13 Mink Street

“Adjudicator Luke?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Where are you?”

“What? You want to come see me?”

“I will report this.”

“Report me? Heh, would you dare?”

“I see no reason not to. You’re wanted by the church. I’m curious what gives you the right to say such a thing.”

“I killed Pavaro with my own hands. I’m certain he’s dead, so who exactly are you?”

“I am Pavaro.”

“I think there’s no need for us to keep pretending during this call, don’t you?”

“I’m not pretending; I am Pavaro.”

“Aren’t you afraid your disguise will be exposed?”

“Adjudicator Luke.”

“Hm?”

“You can go report it.”

The other end of the phone fell silent. Karon kept a calm expression as he stared at Alfred and waited for a response. Since he dared to use Mr. Pavaro’s identity, this possibility had already been considered. The man himself was already dead. That was a fact. But the people who had killed Mr. Pavaro had, because their crimes were exposed, lost the right to speak.

At last, Luke spoke again from the other end of the line, “You know I can’t do that.”

“I hope you do, or perhaps you can have the person sheltering you do it for you.”

“Pavaro—I will call you Pavaro for now—there are some things that you and I both understand perfectly well.”

“No, I don’t understand. This call as well, I will report it immediately.”

“I came to make a deal with you, Pavaro.”

“I will make no deal of any kind with a criminal who has betrayed Order.”

“I will give you more than enough credits, as long as you tell me the method by which you became Pavaro!”

“I don’t understand what you are saying. I advise you to surrender now and accept the judgment of Order.”

“I was able to kill Pavaro before, and I can kill Pavaro again.”

“But once you kill one Pavaro, ten thousand more Pavaros will rise up at once. Can you kill them all?”

“...” Luke stayed silent.

“In the name of Order, recognize your crimes and surrender, Luke. How long do you think you can keep running?”

“There really is no room to negotiate?”

“I already said it: there is no possibility of negotiation between us.”

“You will regret this.”

“No, the one who should regret this is you. Whoever stands against Order will be subjected to Order’s punishment.”

Click.

“Young Master, the call has ended.”

“Yes.”

Pu’er spoke, “So how should we deal with him? He doesn’t seem to pose any real threat, unless he dares come to our door.”

“He won’t.” Karon shook his head. “He’s cautious. After all, in his eyes, I’m someone who dares impersonate an Inquisitor of the Order.”

“Then how do we deal with him?” Pu’er asked.

“Young Master, shall I investigate him?” Alfred asked.

“Through the telephone company? He also seems to have been a member of a Whip of Order squad, so he wouldn’t make such a ridiculous mistake. Besides, York City is simply too large.

“I didn’t dare test him over the phone just now, or even hint at anything. I was worried there was more than just him listening in.”

Pu’er stretched out a paw and touched the telephone. “So all we can do is passively endure his harassing calls?”

“For the moment, that seems unavoidable, unless I also had a Whip of Order squad under my command, and one as elite as Nio’s squad.”

***

Click. The receiver was set down.

“Luke, I think I must have lost my mind earlier to even consider that what you said might be true.”

“Gendi, you have to believe me. Do you really think I would use such a clumsy lie to deceive you?”

“But if he’s fake, why did he leave you without any room at all on that call just now?”

“You’re the captain of a squad of the Whip of Order. Is this really so hard to figure out? He thought someone was listening in while I was on the phone.”

“Heh.” Gendi stood up. “I took you in this time only out of consideration for our past.”

“I know, I know.”

“That time is almost up.”

“You’ve already sheltered me. Aren’t you afraid that if I’m caught, I’ll expose you?”

“Just like Mr. Pavaro said on the phone, go ahead and report it. Let’s see who believes your accusations.”

“And the credits? You don’t want them anymore? The Bloodspirit Powder trade ran for years. How much do you think Tirsen accumulated? You know his assets were never found during the investigation, and neither were Zeric’s. I know where both of them hid their wealth.”

“I’m afraid I might have the credits, but not the life to spend them. Luke, you should leave.”

“The opportunity is right in front of me! I don’t want to give it up. If that person impersonating Pavaro can do it, so can I! I can start over in the church under a new identity. I don’t want to lose everything I had there.”

“You’ve gone mad.”

“Gendi, believe me. Go investigate him. I’m begging you, go investigate him. You’ll find out he’s not Pavaro. He must have left some clues. He really isn’t Pavaro. If you uncover his true identity, it’ll be a major case. The significance is completely different. For you, it would be a huge merit, wouldn’t it?”

“And what about you? Do you want to investigate him, or do you want to learn how he impersonates others so you can hide yourself?”

“I... I don’t know. I don’t want to lose everything, but I can’t accept this either. Why do I have to keep hiding, while the person I killed is able to live on with dignity? I can’t accept it. I really can’t.” Luke clutched his head, his expression twisted in pain.

Gendi let out a sigh. “In two days, I’ll arrange a ship to get you out of Veyn. You should leave, go somewhere beyond the church’s reach for now.”

“I don’t want to leave. I still think I have a chance. Gendi, in two days I’ll take you to where Tirsen hid his assets. We’ll split it, alright?”

“If it weren’t for those credits, I wouldn’t have taken you in.”

“I know, I know. You’re a good man, Gendi. I’ve always known that.”

“So in two days, you leave. Whether you give me the credits or not, this is the last thing I’ll do for you because of old ties. I have matters to attend to, so I’m leaving.” Gendi pushed the door open, walked down the apartment stairs and got into his car, which drove out of the compound.

Once he was sitting in the passenger seat, he spoke first. “That call just now...”

“I heard everything. Did you forget you’re carrying the item I gave you?” Gendi took a blue shell from his pocket and handed it back to Nio, who was driving. Nio shook his head, took out two more shells, and placed them in Gendi’s hand. “It’s a useful communication device, so take a set. Just remember to maintain them properly so they last longer.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

“No need to thank me. I should be thanking you. I know you and Luke had ties before. I was the one who had you respond when he approached you. You handled things well. This is a joint operation between our two squads. Once we get the locations of Zeric and Tirsen’s hidden assets from Luke, we’ll split them between our squads. As for Luke, we kill him and report it as a successful capture.”

“Yes, Captain. But what Luke said...”

“You’re doubting Pavaro’s identity?”

“He sounds very certain.”

“A drowning man will grab at anything within reach, even a straw, even one he imagines for himself. Haven’t you seen cases like that before?”

“I have, but he was...”

“It’s no different. He’s no longer an Adjudicator; He’s just a fugitive now.”

“Yes, you’re right, Captain Nio.”

“I’ll handle the next steps personally. Don’t involve yourself in anything unnecessary. It could cause you trouble.”

“I understand, Captain. I’ll follow your instructions.”

“This is enough. I’ll get off here. Drive back.” Nio pulled the car over to the side of the road.

“Captain, if not for you, I wouldn’t have dared respond to Luke, let alone have any contact with him.”

“Are you blaming me?”

“No, of course not! It’s just that I know that following you, Captain Nio, on any mission means there’s always something to gain.”

“Not scraps. Meat.”

“Yes, yes, meat.”

Nio’s figure dissolved into a mass of black mist and left the driver’s seat. Gendi took a deep breath, moved into the driver’s seat, and restarted the car.

***

“Ciri, are the things ready?”

“They’re ready, Young Master. Mr. Alfred has already loaded them into the car.”

“Good.”

Karon walked to the parking area in front of the funeral home, opened the trunk to check the neatly stacked food inside, then closed it.

“Young Master, would you like me to accompany you?”

“No need. Last time you went because I wasn’t home. This time, I’ll go myself. Consider it a walk. Also, the tutor is coming for the first lesson today. Stay and observe. Pay attention to their temperament. If they’re not suitable, replace them.”

“Yes, Young Master. Please rest assured, I’ll take care of it.”

“Mm. I’m heading out.” Karon drove to Ivy Cemetery. It was near dusk, not long before closing time. He drove straight in and parked below the groundskeeper’s hut.

Saman stood on the steps, a pipe in his mouth and hands on his hips as he shouted down at Karon, “If I don’t call you, you won’t bring anything, is that it?”

Karon got out of the car, walked behind it, and opened the trunk. “Who knew you could eat so much?”

“Is it me who eats this much? Is it me?” Saman rushed down the steps, charging up to Karon, raising his hand as if to strike him. However, when Karon lifted out a box of packaged beef, Saman naturally reached out and took it.

“Is it fresh?” he asked.

“No idea. We use it at home for steak.”

“Fine. I’ll trust you.”

“Stand still. There’s more.” Karon stacked a box of meatballs and a box of canned goods onto the old man’s arms.

“I can’t carry anymore! I can’t carry anymore!”

“Then leave it.”

“No!” Saman turned and staggered toward the hut, swaying like a roly-poly. Karon, carrying a crate of soda, thought the man might fall on several occasions, yet he always managed to steady himself.

“The fridge won’t fit all this,” Karon said.

“It will, it will. I’ll clear out some of the old stuff I couldn’t bear to throw away.” Saman crouched down and began rearranging the old fridge.

Karon picked up a bottle of soda, walked to the desk, and tried to pry the cap off against the edge. Once, twice, three times. He chipped a piece off the desk corner, but the cap remained firmly in place.

“Oh, heavens!” Saman jumped up. “Do you not know how to use a bottle opener?”

“Too troublesome.”

Saman walked over, took the bottle, bit the cap off with his teeth, and spat it onto the floor. “Here!”

Karon didn’t take it. Instead, he picked up another bottle. “Where’s the opener?”

“You brat!” Saman took a large gulp of soda and burped. “I really don’t see what’s good about this. Alcohol’s better.”

“Too bad, I didn’t bring any.”

“I’m reminding you to bring some next time.”

“I could get you some industrial alcohol. You can dilute it yourself. Very convenient.”

“Oh, then next time I’ll have to crawl out of my grave to open the gate for you.”

“Heh. How did you go through it all so quickly? Do you host barbecue parties with the residents here every night?”

“It’s not...”

“I ate it,” Nio’s voice came from the doorway.

Karon saw Nio and smiled. He did not call the man captain, but simply picked up a bottle opener, opened a soda, and handed it to Nio.

Saman pointed at Nio. “It’s him! He comes here every night to freeload dinner and he eats a lot. I can never out-eat him.”

“Then next time I’ll bring some good alcohol and leave it here,” Karon said.

“You brat, am I not worthy of your alcohol?”

“You’ve been holding onto that one plate of pasta. You still expect me to treat you to drinks?”

“We help each other. Oh right, your funeral home hasn’t had business for a while. Bad business?”

“It was under renovation.”

“I see. I thought it had gone under.”

“It’s not mine.”

“Pavaro has two daughters and no sons. Won’t everything be yours eventually? If he dies early, not just the assets and daughters, even the wife will be left for you to look after.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“It’s not uncommon. At Kuchis Funeral Home, the owner died early, and the widow ended up sharing a bed with one of the workers. Perfectly normal.”

Karon began looking around.

“What are you looking for?” Saman asked.

“Your stash of industrial alcohol. I suspect you’ve been drinking it.”

“Get lost! I’m blessing you.”

“When will dinner be ready?” Nio asked.

Saman bristled, ready to snap back, but Karon spoke first, “Right away. I’m cooking.”

Karon’s cooking needed no introduction. By the time night had fully fallen, four dishes and a soup were on the small outside table, generous portions of each.

“Mm...” Saman sat on a stool, looking at the unfamiliar yet refined dishes. He couldn’t help but remark, “If I were the lady of the house, I’d want to share a bed with you too.”

Karon walked over and untied his apron. “If your kitchen had a better selection of seasonings, it would taste even better.”

Nio picked up a fork, took a piece of braised beef, and put it in his mouth. “Very good.”

Saman immediately grabbed a plate and started eating. “Mm! Really good.”

Karon pulled over a small stool and ate slowly. Twenty minutes later, he realized that what he had believed to be too much food was actually not enough. “Should I make more?”

“No need,” Nio said.

Saman looked at him in surprise. “That’s rare.”

“Let’s have supper in a bit,” Nio added.

Saman rolled his eyes. “I was wondering why your appetite seemed smaller today.”

“I’ll go check on Elisa and take a walk,” Nio said, standing and heading into the cemetery.

Karon began clearing the plates. There were only so many dishes in the caretaker’s hut. If they weren’t washed first, there would be nothing to use for the later meal.

Saman, however, unusually took the plates from Karon. “Go walk with him. I’ll clean up.”

“Is the sun rising in the west tomorrow?”

Saman sneered. “I’m worried you won’t see tomorrow’s sun.”

“Are you cursing me?”

“Hard to say. By the way, your cooking is excellent. Those dishes are quite novel. I thought I wouldn’t be used to them, but they’re surprisingly good.”

“One day, the pigs at a farm in Veyn suddenly stopped eating.”

“Hm?”

“The lady of the house scolded her husband, asking if he had once again mixed up the meals and fed the pigs what was meant for the family.”

“...”

“Since you’re cleaning, go ahead. I’ll take a walk.”

“Hey, kid.”

“What is it?”

“I’m about to retire.”

“Congratulations.”

“If you come cook for me every night after I retire, everything in this hut, the old furniture, the appliances, all of it, I’ll leave it to you. Fair deal?” Seeing Karon say nothing, Saman pressed, “What are you hesitating for?”

“I’m thinking of a polite way to refuse.”

“Get lost!”

Karon smiled, walked down the steps, and headed into the cemetery. However, when he arrived at Elisa’s grave, Nio was nowhere to be seen. Did the captain leave already?

Karon searched for a while before he finally found Nio standing at a grave some distance away. Seeing this, Karon pursed his lips and walked over.

It was Mr. Pavaro’s grave, and beside it, Annie’s. The names on the headstones were not their real ones. “Captain, what are you doing here?”

“This inscription is interesting,” Nio said, pointing at the headstone. “‘Thank you for letting me see true light.’”

“Yes, Captain. It is interesting.”

“There’s another inscription on the one beside it. Read it.”

“Yes, Captain.” Karon stepped closer and read, “‘Thank you for letting me witness the gentleness that came from the sea.’”

“Does his wife not mind the graves being so close?” Nio asked.

Karon was silent for a moment, then stood up. “It was her request.”

“Oh.”

Karon recalled the conversation he had once had with Nio when they came to bury Elisa.

...

”When did Inquisitor Pavaro leave?”

”Very early.”

”So you are the one to arranged the funeral?”

”Yes.”

...

Nio turned and walked back to Elisa’s grave. Karon followed. After a few steps, Nio spoke. “A fugitive named Luke was recently located. I’ve had Wynn monitor him. We’ll move to capture him in two days.”

“He’s an Adjudicator.”

“Yes. The resistance will be fierce. We likely won’t take him alive.”

“Captain, I have a request.”

“Speak.”

“I want to participate in the operation.”

“He’s an Adjudicator.”

“I know.”

“And?”

“I still want to try.”

Nio crouched before Elisa’s grave and adjusted the white roses growing around it. After a short while, he replied, “Alright.”