The Death Knight Is a Hammer!

"I love Dawn!" "I love Dawwwn!" A procession of thirty to fifty people had appeared from who knew where, holding homemade placards and marching along the street as they sang the praises of the glorious deeds accomplished by the Dawn Detective Agency and Law Firm. Not long after its founding, the detective agency had already established long-term partnerships with several newspapers, leasing an entire column dedicated to publishing unvarnished evidence that boldly exposed the darkness and injustices of society. Their strikes cast a wide net, reaching from underworld gangs at the bottom to neglectful, tax-wasting bureaucrats in the middle, all the way up to councilors and other high-ranking officials. Wherever a commission was accepted, an airtight, evidence-backed investigation was delivered. Under normal circumstances, such an insolent detective agency and law firm would never survive. Within three to five days of opening its doors, it would inevitably be forced into suspension and restructuring for one reason or another. Yet the Dawn Detective Agency had stubbornly taken root, thriving and sparking fierce debate throughout Londan. The various churches maintained their silence, unwilling to confront the Death Knight. At the official level, every threat and intimidation was fended off by Abo and his scapegoat, Officer Green. Whoever dared stand in the way of Abo's justice would find their deepest, darkest secrets dragged into the open. Those who had the standing to act stayed away to avoid suspicion and avoid being bitten by a rabid dog; those who lacked the standing couldn't afford to provoke them, terrified of being mauled to death. As a result, this brazen troublemaker swung wildly right out in the open, and not a single soul dared lay a finger on it. This fierce wind swept across every avenue and alley, amassing a tremendous following among the grassroots populace. For those poor souls who had nowhere else to turn, a single act of free assistance in the depths of despair earned their tearful, undying devotion. When these common folk dug in their heels, they proved far tougher than the followers of the Goddess of Death, who were prone to fearing death themselves. The marching parade Wayne was watching, for instance, had been organized spontaneously by the people they had helped. They held jobs and were busy, yet out of gratitude, they came out every day to assist with public relations. Inside the carriage, two faces quietly watched the marching crowd recede into the distance. Veronica held her breath, focused. By her guess, the procession included followers of the Goddess of Death, who had expanded rapidly of late and won over hordes of ignorant commoners. A drop of cold sweat rolled down Wayne's forehead. As far as he knew, in this era of chaotic faiths, there existed a certain guiding ideology with extraordinarily resolute convictions. In Windsor particularly, this guiding ideology was exceedingly popular among the aristocracy—it wouldn't even be an exaggeration to call it rampant. It was inconvenient to elaborate; one needed only assemble a sickle and a hammer. Wayne's thoughts traveled much further than Veronica's. Just moments ago, his vision had blurred with an illusion of the Death Goddess's followers tearing off their black robes and shouting for everyone to unite. *Maybe I'm overthinking it, but... it's bound to happen sooner or later...* *If the wealthy West District is already like this, won't the working-class hubs of the South and East Districts blow the lid straight off the city?!* Good grief, the Queen wouldn't be overthrown and end up working as a maid to scrape together a living, would she? Wayne shuddered. Another hallucination flashed before his eyes. This time, the figure in the black robe was no mere believer, but the Goddess of Death herself, gripping a massive Reaper's Scythe in her hands. As for the hammer... The Death Knight was a hammer! "What are you twitching around for?" Veronica shot Wayne a dissatisfied look. He kept fidgeting and shaking, rocking the entire carriage along with him. "Nothing. Let's go check out the detective agency. Er, I mean the Wayne Detective Agency." "Where else would we go? Were you planning to join the fun with those death cultists?" Veronica curled her lip. Wayne was a devotee of the Goddess of Nature. If he dared march over and reveal his identity, he would instantly be swarmed and beaten with clubs. Wayne grunted twice in concession, indicating that the young lady was entirely correct, and the two walked into the Wayne Detective Agency, which was still undergoing renovations. The renovation project had been contracted to the Landau family's construction firm, whose core motto was fast, excellent, and economical. Working off the original foundation of the commercial storefront, they were conducting high-end remodeling that would allow the agency to open officially in no time. The agency occupied three floors. The first floor consisted of the main lobby and reception area. The second floor housed parlor rooms, staff offices, executive meeting rooms, and similar spaces. The third floor contained the proprietor's office, an assistant's office, a storage room, and an independent solarium filled with potted greenery. Office supplies had already been arranged on the second and third floors. Only the ground floor was undergoing final touches. As soon as Wayne moved his belongings over, it would be ready to open at a moment's notice. Standing by the window, Wayne looked across the street with a helpless expression. "If I'm not mistaken, this entire street belongs to your family, doesn't it?" "Yep." *I knew it!* "Then that brings up a question. Why on earth did you choose a location right across from a stronghold of the Church of Death?" Wayne was thoroughly bewildered. "Assistant Veronica, did you secretly get in touch with the Church of Death behind my back?" Veronica rolled her eyes. She was quite baffled by this herself. It was already outrageous enough that the cultists of Death were operating so brazenly in public, but what bordered on absurd was that they had somehow managed to secure a storefront on the Landau family's commercial street. Where had the money come from? Who had sponsored them? She just prayed it wasn't Mr. Landau, or her mother would definitely make him drop to his knees. Veronica furrowed her brow, full of misgivings. At first, she hadn't known the background of the Dawn Detective Agency, regarding it as nothing more than an ordinary competitor. It didn't matter to her; she had never feared competition, and she had never expected Wayne to turn a profit with his detective agency anyway. It was only when she heard from Villy that the shop across the way was a stronghold of Death cultists that she entered a phase of questioning her entire existence. Why? Wayne had an inkling of the reason, but he continued to tease Veronica. The sight of her knitting her brows and racking her brains was quite adorable, making it obvious she wasn't particularly bright. Gorgeous, wealthy, and dense—she was practically perfect. After a long while, Veronica's contemplation yielded no answers, and unable to give Wayne a reasonable explanation, she deployed the art of shifting the subject. She reminded him that for the agency's grand opening, he would need to register in person with the White Glove Association and pay an initiation fee. "What's the White Glove Association? Why should I have to give them money for opening my own business?" Wayne didn't understand. Back in his hometown, openings were for collecting red envelopes. "The White Glove Association is the detective association of Londan. You're a detective—don't tell me you lack even this basic common sense?" Veronica arched a brow. Even Chris, who merely wrote detective novels, knew about it. "Of course I know that..." Wayne smoothly caught the conversational baton and raised his own brows in response. "I just don't see any difference whether I join or not. It isn't easy for you to ask your family for money, so there's no need to throw it away for nothing." "I didn't ask them for it. It's just the interest on my pocket money." "..." Wayne fell silent. It was his mistake. If he ever used saving money as an excuse again, he would be a hammer! "How about this: once the renovations are done, we'll host a little gathering on the third floor." Veronica looked forward to it with great anticipation. Once she became his assistant, she could give Villy a salary and bring her over as a clerk. It was a pity her senior classmate Chris was still pursuing advanced studies at the academy and had no interest in entering society to work. Otherwise, the three of them working hard together would be wonderful just to imagine. "Sounds good to me, as long as you don't stand us up again." "Heh." Veronica's expression instantly changed. Grabbing Wayne by the collar, she slammed him against the wall. "Don't get me started on that! You bailed on the appointment too, yet I was the only one who had to apologize! No way, the next time you see the two of them, you have to apologize to their faces! Especially Chris—you even missed her birthday!" "Fine, fine. When the time comes, I'll drink an extra two glasses as an apology." Wayne nodded with a solemn face. As far as he knew, these small gatherings always featured standard party games like Truth or Dare or the Queen's Game. *Looking forward to it.jpg* *** "What? You're telling me you can't do it?" In his office, Auston held the telephone receiver, his tone displeased. "The Free Mages Alliance undertakes a vast number of research projects each year, and whenever you apply for funding, I have never once rejected it. Now, asking you to issue a simple medical certificate is this difficult? If you're going to act like this, it will be very hard for me to speak up on your behalf in the future!" "Mr. Landau, please don't be hasty." On the other end of the line, Planck had not let the unexpected opportunity go to his head, remaining cool and analytical. "I know who this mage apprentice Wayne is. He is the student of your wife, the High Priest of the Church of Nature, is he not?" Auston's face turned icy. Planck knew too much. "Please don't misunderstand. I have not been deliberately prying into the Landau family. It was purely by chance that I learned of this..." Planck recounted the unfortunate tale of Sidney, adding, "Because of that chance encounter, I happened to save a lucky young man named Wayne. Caught in the collateral damage of the battle, he nearly lost his life right there." "What a pity." "Mr. Landau, it seems you harbor quite a prejudice against him!" "That has nothing to do with you. Just tell me whether you can do it or not." "In principle, absolutely not." Planck continued, "The High Priest values her student immensely. Even I cannot afford to offend her for no reason. This has nothing to do with money; raising the price won't change that. The crux of the matter is that I need an excuse. Mr. Landau, can you arrange an excuse for me so that I am spared the High Priest's wrath?" Having spoken his piece, Planck curled his lips into an amused grin on his end of the phone, thinking to himself how fascinating this was. *Wayne, it looks like we're going to meet again!* "You are the expert when it comes to arranging these things. After talking in circles, it just comes down to you wanting a larger sponsorship. Speak plainly: how much funding do you intend to request for next year?" Auston refused flatly. The whole reason he had approached Planck was to avoid angering Xifei; how could he possibly shoulder the blame himself? Therefore, he chose to throw more money at the problem. "Mr. Landau, I have heard that several relics from the Mythological Era are preserved in Her Majesty's vault. Would it be possible for you to..." "Impossible!" "Mr. Landau, the Free Mages Alliance serves as the shield and sword of the royal family, keeping the religious sects in check on the Crown's behalf. Even if our merit is overlooked, our hard work cannot be—" "That matter is completely out of the question!" Auston cut him off once more. After a brief pause, he said, "I will not provide you with an excuse, but I will find a way to transfer Wayne out of Londan, creating an opportunity for you. Handle him properly, and funding for next year will not be an issue." "Thank you for your generosity." Planck hung up the phone and stroked his stiff beard, chuckling uncontrollably. Even without Auston asking, he had already planned on visiting Wayne in a few days. Now, he had casually stumbled into an opportunity to double his budget for the coming year. A notice of critical illness was out of the question. Auston wanted to crush Wayne in a single blow, which did not align with Planck's intentions; he had other methods to make Auston willingly open his purse. Planck produced a box of magical paraphernalia and rummaged through it, examining the small trinkets one by one. "Darkness and Death are the opposites of Nature. All I need to do is prove to him that Wayne has been corrupted and is no longer a devout follower of Nature..." "Which one should I pick?" After careful consideration, Planck grasped the Dark Ring. "Little Wayne, I'm resolving such a massive trouble for you, and added to the life-saving favor from before, that makes two times. How are you going to thank me?" "Don't worry, what ill intentions could an old man have? I won't demand harsh conditions, nor do you need to become my disciple. Just joining our Free Mages Alliance will be plenty." *** Back in his office, Auston set down the receiver and set about organizing his plan. Holding an ancient silver coin, he contacted Butler Megan to ask where the cement barrel was at the moment, only to receive a deeply vexing answer. "He has gone out with the young lady." Auston covered his face with his hand. Veronica was wonderful in every way, but she was simply too naive—just like Xifei had been in the past, fated to be deceived by wicked men. Whenever a person wished to accomplish something, whether in romance, work, or daily life, they had to master the law of the three essentials: Persistence, shamelessness, and persistent shamelessness. Many believed that thick-skinned individuals were simply blessed by fortune, the illegitimate children of success. In reality, the opposite was true: thick-skinned people endured far more failures, relying on their shameless spirit to overcome adversity and ultimately fulfill their dreams. Back then, Xifei had aspired to become the Holy Maiden, giving the cold shoulder to a host of suitors. The only reason Auston had succeeded in winning her hand was his sheer shamelessness. The present moment mirrored the past. Wayne's relentless pestering made Auston unwilling to wait any longer; delay invited trouble. The mother had already been deceived once by a bad man; he could not allow the daughter to follow in her footsteps. "Where did they go?" "To the commercial street in the West District, to the detective agency purchased by the young lady." "Very well. Have the White Glove Association expedite the approval process and complete his induction today." A plan formed in Auston's mind as he devised a way to transfer Wayne out of Londan. Being a cautious man, relying on a single scheme felt unsafe, so he planned to add another layer of insurance. *Ring-ring-ring...* The telephone rang. The moment Auston answered, the gloom on his face vanished entirely. "Miss Hayworth, what a pleasure to receive your call. Have you finally seen the light?" "Just as you said, Mr. Landau, it is difficult to make a living in Londan without a backing. I still have artistic aspirations, and I don't wish to leave the stage so early," the actress replied helplessly on the other end. "Most unfortunate. Your artistic aspirations are certainly commendable, but art cannot be detached from life, and behind every glamorous exterior lies darkness that is difficult to speak of..." Auston nodded in satisfaction, smoothly shifting to the core subject. "As far as I know, Miss Hayworth, you have had no commercial performances recently, and your schedule has been wide open." "Mr. Landau truly has divine foresight!" "Hardly. I have merely seen many shooting stars like yourself." Auston continued, "A film crew will contact you shortly. You will play the leading lady in a creature feature along the lines of *Beauty and the Beast*. The principal shooting location is situated on an island in the North Sea. Aboard the cruise ship, you will encounter a man. He is your target." "What is his name?" Lily Hayworth was thoroughly intrigued, wondering what kind of man could capture the enduring attention of the head of the Landau family. "Someone will deliver his dossier to you when the time comes. Allow me to wish you box-office success in advance." Auston hung up the phone and rose to stand before the window. With both pieces placed on the board, it was time to strip the little lecher of his disguise. Yet there was still one more thing! Just in case the salted fish managed to turn over, forcing the match into extra time and winning back Xifei's and Veronica's trust through sheer shamelessness, he needed to plant an undercover operative at Wayne's side. Auston picked up the telephone and dialed the manor villa in Enrold Town. A maid answered the call and transferred it to Butler Fra. "Fra, you are returning to Londan." "Yes, Master Auston. Madam informed me that from now on, I am to regard Young Master Wayne as my master and assist him with all my strength." "Fra, are you still willing to serve the Landau family?" "Master Auston, serving the Landau family is my solemn oath. I shall always be willing." "Excellent. Keep a close eye on that brat, and report any developments to me at once." "..." "Fra?!" "As you command, Master Auston."