"Blackthorn Security Company."
When he saw the signboard, Klein was stunned for a long time. It was unexpected but reasonable.
Seriously … I don't know how to complain … He shook his head and laughed. He walked up the stairs, reached out his right hand, and knocked on the half-closed door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The slow and rhythmic knocking echoed, but there was no response from inside the room. There was only the faint sound of tapping.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Klein repeated it again, but it was still the same result.
He changed from knocking to pushing, widening the gap. He looked in and saw a set of classic sofas, soft-cushioned chairs, and a wooden coffee table. He saw a table right across from him, and a brown-haired girl with her head drooped behind the table.
Although the "Security Company" signboard was just a disguise, isn't it a little too unprofessional? How long has it been since they had any business? Alright, it's not like you need any business … As Klein lampooned, he approached the table and knocked on the girl's ear twice.
Knock! Knock!
The brown-haired girl sat up straight and picked up the newspaper in front of her, covering her face.
"Tingen City's Honest Newspaper … Good name … Klein silently recited the title of the newspaper that was facing him.
"The steam locomotive, Soar, that goes straight to Constant City opens today … Seriously, when can it reach Desi Bay? I don't want to take a boat there anymore. It's too uncomfortable, very uncomfortable … Eh, who are you?" The brown-haired girl pretended to recite and express her opinion. As she spoke, she lowered the newspaper, revealing her smooth forehead and light brown eyes. She looked at Klein in a fawning manner before turning to look at him in shock.
"Hello, I'm Klein Moretti. I'm here at the invitation of Mr. Dunn Smith." Klein took off his hat, placed it in front of his chest, and bowed slightly.
The brown-haired girl looked to be in her early twenties. She was wearing a light green Rouen -style dress. There were beautiful lace on her sleeves, collar, and chest, making her look even prettier.
"Captain … Alright, wait here. I'll go ask him." The girl hurriedly got up and entered the room from the side door.
She didn't even say anything about pouring a cup of water … How worrisome … Klein smiled and waited on the spot. He didn't go to the sofa or chair.
After two or three minutes, the brown-haired girl pushed open the door and came out.
"Mr. Moretti, please follow me. The Captain is on duty at Chanis Gate today and cannot leave."
"Alright." Klein strode forward warmly, but he was feeling apprehensive inwardly.
"Alright." Klein walked warmly, but he had a thought.
Through the partition, the first thing he saw was a corridor that wasn't long. There were only three offices on the left and right.
Some of these offices were locked, some were open, and the people inside could be seen typing away on heavy mechanical typewriters.
At a glance, Klein found a familiar face: the young police officer who had come to search his house the other day. He had black hair, blue eyes, and had the romantic air of a poet.
He wasn't wearing a formal suit, and his white shirt wasn't tucked into his pants. He looked unrestrained and unrestrained.
Perhaps he really is a poet … Klein nodded in greeting, and the man smiled in return.
The brown-haired girl twisted the door to the left of the office and pushed it open.
She pointed inside and said with a smile, "We still have to go down a few more flights of stairs."
There was nothing in the office, only a grayish-white stone staircase that led downwards.
The walls on both sides of the staircase were lit with elegant gas lamps. The stable light dispelled the darkness and brought peace.
The brown-haired girl walked in front, staring at her feet as she walked carefully.
"Although I often walk here, I'm still afraid. I'm always worried that I'll fall and roll down. You might not know this, but Leonard did something as stupid as that. On the first day he became a Sleepless, the first day he had yet to fully grasp his powers, he attempted to run at the speed of a sprint. Then, he turned into a wheel. Haha, it's funny just thinking about it. Yes, it's the guy who greeted you just now. That was three years ago. Speaking of which, I've been in the Nighthawks for five years. I was only seventeen back then …"
The girl looked at the road as she spoke. Suddenly, she smacked her forehead and said, "I forgot to introduce myself.
My name is Roshan. My father was an official member of the Nighthawks. He died in an accident five years ago. In the future, we should be colleagues. Uh, I should use the word 'colleague' … We can't be considered teammates. After all, we're not Beyonders. "
"I hope I can have the honor, but it all depends on what Mr. Smith says." Klein looked around the enclosed area and felt the two of them enter the underground. The cold moisture seeped out from the stone walls, dispelling the summer heat.
"Don't worry. The fact that you're allowed to come here means that Captain has agreed. I've always been a little afraid of Captain. Although he's very kind, caring, and gives me the feeling of a father, I don't know why, but I'm afraid." Roshan's voice sounded like she had a piece of candy in her mouth.
Klein replied humorously, "Isn't it normal to be afraid of a father?"
"That makes sense." Roshan reached out to support herself against the wall at the corner.
As they spoke, the two of them walked down the spiral staircase and arrived at a flat ground paved with stone slabs.
It was a long passageway. The walls on both sides were embedded with gas lamps that were surrounded by metal grids. The light shone down, dragging out Klein's and Roshan's shadows.
Klein acutely noticed that there was a Dark Sacred Emblem on the wall at regular intervals. It was the symbol of the Evernight Goddess — "Black as the base, embellished with resplendent embellishments, surrounding exactly half of the crimson moon."
Klein keenly noticed that there was a Dark Sacred Emblem on the wall at regular intervals. It was the symbol of the Evernight Goddess — "Black as the base, embellished with resplendence, surrounding exactly half of the crimson moon."
The Sacred Emblems didn't seem special, but walking between them, Klein's mind gradually calmed down. Roshan also shut her mouth, no longer chatting idly like before.
Not long after, a crossroad appeared in front of them. The brown-haired girl gave a brief introduction.
"The left leads to Saint Selena Cathedral. The right leads to the Weapons, Materials, and Documents Vault. Straight ahead leads to Chanis Gate."
Saint Selena Cathedral? Is Zouteland Street behind Red Moon Street? Klein was stunned when he heard that.
Saint Selena Cathedral on Red Moon Street was the headquarters of the Church of the Evernight Goddess in Tingen City. It was a holy land that local devout believers yearned for. Together with the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery in the suburbs and the River and Sea Cathedral of the Church of the Lord of Storms in North Tingen, they supported the religious world of Tingen City and its affiliated towns and villages.
Realizing that it wasn't appropriate for him to probe further with his current status, Klein listened in silence.
They passed through the crossroad and proceeded straight ahead. In less than a minute, a black iron door with seven Sacred Emblems engraved on it appeared before their eyes.
It stood there, giving off a heavy, cold, and condescending feeling, like a giant standing guard in the darkness.
"Chanis Gate." Roshan mentioned and pointed to the room beside it. "Captain is inside. You can go in by yourself."
"Alright, sorry to trouble you," Klein replied politely.
The room Roshan pointed to was slightly in front of Chanis Gate. The window was open, and light shone in. Klein took a deep breath and calmly bent his finger.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
"Come in." Dunn Smith's deep and warm voice sounded.
Klein gently pushed open the unlatched door and saw a table and four chairs inside. Dunn Smith, who had a receding hairline, wore the same black trench coat from the night before. He was leisurely reading the newspaper, and there was a golden watch chain near his chest button.
"Have a seat. Have you made up your mind? Are you sure you want to join us? "Dunn put down the newspaper in his hand and asked with a smile.
Klein took off his hat and bowed. He sat by the table and nodded slowly.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Then take a look at this contract. Heh heh, people like to call it a contract these days." Dunn pulled open the drawer and took out two copies of the contract.
There weren't many clauses on it. They were mostly what Dunn Smith had mentioned before. The main point was the confidentiality clause. Violators would not go through the kingdom's courts, but would be directly tried by the arbitration tribunal of the Church of the Evernight Goddess, just like how soldiers and officers had to go to military courts.
Five-year contract … Two pounds and ten soli weekly salary, ten soli confidentiality and risk allowance … Klein read through everything and answered seriously, "I'm fine with it."
"Then sign it."
"Then sign it." Dunn pointed at the dark red fountain pen and ink on the table.
Klein first tested the fountain pen with a piece of scrap paper. Then, he secretly took a deep breath and signed his name on the corresponding spot on both contracts: Klein Moretti.
As he didn't have a stamp, he could only put his fingerprint on it.
Dunn kept the contract and took out a stamp from the drawer. He stamped at the end and a few important spots.
After doing all this, he stood up and handed back a contract with one hand. He extended his other hand to Klein.
"Welcome. From now on, you're one of us. Take note, the contract has to be kept confidential."
Klein stood up as well. As he took the contract, he held the other party's hand and smiled.
"Then should I address you as Captain?"
"Yes." Dunn's gray eyes looked abnormally deep in the dim environment.
After shaking hands, the two sat down. Klein looked at the stamp on the contract and saw that it said, "Tingen Nighthawks Squad, Awwa County, Kingdom of Rouen."
"I really didn't expect you to use 'Blackthorn Security Company' as a cover," he said casually with a smile.
"Actually, we have another signboard." Dunn took out a piece of paper from the drawer.
It was stamped with the seals of the city government and the police department. There were two lines of text:
"Seventh Team, Awwa County Police Department's Special Operations Department, Kingdom of Rouen."
"The first four teams are normal police in charge of security, such as the VIP Protection Team, Important Site Protection Team, etc. From Team Five onwards, they deal with supernatural incidents in the various cities in the county. Our Team Seven is in charge of incidents related to the Goddess's believers in Tingen. If there are different believers, they will be divided according to the region. We are mainly in charge of places like the North, West, and Golden Indus Trees."
Dunn gave a brief introduction. "Team Six, which is part of the Mandated Punishers from the Church of Storms, is in charge of the dock, east, and south districts. The university district and the suburbs are under Team Five, which is the Machinery Hivemind's team in Tingen."
"Yes." Klein couldn't find anything to ask about this matter. He smiled and said, "What if someone really comes to us for a mission because of the 'Blackthorn Security Company' signboard?"
"Of course, why not? As long as it doesn't affect our daily affairs. " Dunn spoke slowly and humorously. "The money we earn can be treated as an additional bonus. The team members are quite happy to do so. After all, the troublesome and trivial matters like finding cats and dogs are now taken care of by the private detectives."
"How many people do we have in this Nighthawk team?" Klein asked, bringing up the topic.
"There aren't many supernatural incidents, and there aren't many Beyonders either. There are only six official Nighthawks in Tingen, including me. Heh heh, there are six clerks including you," Dunn answered unhurriedly.
Klein nodded and finally asked about the matter he was most concerned about.
"Captain, what do you mean by Beyonders losing control? Why would they lose control? "
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
