Chapter 2288: The Second Intelligence Exchange

Chapter 2288: Chapter 2288: The Second Intelligence Exchange

Shard nodded to show his understanding and didn’t ask more questions. Mr. Benhart then asked Captain Rudolf about other matters, including the "Sorrow of Blood." Captain Rudolf answered nearly all questions like a casual chat.

Of course, he wasn’t clear about the local situation concerning "Sorrow of Blood":

"Perhaps to you, the local same clan may seem bold, daring to do anything. But actually, compared to the humans of this city, we have merely adapted to the trend.

The City of Wealth’s wealth wouldn’t accumulate so much through mere hard work. Since humans can boldly act, the same clan residing here naturally can too. After all, it’s the era of humans now; Vampire Kind can only go with the flow."

The captain used these words as a conclusion, and Shard and Mr. Benhart understood the meaning he wanted to express.

And when Mr. Benhart indicated that he had finished asking all the questions and wanted to express his thanks, the robust Vampire Kind instead laughed:

"Gentlemen, since I’ve helped you so much, how about helping me in return?"

"What do you need help with?"

Mr. Benhart asked, while Shard looked towards the stairs leading down from the current location.

"Besides you, there’s a troublesome group intending to visit me as well. Help me block them, please. While the same clan can be trusted, humans associated with the New World are too dangerous."

As he spoke, he nodded for Mr. Benhart to look back:

"Look, they’ve just arrived."

Then Mr. Benhart and Shard together saw John Flynn, the owner of the "Sword of the Wind King" from the New World Mutual Aid Society, walking down the stairs with his companion who wielded a hammer.

Captain Rudolf stood up from across the table:

"You seem to know them. The expressions they’ve shown are quite interesting. Leave it to you, you seem to have something in common. In any case, don’t involve me in Moon Bay’s troublesome matters, I don’t wish to get caught in the whirlpool of these messes... If you need help, you can find me next time, we won’t arm wrestle, we’ll play cards."

The last sentence was directed at Shard. After saying this, he invited his subordinates to leave. As he passed the young John Flynn, he patted his shoulder, and the latter didn’t try to stop him.

The departure of the group didn’t alter the atmosphere in the tavern much. When the young blonde man and the robust-looking middle-aged man sat across from them, Shard sighed and spoke:

"Didn’t expect to meet like this. Speaking of which, you and your companions, total four, you wield a sword, the companion beside you uses a hammer, your female companion seems to be an Incantation Master, the one we saw last time at the Spider Inn is more like a Priest...

Yes, indeed, a typical adventure party, especially one entering an unfamiliar city. This usually indicates that a legendary story is about to begin."

John Flynn shook his head and only spoke after the waiter carrying the menu left:

"We didn’t expect to encounter you here, and also to see you meet with that peculiar captain first. He’s always been wary of us, and this meeting itself was hard to secure."

"Looks like you wasted the opportunity, but don’t regret it. He knows nothing. He is just a slippery guy wanting to avoid trouble, knowing nothing about ’Sorrow of Blood.’"

Mr. Benhart also said, and the two across the table didn’t doubt his words, rather appeared somewhat dejected:

"Although we had anticipated the complexity of matters in Moon Bay before coming, things have evidently exceeded our expectations... Shall we exchange intelligence like last time?"

Mr. Benhart looked at Shard, and Shard lightly nodded:

"Of course we can, what do you wish to know? What can you offer?"

The waiter delivered wine glasses and a plate of stir-fried green beans on a tray. After he left, the middle-aged man with a large beard spoke gruffly:

"We want to know everything about yesterday morning’s incident at the Belindel Big Bell. The church has hinted it seems related to an Ancient One, but we’re more concerned about the Glimmer at that time... As for what we can offer, it mainly depends on what you wish to know now."

"We do know some inside information about that matter, though not much. As for what we want to know... Are there any other Holy Sword news?"

"No."

"Any other The Chosen One news?"

"No."

"Then what do you know? My news carries weight."

Shard asked, and John Flynn, holding a wine glass, pondered:

"Would news about the Light Worshipper Training Association suffice? This news should be important enough, and of course, if you find yourselves shortchanged after the intelligence exchange, I can compensate."

As before, both sides wrote down their intelligence on paper.

The two people across the desk frowned at the information that "the Sword of Light indeed appeared, but the Sword Bearer is not human, and using the Sword of Light seems to consume a lot."

Shard and Mr. Benhart saw—

[The Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer of the Light Worshipper Training Association, the Light Chaser, is right in Moon Bay. We have witnessed him appearing outside the city and researching local Elf legends.]

"Although the news of the Thirteen Rings is indeed important, compared to ours, it’s still not valuable enough." ℴ

Mr. Benhart said.

"But your intelligence merely confirmed our suspicions."

The sullen man responded, but John Flynn interrupted him from saying more:

"They’re right, our intelligence indeed is not valuable enough. Since it was promised to be a fair exchange, I certainly won’t let you suffer. I’ll include another piece of information."

He quickly wrote two lines, this time the content was—

[The organization operating in Moon Bay City - Eternal Light, has evidence proving it received funding from the Light Worshipper Training Association. However, they are not a subsidiary nor established by the latter.]

"Hmm?"

Shard and Mr. Benhart both frowned:

"But according to our investigation, the frequent headless murders locally are actually caused by the Light Worshipper Training Association using specific light beams, and many of The Deceased were tied to Eternal Light, mostly those who wanted to expose Eternal Light."

"Indeed, the Light Worshipper Training Association did provide a lot of help to Eternal Light. But not because they are one entity, rather because the Light Worshipper Training Association wants to infiltrate and take control of Eternal Light, but hasn’t succeeded yet."

John Flynn nodded:

"This is also information we got from other sources.

Eternal Light really was established by ordinary people who want to resist noble rule and have suffered injustice. Initially, they didn’t have a Circle Sorcerer behind them, later someone joined them. Now, they’ve caught the eye of the Light Worshipper Training Association, and the two sides are in a mutually exploitative relationship. As for more specific details, that’s beyond what we know."

This young man hailing from the New World highly values this fair intelligence exchange model; though due to the dock workers about to end their shifts, the place would soon be crowded and no longer suitable for such private conversation, he did not discuss more with Shard and Mr. Benhart this afternoon. However, before they parted, John Flynn wanted to arrange the next meeting’s time and location:

"Perhaps such intelligence exchanges, we can continue them. In this city overflowing with desires, finding skilled people like you willing to sit down and discuss matters is rare."

But this suggestion was unanimously refused by Shard and Mr. Benhart, who temporarily didn’t want to deepen their association with these New World visitors.

At least until Luviya arrived in the city, Shard wasn’t particularly interested in this guy who doesn’t seem like the top candidate.

Shortly after leaving the Golden Lion Tavern, Shard bid farewell to Mr. Benhart as they would meet again the next morning. Subsequently, Shard did not immediately go home but took a carriage to the vicinity of Margaret’s Manor, then transformed into a silver cat and sneaked into the guarded Princess Manor.

Using the emblem hidden in his fur, he sensed the Witch’s position, found the study on the manor’s third floor, and reverted to his original form.

The two maids at the door were Witch Followers, one tried to bend down to touch the mysterious cat that appeared, but seeing the silver cat transform into Shard, they were surprised and didn’t speak after Shard made a silencing gesture.

Shard stepped forward and knocked on the door. Upon hearing Margaret ask, "What’s the matter?" he proactively pushed the door open and entered. Before the door was closed, the maid Misses heard the Princess’s delighted voice.

"Why did you think of coming here?"

Besides Margaret and Miss Sylvia, three maids were assisting with the paperwork in the study. Two were trustworthy true maids of Margaret, and one was a Witch Follower adept at document tasks, but they left the room with understated smiles.

Miss Sylvia generously hugged Shard and then invited him to sit over by the sofa.

"I thought that since you arrived in Moon Bay, although we met, I haven’t visited privately, so I came by to see... Am I intruding?"

"Of course not."

Margaret stood from across the desk, stretched unladylike in front of Shard, noticed Shard staring, and smiled at him:

"In the morning, Grey Glove sent some confidential Moon Bay documents. Ms. Sylvia and I have been examining them all afternoon... Oh, we even missed afternoon tea; indeed, one cannot easily rest even away from Velindale."

Now a Six-Ring Princess, seeing her teacher didn’t mind, embraced Shard as well. After the three sat on the sofa, the maids outside timed it perfectly to knock and bring in tea and snacks.