Chapter 9, Transactions

Hale noticed that the few who had arrived here first were filled with an inexpressible sorrow in their expressions

There is a dedicated locksmith in the villa the old man said

It can be inferred that one of the carriages is occupied by the person who is monitoring him, while the other carriage is following Old Hobbs.

Upon entering the room, Mr. Hobbes placed a book and a notebook on the windowsill, the drooping curtains perfectly covering them. All of this fell within Hell's sight, yet at this moment he had to act as if he had not seen it.

"It is not as difficult to understand as you say, but rather an extremely precious crystallization of wisdom..." the old man argued

I have never encountered a situation where agents are required to engage in such strange affairs strictly according to orders. Spies should operate as covertly as possible, and their mission is to gather intelligence by all means. Yet now they are being asked to step into the open and act as leaders

Behind this person, two officers wielding batons closely followed, with the leading officer running while blowing a police whistle

According to Herr's instructions, the hotel attendants pushed a small cart into the room, which was laden with a variety of snacks. In addition to exquisite pastries, there was a pot of black tea and two teacups.

"You should go up and help quickly," the old man urged anxiously

You are referring to the orders for organizing the resistance movement

Even if someone investigates, they can at most learn from those attendants that they had once requested many newspapers

Having dismissed the attendants, Hel finally retrieved his book and notes from beneath the curtain

The general did not respond; instead, he walked over to the fat man's desk, bent down, picked up the crumpled report, and examined it carefully.

From the debates among these individuals, Hull quickly identified their identities; they were indeed scholars, and all of them were quite renowned in their respective fields. The elderly man who had mistakenly exchanged luggage with him was an authority in the study of ancient civilizations

We have all invested so much effort and dedication, and it seems that it is about to go completely to waste. However, what concerns me is who will be held accountable for this failure? Will it be our department head? Or will it be your superior? I fear that neither will be possible, as everyone is well aware of where these two individuals came from and how they arrived here

The waiter always appeared indifferent; however, when he handed over Hurl's overcoat and hat through a small window to the person inside the cloakroom, he similarly flicked the brim of the hat with his fingers

For most people here, the news that someone is willing to fund research is undoubtedly the most exhilarating, so almost no one declines the invitation

What he needs to do next is to eliminate any doubts that those who are monitoring him may have about him

Just as the two individuals were preparing to part ways, a sudden, urgent sound of a police siren echoed from a distance. Immediately afterward, a young man dressed in a coarse cloth shirt and suspenders, wearing a small cap, hurriedly ran past along the alley.

He pulled up the curtains, and Hel took his hat, which was a round-topped wide-brimmed felt hat, lined inside with a layer of black silk

All around, colorful pieces of paper filled the sky, fluttering and dancing like snowflakes, while on the road, many pedestrians vied to catch those pieces of paper

"Ask him when he will start executing my orders? Inquire about which resistance organizations he has contacted?" The fat man shouted while pounding the table forcefully

At first, I thought you were a wealthy person full of dreams, intending to study magic on your own. However, after reviewing your notes, your identity raised my suspicions

After a quarter of an hour, as two exhausted pursuers sat dejectedly in their carriage and left, two individuals emerged from the back door of a neighboring shop, one after the other. It turned out that they had not been swept away by the crowd, but had taken the opportunity to shake off those two pursuers.

Hypnotizing his hunting dog was naturally intended to gain entry into his room. The only person who could do such a thing is that Major Martin. It seems this fellow has begun to doubt himself.

Upon entering the restaurant, one finds a spacious area spread over three floors. The ground floor alone has more than ten tables. The decor of the restaurant appears rather antiquated, evoking a sense of the passage of time. Hel speculated that the reason the establishment is named "Wind Chime" might be derived from the artistic sentiment expressed in the poem "The Traces of the Wind" by the poet Shelley.

To achieve this, the best approach is to be an ordinary person

The person who walked in is clearly of much higher status than the overweight individual

Two hours later, at the headquarters of the Military Intelligence Bureau located thousands of kilometers away, a young man clad in a long robe hurriedly walked through the corridor

The fat man immediately stood up and asked, "General Hader, what brings you here?"

From the notes, it is evident that you have not even completed the basics. However, the notes also cover several low-level spells. Judging by the combinations of these spells, it seems that the one most interested in them must be a thief

"I will vouch for this agent; I will submit a report to the director and take full responsibility for all consequences related to this agent," the general said in a tone filled with understanding

The sharp sound of the police siren attracted more officers, and five or six officers closed in from the other end of the alley, quickly cornering the young man in the alley.

Taking advantage of breakfast, he once again checked his surroundings. The observer was quickly identified, and this time it was a different person, dressed like a wealthy individual residing in the upscale guest room area

This is quite unusual; as the master of the hunting dogs, he is very aware of their sleeping patterns, and his dogs are extremely alert, waking up immediately if someone enters.

He memorized the names and identities of each scholar, as well as their areas of expertise. Hel then stood up to take his leave. Before departing, he provided his address to the old man and arranged for the old man to come to his place tomorrow at noon to retrieve the suitcase.

He has already guessed what the old man meant by asking for help, and he does not wish to get involved in this matter

Once again, he glanced at Hall's report; this general, with years of experience, had already sensed the hidden value behind this document

After settling the bill, Mr. Hurl and Mr. Hobbs stepped out the door. Just as they stood by the roadside, intending to hail a cab, a surge of rushing pedestrians swept by, and in the blink of an eye, the two figures vanished into the crowd. This caused the two pursuers behind them to become immediately flustered, as they looked around anxiously, trying to relocate their targets.

He called for a cab, and five minutes later, Hel arrived at a restaurant named "Wind Chime" with the old man. Throughout the journey, he kept observing the rear, and indeed, two carriages were consistently following him.

The study of the origins and principles of magic has been a significant component of philosophy since ancient times. The various scripts used throughout different eras also constitute a subject of textual research. Therefore, although he is not a magician, the elder's understanding of scripts and the principles of magic is even more refined and profound than that of the instructors at the magic academy.

However, he still did not give up. He stepped forward, opened Hel's suitcase, and meticulously examined each item inside, but unfortunately found nothing in the suitcase

Having borrowed a carriage from the owner of the manor, Hel hurried back to the inn with his suitcase

He was certain that after he entered the restaurant, those two would definitely follow him in, and they would even sit not far from them to eavesdrop on their conversation

Seeing Hel's expression turn somewhat unpleasant, he quickly added, "Rest assured, I did not open the box in front of him. As for keeping it from you, on one hand, I suspect that your identity is likely not ordinary, and on the other hand, I hope you can assist me."

A person sitting on a sofa at the end of the corridor was just about to step out of the room when, in that very moment, the newspaper in his hand was raised to shield his face

Of course, Herr did not intend to immediately believe the old man's words, nor could he guarantee that this Mr. Hobbes was not a decoy

After breakfast, Hel lingered for a moment in the lounge area. He took note of the guests in the premium room section. Since it was breakfast time, the guests were coming out of their rooms one after another. He eliminated those rooms that were too far from where he was staying and unlikely to be used for surveillance, leaving only the room directly diagonal to him.

The two individuals exchanged words, and soon others nearby were gradually drawn into the conversation, making this corner of the garden lively enough to rival a university classroom.

Knowing who was watching made Hel feel much more at ease. If that major truly had significant doubts about him, he would not merely be observing as he was now.

He opened the door to enter his room, but before entering the bedroom, Huer noticed that his hunting dogs were lying soundly asleep in the living room

Confirming that, apart from the newspapers borrowed from the hotel, which might raise suspicion, there were no other significant flaws, Herson let out a sigh of relief

Hel thought of another possibility, which was the effect of magic. Within the realm of mental magic, there are various types of hypnosis, more than sufficient to deal with his hounds

As Hel was listening to the old man's idle chatter with an expression of rapt attention, while simultaneously observing the two followers from the corner of his eye, a sudden commotion erupted from outside the window

I feel a profound disharmony between myself and everything around me" Hel said with a self-deprecating shrug

Half an hour later, five or six hotel attendants pushed a large round barrel filled with hot water into his room, and the water inside the barrel had been adjusted to the temperature requested by Herr.

In disappointment, the major turned and left. Although this action appeared to be quite impolite, it was evident that the major did not care about the feelings of those present.

If I am not mistaken, you are much more profound than you appear on the surface," Mr. Hobbes said meaningfully, his gaze fixed on Hurl, filled with mirth.

He suddenly thought that since someone had already investigated him, it was very likely that someone was watching him at that very moment. With this thought in mind, he abruptly opened the door.

The old man glanced awkwardly at the back of the major, then turned his head and forced a smile, saying to Mr. Hobbs: "I must admit, you have won this bet. I intend to challenge you to another bet sometime, but for now, I must take my leave. Please entertain this unexpected guest for me."

Having prior knowledge of that "generous" entrepreneur, Hel could naturally guess the underlying motives. Since he had already obtained the information he needed, swiftly extricating himself from the situation was the best choice.

A few minutes later, a corpulent man had a report placed in front of him. He glanced at the report twice and immediately wore a look of utter disdain.

The scream caught Hull's attention; he turned his head and, after just a glance, Hull seemed to be paralyzed, standing there in a daze

The old man also wore a look of astonishment, which convinced Hel that he had not been mistaken.

Herl quickly flipped the silk over and took out a soft-tipped peculiar pen from his pocket, swiftly writing on it. The areas where the pen passed immediately revealed faint dark green characters, but the writing quickly disappeared as the ink dried.

Therefore, I have temporarily abandoned the idea of escaping. The chances of success for a hastily conceived escape plan are negligible. Thus, I intend to make a deal with you: if you manage to help me escape, I will provide you with intelligence in return. From Geller's tone, I sensed that the Belurians deceived me not merely to 'collect brains'.

He felt no concern for Hel at all; he would not allow anyone to gain anything. Hel believed that those who were following him could never imagine that the reason he had come here was not for the old man beside him, but to meet another person.

This intelligence itself is not particularly important; however, in my view, the potential of this intelligence is likely significant. The owner of the Solang Steel Plant and a group of renowned scholars are under the control of the Beru people. The reasons behind this control must certainly involve undisclosed secrets.

Listening to this old gentleman recount what he knows about the origins of the world and the brilliance it once possessed is truly intoxicating. Hel had always believed that the contemporary world represented the pinnacle of perfection, but from the old man's words, he learned that many civilizations from ancient times, which have completely vanished, had achieved accomplishments far superior to those of the present world.

The officers did not dare to continue on such a topic, and this reaction had long been anticipated by the general. He let out a soft sigh and said: "Everyone in the intelligence field has been in this line of work for quite some time now, and should be well aware of the final outcome of this surrounding 'Wildfire' plan. The intelligence agency is not the military, and agents are not soldiers.

Aside from his clothes, there is nothing else in the suitcase; the magician and the notebook that were originally inside have vanished without a trace

However, even if it is a bait, Hel intends to make the most of it as much as possible

The old man's words plunged Hel into deep thought; he did not intend to admit his identity, nor did he plan to deny it. He was quite intrigued by the deal proposed by the old man, as he had made no progress thus far.

I am not a magician," Helian quickly interrupted

Hel could not help but recall the books placed inside his suitcase, books whose contents he could not comprehend. The characters on these pages were entirely unfamiliar to him; they were likely remnants of a long-lost ancient civilization.

"That depends on how you define the scope of 'surroundings,'" the elderly gentleman said with a smile

The person in the dressing room quickly and efficiently removed the black silk lining and replaced it with a new one

As he had anticipated, although Major Martin observed quite carefully, a look of disappointment inevitably appeared on his face

This general certainly knows how to speak; his words contain not the slightest hint of denying the presence of this fat man, while also affirming Hel's achievements.

Hale suddenly remembered the damned task assigned to them by the higher-ups. If too much time passed without any action on his part, they might do something foolish.

At the very moment Hell stepped out of the door, he caught sight of a movement that seemed startled.

Fortunately, there was nothing in the room that could expose his identity; even the two bobby pins used for picking locks had been discarded by him. Before leaving, he also returned all the newspapers.

Hel understood very well what would be written on these pieces of paper. In the three major provinces, there are countless passionate patriots who are dissatisfied with the rule of the Beru Empire, most of whom are young people

Therefore, I hope everyone will carefully consider this issue, so that when the day comes for you to make the right choice, you will still be in the same state as you are now

Without discussing those scholars, the old figures from the Suolang Steel Plant, once utilized by the Beru people, could likely unleash considerable potential

"That is the wisdom of a civilization that disappeared thousands of years ago, which holds little value for the current civilization," the stout man replied resolutely.

However, this person clearly shirked responsibility and refused to carry out the orders. The fat man quickly argued.

Just as the overweight man was contemplating whether to tap the table twice to enhance the atmosphere, a man in his forties, wearing a pair of black tortoiseshell glasses and exuding a scholarly demeanor, walked in with his hands clasped behind his back

At a quarter past eleven, the doorbell of the room rang. When Hel opened the door, he noticed that the door diagonally opposite was also ajar.

To Hel's surprise, the old man was in no way inferior to him in these two aspects of knowledge. From the old man's words, Hel finally learned that the old man's travels spanned the entire world, and he had discovered two ancient civilization sites. His most esteemed work was his research on the philosophy and writing of ancient civilizations

After reading the report, the general smoothed out the wrinkles with his hand and said: "This intelligence is indeed not very important, but I believe the agent who sent this information had no other choice. With so many complex relationships, if it were not written in such a report, it would be impossible to clarify the matter through special channels.

In the restaurant in Mississauga, filled with a nostalgic atmosphere, Hel was casually conversing with the elderly man, discussing a wide range of topics. Hel had not read many books; what he could speak of worth mentioning were his travel experiences from various places and the knowledge he had recently acquired about animals.

To conduct a more thorough inspection, one would have to cut open the suitcase with a knife, but such an action would be too disruptive and would only provoke public outrage

Another scream.

"Please prepare hot water for me," Hel called to a hotel attendant.

Exiting the office of the overweight individual, the general ascended to the second floor. The second floor was a very large open room, neatly arranged with rows of desks. Behind each desk sat a listless officer.

Hale immediately composed himself, feeling fortunate that he had kept his head down when opening the box, ensuring that the major could not see the change in his expression

Therefore, it is essential to make those above aware of the predicament we are facing. Although this is quite risky, it is necessary to take a little risk now to prevent irreparable mistakes in the future

Therefore, I suspect that your identity may not be simple. To prove this, I made a bet with Mr. Geller that you would come holding the invitation. You may not know this, but without this bet, even if you were holding the invitation, you would not be able to enter the villa.

Hale sniffed around with his nose; although his sense of smell was not as acute as that of a hunting dog, it was still dozens of times more sensitive than that of an ordinary person. There was no distinct scent of anesthetic gas in the air.

Seeing the officers approaching aggressively, the young man suddenly let out a woman's piercing scream

Hale casually inquired about the places where these people resided, and as he had anticipated, the villa had already prepared rooms for them several weeks prior

Behind the coat rack by the door stood a servant in his forties. Hel handed his overcoat and hat to the servant, and as he passed the hat over, he seemed to casually flick the brim of the hat.

However, regarding this matter, Hel does not intend to get involved; he is even trying his best to avoid it.

The feeling of being immersed in water is difficult to describe, allowing oneself to relax completely while carefully recalling everything that happened today

Among these individuals, some have already been residing here for half a month, while a few, like Mr. Hobbes, just arrived in Miskon yesterday

"I know a nice restaurant, hetushu.com. I invite you to lunch," said Hel as he stood up, casually stuffing his book and notes into the pocket of his vest.

General Hader looked at the fat man in a similar manner, his smile concealing a deep sense of contempt and disdain. He was more aware than anyone else of the intricacies behind this order, and he was equally well-informed about the background of the fat man before him

The reason I made the bet, aside from allowing you to enter the villa, was also to be able to come out today. My original plan was to take the opportunity to persuade you to help me escape

As he had anticipated, within this small group around him, most people's expressions revealed a trace of sorrow, and some even displayed a flicker of anger in their eyes

It must be quite arduous to work under him, I suppose," General Hader asked with a light laugh

"I know you are not a magician," Mr. Hobbes said calmly. "I am not a magician either, but like you, I can recognize the Kenjelarsen script. Having looked through your notebook, I can see the level of your understanding of the script, and there are many errors in it. If you had a mentor to teach you, it would be absolutely impossible for you to be at this level."

However, his attention never strayed from the person reading the newspaper. From this person's furtive actions, Hel was absolutely certain that this individual was sent to monitor him

He carefully placed the neatly written silk back into the hat. After completing this, he returned to the living room and quietly sat on the sofa, waiting for the old man.

Immediately issue a warning to Number 24, advising him that if there is no significant intelligence, he should not use the special channel, as the special channel is not intended for trivial matters like this

After finishing his words, the old man hurriedly left, chasing after the back of the major.

However, after seeing you in person last night and witnessing your performance with that Major Martin, I can be certain that you are neither a wealthy young master nor a thief, but rather the type of person that Major Martin is most interested in

Around 9 o'clock, Hel finally got out of bed. In Miskon, people like him only get up at this time, as it is only then that the fog gradually begins to lift

The scream awakened Hel, and he looked bewilderedly at the old man beside him

"Lars, do not spread your incomprehensible philosophical ideas any further," said a chubby man with a round face and a nose reddened by alcohol.

The overweight man casually crumpled the report into a ball and tossed it into the wastebasket, then forcefully struck the bell beside his right hand. As the bell rang, the office door opened, and a female officer in her twenties, dressed in a military uniform, entered.

The person extending the invitation is Mr. Geller. The reason they have come here is that this renowned entrepreneur, the owner of Solang Steelworks, mentioned in his letter that he intends to fund their research in their respective fields

If by "surroundings" you mean this entire estate, what you say may not be incorrect. If you limit the "surroundings" to us individuals, you will find that there is no disharmony between you and the "surroundings." If you further narrow the scope of the "surroundings," for instance, to within one centimeter around your body, you will feel a profound sense of harmony wherever you are

"We should leave quickly; the officers will definitely come to investigate soon, and I do not want to get into trouble," Heller said as he stood up, his voice not loud, yet sufficient for the two followers to hear clearly

Although it is not explicitly stated who the "he" refers to, everyone is tacitly aware of it

For Mr. Hobbes, he needs to visit two friends without interruption, and Hurl also has reasons to seek temporary freedom

Herb remained noncommittal, instead raising the spellbook in his hand and asking, "How did you discover them? Why did you choose to conceal them for me?"

I see, let that agent be specifically responsible for thoroughly investigating this matter; after all, it does not matter to the resistance movement in the occupied area to have one more person.