“Luvia, do you think the Prophet Association would acquire a precious relic like the 【wise man's stone】?”
After Schneider finished his introduction, Xia De asked the Diviner again, who thought for a moment and nodded:
“I think they would, but why are you asking this question?”
“I know what he wants to do.”
The Golden-haired girl said with a smile:
“Xia De mentioned some time ago that he wanted to buy the Founding series rhode cards from the Prophet Association, but he was rejected. I think he’s wondering if he can exchange the 【wise man's stone】 for one of them.”
“But even if the Prophet Association agrees, it means that your identity will be known to those Diviners.”
Schneider said wisely, then hesitated for a moment and asked Xia De and Dorothy:
“Actually, this Tuesday, when you attended the banquet at Lakeview Manor, around 10:30, did you hear any strange sounds?”
“Yes, after those two claps of thunder, ‘the other me’ captured the information conveyed by the relic: a trial: find the invisible person in the Tobesk area.”
Xia De nodded, and Dorothy also joined the conversation:
“Yes, I was also at Lakeview Manor at that time, and I heard it too.”
“This should be related to the 【wise man's stone】 mentioned by the college. I don’t believe that two different major events would occur at once in this area.”
The doctor said, then took out paper and pen, had Xia De and Dorothy briefly describe what happened on Tuesday night, and then sent it to the college along with his letter via a page of poetry. The reply this time was quite fast; a letter arrived in just five minutes.
This was still a letter from the Student Affairs Office. The college confirmed the information provided by the three, so each person received 1 credit and 3 pounds as a reward.
“It seems the college already knew about this.”
Schneider distributed this unexpected gain to Xia De and Dorothy, and seeing Priest Augustus deep in thought, he asked:
“Priest, what are you thinking about?”
“Speaking of which, the trial mentioned after the two claps of thunder at Lakeview Manor, which required finding an ‘invisible person,’ couldn’t possibly be the thief who has been committing crimes in the Tobesk area recently, could it?”
The Priest asked doubtfully, Luvia raised an eyebrow, and Xia De, holding the soft cat that was napping, frowned:
“It is indeed possible, but just as Priest Augustus said, who can catch him?”
“I think Success Higher Medical College and Zaras Academy should also have similar college bounties.”
Schneider said, looking at the other four, and cautiously offered advice:
“Although the sage-level relic promised by the college is indeed tempting, safety is the most important thing. For the 【wise man's stone】, since the college can issue a bounty, other Ring術士 groups will also come to join the fun. If any of us truly find a clue, absolutely do not act alone. Our group of five can act together, and the one who finds the clue will just pay the reward.”
“No problem.”
Xia De nodded, but he still didn’t believe that the group of five could really catch that thief.
“Our main energy recently should still be focused on the exam week at the end of the year. We five performed well this Summer, didn’t we? Oh, gentlemen, ladies, I hope we all pass the Winter exams smoothly. I can’t wait to have dinner together at my place after the exams, just like last year.”
The doctor said with some nostalgia. He didn’t have close relatives, and his best friends were the four people in front of him. Having dinner together after a busy year was what he looked forward to most all year.
Today’s group study session lasted until 4:30 PM because there was simply too much to discuss.
Everyone dispersed as usual, and Dorothy followed Xia De. Of course, Xia De didn’t forget that he had promised to help Old John tonight by picking up materials from Apner Library as a third party. So, after dinner, he informed Leia, who had already swapped bodies, that he might be out for a few hours tonight.
Although this would delay their date, Leia knew that Xia De had important business to do, so she let him go about his own matters.
“I’ll probably be back before ten. I hope the other party isn’t late.”
Xia De fiddled with a pen by the desk. On the desktop was the first draft of the novel Dorothy was going to publish in the newspaper next week. As compensation for giving up their date time, Leia agreed to help proofread these manuscripts.
“Speaking of which, I have something good to show you.”
Xia De said with a smile again. The cat lying on the windowsill watched this scene boredly, yawned, and had a premonition that it wouldn’t be able to sleep by the pillow tonight again.
“I got a big glowing guy, and we can look at it together tonight.”
This referred to the stone slab with silver corner protectors, rumored that touching it might grant Knowledge and Ling Rune.
The Golden-haired girl showed a mischievous smile:
“Xia De, isn’t that reason a bit too cliché? Even if you didn’t say that, I wouldn’t leave tonight. But since you mentioned ‘looking’ at something, can I understand that you want to be in the study this time?”
Her palm lightly patted the desk. When she looked at Xia De, biting her lower lip, her face was slightly red, and her eyes seemed to be glowing.
Xia De felt that Leia might have misunderstood his meaning:
“There’s really a glowing, flying thing to show you.”
He emphasized.
Leia showed an ambiguous smile and put her arms around Xia De’s neck:
“Yes, it’s really a glowing item. Then I’ll wait for you. Remember to come back early.”
The cat on the windowsill felt that it might be able to sleep in the bedroom tonight.
While Xia De was away, Leia stayed home to look after Mia and reviewed Professor Manning’s letters, trying to find unusual details within them. Xia De kissed his beloved girl goodbye downstairs, then ventured into the long night of Tobesk, shrouded in thick fog.
The meeting place agreed upon by Apner Library and the Guiding Light Hermitage was not in the City, but in the City public cemetery east of the City. In recent weeks, the City has been enveloped in thick fog, and even at night, the mist lingers.
When Xia De arrived at the cemetery outside the City, the cemetery was shrouded in fog, like something out of a horror story, where unnamable ghouls could spring out at any moment to attack unfortunate citizens visiting the cemetery at night.
Xia De was wrapped in a warm black robe, his hood down, but he wore a mask on his face. The agreed time for the meeting and delivery was 9 PM. He left early because he was worried about being late, so when he arrived at the cemetery, it was still fifteen minutes before nine.
As he saw the cemetery from afar, he was already longing for his warm and comfortable home, his soft and lovely cat, and his vibrant girl.
Using Raglai's Leap to pass through the fence, his boots left no trace on the ground. There was still light in the small chapel in the distance, but the gravedigger’s hut was already dark. There was a faint smell of burning in the fog, and the people who rested there sighed silently in the quiet mist.
Although this place looked very much like a scene where ghost stories could happen, no inconsiderate ghosts came to disturb Xia De tonight. He waited patiently under a pine tree in the northeast corner of the cemetery.
At exactly 9 PM, another Ring術士 in a black robe emerged from the thick fog of the cemetery. He carried a black briefcase with a small copper lock hanging from it. Upon seeing Xia De, who stood under the dead tree, almost merging with the night, he did not approach too closely. Instead, he stopped on the cemetery path and quietly asked:
“What do mandrills like to eat?”
This was Old John’s agreed-upon code phrase to prevent mistaking the wrong person during the data handover.
“Tooth decay.”
Xia De replied in a deep voice.
“What happens if you walk barefoot?”
The unfamiliar Ring術士 asked again. Although he deliberately disguised his voice, Xia De could tell it was a man, and he spoke with a very fluent Tobesk accent. This wasn’t an accent that could be mastered through mere study and language talent; only someone who had frequented pubs for years, dealt with commoners, and was immersed in the language from a young age could speak like this.
In the words of an Outsider, this was an “Old Tobeskian,” and using this accent in other places could even highlight one’s identity. It seemed that although Apner Library had very little influence, it still had permanent staff in Tobesk.
“You’ll get your butt kicked hard by Mrs. Maria with a boot.”
Xia De said, and then he asked the third question. The contact riddle agreed upon by Old John and Apner Library was very interesting:
“Is the most despairing thing for Tobesk citizens the corruption and inefficiency of the City Hall civil servants?”
“No.”
The stranger shook his head firmly, answering through gritted teeth:
“It’s the rising housing prices year by year.”
This answer came from the heart.
Xia De breathed a sigh of relief and took a step forward:
“Yes, sir, it’s housing prices, the damned housing prices. Now, please put the box at your feet and step back five paces.”
The stranger put down the briefcase and stepped back five paces as Xia De instructed. After the other party stopped, Xia De walked over and picked up the box.
The key was in the lock of the box. Xia De opened the box and looked at the documents inside. He needed to confirm whether the other party had given him a stack of old newspapers. Of course, he only symbolically checked the first two pages, and then closed the briefcase:
“Very well, the transaction is over, sir. I don’t suppose you need me to write a receipt, do you?”
He made a small joke, and the other party chuckled dryly. Both looked at each other and then slowly retreated. Once they were far enough apart, they each turned and left:
“Seriously, it’s so complicated, just like an underground transaction of an illegal organization.”
After confirming that the other party had also left, Xia De walked through the cemetery, muttering in his heart.
“Isn’t it?”
As Xia De walked deeper into the thick fog, “she” asked with a smile. Xia De didn’t answer, but looked at the briefcase in his hand:
“The question now is, should I peek before giving it to Old John?”
