1337 A Chain Reaction (2/2)

Indeed… Xio wasn't surprised. Instead, she secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

She looked at Wendel and asked, ”Why did he visit you?”

”He requested that I head to Utopia to testify about the homicide case I mentioned in my report.” Wendel was clearly calmer than before.

He then added, ”He's a policeman. Name's Biles. I don't dare ask where he was living. I don't know when he's planning to leave or which steam locomotive he's planning on taking to leave.”

To express the weight she had on this matter, Xio stood up and thought.

”Locke, summon your team members to look for the rental carriage drivers who often prowl for customers around Wendel's residence, as well as the carriage drivers who passed by the nearby district, and ask if they've seen Biles before. If they have seen him, ask them where he was sent to. Also, send someone to the steam locomotive station and wait by the entrance to observe the passengers…”

After instructing her subordinates, Xio turned to look at Wendel.

”Cooperate with them and sketch out Biles.”

”Yes, Colonel,” Locke and Wendel replied in unison.

After they left and closed the door, Xio sat back down and began to pray.

Soon, she received Mr. Fool's response and saw The World Gehrman Sparrow praying in the gray fog.

Gehrman Sparrow told her:

”You can carry out normal investigations.

”When necessary, you can suggest that it's a ritual, but it must be included among a few options.”

Xio immediately heaved a sigh of relief as she patiently waited for her subordinates to report the results of their investigations.

As night fell, Locke returned to Bellotto Street and reported to Xio,

”We found the rental carriage driver that took the Utopian's business!”

”Oh?” Xio showed her concern.

Locke explained simply, ”That Utopian originally got the carriage driver to go to the dock area. However, as soon as the carriage entered the corresponding area, he requested to get off, saying that they had arrived.

”That street was very unfamiliar to the carriage driver, making him feel like he was lost.

”After leaving that street, he realized that his surroundings had become familiar.

”Our men accompanied him to that place again, but he couldn't find that street no matter what.”

Xio nodded slightly and said solemnly, ”It matches our preliminary descriptions regarding the entrances and exits of Utopia.”

”Colonel, are you saying that one can enter or leave Utopia from any city and street?” Locke was in disbelief.

Xio thought for a moment before saying, ”From the looks of it, yes. But I have a feeling that there's something wrong. Hmm… How does Utopia connect to different places? What does it rely on?”

As her voice trailed off, Xio said to Locke, ”Tell Wendel that he'll spend the following two weeks here until that subpoena expires.”

”Yes, Colonel.” Locke turned around and left Xio's office.

Wendel didn't have any objections to Colonel Derecha's arrangements. He could even say that he would only feel safe inside MI9's headquarters.

His temporary residence was a simply refurbished duty room. Through the window, he could see the lawn, garden, and trees outside.

At a glance, Wendel saw a pitch-black raven standing on a tree branch, silently looking over.

…

Night in Bansy was abnormally creepy. From time to time, the cries of ravens or other seabirds could be heard.

Verdu stood at the window, watching the approaching dilapidated dock and the city that had already been reduced to ruins. The pressure in his heart grew.

After a few days at sea, the ship he boarded was about to reach Bansy Harbor.

The captain had already informed Verdu in the morning that they would only wait for two hours. If he exceeded the two hours, Verdu could only wait for the next ship on this deserted island. Who knew when the next ship would come.

After taking a deep breath, Verdu retracted his gaze and took off his coat.

Then, he opened his suitcase, took out a classic black robe, and put it on.

The surface of the robe was embroidered with golden and silver threads, and there were many gems the size of rice grains attached to it. It was a Sealed Artifact of the Abraham family.

After making preparations, Verdu left the pirate ship and entered Bansy Harbor.

Along the way, the ancient robe tightened, causing his face to turn purple as he nearly fainted.

As they walked, Verdu found the spot where the telegraph office stood based on the map he had bought. In the middle of the rubble, there were two bloody red marks—ones that remained fresh. It was as if they were left behind after two people were crushed into minced meat.

Beside the two figures, on a broken wall, there was an octopus-headed monster wearing armor. It stood on waves and was holding a trident.

Verdu raised the lantern in his hand high and was about to take a closer look when he suddenly felt a drop of cold liquid land on his neck.

Gripped with terror, he subconsciously reached out his hand. He found it sticky, nothing like rain. It was colorless. Not blood.

It's a little similar to saliva… Verdu's forehead twitched slightly and he slowly raised his head to look at the place where the drop of liquid could have dripped from.

It was a swath of pitch-black. It was the night sky without the moon or stars.