Chapter 224: Xio, Are You Hiding Something From Me?
After returning to the temporary hotel,
Luo En cautiously opened the gift box and, by the dim gaslight in the room, examined it carefully.
"No problem." He then picked up the crystal monocle, put it on his right eye, and inspected it meticulously again.
"Strange… It feels indescribably different. But, it also looks perfectly fine…"
Luo En frowned slightly.
Thinking that Bodyguard Miss was standing right behind him, Luo En ultimately decided to temporarily put aside his doubts.
"The remaining payment, I've placed under the bed," Luo En said to the figure behind him.
"Understood."
The air rippled slightly, and Sharon's figure, clad in a Gothic court gown, silently materialized. "It was a pleasure working with you, Miss Sharon."
"A pleasure… working with you." Sharon paused for a few seconds before responding in her ethereal voice. She seemed slightly unaccustomed to such formal goodbyes.
"Speaking of which," Luo En asked again, "can I ask you for another small favor?"
"Tell me."
"Help me get a complete set of identification documents for a new identity. 'James Scott' needs them."
"I can do that," Sharon replied concisely.
"Also," Luo En continued, "do you know any 'Craftsmen'?"
"I want to create a Mystical Item."
"I can help you inquire around in the circle," Sharon replied.
Subsequently, Luo En also asked her to help him find out if there was any way to restore a Mystical Item back to its original Beyonder characteristic.
Sharon did not respond immediately, but Luo En sensed from her calm, unblinking eyes that she had tacitly agreed to keep an eye out for relevant information.
"Thank you," Luo En sincerely expressed his gratitude. "Then, how should I find you in the future? Should I still go to that bar to find Maric?"
Sharon nodded gently.
"Goodbye," Luo En said.
"Mm."
Sharon gracefully bent her body, lifted the sides of her skirt, and performed a classical and standard farewell bow.
Her figure rapidly became transparent, eventually disappearing completely from the spot.
Feeling the spiritual fluctuations around him return to calm, Luo En sighed softly, a strange sense of loneliness quietly emerging.
"Indeed, in the end, a person still has to rely on himself."
After a few moments of reflection, he began to formulate his plan.
First, he would visit his pen pal named Fors to confirm the matter concerning Sherlock.
Then, he would apply for the firearm patent.
Once the factory matters were settled, he could visit Senator Macht as 'Hai Rouer's friend.' He would see if he could use Macht's connections to secure more arms sales channels.
"According to the information I gathered, Hai Rouer's father, Mori Macht, was a former military man who became a senator after retirement. So, he must have many military connections—"
"And the matter of advancement—"
Luo En directed his thoughts to this most important issue.
However, a Sequence 5 potion formula is something that is hard to come by. For now, he could only rely on luck.
As for Lachi's potion, there was still no lead.
"Alas…"
Luo En sighed.
He should think about his pen pal instead.
A sunny, cheerful, and enthusiastic pen pal—
He recalled the self-descriptions in her letters, trying to sketch a vague image.
I have never dealt with this type of lady before.
How should I act so as not to seem impolite?
I asked Miss Sharon earlier, but she didn't give me any advice. Although he had some worries, Luo En still felt a faint sense of anticipation.
After all, this might very well be his first truly ordinary "friend" in this world.
But somehow, as soon as he thought about meeting tomorrow, he became worried again.
Hopefully… the other person is normal enough.
Late at night, after completing another arbitration mission, Xio returned home, dragging her weary body.
To her surprise, the living room light was still on.
"Fors? Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Xio looked at Fors, who was hunched over her desk, scratching her head over her manuscript, with some surprise.
"Ah—Xio, you're back?" Fors rubbed her somewhat messy hair.
"Yes, I just got back." Xio asked curiously, "Why aren't you asleep yet? Usually, you'd be asleep by now."
"I want to sleep too!" Fors's voice was anxious. "But—but the deadline is almost here! My editor is hounding me like crazy!"
"Then, how much more do you have left to write?" Xio walked over to her and glanced at the scattered manuscript pages.
"Hmm… About a third, I guess." Fors's eyes darted around, and she lowered her head apologetically.
"What?! I remember you said the same thing a few months ago! Fors, you're too lazy!"
"I'm not lazy!" Fors tried to retort, though her voice lacked conviction. "I've been so busy with many things lately!"
"Oh~?" Xio crossed her arms. "What important matters could make our great Author stop writing her manuscript?"
"It's—it's—" Fors stammered, "It's about my pen pal! I have to figure out how to find him first, right? And I also have to find a way to hide it from Miss Audrey!"
"Yesterday, didn't she even send someone to urge us on our investigation progress—"
Actually, she had also been troubled by the matter of "Full Moon Language" recently. But she didn't mention it, afraid that Xio would worry about her.
"Hmm—Miss Audrey's sudden urging is indeed a bit strange. And she seemed to hint at something in her words."
Xio reluctantly accepted her friend's reason and sighed, comforting her: "Fors, don't worry too much. Maybe your pen pal will come looking for you tomorrow?" She tried to say something encouraging.
"How could such a coincidence happen?" Fors complained.
Then, she changed the subject, turning her gaze to Xio, scrutinizing her: "Speaking of which, Xio, you've been a bit strange lately too."
"Strange? Me?" Xio pointed to herself.
"Yes. Ever since you came back injured that day, I've always felt like you've been acting weird. And when I ask you for the details, you don't say anything—"
Fors sat up straight, leaned closer, and eyed her suspiciously: "Xio, are you—are you hiding something from me?"
"Hiding something from you? How could I be!" Xio's eyes unconsciously darted to the side.
"What happened tonight is a secret between the two of us. You can't tell anyone."
The man's words from that night echoed in her ears once again.
The incident where she was attacked by the Werewolf that night had been buried deep in her heart. She hadn't even told her best friend, Fors.
"Really~? Xio~"
Fors deliberately drew out her words, leaned forward, and sniffed Xio, joking:
"I think I smell a fox~"
"Fors! You actually suspect me!" Xio feigned anger and embarrassment. "I'm not talking to you anymore! I'm going to rest!"
Watching Xio's quickly departing back, Fors sighed helplessly.
"Xio, you honest fool."
"I'm just afraid you'll be deceived."