"Backlund truly deserves its title as the capital. Even the assassination missions are so plentiful, however..." Trissy flipped through the commission register, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Although she was currently disguised, the charm overflowing from her digested Witch potion still made the broker across from her steal frequent glances.
Trissy was used to such stares, loathing them but finding them impossible to avoid. Pretending not to notice, she casually tossed the booklet onto the table.
"Is this all?"
"My dear assassin lady, you should know that in our line of work, discretion is paramount. No matter how formidable your skills are, I cannot hand over high-stakes missions on our first meeting. Of course, if you were to become one of us... well, I'm sure you take my meaning."
The broker rubbed his hands together like a fly. Trissy knew he wasn't implying the 'womanly' kind of intimacy, but rather joining a specific faction. She had zero interest in that. She picked up the booklet again and randomly pointed to a gang enforcer.
While Trissy had harmed innocent people in the past, she was no longer the same person. It wasn't because of a sudden awakening of conscience, but because she was currently being watched by a certain "Great Being."
Though she was loath to admit it, that dead cat--despite its questionable sense of humor--had shown a persona that leaned toward 'kindness.' Since that was the case, she felt it best not to strike out at good people until she truly understood the Great Being's 'teachings.'
The broker glanced at her chosen target and immediate forced a smile.
"Grizzly Jon, eh? He's a tough nut to crack. Be careful, miss."
"I don't need you to tell me how to do my job," Trissy said, tossing five soli coins onto the table.
In this trade, a deposit was required regardless of the target.
"Here are your receipt and the target's information. Keep them safe."
The broker pocketed the money and handed over a small stack of documents. Trissy skimmed them briefly before hurrying out of the pawnshop.
...
"Madam Melas's location..."
As Trissy headed toward the East District, Klein was using a fallen branch for dowsing. He had initially planned to stake out Mr. Melas's residence, but he soon realized he had oversimplified things.
Rich people in Backlund could afford to take rental carriages!
Had he not been a Beyonder, he would have lost his target then and there--and who knew how much hire-carriages would cost just to keep up?
Fortunately, despite lacking personal items for a mediumship, Klein was now a Clown who was close to fully digesting his potion. The Fool's divination abilities were significantly improved compared to his time as a Seer. While he hadn't reached the level of 'divination from the void,' he could still manage a rough divination using the information from the documents and the spiritual connection established by seeing her board the carriage.
Using his dowsing rod and a map, Klein navigated the unfamiliar streets of Backlund. After several twists and turns, he arrived in an area labeled as Bridge South District. By then, it was already past three in the afternoon.
When he saw the rental carriage driving away from him, he began to suspect that Madam Melas truly was having an affair.
After all, when he was deciding where to live in Backlund, he hadn't even considered Bridge South District a viable option.
If areas like the West District and Empress District were excluded for their high costs and security, and the North District for St. Samuel's Cathedral, and the East District, Dock District, and Bridge District for their poverty--then Bridge South District was excluded simply because of its incredibly low profile. It felt like a completely different world from the rest of Backlund.
The Tussock River split Backlund into two halves. Most of the previously mentioned districts were north of the bridge, boasting developed transportation, heavy foot traffic, crowded factories, and stock exchanges. South of the river, there were only two districts: Bridge South and St. George.
Much like the difference between an 'old town' and a 'new town' in his previous life, the pace of life south of the Tussock River was much slower. Transportation was inconvenient, with the underground being the only fast way to cross the river. There were no factories or employment centers, and further south, one could even see small towns and farmland.
In Backlund, few nobles or tycoons were willing to live here. As for the working class... even if the rent was cheap, the daily commute to the factory district was enough to deter them.
Reasonably speaking, Madam Melas had no reason to be here. Since she had gotten off here, there was definitely something wrong.
Klein pulled a coin from his pocket. With a flick of his fingers, the coin seemed to spring to life, soaring into the air with a distinct CLINK. At that moment, Klein's eyes turned a deep, lightless black.
'Heads. Affirmative. There is danger.' Klein pocketed the coin and hesitated. He looked around for a restaurant with a washroom to use for a more formal divination, but he couldn't even find a single café.
...
Using her own divination abilities, Trissy quickly located Grizzly Jon. However, she didn't strike immediately. She had discovered that this Jon was likely a Beyonder!
'Dammit! This isn't a target that can be handled for just fifty pounds!' Although she knew these open commissions often hid traps, encountering one still left Trissy feeling annoyed.
It wasn't that she couldn't handle a wild Beyonder who was at most Sequence 8, but she was worried about what organization might be backing this gang enforcer.
Wild Beyonders gained their powers through only a few channels: active pursuit, being taught, or accidental discovery. Given a gang enforcer's finances, active pursuit was nearly impossible. Those who gained powers by accident were usually mentally unstable, but Grizzly Jon showed no signs of abnormality beyond the typical Feysacian traits of alcoholism and a short temper.
This meant he had at least consumed a correctly mixed potion and might even understand the Acting Method.
Killing a gang thug was easy, but provoking a hidden organization for it wasn't worth the trouble.
However, if she failed her first commission, getting more work would become difficult. After a moment's thought, Trissy decided to move.
'Worst case scenario, I'll just go throw myself at that dead cat!'
Trissy gritted her teeth and activated her Beyonder ability to turn invisible. Using her anti-divination powers to erase all traces, she crept toward the burly giant...
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]
T/N: "Grizzly Jon" (灰熊乔恩) - A gang enforcer in the East District.
T/N: "Bridge South District" (大桥南区) - A quiet, semi-rural residential area in Backlund or St. George's.
T/N: "Feysacian" (弗萨克人) - People from the Feysac Empire, known for their large builds and tempers.