Lyn and Aaron left together.
Cromwell looked at Lyn's unfinished glass of strong distilled liquor and sighed, "I never expected that equestrian teacher to pass away at such a young age. He should have had a bright future ahead of him. It's truly a pity."
"Indeed," Lex echoed, raising his glass and slowly sipping his red wine.
The Arbiter shook his head, "Talim is dead. It seems Prince Edessak will need to find a new equestrian teacher."
Upon hearing this, Lex suddenly coughed violently. He quickly put down his glass, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and asked, "What did you just say? Talim was Prince Edessak's equestrian teacher?"
Cromwell said without a ripple of emotion, "Surprising, isn't it? I only heard Lyn mention it inadvertently not long ago. Mr. Talim has served His Highness the Prince for many years, which is why I said his future should have been bright."
"What a shame."
Listening to the Arbiter's sigh, Lex felt a chill run down his spine.
Prince Edessak Augustus was one of the key figures in the upcoming Great Smog event. The vessel used for the Witch's revival was initially arranged to be near the Prince.
Although the Watcher didn't mention much about the Prince and the Witch, Lex later guessed that this was one of the deals made between George III and the Witch Sect. Placing a Witch by the Prince's side somehow felt like using the Prince as a hostage.
George III agreed to this to show his sincerity. It was unknown if the Prince was aware of this deal.
If he wasn't, then George III was frighteningly cold-blooded, willing to abandon even his son to achieve godhood. If such a person truly became the Black Emperor, who knew what terrible things might happen.
Lex put away his handkerchief and looked at the Arbiter, saying, "Have you been to the East Area recently?"
"I accepted a commission, but the activity isn't in the East Area. Why?" Cromwell felt that Lex wouldn't bring up this question without reason.
Lex lowered his voice and said, "Before the New Year, don't go to the East Area, and don't go to the Dock Area."
Seeing Lex so serious, Cromwell didn't ask 'why' but nodded, "Alright."
He believed Lex must have his reasons for doing this. As a friend, he had enough trust in Lex.
Opening his pocket watch, Lex saw that it was getting late and stood up to take his leave. His visit today was merely to meet two friends and sound them out about their plans to leave Backlund.
It seemed Cromwell would likely not leave Backlund, but Lyn was in trouble and preparing to leave. Perhaps there was a chance to bring the lawyer onto the ship.
Thinking this, Lex bid farewell to the Arbiter and walked down the street. Looking at the bustling thoroughfare with people coming and going, he found it hard to believe that such a terrible disaster would befall this city in the near future.
"The Great Smog..."
Although he had already begun to act, Lex had no confidence at all in whether he could prevent this disaster.
"Just do my best," he told himself, and led Levto into the subway entrance.
Evening.
162 Backlund Street.
In the room, the long, straight-haired Kardashian was scrutinizing Lex with a cold gaze, "Are you serious? You've already sent me on an errand once today, and now you want me to attend a Beyonder gathering for you?"
Lex shook the newspaper in his hand, "This is a rare opportunity. They left a secret code in the newspaper; only those in the know will realize there's a gathering tonight."
"Try to imagine, if I can get the materials I need at the gathering, then I can advance faster. The sooner I become a demigod, the sooner you can see your teacher. This benefits us both, doesn't it?"
Kardashian said expressionlessly, "You can go yourself."
"This is Backlund, and I am a Navy Lieutenant Commander. If I'm discovered attending such an illegal gathering, I'll be in a lot of trouble."
"If I get arrested and imprisoned, I can't guarantee when I'll be able to accompany you to the Nether Lord," Lex said with a sincere expression.
Kardashian was silent for a moment before saying, "What materials do you need?"
After Lex listed the required materials, he smiled again and said, "Since you've already decided to go for me, how about you also help me spread a message at the gathering?"
Lex's reflection was mirrored in Kardashian's amber eyes, "You know, I feel like tearing up the agreement."
Iron Gate Street.
A woman dressed in a classical black robe, with her face hidden under a hood, looked up at the sign on the bar across the street: "Brave Bar."
She pushed open the heavy door and walked to the bar, looking at the Bartender, "I'm looking for Kaspars Canning."
The Bartender, wiping a glass, glanced at the woman, "Caspas has been dead for a while. Those black and white dogs said he was restless in his sleep and suffocated himself with his blanket."
"So you see, you won't find him."
The woman said calmly, "Then, where can I find a similar merchant?"
"In billiard room number three," the Bartender pointed to a door in the distance.
Without even a 'thank you', the woman left the bar and went to the room the Bartender had indicated, knocking on the door that wasn't even properly closed.
"Come in."
A voice, sounding rather young, replied from inside.
The woman pushed open the wooden door and looked inside, finding only a boy who wasn't very old in the billiard room. He was flipping through a magazine.
He wore an old overcoat and a brown bowler hat, and had bright red eyes—a very distinct feature.
He had two clearly fake mustaches pasted on his mouth, seemingly trying to make himself look older.
The woman indifferently scanned the billiard room, then looked at the boy and said, "I heard there would be special merchants here. It seems the Bartender lied to me."
With that, the woman was about to leave.
The boy jumped off his chair, pressed his hat, and smiled, "Madam, I am that special merchant."
The woman stopped and said, "Then you must know that a special gathering is being held in this bar tonight. What do I need to do to attend that gathering?"
The boy said with a grin, "There is indeed such a place, and I can take you there, but I can't guarantee they'll let you attend."
The woman took out her wallet, pulled out two one-pound banknotes, and held them up, saying, "You'll find a way."
The boy whistled, "You truly are a generous lady. Who could bear to refuse someone like you?"
He walked over, took the two pounds from the woman's hand, and said, "Follow me."
The woman followed the boy towards the bar's kitchen, from there entering the alley behind, and circling around to a dark house.
"Put this on."
The boy took out an iron mask and handed it to the woman, then knocked on the door with a specific rhythm.
A hoarse voice from inside asked, "Who is it?"
"It's me, 'Old Man'."
The boy, not very old but calling himself 'Old Man', turned his head and winked at the woman behind him.