After finishing the morning's business, Silas made another patrol of the neighborhood and arranged for Charles to do research work on opening a factory, including things like factory buildings, machinery, and sales channels.
As for the latter, when he heard that Silas was preparing to open a factory and thought the opportunity to make big money had arrived, he became very enthusiastic.
But we'll set that aside for now.
After settling things, he prepared to go find Audrey Hall and discuss with her the possibility of opening a factory.
Silas walked a few steps toward the Queens Borough, then turned back and stopped in front of a fish and meat stall by the roadside.
He'd almost forgotten that there was still a little one waiting to be fed at home, waiting for him to come back from "hunting."
"How much for the fish?"
"Top-quality fresh herring, only 3 pence per pound!"
The stall owner said enthusiastically.
In the large pool in front of him, quite a few live fish were swimming. "You can pick directly. One fish for 7 pence!"
The fish in the pool were all close to two pounds each, so 7 pence was a high price.
Due to developed shipping, fish prices weren't high and were a meat source that even commoners could obtain.
"I'll take this one."
"No problem!"
The stall owner skillfully scooped up the fish with his chilblain-covered hands and knocked it unconscious, then said to Silas, "Sir, you don't look like someone short on money.
I can also provide additional services: scale the fish, remove the bones, for just 2 pence..."
"No need."
Silas paid and casually took the fish.
"Swish!"
The fish vendor then saw this mysterious gentleman's hand brush over the fish's surface, and the scales fell like snowflakes.
His fingers reached into the fish's body and pulled out the complete skeleton.
During this process, the fish flesh seemed like liquid, offering no resistance whatsoever.
"Huh?"
The fish vendor was somewhat dumbfounded.
He felt like he hadn't woken up properly and was having hallucinations.
But when he rubbed his eyes and looked again, that gentleman had already disappeared without a trace, leaving only penny coins on the cutting board.
---
"Meow~"
Silas walked through the door carrying the fish.
The black cat, as if predicting his return in advance, was already sitting primly on the cabinet in front of the foyer.
Kittens grew very quickly. After just a few weeks, it already looked a whole size larger than before.
"Come here, time to eat."
The cabinet's height was just right. Silas reached out and could just touch the fluffy head.
He showed the fresh fish in his hand to Luna. The fish was even bigger than she was, its eyes staring wide, giving off an eerie glow.
"Meow?"
Luna tilted her head, jumped down from the cabinet, and walked at his feet until Silas threw this enormous thing into her bowl.
Only then did she seem to understand this was today's lunch.
"Meow!"
She became excited all at once, biting onto the fish's body, her tail held high.
Should have cut it up...
Silas thought, but seeing Luna so excited, he let it go.
After venting, the black cat finally began to eat, biting off the soft flesh from the fish's belly, tilting her head to chew hard.
Silas quietly watched her eat for a while, petted her again, and stood up.
"I'm leaving now. Remember to watch the house..."
Before he could finish speaking, he felt his robe grow heavy. It turned out the kitten's claws had grabbed onto it.
Discovering he wanted to leave, Luna actually abandoned the half-eaten fish and came over.
"Hey..."
The black cat climbed nimbly, jumping up Silas's robe to his shoulder.
"Meow."
She licked the oil from her lips and called out to Silas.
"Why are you following me?"
Silas tried to pull her down, but she gripped his robe with her claws and stubbornly refused to let go.
"I have business to attend to. I'll play with you when I get back tonight... Hmm?"
He'd originally thought Luna felt lonely because he wasn't often at home, but suddenly he sensed spiritual fluctuations from the black cat.
Only then did he notice that the kitten's originally clear blue eyes were becoming profound.
"Meow."
She called out again, looking very serious.
Has this little one divined something?
Silas frowned in speculation, his movements becoming gentle as he transferred her from his shoulder to his arms.
This time, Luna didn't resist. It seemed her intention was to follow Silas on his outing.
So Silas left the house holding her.
After using "Psychological Invisibility," he walked calmly on the street.
No one would notice a mysterious man holding a cat walking past them.
Luna only made sounds when they reached intersections, guiding Silas toward his destination.
The further he walked, the more familiar it felt. He realized he seemed to be returning to the area controlled by the Remann Gang, which was his own pasture.
"Meow."
The black cat called out again, but this time not at an intersection.
The strange color faded from her eyes as she stared unmoving at two people on the street.
It was a very peculiar combination.
The middle-aged man in front looked lazy and unmotivated, while the young man appeared very vigilant, looking left and right on the street.
Probably not East Borough residents.
Silas made the judgment easily.
Setting aside the middle-aged man, although the young man wore clothing common to East Borough residents, it was far too neat.
His hands were also very delicate, without much dirt... One could only say the disguise wasn't quite adequate.
Most critically, both of them radiated spiritual glow, which he as a Shepherd could sense.
That serious, unquestionable temperament seems to be from the "Arbiter" pathway...
MI9?
They've found my territory?
Silas couldn't help but frown.
Good thing I discovered them early...
"Well done, Luna."
He couldn't help but reach out to pet the cat in his arms, praising her.
"Meow!"
The little black cat held her head high, very proud.
After rewarding the kitten, relying on being invisible, he stepped forward and stood beside the two men, listening to their conversation.
"Mr. Levi!"
The young man, Kons Lierson, said excitedly, "This place is very wrong. Perhaps we've discovered a clue!"
After the investigation in Jowood District ended, Levi had submitted a completely uninformative report.
And surprisingly, the Major hadn't said anything.
After a few days, he'd just arranged for them to wander around the East Borough casually and try their luck.
The result was unexpectedly that they actually discovered a suspicious neighborhood.
"A mysterious preacher who can heal people's injuries, shelter vagrants, establish new order, and even spread faiths outside the Seven Gods to them..."
Standing on the clean road surface with no vagrants or street walkers around, Kons even felt like he wasn't in the chaotic East Borough.
"This person is quite suspicious. He could very well be that [Blood Reverend]!"
If they investigated carefully around here, they might actually discover traces of that mysterious figure!
Kons thought excitedly, as if his superior's commendation was right before his eyes.
"Mr. Levi, let's do this!"
He had no idea that Silas beside him had already reached out his hand toward him.
"Mm."
The languid Mr. Levi nodded, then recorded in his notebook while saying:
"East Borough, no abnormal conditions."
Huh?
Both Kons and Silas froze simultaneously, the latter even stopping his movements because of this.