies about the dragon race."

"I used to as well."

"Oh?"

"It is nothing, just keep holding onto that fantasy."

If you were to see the images of the dragon race being slaughtered and kneeling collectively, that fantasy would probably shatter instantly.

"What I mean is, if I want to study her a bit in the future, would that be alright? I mean perfectly normal research, in the manner of casual conversation."

"For that, you can seek her opinion through Alfred; she and I are equals, she is my companion, and not just a companion in the superficial sense of the word."

"Ah, very well, what is her name?"

"Conna."

"Hello, Miss Conna." Sinyali stood up and extended her hand to Conna.

Conna sat there, offering no response.

Cullen explained, "She dislikes useless socializing."

"I see, my apologies, Miss Conna."

"If you wish to associate with her, you can go gather information regarding the rebellious Dragon God; she will be interested in those things."

"Thank you for the advice, I shall do so."

"Let us leave it at that for now, goodbye."

"Goodbye, once I have the results of the investigation, I will contact your manservant immediately."

"Yes, excellent."

Cullen extended his hand, intending to shake hers.

Sinyali was somewhat surprised, but she still reached out to shake Cullen's hand.

Cullen glanced briefly at her fingers, then let go.

Leaving the cafe, Cullen stood by the roadside and began to breathe the air.

Emulating Cullen, Conna half-closed her eyes, inhaling the exhaust fumes from the cars on the opposite street alongside him.

"We still need to go to one more place," Cullen said.

"Then let us go." Conna was entirely indifferent.

"It is highly probable that at that place, we will find the owner of that skeleton."

"Then what about this place?" Conna looked back toward the cafe behind them; she was remarkably clever and perceptive.

"She is not the one," Cullen said. "She was just ruled out."

"Too profound, I do not understand."

"Then on to the next one, there were not many suspected targets to begin with. Do you want to see her?"

Conna shook her head.

"I want to see her." Cullen's gaze focused slightly. "To see this individual who sees my private life so perfectly clearly."

Cullen hailed another taxi and gave the address.

Shortly after, the taxi pulled up in front of an upscale apartment building, and the two walked inside, stepping into the elevator.

The elevator ascended and came to a halt on the eighth floor; Cullen walked up to a door and rang the doorbell.

"Who is it?"

"It is me, Madam."

"Oh, Mr. Cullen!"

Madame Lake opened the door in a flurry of excitement, still draped in her nightgown without a thought of changing, and upon seeing Karen, she stepped forward instinctively to fold him into an embrace.

She had genuinely missed him; during the bleak days following her husband’s passing, Karen had been her sole source of true reliance, and she had long since come to regard him as her own kin.

As for the nightgown and the intimacy of her body pressing against his, Madame Lake brushed such notions aside; she had long been well aware of this young man's character, leaving no room for awkward taboos, for if he were truly that sort of scoundrel, the ample-bottomed maid originally employed at the house would have been devoured by him ages ago.

"I am terribly sorry; I have been utterly consumed by work lately and failed to visit you. I am deeply ashamed."

Konna lifted her gaze to peer at Karen, seemingly trying to discern the line between the sincerity he showed her and the hypocrisy he displayed now.

"No, no, no, your work is of the utmost importance, please do not say such things."

Karen was ushered into the living room by Madame Lake, and once seated, he turned to inquire of her as she busied herself preparing refreshments:

"Where are Dora and Doreen?"

"Their tutor just took them downstairs, saying they needed to pick out some paints. They left just a moment ago, right before you arrived."

"Ah, is that so."

"They should be back before long; the tutor has a carriage."

"Is it still the same tutor?"

"Yes, she has been the private tutor for Dora and Doreen since our time at the funeral home, as you know, Miss Dai Shan."

"Yes, I remember her."

Thereafter, Karen sat in the living room conversing with Madame Lake, showing no intention of taking his leave.

Konna, meanwhile, sat apart in solitude, idly flipping through the twin sisters' sketchbook.

Finally, as dusk began to settle, the distinct sound of a key turning in the lock echoed through the house.

Dora and Doreen marched in carrying their paintboxes, and the moment they spotted Karen, the two girls instantly dropped what was in their hands and threw themselves into his arms.

Karen gently patted their backs, soothing their surging emotions.

They had once endured agonizing torment from the pollution, and it was Karen’s appearance that had delivered them from their misery; furthermore, for a long period, they had required the very bathwater Karen had soaked in to suppress the corruption within them.

"Clink, clank..."

The rattle of a keychain sounded.

Konna kept her head lowered, continuing to stare at the sketchbook without the slightest reaction.

Karen, however, raised his eyes to look at the newcomer—Tutor Dai Shan, who wore a smile of pleasant surprise as she spoke: "Mr. Karen, you are here! We truly haven't crossed paths in ages."

"Is that so? Didn't we just see each other not long ago?"

Upon hearing Karen’s words, Konna snapped the sketchbook shut and turned her gaze toward Tutor Dai Shan.

Tutor Dai Shan asked with a touch of bewilderment: "Was it during a shopping trip somewhere that you chanced to see me? If so, why didn't you come over to greet me?"

"I have a few matters I would like to discuss with you. Would it be convenient to step aside for a private word?"

"Oh, certainly. Is it regarding my employment?" In theory, Dai Shan's salary for this tutoring position was paid by Alfred.

Karen stood up, and Konna rose along with him, but Karen shook his head at her, indicating she should stay put.

Then, Karen stepped into the study of the residence.

The house Alfred had procured for Madame Lake’s family was naturally far from cramped.

Tutor Dai Shan waved a brief farewell to Dora and Doreen before following him into the study.

The study door clicked shut.

Karen stood before the window, his back turned to her.

Dai Shan let out a soft sigh and perched herself upon the desk; she was dressed in a yellow floral gown, her figure inherently of the voluptuous sort, and this posture immediately put her shapely, full thighs on display.

This particular style of physical abundance had been Alfred’s strict "hiring criterion" during that period;

For instance, the buttocks of the maid at home and the figure of the private tutor had all been selected by Alfred to suit his young master’s supposed tastes.

Tutor Dai Shan smiled and said, "I could never have imagined that you would actually trace your way back to me through that lost puppet of mine. It truly terrified me at the time, and it drove me to make a mistaken, desperate attempt to mislead you."

"That is only natural." Karen turned around to face her. "When you plot against others, you must invariably be prepared for the consequences."

"You have just returned to York City, haven't you, and came straight here?"

"Yes."

"Such urgency. Aren't you afraid of failing to set a proper trap to ensure my capture?"

"Setting a trap would only alert you. In fact, my mere arrival has already alerted you, but I believed that as long as I waited here, you would inevitably come up to face me."

"And you were certain that I wouldn't use the safety of Dora and Doreen to threaten you, which is why you chose to lay your cards on the table directly within this household?"

"Yes, precisely."

"You see, we have barely interacted a handful of times, yet we converse like old friends."

"Perhaps."

"So, what is your demand? To capture me, torture me, or kill me?" Tutor Dai Shan tilted her head. "Or do you intend to collaborate with me? I can help you ascend much faster within the Church of Order."

Karen reached up to adjust his collar, facing Dai Shan squarely, and smiled faintly. "I would like to beg a favor of you."

Tutor Dai Shan nodded and said, "I knew it. Once we actually met face-to-face, all animosity would dissolve into this sort of pragmatic exchange of interests. After all, we are both adults, aren't we?

I am naturally willing to assist you. If you have a need, please do not hesitate to speak, but you mustn't use the word 'beg.' To perform a service for you is my honor."

"I must still use the word 'beg.' I am accustomed to it."

"Very well then, you have the final say. So, what is it that you intend to beg me to do for you?"

"I beg you to die."