Alger extended his hand, hesitantly tearing open the lead seal and extracting the letter inside.
The telegram consisted of only three thin pages, though two were densely written. Overseas telegrams required transmission through undersea cables, passing through the Rhosid Archipelago capital of Bayam before reaching here—a highly inefficient process. Without his Storm Church credentials, transmitting intelligence of this length would have been nearly impossible.
Unfolding the papers, Alger looked at the first page, which contained the least content.
This telegram came from Hague at the "Wild Heart" tavern, a former pirate whom Alger had saved several years ago and who'd since retired from maritime raiding.
It recorded forged identity information: "Name: Angel Granger. Gender: Female. Date of Birth: June 28, 1331."
If Miss "Queen" had indeed forged this identity for herself, did that mean she was now called "Angel Granger"?
Recalling the first Tarot Club meeting and Miss Queen's transparent "my friend" explanation, Alger's lips curved into a faint smile.
Below the identity information were simple family relationships and a personal history. Hague had specifically noted that he'd already placed this document in Backlund's Central Archives—anyone checking would find nothing amiss.
Did this fellow think I was coming after him to settle a score?
Alger snorted and set aside that page, turning to the second.
This sheet was completely filled with content from the archives of Tingen's "River and Sea Church," recording a Beyonder battle that had occurred in Tingen on the morning of September 2nd.
In North District's Central Park, Tingen's Nighthawks squad had engaged in fierce combat against the Witch set, Aurora Order, and a woman bearing the embryo of the "True Creator." Bombs planted in advance by the cultists had killed dozens, including a New Party parliament member, and injured hundreds more.
Ultimately, the evil god's descent had been prevented, and the Aurora Order and Witch set Beyonders had been killed on the spot. The Nighthawks had also suffered devastating casualties.
The Aurora Order's "True Creator" had actually attempted to descend in Tingen? That city has over a hundred thousand people—they're absolutely insane... But what does this have to do with the information I need?
Reading this combat record that seemed entirely unrelated to the first page, Alger's brow furrowed slightly. But he knew his commissioned friend's competence—he wouldn't waste precious telegraph opportunities on useless information.
Turning his attention to the final page, Alger read quickly, filled with anticipation.
This was a mission report from Tingen's "Mandated Punishers" squad.
After receiving a telegram from the Nighthawks informing them that an evil god's embryo was about to descend upon Tingen, they'd unsealed the Sealed Artifact 2-044 "Storm Bell," kept under the Tingen squad's custody, and rushed to North District's Central Park to participate in the battle.
Upon arrival, the Mandated Punishers discovered the fighting had already ended. The entire park had been reduced to ruins by explosives buried underground. Blood and flames, wounded and severed limbs were everywhere. The ground, pierced by a beam of light descending from the heavens, had become a small pond formed by water gushing from broken underground pipes.
Only one young Nighthawk remained alive, his demeanor crazed. The evil god's embryo and its mother, the "Rose Bishop," and the "Pleasure Witch" had all been killed. The Tingen squad's captain and two other team members had died in battle. Beyonder characteristics from both enemies and allies littered the ground.
From this Mandated Punisher's rather literary account of participating in the operation and helping clean up the aftermath, Alger could imagine how brutal the battle must have been.
At the end of the mission report, this Mandated Punisher who'd attended the funeral of the heroes who defended Tingen recorded several names.
Dunn Smith, Klein Moretti, Angel... Angel Granger?
Alger immediately flipped back to the first page, confirming the connection between the three telegrams.
Angel Granger—this was the false identity Miss "Queen" had created with Hague.
She died? She died in the battle against an evil god's embryo?
The timing certainly matched. September 2nd was a Sunday... She'd attended the Tarot Club that week. Then Qilingers was killed by the Fool's blessed, and I, delayed in Backlund and worried about surveillance, had requested leave from Mr. Fool. The September 3rd Tarot Club meeting was subsequently canceled. At the next meeting, she hadn't attended.
But Mr. Fool said she was only on extended leave...
Alger's gaze moved repeatedly between the pages, finally returning to the identity information sheet, to the date of birth.
She had only just turned eighteen...
Recalling that tall figure hidden behind the gray fog at the Tarot Club meetings, Alger's mouth tasted bitter.