Baron Cullen

Order Keepers Branch, Leader's Office.

At this moment, Fiona had listened to Karen's detailed report.

She leaned back in her chair, her head tilted back, her fingers lightly tapping the armrests, her cool face revealing little expression.

However, her sharp eyes held a thoughtful expression.

"So you mean..." Fiona finally lowered her head and looked at Karen, "There is a powerful mysterious person or secret force active in the city, and they may have connections with the vampires."

And this magic book is proof of their actions?

"Yes, Chief," Karen replied affirmatively. "When I was investigating the mansion owned by Bastian with my brothers in the chapter, we found a parchment inside that exuded a terrible aura."

Later, when we besieged Bastian, he used several scrolls of blood magic that exuded the same aura.

The aura emanating from this magic book is exactly the same as that of the parchment and the scroll!

If he still had that parchment, he would have given it to Fiona without hesitation.

However, in order to confirm Bastian's guilt, he had already asked Lamont to hand over the parchment along with other evidence to Bishop Albert.

He was unaware of the mysterious man's true purpose.

But the people they've been in contact with include not only Bastian, but now even the nobles in the city, and they've even spread the method of summoning vengeful demons.

If this is not investigated and contained quickly, the consequences could be disastrous.

Even if the other party wasn't targeting the Waller family, he couldn't just sit idly by.

After thinking for a moment, Fiona said, "Your deduction is very valuable. If that mysterious person or force is indeed colluding with the vampires who died a hundred years ago but did not die, then the situation is very serious."

Their goal is far more than simply creating a few disturbances.

Karen nodded and added, "My lord, I think we should immediately investigate the Ralph family, especially the patriarch, Dewell Ralph, and conduct targeted questioning."

According to his son, Sindar Raff, he was the direct source of the magic book.

Therefore, I suspect he may have had contact with that mysterious person or force.

"You're right." Fiona nodded. "In that case, I'll entrust this matter to your Seventh Squad. You can also take this opportunity to get to know your captain and teammates."

I will have Bright coordinate and provide you with the necessary support.

But remember, you must act swiftly and cautiously, and avoid alerting the enemy.

"yes!"

Karen felt a weight lifted from her shoulders.

With Fiona's approval, the investigation will not be delayed and will proceed much more smoothly.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

Then Vice-Chief Martha Gillian walked in: "Chief, you wanted to see me?"

"Martha, you've come at the right time." Fiona gestured for her to sit down. "Karen brought back a magic book today, which is said to be related to a certain secret force or even vampires."

You are the one with the deepest understanding of the extraordinary among us, so I need you to study this magic book.

Ideally, one should be able to trace the extraordinary elements attached to it back to its source, that is, the location of its owner.

After saying that, Martha's gaze fell on the black-covered magic book on the table.

She walked over, picked up the book, and her expression immediately changed: "This book... is not simple!"

It was imbued with a spell... one I had never seen before, and of a very high level!

"At least... the work of a fifth-tier wizard!"

Upon hearing this, Fiona immediately raised an eyebrow: "Even you find it troublesome?"

"It is indeed a bit tricky, after all, there are relatively few extraordinary individuals in the wizard profession." Martha put away the spellbook. "But I will try my best."

"Yes, but you don't have to force yourself." Fiona nodded, her words tinged with concern. "If there's no progress, just hand it over to me for safekeeping."

After saying that, Martha took the lead and left.

Karen, watching this scene from the side, seemed to be deep in thought.

He had already analyzed the spellbook with the mysterious runes deep within his right eye on his way there.

Although he could see through the spells attached to the book, he only knew the essence and workings of the spells.

This is of no help in tracing the source, since he has no means to do so.

Therefore, this task still needs to be entrusted to Martha, who is a fourth-tier wizard.

At that moment, Fiona hurriedly wrote something on a roll of parchment and then pushed it in front of Karen: "This is an investigation warrant. Take this and show it to your captain. He will understand what to do next."

Furthermore, this investigative warrant grants you the authority to enter the Ralph family compound to conduct an investigation and to interrogate Dewey Ralph.

Upon hearing this, Karen stood up and bowed slightly to Fiona, saying, "Thank you very much!"

...

The basement level of the Sequence Keeper's branch building.

This is where the various action teams gather and briefing rooms are located, so there are many rooms here.

Karen followed the butler through the dimly lit passage and stopped in front of a wooden door marked with the number "seven".

He straightened the collar of his undershirt, which was slightly wrinkled from his journey, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

"Enter."

A slightly rough voice came from inside.

Karen pushed open the door and entered.

The room wasn't large, and the furnishings were simple, with a few wooden tables and chairs casually placed, and a detailed map of the City of No Breath and the surrounding area hanging on the wall.

Several people, some sitting and some standing, all turned their gazes toward him at the door.

Seated in the main seat was a slightly overweight middle-aged man wearing standard leather armor, who was also the captain of the Seventh Squad, a Tier 3 warrior named Tyron Benjamin.

Tyron looked to be in his thirties, with slightly disheveled hair and a hint of impatience and scrutiny on his face.

Next to her sat a female team member with a neat ponytail.

She was wiping a dagger with her head down when she heard the noise. She looked up at Karen with a calm expression.

Another sturdy-looking male team member leaned against the wall, curiously observing Karen.

Two other team members were sitting at a table a little further away.

One was a young-looking girl with freckles on her face, and the other was a middle-aged man who looked quite confident.

There are five people in total; this is the current personnel configuration of the seventh squad.

Karen's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Tyron.

He stepped forward, placed his right hand on his chest, and leaned slightly forward, performing a standard and impeccable aristocratic greeting.

The movements were fluid and natural, carrying an elegance ingrained in their very being.

"Good day, everyone. I am Karen Waller, reporting for duty to the Seventh Squad on the orders of Vice Commander Bright."

His voice was clear and steady, without the slightest hint of stage fright.

Moreover, it was actually Fiona, not Bright, who assigned him to the Seventh Squad.

But he didn't want to bring up Fiona's name.

Firstly, he didn't want his future captain and teammates to think he had a powerful background, as this would greatly affect the efficiency of subsequent missions.

He had experienced this firsthand during his time in the Warband.

Secondly, by invoking Fiona's name, he inevitably makes people feel that he is deliberately using the leader's name to give them a hard time.

Therefore, in order to get along well with everyone, Karen chose a relatively safe way of speaking.

At that moment, the sturdy male team member blinked and whispered to the female team member next to him with a high ponytail: "Hey Kelly, did you see that?"

Such an air of a nobleman!

The female team member called Kelly rolled her eyes at him and didn't say anything.

But she slowed down her wiping of the dagger, clearly observing Karen as well.

Meanwhile, the captain, Tyron, looked Karen up and down.

His gaze lingered for a moment, particularly on Karen's finely crafted undergarment, before a not-so-enthusiastic smile appeared on his lips: "Karen Waller? You're that young baron who's been making headlines in town lately?"

"I remember you weren't part of the Warband? What are you doing here with us Order Keepers?"

There was a hint of bitterness in his tone, as if he cared quite a bit about Karen's fame and noble status.

"Yes, Captain," Karen replied humbly. "I am honored to join the Seventh Squad and hope to quickly familiarize myself with the work and contribute to the squad."

Tyron waved his hand casually: "Alright, alright, no nobility doesn't apply here. Order Keepers are judged by their strength."

He changed the subject, leaned forward slightly, and tapped the table with his fingers, "However... shouldn't we give a gift to the newcomers as per the rules?"

I heard that the city lord held a bestowal ceremony last time, and it seems that your Waller family received quite a few rewards…”

Karen immediately understood what the other person meant.

His smile remained unchanged as he calmly took out several gleaming gold coins from the purse at his waist and placed them on the table in front of Tyron.

No more, no less, exactly six.