Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

With a slight smile, Zelena offered her praise, then gently adjusted her glasses, bringing the topic back to the present.

"During the inspection, you will have one day off per week. When you are not on fieldwork, you can go to the archives to read the books included therein to supplement your knowledge in this area. Of course, you can ask Pederin for an advance on your salary, and you will also need to register the necessary items, including clothing, firearms and ammunition."

"You probably haven't practiced shooting. Further down the hierarchy, there's a shooting range that's open to public officials for free. After you've finished your business, you can go there to familiarize yourself with it. Good marksmanship can at least give you courage when you're really facing a clandestine presence."

Glancing at Charlotte's fair and delicate fingers, the beautiful woman frowned slightly and added a few more instructions to the paper.

“This is the official document. Give it to Pederine and you can get the physical item I mentioned.”

"Thank you, ma'am."

Taking the paper, Charlotte followed the parallel wall to the room the former had indicated.

However, before one could even knock on the door and step into the inner room, the melodious sound of a flute stirred the breeze and resonated with the chorus of prayers overhead.

"Beautiful girl, though your visit was silent, your light footsteps informed me of your arrival. A good piece of music always contains appropriate pauses and silences, just like now, with our meeting."

Her long, crimson hair was tied into a braid that reached her neck. Her short skirt, with its lotus leaf hem, reached almost to her knees, partially revealing her beautiful curves encased in white stockings.

Unlike the bright and cheerful peacock, it is the subtle yet gentle sea breeze.

She was Pederina, the person in charge of the commission.

P.S.: Happy New Year, love you all~

Chapter 101 Goodbye Winnie and the Sacher Cake (4k)

"Hello, Ms. Pederina."

Without elaborating, Charlotte simply flicked her finger, gently pushing the document Zelena had given her from the corner of the table towards her.

This small room isn't very big, and it still has a simple and neat office layout, but the personal decorations have incorporated more musical elements, such as a cello hanging against the wall and wind instruments placed in the corners.

"Yes, it's Zelena's handwriting. It still has that unique ink scent, light and not cloying."

The red-haired girl skillfully unfolded the paper, circled the key points one by one, and wrote down the list of advance payments.

"A pistol, thirty rounds of demon-hunting ammunition, a matching shirt and jacket, two months' salary in advance, and a few thoughtful and caring messages."

"It seems that Ms. Z cares about you a lot, although she was just as meticulous when I joined the arbitration tribunal. It's hard to imagine how she manages to do everything so well."

Halfway through her sentence, Pedeline seemed to remember something and quickly covered her mouth. She glanced around nervously, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that no one was around.

"Phew, I almost revealed a lady's age. I hope she can forgive me."

Taking the key from the drawer, the red-haired girl opened the iron door of the safe on one side, counting the gold pounds as she spoke.

"Your name is Charlotte, right? Luckily, we have enough cash today to advance your salary. Let me guess, you were invited by Zelena because of your involvement in the evil spirit incident and because you have some special skills?"

"You're half right, madam. By sheer coincidence, I was fortunate enough to receive help from a benefactor."

Charlotte nodded slightly, not holding back her praise.

Of course, that's not the truth. She took the initiative to find Silva and used words to guide her until she touched the icy beauty.

"No need to be so formal, just call me Pederina. Calling me 'Ms.' is too formal. After all, we'll be colleagues who spend a lot of time together from now on."

Pedeline counted out several banknotes with a light gray background and dark black patterns, then locked the cabinet door again and said with a light laugh.

"Actually, my experience is similar to yours. If it weren't for Zelena, I would probably be just an insignificant speck of dust on an ocean liner, like the sea breeze that blows away, with nowhere to go and all alone."

After receiving several banknotes and listening to the former's words, it was indeed true that memory is both fragile and tenacious.

Sometimes it's like a cloud in the sky, which disappears with a gust of wind and can't be found no matter how hard you look; other times it's like sand on the seabed, which accumulates more and more in your heart over time, and when you casually flip through it, you'll find it full of pearls.

For Pederine, perhaps Ms. Z was the light in her eyes, a pearl held in her palm. But for the solitary birds, Miss Watson was an unforgettable illusion in their memories.

So--

“Pedeline, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to meet new friends, and I hope this visit will not cause you any trouble.”

However, the people of the past are gone, and now, it is Charlotte's story that begins.

"It's all part of the job. In comparison, I don't see any joy in you, Charlotte, which is a bit disappointing. After all, having a girl my age join us always makes me feel a sense of shared destiny."

With a soft sigh, as if lamenting the former's aloofness, the red-haired girl was about to turn around to gather her books when a fragrant scent wafted towards her. Then, their fingertips touched, a brief encounter, but as that pretty face drew near, her long eyelashes fluttered, and Pederina found herself captivated.

She saw the shimmering light in the azure eyes and heard the pale lips utter an apology.

"I'm not good at flattery and socializing, and I don't know much about social etiquette. Is this a deficiency?"

It is a question tinged with self-reproach, and also a poignant lament.

"...How could that be? Different personalities are also the highlights of each person. Just like I like musical instruments, I like the sound of a ship's horn as it sets sail, and I like playing pleasant melodies in the sea breeze. On the contrary, I should apologize for my rashness just now."

Pederina felt a pang of shame. She had thought the girl in front of her was just relatively quiet, but she hadn't realized that she was more unsure how to express her feelings.

So that's why Ms. Z emphasized that she should be taken better care of?

"The list is now complete. Charlotte, you can go to the logistics department to collect your items..."

"Never mind, I'll take you there."

Halfway through her sentence, Pederina changed her mind. She slung her orchestral instrument over her shoulder, gently took Charlotte's hand, and led her through the long corridor, deeper and deeper into the passageway.

"At the end of this path is the room that manages the sealed artifacts and extraordinary materials. It is guarded by regular personnel on a rotating basis, and there are at least two 'guards' from the church inside, as well as countless traps. If you don't have much time, don't go near it casually, or you will be tainted by misfortune."

"Of course, some confidential documents are also stored here. Charlotte, you might have the opportunity to look through them when your access is upgraded."

After pondering for a while, the red-haired girl realized that the former might not be very familiar with these terms, so she thoughtfully added more.

"Among the extraordinary items collected and acquired by the Church, some are too powerful and too magical to be used without strict control. Even official personnel can only use them under specific circumstances. Some of these items even possess the characteristic of being 'alive,' which can lure others, affect the surroundings, and escape on their own. Therefore, they are uniformly classified into four levels of sealed objects according to their degree of danger."

"From zero to three, the risk decreases progressively."

Accompanied by Pedeline's soft voice, they walked down the stairs step by step, stopping at the end of the path.

"Although it looks like there is no road here, it is actually a visual and spiritual deception."

As the strings of the instrument are plucked and the beautiful music fills the air, the sealed wall in front of you gradually comes into view, leaving a passageway large enough for one person to pass through.

"Isn't it amazing? This first door is a restriction for ordinary people; only those with spiritual vision can see through the disguise and find the mechanism to open it."

sound......

The girl's voice remained unchanged, and as they walked, Charlotte carefully observed Pedeline. She could see the former's eyebrows sometimes twitching with joy, and she could also hear the ripples of music spreading across the spiritual ocean, which meant that there was an extraordinary power in the music.

Compared to a typical office worker, this girl's appearance and temperament are more like those of a music-loving artist, or a free-spirited, romantic bard.

Such behavior could be a deliberate attempt to play the sequence name of this pathway to digest the potion, or it could simply be a matter of personal preference. The former is reasonable, while the latter suggests that the instrument he possesses is some kind of object with extraordinary properties.

Perhaps Charlotte's gaze lingered a little too long on the enormous instrument, for Pederina was surprised but also gladly offered an explanation.

"This is my good companion that has been with me for a long time. It consists of a bagpipe, an Apennine whistle, a euphonium, and a violin. As long as I multitask, even if I am alone, I can achieve the harmony of the whole orchestra. Although it is not an extraordinary item, it can make the most of my little talent in playing music."

"Whether it's the brilliant and resonant tone of the bagpipe, the complex and diverse harmonies of the whistle, the rich and mellow sound of the euphonium, or even the beautiful single notes of the violin, as long as you are familiar with them, you can compose a piece that is worth playing."

It is not without its proud statements.

“Exquisite and meaningful.”

It wouldn't dampen her spirits at this moment; judging from the girl's high spirits, Charlotte knew that this object held extraordinary significance for her.

She knows the pros and cons of words and how they can improve a person's first impression. Contrary to what was said earlier about not being good at flattery and socializing, she simply says different things to different people.

Pederina could be seen raising her eyebrows slightly, revealing a small joy.

"We're here. According to the list, what type of enchanted ammo do you need? A pistol, a rifle, or perhaps a steam-powered high-pressure gun?"

Driven by her emotions, the girl's voice became much more cheerful.

"A lightweight revolver will do."

This generation has not yet reached the stage of automation, and bolt-action firearms are still the mainstream. Compared to the rigid and extremely slow-loading long sticks, portable revolvers are more suitable for combat in urban streets and alleys.

Besides, her experience with the old detective had already made her familiar with the feel of this type of firearm.

"Okay, just wait a moment."

She strode into the room, and soon Pederina emerged from the inner room carrying a silver revolver and half a magazine of bullets.

"Thirty demon-hunting bullets, thirty regular bullets, a gun holster on the side, and an Arbitration Tribunal badge. Nothing should be missing. After a brief test, sign the logbook."

Looking in the direction of the sound, two different types of bullets were loaded into tight wooden boxes, arranged in three layers, one inside and one outside. Unlike ordinary blunt bullets, the Demon Hunter bullets, although similar in style, were entirely silver-white, with complex and dazzling patterns upon closer inspection, and even finely engraved holy symbols on the bottom.

I took the slightly heavy revolver and, with my delicate fingertips, turned the barrel, loading the cold bullets one by one into the cylinder. As I closed the gun, the crisp and familiar sound of the smoothbore filled my ears.

"The unique echo of the bullet entering the chamber is truly pleasing to the ear... How about it, my taste is pretty good, isn't it? This is the latest outward-swinging revolver, which can be quickly loaded without disassembly, making it much more practical."

"grateful."

Charlotte always responds with a smile to girls who treat her kindly, expressing her heartfelt gratitude.

But it has to be a young lady, not a gentleman.

"No need to thank me. If you need anything in the future, just let me know. Hmm, let me think... Zelena also instructed me to prepare some basic documents and classics to fill the gaps in your extraordinary knowledge."

Bending down to enter the cubicle of the bookstore, Pederina wandered among the rows of wide bookshelves, flipping through the documents left by the former while murmuring the corresponding historical materials.

"The Divine Calendar, the Advent Day, to be honest, books related to history are too complicated and too fragmented. Even though I have been trying to learn them, I can only get a general idea of ​​most of them. It is difficult to arouse the same interest as I do with music."

"There was so much irrelevant content back then—people's diaries, popular books, epitaphs... and we were supposed to extract useful information from it and then memorize it? Please spare me."

Muttering a complaint, the red-haired girl rummaged around for a long time before finally pulling out two relatively intact books from the outer bookshelf and handing them to Charlotte.

"They should be suitable for beginners, at least they don't have too many obscure words and complicated terms. Of course, the borrowing period cannot exceed seven days, they can only be viewed within the church, and they cannot be copied and circulated to the outside world."

"Okay, but I want to ask, why do both the church and the government so strictly guard information about extraordinary events? If they were informed in advance, wouldn't many unforeseen incidents be prevented, such as..."

In fact, Charlotte had already guessed the answer. As long as the extraordinary and special do not perish, but only transfer, the struggle between chaos and greed will never cease. And because her parents were innocently murdered, as a helpless and secretly harmed person, she had every right to speak up and ask questions.

After a moment of silence, Pedeline glanced sideways at the closed transparent curtain, watching it close again and become a hollow wall. The lights along the way trembled slightly with her breath, appearing indistinct and hazy.

She lowered her voice and said softly:

"Belief and fear bring panic; power and greed lead to imbalance, chaos, and even further—"

"war."

Chewing on these weighty words, Charlotte's heart trembled slightly. Just like in her past life, everything in the world is interconnected, and the current peace is maintained by the major churches and the government. If the existence of extraordinary beings were made public, chaos would be inevitable. Against this backdrop, concealing secret information and effectively controlling the levels of extraordinary beings is a tacit understanding that should naturally exist among the major churches and organizations.

Lost in thought, just as she was sorting through her thoughts, a rhythmic knock sounded at the door.

"It's Ms. Zelena!"

Raising her eyebrows and eyes with dazzling radiance, Pedeline was about to speak when the dark-haired beauty who pushed open the door pressed her lips against hers and gently shook her head.

"Shh, don't wake the sleeping spirits here."

After speaking, she lowered her gaze again, looking at Charlotte with exceptional tenderness, at her refreshed appearance and the books in her arms.

"I presume, Charlotte, that you've gained some understanding of Extraordinary over that time? There's no rush to adjust the work assignments here. You can take care of your household chores first, and then return here once everything is settled. Consider it an early vacation, not a time off in lieu of leave."

"Ah."

Charlotte nodded slightly. Although she had heard about the work schedule, she hadn't expected Zelena's management to be so humane, and she was momentarily impressed.

After thanking the former again, she left the underground building. As the sunlight once more fell on her face, bringing a warm glow, the hands of her pocket watch quietly moved toward three o'clock in the afternoon.

Looking back at the church filled with the sound of prayers, Charlotte didn't go too far. She stopped at the dessert shop she used to frequent, and unexpectedly, she saw a lone little sparrow among the nearby tables and chairs.

With slightly disheveled chestnut hair and simple clothes, the frail girl pursed her lips, holding a knife and fork, but never dropped any of the pastries on the plate.

It's just murmuring, just telling stories, as if confiding in someone who has passed away about recent experiences, difficulties faced, and growth.

A savory chocolate adorns the soft cake base, while a sweet and sour apricot jam is drizzled in the center, releasing an enticing aroma. The cake placed before Winnie is the very gift she once gave to him.

Sachertorte.

Chapter 102 Stimulation and Deliberate Intention

"Madam, how can I help you?"

Upon hearing the wind chimes at the door and seeing the blond figure push open the door and enter, the waiter quickly put down his tray, straightened his clothes, and went to greet him.

Not only her, but many people dining inside looked up at Charlotte, at this beautiful woman.

“...Just like the lady sitting there, Sacher, cake.”

The voice was halting and thin, belonging to a woman.

"Okay. Please wait a moment, this way please."