Chapter 269: Clues to the Psychology Alchemists

On the outskirts of Empress Borough, in a wide, empty horse track.

Audrey Hall deliberately led a chestnut mare to a corner and pretended

to discuss something with Viscount Glaint.

She was wearing white pants and knee-high black boots, adorned with a

simple blouse and a black jacket that reached her waist. In addition,

she donned a helmet of the same color. She looked especially valiant and

beautiful, and Susie, her golden retriever, was obediently sitting by

her feet. What seemed like a tiny leather satchel hung from her back.

Disguised as Viscount Glaint's servant, Xio glanced enviously at

Audrey's long, straight legs, and unconsciously tiptoed.

"Just horse-riding is so blasé. Only when it is combined with hunting

does it become imbued with life. Of course, I mean the equestrian skills

for men. No matter what a beautiful lady does, it would still be a sight

to behold," Glaint sized up Audrey and said half-jokingly.

Audrey replied with a slight smile, "The next hunt is still months

away."

Every year, from June to the New Year, the aristocrats of the Loen

Kingdom would come to Backlund to attend various banquets, dances, and

salons, as per tradition. This was a very important event for them, and

many things would be decided within a few months.

After the new year, the nobles would return to their fiefdom---their

castles, country estates, and large plantations---and spend their

leisure time there. In such times, the most popular sport was hunting.

The nobles would invite guests of similar status to enjoy the pleasure

of horse-riding and chasing prey. As long as their financial situation

allowed it, they weren't stingy with buying hounds.

The most famous of the hounds was the foxhound.

"I already miss that life. Backlund is a place where people feel

constrained, and its air is indescribably terrible. Of course, I still

enjoy its extravagance." Viscount Glaint wore his gloves and stepped

back to make it easier for Audrey to talk to Xio and Fors.

"Honorable Miss Audrey, why have you called us here this time?" Xio

initiated the question as she retracted her gaze.

Audrey took a large portion of most of her recent income. She was honest

and generous, a rarely encountered good employer.

*I seem to smell the ink of money again... Hopefully, the mission

wouldn't be too difficult... Miss Audrey is perfect in every way, except

for one thing. Every mission is unexpected and very

dangerous...* Xio thought, feeling both anticipation and

apprehension. She couldn't help but glance sideways at Fors. She noticed

that her companion, disguised as a maid, was looking right at her.

The expressions reflected in their eyes looked very similar.

Audrey held her gloves, smiled reservedly and elegantly before saying,

"It's a simple request this time."

As she spoke, she motioned with her eyes for Xio and Fors to open the

leather satchel on Susie.

Xio, who had always been known for her proactiveness, immediately took

two steps forward and bent down to reach out with her hand.

During this short period of time, she had originally wanted to pat

Susie's head to show that she meant no harm. But just as she extended

her right palm, Susie had already turned her head, turning her body half

around, placing the small leather satchel in front of her.

I'm usually popular with animals... For example, mosquitoes...

Xio kept her expression unchanged as she unzipped the satchel and took

out a stack of papers from Susie's leather pouch.

She stood up and took a look at the stack of papers. She saw that it

depicted a young man with ordinary looks, but his neatly combed hair,

round glasses, and mocking brown eyes all looked very familiar to her.

I must've seen him somewhere! Xio looked down and saw the

corresponding description.

"Formerly used name: Lanevus, wanted swindler."

I know where I've seen him before! Xio was suddenly

enlightened and almost made an inelegant gesture of slapping her

forehead.

Before she met Audrey, one of the main sources of her income was

flipping through newspapers, researching wanted posters, and using her

connections in many gangs in East Borough to seek out criminals who were

worth fat bounties.

*I had thought of finding this Lanevus, who has a bounty of 100 pounds.

Besides, he swept away more than 10,000 pounds in cash! However, I've

recently been too busy with Miss Audrey's requests and had forgotten

about this matter...* Xio and Fors looked at each other and then

asked frankly, "How much is this request worth?"

How much is the request worth? Audrey was startled for a

moment.

She had completely forgotten the matter of payment, as from her point of

view, it was a test from Mr. Fool.

When were examinees ever given money?

"Uh... 100 pounds?" Audrey deliberated and gave a number.

"Deal!" Xio and Fors answered in unison.

*If we can catch him, not only would we receive a hundred pounds from

Miss Audrey, but we can also obtain an equal amount from the bounty...

What a great mission!* Xio asked casually, her eyes shining,

"Why are you looking for this swindler? Did he swindle you of your

money?"

*I don't even know who he is... It's really a simple request. A hundred

pounds was enough to complete the deal... There's no need to tell Mr.

Fool about this. It's only a hundred pounds...* Audrey, with a

polite smile, ignored Xio's question and instead mentioned, "I received

word that he's in Backlund.

"Ah yes, there are a dozen or so portraits here, different portraits. I

took into account that Lanevus must have disguised himself, so I'm

giving you pictures of him without glasses, with a beard, with a change

of hairstyle. Uh... pictures based on conjectures."

I'm also very good at drawing and painting! Audrey tilted her

chin.

Xio immediately forgot her previous question and said in pleasant

surprise, "This is really good news!"

She felt as though she could already see the bounty of two hundred

pounds beckoning at her.

The mysterious person she had met at Mr. A's gathering had yet to

establish contact with her. Therefore, all she could do was continue

with her business of earning money.

Audrey nodded indiscernibly. She muttered, "Do you have any leads on the

matter regarding the Psychology Alchemists?"

Fors adjusted her long curly hair, looked at Viscount Glaint who was

listening to the side, and said, "I recently joined a new Beyonder

gathering. Rumor has it that the Spectator and Telepathist potion

formulas have previously appeared there. I'm suspecting that one of the

members from the gathering is from the Psychology Alchemists.

"I'll apply to bring you with me the next gathering."

"Alright." Audrey deliberately didn't hide her joy.

She had read their true state of mind from the colors, body language,

and the subtle expressions of Xio and Fors, to judge their enthusiasm

for the mission. They didn't lie regarding the Psychology Alchemists

either.

Viscount Glaint mumbled, "Audrey's matters seems to be on the brink of

success. Where's my formula, Audrey?"

"There are really no clues as of yet. The Apothecary pathway is mostly

in the south, where the Feynapotter Kingdom is." Fors gestured with deep

regret.

"Alright, I'm still young. I'm only in my early twenties. I still have

time to wait," Glaint replied in a humorous tone.

"Alright, thank you for your help. See you again next time." Audrey

bowed gracefully, wore her gloves, and mounted her horse as she rode

down the track.

Susie happily followed, as if she had found new entertainment.

As he spent the night "experimenting," it was already 9:34 of a Tuesday

morning by the time Klein woke up.

Biting into a piece of bread slathered with butter, he wore his coat and

hat, hurried out the door, and wrote on the message book hanging by the

doorbell's pull rope:

"Owner is out and will be back after five in the afternoon."

Actually, he didn't have much to do. It was purely to guard against a

sudden visit from Millet Carter.

If the other party found out that the detective he hired for a full

fifty pounds wasn't out and about, searching for information or

organizing people to confirm the layout of the structure, and was

instead at home leisurely drinking tea and reading novels, he would

surely revoke the commission and not pay the last forty pounds!

*I really have nothing to do but wait for Miss Justice's

information...* Klein stood at the end of the street and looked

at the haze in the sky, while helplessly muttering to himself.

He had already decided last night where he would spend the day.

*In the morning, I'll practice shooting at the Quelaag Club, read the

newspapers, enjoy a free lunch, take a nap in the afternoon, exercise

through playing sports like squash. Once the Bravehearts Bar opens, I'll

take a carriage there and see if I can learn about more Beyonder

gatherings from Kaspars.*

Klein had no intention of looking for Maric. Although he was certain

that he had more than one circle of Beyonders, he was afraid that Miss

Bodyguard would also belong to those circles.

It wouldn't be convenient for him to sell potion formulas, as it would

arouse a high degree of suspicion.

*Since the True Creator has given you the ability to divine and a strong

body, would he still grant you potion formulas that you do not need?

It's impossible just thinking about it!* Klein filled in the

details with his imagination as he boarded the public carriage that

headed for Hillston Borough.

Half an hour later, he entered the Quelaag Club and saw an acquaintance.

It was Talim Dumont, the equestrian teacher who had recommended him to

the club. He was Mary Gale's friend.

Dressed in a black tweed overcoat, the brown-haired Talim walked over.

He sized up Klein and said with an odd smile, "Good morning. Mary and

Doragu are getting a divorce."

Are you suspecting the reason why I joined the club? Relying

on the Clown's ability, Klein easily made a surprised expression.

"Really? That is really surprising!"

Talim gave him a deeply suspicious look and suddenly laughed.

"I have a friend who's been troubled about something recently. I want to

know how good your marksmanship and fighting skills are."

*A commission? He only asked about my marksmanship and fighting skills,

not reasoning. This is a request involving violence...* Klein

smiled and said, "I was planning on heading to the shooting range. You

can take a look, but fighting requires an opponent to be able to see my

standard."

"I've learned how to fight before," Talim eagerly replied.