As soon as the words were spoken, the Scoutflies on Andrew's body automatically flew out, leaving a thin line in the air before circling the girl, emitting a green glow.
Looking at these unique little bugs around her, Jane was surprised for a moment, but Andrew's next words surprised her even more.
And Andrew, even before seeing the Scoutflies' guidance, had already recognized the person in front of him as the girl from the outer ring he had met in Blazewood.
"Jane? Your outfit is so different from the last time we met."
She never imagined that her carefully crafted image would be exposed in Andrew's eyes in less than five seconds. And based on his reaction, even without those little bugs, she would have been found out just as quickly.
To think Andrew had such a magical thing with him.
Jane lightly tapped her finger, but the little bugs circling her dodged it at an incredible speed, so fast that she couldn't even react.
With a wave from Andrew, the Scoutflies flew back into the cage at his waist.
Having been completely recognized, Jane stopped pretending to be a stranger in front of Andrew, revealing a smile that was both regretful and helpless.
But the gently swaying tail behind her indicated that the girl was actually quite happy about being recognized.
"I remember someone said that when we met again, if I recognized her, she would give me an answer."
Seeing that the girl wasn't going to deny it, Andrew crossed his arms, looking at her as she wrapped her tail around her thigh, gesturing as if to say, 'The stage is all yours.'
"Such sharp eyes you have, for an 'ordinary' blacksmith shop owner?"
Exposed, Jane faced the arms-crossed Andrew. She pulled back the hand she'd been using to browse merchandise, hooked her thumb back onto the metal ring on her jacket, and casually leaned against a nearby shelf.
"As far as I know, young man, besides ordinary ironware, your shop sells some things that an 'ordinary' blacksmith shouldn't be selling~"
"Oh?"
In response to Jane's counter-jab, Andrew just casually waved his hand and said:
"How could that be? You need evidence to make such claims. This is a legitimate shop. Besides, are you saying this as a member of an outer ring gang, or in your true identity?"
The fact that she had another identity had already been guessed by Andrew back in Blazewood, so Jane saw no need to hide it.
After all, this powerful shop owner had already earned a measure of her trust.
"Public Security Bureau, Janus Branch. I'm a collaborator with the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team, a criminal consultant. You can call me Jane Doe."
Andrew wasn't too surprised by Jane's identity. After all, everything that had happened before had already led him to certain suspicions.
Still, upon actual confirmation, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"Honestly, if you hadn't admitted it yourself, I would've had a hard time believing it."
Andrew looked Jane up and down, unable to help but shake his head as he said:
"After all, your whole vibe is just too similar to someone who hangs out in the gray areas."
"I'll take that as a compliment~ After all, for an undercover agent, the greatest praise is to blend in completely."
Jane brought her fingertips to her lips and chuckled softly.
"After all, you have to get close to it, enter it, and understand it to truly play the part, right?~"
Andrew understood what she meant. After all, if an undercover agent reeked of righteousness and didn't fit the environment, they'd probably get caught on day one.
But now that identities were on the table, Jane said teasingly:
"So now I can ask about a certain blacksmith shop privately selling weapons, can't I?"
Andrew didn't take her teasing seriously, but his verbal comeback was watertight:
"Selling? What do you mean? I just gave some of my friends some self-made, hand-forged crafts. I've never sold any weapons."
Seeing Andrew spout words that not even a ghost would believe, Jane, who hadn't come to pick a fight over these gray-market dealings anyway, said casually:
"Anyway, since I've been recognized for a second time, let's exchange contacts As for whether our relationship can level up further... that'll depend on whether you can keep finding me"
Hearing this, Andrew very naturally pulled out his phone.
"Heh, looks like I've made a friend whether you like it or not. And having a bona fide police officer as an online friend... I'd say I'm the one getting the better end of this deal."
With the contact information successfully exchanged, Jane acted as if her mission was complete. She waved her hand and said:
"I was originally planning to pretend to be a plainclothes officer on a raid. Didn't expect you to recognize me before I even started."
"How about next time I pretend not to recognize you at first, and play along for a bit?"
In response to Andrew's banter, Jane gave a light chuckle and said:
"If you fail to recognize me next time, maybe it'll be for real, you know~"
In a flash, Jane was out of the shop, disappearing into the crowd in just a few seconds.
With this unique customer's visit over, Andrew didn't linger in the shop either.
As usual, after telling Twentie to notify him by text if any special customers showed up, Andrew walked back into his workshop.
However, although his bag was full of materials waiting to be forged, Andrew wasn't in a rush.
As he climbed the stairs step by step, the second-floor room once again appeared before his eyes.
Having been away for a few days, the first thing Andrew did upon opening the door was look at the Blazing Light Tachi, Lasher, which was displayed on the counter.
Everything in the room was just as he had left it. Any potential dust had been completely cleaned away by Twentie, leaving no trace.
Taking a few steps toward Lasher, Andrew noticed that a decorative trinket placed in front of it had fallen to the floor.
Picking it up, a puzzled Andrew glanced at the closed window.
"I didn't open the window... Did it just fall on its own?"
Scratching his head in confusion, Andrew couldn't find a reason and placed the trinket back in its original spot.
The alarm clock from Caesar was on the bedside table. Andrew once again gripped Lasher's hilt.
He once again channeled the energy from his body into the Tachi in his hands. But this time was different; Andrew felt that Lasher's demand for energy was much stronger.
It was as if it wanted to make up for the energy it hadn't received over the past few days.
The absorption continued until it had taken twice the usual amount of energy before gradually stopping. Or rather, if he hadn't stopped it, Andrew's forging plans for the day would have had to be postponed.
To ensure his upcoming forging wouldn't be affected, Andrew chose to forcibly stop the energy transfer, placating it at the same time:
"Easy, easy. In a few days, when we go back to Silver City, I'll take you with me. Ever since they got that Odogaron corpse, that place has been overflowing with energy."
Hearing Andrew's words, Lasher seemed satisfied. The white cloth strips that served as its sheath finally stopped clinging to Andrew's arm, releasing him completely.
Like stroking a pet, Andrew patted Lasher's sheath before leaving.
He took out the materials he had just obtained from hunting from his system-bound material box and headed for the anvil and forge in the downstairs workshop.
____
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