Mystery: The Last Shepherd

Chapter 453 He's at sea! (The previous two chapters have been revised)

“Annie, go and tell the guests that I need to change into something more appropriate and ask them to wait a moment.”

After Audrey stood up, she did not leave immediately, but instead said this to her personal maid.

"Okay, I'll go and call the changing maid in right away."

"Go and tell them not to keep the guests waiting too long."

Audrey stated that she simultaneously activated her "psychologist" abilities, giving Anne psychological suggestions. Her true purpose was to distract Anne and prepare for the possible interrogation that followed.

"OK."

Anne's eyes went unfocused for a moment before she turned and left.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Audrey turned and went into the bathroom. She told Susie to stand guard outside, while she prayed softly inside.

"A fool who doesn't belong to this era."

She would pray to Mr. Fool for help, asking Him to protect her from revealing important intelligence to MI9.

Before long, her prayers were answered, and she felt a sixteen-winged angel, with overlapping gold and black wings, descend upon her, protecting her soul with surging power.

"Good afternoon, Your Excellency Earl Hall."

Because there were outsiders present, Audrey did not call her father by a more affectionate name, but instead politely lifted her skirt and bowed.

"Audrey, please sit down."

Slightly overweight but still very handsome Earl Hall sat behind his desk, smiling as he said to his beloved daughter, “Speak with these two guests.”

Audrey glanced at the guests in the chair and saw a man and a woman, both dressed in neat military uniforms.

Good afternoon, Your Excellency.

They rose to greet them.

"Their etiquette and movements were impeccable, as if they had undergone specialized training. Their expressions were very serious, giving off a sense of mental pressure. Hmm, I've felt a similar aura from Miss Hugh. They are indeed members of MI9, extraordinary individuals who have passed the 'Arbitrator' pathway."

"This tall man kept glancing at the female officer next to him, it seems this lady is the one in charge."

Audrey returned the greeting while using her abilities to observe the two of them.

"Good afternoon, may I ask who you are?"

She asked in an almost innocent tone, her appearance endearing. The male officer's eyes wavered for a moment, and the lines of his face visibly softened, but the female officer remained unmoved.

“We are from MI9. My name is Mary, and this is Chuck. We are here to investigate matters concerning the Blood Monks.”

The female officer said.

"Madam, please be careful with your words. Miss Audrey has no connection with such dangerous individuals."

At that moment, someone corrected them, serious yet polite. It was Earl Hall's guard, an extraordinary being from the Church of the Night. He wore a black overcoat, his expression deep and serene. He stood behind Audrey, casting a detached gaze upon the two of them.

Mr. Ham Duke, who protects his father.
He's speaking up for me.
Audrey glanced back and saw her father, Earl Hall, smiling calmly.

"I'm sorry, I misspoke."

The female officer smiled and said, "To correct you, we're just here to learn about the relevant situation."

"please continue."

Ham Duke then nodded and took a step back.

The female officer, who identified herself as "Mary," adjusted herself slightly and continued to ask:
"Miss Audrey, did you invest in a textile factory in the East District in the past few months?"

Sure enough, it's because of this.

Audrey thought to herself.

The plague outbreak occurred in the district controlled by Mr. Temperance. MI9 should conduct more follow-up investigations afterward; sooner or later they will discover that he frequently operates in that area and thus investigate me.
"Yes," she answered truthfully.

Could you please describe your investment process in detail?

Officer Mary was not surprised by this answer and continued to press for answers.

"That was a charity project."

Audrey recalled, “I was about to come of age, so I started to develop my own business. While arranging for people to investigate the lives of people in the East End, I discovered this factory that was on the verge of bankruptcy. Although someone had taken over the textile factory, it was still short of funds, so I invested some money.”

She concealed the fact that she knew Lu Ze, only saying that her investment was a coincidence.

Do you remember the person who took over the textile factory?

"Hmm, I don't think I can remember clearly."

Audrey frowned and thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "It's strange, I can't remember what he looked like at all."

The two officers exchanged a glance.

After a moment, the female officer, Mary, continued in a friendly tone, "Miss Audrey, perhaps you could cooperate with us to perform some rituals to help you recall things."

"Don't go too far!"

Ham Duke angrily retorted, "Miss Audrey is of such high status, how can her memories be probed at will?"

“Based on our preliminary investigation, the true owner of that textile factory is very likely the [Blood Monk],” Mary explained to the other party, but her eyes remained fixed on Earl Hall. “This concerns matters of national importance, and His Majesty has personally ordered it. We must take it seriously, please understand.”

Earl Hall's expression remained calm, revealing nothing about his demeanor.

"Even if they investigate, nothing will happen. I've already secured Mr. Fool's protection. However, I can hint to Dad that he agrees to this, but as compensation, he should get some extra benefits from MI9."

Audrey thought to herself.

"Boom!"

Just as she was thinking about how to pass a secret signal to her father, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the study, and a man dressed in military uniform burst in.

"Emergency gathering!"

The man shouted, "We've spotted the Blood Cultivator! He's at sea!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"So, what are we going to do today?"

On the island of Toscate, in the Sunia Sea, on the ground floor of a hotel, Anderson spread raspberry jam on toast and casually asked...

“I need to take a tour of the island, check out the situation, and look for suitable personnel,” Lu Ze replied, sipping his milk. “As for you, you can continue to consider whether you want to join my fleet.”

"Hehe. Well, I think I'll go check out the Adventurers' Association first." Anderson's forehead was sweating, and he quickly changed the subject with a smile. "I've already arranged with the contact person there to collect the bounty today."

After saying that, he lost all interest in spreading the jam evenly, swallowed it in a few gulps, drank some coffee, and then slipped out of the first floor.

It seems he really didn't want to be a pirate.
Lu Ze thought with some regret.

That's true. After all, he was the "strongest adventurer" in the Misty Sea, and then he became a pirate. The change in status is too great. Let's just leave it at that and send him to the island where the councilor of the "School of Life" is located. That way, we'll call it even.

He watched the hunter's retreating figure as he saw him brush past a down-on-his-luck middle-aged man.

"A standard breakfast and a bottle of Lerlenza."

The old man walked into the hotel restaurant and spoke to the waiter.

Lu Ze frowned slightly.

He sensed the aura of an extraordinary being emanating from the other person.

(End of this chapter)