CHAPTER 190: RETURNS HOME

Willie’s face looked like he’d eaten something nasty.

If he handed over the report letter, his credit would take a major hit.

Lately, the relationship between Chief Security Officer Freeman and Garrison Commander Marin hadn’t been exactly friendly.

At Rock Sand City’s big-shot meetings, the two leaders had been butting heads constantly over who was supposed to handle what between the garrison troops and security offices.

If Chief Security Officer Freeman found out he’d given up the lead, the outcome would be pretty damn obvious.

But the garrison guys had all barged in, and he’d already spilled the beans...

Should he... stall a bit more and send someone to tip off the Chief Security Officer?

"Security Officer Willie, why don’t both sides team up on this investigation? Whether that report letter’s legit probably can’t be figured out yet."

Carlos jumped in at just the right moment. The Black Sinner mess absolutely couldn’t be put on the back burner.

"Assuming it’s the real deal, dragging our feet might..."

He left it hanging without spelling everything out.

Willie got it—if the investigation got screwed up because of him, not only would there be zero brownie points, but it’d be a massive screw-up.

"Young Master Carlos, please come in."

Willie’s expression got serious as he turned and walked into the office area.

Carlos walked in, and Barossa naturally tagged along.

The security officer pulled out a letter from a stack of thick files.

"This is the anonymous tip we got today..."

Willie laid out what the letter said:

"The letter claims Black Sinners are gonna hit a shop called ’Remnant Ash’ in the Second District tonight."

Barossa’s eyes went wide:

"Why the hell would Black Sinners go after that shop?"

Willie shook his head:

"No clue right now."

Willie grabbed a file from the bookshelf behind him and handed it to both guys:

"Remnant Ash is a funeral goods store that mainly makes and sells burial stuff. All the shop workers are regular folks.

Of course, this is info from the last district shop registration.

On the surface, there’s really no reason Black Sinners would attack."

Barossa’s forehead wrinkled up:

"Are some Black Sinners dead? Swiping funeral goods for burial?"

Willie’s mustache started twitching. How had this moron played him?

"Forget about whether Black Sinners even have funeral customs—even if they did, you think they’d use our funeral goods?"

"Hahaha! Just messing around!"

Barossa cracked up.

"You!"

Willie almost let loose with some choice words.

Carlos looked through the materials, glanced at the two guys, and said calmly:

"Gentlemen, no need to stress about it too much. Real or fake, whatever the Black Sinners are really up to, tonight’s gonna spill all the secrets."

"Exactly! Young Master Carlos nailed it! Why sweat it so much? Tonight we’ll bag these ’rats’!"

Barossa was totally on board.

"Mm... can’t argue with that..."

Willie nodded. With evening rolling in, they’d know the score soon enough.

"I’ll have soldiers quietly surround that shop!"

"I’ll have officers play customers and set up ambushes ahead of time!"

"I’ll send out Red Spirit to keep watch from up high!"

...

On the street,

Clatter clatter.

From the carriage came Grace’s pumped-up voice:

"Look, Kiri! Is that your place!"

"Huh?"

Kiri rubbed her eyes. They’d actually found it?

She hadn’t even had a chance to give directions!

"We really made it?" x2

Kathy and Heidi nearly spilled their tea.

Had they really heard wrong?

Looking at the crooked shop sign: Pergina’s Alchemical Treasures

"That’s right! It’s my home!"

Kiri’s voice couldn’t hide how stoked she was.

Familiar streets, familiar signs, familiar weeds.

No matter when she showed up, this place always looked exactly the same, like it had been waiting for her.

Kiri eagerly hopped from the carriage and ran over, then...

"Huh??? It’s locked up?"

The shop door was shut tight and wouldn’t budge...

Seeing this, Kathy asked with doubt in her voice:

"Kiri, don’t you have keys?"

"Um..."

Kiri pretended to pat herself down thoroughly, then threw up her hands:

"I think I forgot them..."

"..."

Heidi was at a loss for words.

She’d never seen such a scatterbrained resident.

Not carrying travel permits was one thing, but forgetting keys too...

"How about you all go check out the nearby streets? I’ll hang here until Master gets back..."

Kiri ’weakly’ suggested.

"Sounds good!"

"I remember passing a really hopping street earlier!"

"I’m cool with whatever!"

The three women immediately ditched Kiri and headed toward a nearby busy street...

Whoosh!

A cold wind whipped by. In front of the shop, only Kiri was left, crouched on the steps with her hands propping up her cheeks.

"Where did Master go?"

"Should I hit up Senior’s place first?"

"No, Senior doesn’t know me yet."

"I need to become a disciple first. Speaking of becoming a disciple..."

Kiri felt her pocket—totally empty.

"Oh crap, I forgot to borrow gold coins!"

Just then, her ears perked up. She thought she heard Master’s voice!

...

"Demi, how are you feeling?"

Pergina supported Demi, asking with worry in her voice.

"Master, except for being a little dizzy, I’m totally fine."

Demi leaned on her master’s shoulder. So warm.

"The doc said you had temporary fainting from mental burnout and your body running out of juice. What were you thinking about so hard?"

Pergina was worried Demi might pull this stunt again.

"What Young Master Carlos said!"

Demi smiled with her eyes curved like crescents.

"About that kettle? What’s there to think about? Don’t tell me you wanna make a giant kettle?"

Pergina was baffled. How big a kettle would need thinking hard enough to pass out?

"Mm... something like that, but way more complicated..."

Demi’s eyes flickered with shadows of gears and steam. Pergina faintly heard ’rumbling’ sounds in her ears.

"Master, let’s pick up the pace. We can’t keep Young Master Carlos waiting!"

The rumbling stopped. Pergina wanted to speak but held back:

"My dear disciple, there’s no rush."

"Why not?"

Demi looked at her master with confusion, gradually getting a sinking feeling.

"Young Master Carlos had business and took off early."

Pergina slowly dropped this ’brutal’ truth.

"Young... Young Master Carlos left... left?"

Demi’s face went white as she stared at her master in disbelief.

Pergina nodded reluctantly, ’unable to bear’ meeting her disciple’s eyes.

Young Master Carlos was gone... the dinner was toast...

Her last shot had vanished...

It was all for nothing... everything was for nothing...

The carefully prepped food was for nothing... Master’s big support for the victory outfit was for nothing...

Everything was for nothing...

Her last shot had vanished...

Vanished...

"Gah!"

Demi’s already fried brain couldn’t take this hit.

Her eyes rolled back and she face-planted on the spot!

"Demi!"

Pergina quickly scooped up her disciple, getting ready for round two at the Sacred Medical Institute.