Late at night, outside the gates of No. 2 Cork Street.
Lord Lisop's butler stood next to the carriage, looking towards the alley entrance with an anxiety that seed to materialize before his eyes—
"Young master, you must be safe!
Indeed, those so-called Hidden Guards are not to be trusted!
They've exposed themselves without even realizing it!
Now the young master has to endure such great humiliation!"
Thinking of what had happened in Elta Square, the butler was deeply anxious.
In the butler's view, his young master's plan could not possibly go awry!
Therefore, the fault could only lie with those Hidden Guards who had been recruited.
And every ti he thought of his young master being punished for soone else's mistake, the old butler began to pray.
On the carriage, Lisop glanced at his elderly butler, let out a cold laugh in his heart, and then closed his eyes to think quietly.
The failure of Little Lisop had no impact on his plan.
On the contrary, it could make his plan go more smoothly.
"Perhaps this is compensation from the heavens!"
Lisop thought to himself, his body unconsciously twisting with excitent.
He was already impatient.
However, he knew that it was just a bit early yet.
He needed to wait patiently a little longer.
Afterward...
That would be the ti for him to truly savor the delicious fruits of his sche.
"Your Lordship, that gentleman has returned!"
The butler's voice rang in his ear, and Lisop imdiately opened his eyes, then pushed open the carriage door and jumped down—even though his age was such that in a common household he would have been a grandfather, his movents were still agile.
Similarly, Arthur noticed the robust old man at first glance.
The ramrod straight posture, the sharp gaze.
The man possessed an even stronger military air than Malz.
And his way of communicating was just as direct—
"Good evening, Lord Kledos.
I've co concerning Little Lisop and the dealings of the South Town iron and coal mines."
The man stated plainly.
Honestly, Arthur was not at all averse to this kind of direct communication.
But the Lord Lisop before him gave him a strange feeling.
It seed as if...
He was impatient!
"Indeed, a father's concern for his son!"
Arthur recalled the journey back when Marinda had emphasized the fact that Lord Lisop had only one son.
Imdiately, a smile appeared on the young 'Spirit dium's' face.
"Let's talk in my study."
Arthur said so.
And acting as the 'Hostess', Marinda had already entered No. 2 Cork Street ahead of them, lighting the candles in the corridor and Spirit dium Parlor.
She also added coal to the stove.
By the ti Arthur and Lord Lisop entered the Spirit dium Parlor, Marinda was already bringing in the tea.
"Thank you."
Lisop expressed his gratitude in a sowhat stiff manner.
Clearly, as a traditional Noble, the Lord found it difficult to accept Marinda's hairstyle and attire.
However, as a Noble, he did have the requisite manners.
After a brief Knightly courtesy, the Lord sat in the chair opposite Arthur—back straight, only sitting on a third of the seat, hands instinctively placed on his knees.
It was a military habit.
Part courtesy, part readiness for swift reaction.
Arthur, half-leaning in his own chair, looked at Lord Lisop before him and smiled.
"What are you willing to offer in exchange for Little Lisop?"
The other man was straightforward, so naturally, Arthur was not going to beat around the bush, either.
"The wealth possessed by Miss Caesar is among the top in South Los, and I cannot offer any compensation in terms of wealth.
And you?
Your reputation in the 'Mystic Side' of South Los is esteed, and I also cannot offer any compensation in terms of secret techniques and props.
However, I have so information that could serve as compensation,"
Lord Lisop said seriously.
Arthur looked at the man unobtrusively.
Without a doubt, the other's words were indeed 'fact.'
At least, the part about Marinda was true.
Yet this kind of truth bestowed a profound complint upon Arthur.
"Even though he once was a soldier, has he developed considerable 'rhetoric skills' after becoming a Noble?"
Keep in mind that those words were not just flattery.
More importantly, they were 'bargaining chips!'
Lord Lisop cast aside the tangible and instead used "empty news" as a bargaining chip!
Of course, information has value.
But it is all relative.
Moreover...
It has directionality!
As a "Spirit dium," Arthur knew all too well the dangers of telling "the whole truth" or "half-truths" far exceeded those of lies.
However, Arthur did not object.
Because what he liked most was precisely this manner of telling "the whole truth" and "half-truths."
He, Arthur, the young, kind, upright, and naive "Spirit dium," never lied.
"Agreed."
As Arthur nodded, Lord Lisop imdiately produced a contract.
He began to describe according to the "Principle of Truth" and the "Principle of Imdiate Effect."
Then, he signed his own na.
After Arthur verified its correctness, he also wrote down his own na.
Once Lord Lisop likewise confird everything was in order, he imdiately said,
"I have a piece of information for you. There is a spy of a very special identity within your residence, observing your every move, and currently plotting in secret..."
"Death Poetry Society."
Without waiting for Lord Lisop to finish, Arthur directly interrupted.
Lord Lisop was not particularly surprised.
For this lord, it was not unimaginable for Arthur or Marinda to detect a spy from the Death Poetry Society in their midst.
But he was certain that neither Arthur nor Marinda could possibly know the spy's true identity!
So, this lord calmly revealed another piece of information.
"This spy from the Death Poetry Society has already aligned with the nearby pirates, planning a significant move..."
"I know, 'Bloody John' has already appeared in the nearby waters."
Once again, the words were interrupted.
This ti, Lord Lisop was genuinely taken aback.
The lord began to doubt his earlier conjecture.
Could it be that Arthur and Marinda had already discovered the identity of that Death Poetry Society spy?
Otherwise, how could it be that the news he'd just learned was already well known to the other party?
When Arthur accurately ntioned "Bloody John," the lord checked the contract, and the complete contract was telling the lord that everything Arthur said was true.
Looking at the astonished Lisop, Arthur's expression was filled with calm, but inwardly he mused,
'No wonder when I heard the "Whale Slaying Sword" description, there was always a sense of familiarity; so it was this fellow playing tricks... Collaborating with pirates, he really is aiming to stir up sothing big!'
Arthur took particular interest in this very special "Death Poetry Society" spy.
After all, since he had arrived in South Los, a great part of his experiences related to this individual.
He didn't know how many of the other's plans he had foiled.
If given the chance, the other party would undoubtedly wish to kill him.
And him?
For self-preservation, he would also need to kill the spy.
The notion of being watched from the shadows, as if a venomous snake was fixated on him, was sothing Arthur would graciously decline.
Before, Arthur found no way to act.
But now, things were different.
Looking at Lord Lisop before him, Arthur quickly conjectured in his heart.
With the spy being so deeply concealed that even Marinda couldn't find him despite having a general direction, yet before him, Lord Lisop could—what did this imply?
It implied that Lisop shared a quite intimate relationship with the other party.
Only thus could Lisop know about him.
But it was just knowing; with the spy's caution, he would never "expose" himself so easily, and it shouldn't even be possible for Lisop to know, to begin with.
Which ans...
'An interdiary!
There must be soone between the two!'
Arthur narrowed his eyes in thought, and an individual instantly leapt to mind.
anwhile, Lord Lisop adjusted his emotions and continued,
"This spy from the Death Poetry Society has recently gained trendous support, the person backing him is..."
"Duke of the Inner Bay."
Words interrupted once more, Lord Lisop's eyes widened as though seeing a ghost, staring at Arthur.
How could you know again?
ntion one thing, and you know it, ntion another, and you know it still.
'Could the Death Poetry Society's spy have been turned by you?'
Lisop beca rather restless.
The lord realized he might have been kicking an iron board.
And looking at the lord, Arthur simply smiled warmly—
He finally understood what the lord was aiming for!
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