Chapter 264: Chapter 264
Pressing against the wall, Jenkins peered south, just barely managing to see the house that was still cordoned off. The guard on duty was alert, instinctively glancing in his direction, but Jenkins had already ducked back behind the curtain.
He could just make out Hathaway's figure at the corner of the street, slipping into an alley and following the line of a steam pipe along the wall. She had changed out of the sky-blue dress and high heels she’d been wearing earlier. Now, she was dressed in tight trousers and a dark velvet top with flared cuffs, all under a black overcoat that fell almost to her knees. A wide-brimmed hat obscured her face.
“What is she up to, so late at night?”
Jenkins froze, a nagging feeling telling him he’d forgotten something.
Chocolate let out a bored meow from his arms.
“Blast it, Mr. Hood’s gathering is about to start!”
He smacked himself on the forehead, grabbing the neatly folded black coat and hat from the side of his bed, ready to leave. Since he'd fallen into the pond, all his clothes were soaked...
The question finally dawned on him, but he shook his head to clear it. That wasn't important right now. To be safe, he decided to hide his belongings—including his cane and the metal block—in the wardrobe for the time being.
Inside the wardrobe, he found some... rather risqué articles of clothing. Jenkins averted his eyes, carefully tucking the metal block into the very back before preparing to leave.
Chocolate had no intention of being left behind. With a soft cry, its fur shifted to pure white, and even its facial features subtly changed.
“Has Chocolate gotten more powerful?”
As the thought crossed his mind, he let the cat leap onto his shoulder. He locked the room’s door from the inside, then opened the window. After a quick scan of the street below, he crouched on the windowsill, pulled the window shut, and activated [Cat's Grace]. A moment later, he vaulted into the branches of a tree in the courtyard.
A maid was cleaning a tabletop by a ground-floor window. Jenkins waited in the cool breeze for a moment before shimmying down the tree trunk and landing silently on the street.
Most detached houses one had trees planted in their courtyards. As for the reason, Jenkins recalled attending Briny Mikhail's party, where he'd sat with a group of young noblewomen. Blushing, they had shared some risqué jokes. The trees, they’d giggled, weren't there to help burglars get in, but to allow lovers a discreet escape from a maiden's or a lady's boudoir in the early hours of the morning, thus saving both parties from a loss of dignity.
At the time, Jenkins had been so flustered by the topic that he hadn’t known how to react, which only seemed to amuse the lavishly dressed young women even more.
He slipped cautiously into the shadows cast by the buildings lining the street. When he emerged again, his appearance had changed. He was now a tall, thin man with sharp, severe features, accompanied by a small, milk-white cat.
Perhaps spooked by their run-in with the pirate king, Femishue the Destroyer, during the last gathering, Mr. Hood had chosen this meeting's location with extreme caution.
The meeting was to take place in a forest at the summit of a hill, not far from the outskirts of Nolan City. The spot offered a wide, commanding view, with no higher ground anywhere nearby. Aside from its distance from the city, it was a perfect location.
Though Jenkins had set out later than Hathaway, he wasn't concerned about his current disguise being exposed, so he made his way there with few reservations. As long as he avoided the nightly police patrols and the Enchanter squads, he had little else to fear. He'd even dispatched a menacing thug who tried to rob him in an alley with a single punch.
Panting for breath, he finally reached the top of the hill. Just as he expected, Mr. Hood was already there.
Mr. Hood saw a stranger come to a halt before him, bent over with hands on his knees, gasping for air. His gaze flickered to the white cat with a hint of surprise, but his expression otherwise remained neutral.
“Mr. Candle? No need to rush. We still have time.”
His voice was somewhat hoarse; it was hard to tell if he had a cold or if it was just part of his disguise.
“It's me,” Jenkins confirmed. “Long time no see.”
Jenkins stamped his right foot, dislodging a yellow leaf stuck to the side of his shoe. Then he held out his hands, revealing the purple emblem.
He had rushed here to arrive before Hathaway and avoid arousing her suspicion.
“It's been far too long since our last gathering.”
He leaned against a tree, just as Mr. Hood was doing, his breathing finally evening out.
“It couldn't be helped,” Mr. Hood replied. “Too much has happened in Nolan this month. The [Gear Germs] incident alone was enough to force us all to be cautious.”
He mentioned it casually, as nearly a month had passed since the first source of the infection was discovered. Anyone with decent sources of information would have heard about it by now.
Everyone made it to the gathering. Mr. White Cat and Mr. Black Cat arrived one after the other, the latter’s black robe stained with a large patch of mud and a withered leaf, suggesting he had taken a tumble. Then came Magic Miss; she still remembered Mr. Candle’s cat and gave a polite nod but remained silent. Miss Skylark was the last to arrive.
With that greeting, Mr. Hood officially began the gathering. The six of them drew closer, making it easier to hear one another.
Winter was drawing near. The forest floor was a thick carpet of fallen leaves, and the dry branches overhead twisted like the gnarled fingers of a witch from an old fairy tale. Then again, Jenkins mused, a witch probably wouldn't stand a chance against the six of them.
“So much has happened in Nolan City since our last meeting,” Mr. Hood began. “Thankfully, we're all still here. I hope I can say the same next time we meet. Now, I'll dispense with the pleasantries—this damn weather is freezing.”
When no one else spoke up, he shrugged, muttered another curse about the cold under his breath, and continued in his raspy voice:
“You all know about the Gear Germs, so I won't dwell on it. Just be careful. My sources tell me the followers of the Prince of Lies have gone to ground lately. They haven't left Nolan, but they're unlikely to make a move anytime soon. I don't have the specifics—this came through private channels... but word is, and I stress this is only a rumor...” For origınal chapters go to novel·fire.net
He glanced at each of the other five, his tone laced with uncertainty as he continued, as if he doubted the information himself:
“Apparently, that pack of swindlers managed to provoke a high-ranking noble in the Nolan military. They must have tricked him out of some important item or letter, because now they’re being hunted by common mercenaries, private investigators, and any Enchanter looking to collect a bounty. Even the followers of a heretical god wouldn't dare take on so many opponents at once, not in a city like Nolan. Heh. Who can say what really happened? But the bounty is real, I can confirm that. Four figures, or so they say...”