In fact, Byron hadn't been surprised at all that he might be attacked by a Second Order Dancing Girl of the Hall Sequence from the very beginning. Before undertaking this mission, he had spent the whole month of traveling repeatedly studying the intelligence on his opponent and conducting risk assessments.
The Newman Family had been here several times already. They hadn't uncovered the secret of the Spices, but they had collected quite a bit of general information about the town's residents.
The old Priest stationed in the church and the young Dancer who lingered in the tavern for long periods were both suspected to be Second Order Transcendents in the intelligence reports. It was mainly they who dealt with outsiders, too.
The only thing missing in the intelligence was that unremarkable, extremely deceptive Famine Hunter.
