CHAPTER 86: THE DEATH KNIGHT WAS THE HAMMER!

“I love Dawn!”

“I love Dawn—”

A procession appeared out of nowhere, the forty to fifty people carrying handcrafted signs walked along the street, proclaiming the glorious achievements of Dawn Detective Agency and the law firm.

Though the detective agency hadn’t been founded for long, it had already established long-term partnerships with several newspapers, acquiring an exclusive section to publish raw evidence exposing the darkness and injustice in society. Their targets were varied, from lowly criminal gangs to white-collar tax thieves neglecting their duties, all the way to members of parliament and other high officials. Whatever cases they took on, they delivered solid results.

Normally, tactless detective agencies and law firms like them wouldn’t last; within three to five days of opening, they’d close down or face reorganization for various reasons. However, the Dawn Detective Agency had survived stubbornly and even sparked widespread discussion throughout Londan.

The churches remained silent. None of them was willing to face the Death Knight. Threats coming from the authority were blocked by Bo and his scapegoat, Officer Green. Whoever dared to obstruct Bo’s justice would have their dirty laundry aired.

Those able to do something stayed away, unwilling to risk getting bitten by the mad dog, while those who couldn’t afford to get involved kept their distance for survival. As a result, the troublemakers were allowed to do whatever they wanted, with no one daring to do anything about them.

The rapidly rising storm swept through every part of the city, accumulating massive support among ordinary people, especially those poor souls with no one to turn to. A helping hand offered freely in times of desperation would earn undying loyalty.

When these people got serious, they would be far stronger than the cowardly Death’s followers.

The marching group Wayne saw was spontaneously organized by those who had received aid from the detective agency and law firm. They were all busy with their jobs, but to express their gratitude, they came daily to help with the promotion.

(Ő‸Ő(Ծ⌓Ծ;)

In the car, two faces silently watched the procession pass through.

Veronica held her breath. She believed that there were Death’s followers among the crowd, rapidly expanding and winning over masses of ignorant people.

A bead of cold sweat fell from Wayne’s forehead. To his knowledge, there existed an unwavering guiding ideology in this chaotic time. It was especially popular among nobles in Windsor; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it endemic.

He couldn’t comment on that further. Just place a hammer on top of a sickle. That was the ideology he was talking about.

He considered a more distant future. An image had flashed through his mind a moment ago, showing the followers of the Goddess of Death tearing off their black robes and shouting at everyone to unite.

“I may be overthinking, but... It’s probably inevitable...”

“If the wealthy Western District is like this, won’t the Southern and Eastern District and all the workers there go completely wild?”

Good heavens, would the Queen be overthrown and reduced to a maid serving a master?

Wayne shuddered, his mind conjuring another image: this time, it wasn’t the followers in black robes, but the Goddess of Death Herself, wielding a reaper’s sickle. As for the hammer...

The Death Knight was the hammer!

“Why are you shaking?”

Veronica threw Wayne a glare. His fidgeting was making the whole car shake.

“Nothing. Let’s check out the detective agency—um, I mean Wayne’s Detective Agency.”

“What else? You wanna join the Death’s followers in their party?” She huffed. Wayne was a follower of the Goddess of Nature. If he dared to show himself to that crowd, he’d be swarmed and beaten with clubs.

Wayne grumbled that the young lady was right before entering the agency undergoing renovation with her. The renovation was entrusted to the Lando family’s construction company, emphasizing doing good work efficiently and cost-effectively. They renovated the original shop on top of the existing structure, so the agency would soon be ready.

The place had three floors. The first floor was the lobby and reception space. The second floor consisted of a guest room, a staff office, and an administrative meeting room. The employer and assistant offices were on the third floor, plus storage and an independent space for keeping plants.

The second and third floors were already furnished with office supplies. Only the first floor was still undergoing renovations. Once Wayne moved his detective agency over, they could open at any time.

He looked helplessly across the street by the window. “If I’m not mistaken, this whole street belongs to your family, right?”

“Yep.”

I knew it!

“Here’s the question. Why did you choose a location right across from the Church of Death’s base?” Wayne asked with visible confusion. “Assistant V, did you secretly hook up with the Church of Death?”

Veronica rolled her eyes. She was also baffled by the development. It was outrageous enough that the Death’s followers would be acting so openly, but they even secured storefronts on a street owned by the Lando family? Where did the money come from? Who sponsored them? It better not be Mr. Lando, or Mother would make him kneel.

Veronica frowned with questions swirling in her head. She hadn’t known what faction was behind the Dawn Detective Agency, treating them as ordinary competition. It wasn’t a big deal. She was never one to shy away from rivalry, and she didn’t expect Wayne to make the detective agency profitable anyway.

Later, learning that the place across the agency belonged to Death’s followers, she fell into an existential crisis.

Why? Wayne knew her reasons. He continued teasing Veronica. She frowned as she racked her brain for an answer, looking adorably dumb. Pretty, wealthy, and dumb—the perfect combination.

After a while, her pondering proved fruitless, and unable to give him a reasonable explanation, she opted for misdirection instead. She reminded him to register with the White Glove Society and pay the membership fee for the detective agency.

“What’s the White Glove Society? Why should I pay them to open my business?” Wayne didn’t understand. Back home, opening a business meant receiving red envelopes of money.

“The White Glove Society is Londan’s detective association. You’re a detective. Surely you know something this basic?” Veronica raised an eyebrow. Even Kristen, an amateur writer of detective novels, knew.

“Of course I know...” Wayne smoothly responded, arching his eyebrow to match her expression. “I just think it doesn’t make a difference whether I join or not. It’s not easy for you to ask your family for money. No need to waste it.”

“I didn’t ask them for money. I pay with the interest of my allowance.”

He fell silent. It was his mistake. He’d be a fool if he ever used saving money as an excuse again.

“How about this? Once the detective agency’s renovation is finished, we’ll throw a small party on the third floor.” Veronica was excited. Once she became the assistant, she would pay Vera to come work as a clerk. Unfortunately, Senior Kristen was still furthering her studies at the academy with no plan of entering the workforce, or it would be a dream come true for all three of them to work together.

“I’m fine with that. Just don’t break your promise this time.”

“Hah.” Veronica’s smile dropped. She grabbed Wayne’s collar and pinned him to the wall. “Speaking of that makes me angry again! You broke your promise, too, but I was the only one who apologized? Oh no, next time we see Kristen and Vera, you’re apologizing in person, especially to Kristen. You even missed her birthday!”

“Alright, I’ll have a few extra glasses of wine as an apology.”

Wayne nodded solemnly. Based on what he knew, Truth or Dare and Kings were games usually played at small gatherings like that.

He was the perfect picture of anticipation!

***

“What, you can’t do it?”

In his office, Auston spoke into the phone with displeasure, “The Free Mage Alliance has numerous research projects every year, and I’ve never rejected a single funding application. But now you’re telling me that you can’t even issue a certificate? This makes it difficult for me to speak up for you in the future!”

“Please don’t be angry yet, Mr. Auston.” On the other end of the line, Planck remained calm even though he was overjoyed by the gift falling on his lap. “I know the mage apprentice named Wayne. He’s a student of your wife, the High Reverend at the Church of Nature, isn’t he?”

Auston’s face darkened. Planck knew too much.

“Don’t take it the wrong way. I haven’t been monitoring the Lando family, but learned of this after an accident...” Planck recounted the tragedy of the unlucky Sidney. Then he said, “In this chance encounter, I happened to save Wayne. He got caught in the battle and almost died there.”

“What a pity.”

“Mr. Auston, it seems that you hold quite a grudge against him!”

“That’s none of your business. Just tell me if you can do it or not.”

“In theory, the answer will be no,” Planck said. “Madam High Reverend values her student highly. Not even I can afford to offend her for no reason. It’s not about money, and no amount would make a difference. The point is, Mr. Auston, I need an excuse. Can you arrange an excuse that will spare me the High Reverend’s wrath?”

His lips curled up as he held the phone. How interesting. It seems we’re seeing each other again, Wayne.

“You’re the expert in that. At the end of the day, it’s still about the payment, isn’t it? Just tell me, how much funding are you applying for next year?” Auston flatly rejected. He had sought out Planck exactly because he didn’t want to anger Silvia personally. Why would he risk taking the blame?

So, he chose to increase the payment.

“Mr. Auston, I heard that the Queen’s treasury preserves artifacts from the mythical age. Do you think you could...”

“Impossible!”

“Mr. Auston, the Free Mage Alliance is the royal family’s sword and shield, acting as a check and balance for the religious factions for the crown. No matter what, we’ve contributed hard work—”

“Impossible, I said!” Auston interrupted again. After a moment of consideration, he said, “I won’t give you an excuse, but I’ll find a way to get Wayne out of Londan. That’ll be your opportunity. Handle him, and next year’s funding won’t be a problem.”

“Thank you for your generosity.”

Planck hung up, stroking his stiff beard with a grin he couldn’t contain. Even without Auston making this request, he’d planned to visit Wayne in a few days. Now, he’d gotten a chance to double next year’s funding without paying a price.

He wouldn’t be issuing a notice for critical illness; Auston wanted Wayne dead, but Planck didn’t. He had another way to make Auston pay him.

Planck pulled out his prop box and rummaged through it, selecting the right items. “Darkness and Death oppose Nature. I just have to prove that Wayne has been corrupted and is no longer a devout Nature follower...”

“Which should I choose?” After careful consideration, he picked the ring for Darkness. “I’ve helped you solve such a big problem and even saved your life before, Little Wayne. How are you going to repay me for both instances?”

“Don’t worry. What bad intentions could an old man like me harbor? I won’t make demands or require you to become my student. Just join the Free Mage Alliance.”

***

Back in Auston’s office, he put down the phone and began making arrangements. With his antique silver coin in hand, he contacted Megan and asked about the cement barrel’s whereabouts. The answer soured his mood.

“He went out with the young lady.”

Auston covered his face. Veronica was wonderful in every way, but too naive—exactly how Silvia had once been, destined to be deceived by bad men.

To accomplish something, whether in love, work, or life, there were three rules to follow: Be persistent, be shameless, and be persistently shameless.

Many considered the shameless the lucky bastard children of success, but the opposite was true; they had experienced many more failures and only overcame difficulties through shameless persistence to finally achieve their dreams.

Silvia had once aspired to become the Holy Maiden and gave her numerous suitors the cold shoulder. Auston only won her over through shamelessness.

His daughter was now in a similar situation. Seeing Wayne’s persistent pestering, Auston couldn’t afford to wait any longer, or things would certainly go wrong. The mother had already been deceived by a bad man; he couldn’t let the daughter repeat the mistake.

“Where did they go?”

“The Commercial Street in the Western District, at the detective agency that the young lady arranged.”

“Good. Have the White Glove expedite the approval process. Complete the membership application in a day.”

Auston conceived a plan to draw Wayne out of Londan. Being a cautious man by nature, he had backup plans for backup plans.

Ring.

His phone rang. He answered, his expression brightening instantly.

“Miss Haworth, glad to receive your call. Have you finally made up your mind?”

“As you said, Mr. Lando, it’s difficult to survive in Londan without support. I wish to pursue art longer and don’t want to leave the stage just yet.” The woman sounded resigned.

“Your artistic pursuit is commendable, but unfortunately, art cannot be separated from life. Underneath the glamour, there’s always indescribable darkness...” Auston nodded in satisfaction, smoothly getting to the business. “As far as I know, you don’t have any performances scheduled currently. You’re free.”

“You’re well-informed, Mr. Lando!”

“Hardly. I’ve just seen many stars burning bright and quick like you do,” Auston said. “Soon, a film crew will contact you. You’ll star as the female lead in a film about a beauty and a beast. The bulk of the shooting will be done on an island in the North Sea. While aboard the cruise ship, you’ll encounter a man. That’s your target.”

“What’s his name?” Lily Haworth was curious about what man could haunt the head of the Lando family like this.

“Someone will give you the dossier then. I wish you success in advance.”

Auston hung up, rising to his feet to stand before the window. Both arrangements were in place. It was time to expose the lecherous brat’s true nature.

But there was one more thing!

In the unlikely case that Wayne made a return and pushed this game into overtime, winning back Silvia’s and Veronica’s trust through shameless tricks, Auston needed to plant someone in Wayne’s life. He picked up the phone and dialed the manor in Enrod. A maid picked up and handed it over to Veryl.

“You’re returning to Londan, Veryl.”

“Yes, Master Auston. Mistress told me that from now on, I should serve Young Master Wayne like my master and do my best to assist him.”

“Veryl, are you still willing to serve the Lando family?”

“I’ve sworn an oath to serve the Lando family, Master Auston. I am always willing.”

“Good, then keep an eye on the brat and report any development to me immediately.”

“...”

“Veryl?!”

“As you wish, Master Auston.”