When Colin returned to the inn near the Danlan Shipyard, which he had instructed Renee to find anew, the sky had already turned completely dark.
The streets were now sparser in terms of pedestrians compared to daytime, replaced by many silver-white Heavy Armored Guards on patrol.
Patrols consisting of groups of five Guards, their silver-white Heavy Armor fitting as if naturally made, with only the latticed visors revealing a few tiny gaps.
Clack, clack, clack—
The Guards marched past in formation, with precise, uniformly measured strides.
Colin withdrew his gaze, not lingering any longer, and hurriedly entered the moderately-sized, plain inn.
He had rented a suite at the end of the first-floor corridor.
When he got back to his room, Renee had already prepared dinner for him.
Without rushing to dine, he walked over and sat down on the sofa, asking Renee,
"How did the inquiry go?"
"It's mostly done," Renee nodded, paused, and then began to relate:
"Bananka Island is a well-known trade island far and near, ruled by the Bananka Wizard, a late Second Rank Wizard..."
Renee went on to detail the information she had gleaned from taverns and other places.
"You did well, Renee."
After a while, Colin leaned against the sofa backrest and praised her.
Previously, most of what he knew about Bananka Island was through the tales of the guide Mod, a single individual.
Only a small part came from his own personal experiences.
Although that wasn't necessarily a big issue, Bananka Island was a completely new and unknown environment for him; it never hurt to learn more about it.
After all, it was not particularly wise to only listen to Mod's account.
This thought occurred to him as soon as he arrived, but he was usually busy with training and had no time to spare.
Fortunately, there was Renee.
Combining the information gathered by Renee, who inquired under the guise of an ordinary traveler, his understanding of Bananka Island became much clearer.
Mod's initial words had indeed misled him to some extent.
Bananka Island was not Blackstone Island.
Here, the Gangs on the trade island were not as blatantly violent as those on Blackstone Island showed.
They all adhered to the rules set by the island's sole ruler—the Bananka Wizard.
Previously, Mod's words made him believe these Gangs were unbridled in style, capable of oppressing foreign wizards at will.
But now it seemed,
They were more like unscrupulous chambers of commerce.
Compared to the Gangs on Blackstone Island, their methods were milder and more restrained.
They needed to comply with the rules set in public.
Moreover, that Lord Bananka, it was said he valued reputation very highly.
No wonder that day in the alley, the two Haiya Gang wizards could have taken by force but chose instead to say they were looking after business for him.
Colin couldn't help but feel slightly relieved at the thought.
...
The next day.
Dawn was breaking.
The clanking patrol sounds of the Steel-armored Guards that persisted all night outside the suite window finally came to a rest.
In their place rose the noisy sounds of the streets.
Colin walked out of the inn, heading towards the port, ready to meet with Mod.
But no sooner had he stepped out of the inn than he frowned.
'I didn't expect the Haiya Chamber of Commerce to have even found this place...'
Not far ahead to his left, a man in a grey robe was holding a portrait and questioning passersby.
It was evident that the portrait was of him.
Colin couldn't help but frown slightly; he wasn't worried about being recognized, as he was currently in disguise.
But such a degree of searching was definitely not normal.
Before this, he had only seen his portrait on Haiya Gang members he encountered on the road and on the fixed bulletin boards on Lanbei Street.
And on the bulletin board, there were several other portraits next to his.
He was just one among many, nothing special.
Clearly, at that time, the Haiya Chamber of Commerce was only searching with normal intensity.
But unexpectedly... now he could even see searchers here.
Subconsciously, he remembered eavesdropping on the White-robed Wizard, who unintentionally exposed himself as the commissioner of the Golden Four-leaf Clover auction.
For over ten thousand Magic Stones, it would seem the Haiya Gang was justified in such an extensive search.
Colin understood in his heart.
It was getting late; he withdrew his gaze and continued onwards.
The newly found inn was near the Danlan Shipyard, not far from the port.
Before long, he reached the agreed meeting place and looked around, but saw no sign of Mod.
Click.
He pulled out his Pocket Watch, which showed the time as precisely 9 o'clock.
Colin's brows furrowed slightly, and he looked around again, but still, there was no sign of Mod.
Having met with Mod not for the first time, it had always been only him running late.
Mod was always five minutes early.
Never early, nor late.
But now...
After a few more minutes, there was still no sign of Mod.
Hesitating, Colin started to search in the direction he usually saw Mod coming from.
He stepped onto the street on the left at the intersection.
He hadn't walked far when he saw Mod's figure.
Next to Mod were two familiar figures.
It was the Law Enforcement Team Wizard and Haiya Gang member he had seen at the auction house he snuck back into.
His expression unchanged, Colin's footsteps faltered slightly, and he quickly turned into a dark alley on the left.
Moments later, when he came back out, he had already changed his appearance.
Colin continued walking slowly towards Mod and the others.
Soon, the sound of their conversation drifted to him on the gentle breeze.
"Hart sir, I am willing to cooperate with your investigation, but please remember—"