Kornacis, Lantern District, 32 Temptation Avenue.

With a click, the key unlocked the door, and Aren entered the house with several trash bags in hand.

He locked the door, gazed out to the street through the peephole, and then let out a deep breath.

'I spent a few hours in the Royal Park of the Royal District, in case they were still tracking me, and nobody came.

'It must mean that I am clear.'

Aren finally relaxed and started taking off his outdoor clothes while his heart was still pounding against his chest.

This also helped his divinity to start increasing once again. The pool was growing bigger. It was still a long distance before level 3.

"Aren… Is it you?"

Madam Agnes walked from the living room with the walking cane in hand.

"It's me, Madam Agnes. I've brought your money, and we can take a visit to the Steel Bank tomorrow to deposit it all."

Aren said with a smile.

"Oh… That's good. Is Jake doing better?"

"…Yes, he is, and he apologized one more time. I am sure that he is greatly regretting what happened here."

Aren said with a smile.

With a slight smile, Agnes nodded and then said that she was tired and began heading to her room.

After Aren helped her to get to her bed, he returned back to the attic and put the trash bags on the ground.

He opened them, and there was a distinct smell of trash in the coins, as these were trash bags, after all.

'…Let's count them quickly.'

After counting about 50 thousand, he put them aside for Agnes and then counted the rest, which would be for him.

'…I'll give about 50 thousand to Agnes, and so I'll have about 30 thousand for myself. That is amazing wealth, but since I am the Blessed One, there are some expensive things that need to be purchased.

'Healing Potions… Armor… et cetera. I don't have to worry about affording the rent anymore, after all.

'I have to sadly admit that thievery is a pretty profitable business. Of course, I can't keep on stealing from these kinds of individuals anymore.

'It was risky. I didn't expect there to be so many bodyguards. I should've. It was foolish of me. The horses I had were even worse than those of the bodyguard wagon.

'I really need to think of those things when I am planning to rob someone. Without that vegetable cart, I would've been in trouble.

'I need to find my targets better from now on. No half-assed shit anymore. Every tiny detail must be studied before I do anything like this again.

'For now, I can do some Guild missions and perhaps become a pickpocket. With the Human Flesh Mask, I'll be a very powerful one.

'But, I still need to keep in mind that my Mind Image can be used to track me down. I have money now, and I need to find a way to block everyone's access to my Mind Image.'

Aren thought, then put the money aside, as he planned to take Madam Agnes to Kornacis Steel Bank tomorrow.

Of course, he couldn't do that, as he didn't have any actual income, and they would start wondering where he got that money.

It was also very likely that Kornacis Steel Bank was working together with Mr. Fortune of the Gambler's Den.

Aren then peeked out to the dark streets of Temptation Avenue through the gap in the curtains.

Lamp Wardens had already lit the street lamps, casting a dim glow on the cobblestone road.

With his left hand, he pulled out the black revolver and took a deep breath. There was one more thing he had to do.

Whenever Jake was going to visit Mr. Fortune to pay his debt back, he would realize that he was robbed.

Jake would be able to tell it was Aren. And maybe he would tell Mr. Fortune. He was a degenerate gambler, after all.

'In Jake's shoes, I believe that he would rather get on Mr. Fortune's good graces and will betray me.

'That bastard was already willing to hurt his grandmother and no doubt will betray me if he gains something from it.

'Maybe Jake will aim to take Dice's spot next to Mr. Fortune. I am sure that he is currently waiting for me to bring him the money to pay off his debt.

'I will visit him. But not to pay off his debt. Instead, I'll need to cut down a few loose ends…'

…

The next morning, Wednesday, the air was damp as if it was ready to rain at any moment, and dark clouds were coming from over the horizon.

"In Coggate, the farmer's union is currently planning a strike to protest the new tax laws. The new tax laws force several farms to close down due to the increased financial burden…

"At Ketherdam, the annual fishermen's tournament is happening, and last year, the winner managed to catch a record-breaking deep abyss dweller, which is one of the three recorded species of its kind in the world…

"And at Hermann City, the lockdown is still in effect, with no end date in sight, but apparently last night, something weird happened there. The sky over Hermann City turned green like it had been painted…"

Aren read the newspaper to Madam Agnes, who was listening while enjoying her sweet crimson tea.

She also offered it to Aren, and he took a few sips but wasn't the biggest fan of it.

"Oh my~ I wish there would be good news for once."

Madam Agnes said with a heavy sigh.

"It is what it is."

Aren said with a wry smile.

Knock! Knock!

In that moment, loud knocking came from the door, and Madam Agnes almost lost the grip on her teacup because of it.

"I'll go."

Aren put the newspaper down and made his way down to the door—through the peephole, he saw several

A man and woman—wearing the same outfit of the Kornacis Yard—which was the police force of the city.

They wore dark trousers, a vest with a shiny badge attached to the chest, and a hat that looked like a blue fedora.

'…Hmm.'

Aren thought briefly and opened the door.

"Is everything alright, officers?"

"Is this 32 Temptation Avenue? Does Agnes Meredica live here, perhaps?"

The male officer, who had a middle-aged face, asked with a stern expression that matched his graying hair.

It looked like he'd been through a lot, unlike his partner, a younger woman, with not much experience under her belt.

"Yes, she does. Is everything alright?"

Aren asked worryingly.

"We just need to talk with her. It is regarding her daughter and grandson. May I please enter?"

The male officer said.

"Jake and Ada? What happened?"

In that moment, Madam Agnes walked over with a walking cane in hand. She looked really worried, and the officers noticed that she was blind.

"You're her caretaker?"

The female officer asked gently.

"Tenant. I am renting the room upstairs, but yes, I also take care of her from time to time."

Aren said.

The two officers nodded, took off their fedora-looking hats, and entered the house while Aren led them to the living room and helped Madam Agnes to sit down.