His belt now had two additional clips on the left side, loaded with the poison vials Old Neil made. If needed during combat, he just had to dip the crossbow bolt tip on his left hand's back into the bottle. To prevent poison from splashing on his hands, Old Neil also prepared a single-handed leather glove for him.
The back of the belt had three additional belt clips, each containing two official "Nighthawks" charms: first was "Sleep Charm," with effects similar to Dunn Smith and Leonard Mitchell's chanting that calms and induces sleep; second was "Soul-Soothing Charm," which could appease ghosts, shadows, zombies, and water ghouls, and to some extent deal with vengeful spirits and evil spirits; third was "Dream Charm," which could help the caster enter the target's dreams.
"If you're executing missions with others, the last type won't help you much."
"If you have time recently, you should also come learn Hermes and Ancient Hermes, Giant language, Elvish—these nearly lost languages we also have some related literature. As a team member, you can freely access and read them. The library is also where you should go most often." Old Neil finally instructed. "If you also want to learn how to make charms, your schedule will be very full recently."
Kenley walked out of the room and came to the team members' office. Luo Yao and Frye were using tarot cards for divination. Seeing Kenley with a left-hand glove walk in, Luo Yao joked, "Is this Old Neil's latest fashion research?"
Kenley showed them his left-hand crossbow. The two showed approving looks. "Worthy of a 'Thief.' Your thinking is indeed different from ours."
A few hours later, it was lunch time. Dunn walked out of his office and took a ten-pence boxed meal from the bag.
"Captain, can you take me along for tonight's activity?" Kenley volunteered, raising his hand. "I can drive, so we won't need to trouble Mr. Brett."
The original owner of this body was very good at driving carriages.
Leonard smiled. "I appreciate your positive attitude, Captain. I apply to let Kenley replace me, so I can have time to enjoy the latest opera 'Castle on the Cliff' tonight."
"I just want to quickly catch up with everyone's pace and not become a burden to the team." Kenley said. "Besides, tonight's mission is just driving and accompanying. I don't think there's any danger with the captain present. Even if there is danger, I can protect myself and won't distract the captain."
He opened his clothes, showing the "Despair" under his left armpit.
"Tonight is indeed just a simple accompanying mission." Dunn said. "In that case, Leonard, you're responsible for guarding the 'Chanis Gate' tonight. Kenley will accompany me."
"Oh, no..." Leonard looked at Captain Dunn walking out of the office with despair. "My opera..."
"As far as I know, 'Castle on the Cliff' just started showing. You have at least a month to watch it." Luo Yao smiled. "As the senior team member second only to the captain, at least one person must be on duty at the team."
"Since everyone has nothing to do, how about a game of 'Fight Evil'? Four people." Frye eagerly sent out an invitation.
"You three play." Kenley picked up the Hermes language literature he had just gotten from Old Neil and walked to a table in the corner. "I need to study Hermes now."
"So diligent. You should know that knowledge isn't built in a day." Luo Yao shuffled the cards skillfully, cut them, like a professional dealer.
"My flat wallet doesn't allow me to participate in any entertainment activities above 1 pence." Kenley sighed. "At least not temporarily."
After getting clothes tomorrow, his just-received twenty-four pounds would directly shrink to nine pounds. Adding the money left in his pocket, his entire fortune would only be thirteen pounds and 5 sules, plus a few 1-pence coins.
Kenley spent the afternoon studying seriously, using half the coffee powder on the table. He felt that under the stimulation of the "Thief" potion, he seemed to be transferring the knowledge in books bit by bit into his head. In one afternoon, he had already mastered Hermes and Ancient Hermes fairly well. Looking at those originally obscure Hermes literature, he could guess the final conclusions based on context. How interesting.
As Kenley expected, Luo Yao skillfully plundered the two men's wallets. Whether landlord or commoner, she could successfully complete her mission.
"A pair of sixes, only two cards left." Luo Yao smiled at Frye and Leonard, whose faces were darker than midnight.
She lightly threw out two small threes and casually collected the twelve pence on the table.
"That's enough for today, gentlemen." Luo Yao glanced at the wall clock. "It's almost dinner time."
Frye added three sules and six pence to his original debt, while Leonard gave up two sules and twelve pence, slightly better than Frye.
"Oh, no..." Frye painfully held his head in his hands.
Leonard said nothing, his eyes staring intently at Luo Yao stuffing coins and bills into her bulging wallet.
"Happy to play cards with you, gentlemen." Luo Yao shuffled the playing cards in her hands. "Welcome to find me for revenge anytime."
After eating a ten-pence dinner box meal, Leonard went downstairs to replace Siga Teon, who had been guarding the "Chanis Gate." Everyone else went home, leaving only Kenley alone still studying hard under the gas lamp.
Near eleven o'clock, Dunn walked out of the adjacent office. "It's time."
"I'll go drive." Kenley leaped up from the table, tidied up the literature, ran downstairs, found a two-person carriage. The carriage's "crossed swords, clustered crown" insignia shone brightly in the moonlight.
Kenley skillfully drove the single-horse carriage and stopped it beside the street lamp on Iron Cross Street. Dunn got off the carriage, staring intently at a room on the second floor, pressing down his hat brim with his hand.
Kenley felt a tranquil power emanating from Dunn, reaching out toward the distant apartment. His own head also became dizzy. He knew this was the captain's range dream-entering power. He forcefully pinched his thigh with his right hand to stay alert.
Five minutes, ten minutes...
Kenley sat quietly on the carriage, opening his "spirit vision" and occasionally surveying the surroundings with his eyes, alert to the environment around him.
"I'm going to bring him down," Dunn suddenly said, putting his right hand in his pocket and walking toward the opposite side.
Fifteen minutes later, Dunn brought Klein downstairs. The latter wore a somewhat cheap tailcoat, a not-too-fashionable top hat, and followed Dunn's steps softly down the apartment stairs.
A night breeze carried the two men's conversation to Kenley ears.
"What would have happened if I had run away then?"
"Maybe you could have run half a block, at most one block, but would ultimately still be caught by us. This would increase your suspicion and wouldn't be a good choice. Moreover," Dunn continued walking toward the carriage without pause, "you wouldn't think I came alone, would you?"
Klein glanced toward the driver's position. Kenley smiled and nodded at him.
Good night, Mr"Fool."