As Von Lycaon elegantly withdrew a title deed and a uniquely styled mobile phone, he placed them together in front of Andrew.
His movements, however, did not stop there.
With an attitude far more reverent than before, Von Lycaon took a thin envelope from his breast pocket. Judging by its appearance, its security level was clearly a tier above the rest.
Subsequently, these three items were laid out before Andrew.
"These are the property deed and the Mayor's private line, entrusted to me by the Mayor himself. As for the contents of the envelope, he will explain them to you during the call."
After setting down everything the Mayor had handed over, Von Lycaon bowed slightly with characteristic grace and said, "I shall wait for you in the workshop downstairs while you converse with the Mayor."
Hearing this, Andrew waved his hand casually.
"It's fine, no need for such trouble. After all, there's nothing shameful going on here."
Without waiting for Von Lycaon to reply, Andrew dialed the Mayor's private line on the phone right in front of him.
It was as if the other party had been waiting by the phone. In just a few seconds, the call was picked up instantly.
Immediately after, a voice that sounded extremely gentle and refined, yet revealing an aura of kindness, rang out from the phone.
"I am delighted to have this opportunity to chat with you, guest from outside New Eridu. I have been wanting to express my welcome to you personally, and I thank you for giving me this chance to fulfill that wish."
To be honest, before hearing the Mayor's voice, Andrew hadn't expected it to sound exactly like the type he thought least likely.
But thinking back to those operations that were as cunning as an old fox, Andrew could only sigh that one really shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
And subsequently, the Mayor's probing proved that Andrew's judgment wasn't wrong. After a slight pause, the Mayor immediately asked with feigned humility:
"However, regarding how to address you... I do not know much about you. Would you prefer the title widely circulated on the Proxy Net, 'Mr. Unrivaled Iron Fist', or is there another name that belongs to you?"
Although he knew clearly that the Mayor was fishing for information about his identity, the title 'Unrivaled Iron Fist' was simply too heavy a burden for Andrew to bear.
So he immediately said, "Hunter. Just call me Hunter. Let's skip the excessive pleasantries. You didn't seek me out just to talk about this, did you?"
Having received the answer he wanted, the Mayor followed the flow naturally.
"Oh... of course, of course. I simply couldn't help but get a little excited speaking to the person who saved New Eridu, which was rebuilt with such difficulty. Please forgive me."
Immediately returning to the main topic, the Mayor issued his invitation directly.
"I just wanted to ask, as a reward for this incident, would Mr. Hunter be willing to become a new Void Hunter of New Eridu?"
This was, of course, not the Mayor speaking off the cuff or in the heat of the moment, but the result of careful deliberation.
After all, judging by the current intelligence, Andrew's strength was certainly sufficient. And although his achievements were a bit thin, their weight had already reached the standard of a Void Hunter.
"Void Hunter?"
Andrew was slightly stunned upon hearing this.
Although he expected the other party, who knew his identity, might give him some title, he really didn't expect them to be this generous.
However, Andrew had no interest in this title.
Possessing rights would inevitably bring countless obligations. If he accepted this title, would he have to listen to someone's orders whenever something happened?
Moreover, wouldn't working for New Eridu become an obligation then?
Being led by the nose because of a title, unable to do what he wanted to do—Andrew had no desire to do such a thing.
Andrew actually didn't mind working for people; after all, as a Hunter, wasn't he originally working for the Guild? But what Andrew minded was working for the leaders of New Eridu, who looked like idiots.
At least so far in New Eridu, Andrew hadn't met an organization that could make him willing to work for them.
The City Administration wouldn't work either.
Most importantly, if he really accepted the title of Void Hunter, he would become a public figure and wouldn't be able to hide his identity to be Belle's exclusive Agent.
He had said before that he was her exclusive Agent, and that would never change.
So Andrew shook his head decisively.
"No thanks. Instead of giving me these useless titles, you'd be better off guaranteeing that whenever such monsters appear in the future, you'll share the intelligence with me immediately."
Being rejected so bluntly by Andrew didn't surprise the Mayor much. After all, it wasn't the first time he had been rejected.
He immediately replied, "Oh? Since Mr. Hunter has no interest in such things, I naturally won't force it."
Although the Void Hunter title was the best thing the Mayor could offer, since Andrew didn't like fame and fortune, he naturally wouldn't insist.
Gift-giving must follow the recipient's mood.
So the Mayor immediately shifted to the method Von Lycaon had suggested earlier. At the same time, regarding Andrew's request for intelligence sharing, he wouldn't refuse.
"As for the intelligence, I can give a clear answer right now—absolutely. If you want intelligence in this area, all such information I receive hereafter will be shared with you immediately."
Andrew nodded with satisfaction upon hearing this. Compared to any so-called rewards, this kind of genuine intelligence source was the most useful thing to him.
But the Mayor's next sentence was like a bomb, instantly putting Andrew on high alert.
He spoke up, "Regarding the Phaethon siblings you are cooperating with... please send my regards to them on my behalf."
Andrew frowned instantly, his guard going up immediately.
He glanced at Von Lycaon, who had been standing by the side, only to see a look of surprise amidst confusion on the other's face.
Undoubtedly, this was not the result of Von Lycaon's investigation.
Realizing Andrew's vigilance, the Mayor spoke immediately, "Mr. Hunter seems to still be somewhat wary of me. Of course, I fully understand your concerns."
The Mayor's tone was full of sincerity as he said, "Please rest assured, I absolutely have no malicious intent."
The Mayor's words didn't sound like lies, so Andrew prepared to listen to what exactly he wanted to say.
Seeing this, the Mayor immediately explained, "Their teacher, Carlos... and I were once friends. In my memory, she was a good person. I also felt great regret upon learning that she was actually the one most responsible for the fall of the Old Capital."
Andrew raised an eyebrow at this, and Von Lycaon on the side was also somewhat surprised.
He completely hadn't expected that Phaethon was actually from the Helios Academy, and a student of Carlos.
However, since Andrew was cooperating with Phaethon, based on Von Lycaon's understanding of Andrew during this period, the other party must have his own considerations.
Andrew, however, chose to deny the Mayor's words immediately.
"They said there was a hidden story behind that incident, and I believe what she said."
Hearing Andrew's words, the Mayor nodded immediately in agreement and sighed, "I certainly hope so too. It's just... the fall of the Old Capital is too heavy a matter. But regardless, I believe the two of them must have been implicated."
Although the Mayor spoke with sincerity, Andrew didn't appreciate it much.
After all, with that level of understanding, it was impossible for the Mayor to have just learned of Belle and Wise's existence; he must have been watching them all along.
Yet he waited until now to reach out, and he reached out to Andrew, not them.
Seeing Andrew not responding to the pleasantries, the Mayor didn't feel awkward and continued naturally, "My contact this time is actually to tell them something important regarding their... eyes."
"I found some data left behind by Carlos during her lifetime. She spent a lot of time and energy on this subject, researching how to reduce the side effects of the implants in their eyes—that is, the suppression of their Ether resistance by the H.D.D System will disappear, gradually restoring it to their innate, normal level."
Andrew felt a trace of surprise upon hearing this.
Although he knew Belle used Eous as a substitute because her Ether resistance was too low, he didn't expect there to be such a hidden detail.
"According to the current progress, in less than a month, the algorithm upgrade for the H.D.D System will be completely finished. At that time, the power consumption of the H.D.D System during operation will be greatly reduced, allowing them to enter and exit Hollows like normal Investigators."
Although not stated explicitly, this benefit given to buy off himself and the Belle-Wise siblings was something Andrew simply couldn't refuse.
In this world full of Hollows where Hollow disasters could occur at any time, having no Ether resistance was like being an ordinary person living in Tokyo in a Godzilla worldview—a single movement from a giant beast could wipe them out completely.
But as long as she could have the adaptability of a normal Investigator, her life would be greatly guaranteed.
Subsequently, after waiting for Andrew to fully digest the information, the Mayor continued, "I don't need to say much about the property deed Von Lycaon brought you. As the City Administration, our available funds aren't very abundant, so take this shop as a meeting gift for this call."
A meeting gift worth more than twenty-three million Dennies?
Is this what you call 'funds not being abundant'?
But the next words the Mayor spoke made Andrew's gaze focus again.
"As for that envelope, inside is a photo regarding the trail of Phaethon's teacher, Carlos."
Although he was prepared for the Mayor's methods, Andrew couldn't help but be startled now.
The siblings had been searching for a trace for nearly seven years, and he just got it like that?
No, it was just a photo, at best a clue.
But he had produced something substantial.
It had to be said, this move of pure bribery by the Mayor really struck Andrew's heart, perfectly producing something Andrew couldn't refuse.
And news of Carlos was something the Belle-Wise siblings simply couldn't refuse either.
With this, the legendary Proxy Phaethon and her legendary Agent had been successfully bought over by the Mayor.
As long as the Mayor didn't do anything evil that Andrew couldn't accept in the future, when encountering issues, Andrew would at least be more inclined towards the City Administration's faction.
At the same time, Andrew understood why Yixuan, as the representative of Yunkui Summit, was willing to cooperate with the City Administration.
The Mayor continued, "I had a forensics expert look at it. This photo is not a forgery, though it's impossible to know who took it. The only thing certain is that it flowed out from the Porcelum production area of the Lemnian Hollow near Waifei Peninsula."
"It's just that right now, you cannot enter Waifei Peninsula to investigate directly."
The Mayor's words made Andrew frown slightly. Who brings out intelligence but doesn't allow an investigation?
This would likely be quite a torture for Belle.
So Andrew asked, "Why?"
"Recently, the Military and TOPS are going tit-for-tat in Waifei Peninsula over the monopoly of Porcelum. Any outsider in Waifei Peninsula will be treated as a spy for the opposition and targeted by both the Military and TOPS's Porcelumex forces simultaneously."
The Mayor sounded somewhat helpless; he had no good solution for the dispute between TOPS and the Military in this regard.
After all, this concerned the very livelihood and survival of both parties.
So trying his best not to get involved was already everything the Mayor could do. In such a highly tense environment, if Andrew and Belle ran to the Lemnian Hollow to sneak around investigating...
That would be more conspicuous than a firefly in the dark night.
With the Mayor putting it that way, Andrew really didn't have a solution either.
He couldn't just beat up everyone present just to find someone, could he?
Although he could do it, if there really was a mastermind holding Carlos hostage or some other hidden circumstance, wouldn't they have run away without a trace by the time Andrew finished the beating?
Furthermore, they weren't terrorists. Beating up those two parties would be meaningless. All in all, it wasn't just that the loss outweighed the gain;
It would be pointless.
So, looking at the situation, it seemed they could only wait.
Seeing Andrew's hesitation, the well-prepared Mayor timely proposed a solution.
"According to the intelligence I possess now, in about another month, it will be time for the two sides to determine a winner."
"By then, the upgrade for the H.D.D System will also be complete."
Recalling what Yixuan had mentioned earlier about Andrew wanting to learn Arts, the Mayor continued, "I've spoken with Yixuan. At that time, she will go to Waifei Peninsula to investigate the specific situation under the pretext of returning to re-open a dojo."
"At that time, you can hang your names under Yunkui Summit as apprentice disciples. While conducting the investigation, she can conveniently guide the siblings in excavating their own potential and teach you the Arts you wish to learn."
Hearing this, Andrew naturally had no objections.
As the saying goes, those who have achieved mastery are teachers. He was a complete novice in terms of Arts, so there was absolutely no problem in acknowledging Yixuan as his master.
Besides, it was just as apprentice disciples.
So he nodded and said, "That works. As long as Yixuan agrees, I have no objections."
The Mayor nodded with satisfaction upon hearing this.
The goal he wanted to achieve with this call could already be said to be overfulfilled.
After all, he could feel from Andrew's tone just now that, at the very least, he was more willing to cooperate with the City Administration.
As for letting the siblings go to Waifei Peninsula to investigate, with two Void Hunter-level powerhouses as insurance, it must be sufficient.
It was even far, far better than his original expectation of one stationed there and one on standby from a distance.
With that settled, after a final reminder that this private line was always open for Andrew, the Mayor hung up the phone.
Following the end of the call, Andrew's reaction when asked about his title was still fresh in the Mayor's mind.
He immediately summoned a staff member into the office and ordered:
"Use paid posters to change the title circulating on the Proxy Net for that hero who resolved the monster invasion at the venue yesterday to 'Hunter'. Do it immediately, regardless of the cost."
As the staff member received the order, the title belonging to Andrew on the Proxy Net began to change rapidly.
_____
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