"Mr. Levi, don't you understand what I'm saying!"
Kons Lierson didn't know he was currently on the edge of death.
At this moment, his neck was only a few centimeters away from Silas's right hand, yet he was still urging his captain to take action.
"I've made it very clear, there's something wrong with this block!"
"So what?"
Levi looked at him calmly.
"So we can conduct an investigation here, look for clues..."
"Kons Lierson, you're in your twenties now, right? Have you lived enough and don't plan to inherit your father's title anymore?"
Levi unceremoniously interrupted him.
"Uh..."
Kons froze, because the other party's words were really too blunt and harsh, leaving him somewhat unable to react.
He saw Levi snap his notebook shut with a "pa" sound, turn, and walk outside. He was actually preparing to leave.
"Mr. Levi!"
He couldn't help but chase after him. "Do you think investigating here is too dangerous?"
"Not dangerous, it'll just make our names appear gloriously on the pension roster."
Levi glanced at him sideways. "Have you forgotten how Heras and the others died?"
"So you're just going to pretend you didn't notice anything?"
Kons said with slight dissatisfaction.
"That's right."
Levi answered frankly, seemingly not ashamed at all.
"Then what if I bypass you and report directly to the Major?"
Kons said provocatively.
Hmm?
Silas raised his hand again.
"That doesn't follow protocol.
The Major will come to me for confirmation. And I just need to find some random excuse, like saying things such as 'he's a newbie who's too sensitive,' and I can muddle through.
The Major will only believe me."
Levi wasn't provoked by him. Instead, he shook his head.
"Don't forget, the most important thing in Department 9 is the strict hierarchical rules between superiors and subordinates..."
Of course Kons hadn't forgotten, because this was also directly related to their acting.
"...Then if we don't investigate, can we at least share the information with the members of Team One?"
"No, I don't want to help those arrogant guys in Team One."
"..."
After hearing the other party block all paths, Kons first felt anger, then confusion, and finally became contemptuous.
"I didn't expect you to be this kind of person."
He said softly, "So protective of your own life, completely disregarding your responsibilities..."
"Sense of responsibility?"
Levi sneered, his decadent eyes flashing with mockery.
"Of course I have one.
Dying to kill cultists or protect citizens is one thing, but losing my life for some unspeakable secrets of the higher-ups is just not worth it."
"Unspeakable secrets? Do you know something?"
"I told you, I don't know."
Levi said indifferently, "However, I think what the Blood Reverend did at Capim's place suits my taste quite well."
"..."
A moment of silence fell between the two.
Levi's words made Kons lose his earlier drive.
First, he understood that as long as this team leader disagreed, a newbie like himself wouldn't be trusted no matter what he said.
Second, this decadent team leader seemed to know something and wasn't willing to get too deeply involved.
"...I understand."
As if after experiencing a psychological struggle, Kons finally lowered his head and said helplessly.
He didn't know that this action actually saved both their lives.
Silas withdrew his hand and instead stroked Luna.
Since these two appeared unrelated to the case behind Capim and didn't plan to continue investigating, he let them off.
Right now was a critical moment for his acting.
If he really had no choice but to silence them, it might actually attract the attention of MI9.
Being able to not kill them this way and have them voluntarily give up was best.
Of course, he didn't completely trust the two.
He continued maintaining his "psychological invisibility" state and followed behind them all the way to MI9's hidden office.
Worried there might be monitoring items in the office, Silas held his cat and quietly waited outside.
Another thirty minutes passed. Seeing there was still no abnormality, he finally relaxed.
At this time, the young man called Kons Lierson walked out from the office entrance.
He had already removed his East Borough worker's attire and changed into a well-tailored, high-quality uniform.
Although dressed quite nicely, he seemed to have something on his mind. He called a carriage and headed toward Queen's Borough.
Oh, going home after work.
Silas also happened to be going to Queen's Borough to see Audrey Hall, so he hitched a ride on his carriage, sitting across from him in the same compartment.
Along the way, he observed the other party's expressions, from unwillingness to helplessness, and finally to resignation. It seemed very genuine.
"Good that you gave up. You saved your life."
Silas thought to himself.
Taking advantage of the carriage stopping and the door opening, he got off.
Earl Hall's villa was just a few blocks away. He'd been here once before and already remembered it.
Unlike the East Borough, the streets of Queen's Borough were clean and tidy.
The Intis plane trees on both sides of the road had shed their leaves with winter's arrival, but the bare poles still looked quite grand, their presence still impressive.
Silas held his cat, counting the branches of the Intis plane trees as he passed several patrolling police officers.
The East Borough only had a very small number of officers, and their attitudes were extremely perfunctory.
Like the block Silas managed, within a range of nearly a thousand people, there was only one police officer killing time.
Unlike here, where there were so many officers, and their attitudes were quite serious and responsible...
Casually thinking about similar issues, he had already arrived in front of Earl Hall's villa.
The nobles' social season was in the second half of the year from June to December.
Now was the time for them to leave their country villas and return here, which should also include Audrey Hall.
However, how should he meet with her...
Arriving in front of the villa, Silas realized he should have notified her in advance and let her make some preparations.
What if she wasn't home right now? Wouldn't he have made a wasted trip...
"Luna, quickly divine whether Miss Audrey is home!"
He lowered his head and said to his cat.
"Meow?"
The black cat raised its head to look at him, its azure eyes full of innocence, as if it didn't understand what he was saying.
Fortunately, Silas didn't have to wait too long.
He noticed a golden retriever happily running in the yard, then taking advantage of the servants' inattention in the courtyard, quietly approaching the wall.
Finally, it squeezed through a hole and came out onto the street outside.
Right, this dog should be Miss Audrey's pet... It's an extraordinary creature, and very smart!
"Ha, ha..."
Susie panted happily with her tongue out. She was just about to frolic and jump when a dark shadow suddenly descended before her eyes.
Was there something here just now?
She looked up in confusion, then saw a face that had once left her with psychological trauma.
A thick and terrible bloody scent also filled her sensitive nasal cavity.
Such a strong smell, why didn't I notice it before?
"Woof!"
Susie let out a frightened whimper, her tail instantly tucked between her legs.
She saw that terrifying figure smiling at her, only two rows of snow-white teeth bright against the backlit shadow:
"I say, you can understand what I'm saying, right?"