"Who are you? Who let you in?" Charles's tone grew heavier as he looked at the young man who had suddenly entered.
Hearing Charles's words, the young man's lips curled slightly:
"Uh... you're Charles, right? I'm your colleague~"
"Colleague?" Charles frowned. He had met everyone in the guild and had no impression of the person opposite him.
Moreover, the man's flippant tone made him feel a bit disgusted.
Just like those self-important nobles.
"Sigh... we field agents just aren't cared about," the young man shook his head, his expression a bit dejected.
"It's truly disheartening..."
"But seeing as you're the new manager, I won't blame you..."
"Ahem." The young man cleared his throat, "Let me introduce myself, I'm Meihua 5."
Meihua 5! A numbered member!
Charles was greatly surprised... He had initially thought it was just some new person from another system who didn't understand the rules, but he hadn't expected the other party to be a big shot with a number.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Charles quickly bent down and bowed.
"My apologies, I was presumptuous..."
"It's fine, it's fine... I usually operate in other places and rarely return to Backlund, so it's normal that you don't know me." Meihua 5 chuckled awkwardly, looking quite pleased with Charles's sudden change in attitude, his expression appearing very easygoing.
"You... you're here today for...?" Charles asked.
"I just finished cleaning up the mess in that small place, Tingen, and wanted to experience the scenery of the capital, so I specifically came to the guild to have a look..."
"The office is nice, isn't it?" He surveyed the surroundings.
Tingen... Klein's attention was drawn to this word.
He had come from Tingen and naturally knew what had happened there.
According to Mr. Azik, he knew that on the day the Nighthawks headquarters was attacked, not only was there an invasion by Ince Zangwill, but at the same time, an evil god's birth also occurred.
Could the series of strange events that previously occurred in Tingen City be related to the organization behind the guild?
If that were truly the case, then this was an extremely dangerous secret organization.
I've directly walked into the enemy's lair!
They just tried to recruit me... Klein, as a former Nighthawk, felt a strange sense of irony.
"Gulp." Klein swallowed.
Looking at the superior and subordinate still conversing, and seeing that their attention wasn't on him, he moved step by step towards the office Door.
However, just as he was about to reach the Door.
"Uh... you're Sherlock Moriarty, right?"
Meihua 5 spoke up, stopping Klein.
Seeing both the other party's and Charles's gazes turn to him, Klein felt a bit awkward.
"Uh..."
"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first..."
"I didn't see anything today."
Saying this, he feigned composure and walked towards the Door.
However, he bumped into someone head-on.
"Clang!"
"Oh~ Looks like something interesting is happening. Can I join in the fun...?"
It was a man in a white shirt and casual attire, at least one meter eighty-five tall. He wore a silver-rimmed monocle over his left eye, looking at Klein with great interest.
Like Meihua 5, he also wore a hint of a twisted smile.
He leaned down and scrutinized Klein for a few moments before speaking: "You have a strong aura of death about you..."
Aura of death?
The moment he heard this phrase, Klein thought of many things.
Does he mean when I first came to this world and committed suicide with a pistol...?
Or did he discover Mr. Azik's traces...?
Mr. Azik had helped him many times. If the other party was a high-Sequence Beyonder, he might really be able to see something...
Countless thoughts appeared in Klein's mind.
"Oh dear... Boss, why are you here?" Meihua 5's voice came from behind.
"Boss..." Charles was startled. Was this another high-ranking member of the organization?
"You are..." Thinking this, he quickly bowed to the other party, while a bitter feeling rose in his heart.
How could two high-ranking members suddenly appear in one day? And both were people he didn't know!
Doesn't that make me look...?
"He's Plum..."
"Ahem..."
Meihua 5 was about to introduce the other's identity but was interrupted by the man.
"You can just call me Boss."
...
"Uh, you guys can talk slowly about your business."
"I won't disturb you, I'm leaving now." Klein seized the opening, attempting to leave.
"You can't go."
Meihua 5 grabbed Klein's hand and pulled him back.
The "Boss," looking at the somewhat nervous Klein, suggested:
"You're Sherlock, right? We just heard about your situation.
We can help you solve the trouble you're facing."
"I can make the decision on this small matter."
"But, as a corresponding price, you have to join us..." Saying this, he walked directly in front of Klein, and an aura of high status instantly permeated the air.
Klein's legs went weak, and he almost fell to the ground.
So... so strong! Definitely a high-Sequence Beyonder!
"I..." Klein opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word. He smiled bitterly in his heart, given the situation, could he still refuse?
...
An hour later.
Klein left Charles's office.
Under the "friendly negotiation" of the few, he "voluntarily" became a member of the Shawshank Firm.
Now he was just an unranked grunt in a logistics team under the Shawshank Firm.
"Seriously, they acted so interested in me, but in the end, they only let me be a small soldier, and my blood and hair..."
Klein thought about what had just happened with lingering fear. After he agreed to join their organization, he was forced to sign an agreement with Beyonder effects.
Although he signed with the name Sherlock Moriarty, that agreement seemed to have taken effect nonetheless.
At the same time, the person called "Boss" also took several strands of his hair and some of his blood.
And just like that, Klein honorably became a part of the Shawshank Firm.
...
"Um, is the previous commission still available?" Klein had intended to leave, but then he remembered there was still a lucrative commission, so he turned back.
Since the ambassador's matter was no longer a concern, he might as well earn some money first and then discuss countermeasures with Mr. Azik after the fuss died down.
"It's still available..." The receptionist looked at him with a hint of speechlessness.
Subsequently, he was guided by her to a small conference room.
Upon opening the Door, he saw a small figure.
A bit familiar, Klein surveyed the short figure in front of him.
He had definitely seen the other person before, but that physique...
"I heard from the front desk that you're quite good at finding people," Xio spoke first.
"That's right." Klein nodded.
...
Afterward, the two chatted for a while, and Klein successfully confirmed that this was just a simple and safe missing person commission.
After indicating that he could sign a confidentiality agreement, Xio told him the name of the person she was looking for.
"I want you to help me find someone named Lorne. De Senck."
What! Lorne. De Senck!
The moment he heard that name, Klein's brain paused.
Why him!
He came from Tingen to find me!
Nothing good ever happens when he's around!
Could everything that happened today be...?