“Old books? Yes... We primarily collect books here, but we also rent and sell them,” said the alert-looking clerk standing behind the counter in response to Dorothy’s question. Dorothy nodded and continued.
“May I ask if you have these books?” She pulled a note from her pocket and handed it to the clerk. The clerk furrowed his brows as he read through the list.
“The Gospel of Radiance, Volume Four... Rhetoric and Speech, Volume Three... Adolf’s Logic, Volume Three... Fundamentals of Etiquette... Geometry and Arithmetic... ”
The clerk clicked his tongue and said, “You’ve got quite a list here, miss. I’m not sure if we have all these in the store. Wait here, and I’ll get the boss to check for you.”
Dorothy agreed immediately. “Alright, thank you for your help.”
The clerk climbed the stairs behind the counter, heading to the second floor.
Meanwhile, on the second floor of the bookstore, a bald old man stood in a dimly lit secret chamber. In front of him was a crimson altar made of bones. On its pulsating flesh sat an ear and a mouth.
“So, in the end, you didn’t manage to see the mentor?” asked the elderly man, known as Clifford, his tone grave.
From the mouth on the altar, Buck’s voice emerged. “No. I accessed the mentor’s dream cocoon from the Dreamscape, but it refused to open for me. I couldn’t enter the mentor’s dream or meet him in person.”
“Sigh... The mentor’s meticulousness in preparing for advancement is almost excessive. It seems we can’t count on him for now,” Clifford sighed. Buck replied from the altar.“Yes, so we need to be extra cautious. Since the mysterious group can counter divination and their details remain unclear, it’s best not to search for them directly in the city for now.”
“So we’re just going to let them be?”
“Not exactly... We could try another approach to locate them. For instance, through the Serenity Bureau.”
Buck’s suggestion left Clifford puzzled.
“The Serenity Bureau?”
“Yes. That mysterious group has twice leaked our information to the Bureau. I suspect there’s an unknown connection between them. Or, to be bold, maybe James has already realized there’s a mole among us. That group might be an extra unit secretly requested by James from higher-ups—disguised as an independent organization to investigate us while bypassing our spies in the local branch.”
Buck’s analysis caused Clifford to pause.
“You’re saying that mysterious group is essentially an extension of the Bureau?”
“Exactly. Otherwise, why would an external group always target us so precisely upon arriving in Igwynt? If they’re part of the Bureau, it makes perfect sense!”
Clifford nodded, contemplating Buck’s reasoning.
“That does seem plausible. Igwynt isn’t rich in rare mystical resources to attract other groups. But if they belong to the Bureau, it adds up. Still... If James had the resources to request reinforcements, why didn’t he apply for divination opportunities?”
“Hmph... Divination is far harder to obtain than personnel. There are over eighty cities under Pritt’s jurisdiction, each with its own Bureau branch competing for limited divination resources. Even the central Bureau probably struggles with shortages. Compared to divination, applying for reinforcements is far easier...” Buck’s tone was laced with disdain, indicating his familiarity with the Bureau’s operations.
“You make a good point. So, if that mysterious group truly belongs to the Bureau, how should we deal with them?” Clifford asked solemnly.
“For now, avoid any major moves, especially direct investigations into that group. On the other hand, deepen our infiltration of the Bureau’s Igwynt branch. If we can gather more spies and reach James himself, we might uncover valuable intelligence about that group.”
“Hmm... That’s the best course for now. But where will we find such an opportunity...” Clifford muttered, deep in thought.
Just then, a voice called out from outside the secret chamber.
“Mr. Clifford, are you there?”
Hearing the voice, Clifford froze.
He turned to the altar and said, “That’s enough for today.”
“Understood.”
With that, Clifford tapped the crimson altar, causing the ear and mouth to dissolve into pulsating flesh. He exited the secret chamber after activating its mechanisms and closed the door behind him.
Facing the clerk outside, he asked, “What is it?”
“Mr. Clifford, there’s a customer downstairs with quite a list of books. I couldn’t gather them all, so I need you to take a look.”
The clerk’s explanation was met with a disgruntled huff from Clifford.
“Hmph... Always about books. What a nuisance. I should just shut this place down, it’s been ages since we’ve acquired anything decent.”
Muttering complaints, Clifford descended the stairs. When he reached the counter to see who was requesting the books, he stopped abruptly.
Before him stood a young man and a girl. The girl’s appearance immediately stirred a memory deep within him.
“White hair... red eyes... Could it be…”
“Excuse me, are you the owner of this store?” Dorothy asked, noticing Clifford’s brief pause.
He quickly regained his composure and replied.
“Yes, yes, that’s me. Haha. I’m the owner. May I ask which of you is here for the books?”
“That would be me,” Dorothy answered, raising her hand. “Do you have these books?”
She handed the note to Clifford. He unfolded it and scanned the list.
“The Gospel of Radiance, Volume Four... Adolf’s Logic, Volume Three... Rhetoric and Speech...”
“Ah... These are all related to secondary school studies. Such a diligent young lady! Truly admirable. You’re in luck, I have all these books in stock. Please wait a moment while I retrieve them. It might take some time, so make yourselves comfortable.”
With a smile, Clifford gestured to the clerk. “Danny, serve our guests some tea.”
“Tea... Got it, sir,” Danny replied.
While Clifford began searching through the old bookshelves, Danny hurried upstairs to prepare the tea. At a small table, he poured two cups of tea. Recalling a specific coded instruction, he opened a drawer in a cabinet, retrieving a small glass vial filled with a viscous red liquid.
He carefully added a single drop of the liquid to each teacup before placing them on a tray. Balancing the tray, he descended the stairs cautiously and set the tea before the guests.
“The boss will need a little time to find the books. Please enjoy some tea while you wait,” Danny said with a polite smile.
Nearby, Clifford, still searching the shelves, cast subtle glances at the siblings as they sat at the counter. His eyes narrowed slightly.
“I didn’t expect the opportunity to come so quickly...”