A warm yet insincere exchange unfolded between Malz and Jas.
Having made up his mind, Arthur reined in his smile, his gaze intently fixed on Kuke behind Jas—Kuke was Jas's deputy, a native of South Los, and, of course, his becoming a Third-Class Officer was entirely due to his father, who had been a sowhat famous bounty hunter and had amassed considerable wealth and connections in his youth.
Unfortunately, Old Kuke had been ambushed during a bounty chase and took an arrow in the knee.
But, thankfully, the retired Old Kuke lived a blissful life, not only having a wife and a son but also owning a farm outside the city.
The reason Arthur knew about this Kuke was that he was the target Malz wanted to win over.
Compared to Jas's terrible reputation, Kuke's was much better—at least, he took money for his services.
Kuke soon noticed Arthur's gaze.
This bounty hunter's son might not compare to his father, but he still possessed the requisite caution.
However, the next mont, Kuke furrowed his brow.
Because Arthur was still looking at him—normally, once discovered peeping, a Peeping Tom would imdiately avert their gaze, pretending nothing had happened.
Those with thicker skins might even flash a smile.
But to be caught and still stare intently like Arthur was truly unprecedented.
Moreover, more importantly, Arthur's expression was serious.
This seriousness made Kuke instinctively look down to check—he suspected his fly was open.
But it wasn't!
His fly was intact!
Kuke imdiately looked up and glared angrily at Arthur—he thought Arthur was mocking him.
But by the ti he looked up, he found that Arthur's gaze had already moved off him and onto Jas, and this ti, not only was his expression serious, but his gaze also carried a grave weight.
'What's going on?'
'Did sothing happen?'
Kuke grew sowhat paranoid.
Not just Kuke, the scrutinized Jas felt the sa way.
As the Police Chief of Dort District, he obviously knew the rumors about Arthur, but precisely because he knew them, he felt sowhat guilty.
'Did he see through sothing?'
Having committed many misdeeds and harboring ill intentions on this visit, thought Jas internally, but outwardly, the Dort District Police Chief smiled warmly at Arthur and greeted him enthusiastically.
"Hello, Mr. Kledos!"
Saying this, the Dort District Police Chief tried to step forward and shake hands with Arthur.
But Arthur declined.
The young 'Spirit dium' didn't raise his hand, leaving the hand of the Dort District Police Chief hanging in mid-air.
Suddenly, the face of the Dort District Police Chief showed embarrassnt, followed by annoyance.
But before the man could speak, Arthur suddenly said—
"Black and red intertwined, in the silence, I heard the wailing of Lost Souls; they crossed the ironwood groves and are now chasing your footsteps. When the bird of ill on begins to pray, it marks the ti calamity envelops you... Now, please stay away from us."
Arthur's solemn words made the Dort District Police Chief beco uncertain and apprehensive.
The man couldn't tell if Arthur's words were true or false.
And at that mont—
Swish, swish, swish!
A sound like wind blowing through leaves arose behind the Dort District Police Chief.
Yet, there were no trees in the small square of the Shire District Police Station.
And there had been no wind just monts before.
But the sound had indeed occurred.
Kuke and Jas tensed up in an instant.
Both of them almost instinctively thought of Arthur's words 'They crossed the ironwood groves!'
More crucially—
Caw, caw!
Out of nowhere, two crows appeared, their harsh cries echoing overhead.
Under the blood-red dying sun, the black crows at that mont all took on a tint of sinister red.
Birds of ill on!
Beginning to pray!
The words confird again caused Jas' face to blanch, while Kuke first awkwardly twisted at his back, then subtly moved a step to the side, distancing himself from Jas.
Malz directly hid behind Arthur.
Jas reacted quickly too, also subconsciously trying to stand behind Arthur, but Arthur gave him no chance.
"Back, back, back!"
Muttering lowly, he stomped his foot and tapped his fingers in quick succession.
Under the bizarre atmosphere, Arthur's fluid motions suddenly carried an air of authority that shouldn't have existed, which scared Jas into retreating repeatedly.
"Calamity can spread—it was temporarily frightened away, but it still lingers. When it reappears next ti, it will be its ti for revenge."
Arthur didn't say more and turned towards the police station building.
He rembered Old Charlie's teaching: to speak only half, keeping the rest is as crucial to a Spirit dium's legacy as improvisation.
Plus, the effect now was far better than imagined.
Arthur was internally grateful for the cooperation of the crows.
Originally, he had wanted to bluff Jas at first, then find a crow to fully scare the man, but unexpectedly, two real crows flew overhead.
'Maybe I could keep two crows as the atmosphere team?'
Arthur thought to himself, his gaze sweeping over the "Bluff" skill which had just gained another experience point, and he started silently counting down.
10, 9, 8…
When the countdown reached zero, Dico's figure tily appeared at the entrance of the police station.
"Police Chief, consultant, there's been an incident at 10 Clara Street!"
Arthur turned to look at the panting Dico with an appropriately surprised expression.
But seeing Dico's state, Malz felt a drumming in his heart.
Not good!
An accident has happened!
Could it be that another person has died?
Having experienced too many 'accidents,' the Police Chief had grown sowhat accustod to them; whenever sothing happened, he would subconsciously think of his partner's almost curse-like 'Grim Reaper's Favor.'
"What happened?"
"Soone, soone died!"
Facing his superior's interrogation, Dico said breathlessly.
Just as I thought!
What was I even feeling relieved about?
How could there not be a death where Arthur had been?
If there weren't any before, it was just not the ti yet!
Subconsciously, Malz looked at Arthur with a resigned expression that seed to see through everything.
Arthur sighed helplessly.
"What a terrible day—let's go to 10 Clara Street!"
Saying that, Arthur headed towards the carriage.
Malz and Dico followed closely behind.
A deputy served as the coachman.
On the way, Dico relayed everything he knew to Arthur and Malz.
Arthur already knew everything that had happened there.
But there was an unexpected developnt—
"You're saying Jas had soone following us?"
"Did this guy guess sothing from the newspapers?"
Malz frowned, his tone turning unfriendly.
The Police Chief glanced back, his eyes cold as he looked at the carriage from Dort District—he realized he had still underestimated the other party's greed.
This kind of greed...
It really disrupts one's peace!
We must get rid of them quickly!
Should we change the plan...
Malz thought to himself, then looked towards Arthur, his gaze questioning.
Arthur shook his head slightly.
When an unexpected intruder appears, the plan naturally has to change, but only slightly. The goal of infiltrating Dort District remains unchanged!
Plus, he wanted to make that unintentional intruder inadvertently reveal themselves!
Just push everything onto Jas!
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