Chapter 280: Chapter 280

As Miss Audrey closed her eyes and began to chant strange words in an ancient tongue, an invisible wall seemed to rise, isolating the small room from the rest of the world.

The scent of incense thickened in the air. Audrey, seated on the sofa, slowly leaned forward, her face hovering just inches from the crystal ball before she stopped.

Jenkins held his breath, sensing that the space they occupied was no longer part of the material world. An invisible barrier cut them off, and within this strange bubble, Miss Audrey seemed to transform. Her usual lazy, comfortable demeanor vanished, replaced by a strange, ethereal aura.

She frowned, her voice raspy and coarse—a stark contrast to its usual tone.

“She's still in Nolan City. I see a river... no, not the Westminster River. There's too much rubbish floating in it... Is this... the Rona River?”

“The Rona River? Are there any specific details?”

He asked, his mind racing to recall the city's layout.

“Yes, yes. It's a row of low houses on the east bank. There's a factory nearby. The woman lives in one of the houses facing the river—it has a red wooden door. The number is 32...”

Jenkins felt a surge of anxiety. If the place was too dangerous, he would call it off immediately. It wasn't worth losing his life over a point of pride.

Miss Audrey pressed her right hand to her forehead, but her color was good; she didn't look hurt.

“It's the crystal ball,” she explained. “It was already damaged from the last time I used it for a very important divination. I'm sorry, that's all I could make out. But the Rona River isn't that long—it flows straight into the sea at the northeast corner of Nolan. Even if I couldn't see the number clearly, it shouldn't be too hard to find the place.”

“That's alright, that's alright. Thank you very much!”

Jenkins knew it was more than enough. Unlike the Westminster, which wound its way through most of the city, the Rona River's course within Nolan was short. And the number of spots that fit the description of "low houses by the river" and "adjacent to a factory" had to be very small.

He didn't have any divination abilities himself, but he knew that such readings were typically cryptic and hard to decipher. Only the most skilled seers could peer through the mists of fate and glimpse the truth. To see a vision so clear and direct was practically unheard of, yet Miss Audrey had managed it.

“She's frighteningly good,” he marveled internally.

“I should be the one thanking you,” Audrey replied. “Without your help, I don't know when I would have ever gotten that card back.”

Miss Audrey gestured for Jenkins to remain seated. She rose and left the living room once more, returning a moment later with a length of hemp rope.

“B-10-04-1212, the Hunter's Snare. It was a relic left behind by Robinson, who died in a Mysterious Realm. Alexia should have told you what it does.”

She said, holding the rope out to him.

“This should be the spoils for all three of us.”

“It is,” she agreed, “but Alexia already had me perform a divination for her, so her share of the rope was my payment. And while we helped each other today, I believe the value of that Bestowal was far greater.” The most update n0vels are published on ɴovelfire.net

Seeing her insistence, Jenkins accepted it. He had been spending a lot of cash lately, so perhaps he could sell the rope for a few gold pounds.

Before he left, Miss Audrey also mentioned the astronomy lessons, reminding him that stargazing could only be done at night, so they would need to arrange a suitable time.

As they stood in the foyer to say their goodbyes, a maid retrieved his hat and overcoat from a rack. She moved to help him put on the coat, but Jenkins declined with a gentle smile, explaining that he wasn't accustomed to such service.

The maid nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly as she handed him his things.

“Do you need any help?”

Though she didn't know the specifics of Jenkins's plan, a diviner could always surmise a few things. An intrigued look crossed her face in the dim, yellow glow of the gas lamp. “I'm not much for a direct fight, but I do know where Alexia lives. She's a professional detective and mercenary, after all.”

“No, I can handle this myself. Besides, I know a few people who can help.”

Jenkins smiled; he already had a plan forming. He'd find the location and observe it first. If there were any accomplices, he would retreat immediately. If not... As he considered this, another idea sparked.

“How about this,” Jenkins proposed. “Could you do one more reading for me? Just to see if things will go smoothly tonight.”

It was as if Miss Audrey had anticipated his request. Without a word, she produced a deck of cards from her pocket and offered it to him.

Without a second thought, Jenkins reached out and drew the top card. He flipped it over. It depicted a silver coin—not showing heads or tails, but balanced perfectly on its edge.

“The turning coin,” she interpreted. “This card means the future hinges entirely on what you do. The outcome may be good, but not the best possible. It may be bad, but at least it won't lead to death.”

“That's all I need to know. Good night, Miss Audrey.”

Cradling his cat and cane in one arm, he took off his newly donned hat with his free hand and gave a gentlemanly bow. Then, he turned and stepped out into the night.

“Good night, Mr. Williams.”

She returned his smile, then stood in her doorway, the cold, late-autumn wind whipping around her as she watched his retreating figure, a faint smile playing on her lips:

“Good luck, Mr. Williams.”

Not far from Miss Audrey's home, Jenkins slipped into the shadows of a street corner and pulled on his black robe. He hired a carriage and gave the driver a brief description of the place he was looking for. To his surprise, the driver took him straight to his destination without any need for further direction.

“The Rona River isn't very long, and the place you described isn't remote.”

The driver drawled by way of explanation.

For that, Jenkins gave the driver an extra silver coin—one shilling—when he disembarked. It was a small price to pay to reinforce the driver's memory of his current, robed appearance. That way, if anyone came asking, the trail wouldn't lead back to Jenkins Williams.

Two women knew he was heading here. Hathaway would assume he had enlisted the aid of those resourceful New God cultists. As for Miss Audrey, she was already privy to many of his secrets, and he had just told her he'd be getting help from friends.

Foolproof. This would work.

Nolan was a city without streetlights, making the slums especially dark at night. Standing at the crossroads, Jenkins surveyed the jumble of low-slung houses. They looked like a great beast, crouching in the gloom, lying in wait for him.

A faint smile touched Jenkins's lips. Only in the anonymity of the night, where his identity was safely hidden, could he act without restraint.