Hearing Dunn's invitation to join the team, Galad froze for a moment.
"Are you inviting me to become a Nighthawk?" He suspected he had misheard and asked again for confirmation.
"That's right."
"But you clearly said before that my Pathway is very dangerous… Is it really appropriate for me to join your team?"
"As long as it's properly controlled, danger can be avoided." Dunn's gray eyes flickered slightly. "Or… do you actually prefer living under supervision?"
"Not at all."
Galad shook his head firmly. "I just feel it's too sudden, a bit… overwhelming."
"Heh, so that's how it is."
Dunn smiled faintly. "There are two main reasons for inviting you to join us. First, out of sympathy for your situation , I hope you and your sister can live a better life. Second, your abilities and Sequence are extremely valuable to us. At present, Secret Supplicants on our side are incredibly rare. Especially considering your outstanding performance last night if not for you, we might have lost two teammates. Inviting you to the Nighthawks is also my way of expressing gratitude."
This reasoning was sound.
Galad nodded slightly, then turned to Cecilia. "Sister, what do you think?"
"I'll listen to you," Cecilia replied softly. "Either choice is fine, as long as we're not separated."
Sister, you should think for yourself too…
Galad sighed inwardly. He could only weigh the pros and cons.
Both options Dunn presented carried their own advantages and disadvantages.
If he chose protection and supervision, the upside was safety he might live a stable life. But that would mean giving up freedom, perhaps for the rest of his days. He had originally considered becoming a "plagiarist," yet under strict supervision, that was out of the question. Not to mention, after witnessing firsthand the madness of cultists, he doubted even protection could guarantee safety.
On the other hand, joining the Nighthawks offered more freedom, official support, and countless opportunities to learn about the mysterious world perhaps even a way to return home. It also meant a stable salary. He didn't know the exact amount, but judging by how well-fed and well-dressed the Nighthawks were, at least they didn't worry about food and clothing.
The disadvantage was obvious: danger. Encounters with deranged cultists or sudden, uncontrollable accidents.
But the truth was, the first choice wasn't safe either. If he became a Nighthawk, at least he would have teammates to rely on. Moreover, that strange illusion that guarded his mind gave him far more protection than an ordinary Secret Supplicant.
With that thought, he lifted his head.
"Any other questions?" Dunn asked.
"I'd like to know if I join, what exactly will my duties be? And what about the salary and benefits?" Galad asked bluntly.
"Nighthawks mainly handle Beyonder cases involving the Goddess's believers. For our Tingen City team, there are usually only one or two cases per month. They're generally simple what you experienced last night was exceptionally rare."
"If you join, you'll serve as an auxiliary member. You won't need to fight on the frontlines, but you'll handle divination, psychometry, and ritual services. Of course, we'll provide professional training for all of that."
"As for salary, let me give you an example. Klein Moretti, whom you met recently, just joined a few weeks ago. He's a Sequence 9 auxiliary member. His weekly salary is around six pounds, and it will gradually increase each year."
Six pounds a week?
Galad raised an eyebrow. That was far more than he expected. An ordinary worker in Tingen City earned, at most, one pound for a week's labor. The Nighthawk salary was equivalent to fifteen or sixteen thousand in a city where the average income was three or four thousand. Considering the risks, it was perfectly reasonable.
At the very least, with this money, he could support his sister and live a comfortable life.
"That's all I can disclose for now. The rest will only be explained after you officially join," Dunn continued. "I'm not pressuring you take your time to think it over. After all, once you accept, your future will follow an entirely different path."
His gray eyes rested calmly on Galad, without the slightest hint of urgency.
Galad fell into thought, then turned to Cecilia. "How much did you make from matchbox piecework again?"
Cecilia hesitated, then said, "It used to be two and a quarter pence. But I haven't done it recently, so I don't know the latest price in the city."
Galad was silent for a few seconds, then smiled faintly. "Throw away that brush. We won't be needing it anymore."
He stood, extended his hand, and said decisively, "I wish to join the Nighthawks."
"Welcome."
Dunn smiled as well, grasping his hand firmly. His palm was warm and steady.
Two mornings later, Narcissus Street, No. 6.
Dressed in a brand-new formal suit, Galad stood in his newly rented house, gazing at his reflection in the mirror.
Freed from his old, restrictive clothes, his handsome features and tailored attire gave him an extraordinary presence. Yet, between his brows lingered a faint shadow of sickness and gloom, lending him a strange, unsettling air.
A bit too eye-catching.
He frowned slightly at his own image.
After agreeing to join the team, Dunn had instructed Mrs. Orianna, the accountant, to advance him two weeks' salary as a settling-in allowance. Galad hadn't refused after all, he and Cecilia had nothing but a battered suitcase, and he urgently needed money to build a new life.
In the next two days, he rented this house, bought clothes for himself and his sister, and purchased all the necessities. Only now, at last, was everything ready, and it was time for him to report to the team.
Placing his top hat on his head, he called upstairs, "Are you ready?"
A timid figure appeared at the stairs Cecilia, in a fresh dress, clutching a book bag.
"Do we really have to go?" she asked nervously.
"I've already paid your tuition. How could you not go?" Galad chuckled, gently patting her shoulder. "Just listen carefully in class. My sister is so smart, there's no way you'll have a problem."
Yes starting today, Cecilia was returning to school.
Before tragedy struck their family, she had been a top student at the Evernight Goddess Church middle school. If she graduated, she would likely find a good job. But when Galad fell ill, she dropped out, trapped with him in their cramped apartment.
As someone from 21st Century World, Galad had always held education in the highest regard. Now that their lives were stabilizing, he had to give his sister the chance to finish her studies. With Dunn's help, Cecilia's student status was reinstated, and she could return to school.
"But Galad… are you sure you don't need me to look after you anymore?" Cecilia asked, still hesitant. She was happy to study again, but worry lingered in her eyes.
"My illness is cured. Haven't you noticed? It hasn't relapsed for a long time." Galad tapped his chest confidently. "Alright, let's go. You don't want to be late on your first day, do you?"
Finally reassured, Cecilia smiled and left the house.
After watching her go, Galad adjusted his top hat once more. It was time for him to report to the Nighthawks.