"After learning Sea God's Armor and Dark Moon Blade, I can almost touch the excitement inside my heart."
Karen placed his left hand over his chest, holding a pen in his right as he continued writing in his black notebook:
"I have always felt that to this world, I am like a wanderer stranded in a desert—lonely and bewildered.
"Though someone gave me a tent, someone gave me food, someone gave me a horse, someone gave me guidance...
"No matter how much the outside world gives me, nothing grants me the security I need quite like holding a gun in my own hand."
Pausing, Karen remembered that the manservant and pets at home all seemed to have a habit of flipping through his notebook. He continued writing:
"Perhaps this feeling is a bit selfish, as if belittling the help the outside world has offered me. But after being protected all this time, I also want to try experiencing what it feels like to protect them."
*Yes, writing it this way is good. They'll be pleased when they read it.*
Karen felt no sense of dishonesty or affectation. From the moment thoughts in one's mind were committed to paper, the possibility of being seen arose, making a certain degree of distortion inevitable.
Closing the notebook, Karen reached toward a potted cactus on his desk, teasing its spines with a fingertip.
Deep down, he knew that although he had learned the spells, there was still much to explore and grasp on that foundation. Combat experience, tactical nuances—none of these could be mastered overnight.
Still, even if he wasn't a sharpshooter yet, he now held a gun in his hands. The meaning and concept behind it were entirely different.
Stepping out of the study and heading downstairs, Karen saw Purr perched on Kevin's back.
Purr wore a red hood over her head and a blue bow tie around her neck—truly an exquisite cat.
"You could swap that bow tie for a pearl necklace. It would suit your noble bearing much better."
"I can tell you're mocking me, but really, you're only mocking yourself. Where in our house could we ever find a pearl necklace!"
"Hm?"
"I heard that Mrs. Lake also chipped in for the renovation of the Pavaro Funeral Parlor's backyard. Making a widow pay—how shameless of you."
"Mrs. Lake insisted on contributing. After all, it's her home."
"And then you didn't refuse, because our household didn't have enough money in the first place."
"That is indeed a problem, but for now, our income is still enough to live on."
"Yes, yes, yes, and enough to keep employing this big-bottomed maid."
"Are you dissatisfied with Xili?"
"Very satisfied, completely satisfied. But what I said earlier was just from the perspective of a great-great-great-great-aunt looking out for my great-great-great-great-niece. After all, I noticed someone just finished reading *The Secret Diary of Rogin* a few days ago."
"I also know a certain cat secretly had a schoolboy run errands to buy a pile of romance novels."
"Oh, damn it! He promised to keep it a secret!"
Karen walked downstairs and saw two packed suitcases waiting.
"Young Master, when do you plan to leave? Should I prepare lunch?"
"No need, I'm heading out now."
"All right, Young Master, I'll help you carry the suitcases down."
Without needing Karen's help, Xili scooped up both suitcases and started down.
Karen reminded her, "You can roll them."
"No, Young Master, that would damage the wheels."
Karen climbed into the driver's seat, Kevin hopped into the back, and Purr reclined lazily in the front passenger seat.
Standing outside the car window, Xili said, "Young Master, I'll still come by every day to prepare meals for Mr. Alfred and John."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"You're far too polite, Young Master. Have a safe trip!" Xili waved enthusiastically at Karen.
Karen started the engine and drove out the community gates. As soon as he reached the road, he saw Alaye emerging from his agency storefront. Spotting Karen's car, he immediately jogged over.
"Young Master, Young Master Karen."
"Is something the matter?"
"It's like this, Young Master. The district government just issued a notice saying temporary residence permits can now be processed for undocumented immigrants who hold formal employment. Your maid, Xili, qualifies. I can handle the paperwork for you."
"All right, thank you for the trouble."
"You're far too kind, Young Master, it's my duty. Are you heading out, Young Master?"
"Yes, staying at a friend's place for a few days."
"All right, safe travels."
"Goodbye."
Karen had seen the news about this policy in the papers. It was indeed good news for undocumented immigrants at this stage, but it had also provoked opponents, sparking demonstrations and protests against the policy in multiple places.
Living in this city, one could already clearly smell the stifled air of confrontation.
Instead of heading straight west out of the city, Karen first drove toward the city center to Lemar Pottery Studio, parking outside the entrance.
"Do you two want to get out and take a look inside?" Karen asked.
"No, I don't like the Voss family." Purr shook her head.
Karen asked curiously, "What kind of grudge could trouble you even after turning into a cat?"
"Back then, I had a close friend from the Voss family. After I brought the Finger of Light out of my family, she offered to take me in. I went, and then she actually tried to make a move on me to steal the finger."
"And then?"
"I escaped."
"Did you kill her?"
"I could have, but my heart softened."
"I see."
"Instead, I burned all her figurines—her puppets. That hurt her more than killing her, because many of them were family heirlooms passed down through generations."
"Heh, so, is he her descendant?" Karen pointed toward the pottery studio.
"Not likely to be such a coincidence. The Voss family scattered long ago; they merely share a surname and each retain a shred of the heritage. Though, of course, who can say for sure?"
"Kevin, what about you?" Karen looked at the golden retriever.
The dog shook his head.
"You don't like the Voss family either?"
The golden retriever nodded, gazing out the car window. At that moment, his canine eyes reflected the sorrow of long-lost years.
"Then I'll just go in alone to say hello."
Karen stepped out and entered the pottery studio. He wasn't swayed by the cat and dog in the car; after all, that grudge went back at least a century.
The studio was as quiet as ever, but once inside, Karen heard movement, and then saw Lemar passionately kissing an aristocratic woman in his arms.
"I love your fair skin. I want to drown in your porcelain warmth."
"And I love your beard, your chest hair, and..."
"Someone's here." Lemar noticed Karen's arrival.
The woman immediately pulled her clothes straight. "I'm leaving now. I'll come back in a few days."
With that, she avoided Karen's gaze and scurried out of the studio.
Karen raised both hands. "My apologies, but perhaps you should have locked the door beforehand."
Lemar casually buttoned his shirt. "I can sense anyone else walking in ahead of time. Only you, Mr. Karen—your ability to conceal your aura is truly remarkable."
"I didn't do it on purpose."
"I'm not blaming you. Whew... the mayor's daughter. Her husband is a military officer serving in the colonies, so, naturally, she gets lonely."
"You don't need to explain that to me."
"Right, right. You're here to pick up the item, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Honestly, I've never had a customer place an order by phone late at night and show up the next morning to collect it."
"That's because other customers don't know your capabilities. Even for a mask that exquisite, you only needed five hours."
"Oh, right, Serena went to her mother's place."
"All right."
"Listen, I know you aren't very interested in my sister, but you should at least ask me: 'Hey, hello, Lemar, where is your sister?'"
"Why?"
"That way, when she comes back, I can tell her and make her happy. Simply lying to her doesn't work; she can sense it. That's the scariest thing about her."
"Heh."
Lemar bent down and opened a cabinet. "What's even scarier is that I secretly helped you make a gift for your fiancée behind her back. Whatever you do, don't let her find out, or she'll burn down my warehouse."
"Is it really that exaggerated?"
"Ever since I told her the story of our great-great-great-grandmother vomiting blood and falling sick after her warehouse was burned down, she's loved threatening me with 'burning down the warehouse.'"
"What a coincidence."
"Yeah, what a coin—Wait, what?"
"I said, how unfortunate."
"Yes, truly unfortunate. For any proper heir of the Voss family, their warehouse is their life. Alright, here, I boxed it up for you."
Karen opened the gift box. Inside was a spherical glass dome showcasing a snowy scene, with a street below where a young lady used an umbrella to hook around a young man's waist.
"It's hard to imagine this was molded from clay."
"If you'd been willing to give me a photograph, I could have made it even more lifelike."
"I don't have a picture of her."
"You don't?" Lemar pulled out his wallet and opened an inner compartment, revealing a stack of photographs. The one currently placed in the most prominent position was the aristocratic woman from earlier.
Karen remained unmoved.
"Hey, friend, this is life—why take it so seriously? Just like a beautiful woman dating multiple men to give more people warm memories, a handsome fellow like you should shoulder similar responsibilities."
"I'm not particularly interested in that sort of thing."
"Fair enough. Everyone has their own way of living."
"Indeed. Though you did remind me: when I go back this time, I'll take a photo with her and keep it in my wallet."
Speaking of wallets, Karen instinctively patted his pockets.
"I just realized I don't usually carry a wallet. It seems I'll need to buy one just for the photo."
"Here, take this."
Lemar pulled a matte black leather wallet from the cabinet. Both the craftsmanship and the material gave off an air of refined quality.
"That wouldn't be appropriate."
"Nothing inappropriate about it. Serena originally prepared it as a gift for you anyway."
Lemar opened the wallet and pointed to the transparent slot inside, where Serena's photo was already tucked in.
"You want me to use a wallet Serena gave me, and put my fiancée's picture inside?"
"It's fine, she won't mind. I think my sister has a tendency to get more excited the more she's provoked. It must be a common quirk of the Yekailin bloodline—a bit like those lunatics from the Church of the Mural God."
"Thank you for preparing the gift. I'm sorry for always troubling you."
"The wallet."
"I can't take it."
Lemar shrugged. "Alright then."
"Is there anything you need?" Karen asked, picking up the gift box.
"Me? I need some materials. The Raphael family seemed to have been wiped out entirely after angering the Church of Order, so the materials market in York City is in quite a mess right now. I want a stable supply channel. You know, people who like cooking often hate grocery shopping and doing the dishes."
"I'll keep an eye out for you."
"Looks like you really can help me." Lemar smiled.
"See you next time."
"See you, my friend!"
Karen carried the gift box outside, opened the car door, and placed it on the passenger seat.
Purr pushed open the lid of the box, shaking her head. "A very romantic scene. It's just missing a lovely cat."
"It would feel odd, like an old grandmother watching you date."
"Eh, shouldn't that be an unusual thrill?"
"You should read fewer of those romance novels lately."
"Hmph, I plan to write one myself before long."
"You've never even been in love."
"Didn't you say those who've never dated are actually the best at writing them? Besides, they're written for single people anyway."
"Fair point. Among single folk, few are older or have more experience being single than you."
"Meow!!!"
Karen started the car and drove west. Allen Manor was located to the west of York City.
Once out of the city, the congestion cleared, and the scenery on either side turned verdant. Though the weather remained somewhat chilly, the breath of spring was already emerging.
Perched atop the gift box, Purr looked out at the scenery and remarked, "Actually, Wien's scenery isn't bad at all."
"Cold winters and scorching summers."
Karen disliked Wien's climate; it was always so extreme.
Purr said, "That's precisely why Wien produced so many writers. Only when people are on the verge of freezing or boiling to death is their creative inspiration stirred."
Karen chuckled. "Because it's either too cold or too hot outside to go courting noble ladies, leaving them no choice but to stay home and write in isolation."
"Oh, it seems *The Secret Diary of Rogin* left quite an impression on you. You need to be careful, Karen."
Karen kept driving, offering no reply.
Purr's curiosity piqued, and she asked, "Say, are you itching to find someone to fight right now?"
"It's alright."
"I was worried you'd be impatient to go kill Viclay."
"I won't consider that until I advance to Inquisitor."
"Makes sense. Inquisitors of the Inmerlais family have a heritage."
Up ahead, a cargo truck had overturned on the road, blocking most of the lane. Fortunately, traffic was light here, and the roadside ground was flat enough for cars to skirt around.
The truck driver sat atop the overturned vehicle, his head covered in blood, morosely puffing on a cigarette. Near the rear, an injured woman was inspecting the cargo bed.
Karen didn't stop, skirting around just like the car ahead.
At that moment, however, Kevin twitched his nose and immediately climbed onto the rear window:
"Woof! Woof!"
Purr perked up instantly and called out, "The dumb dog says there's a cursed object in the truck!"
The difference between a cursed object and a sacred relic was much like that between an aberrant demon and a priest.
Those that could be utilized were called sacred relics;
Those that could not be utilized were called cursed objects.
Karen slowed the car down.
"Woof! Woof!"
"The dumb dog says the cursed object in the cargo bed should be of quite a high grade."
Karen pulled over to the side of the road.
"Oh, Karen, are you planning on robbing and killing them!" Purr asked excitedly.
"No. I just want to remind you two: if it's a high-grade cursed object, would an ordinary husband-and-wife trucking team be escorting it?"
Karen pointed toward the rearview mirror. Through the reflection, he saw that as soon as he pulled over, the driver—who had previously sat with his back turned—suddenly spun around to face their direction, continuing to smoke.
Clearly, the man was wary of this car that had abruptly stopped.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Kevin barked again.
Then, Purr also called out:
"Meow! Meow! Meow!"
Karen immediately fell silent. Kevin could only bark, but Purr joining in with meows meant it was inconvenient for her to speak.
Just then,
a plume of black mist manifested on the back seat, coalescing into Neo's figure.
"Captain?"
Then, both spoke in unison:
"What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?"
The lower-ranking answered first.
Karen pointed to the gift box on the passenger seat. "After that night, I suddenly missed my fiancée, so I'm heading out of the city today to see her. Her family lives in the outskirts."
Neo had said he wouldn't pry into Karen's secrets, but when answering his questions, Karen still instinctively appealed to an emotional angle—such as, *I was deeply moved by what happened to you, Captain, and wanted to cherish my current relationship.*
"I'm investigating smuggling."
"Whose cargo requires you to head out in person, Captain?"
"The Church of the Abyss."
"So the truck overturned, and you're waiting for the Church of the Abyss's recipient to arrive so you can catch them red-handed?"
"Yeah."
"I'll drive a bit further away first, since the people by the truck seem to have noticed us."
Karen glanced at the rearview mirror, but when he looked again, the driver had already turned his back toward them once more.
"The delivery people are ours."
"So this is a sting operation?"
"A very refined metaphor.
"Because of the Qihe case, the other churches in York City used it as an excuse to make trouble for our Church of Order. So now, we need to uncover some of their dirt as well."
"Captain, is there anything you need me to do?"
Neo pointed forward. "Five kilometers ahead, there's a gas station and a few restaurants. Go there now, pick one, and order a group meal for fourteen people. We'll head over after we reel in the net."
With that, Neo's form dissolved into black mist and drifted out through the car window, leaving five 100-riel banknotes on the seat.
Karen reached into the back to collect the 500 riels, then started the engine again.
Muttering to himself, he said:
"Understood, Captain. Mission guaranteed."
Chapter 164