Inside the moving carriage, upon hearing his sister’s question, Gregor immediately perked up and began explaining with a well-rehearsed story.
“I’m currently working for a security Agency. You know me—your brother might not be the brightest, but I’ve always had a strong pair of fists. Whether in the village or here in the city, not many people dare mess with me.
“Thanks to my fighting skills, I got noticed by a security agency. Now I’m employed by them to work as a bodyguard for wealthy clients. You know how those rich folks are—the more money they have, the more they fear something going wrong. So, when it comes to paying for their safety, they spare no expense.”
Gregor smiled confidently as he spoke, his demeanor relaxed and tone light. It was clear he had practiced this speech for some time. Seeing him act this way, Dorothy tilted her head and replied, “That’s impressive. But if so many wealthy people trust you, your security agency must be quite reputable. What’s its name, and where is it located?”
“Ah... the name, right...”
Caught off guard by Dorothy’s question, Gregor hesitated briefly. After a moment of darting glances, he quickly came up with a response.
“It’s called Heavy Fist Security—yeah, the Igwynt Heavy Fist Security Agency. How about that, Dorothy? Doesn’t it sound formidable?”
‘It certainly does... you came up with something so bold and yet so corny...’ Dorothy thought to herself, her lips curving into a faint smile. Meanwhile, Gregor, after a moment’s pause, hastily added, “Listen, Dorothy, the agency I work for primarily serves wealthy clients. Since many of them demand confidentiality for their security services, there are certain regulations that prevent me from disclosing specific details about the agency.”
“Oh, I see. In that case, I won’t ask further. I was just a little curious.”
Hearing Gregor’s explanation, Dorothy nodded, though inwardly she mused, ‘Well... for someone who’s just a step away from being a hotheaded youth, working in a secretive field must be quite the stretch for you...’“But I must say, I didn’t expect being good at fighting to lead to such an impressive career. That’s quite something. Isn’t it a bit dangerous, though? You must encounter lots of risky situations in your line of work, don’t you?”
Changing the subject, Dorothy refrained from pressing Gregor further and instead spoke with a tone of genuine concern.
“Haha, well, there are some tricky situations from time to time, but they’re nothing to worry about. Don’t fret, Dorothy—your brother’s thriving in this field,” Gregor replied with a hearty laugh.
“Is that so... Even so, you should always remember that your safety comes first.”
“Don’t worry about it—I know my limits.”
...
The carriage carrying Dorothy and Gregor continued along its route and soon arrived at their destination—a small apartment building.
The building had six stories, not particularly tall. Its exterior was made of red bricks, with white window frames. Each floor featured small balconies—some adorned with potted plants, others hung with drying clothes. In front of the ground floor, there was a flowerbed, where climbing ivy stretched high up the red walls, adding a touch of greenery to the structure.
The apartment was situated on a quiet street with few passersby. Tall roadside trees lined the area, making it a tranquil and pleasant place to live.
“Not bad, right? Southern Sunflower Street is a prime location. Walk north, and you’ll reach Riverside Park. A little further east, and there’s the church. Whether for a stroll or for prayers, it’s really convenient. The only downside is that it’s a bit far from the commercial district, so shopping can be troublesome at times,” Gregor said proudly as he stood in front of the building, enthusiastically introducing the area to Dorothy.
Dorothy, looking around curiously, seemed genuinely impressed. “Wow, this kind of apartment isn’t meant for ordinary people, is it? Are you sure your salary can handle it, brother?”
“Of course, no problem! I’m even thinking about saving up enough money to buy a standalone house in the suburbs someday. Alright, come on, let’s head up—our place is on the fifth floor.”
Picking up Dorothy’s suitcase, Gregor led the way along the stone path through the flowerbed and into the apartment building. Dorothy followed him closely up to the fifth floor, stopping in front of their suite. When Gregor opened the door, Dorothy was greeted by a spacious and well-lit living room.
To be honest, even with her modern sensibilities, the quality of the apartment exceeded Dorothy’s expectations. A large living room was complemented by two bedrooms, a dedicated bathroom, a kitchen, a balcony, and a laundry room. The furnishings were quite decent too, with a sofa, a fireplace, a gramophone, running water, and gas.
The apartment had excellent natural light and ventilation. Standing on the balcony, Dorothy could see the distant Riverside Park and the spire of the church. Compared to the drafty little wooden house she had lived in back in the village, this was practically paradise.
“Well, what do you think? Your big brother has pretty good taste, huh?”
Seeing Dorothy’s eyes light up at the sight of the place, Gregor crossed his arms proudly. Dorothy nodded in response without hesitation.
“This is… beyond my expectations. Thank you, brother.”
“No need to thank me. We’re family, aren’t we? Once I’ve saved up more money, I’ll bring Aunt Hannah’s family over too!”
Gregor’s tone was filled with determination, while Dorothy, after taking another look around, shifted her gaze to the ashtray on the coffee table in the living room, which was filled with cigarette ash.
“Brother Gregor, do you smoke?”
Dorothy asked curiously. Her question startled Gregor, who quickly replied, “No, no, not at all. It’s just that my colleagues sometimes smoke when they come over.”
“Is that so...”
“Haha, yeah, you know how it is—working in security, most of my colleagues are rough types who enjoy smoking. Anyway, Dorothy, you must be tired from the journey. Get some rest. In a couple of days, I’ll take you to register at the grammar school. Even though the term has already started, I’m sure you’ll have no problem joining mid-term given your abilities.”
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”
After putting away her luggage, Dorothy familiarized herself with her new home. Later, she and Gregor went out to buy some essential household items. By the time they returned after having dinner outside, Dorothy claimed to be exhausted from the trip and retired to her room early.
Once inside her room, Dorothy locked the door behind her. Contrary to what she had said earlier, she didn’t change into her sleepwear or go to bed. Instead, she placed her suitcase on the table and opened it.
Inside the suitcase, apart from a few pieces of clothing, were several boxes, a notebook, and a jar containing a pale, severed finger suspended in liquid.
At this very moment, while the captain of the Igwynt’s Serenity Bureau’s Hunter Squad was resting in his room nearby, Dorothy had already taken out a collection of obscure mysticism items.
Taking a Corpse Marionette Ring from one of the boxes, she put it on her finger. She then opened another box, revealing the preserved body of a large gecko.
This gecko had been one of Edrick’s test subjects for his experiments with the Corpse Marionette Ring. His home had been filled with various experimental specimens—both controllable and uncontrollable. Most creatures with a certain body size could be controlled, but those as small as insects were beyond the ring’s capabilities.
Using the experimental notes Edrick had left behind, Dorothy had carefully selected several test specimens. The larger ones had been shipped via freight, while the smaller ones had been packed in her suitcase.
Under the control of the Corpse Marionette Ring, the gecko’s body twitched twice before starting to move. It climbed out of the box and scurried across the table toward the window.
Guiding it carefully, Dorothy directed the gecko to climb along the outer wall of the apartment. From her room’s window, it crept toward Gregor’s room.
“Well then, as a member of Serenity Bureau, will you share any secrets about the realm of beyond with me, brother?”
In the dimly lit room, Dorothy sat at the table, muttering softly to herself as she meticulously maneuvered her corpse marionette closer to Gregor’s window.