In the slums of Igwynt’s lower city, far from the bustling districts, within the chaotic alleys where countless underprivileged city dwellers resided, two figures dressed in plain clothes and wearing masks were lurking at the entrance of a dark alley. Hidden around the corner of a wall, they were quietly observing the events unfolding inside the alley.
There, they saw the target they had been tracking—a little girl in a black cloak standing deep within the alley, holding up a box high like she was presenting her accomplishments. In front of her stood a tall, pale man dressed as an elegant gentleman.
“So it’s true... The girl was sent to the secret gathering by someone. That person is trying to sell the eucharist’s goods without revealing their identity!”
Watching this scene, the two men thought to themselves and smirked coldly.
“Hmph, cautious indeed. But still too naive. They underestimate the eucharist’s influence in Igwynt. Grayhill’s gathering—how could the eucharist’s members not attend? Now we’ve caught their tail...”
While thinking this, the corners of their lips curled into faint smiles. They continued their surveillance as the little girl holding the box spoke again.
“Mister! The follow-up payment you promised!”
When the girl finished speaking, the pale-faced gentleman smiled, gently patted the girl’s head, and then pulled out a banknote from his pocket, handing it to her. He then took the box from her hands.
“Thank you, kind sir! May the Holy Mother bless you!”
Overjoyed, the girl accepted the note, bowed deeply with genuine gratitude, and ran off gleefully. Meanwhile, the gentleman holding the box walked silently toward another path.Seeing this, the two hidden men exchanged glances and quickly began following him.
The two men continued to trail the gentleman, stealthily maintaining their distance. They had a clear goal in mind: follow this mysterious figure who dared to sell the eucharist’s goods, locate his hideout, and gather as much intel as possible before reporting back to the eucharist. Then, the eucharist would deal with him, capture him, interrogate him about the origin of the goods, and make him pay a heavy price.
As the allure of rewards spurred them on, the men kept up their pursuit. However, they were unaware that a pair of eyes high above were watching their every move.
The gentleman, with his cane in hand, strolled leisurely forward. His pace was unhurried, as though he were enjoying a post-meal walk. Occasionally, he would stop to look up at the sky or offer alms to a nearby beggar child. Though he was walking through filthy alleys, his demeanor remained impeccably composed.
He truly seemed like a refined gentleman.
However, his calm and unhurried attitude only made the two men following him more anxious. They wished their target would hurry up and lead them to his hideout.
Despite his slow pace, the gentleman steadily moved forward. Gradually, he exited the alley and entered a bustling street. The pursuers followed closely, blending more easily with the crowd.
After some time, the two men realized the gentleman had reached the riverside plaza. Here, many citizens were strolling about, enjoying the cool river breeze. It was a rare day when the factories upstream weren’t operating, so the air was free of the acrid stench of industrial fumes.
Among the strolling citizens, the two men found it easier to remain hidden. They edged closer to the gentleman, who stood by the riverside railing, staring motionlessly at the ferries crossing the river.
“Is this guy seriously here to admire the view?”
Impatience churned within the pursuers as they watched. While they speculated how long their target might linger there, the gentleman suddenly turned around.
Facing the crowd, Edrick’s lips curled into a faint smile.
He removed his hat with his right hand, held it over his chest, and placed his cane behind his back with his left hand. Then, bowing deeply, he performed a flawless gentleman’s salute—directed at the crowd and the pursuers hidden within it.
Straightening his posture, Edrick maintained his smile, spread his arms wide, and fell backward into the river.
The sudden act startled the two pursuers. They rushed out of the crowd and to the riverbank, peering down into the waters below. But all they could see was the endless flow of the river—there was no trace of anyone.
The two men exchanged glances, their expressions growing grim.
“We need to report this to the eucharist immediately.”
Nodding in agreement, the two hurried off, ignoring the startled screams of nearby citizens who had witnessed the scene. They blended back into the crowd and made their way through the streets.
Their steps quickened as they crossed two blocks and turned into another alley. After heading further in, they stopped before a red wooden door with stairs. They knocked rhythmically, exchanged some coded phrases, and the door opened. Both men entered.
Unbeknownst to them, atop a nearby building, a black crow perched silently on the edge of the rooftop railing, watching everything below. It had been there the entire time, never leaving its vantage point, recording every detail of their movements.
Not far away, on a bustling street, the second floor of a café housed a modestly dressed white-haired girl. She wore a white blouse and a gray skirt and had just received a cup of coffee from a waiter. With a gentle smile, she thanked him.
After adding eight sugar cubes to the coffee in one go, Dorothy stirred the drink slowly with a spoon. Once the sugar dissolved, she blew on the steaming coffee and took a sip, her eyes reflecting satisfaction.
Setting the cup back on the table, she briefly recalled the information seen through her distant vision. In a soft murmur, she spoke:
“Western Elmwood Street... Number 22?”
A faint smile appeared on her lips. She knew that this time, her counter-surveillance efforts had been a success. Today had been a fruitful day.