Chapter 340: Fraud

Chapter 340: Fraud

"Don't worry, nothing will happen. I'm just a friend you happened to meet, and I want to visit your workplace. You just couldn't refuse, right?"

Seeing Kline's expression of disbelief, as if he thought Luke's mind was broken, Luke explained nonchalantly.

Kline's lips twitched slightly, "Regardless, I think it's unnecessary for a wild Extraordinary Being to go to the Judicial Council. It's like looking for trouble."

Luke chuckled at his words, "Well, it's not a problem to go there as a commissioner, but I assume they'll ask where you heard about the place, and I'll have to mention your name."

Population registration in this world wasn't a complicated matter. There were too many births and deaths, and the number of vagrants and unregistered individuals was still high.

However, if the Night Shift Team were to investigate, it would be illogical for someone who had just registered to rush to an official Extraordinary Being outpost. It would be better to let Kline take him as a friend, reducing any suspicions.

"Don't worry, no one will be able to figure out my identity. Even if they do, it won't matter. The three melons and two dates in Tinggen City can't hold me back."

Three melons and two dates... Was he included in that group?

Kline inwardly scoffed, then asked curiously, "Speaking of which, what path are you on, and what's your Sequence level? Can you tell me?"

He could guess that the three Extraordinary Beings from the Order of Esoteric Studies were handled by Luke. To take care of a team with Sequence 7 members in a short time, he must be at least Sequence 6, or even Sequence 5.

As for Sequence 4, that was the stage of attaining divinity, where one became a demigod. Even the entire Darkness Goddess Church didn't have many such beings, and each of them was an incredibly powerful figure.

Luke spread his hands, "Why don't you take a guess first?"

Kline discreetly glanced at the mysterious fellow villager. The young man wore a silk tailcoat, tall and straight, holding a golden-tipped cane. His handsome face always carried a calm and composed expression, and a faint smile seemed to linger on his lips.

Compared to yesterday, he exuded an additional unique aura, making people want to trust him instinctively. Otherwise, Kline wouldn't have initially felt the scene of Luke and Melissa together to be heartwarming before snapping out of it.

Normally, as an older brother, he should have been the first to chase them away!

"Sequence 5."

Kline chose a relatively conservative answer. As Luke said, a small place like Tinggen was unlikely to have what a demigod would desire.

Luke nodded seriously, "You're close. I'm currently a Sequence 8 Expiator on the Thief's Path."

Sequence 8?! Kline's eyes widened in surprise, "Is that true? How could a Sequence 8 like you handle a Sequence 7 with two helpers?"

"Don't be superstitious about Sequence levels. If battles were decided solely by Sequence levels, we wouldn't need to fight at all. We'd just announce our Sequence levels to each other."

Luke looked at Kline, still a novice, with amusement, "There are many factors that influence the outcome of a fight. Before Sequence 4, that is, before attaining divinity, with proper preparation, a Sequence 8 can even defeat a Sequence 5."

"Alright."

Kline reluctantly accepted the explanation and turned to head home to explain the situation to Melissa. He informed her that she didn't need to prepare his lunch today, and then he and Luke boarded a carriage together.

...

The Blackthorn Company was located on the second floor of 36 Zoltran Street, serving as an outpost for the Night Shift Team of the Darkness Goddess Church, a modern front for their operations.

The Night Shift Team, along with the Mechanical Heart of the God of Steam and Mechanics Church and the Expiators of the Storm Lord Church, handled Extraordinary cases in Tinggen City.

On the carriage, Kline, who was sensitive to money, seriously explained his situation to Luke.

"Although I've taken the fortune-teller's magic potion, I'm not yet an official member. My weekly salary is only around three pounds. If I become an official member, my salary will immediately double to six pounds."

"At that time, I'll inform my family after a delay of two to three weeks. This way, I can save some money to repay my debt to you. I've also set my sights on a fortune-teller's club. If I work part-time during my free time, I should be able to earn a little extra."

"Don't worry, I don't need that small amount."

Luke replied casually. The purchasing power of the gold pound was quite strong. He didn't skimp on food, clothing, or transportation. In recent days, he had also visited a clothing store and ordered two sets of casual wear and court attire for evening banquets, and he still had over one hundred pounds left.

In a small city like Tinggen, most goods were not expensive, except for those in exclusive shops for nobles and the wealthy. A family's weekly salary of two to three pounds was sufficient for a comfortable life, but to maintain basic sustenance, it would cost at least twelve to twenty sule, depending on the number of family members.

The carriage suddenly came to a halt mid-journey, and a commotion could be heard from outside. Amidst the noise, there were sounds of scuffles, curses, and stomping. The driver poked his head into the carriage and apologized, "Please bear with us, it'll be over soon."

Kline, slightly puzzled, asked, "What's going on?"

Luke lifted the curtain and looked out the window. Not far away, a crowd had gathered, and at the center of the spectacle were two men with bloody heads and bloodshot eyes. Their necks and cheeks were flushed red as they desperately grappled with each other.

"It's a dispute over a stall," the driver explained, a common occurrence for him. "Aside from the regular stalls that pay rent, all other spots are first-come-first-served, and some vendors have been occupying the same free stall for years. They consider it their own, and conflicts like this erupt when someone else claims the spot early."

Kline peered out at the scene ahead, a bit taken aback. "Can't they just move to another spot, or take a day off from selling?"

The driver shook his head. "There are limited free stalls, and they can't be easily changed. It used to be fine, coming around 3 or 4 in the morning would almost guarantee your desired spot. But recently, many migrant workers have been coming into the city to compete for jobs."

Luke observed the struggling pair and added calmly, "There's also the fact that if you don't fight for this stall today, others will think you're easy to bully. If you let them take your spot, it'll make your life difficult in the future."

"You see things clearly, sir," the driver said, surprised that this well-dressed passenger understood the unspoken rules of the streets. He sighed and turned to Kline, "As for not selling for a day, that's even less possible. For some residents, a single day without income could be devastating. Even if they don't collapse, their ability to take risks diminishes, and without rent money, they could become homeless. It's easy to fall ill from the cold and struggle to find work, bringing them closer to death."

As he spoke, several police officers roughly pushed through the crowd. The two entangled vendors, desperate to escape, tried to separate, but their injuries slowed them down. They were detained for disrupting public order.

The onlookers gradually dispersed, and the driver returned to his seat, continuing their journey.

A moment of silence filled the carriage before Kline's voice broke the quiet, heavy with concern. "Is it because of the Grain Act?"

The Grain Act had led to the unemployment of many migrant workers, forcing them into the city in search of jobs. With a large number of people out of work, the homeless population surged, and those in repetitive, replaceable jobs at the bottom of the social ladder faced even greater hardships.

"The root cause is the unequal distribution of wealth in this world," Luke replied, his fingers lightly tapping the window frame. "The lower class is severely exploited and has very little capacity to take risks. But as you said, the Grain Act is the direct cause."

In this world where gods and Extraordinary Beings coexist, the Emperor of the Rune Kingdom was not allowed to become a Sequence 4 or above Extraordinary Being. However, the current George III secretly became a Sequence 1 Devourer Prince, possessing two Sequence 1 potions and a unique promotion potion to Sequence 0, just one step away from godhood and becoming the "Black Emperor."

The Black Emperor's Path was the shadow of order, the dark side of rules, and the ascension ritual involved establishing one's own order. The implementation of the Grain Act was part of George III's process of becoming a god.

The only other being, aside from the severely polluted "Mr. Door" in the Fallen Mother Goddess's domain, who possessed a complete three-part Sequence 1 and a unique promotion potion was George III.

Moreover, this Emperor needed to conceal his identity as an Extraordinary Being. In theory, his combat experience was overwhelmingly inadequate, possibly making him the weakest candidate for godhood...

Luke licked his lips, feeling a long-forgotten hunger and appetite. But he quickly suppressed his greed and maintained a calm mindset, knowing that he wasn't yet capable of pursuing this grand feast. He needed some time to develop.

Although he could repeat the process after death and have another incarnation dispatched, the previous accumulation would be wasted, resulting in an indirect loss of time and energy.

"Stay calm," Luke reminded himself. For now, advancing his Sequence was the priority. At this stage, he should focus on the Extraordinary Traits of Sequence 6 and Sequence 5, not Sequence 1 and uniqueness.

After a relatively smooth journey, the carriage arrived at its destination and came to a stop.

Kline and Luke alighted from the carriage and walked side by side up the stairs, turning the corner to see the vertical sign of "Blackthorn Security Company."

As an employee, Kline pushed open the half-open door, revealing the interior to Luke.

The reception area featured classical sofas, soft armchairs, and a wooden tea table. Across from them, a beautiful young woman with bright features and brown hair was engrossed in a magazine.

"Good afternoon, Roxana."

Kline approached quietly, then suddenly knocked on the table, startling Roxana, who had been slacking off. She quickly stood up, trying to hide the magazine under the desk.

A moment of silence filled the room.

"Good afternoon, Kline. What brings you here? Isn't it your day off to move houses?"

Noticing that it wasn't the captain, Roxana blinked her beautiful eyes and quietly heaved a sigh of relief, placing a hand on her chest and catching her breath. She looked like a little girl caught slacking off by her father.

Her gaze shifted to Luke, who was following Kline, and her eyes lit up. Her voice softened.

"And who is this gentleman with you?"

"This is my good friend, Genoa Taft Alexander."

Although Kline felt a bit nervous bringing a wild Talent here, his acting skills were top-notch, and he lied without batting an eye. He smiled and introduced Luke.

"This is Roxana, our company's administrative staff."

Then, he began to explain, "I ran into Genoa on the street, and he insisted on seeing my workplace. You know, it's hard to refuse a friend's request."

"Is that so?"

Roxana was a bit puzzled, as the work of the Nocturne was not suitable for outside visitors, even though the Blackthorn Security Company wasn't particularly secretive and did take on private jobs.

At that moment, Luke stepped forward and spoke with a smile, "Kline is a very promising young man. I heard he turned down a position as a professor at Hoy University to work here, and I couldn't help but worry about him."

Roxana's eyebrows furrowed slightly at this, as if Luke's words implied that the Blackthorn Security Company was a dead-end job. Her initial attraction to Luke's exceptional looks began to fade.

Luke carefully observed Roxana's expression, and he flashed a gentle, kind smile that made people trust him instinctively. His tone became incredibly gentle.

"But seeing Miss Roxana here has dispelled that thought entirely."

Roxana asked curiously, "Why is that?"

"A beautiful and talented young lady like you choosing to work here is a testament to the company's bright future and unique charm."

"Oh, you sure know how to flatter."

Roxana's face turned red, and her earlier annoyance dissipated. She stood up gracefully and said to Kline, "The captain is on duty... downstairs. I'll go and inform him. If he agrees, I can give Mr. Genoa a tour."

She had originally wanted to say that the captain was guarding Chanice Gate, but she stopped herself, remembering that Genoa was an ordinary person.

"That's alright. I'm sure Kline is doing well here, and I'd rather get to know his colleagues than tour the Blackthorn Security Company."

Luke smiled and approached Roxana, his voice as gentle as flowing water, "Miss Roxana, could you tell me who's currently in the company? I'd appreciate an introduction."

"Sure, of course."

Roxana's face turned pink, and she went upstairs to notify the other Nocturnes who were resting.

Luke admired the graceful figure of the young lady until she disappeared around the corner of the stairs. When he turned around, Kline was looking at him with a resentful gaze.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Don't tell me you came here just to flirt. If you do, I might just strangle you."

Kline's emotions were mixed as he watched Luke effortlessly charm Roxana.

This guy is indeed a player!

And what's wrong with Melissa? Why don't you like my sister!

"Of course I have a legitimate reason for being here, but Miss Roxana is indeed very beautiful. Who wouldn't like a vibrant and lovely girl like her?"

Luke smiled, and footsteps echoed down the stairs.

Roxana returned with two young men behind her. One had a dull expression and a slightly pale face, while the other had a handsome face and the air of a romantic poet.

"Cairn Leigh White" and "Leonard Mitchell," the Midnight Poet.

"Hello, I'm Cairn."

Cairn nodded politely to Luke, appearing friendly.

Luke smiled and nodded in return, "Hello, I'm Genoa."

Leonard squinted, his gaze shifting from Kline to Luke. He spoke in a nonchalant tone, "So, you're Kline's friend?"

"Yes."

Luke's lips curled up slightly, and his gaze seemed to look through Leonard, as if he was seeing someone else. His tone became mysterious.

"I've found you."

He slowly reached into his pocket and took out a well-crafted, polished monocle, bringing it close to his face.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end