"Yes. I've found the general location of the factory."

Mr. Hood nodded, confirming it once more.

"I actually started looking into this tobacco because Mr. Black Cat mentioned it before he left. We're good friends. A mundane friend of his had been smoking it for so long that his personality and the very nature of his soul became severely twisted. The week before Mr. Black Cat left Nolan, that friend murdered someone and was arrested. He asked me to investigate—to find out which faction was behind it—as long as I could guarantee my own safety. But I spent the entire winter on it and came up with nothing."

Mr. White Cat explained, his tone regretful.

"I came up with nothing at first, either. But the day after the angel's descent, I went to visit an elder I knew to check on his safety. It was from him that I learned my fath... that a relative of mine had passed away. While going through his belongings, I discovered some clues."

The "elder" Mr. Hood mentioned was, without a doubt, the old elf.

Jenkins was actually quite curious. They were father and son, so why were Mr. Hood and the old man, Rynsarm, so different in character? The former was charitable and kind, while the latter was selfish and greedy.

"Perhaps time truly can change everything."

He sighed to himself.

"Here?"

Hathaway asked skeptically, scuffing at the dirt with her foot.

"Yes. This area has a large transient population, so a small factory wouldn't attract any attention. And since mining requires burning massive amounts of fuel, the factory's few small smokestacks wouldn't raise any suspicion. However, the place is heavily guarded. I couldn't get inside to see what they're actually doing, so that's where the trail ends. So, anyone interested in checking it out with me?"

Mr. Hood’s voice was full of anticipation, but he was met with silence.

It was obvious this involved a formidable faction. The idea of just six people storming the place was patently foolish.

"Perhaps we could report this to the Church," Jenkins eventually proposed. "We might even get a decent bounty from a black market broker."

Mr. Hood looked around one last time, saw no takers, and could only nod in reluctant agreement.

Compared to the endless trouble Mr. Hood's proposition hinted at, the information Magic Miss offered was much more straightforward. She was still hunting the pirate king, Femishue, and had made significant progress in just the last month.

"I found him!"

she announced excitedly to the group, then continued in a rush:

"You all know Femishue is a madman. But he's not always just raving and lunatic. Half a month ago, while I was tracking a group of pirates, I discovered that Femishue was directing a naval battle in the Shattered Isles, all remotely from here in Nolan. Right now, the Nolan Navy has the upper hand, and 'the Thief' among the Seven Pirate Kings is already dead—right here... I'm sure you all know about that, since the bounty for him on the black market has disappeared... Femishue must have learned about it, which is why he risked sending a message from Nolan to the outer seas. I happened to intercept it and got a look at his face myself."

She spoke with excitement, her gaze sweeping over the others standing in a circle.

"So? Anyone interested? I'm planning to make a move soon. Does anyone want to join me? I need backup. Of course, I'm willing to share the spoils, but there's one particular item I absolutely must have."

Magic Miss's words set many of them to calculating. Unlike Mr. Hood's proposal, her operation would only involve a small group of people, and everyone knew a thing or two about them.

This was Nolan; Femishue couldn't have many men with him. And while he was strong, he was definitely no demigod. The only reason he'd evaded capture for so many years was because pirates are good at hiding and the sea is vast.

If a fight did break out, losing wouldn't necessarily mean death. It stood in stark contrast to Mr. Hood's plan, which sounded dangerous from the get-go.

After a moment of thought, everyone present actually agreed to join the operation, but with one condition: if the item Magic Miss wanted was too valuable, she would have to pay them the difference in cash.

Magic Miss readily agreed; her joy was palpable. The exact date of the operation wasn't set yet. Magic Miss told the group to keep an eye on a magazine called *Sweater Knitting Guide*. It was only published in the spring and autumn, with thirty-two issues a year, each released every two or three days.

"I'll put the date in the magazine. Memorize this number: 3-4-12. As soon as you see a sweater pattern like this in the last illustration of an issue, that means the date is set. The contact address will be the mailing address of the person who submitted that illustration."

Next, it was Mr. White Cat's turn. His words were simple and direct:

"After the angel fell, quite a few of the aberrants hiding in the city were exposed. A rough estimate puts their numbers in the triple digits. Some have already been found and contained by the Orthodox Churches, but a significant number are still scattered throughout the city. I know of a very dangerous group of aberrants who are plotting something..."

He hesitated for a moment before giving a brief explanation:

"They're a group of Bone-Eaters, Ghouls, and Frenzied Demons. They seem to be looking for something in the city. Sometime this month, they're expected to attack the Fidektri National Bank's Nolan Branch, which is currently under construction on the west side of the city. My intelligence suggests there's a treasure they need hidden beneath the construction site... The ritual I'm currently studying requires a large quantity of Frenzied Demon fingernails and hair, and as you know, those materials are incredibly hard to find. Now that I finally have a lead, I plan to intercept them at the site on the day of their attack... Is anyone interested in joining me? I can offer payment. And while these aberrants are quite powerful, I have a batch of Magical Conches."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com