Lord of The Mysterious Realms Chapter 608

Thursday was the twenty-seventh of the month, which meant the most important event of the year, the Year-End Festival, was just around the corner. But the end of the year also brought a host of troubles: school exams, final factory settlements before the holidays, and audits for joint-stock companies. Even tucked away in Pops Antique Shop, Jenkins could feel the city buzzing with a mixture of tension and excitement.

The traditions of the Year-End Festival were somewhat similar to a major religious holiday from Jenkins's memories, with the most significant overlap being the exchange of gifts. This not only meant that Jenkins had to rack his brain for present ideas, but it also meant that after two slow months, business at Pops Antique Shop was finally booming. The source of thɪs content is novel⦿fire.net

The customers were all in high spirits, and few were inclined to cause trouble on the eve of the festival. They even paid their bills with much less fuss, and the antique shop's young apprentice even received a rare tip.

Papa Oliver let Jenkins keep the tip, only advising him not to give his friends any hand-knitted gifts for the festival.

"But isn't something handmade more precious?"

And it was cheaper and less hassle, sparing him the indecisive wandering through shops.

"Yes, but as a single man, I'd rather your friends not think you have any... peculiar hobbies."

Perhaps Papa Oliver had a point. When Jenkins found the time to travel to Ruen and asked Miss Stuart for advice on what gifts to give, she agreed that such things were fine for elders, but not for female peers.

"What have you given in previous years?"

Jenkins sifted through his dust-covered memories and made an unexpected discovery:

"In previous years, I only ever gave presents to my family."

"...I didn't have any friends to exchange gifts with."

The old Jenkins had been exceptionally wild. His so-called friends were mostly ne'er-do-wells he'd met on the streets, and the original owner of his body had seen no point in giving them gifts.

The look Miss Stuart gave Jenkins was filled with pity, as were the expressions on Alexia and Julia's faces.

In the end, he received no valuable suggestions and could only resolve to search the shopping districts over the weekend.

Before returning to Nolan, he had also commissioned his friends in Ruen to help him find information on that bestowed black pistol. He had found nothing about it in the Gate of All Things.

Miss Stuart looked a little envious. As the wielder of the Frozen Archer Chess Set, she was well aware of the advantages that came with such special items.

That evening, after bidding farewell to Hathaway and Miss Mikhail at the club entrance, Jenkins made a trip to the black market. Guided by the middleman known as Joker, he once again met with the huntress.

The last time they'd met, her joking suggestion to "raid an Orthodox Church" had left a lasting impression on Jenkins, which was why he now decided to entrust her with a very dangerous task.

"A strange request. To find the source of the current flu."

The woman crossed her legs and leaned back, her face hidden in the shadows beyond the candlelight.

"Yes, and I won't conceal its importance. To put it simply, the source of the flu is a pure-blooded vampire. Don't ask me why an aberration would catch the flu. You just need to bring me the result, and I will provide a suitable reward."

While concealing the truth might have lowered the commission fee, Jenkins wasn't about to increase the risk just to save a few gold pounds. He needed the huntress to fully understand the danger involved.

"The vampire's level?"

As expected, she didn't refuse. After a moment of contemplation, she cut straight to the point.

"If you're referring to the one infected with the flu, it should be level seven. I can guarantee the accuracy of that."

"Not a demigod? In that case, I can accept the commission. But you should know that even if I don't have to face those strange creatures head-on, the risk is still considerable."

Jenkins had identified himself as a returning client, which was why she had so readily agreed to such a perilous job.

"I understand the risks, of course. But I also know that the famous Huntress never fails."

After the brief flattery, it was time to discuss the price. Jenkins wasn't worried. Just that morning, he had received a letter from his lawyer, Mr. Raul Onis. The portion of Viscount Augustus's estate bequeathed to Jenkins had been fully converted into gold pounds. They would complete the final procedures at the city hall before or after the festival, at which point Jenkins would become Nolan's newest young magnate, with a fortune of forty thousand gold pounds.

"For this commission, I won't be needing gold pounds as payment."

That was rather unexpected.

"Specific materials or an item, then?"

"No, no. I recall your last commission, the one involving the knights from the Church of Sun and Justice."

"I trust you're still following that matter. So, if my esteemed client can provide the information I want as payment, this commission will cost you nothing at all."

"I imagine if even you can't get that information, then neither can I."

"That's fine. Hear my question first. If you truly don't know, we can always negotiate another form of payment."

As she spoke, the woman uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, her entire form now bathed in the candlelight. Looking at her face, Jenkins confirmed yet again that he had never seen anyone so utterly unremarkable.

"I don't care why the knights are staying in Nolan. I just want to know one thing: where is the young woman with the surname Knight now? If you're still investigating them, you should know."

Jenkins did know. Just as he had suspected in the Mysterious Realm, Miss Knight's family was indeed connected to the legendary dragon riders. After the great dragon had taken up temporary residence in the Evergreen Forest, the two agents from the Church of Sun and Justice had relocated there as well.

But Nolan's five churches were deeply displeased. They all argued that since the dragon was discovered in Nolan, its handling should fall to the local powers.

Jenkins had no intention of telling her.

The huntress didn't press the matter, simply leaning back into the shadows. "In that case, I suppose we can start talking price."

The principle of "you get what you pay for" was perfectly embodied by this woman. The final fee for the investigation was set at 12,000 pounds. And given the extreme danger and uncertainty of the situation, Jenkins was required to pay a 10,000-pound deposit upfront.

"But I don't have that much on me right now..."

He didn't want to delay, but he truly... No, wait. He actually did have a way to get his hands on that much money in Nolan, and quickly.