13 Mink Street

Karon vaguely felt that the bigshot the captain was referring to was very likely himself.

Sometimes, a single sentence from a true heavyweight could be enough to make the people below exhaust themselves interpreting it and sparing no effort arranging things accordingly. The bigshot might not even have meant it that way, but those down below did not dare ask, nor would they dare to place bets on it.

The York City district had dozens of Whip squads. The Hunting Hounds was unquestionably among the best, but was still, at the end of the day, an outsider that had only recently been transferred over from Mulberry Port. When it came to connections, they certainly could not compare with the few home-raised golden retrievers.

Yet now the situation had just been reversed. In essence, the scale of this matter was probably about the same as when Tiz had blown up the Temple of Order.

Tiz’s actual purpose at the time had merely been to let the Temple Elders watch the explosion, intimidating them a little. He himself had not expected that explosion to trigger so many chain reactions afterwards, especially after so much time had passed and across so much distance, Karon, his grandson, could still feel its effects. Of course, Tiz would never have cared about any of that.

”Captain, when exactly is the mission?”

”We’ll be going by teleportation array, so we won’t need to take a ship on some long journey by ship. We’ll probably assemble within three days, maybe even sooner.”

”Understood, Captain. I’ll make preparations.”

”Mhmm. Karon...”

”Yes, Captain.”

”Karon...”

”Yes, Captain.”

”Karon, shouldn’t you be saying, ’Captain, if you have any questions, please just ask’?”

”Captain, if you have any questions, please just ask.”

”That bigshot, does he have anything to do with you?” There was a brief pause on the other end of the receiver. ”Or rather, did something happen after you and Memphis entered that space?”

The captain had clearly noticed certain changes yesterday, especially that line Eisen had taken the initiative to say after coming back out: I broadened my horizons.

It was just that there had been too many people around last night, so the captain had not spoken privately with Karon about it. Now, combined with this sudden stroke of fortune falling from the sky, the captain instinctively sensed that there might be some connection between these two matters.

”After we went in yesterday, something went a little wrong. I forgot that I was still wearing the silver mask Grandpa left me, so inside that place, I became the biggest, brightest one of all, with gilded trim around me.”

The other end of the telephone fell into silence for quite a while. The captain was clearly digesting the information and settling his emotions. Only after a long moment did he say, ”I knew something must have happened after you went inside. So it was the mask?”

”It should have been.”

”Then it follows the same principle as the masks made in Lemar’s Pottery Studio, doesn’t it? Your grandfather once killed a Temple Elder of the Temple of Order and made a mask from his face?”

”...” Karon.

His thoughts had truly never gone in that direction before. He only instinctively felt that anything Tiz had left behind, no matter how unexpected the effect, would still somehow not be unexpected.

However, if he followed the captain’s train of thought, then the raw material for that silver mask really could have been the face of a Temple Elder.

”Did you take care of everything?” Nio asked. ”I mean the aftermath.”

”I think I did.”

”Then it’s fine. But next time, don’t casually wear that mask of yours out again. Even if a Temple Elder never married and never had children, he would still have students.”

”Yes, I understand, Captain. I’ll be careful in the future.”

”Mhmm. That will do for now. See you at the assembly.”

”Goodbye, Captain.” After hanging up, Karon walked back into the bedroom and, in an entirely natural tone, said to Pu’er, ”There will be a new mission in the next couple of days.”

”Oh, how busy and how hard you work. Thank you for all your diligent contributions to this household.” Pu’er sat on the bed while saying the perfunctory words. Only then did she seem to consider something else and ask, ”How long?”

”I don’t know. Possibly for a while. About a week.”

”A week? You won’t be able to come back?”

”I won’t.”

Since teleportation arrays worked both ways, he would surely have to return together with the protected target, as those were not the sort of things that could be activated whenever you happened to want to.

”Little John will be off school and coming home tomorrow, so I’ll have him help me and the stupid dog with our portraits. It won’t take long to finish, so you need to go to Lemar’s Pottery Studio again to arrange things for us. Once the portraits are done, the radio demon can just send them over directly.

”So by the time you return from your mission, I’ll be able to stand and speak to you, hehe.”

”Will it be modeled after how you used to look?” Karon asked.

”Of course not. I want a new style. I’ve been sketching it out in my mind for ages.”

”Fine. I’ll go to the studio now and make the arrangements for you.”

”Teehee, love you! Meow!”

Karon straightened his clothes and was just about to walk out of the bedroom when Pu’er, still sitting on the bed, suddenly asked, ”A whole week, huh? Are you going out of town?”

”Mhmm.”

”Where?”

”Darkmoon Island.”

”Meow?!”

Karon turned to look at Pu’er, shrugged, and said, ”The captain is very good at building connections. Through all his networking and efforts, our squad has finally managed to secure this astonishingly high-return mission.”

Pu’er stood up on the bed. ”You don’t need to explain that much to me. I’ll just take your explanation as a kind of cover-up.”

”It is only for a mission. If I earn more credits, then the next time you drink coffee, you can have two cups every day instead of pinching pennies.”

”The issue isn’t the coffee! Last time, I knew that Ophelia wasn’t pregnant, but this time, after you go there, whether she ends up pregnant or not is no longer something I can judge!

”You know how love is. Sometimes it needs time to ferment, and once it does, it often becomes even stronger than it was at the beginning.

”Stupid dog, am I right?”

”Woof!”

”It’s just a mission.”

”You’re not like this stupid dog, only capable of loving one person in silence and doing absolutely nothing after falling into an unrequited love. We can’t rest easy about you, can we, stupid dog?”

”...” Kevin.

”Do you have anything you want me to handle for you?” Karon changed the subject. ”If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll probably find time to visit Mr. Bernard’s grave. After all, the source of my Darkmoon Blade still traces back to him.”

”Can you splash a bucket of paint on it for me?”

”No.”

”Then secretly spit on it.”

”No.”

”Then when you pass by, pretend you’ve got a bit of vegetable stuck in your teeth, act like you’re picking it out, then spit. Ptooey, right on him!”

”We’ll see.”

”Mhmm. Let’s get back a little interest first. Later, when I’ve fully recovered, I’ll make a personal trip to Darkmoon Island to dig up that man’s grave.”

”He only liked you, that’s all.”

”But I wasn’t interested in him. In that sense, this stupid dog is still better. At least he understood not to cause trouble for the one he likes.”

Kevin, dragged into things yet again, could only lower himself to the floor and bury his dog head.

Karon walked out of the bedroom. Pu’er, meanwhile, flipped open her design sketchbook. There were no complete portraits inside. Instead, every detail of the facial features had been separated out on its own.

Kevin raised his head and looked at Pu’er. ”Woof.”

”Of course I know he changed the subject! But what? Am I supposed to stop him from going on missions? What right or standing do I have to prevent him?

”After all, I’m only a cat being kept at home.”

”Woof.”

“All right, all right, that little tantrum is enough! Come here, you stupid dog, let’s keep shaping our faces.”

***

Karon drove to Lemar’s Pottery Studio. Before he could even get out of the car, he saw a richly dressed woman step out of the shop, her face still clearly carrying the afterglow of spring.

Karon deliberately stayed in the car a little longer, to give Lemar enough time for a smoke. Only then did he get out. He pushed open the shop door and walked inside, to find Lemar wiping down a table.

When the man saw Karon, he smiled. ”I accidentally knocked over a glass of water just now.”

”Mhmm.” Karon had no interest in joking with Lemar about such things. He took a bag from inside his coat lining and set it down in front of him. ”This is twenty thousand Order credits. Ten thousand for the mask I commissioned last time, the other ten thousand is because I’d like you to make two puppets for me. The portraits will be sent over in a few days.”

”Alright, no problem. Sit down, I’ll pour you some water.”

”I won’t sit. I’m heading back.”

”Mhmm.”

Karon had just turned to leave when an elderly man pushed open the shop door and walked in. He greeted Lemar warmly, ”My dear Mr. Lemar, has the item I ordered from you been completed?”

”It has indeed, Mr. Matthews. I’ll fetch it for you at once. Please wait a moment. Ah, Karon, do me a favor and keep an eye on things.”

”Of course. I’d be delighted.”

Matthews was clearly very old, but he had maintained himself well, and his clothing and grooming were refined. Still, he likely did not have a very good character, as otherwise, Lemar would not have deliberately asked Karon to keep an eye on the old man. After all, Karon had already said goodbye. The fact that Lemar had still said such a thing could only mean that the old man likely had sticky fingers.

”Hello, sir,” Matthews greeted Karon.

”Hello.” Karon nodded to him.

”I wonder where you work, sir?” Matthews very casually pulled out half a bottle of liquor from within his clothing and took a swig himself.

”A funeral home.”

”Oh? How fitting. That’s where I’ll be going soon enough.” Matthews extended the bottle toward Karon. ”Want a sip?”

Karon shook his head.

”You dislike that I’ve already drunk from it?”

”Yes.”

”You really are direct. Heh.” Matthews took another swig, and at once, two red patches appeared on his cheeks. ”I think I might consult you about funeral home services, because... oh dear...”

Matthews’s body tilted and he pitched forward.

Karon did not go up to catch him. Instead, he took a step back to put more distance between them.

Right before the old man hit the floor face-first, one hand shot down to brace against the floor, the other still gripping the liquor bottle so that not a drop spilled out. ”Whew. I nearly threw my back out.”

Matthews stood up again and rubbed his waist. At the same time, his gaze began wandering over the shelves around the room. ”Sir, I mean it. Is your funeral home’s service fee expensive?”

”Very.”

”Oh, then you and I are fated not to meet. I don’t have much money.”

At that moment, Lemar came back out holding a box. He set it on the floor and opened it in front of everyone. Inside was a coquettish puppet doll wearing a maid’s dress.

”Well?”

”Splendid, Mr. Lemar! Your work always captures my heart. Here, this is your payment.” Matthews took out a thick wad of credits and handed them to Lemar, who immediately began counting the money right in front of the client.

”There’s really no need for that. I already counted it at home before coming here.”

”That won’t do. You’re old now. Last time, you slipped several counterfeit credits into the pile. I know you didn’t do it on purpose, but I don’t want unnecessary misunderstandings between us.”

”Mhmm, you’re right.”

”Very well, Mr. Matthews. You may now take your beloved companion home and enjoy a candlelit dinner.”

”Indeed, I can hardly wait. Goodbye, Mr. Lemar.” Matthews picked up the box, gave Karon another nod, and walked out of the shop.

Once the customer had gone, Lemar barked a cold laugh. ”That man is a small-time boss in the black market, and his hands are very dishonest. It’s not just in business, either; He enjoys stealing things personally.”

”Is that his hobby?” Karon asked.

”Yes.”

”Then I’ll be off.”

”Alright. Thank you just now. You know, if no one were watching him, I’d really be worried that he’d carry off my whole shop.”

”You’re welcome.” Karon pushed open the shop door and was just about to head toward his secondhand Pons sedan when he noticed that someone was sitting inside the car. It was Matthews, and the old man had already started the engine.

Is he trying to steal his car? Karon walked straight over.

When Matthews saw Karon coming, he pointed at the car as if asking, Is this yours?

Karon nodded as he walked, and Matthews smiled. He slammed down on the accelerator, and the car shot forward.

”Hahaha!” After driving down one street, Matthews laughed and cursed, ”An utterly disrespectful little brat! An old man falls down and you don’t even help him up? This is a little lesson from me to you, hmph!”

”Oh, is that so?” A voice asked from behind him.

Matthews jumped in his seat. He then felt something cold press against the back of his head. If he guessed correctly, it was a gun.

And if he guessed even more accurately, it was an Arts revolver.

Matthews glanced in the rearview mirror. Through it, he saw the young man he had just met in the pottery studio in the back seat. Damn it, how did he get into the car? Did he turn into a clump of mist and slip inside?

”A misunderstanding, all of this just a misunderstanding. I saw your car was dirty, so I thought I’d drive it to a wash for you, get it cleaned up, and then return it.”

”Keep driving. Turn at the next corner.”

”Yes, of course, I understand, I understand.” Following Karon’s instructions, the car eventually stopped at the entrance of a secluded alley. Matthews got out with both hands raised and walked inside the alley.

”Turn around.”

”Certainly, sir. Please keep your gun steady. I will fully cooperate with your demands.” Matthews turned around to face Karon. Karon reached into the old man’s coat pocket and took out a gold-trimmed wallet.

”Please, feel free to take it. This is the punishment I deserve.”

Karon squeezed the wallet. Even if there were credits inside, there could not be many. Matthews had already handed over most of what he had brought to Lemar as the final payment, so Karon tucked the wallet back into Matthews’s coat pocket.

The old man froze for a moment, then hurriedly said, ”Please, you must take it! Otherwise my conscience will never forgive my earlier conduct.”

”That little bit of credit is not enough to buy redemption.”

Not enough. Karon remained inclined to give this thief, who had dared to steal from him, a proper beating. Karon then picked up his foot and drove it straight into Matthews’s abdomen. The old man was struck so hard that he flipped over backward.

Karon immediately stepped forward, preparing to add a few more kicks, when he suddenly sensed a strange fluctuation of power from Matthews’s body and retreated several steps at once.

The pocket where Matthews’s wallet had been suddenly glowed red.

Bang! A cloud of pink smoke exploded from that spot and enveloped Matthews completely.

”Order—Purification.” Karon placed a purification barrier in front of himself. So there was something hidden inside that wallet?

The pink smoke dispersed, revealing Matthews’s expression of intoxicated pleasure. Lying on the ground, he began rubbing his own chest while his feet scraped back and forth against the earth. ”Ah, so itchy, so hot, burning, ah...”

He was a thief who loved stealing wallets more than anything, so naturally, he was also highly wary of having his own wallet being stolen. Even so, someone like Matthews, who had put an anti-theft mechanism inside his own wallet, was still rather rare.

Seeing the state of the old man, Karon could not be bothered to continue disciplining him. He returned to the car, started the engine, and drove straight away.

***

In the kitchen, Ciri and Ms. Lake were preparing dinner.

”I say, Ciri, if you really like him, then just crawl into his bed yourself tonight. I refuse to believe he’d actually throw you out.”

”Madam, what on earth are you saying!” Ciri glared at Ms. Lake with puffed cheeks, expressing her displeasure.

”Besides, madam, Young Master already has a fiancée. In another few months, Miss Fiancée will be coming over.”

”A fiancée is a fiancée, and a lover is a lover.” Ms. Lake did not care in the least. ”Besides, at his age, he definitely has needs. You would just be helping him out.”

”Then... Madam, do you have needs too?”

”Me? Heh, I’m married.”

”Married is married, and a lover is a lover.”

”Uh...”

”Besides, madam, at your age, you definitely have needs too.”

”You’re asking for a beating!”

”You can crawl into Young Master’s bed at night, madam. I refuse to believe Young Master would really throw you out.”

The two women proceeded to chase each other around the kitchen. At just that moment, Karon passed by the door and looked inside the kitchen in puzzlement. ”What is going on?”

”We’re joking around,” Ms. Lake immediately replied. She then went to the inner room to wash her hands.

”Yes, yes. Madam was just tickling me.”

Karon smiled, nodded to them, and walked into the bedroom.

”Young Master really is such a good person.” Leaning against the kitchen doorway, Ciri sighed with feeling.

At that moment, Pike came in, carrying a box. ”Mr. Alfred has gone out. This is box was brought back in the boss’s car, so where should I put it? In his study?”

”Mm, that is a very large box. Just leave it here for now. I’ll ask Young Master later where it should be placed.”

”Alright.” Pike set the box in the corner of the kitchen.

After he left, Ciri curiously looked at the large box. ”What’s inside?”

Ms. Lake, who had finished washing her hands, returned to see the large box. Mistaking it for food ingredients, she immediately reached out to open it.

Ciri hurriedly said, ”This is something Young Master personally brought back by car. It mustn’t be opened...”

But her attempt to stop the woman was too late. Ms. Lake had already opened the box, and a seductive puppet was revealed to be laying to the two of them.

Both women instantly blushed brightly.