The fairy maid cheers for her deceased master today.

Just then, the door to the tea room was gently pushed open, and Officer James strode in.

He glanced at Axe first, then feigned surprise and exclaimed, "Sir! You're here too, what a coincidence!"

Haha. It's quite a coincidence.

Angel darted behind her master in a flash.

She was a little afraid of this frivolous police officer who said one thing but meant another.

Yes, James was still wearing his crisp police uniform, but his tie was slightly askew, which seemed out of place in the luxurious tea room.

"Your Excellency, there is an urgent matter that requires your attention." After greeting him, James ignored Ax and spoke respectfully to Simon.

But for some reason, Axe keenly caught a fleeting glimpse of contempt in his eyes.

That wasn't the respect a subordinate had for their superior; it was more like a hidden resentment.

Baron Simon's expression remained unchanged; he merely raised his hand slightly and said, "Speak."

James glanced at X and nodded slightly. Then he quickly walked to the Baron's side and reported something in a low voice.

AX gently patted Angel's shoulder, subtly gesturing for her to listen carefully, while he pretended to admire the oil painting on the wall.

When he turned around again, he saw James's profile—the young officer's lips were taut, as if he were hiding some kind of dissatisfaction.

"Understood." Baron Simon interrupted James's report. "I will handle this personally. You may leave now."

James bowed and turned to leave, his gaze briefly meeting X's.

In that instant, Ax was certain that he had seen the truth again—James's eyes were empty, and he wasn't really looking at Ax.

But at the same time, there was no respect for the nobles in his eyes, only naked contempt and resentment. It was directed at... Baron Simon.

Angel suddenly tugged at Ax's sleeve, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "Master, Officer James looks so strange. The way he looks at the Baron is like the way I look at that annoying carrot..."

"And what he said... was a complaint that the Baron wasn't carrying out the plan."

On the surface, Ax didn't say anything more, but in his heart, a storm was raging.

James's performance was too unusual.

How dare an ordinary policeman show such obvious contempt for Baron Simon?

...unless James is loyal not to Baron Simon, but to someone of a higher rank.

Ex narrowed his eyes slightly.

Baron Simon seemed to have something to do because of James's report, so he ended the conversation.

The baron then politely summoned a company employee, who led Ax away from there and into a carriage.

Just as the carriage drove away from the headquarters of Muller Pharmaceuticals... Axe raised his finger, making a shushing gesture.

Angel immediately leaned back and covered her mouth with both hands.

She blinked her little eyes.

Those bright, expressive eyes seemed to ask, "What happened?"

Ax did not answer immediately. He took the deep purple velvet box from his pocket and opened it again. The bells still emitted a faint glow in the dim carriage.

"Angel, listen carefully, are you following us?"

"Ah, I'll try... I don't feel anything."

"Alright. There shouldn't be any major problems today. But Angel..." Ex's voice suddenly turned serious, "That baron is about to make his move against us."

The little fairy's blue eyes widened instantly:

"Huh? Why? Didn't the Baron give us gifts?"

Ex's fingertips gently traced the runes on the bell: "It's because of this gift that I'm certain. This gift is far too precious."

First of all, the value of this bell goes far beyond its appearance.

Other relics of X are not commonly seen, but this bell happened to be in the original owner's memory fragments.

Because this is a genuine antique that appeared in the "1840 Catalogue of Relics", it is extremely rare.

The legend originates from the Second Age or the Third Age.

It's worth noting that relics from the Second and Third Ages can fetch enough on the black market to buy an entire manor, let alone holy relics.

Baron Simon dared to give it to me so easily...

They're either foolish or have ulterior motives, thinking they can take the relics back at any time.

After listening to Ax's analysis, Angel nodded vigorously: "Yes! Master is right!"

"Secondly," Axe continued, "the Baron's words and actions are full of inconsistencies. He insists that he 'basically doesn't care about company matters,' yet he knows everything about Caroline's behavior; he claims that 'philanthropy is his lifelong principle,' but Mueller Pharmaceuticals has been conducting illegal drug testing in the underground fighting community."

Angel snapped out of her daze and grabbed X's arm: "Master, I understand! The Baron gave us the bell relic not as a gift, but to keep us in check!"

Ex stroked her silver hair approvingly: "That's right. He won't attack us today because many people saw it; his men took us away directly. It would be too foolish to attack directly."

James also complained that the Baron wasn't taking action... could it be that he was planning to ruin his own plans?

Anyway, he should come after today to retrieve his relic. This relic is like a ticking time bomb.

"It seems we'll have to seek the protection of the Holy Order. Let's give them a surprise."

■

Meanwhile, in the offices of Muller Pharmaceuticals.

James, who had clearly left, had somehow returned to his office.

He paced restlessly on the scarlet velvet carpet, his leather shoes leaving shallow marks. He suddenly turned and spoke urgently to Baron Simon, who sat behind his large ebony desk:

"Shouldn't we take care of X as soon as possible? That guy's too smart; if we drag this out any longer, he'll find out everything about us!"

Baron Simon did not look up, his fingers still tapping rhythmically on the table, making a soft, rhythmic sound: "Indeed... Moreover, your actions were too hasty. Sir Moore, being so astute, has probably already noticed something amiss."

"Then why don't you—"

"We can't act yet. Everyone knows today that I invited Sir Moore. At the very least, we need to get them home safely."

James gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the corner of the table: "When?"

The baron finally raised his head, his grey-blue eyes devoid of warmth, like a frozen abyss: "What's the panic? I've already made arrangements. I've already contacted the 'Viper in the Fog'—they are London's most skilled assassins, adept at operating in the thick fog, never leaving a trace."

He paused, then pulled a bronze whistle engraved with snake patterns from the drawer, placed it to his lips, and blew a low, short whistle. A very faint response immediately came from the thick fog outside the window.

"Let them ambush us in the thick fog tomorrow morning," the Baron's voice was as cold as the fog outside the window, "They can disguise it as a vendetta by refugees. And that ancient relic must be retrieved."

James's eyes lit up, and he nodded in satisfaction.

"It should have been done a long time ago."