Lord of The Mysterious Realms-Chapter 95: Self-Investigation
Water retains heat far better than air. As the twin red and blue moons climbed into the night sky, the land cooled rapidly, creating a stark temperature differential with the sea. This gradient caused the smog hanging over the city to drift out toward the less dense air above the ocean.
Even from his hiding spot at the corner, Jenkins could survey the entire street.
His pocket watch ticked away the minutes. It was not until eleven o'clock that the disguised Skylark Miss finally appeared.
Jenkins deliberately made a slight noise before stepping out, his hands held to his chest to reveal his Soul Emblem.
"Sometimes, I wonder if you have the ability to transfer your soul into other bodies, like those malevolent spirits the Orthodox Church has been trying to deal with recently."
Skylark Miss's cool voice drifted toward him.
Now that he knew who she really was, he could hear the familiar cadence in her voice, no matter how she tried to disguise it.
"I'm sorry for calling you out today, especially since the gathering is tomorrow,"
he remarked apologetically.
"It's fine. Are we trading now? No one has bought that chained ability yet. What do you have to offer?"
She stood in the shadow of a brick wall, holding out a hand to signal for him to keep his distance.
"I haven't found an item."
He felt a little embarrassed himself.
"In fact, I was hoping to ask for your help today."
Skylark Miss remained still, silently waiting for him to continue.
"I can't make it to the gathering tomorrow. So, I was hoping that on the night after, you could tell me how to confirm the time for the one after that. I can pay you for your trouble."
Neither of them spoke. Jenkins remained where he was, awaiting her decision.
"Very well,"
she said calmly after a few moments.
"But you'll have to do something for me."
"What is it?"
"I need you to sound someone out for me. The author of the 'Stranger's Story Collection', Jenkins Williams. I want to know if he's an Enchanter."
Silence fell again, but this time for a different reason.
"How am I supposed to sound myself out?"
He was puzzled. It seemed their chance meeting at the corner that day had made her suspicious. But then again, he thought, maybe this was an opportunity.
"I've heard of the famous author. But you know as well as I do that it's best for unregistered Enchanters like us to stay away from public figures."
"Do this for me, and next time, we can trade for that chained ability no matter what you bring. Of course, I won't accept any Series A items."
"And it's not like I'm going to find a Series C."
Jenkins added. After a moment's thought, he had already decided to agree.
"Just a warning, that chained ability I'm selling has certain... risks. You should think it over carefully."
"We can discuss that later. How am I to prove my findings?"
"Just the result will be enough."
"You trust me that much?"
"...I have no other choice. But you must not let him see you. I want you to use a gentle approach."
"No problem."
Jenkins had a good idea of what Miss Hersha was thinking. Miss Mikhail might not have known the specifics of the so-called Grand Spirit Master's cane, but as an Enchanter herself, she probably knew it was an Extraordinary item through other channels.
Considering Miss Mikhail had asked for it several times and Papa Oliver had refused, yet Jenkins, a mere apprentice, had obtained it so easily... she must suspect that Jenkins was also an Enchanter and had somehow swindled Papa Oliver out of the cane.
As for why she did not want Mr. Candle to meet Jenkins face-to-face, it was likely because she feared Mr. Candle would ask about the chase from the previous evening, which would expose her identity.
Once they had settled on the details, Skylark Miss turned to leave.
"Please wait."
Jenkins called out again.
She retreated a few steps warily.
"I mean you no harm. But I heard you're currently wanted by the Church of Death and End. My sources are fairly reliable, and they say you were involved in that incident at the hospital."
"Your sources aren't as reliable as you think. I was merely implicated. And I'm not 'wanted,' I'm just being investigated."
Her voice grew colder; she was clearly annoyed.
"So you were implicated by that man in the black robe?"
"Yes... well, not exactly. What, are you looking to buy information about that night?"
"Of course not. I'm just worried that Mr. Hood might not let you attend future gatherings because of this."
"I've known Mr. Hood longer than any of you. He'll believe me."
Jenkins nodded. "That's good to hear. I came to this strange city on a steam train and don't know many people. Stay safe. See you Wednesday night."
"...Thank you."
Jenkins shook his head. With his hands clasped behind his back, he strolled away down the trash-strewn street.
Investigating Jenkins Williams would be easy enough, of course. The real question was, what should the result be?
Jenkins mulled it over as he walked beneath the moon.
"If I tell her Jenkins isn't an Enchanter, this whole mess will be over immediately. That's the upside. The downside is that if my 'main' identity as Jenkins ever slips up in front of Miss Hersha, it'll damage the credibility of my 'Mr. Candle' persona."
A feral cat leaped from a low roof. Jenkins paused, watching it scamper off into the darkness.
"If I tell her Jenkins is an unregistered Enchanter, the upside is that Miss Hersha will likely reach out to a 'fellow,' giving me more contacts. The downside? I'd have to create another persona: the fledgling, utterly naive author-Enchanter."
Jenkins nodded to himself, a fleeting thought of his kitten, Chocolate, crossing his mind. He wondered if she was asleep.
"Or I could tell her Jenkins is a Scribe for the Church... unless I've completely lost my mind."
The next day, Jenkins knew that while he would not be on the front lines as a support healer, any night operation was still dangerous. Papa Oliver would not be participating, but to be on the safe side, he had Jenkins spend the day visiting the black market to get as prepared as possible.
He had also lent Jenkins a repeating gunpowder pistol.
Jenkins had been meaning to buy a firearm for a while. They were available both through Papa Oliver's connections and on the black market, but he could never quite make up his mind.
That afternoon, Jenkins left Chocolate with Papa Oliver and took a carriage to the church.
Captain Bincy's squad served as the church's guard detail and was stationed there most of the time. Since this operation was not under Bincy's command, Jenkins was assigned to a different unit—a perimeter security squad—with the temporary designation 092.
Perhaps it was a gesture to accommodate a newcomer on his first team mission, but most of the Scribes in his new squad were people he already knew from his healing work.
Chapter 95: Self-Investigation
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