1018 Unexpected (1/2)

Empress Borough, by the side of Viscount Stratford's mansion.

Fors and Xio, who were dressed in black dresses, hid in a dark corner. They stared intently at the tightly closed metal gates as they patiently waited for their target to appear.

It wasn't raining tonight, so they didn't have to face harsh weather conditions. The carriage that remained parked by the side of the street lamps made it clear to them that their patience would be rewarded. It was only a matter of time.

After an unknown period of time, the gates produced a heavy metal groan as they slowly opened.

A figure in a black cloak appeared with its head bowed. The figure walked to the side of the carriage and nimbly boarded the carriage.

”Is that her?” Fors lowered her voice and asked Xio.

She didn't have Beyonder powers that could restore a target's characteristics from a mere description, and she had never seen her before. Therefore, she couldn't rely on her spiritual intuition or astromancy to make a judgment.

Xio nodded in affirmation and said, ”Yes!”

As they quietly conversed, the rental carriage sped up and left the side gates.

Xio immediately left her hiding spot, prepared to use her Sheriffs Beyonder powers and the physical enhancement that being an Interrogator gave her to lock onto her target while jogging.

”What are you doing?” At that moment, Fors pressed down on her shoulder, foiling her plans.

”Track her!” Xio looked back at her friend in puzzlement.

Fors looked at the rental carriage that hadn't completely pulled away from them and asked thoughtfully,

”Why are you tracking her for?

”Also, didn't you say that the target has a rather powerful Beyonder protecting her once you enter the Backlund Bridge area?”

”That's right.” Xio first answered the second question before saying, ”Your question is very odd. The reason you track someone is to determine the target's appearance, identity, and motives.”

Fors retracted her left hand from Xio's shoulder and revealed a smile.

”Since the target is protected by a rather powerful Beyonder, it will be difficult for us to complete the tracking in the Backlund Bridge area. We won't be able to find her residence and figure out her true identity. Do you wish to directly fight her guardian? Although you have me to help, are you certain about that person's strength? How certain are you? Will it be very dangerous?

”Besides, once the battle begins, it will definitely alarm the target. This is the same as stopping the carriage midway and confronting her directly. It will foil your primary objective. It will alarm Viscount Stratford and prevent him from falling into a predicament that will offer you a chance to take action.”

”If we do it, then there's a possibility of failure, but failure is certain if we do nothing,” Xio emphasized that she knew the situation well. All she wanted was to make an attempt and find an opportunity midway.

At this moment, the rental carriage had already turned into another street at the end of the road. Fors watched the back of it gradually disappear as she shook her head and smiled.

”No, no, no. We need to change our way of thinking!

”We should first attempt to figure out the target's appearance. After daybreak, we can use her appearance to perform normal investigations in the Backlund Bridge area and then obtain information from other channels.”

”Your choice of words is very professional,” Xio said in thought.

”Of course. I've written detective novels before!” Fors answered without any sense of modesty.

”But how do I figure out what the target looks like without alerting her?” Xio raised the most critical question.

Prepared, Fors took out Leymano's Travels and said with a smile, ”Elementary. Using the Psychological Invisibility Miss Justice recorded!”

Although Audrey didn't encounter any situations that required her to use Leymano's Travels, she had rented it thrice out of curiosity. She studied the uses and traits of the Beyonder powers recorded, and she recorded her own Beyonder powers into it. This included the rather useful Psychological Invisibility.

As for her true identity, Xio and Fors were increasingly certain of it, but they didn't directly ask or do any further investigations. That was the most basic form of respect towards other Tarot Club members.

After hearing her friend's answer, Xio came to a realization and was instantly inspired.

Fors continued, ”By using the Beyonder powers on this page, you will be placed in the sensory blind spots of all surrounding creatures. They wouldn't be able to see you even if you were to jump around in front of them. That way, you can directly board the carriage and stand in front of the target, openly taking in her appearance and remember all her traits.

”Heh heh, I sometimes think that people who use Psychological Invisibility might end up being squashed to death by huge creatures that happen to walk past if they're unlucky.

”Uh, don't make too much noise later. Don't speak to any nearby creatures, or else you will garner attention. Let Psychological Invisibility be dispelled automatically.”

Yeah!” Xio nodded, then she raised another issue: ”How do I prevent the target from discovering the sudden opening of the carriage door while it's driving?”

Without waiting for Fors's reply, she immediately pressed, ”Did you record the Door Opening Beyonder power?”

”Guess?” Fors smiled as she handed Leymano's Travels to her friend, telling her which pages Psychological Invisibility and Door Opening were on.

With this in mind, Xio immediately ran amidst the shadows, chasing after the rental carriage.

Before long, she saw her target. Her right hand immediately trembled as she made the bronze-green notebook reveal a yellowish-brown goatskin page.

She slid her fingers gently, and Xio seemed to see countless rippling light appear on the surface of a deep lake spread outwards.

When her vision returned to normal, she sped up and rushed to the side of the carriage.

To ensure nothing went wrong, Xio didn't immediately take action. With a few wide strides, she overtook the horse.

She then turned around as though she was crossing the road. However, the carriage driver didn't notice her, nor did he shout out to her or rein in the horse.

After confirming the effects of Psychological Invisibility, she sped up and dodged the horse's galloping and came to the side of the carriage.

After a brief observation, she flipped through Leymano's Travels and revealed a white page covered with strange patterns and symbols. Then, she reached out her right hand and pressed it on the surface of the carriage.