Chapter 1509: Chapter 1509
Jenkins had long since learned that coincidences rarely happened around him. The thought of Carmel's Junk Shop made his brow furrow. He wasn't sure if his suspicion was correct, but if it was, what reason could Carmel have for traveling all the way from Nolan to Bel Diran?
"I have to go to the Church and get some clarity," he decided. "At the very least, I need to warn them about the potential danger."
His mind made up, Jenkins wanted to finish his meal as quickly as possible. He moved his knife to cut another piece of the veal steak, but as he pressed down, the blade scraped against the ceramic plate with a sharp clink.
He glanced down to find his plate was already empty, save for a smear of sauce and a few decorative greens on the side. Upon closer inspection, he could see the distinct marks of feline teeth on the leaves.
He turned his gaze to the cat squatting obediently by his right hand. It stared back, its eyes wide with an expression of pure innocence.
It purred, gently nuzzling its head against Jenkins's hand.
"You've got a bit of sauce on your face," Jenkins pointed out.
Chocolate meowed again, but Jenkins still couldn't decipher its meaning.
After his meal, Jenkins took a carriage to the church. Most of his acquaintances were gone. Aside from Elder Wood Broshier, the Keeper of Secrets on duty, the Church's primary combat personnel were all deployed near the Paramount Manor.
Mr. Broshier wasn't familiar with the matter of the junk shop; it wasn't under his purview. He had his apprentice guide Jenkins to the Fifth Combat Squad, the unit responsible for the investigation. This squad reported directly to the Holy See and handled combat missions for the entire Bel Diran diocese. The only real difference between them and the Scribe Squad in Nolan was that they earned a higher salary.
"The junk shop that tried to acquire the mirror? Yes, we're still investigating," the squad leader confirmed. "Unlike the Countess Paramount, that mysterious organization and the shop itself are not targets we can investigate directly. The two men we arrested were protected by preventative measures common among Enchanters to stop them from divulging secrets, which has made our work more difficult. But Saint Williamette, you needn't worry. This is only a temporary complication. The Bel Diran Central Diocese has dealt with countless matters far more troublesome than this over the years. We'll uncover the truth behind it all within a week at most."
Bel Diran was both the seat of the Sage Church's Holy See and its most important diocese. The Scribe squads here were more numerous and far more experienced than those in Nolan. Jenkins explained in detail everything he knew about Carmel's Junk Shop from his time in Nolan. The squad leader listened intently, promising to remain vigilant and to notify Jenkins immediately if any news surfaced.
This reassurance allowed Jenkins to breathe a little easier, but the situation was still far from optimistic. After all, his adversary was operating from the shadows, and there was no telling what kind of madness the people behind the junk shop might unleash.
Leaving the Church, Jenkins initially planned to find Papa Oliver to ask if he had any news of Hathaway and Briny's arrival in Bel Diran. He gazed idly out the carriage window, and out of an abundance of caution, kept his Eye of Reality active. This allowed him to scan his surroundings for any unusual spiritual auras.
Suddenly, he spotted an Enchanter standing at an intersection as the carriage sped past. The middle-aged man on the corner and Jenkins locked eyes for a brief moment, but neither recognized the other.
A moment later, however, recognition dawned on Jenkins. The man he had just seen was Mr. Hood. The face was his, and the spiritual aura was unmistakably his as well.
From every conceivable angle, it was the genuine Mr. Hood. And now, of all places, he was here in Bel Diran.
He had been on his way to see Papa Oliver, but now he felt compelled to meet with Mr. Hood—at the very least, to determine his reason for being in Bel Diran. Jenkins hadn't forgotten Mr. Hood's obsessive persistence regarding the tobacco business, and it was possible his presence here was connected to it.
He therefore exited the carriage at the next intersection, slipped into an inconspicuous alley to don his black robe, and then began to follow Mr. Hood's spiritual aura from a safe distance.
As if by sheer coincidence, Mr. Hood entered the very hotel where Papa Oliver and the Williams family were staying. Jenkins hesitated for a long moment on the opposite side of the street. It was only when the gas streetlamps flickered to life, igniting one by one with a series of soft pops, that he set Vanilla on his shoulder and ascended the hotel steps.
"I'm sorry, who are you looking for?"
Mr. Hood opened the door after a firm knock. Jenkins remained silent, simply shifting his body to reveal the white cat perched on his shoulder, which had been obscured by the doorframe. Mr. Hood nodded in understanding, slid the security chain free, and gestured for Jenkins to enter. Follow current novᴇls on novel·fiɾe·net
"Mr. Candle, I sometimes get the feeling you're everywhere," Mr. Hood said. "If it weren't for the fact that this beautiful white cat of yours is one of a kind, I'd start to suspect that 'Mr. Candle' is a shared identity used by a whole group of people."
Mr. Hood seemed genuinely pleased to see Jenkins, even in Bel Diran. He smiled and invited him to sit down, and Vanilla, for her part, preened at the compliment.
"I sometimes feel the same about you, Mr. Hood," Jenkins replied. "Please forgive my unannounced visit, but... may I ask what brings you to Bel Diran? Has there been another development regarding the tobacco? Oh, please, whatever you do, don't act alone. Those people are ruthless killers, absolute madmen."
Jenkins asked, his tone cautious.
"No, no, I'm not here about the tobacco," Mr. Hood clarified. "This is for my own business. As you know, I'm a merchant first and foremost. One of my ventures in Bel Diran ran into some trouble, so I had to come handle things personally. All day tomorrow, I'll be dealing with unions, managers, and various government departments—the life of an ordinary man. I assure you, my purpose here has nothing to do with Enchanters."
After explaining, he looked at Jenkins with curiosity.
"So, what brings you to Bel Diran...?"
"The throne," Jenkins stated plainly.
He saw no reason to lie.
"You're aware of the kingdom's current situation. With the succession underway, I was invited to Bel Diran to handle a few things. I'm afraid I can't disclose the specific details."
As he said this, an expression of understanding washed over Mr. Hood's face. Everyone at the gatherings knew that "Mr. Candle" was a Believer of Lies. He had likely misunderstood, assuming Jenkins had been hired to take part in some conspiracy related to the throne.