Prejudice in people's hearts is a great mountain.
Caesar had worked at Blackthorn Security Company in Tingen for a long time and had grown accustomed to steady, rational captains like Dunn. He had almost forgotten that the greatest difficulties at work rarely came from external dangers, but from foolish colleagues, obstinate superiors, and short-sighted bosses.
Edward rejected Caesar's proposal outright, claiming that a ritual of a fallen evil god should never be performed before the sacred Chanis Gate. Leonard then suggested moving the ritual to the ground before performing it, but that too was dismissed—Edward argued it would cause unnecessary commotion and risk leaking intelligence.
While Leonard continued to argue, Caesar had already realized that the real issue wasn't the ritual itself. Edward simply didn't want to rely on them to resolve the incident.
So he stopped Leonard and smiled at Edward.
"Captain Edward, I don't deny that my ritual involves using the power of an evil god. However, since you disagree with my proposal, you must already have another solution in mind."
The other man appeared confident—he clearly had other support and believed he could resolve the matter without Caesar's involvement.
"You guessed correctly," Edward replied calmly. "Among the local Machinery Hivemind team in Enmat Harbor, there is an experienced auxiliary member—a Sequence 7 Mystery Pryer. He's handled similar Beyonder incidents several times before."
As expected, Edward had already found someone else. Facing Caesar's inquiry, he no longer bothered to conceal it.
"I've made arrangements with the Machinery Hivemind. That Beyonder will arrive tonight and will extract the necessary intelligence from the target in a more conventional manner."
"Captain Edward!"
Ms. Daly frowned. "When you went out yesterday afternoon and didn't return, was it to discuss this with the Machinery Hivemind?"
Edward smiled at her without denying it. Then, turning back to Caesar, he said politely but distantly,
"On behalf of the Nighthawks of Enmat Harbor, I thank Captain Dunn of Tingen City and his three team members for their assistance. Your proposal is quite interesting, but for certain reasons, I've decided to adopt a more reliable method. The Cathedral will surely approve. I trust you have no objections?"
His words, though phrased as a question, were in fact a statement—clearly telling them not to interfere.
Of course there were objections, you old man.
Caesar didn't voice them. Instead, his gaze shifted toward the Monster locked inside the cage.
Theoretically, a Mystery Pryer skilled in rituals could indeed lift the blood curse—especially a Sequence 7. Yet from Caesar's observation, the blood aura around this Monster was… strange, as if it hid a deeper, more deranged power within. It was like a bomb within another bomb: disarm the outer layer and think the danger gone, and disaster would follow.
If Caesar were to act, he naturally had ways to handle it properly. But since they didn't want his help—
He smiled.
He would just sit back and enjoy the show.
"We are here to assist and cooperate with Enmat Harbor," Caesar said in an impeccable tone. "Naturally, we'll respect your decision."
"I really didn't expect him to bring in someone from the Machinery Hivemind," Ms. Daly said angrily after they returned to the hotel. "Is it really necessary to go to such lengths just because he doesn't like us?"
Klein frowned slightly. "What's the point of involving outsiders? This was originally an internal Nighthawks matter. Inviting a Sequence 7 for something like this will cost him favors—or worse, political debts."
Ms. Daly sighed. "It's probably because Captain Edward wants to advance further…"
She explained that recently, an archbishop of the Evernight Church—Ince Zangwill—had defected, taking with him a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact. Though the Church had launched a full pursuit, his betrayal had left a vacancy in the hierarchy, stirring ambitions among those below him—including Edward.
Nighthawks were still people, after all—people with selfish desires and private goals.
If this slave ship case were resolved by outsiders from another city, it would tarnish Edward's reputation and hinder his advancement. Add to that his dislike for the Tingen team, and his mood had clearly soured.
"It's alright, Ms. Daly." Caesar smiled. "As long as the matter gets resolved, it's all the same to me. That way I can take it easy and explore the city. By the way—does Enmat Harbor have an underground market? I need to restock on Beyonder materials."
"Hmm, of course it does," Ms. Daly said, softening a little. "It's on White Towern Street, three blocks away. Just keep walking east until you see a bar called The Untamed. The beach behind it is the trading market."
She gave the address in detail, then hurried off after a few more words—leaving only the three Tingen Nighthawks in the room.
"Speaking of which, what's with that archbishop?" Caesar asked, recalling her earlier mention.
"Ince Zangwill," Klein explained. "He was an archbishop of the Goddess Church who tried and failed to advance to Sequence 4. After being forbidden from attempting again, he defected—and stole a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact, 0-08. The only description is that it's a quill that can write without dipping in ink."
A quill that writes without ink? Caesar frowned slightly. What kind of function could that possibly have?
He knew the terror of Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts. Does this thing write names that bring death? he wondered. Then he shook the thought away. Never mind. The Church has a pursuit team—it has nothing to do with me.
He looked up and asked the other two in a relaxed tone, "I'm going to check out that market. Do you want to come?"
"I want to rest for a while this afternoon, so I won't go."
Klein said.
Today was Monday, and he was preparing to hold the Tarot Club.
Caesar looked at Leonard again and found that Leonard was also looking at him, with a somewhat strange look in his eyes.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Are you planning to curse Edward to death?"
Leonard asked gloomily.
"Huh?"
Caesar was stunned for a moment, then retorted angrily, "What are you talking about?!"
"Then you just calmly accepted it? I thought you would refute that captain on the spot." Leonard had been teammates with Caesar for some time and knew his personality somewhat, "But you actually held back. I was wondering if you were planning to get revenge on him after we got back."
Caesar couldn't help but smile.
Leonard was not wrong about one thing: he held back not for any other reason, but to watch the show later. However, he couldn't admit it out loud, only shaking his head and saying, "You think too badly of me; I regret that. Since you don't want to go out either, I'll just go by myself."
With that, Caesar ignored Leonard's gaze from behind and walked straight out of the room.