join the Church of MissRaven and become a Sequence 9: Reader p atreon.com/KeyofStars for more chapters
After achieving satisfactory results, Aaron took a carriage from Saint Samuel Cathedral to the bicycle research and development studio in Backlund's St. George Borough.
The carriage stopped in front of a gate that was undergoing renovation, replacing its slightly old decorations with more fancy marble.
Aaron walked into the research and development room and saw an item very similar to a bicycle placed in the middle of the hall, with Harland enthusiastically introducing it to Humphrey.
Seeing Aaron arrive, everyone respectfully bowed slightly. Aaron walked directly towards the model vehicle, which already looked very similar from its appearance alone.
Harland was about to introduce the usage of this model vehicle to Lord Aaron, but then he saw Aaron skillfully mount the vehicle and ride it around the hall once, swallowing the words that were about to come out.
Aaron nodded in satisfaction; both its practicality and comfort had been restored quite well. He then looked at Harland and continued to ask:
"So, what is the current cost price of this vehicle? And what would be the cost price if it were put into large-scale factory production?"
Harland pondered for a moment and replied:
"This model vehicle has undergone material substitution, reducing the cost to about 1 Gold Pound. Raw materials like rubber for the tires and seat are sourced from our own estates in East Tucker County. If put into large-scale factory production, the cost can be reduced to 15 Soles."
Aaron pondered for a moment, then looked at Harland and Humphrey, saying, "Our product target is not the upper-middle class who frequently use carriages; there's no need to set the price too high."
"Our target demographic is mainly skilled workers with weekly wages of 1 Pound 10 Soles or more, students from well-off families, and public servants who frequently need to travel for work."
"My suggestion is 2 to 4 Pounds for a bicycle, making it affordable for our target class if they grit their teeth, while also allowing them to show off to those with lower incomes."
"You can also offer custom services, and you need to create a style suitable for women to ride."
"You need to seize the time to make improvements, contact factories, and you can also make a tricycle for carrying goods."
After giving his improvement suggestions, Aaron left and returned to the manor, awaiting the evening's operation.
The butler, who had already returned from his outing, handed Aaron a pink letter, saying as he did so, "Lord Aaron, this is a letter from Earl Hall's family."
Aaron looked at the pink envelope, having some conjectures in his heart. He then took the letter to his bedroom, opened it, and was met with delicate handwriting.
The letter was from Audrey, first extending friendly wishes to Aaron, and the rest expressing her concerns about the aftermath of the repeal of the Grain Act, as well as inviting Aaron to a gathering on Friday evening.
Aaron read the letter carefully, took out some stationery, wrote a reply, agreeing to attend the gathering on Friday evening, and called a male servant to give the letter to the butler, asking him to personally deliver it to Earl Hall.
-----------------
11 PM, West Borough, Backlund, in a small alley near Edward Street. Aaron, accompanied by Soest's team of four Red Gloves, and the butler, stood quietly in the shadows. The red moon mark on Aaron's wrist glowed faintly, creating a secretive atmosphere.
Aaron reconfirmed the location of 6 Edward Street, then turned to the Red Gloves team members and said, "The target of this operation is a Sequence 6 'Devil' who is preparing for his advancement ritual. Everyone must be careful."
As he spoke, he took out a portrait of Patrick Jason, which he had copied from the city hall, showed it to everyone, and continued:
"The human skin he is wearing looks like this person, and he also has a Devil Dog that might be a Sequence 7 'Serial Killer'. I have a Mystical Item that can help you. We will act together then, and we absolutely cannot let him escape."
Then he turned to the butler, who was holding a camera, and said, "You just stand here and wait. Come in when I give the signal."
The Soul Assurer Soest flexed his five fingers, which were covered by Red Gloves, and encouragingly patted the shoulder of a team member who was beginning to unseal and put on a blood-stained silver full-body armor.
At the same time, he said to the other Nighthawks, "You take the hot water and follow him closely. If there's any problem, immediately replace it and dig a 'bathtub' on the spot!"
Jason Beria, wearing Patrick Jason's human skin, stood by the second-floor window, holding the newspaper that printed the Serial Killer's story, his brow furrowed. He felt a vague unease in his heart, but without reason.
The black Devil Dog curled up inside on the second floor seemed to sense its master's agitation, retracting its bared bloody fangs, not daring to make a sound.
Suddenly, Jason Beria found that everything around him became illusory and unreal. This, this was a Nightmare! He quickly realized he had fallen into an ambush.
A pure golden pillar of light shone directly onto Jason Beria, accompanied by a piercing wail. He had deeply sunken eye sockets, and his human skin had long disappeared, replaced by black skin flowing with red liquid.
The black Devil Dog felt its master's pain. It rushed out from the second floor, pouncing directly at Aaron. Aaron's eyes showed no fluctuation. He pointed from afar, and a golden light flew out, shooting directly at the Devil Dog.
The Devil Dog was about to dodge when a Spirit World creature, somewhat similar to a Wraith, suddenly appeared beside the Devil Dog, forcibly possessing it and stopping its dodging action.
Before making contact with the golden light, the Spirit World creature stored within Aaron's mask quickly fled the Devil Dog's flesh.
The scorching sun ring struck the Devil Dog's body, and the Devil Dog let out a mournful shriek.
At this moment, Jason Beria's body was completely enveloped by the golden pillar of light. His body began to undergo an abnormal change.
His skin slowly became like a Devil's, dark black, flowing with red liquid. His eyes also began to turn crimson, and his entire body emitted a Devil's aura.
The blood-stained silver armor instantly appeared behind him, and a punch pierced through Jason Beria's body.
A black light flew out from Jason Beria's body, shooting directly towards the ground, only to be bounced back the instant it touched the ground.
Aaron's lips curved upwards. The red moon mark on his wrist rippled, enveloping the area and forming a temporary secretive barrier.
The black light distorted and transformed into a human shape. Just as it was about to speak, Aaron activated the sun ring to shred the black light.
Villains die from talking too much. Although it doesn't quite apply to the current scene, the core meaning is consistent. Moreover, for such heinous Criminals, there's no need to give them a chance to speak.
After joining forces with Captain Soest to kill that Devil Dog, Aaron clearly felt the Sheriff potion digesting within his body.
He quickly dispelled the secretive barrier; the spiritual consumption was too great, making Aaron somewhat overwhelmed.
With a pale face, he handed the two extracted Beyonder characteristics to Captain Soest, called over the butler from a distance, and had him take pictures of him.
The remaining Nighthawks quickly dug up multiple corpses in the backyard and around the house as per Aaron's request.
After taking photos for evidence, Aaron immediately had the butler take the photos to The People's Daily's temporary office, aiming for them to be published early tomorrow morning.
join the Church of MissRaven and become a Sequence 9: Reader p atreon.com/KeyofStars for more chapters