Backlund, Queens Borough, in front of the Hall family's estate.
The wide street was straight and clean, with lush Intis sycamores planted along both sides.
This tree species native to Intis was tall and upright, carrying a unique woody fragrance.
It grew rapidly and was very suitable as an ornamental tree, so it was widely planted throughout Backlund.
Worth mentioning was that Intis sycamores preferred humid, rainy climates.
In the sunny nation of Intis, which worshipped the "Eternal Blazing Sun," they actually didn't grow as well as they did in the Kingdom of Loen.
The Loenese, who had never liked Intis, used this to mock the Intians, saying even their trees couldn't grow properly there.
The Intians would retort sarcastically, ridiculing the Loenese for only knowing how to steal other people's things.
"Fors, what kind of commission do you think Miss Audrey will give us this time?"
Outside the Hall family estate, two ladies leaned against the roadside Intis sycamores, chatting idly.
Fors glanced back at her short companion, seeing her eager, excited expression.
She couldn't help but poke at her. "Xio, why don't you just directly ask how much money Miss Audrey plans to pay us this time?"
Xio, who'd been quite expectant, immediately froze, then said irritably, "You have some nerve saying that to me!
When you got the message earlier, didn't you immediately rush me to come over too?"
It turned out that Audrey had just contacted them through Viscount Glaint, saying she had a task to commission to them.
Xio and Fors, having just earned 800 pounds from her previously, naturally wouldn't refuse and immediately rushed to Earl Hall's estate.
Viscount Glaint said Miss Audrey was temporarily grounded and not allowed to invite guests over.
So they could only stand outside, waiting while bickering.
"By the way, that existence you encountered in your dream before... have you dreamed of it again since?"
Fors asked casually.
"No... Goddess be praised."
Xio recalled that mysterious, lofty figure above the gray fog and shook her head with lingering fear.
"Those few pounds for exorcism were well spent."
By accident, she'd recited a note written in Hermes. The description on it seemed to point to a mysterious and powerful existence, even causing her to see a peculiar figure in her dreams.
That note had been tucked in the books at Viscount Glaint's house.
Miss Audrey had also been there at the time. Fors couldn't help but recall and asked her about it.
Just then, from a hidden hole in the distant wall, a golden-haired large dog sneakily emerged.
Its fur was glossy and smooth, with a small leather pouch hanging around its neck.
After emerging from the hole, it looked around in all directions as if searching for something.
"It seems to know who to look for... I always feel this dog is a bit too smart."
Xio muttered quietly and emerged from behind the tree.
"Miss Audrey's dogs are all trained by professionals. Of course they're smart."
Fors said, extinguishing her cigarette, then gently clapped her hands in the direction of the golden retriever.
"Come here!"
She called out.
The golden retriever heard her call and happily bounded over on all four legs, then sat properly, displaying the pouch around its neck to the two of them.
"Woof!"
It barked once.
Xio carefully removed the obviously expensive little pouch, pulled open the zipper, and took out the letter paper inside.
Fors also leaned over, and the two looked at the unfolded letter together.
On it was Miss Audrey's elegant, flawless handwriting:
"Investigate a fraudster named Lanevus, including his whereabouts, what he's been doing recently, etc.
He should currently be in Backlund and is suspected to be related to the recent serial murders."
Serial murders?
Xio frowned slightly and continued reading. Soon, her expression changed.
"I must warn you that Lanevus carries the aura of an evil god and is very dangerous.
It may very likely endanger your safety. So even if you don't accept, I would completely understand."
After reading this stimulating letter, the two exchanged glances.
"An evil god?"
They both looked hesitant.
Miss Audrey's commission fee was certainly appealing, but an evil god's aura and such seemed rather ominous.
And Miss Audrey herself had said they could decline this commission.
"Then should we..."
As Fors spoke, she suddenly felt the letter paper was a bit thick. Rubbing it, she discovered there was another sheet underneath.
The two looked together and saw that on that sheet of paper, Miss Audrey had briefly written one sentence in her elegant handwriting:
"The payment for this task: 1,500 pounds."
"Let's do it!"
Xio said righteously.
Evil gods might be dangerous, but that was a full 1,500 gold pounds!
"I think you're right."
Fors likewise nodded and carefully put away the letter.
Across from her, the golden dog quietly watched their before-and-after reactions, its dog face seemingly showing humanized confusion.
"How was it, Susie? Did they agree?"
As soon as the golden retriever returned inside, Audrey eagerly asked.
"They agreed."
The golden retriever named Susie nodded. Her mouth opened, vibrating the air, and she actually produced human speech.
She looked confused and said seriously, "Audrey, are gold pounds that important?"
---
Silas stood in front of the mirror, looking at his face.
This face was indeed quite handsome, but it was inevitably conspicuous.
Going directly to the "Northern Bear" tavern like this would be a bit too attention-grabbing.
Truthfully, he should have changed to an inconspicuous face when he first arrived in Backlund, but at that time he was still in a state of madness and completely unable to care for himself.
"Swish."
Silas placed his hand on his face and slowly slid it downward.
Under the control of his flesh magic, his features moved and transformed accordingly.
By the time his hand left his chin, the mirror already reflected a completely different face.
This face was utterly ordinary, the kind that would be forgotten seconds after being thrown into a crowd.
"Brother, how about I go with you?"
He saw Cecilia say to him.
The girl's delicate face clearly showed worry, as if afraid Silas would lose consciousness in the tavern and fall into half-madness.
"It's fine. The situation there is unclear. It's safer for me to go alone."
Silas said, using the sound of the tide to suppress the clamor in his mind.
He changed into the semi-used worker's clothes she'd bought for him, put on a flat cap, and went out the door.
River Mouth Street, as its name suggested, faced directly onto the Tussock River at the street entrance.
Because the upstream was an industrial area, discharged wastewater went directly into the river, making the water smell very pungent.
But even so, the poor people nearby who couldn't afford tap water fees could only use the polluted river water for daily living.
The sign of the "Northern Bear" tavern hung a huge bear head.
The sign had been there for quite some time and looked greasy and dirty.
Silas walked into the tavern and made his way to the bar through the heat wave carrying the scent of alcohol and sweat.