The carriage was extremely quiet. Combined with Xia De's excellent physical fitness and the enhanced hearing from Echoes of the Past in the Divine Radiance state, he vaguely heard a few Carson Rick words, but they weren't very clear:
"What is she saying?"
The maid said: Your Highness, MI6 personnel have been found around the station.
"Hmm? How can you hear that?"
The whispering continued in his ear:
If I can see directions you cannot, why can't I hear sounds you cannot perceive?
What "she" said made a lot of sense, and Xia De himself had heard part of the sound. It was understandable that "the other me," with more powerful perception, heard more:
"But, MI6? Your Highness?"
His eyes widened slightly, but his expression remained unchanged as he said:
"Your Highness, you didn't need to use honorifics with me just now."
Then he asked again:
"Also, has something happened?"
"A talent like you, who serves the country, deserves my honorifics."
The lady behind the screen spoke a little faster than before, evidently not expecting MI6 to appear here.
But Xia De could understand. Although Chief Anlos didn't get the exact delivery location from Xia De, he at least knew it was related to Middlesburg. If their investigation was thorough enough, it was possible they stumbled upon the fact that this train had a problem.
"Mr. Gray Headed Eagle, please leave first."
"Your Highness, do you have a backup plan? By the way, why are you here to pick up the goods?"
Xia De's thoughts became clearer and clearer. "Your Highness" was a unique term in Carson Rick, not just anyone could use it. So, although he was also very surprised, the woman behind the screen should be the princess of the Southern Kingdom.
Xia De wasn't sure which one, but no matter which one, she shouldn't appear here casually. This was absolutely against the rules, even absurd to think about.
So the only explanation was that she was using the Gray Gloves system to act privately and daringly, wanting to see the contents of the box in advance:
"Why are the princesses in this world so bold?"
Xia De narrowed his eyes slightly and said haltingly:
"Your Highness, your presence here couldn't possibly be a private matter..."
"That's none of your business!"
Xia De smiled and switched to delarion common language:
"Your Highness, since MI6 personnel have been discovered by you, it means they will soon search here. The Six Divisions won't let this carriage go. I imagine you probably have a way to escape, but that would be very troublesome. Why don't I help you solve this problem?"
Xia De helped this princess of the Southern Kingdom because he wanted the other party to completely believe that he was "Gray Headed Eagle," and thus trust the information in the briefcase.
"Then I'll trouble you."
Xia De nodded, saying nothing more. He turned to leave, but was called back. The sound of writing came from behind the screen, and then a note and a silver brooch with the Anjou Royal Family crest were handed out:
"Mr. Gray Headed Eagle, I believe you might be able to realize greater value in Tobesk. I also have my own people in Tobesk, perhaps you can go and see here."
Xia De didn't take the items from the maid's hand:
"Your Highness, you should know that people like me will not be swayed by any party; I am only loyal to the Gray Gloves itself."
The princess behind the screen seemed to want to win over "Gray Headed Eagle," the ace agent, but the problem now was that "Gray Headed Eagle" had died that summer.
"But no one can avoid political disputes. Even you, one day, will be forced to take a side, won't you?"
A gentle laugh came from behind the screen. Xia De still shook his head; he didn't want to get involved with any foreign agents anymore.
But before he could refuse again, another maid, who was a one-ring or two-ring level, also walked out with a thick envelope.
"Since Professor Higgins unfortunately passed away, the reward for this mission will be given to you, 200 crowns. In addition, for our friendship, if you are willing to visit the address on the note, you can receive an additional 1000 pounds there, as my private sponsorship for your winter firewood expenses in Tobesk City. I know this money isn't much, but there will always be opportunities for cooperation in the future, won't there?"
According to the current exchange rate, 11 to 12 pounds could be exchanged for 1 crown, which meant that there were more than two thousand pounds in that envelope alone.
This envelope already made it impossible for Xia De to refuse:
She gave too much.
Xia De pretended to hesitate for a moment, then took the brooch and the very reassuring envelope, putting them both into his pocket. Then he took the note, glanced at it, and burned it on the spot with a match:
"Please don't reveal my activities in Mi Fort. I received a secret mission, and if headquarters found out, I would be disciplined."
"Of course, Mr. Gray Headed Eagle. And thank you for your loyalty to the family."
The voice behind the screen praised softly. Xia De said nothing more, but turned and walked out.
He spent 200 pounds to "buy" this briefcase, in exchange for Leia's favor and a reward of three thousand pounds. From the "waiting for a letter" mission that the Outsider received when he first came to this world until now, this long mission chain, which lasted nearly four months, was finally fully completed.
Although subsequent events related to the potential "Gray Headed Eagle" and "Difference Engine" emerged, at least it was profitable.
"Sparrow Detective is really a good person."
He thought to himself as he stepped out of the carriage, reminiscing about the Detective:
"When the Mi Fort incident is over, maybe I can go to the cemetery to see that Detective again - may he rest in peace."
With Raglai's Leap and the Corpse Mirror, it was easy for Xia De to lead a group of ordinary people away, giving those in carriage number one time to hide.
He spent the entire morning near the station, and it was only at lunchtime that he returned to Cassandra Auction House and saw Grandma Cassandra checking the accounts.
The Old Witch had many capable assistants, but she also didn't want to be idle, so she would occasionally check accounts or personally participate in auctions.
Seeing Xia De arrive, she put down the ledger in her hand, and the two left the study and returned to the reception room. Xia De returned the Secret keeper-level relic, the Identity Card of the Unknown Name, and talked with the very talkative Old Witch about the earthquake a few days ago, then asked casually:
"Since there is a Great Witch among the Anjou Royal Family of Delarion, is there a Great Witch in Carson Rick's Anjou Royal Family?"
"Do you think the Witch Council is an organization secretly controlling the world from behind the scenes?"
Grandma Cassandra smiled and shook her head:
"No, at least there are no Great Witches among the direct members of the Anjou Royal Family. The Great Witch with the most secular power in the contemporary Witch Council is Jialinna."
The identities of the Great Witches are a secret of the Witch Council, and every member is obligated to keep it confidential. So unless Xia De truly had the possibility of coming into contact with those Great Witches, even Miss Jialinna would not reveal the identities of other Witches to Xia De.
"Did something happen to you?"
The old woman, who had lived for over a hundred years, easily detected a clue from Xia De's words.
Xia De hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell some truth:
"I encountered an accident a few days ago and heard rumors from a friend about a Witch in Weilandale City, the capital of Carson Rick, and that it was related to the Royal Family. Of course, it's just an unproven rumor, just like when Miss Jialinna first arrived in Tobesk this summer, I heard rumors of a Witch at a certain banquet."
PS: Main Quest:
whispering chapters, currently in Branch 3: All Things End.
Sub-Main Quest:
The Rise and Fall of Civilization, Act 1: Cat and Gray Headed Eagle (Completed). Act 2 Prequel Story Not Triggered.
Regional Important Side Quests (Mi Fort):
1. Sicar Mountain Folk Customs Study (Completed)
2. Vampire Throne (In Progress): Two rings completed: Encountering a Vampire, Blood Debt
3. Red Butterfly (In Progress): Two rings completed: The Old Witch of Mi Fort, Mi Fort Mechanical College Murder Case
4. Demon Hunt Sword (To Be Started)
5. Reverse Birth Person (To Be Started)
6. Fire Will Extinguish (Not Triggered)
