["Don't tell him the truth, Li Zexi! He's testing us, this dressed-up pig. Let's throw him on the fire and roast him—he might taste good!"]
The figure behind Lewis's sofa bent down, hiding his head behind the police officer. Under the crimson moonlight, only his black hair was visible, blowing and dancing in the wind.
Seth calmly replied, "I'm not."
Then, with a hint of confusion, he asked, "What's an Extraordinary?"
The inspector, who hadn't noticed two hands holding his face, quickly closed his notebook after jotting something down.
"Don't worry about that," he said.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Seth."
He stood up, donned his soft hat, and adjusted his glasses.
"Good night, and may you have pleasant dreams."
Seth mechanically rose to his feet to see the inspector out. After the door closed, the man in the white shirt and dark trousers turned his back to Seth and pressed one hand against the door.
["Are we just going to let him go like that? That rude pig—we should have snapped his neck, gutted him, and spilled his insides! Don't you think that would have been delightful?"]
["How about it, Li Zexi? Next time he shows up like that, we'll kill him, hahahahaha..."]
The man who had his hand on the door burst into hysterical laughter. Amid the mad cackling, Seth lay on his bed, pulled the quilt over himself, and drifted off to sleep peacefully.
When morning came, Seth woke up feeling refreshed, energetic, and mentally sharp.
As he entered the dining room, he saw his father, Byson, holding a copy of Little Harbor News, a weekly newspaper from Enqi Town.
"Not much going on in town, huh?" Seth thought to himself as he sat down.
"How did you sleep last night?" his mother, Anilo, asked with concern as she watched Seth spread butter on a piece of bread.
"I slept well, Mom, no need to worry," Seth replied, taking his seat. He noticed his younger sister, Annabelle, was arriving for breakfast.
"Yesterday, we were invited by the mayor to attend his luncheon. The mayor hopes we can contribute to the municipal fund," Byson said, setting down the newspaper.
He ran a hand through his hair, frowning slightly at his receding hairline. With a smile, he asked, "Seth, what do you think about this?"
Seth took a sip of milk, pondered for a moment, and then replied, "Instead of donating to the municipal fund, why not establish a 'Municipal Construction Fund'?"
Byson looked slightly surprised.
"Municipal Construction Fund?"
"Yes."
Seth nodded slightly and continued buttering his bread.
"I've noticed that the paved roads in our town are mostly limited to Golden Champagne Avenue, Memorial Square, and the area around the mayor's office. Roads like Mermaid Road and Qingyu Road are still gravel, and the underground sewage system in these areas is almost nonexistent. When the rainy season comes, there's mud everywhere, and all kinds of filth flows freely, causing significant inconvenience to our lives."
Byson nodded slightly, encouraging him.
"Go on."
"If we simply donate money, it's easy. But, Father, will the mayor tell you exactly where your donation will be used?"
Seth smiled and said, "I doubt it. So, why not manage it and ensure the funds are properly used? We could pave the gravel roads in town, improve the underground sewage system, and make our town more livable. This would greatly enhance the quality of life, improve sanitation, and reduce disease incidence."
"Secondly, it would elevate the image of Enqi Town, making it more competitive as a vacation destination. As more people visit, it would undoubtedly boost the income of the town's residents, and our family's properties would benefit as well."
"Lastly, and most importantly, this would enhance your reputation, Father. It would improve your public image and lay the groundwork for your future career."
Byson laughed, saying, "Well said, Seth. I like your idea. I need to find time to visit the mayor today and discuss this in detail."
After reflection, the baron added with emotion, "Seth, you've truly changed and matured. I'm very pleased."
Seth smiled, said nothing, and ate his buttered bread.
Thump, thump—
The butler, Sebastian, with his classic features and gray beard, walked into the dining room, bowed slightly, and announced, "Sir, Chief Kaosi is here."
"Oh? So early? Has he come to join us for breakfast?" the baron joked as he stood up.
"Tell him to wait in the hall; I'll be there shortly."
Sebastian's gaze shifted to Seth.
"Chief Kaosi mentioned that he wishes to meet with Master Seth."
"Me?"
Seth was a bit surprised. He picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth and said to Bison, "I'll go with you, Father."
As they entered the hall, Seth saw Chief Kaosi, a rotund man wearing a wedding ring, accompanied by three officers dressed in black and white checked uniforms, each with a bonnet bearing a badge.
Two officers had hexagonal silver stars on their epaulets—one with three stars, the other with two.
'These must be the inspectors,' Seth thought.
One of the inspectors, the one with three stars, seemed oddly familiar to Seth, though he couldn't place where he had seen him before.
This inspector was a middle-aged man, mature and composed, with a square face, large nose and ears, and faint wrinkles on his forehead. Nasolabial folds were also beginning to form.
He wore black-framed glasses and had an air of elegance about him. If not for the police uniform, Seth might have mistaken him for a university professor.
The other two inspectors were a man and a woman. The male inspector, in his early thirties, was shorter in stature. Perhaps due to the heat, he had removed his hat, revealing soft, curly hair.
His skin was ashen as if he had spent years indoors avoiding the sun. Despite his youth, he exuded a generally gloomy vibe. Seth noticed that he was reading a flyer, which seemed to be a discount leaflet from a local store. Upon hearing footsteps, the man quickly tucked the flyer into his pocket.
In her mid-twenties, the female officer had long eyelashes, striking features, and a mane of passionate, brown-red wavy hair. Her uniform didn't fit well, forcing her to leave the top two buttons undone, revealing her deep neckline.
When Seth noticed her, she pulled out a small tin box from her pocket, poured a colorful candy, and tossed it into her mouth.
"Good morning, Mr. Byson," Chief Kaosi's voice pulled Seth's attention back. The police chief, already sweating profusely while seated, stood up to greet Bison and introduced the three inspectors.
"These are the inspectors sent by the Desi County Police Department. They're here to investigate those bloody cases. Let me introduce them to you: this is Inspector Lewis."
'So, the 'experts' have arrived,' Seth thought with growing interest.
'Are they 'Nighthawks' from the Church of the Evernight Goddess, 'Punishers' from the Church of the Lord of Storms, or perhaps members of the 'Heart of Machinery' from the Church of Steam?'
This was the first time Seth had encountered formal members of an official organization since entering this mysterious world.