Baron Cullen

This rule does exist in the Order Keeper branch.

The purpose is to prevent the captain from having absolute power and concealing or distorting important information.

However, under normal circumstances, few team members would do this, because it would be tantamount to publicly breaking ties with their team leader.

Tyron felt a little uneasy.

What does Karen mean by bringing this up now?

"What...what do you mean by this?" His voice was a little hoarse.

"It's nothing, Captain, please don't misunderstand." Karen's smile remained unchanged, her tone still gentle. "I just feel that some details of this mission are indeed rather complicated..."

For example, how did we discover the anomalies in Blackwood Village? How did we initially encounter and fight the vampires? And how did each member of the team specifically respond to combat situations?

I'm worried that if you report alone and misremember a detail or make a mistake in your expression, it might affect the deputy leader's judgment.

So I was thinking, in order to ensure the absolute accuracy of the report and avoid any possible misunderstandings, should I also go to see Deputy Chief Bright after dawn and report everything I saw to him again?

After all, the Secret Society is clearly plotting something, which involves the city's security. It's always better to be cautious, don't you think?

Karen's words were perfectly succinct and presented a dignified and respectable tone.

But every word felt like a needle piercing Tyron's heart.

This was clearly a veiled warning to him:

If you dare to write anything defamatory about me in your report, I will immediately go to the deputy leader and tell him everything.

This includes how you, as the captain, were seduced by a vampire disguised as a widow, how you almost lost your life, and the fascinating things you just talked about to yourself in the office.

Thinking of this, Tyron's forehead instantly broke out in a fine layer of sweat.

Looking at Karen's smiling face, he felt for the first time how terrifying this young man was.

This is not an arrogant threat, but a way of cornering you in an impeccable yet irrefutable manner.

If Karen really does go to the deputy leader to provide further explanation based on the Order Keepers' rules...

Firstly, Tyronn shouldn't expect any credit.

Secondly, team members generally don't take advantage of this rule. If they do, it means that the team leader has been questioned by the team members.

In this case, the deputy leader or even the leader might start to have opinions about him, and at that time he might not even be able to keep his position as captain!

Negligence, radio operator, attempting to deceive superiors…

None of these rules are inviolable red lines in the rules of the order maintainers!

"No...no need! Absolutely no need!" Tyron blurted out, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Ka...Karon, brother! You're being too polite!"

I will definitely report the facts! I will not omit a single word of your merits and contributions!

I was just saying those things casually, don't take them seriously!

Don't worry, I will write the report truthfully! There will be absolutely no deviation!

As he spoke, he hurriedly pulled open his drawer and took out a bulging little money bag, which looked quite heavy.

His facial muscles twitched, showing obvious heartache, but he still stuffed the wallet into Karen's hand: "Brother Karen, you really had a hard time on this mission!"

This is just a small token of my appreciation... please take it. It's a small thank you from the team... no, it's just my personal way of thanking you for your outstanding performance!

500 silver coins, it's not much, but please don't look down on it!

Karen glanced at the money pouch, then at Tyron's pained yet anxious expression, and her smile deepened, though it remained gentle.

He casually picked up the money pouch, weighed it in his hand, and then put it into his pocket.

Based on the exchange rate of this world currency, the 500 silver coins in this bag are far more than the six gold coins he gave Tyron before.

"Captain, you're too kind. I'll leave the reporting to you. I trust you wouldn't do anything to harm the team's unity, right?"

"Of course! Don't worry!" Tyron nodded repeatedly, but his heart was bleeding.

500 silver coins!

That was money he had saved for a long time, and because of it, he hadn't gone to the "Night Rose" tavern to chat with the female warriors for two months straight.

But now it has completely vanished.

"Then Captain, you go ahead with your work. I'll go check on Jack and the others." Karen nodded politely and turned to walk towards the door.

Tyrion couldn't wait for him to leave, and nodded quickly, "Okay, okay! Go check on them!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Karen opened the door and walked out, then closed it behind her again.

Tyron stared at the door that had closed again, clutching his chest, feeling a sharp pain in his heart.

500 silver coins gone just like that!

It's all that damn Karen's fault!

He took a few deep breaths, and the ingratiating and nervous look on his face was quickly replaced by a deeper resentment.

He lowered his voice and muttered to himself through gritted teeth:

"Damn bastard! How dare you threaten me! You took my 500 silver coins, just you wait and see!"

When it comes to the report, I absolutely refuse to give you any credit, and I'm going to pin the blame on you for being seduced by that damned vampire!

Even if you cry foul on the spot, it won't matter. In front of so many people, the deputy leader won't easily believe the words of a mere team member like you!

Damn it! My money…

He was plotting fiercely how to revise the details of the report so that Karen would be thoroughly disliked by the deputy leader, and preferably, his arrogance would be severely suppressed.

Click.

At that moment, the door was pushed open again.

Karen's gentle, smiling face reappeared in the doorway.

Tyron was taken aback.

He was like a rooster being choked; all sound stopped abruptly, his expression froze instantly, and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

Karen seemed oblivious to his stiff expression and smiled somewhat sheepishly: "Sorry, Captain, I'm back again."

I just remembered something when I got to the stairwell; it seems we order maintainers have another rule...

If team members believe that the team leader has made clearly unfair arrangements in the distribution of rewards or subsequent treatment after a mission, and they have already obtained conclusive evidence…

For example, if you use a phantom crystal to record images and sounds, it seems you can directly appeal to the team specifically responsible for monitoring your colleagues?

Oh dear! Look at my memory! When I first joined, I carefully read all the rules and regulations of our Order Keepers, which is why I keep thinking about these things now.

"Captain, you continue with your work. I'll be going now!"

After saying that, he smiled and nodded again, and before Tyron could reply, he made a move to close the door and leave.

"Wait...wait!" Tyron practically lunged forward, his face dripping with sweat.

Illusion Crystal?

As one of the squad leaders of the Order Keepers, he certainly knew what that was.

And Karen specifically turned back to tell him this? Could it be that his mutterings just now were all recorded?

Do not!impossible!

He instinctively didn't want to believe it.

But... Karen is too weird!

He dares not gamble!

"Brother Karen! Wait, wait!" Tyron's face was once again plastered with an exaggerated, almost fawning smile. "Look at you! Why are you always thinking about those rigid rules!"

We're brothers who fought side by side, what can't we talk about calmly?

His eyes darted around, then he quickly turned and ran to his personal locker next to his seat.

Inside the cabinet was a reward he had received after a mission: a high-quality enchanted longsword.

He had always carefully treasured this weapon, and even Jack and the other three were unaware that such a fine weapon was hidden in his office.

Now, he gritted his teeth, took down the long knife, and presented it to Karen with both hands.

"Brother Karen! This longsword is imbued with third-order magic..." Tyrone's heart was bleeding, but he still wore a fawning smile. "Anyone struck by this sword will be subjected to a special magical effect, causing the wound to keep tearing open and making it extremely difficult to heal!"

This knife was originally loot from a previous mission, and I've been reluctant to distribute it...

Seeing your valiant fighting prowess today, Brother Karen, I immediately felt that this knife is a perfect match for you!

Here! Consider it a special reward from me, the captain!

Karen looked at the enchanted longsword, which was clearly several levels better than the enchanted greatsword he always used, and a perfectly timed look of surprise appeared on his face:

"Captain, this is... far too precious! I can't possibly accept it..."

"It's alright, it's alright! You have to accept it! If you don't, you're disrespecting me as the captain!" Tyron practically shoved it into Karen's hand.

But inside, he was screaming in despair.

This knife alone is worth at least several hundred gold coins!

Not to mention its power is far greater than that of ordinary enchanted weapons!

Karen reluctantly accepted the longsword, sensed the extraordinary elements it contained, and nodded in satisfaction.

He then smiled and said, "In that case, thank you very much for the generous gift, Captain!"

Don't worry, I hate trouble the most and I have the most faith in the captain's character.

"I've completely forgotten all the regulations and stuff!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Forget it, forget it!" Tyron wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling a little relieved.

But seeing Karen admiring the long sword in her hand, he felt a pang of heartache.

"Captain, you go ahead with your work, I'll be going now!"

Karen said goodbye again, turned around and closed the door, her movements fluid and natural.

But after closing the door, he did not leave.

He held the enchanted longsword and the money pouch in his arms, a playful smile on his lips, and waited quietly for a moment.

Sure enough, after a dozen breaths of dead silence, Tyrion's almost whimpering curses came from inside the door again.

Although the specific content was unclear, the furious tone was enough to show how angry he was.

Karen shook her head and sighed, feeling that the time was almost right.

Greedy, foolish, and most importantly, unrepentant...

Tyronn Benjamin is beyond saving.

This time, instead of pushing the door open, he simply reached out and knocked three times on it, neither too hard nor too soft.

Boom, boom, boom!

The knocking sound rang out clearly in the quiet corridor.

At the same time, the suppressed angry shouts inside the door vanished instantly, replaced by deathly silence once more.

After a full two or three breaths, the door was slowly pulled open from the inside.

Terrified, Tyron looked at Karen outside the door, his lips trembling as he almost cried, "Brother Karen...you...you still have something to say?"

Karen looked at him, her smile as gentle and bright as ever: "It's nothing, Captain. I just suddenly wanted to tell you that I really need to go to the medical room to see Jack and the others this time."

As he spoke, he suddenly leaned closer, lowered his voice, and spoke in a gentle tone that was unsettling: "I think our team's report on this mission will go very smoothly, right?"

After all, we all hope that Absolute City will be safe and sound, and we also hope that the Seventh Squad will be united and harmonious.

"You agree, Captain?"

Tyron shuddered.

Looking into Karen's clear yet all-seeing eyes, his last shred of hope and malice vanished completely.

He nodded hurriedly, his voice filled with unprecedented sincerity and determination: "Smooth sailing! Absolutely smooth sailing! I guarantee it here as the team leader!"

Brother Karen, don't worry! I will write the report truthfully! Your contribution, and their attack, will definitely not be overlooked!

I won't mention a single one of those messy details!

"You really are a good captain." Karen gave a smile that looked incredibly pleased, and patted Tyron on the shoulder. "Captain, you've worked hard. Get some rest."

After saying that, the office door was closed for the third time.

But this time Karen didn't linger. Instead, she turned and left, her footsteps fading into the empty corridor.

A moment later, the office door was slowly opened.

Tyron peeked out into the corridor and, after confirming that no one was around, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He stood blankly at the door, as if all his strength had been drained away. He leaned against the door frame and slowly slid down to the ground, his eyes vacant.

500 silver coins gone, the enchanted longsword I'd been hoarding for so long gone, and I dared not even entertain the thought of my carefully planned revenge...

At that moment, he felt like a pitiful worm who had been completely drained and was powerless to resist.

And his subordinate, that nobleman's subordinate who had only joined a few days ago...

Tyron suddenly recalled Karen's last relieved smile and couldn't help but shudder.

That smile looked gentle and approachable, but it terrified him more than the smile of a demon!

...

The next morning.

Since Tyren had completely given up any thoughts of taking credit or making false accusations, and reported the matter of Blackwood Village truthfully, Karen was soon summoned by Fiona.

This was within his expectations.

After all, the Seventh Squad not only brought back conclusive evidence of the Arcane Society's activities, but also killed a Tier 3 vampire.

Although the clues about the unknown artifact were false, it cannot overshadow the fact that this was a successful operation.

He tidied himself up, changed into clean noble attire, and slung the enchanted longsword he had obtained from Tyrone at his waist before arriving outside the leader's office.

He knocked on the heavy wooden door, and Fiona's concise voice quickly came from inside: "Come in."

Karen pushed open the door and entered.

The office was simply furnished, with huge windows offering a panoramic view of the surrounding streets near the Order Keeper's branch.

Fiona was sitting behind her desk, flipping through a document, when she heard the noise and looked up.

She was dressed in a close-fitting outfit suitable for movement, just like today.

The only difference was that her shoulder-length short hair was tied into a short ponytail at the back of her head, revealing her smooth forehead and sharp eyebrows and eyes.

But Karen noticed that Fiona's complexion seemed less rosy than when they last met, and there was a hint of weariness between her brows.