Chapter 104: Chapter 104

He asked, his expression grim, while inwardly he couldn't help but admire his own acting.

"I don't mean anything by it. But you're not very cautious, Mr. Williams. How could you let someone see you entering the black market?"

With a cold snort, he continued, "Just get to the point. You're an Enchanter too, aren't you? I'm just an antique shop apprentice who writes on the side. All I want is a peaceful life. If you try to ruin that, I'll make you pay."

"Oh, no, Mr. Williams, you're far too tense."

The lady shielded her face with a feather fan and let out an elegant laugh.

"Unregistered Enchanters like us wouldn't go around reporting people. But you, a believer in a Righteous God, haven't reported yourself to the Church. That means you must have a very big secret. So, how about this? You agree to three conditions, and I'll keep my mouth shut about this. And don't even think about threatening me. As a marquis's daughter, the concept of 'illegal' is... relative, for me."

"How do you know I'm not a Scribe from the Church of Knowledge and Books?"

"A moment ago, I wasn't certain. But now I am. You aren't, are you?"

The woman tilted her head back, revealing her pale neck, her expression one of complete confidence.

Jenkins froze for a second, then seamlessly continued his performance:

"Miss Hersha... alright, fine, you've caught me. What is it you want? I hope it's something I can actually do, and I hope it isn't illegal. Goddess, even though I've strayed from the Church's protection, I would never want to act against the will of the Sage!"

"Of course it's not illegal."

With a sharp snap, she closed her fan and gazed at the wall.

"Briny is waiting for me. After the opera begins, during the third bar of the fifth movement, I'll make an excuse to slip away. Meet me in the broom closet under the stairs. There's something I need from backstage, but I'll need an accomplice."

Jenkins immediately waved his hands in refusal.

"It's not stealing. It's taking without asking."

A wild look appeared on the red-haired girl's face, a stark contrast to her usual timid self. Updates are released by novel★fire.net

"Fine... I can't stop you," he said. "But I expect you to leave a fair amount of gold pounds as compensation for the owner. Otherwise, I refuse to help."

He demanded in a self-righteous tone.

"Mr. Williams—no, Jenkins. As an Enchanter, a soft heart like that will get you killed. I admire your kindness, and I'll agree to your condition, but it's incredibly naive."

"Do not use the word 'naive' to describe a grown gentleman, Miss Hersha. And please refrain from using my given name. It implies we share some sort of... illicit relationship."

"Adult? A special relationship?"

She licked the corner of her lips. "You certainly didn't seem so mature that evening."

And just like that, Jenkins was being flirted with again.

From what he could tell, in Hathaway and Briny's innocent relationship, Hathaway was the more submissive one. But as soon as she was out of Briny's sight, the red-haired girl revealed an entirely different, assertive side.

Which meant that, for now, Jenkins was at the very bottom of the food chain. Of course, that was only true as long as he kept up the act.

"I much prefer being home alone, studying the occult, writing my stories, or poring over historical documents."

He lamented inwardly, completely oblivious to the fact that this very mindset was the reason he'd gone all the way through graduate school without a single romantic relationship in his previous life.

"Can you stay here by yourself for a bit?"

He gently patted Chocolate on the back, then pulled a few pieces of kibble from a small pouch sewn into the lining of his coat and offered them to the cat.

As for why he'd brought cat food to the opera, he was afraid the little kitten would go hungry.

"Good. I'll give you an extra meal when we get home. How about some milk?"

Jenkins knew his cat was almost unnervingly intelligent. He'd heard that the Church of the Spirit of All Things had a special potion capable of vastly increasing the intellect of ordinary animals, allowing them to assist their Enchanter masters. He made a mental note to acquire a vial. Chocolate was already so clever; once she was a bit older, he'd give her the potion. He wasn't expecting her to transform into a maid in black stockings or anything, but if she could just deliver a letter for him, that would be more than enough.

Chocolate, busy munching on her kibble, shot him a look of pure contempt from her pale yellow eyes.

The play being performed by the Silver Jasmine Opera Troupe tonight was called "Mr. Potter's Eternal 31st". Jenkins didn't quite grasp this particular art form, but thankfully, there was a libretto available. It told the tragic tale of a middle-aged gentleman trapped in a time loop, forever reliving the 31st day of a certain month. He had disrespected the gods and defied his king, and ultimately met a miserable end.

For the current era, the theme was remarkably innovative, and the story was quite compelling. Combined with the undeniable talent of the cast, the troupe's tour across the kingdom was a massive success. Compared to the recently famous author, Mr. Williams, they were the true rising stars. Nolan was reportedly their last stop in the kingdom; after their final performance next week, they were set to sail for the Cheslan Kingdom, to the City of a Thousand Trees—Eldron, the last known residence of the ancient elves according to legend.

Today's encounter with Miss Hersha was unexpected, but not entirely surprising. The fact that she was trying to blackmail him with three demands was almost comical, yet it put Jenkins on his guard.

He had hoped that getting involved with Hathaway would allow him to meet other Enchanters, which could lead to acquiring more supernatural items—perhaps even a source of divinity. But she was a level higher than him. He was confident he wouldn't lose a fight to a girl younger than himself, but it was still wise to be cautious.

Jenkins gave up on the opera after only a few minutes. He made sure Chocolate was comfortable with a snack, then grabbed his cane and left the box.

"I have to step out for a moment, I'll be back shortly."

He said as much to the attendant stationed near the door. The young man nodded with nervous deference, not daring to ask what should be done about the kitten.

He descended the stairs and waited idly in a corner of the gilded foyer. He stood there until the fourth round of applause erupted from the theater, followed by the deep, lingering notes of a tuba and a French horn. Only then did the young woman finally appear in a hurry.

"Took you long enough."

"I had to find an excuse to get away from Briny for a while. That's no easy task."

The two didn't linger and immediately stepped out of the opera house. The world outside was quiet and dark, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere within. The only light came from the twin moons hanging in the sky, the countless stars peeking from behind the clouds, the distant glowing tips of coachmen's cigarettes, and the swinging lanterns of the city patrol.